What Is a Pet Wellness Plan? What Does It Cover?
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Pet insurance often covers unexpected health costs like illnesses or injuries. But when your furry friend has preventative care check-ups, that’s where pet wellness plan coverage comes in. Designed to help you cover part of routine procedures, pet wellness plans can complement an insurance plan for comprehensive coverage.
But what does a wellness plan cover, and what isn’t covered? Here’s what you need to know to pick the right plan for your pet.
Key Takeaways
- Wellness coverage is different from pet insurance but can complement your accident and illness coverage with preventative coverage.
- Wellness plans can be an add-on to a pet insurance plan, and select plans can be purchased separately.
- Choosing the right plan depends on your pet’s needs, your budget, and their lifestyle.
What Do Pet Wellness Plans Cover?
Wellness plans can usually be added to accident-only or accident and illness plans for an extra fee. They help you stay on top of routine care to prevent illness down the road.
Most plans have benefit payout limits. Please review the policy details or contact the provider before signing up.
Wellness plans typically cover:
- Annual wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
- Routine blood work
- Fecal and urine tests
- Spay/neuter surgeries
What Do Pet Wellness Plans Not Cover?
Wellness is intended for preventative care and does not cover the unexpected. Coverage typically excludes things such as the following:
- Accidents like broken bones, swallowing a sock, or getting stung by a bee.
- Illnesses like allergies, cancer, or breed-related conditions.
- Prescriptions related to accidents and illnesses.
How Much of the Vet Bill Will a Pet Wellness Plan Cover?
Wellness benefits are typically based on annual caps which apply to your policy term. Once these caps are met, you are responsible for any additional vet bills. While pet wellness plans may not have a deductible or co-insurance rate, it is important to know your annual cap amounts.
Here’s how it might break down: Say your vaccine vet bill is $500, and your plan has an annual cap of $150 with no deduction or co-insurance rate. You’d pay $500 and then your insurer would reimburse you for $150, maxing out your annual cap for the policy term. If you had additional vaccines for later in the year, these would not be eligible for reimbursement.
Typically, you’ll pay the vet bill up front and then file a claim for reimbursement. Be sure to keep all receipts and paperwork to make the process smoother.
How Can I Choose the Right Wellness Coverage for My Pet?
Finding the right plan means thinking about your pet’s age, breed, health, and your budget. Ask yourself:
- Do you want coverage for preventative care?
- Can this coverage enhance my pet insurance coverage as an add-on?
It’s also a good idea to compare quotes from multiple providers.
To learn more about how pet insurance can help protect your pet or to get a personalized quote, visit CarePlus by Chewy. You can also speak directly with one of our licensed experts at 800-672-4399, who will be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Attributions
This article was created with assistance from AI tools. The content has been reviewed for accuracy and edited by a human.
