The Difference Between Dog Wellness Plans and Pet Insurance (Pasadena, MD)

When you are a pet owner unexpected costs can arise, especially vet visits. Generally, the vet can be quite pricey especially if there is an unexpected emergency. Luckily, there are a few choices that can make these costs a little bit more manageable so getting your pet the care it needs is a little less stressful.

The two different options are wellness plans and pet insurance plans. Wellness plans and pet insurance plans both have great benefits depending on your pet’s needs. These are two plans are very different ways to afford the essential veterinary care your pet may need. Let’s take a look at what each cover and see if one, or both, may be a right fit for you. Knowing facts about each plan will help you make the right decision and save you some money so you can give your pets the proper care they need without stress.

About Wellness Plans

What exactly is a wellness plan and what does it cover? Wellness plans cover many different things, of course, it can vary from vet to vet, the wellness plan carrier, and the level of coverage you have chosen.

How Wellness Plans Work

Wellness plans work by paying a small cost monthly to cover expected routine care and vet visits that improve or maintain your pet’s quality of life. It can help you spot early signs of disease or illness before it becomes an issue and even more expensive costs occur. This allows you to spread the vet care costs out over a long period of time.

What Wellness Plans Cover

This isn’t pet insurance, so it does not cover illness treatment or emergency visits. Wellness plans generally cover things such as, microchipping, parasite prevention, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, dental care, deworming, wellness exams, routine screenings and behavioral training. For those who are very routine with pet appointments, this a great plan. For those who are not, you may end up spending more with this type of plan. You pay the same amount whether you use all the benefits or not. Some animal hospitals offer different plans based on pet’s life stage: pediatric plan, adult plan, and a senior plan.

About Pet Insurance

What is pet insurance? All pet insurances vary from provider to provider, what plan you have, and what carrier you chose to go with. Pet insurance covers the unexpected that may happen to your pets. There is always a risk of a pet becoming injured in an accident, getting into and digesting something they shouldn’t, or even unexpected serious illnesses such as diabetes or cancer, that require ongoing treatments. These types of issues can be high in cost. When it comes to our pet’s health, we don’t want to worry about if we can afford the costs of its care. With pet insurance, you don’t have to worry about the burden of heavy costs to treat our pets properly.

How Pet Insurance Works

Pet insurance plans are relatively low in costs and putting the small amount aside monthly can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs greatly. When you use your pet insurance you first pay out of pocket and then file a claim. Once your claim is approved, the costs will either be deposited into your account or have a check sent in the mail. First you will have to meet the deductible before coverage kicks in, the insurer will then reimburse a percentage of the bill. Your insurer will specify a max amount it will cover each year. Any charges above that you will have to cover out of pocket. Your premium costs will depend on your pets’ species, breed, age and where you may live.

What Pet Insurance Covers

Most pet insurances cover accidents, illnesses, emergency care, hereditary or congenital conditions, orthopedic conditions, and prescription medications. Unexpected surgeries such as accident issues or cancer issues, can cost anywhere between $5,000- $10,000.

Making the Best Decision for Your Pet

It is very important to go over all details about what the wellness plan and insurance plan cover and to make sure you understand how each plan or level of plans work. This way you can make sure you are getting the coverage you need and save yourself some money in the long run.

You may also want to talk to your veterinarian to see what they feel is the best choice for you and your pet. You may even be able to have one plan or another and add on extras to best fit the needs you are looking for. Many people choose to have both a wellness plan and pet insurance, especially if they have older pets or if their pet is high risk, these situations may require your pets to have more and more specific tests, surgeries, or medications. Making this decision should be made by really evaluating the whole situation, your pet’s health and your vet’s recommendations. We all just really want the best healthcare for our pets while still being able to afford the proper care they need.

If you have questions about what is best for your family, please reach out to Lake Shore Pet Hospital in Pasadena, MD at (410) 317-2028.