As you compare pet insurance policies, you might notice that certain plans include pet wellness insurance, while others do not. If you’ve never purchased pet insurance before, you might be wondering what the difference is between the two types of plans.
In this post, we’ll look at how pet wellness insurance compares to standard pet insurance to help you decide which one is right for you. We’ll also share some of the most popular pet wellness insurance providers so you can conduct your own research.
How does pet wellness insurance differ from standard pet insurance?
In most cases, pet owners take out a pet insurance policy to cover unexpected vet bills and costs. These “standard” pet insurance plans usually cover things such as accidents, illnesses, injuries, tests, and procedures. However, the insurance will only apply to unforeseen events (and not pre-existing conditions).
On the other hand, pet wellness insurance provides an extra layer of coverage for pet owners that want to offset regular vet bills. Suppose you’re looking for a policy that pays for things such as physical exams, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, deworming, and nail trimming. In that case, you’ll need to find a provider that offers a wellness plan.
Not all insurers offer pet wellness insurance, but if they do, you will usually need to add it on top of your standard pet insurance policy.
How much does it cost?
In terms of cost, the price of standard pet insurance will vary based on what kind of animal you have, how old they are, and what breed they are. However, you should expect to pay around $20 – $40 per month for a standard policy.
As you would expect, adding wellness coverage to your policy will raise your monthly premium. You’ll need to contact different insurers to get a detailed quote (more information on that in the next section), but you’ll likely end up paying $15 – $30 extra per month, on top of your standard policy premium.
Where can you buy pet wellness insurance?
If you currently have a standard pet insurance plan, you should contact your provider to see if you’re able to add wellness coverage to your existing plan. In most cases, it should be a pretty simple process to upgrade your plan to include wellness options.
On the other hand, if you’re in search of a new plan or want to switch providers, there are plenty of insurers to choose from. You can opt for a big-name insurance brand that provides multiple types of insurance, in addition to its pet insurance plans. Nationwide and Liberty Mutual are two such companies.
Or if you prefer, you can purchase wellness insurance from a provider that specializes in pet insurance. There are a handful of specialty insurers, but Embrace Pet Insurance and Trupanion are two of the most well-known.
Choosing a pet insurance plan is a personal decision that’s dependent on your budget, your pet’s health, and if you want coverage against unexpected expenses. With the information in this post, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether or not wellness insurance is right for you.
For more pet ownership resources and tips, check out the PetPonder blog.
