Are Pet Wellness Programs Worth the Money?

Preventive care is the backbone of your pet’s health. Vaccines protect against serious diseases such as rabies and whooping cough, and regular screening catches problems early, when they are easier to treat.

Most standard pet insurance policies do not include these services, but some insurance companies offer separate “health” packages that pet owners can opt into.

Here’s a big picture look at how these programs work in real life, and how much value they provide.

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Key Takeaways

• Preventive care is usually sold as an add-on to accident and sickness policies, not as a stand-alone plan.
• On average, these plans cost $15 to $33 per month and pay anywhere from $250 to $800 per year for your pet’s care.
• At best, you can save a few hundred dollars a year, but only if you use the entire benefit
• Health plans can be a useful budgeting tool, but they aren’t always worth what you end up paying for them.

What is ‘good care’ for pets?

Health care is basically all the routine things your pet needs to stay healthy (exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and occasional lab work). The pet equivalent of your car’s oil change: normal, expected and not something insurance covers.

Pet insurance usually kicks in when a dog or cat has an accident or sudden illness, not when the owner takes them for their annual check-up.

To close this gap, some insurers sell preventive care packages that cover part of the cost to keep your pet healthy. Technically, this is not insurance; are similar to a prepaid pet care plan that includes:

• Annual health exams
• Vaccines
• To prevent ticks or ticks
• Blood work
• Microchipping
• Cleaning the teeth
• Dental exams
• Spay or neuter surgery

How do pet health programs work?

You pay a monthly fee on top of your pet insurance premium and, in return, the insurance reimburses certain routine expenses, up to a set limit. These programs have no deductibles or waiting periods, so you can start using the benefits immediately.

Each service has its own reimbursement cap. For example, insurance can cover up to $15 for a rabies vaccine and up to $50 a year in veterinary exam fees. Sometimes, the benefit is split between two services, such as spay/neuter surgery and dental cleanings, and you may receive one reimbursement per year.

Here’s a breakdown of the benefits of a health plan that costs $15 a month, and offers up to $305 in annual reimbursements.

At first glance, it seems like a solid deal. You pay $180 a year to get back to $305.

But you only come out on top if you use every service, and that may not happen every year. Microchipping is a one-time expense and vets don’t always need to draw blood or take urine samples at annual check-ups.

Best case scenario: you use every covered service and save about $100, especially if you’re getting multiple vaccinations for a toddler or cat, and the plan includes expensive procedures like spay/neuter surgery and dental cleanings.

In most cases, you don’t want all the benefits, and what you pay ends up being the same or more than the out-of-pocket payment, especially if your local vet offers service packages tailored to your pet. For example, a care package at a Vetco center that includes recommended vaccinations and exams can set you back $199.

Are animal health programs right for you?

Pet health plans can be important, especially during your pet’s first year or as an incentive for regular vet visits.

• Costs for adopting puppies and kittens: Many health plans cover procedures such as microchipping and spaying or neutering, so they may offer you more value if your pet is young.
• Promotes regular maintenance: With a health plan that covers a set amount per year, you are more likely to take your dog or cat in for regular care to increase the value of the plan.
• Helps budget for routine maintenance: Preventive maintenance plans help spread the cost of routine maintenance into monthly installments, keeping your pet expenses predictable.

But health plans are not without drawbacks. They’re usually only available as add-ons to accident and illness policies, which limit options if you don’t already have pet insurance or you’re caring for a pet that’s too expensive to insure.

More importantly, these programs can be very expensive. We got a number of quotes for popular pet plans and found that annual rates start at around $168 for coverage and go up to $600 for plans with additional benefits. If you don’t use every covered service, you could end up paying hundreds in premiums each year with little or no reward.

Before adding this plan to your pet insurance, it’s a good idea to check the cost of general care in your area. Look for low-cost vet clinics and hospitals, and compare what you’ll pay outright to what you’d save with a health rider (including monthly premiums).

Alternatives to preventive care or health plans

These alternatives can help you manage vet costs if enrolling in a health plan is not affordable for you:

Programs prescribed by a veterinarian

Some veterinarians offer in-house wellness programs for a flat fee or monthly membership. You can get discounts on veterinary exams, dental care, vaccinations, pest control and general lab work. Evil? Internal health plans only apply to that vet’s care, not others.

High yield savings accounts (HYSAs)

Opening a savings account for a dog or cat is a great way to plan for future pet care. Setting aside a monthly sum of $10 to $50 will help pay for dental cleanings, blood tests, or other expenses.

Discount programs

Veterinary discount programs are membership-based programs that offer discounts on veterinary care from in-network providers in exchange for a monthly fee. When you join, you can get discounts on vet visits, vaccinations, dental exams, dental cleanings, and more.

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