When it comes to the ongoing care of your pet, there are ways that pet parents can help make the cost of care more affordable. Today, our Perry vets share some of the benefits of pet wellness plans and why you should consider this option for your cat or dog.
What Are Some Benefits of Wellness Plans?
Although ideally, every pet owner would have insurance for their pets, there are a number of things to take into account. Factors such as cost, type of coverage, and your pet's health at the time of starting a policy can all greatly affect your monthly payments.
In addition, many pet insurance plans exclude preventive and wellness care such as vet checkups and routine vaccinations, which are especially important for maintaining your pet's health and avoiding costly procedures and treatments in the first place.
Budgeting With Pet Wellness Plans
The bundling of services in wellness plans and the set cost of these plans means that budgeting is more manageable than tackling the cost of each service as they occur. A couple of ways that wellness plans positively affect your budget are that they:
- Can be paid monthly or annually
- Usually includes discounts on certain products and services
Emergency Cost Coverage With Pet Wellness Plans
While no one ever wants anything to happen to their furry friends, there is always the chance that injury or illness may happen. Wellness plans can be beneficial in the event of emergencies or urgent care needs as wellness plans typically include a certain number of examinations included in the plan.
Discounts With Pet Wellness Plans
Usually, signing your pet up for a wellness plan can cost less in the long run compared to paying for each service throughout the year on its own. When all of the services are bundled together the veterinary clinic will typically provide a discount. Ask your Perry vet what the cost comparison is between covering each service on its own compared to the cost of a wellness plan.
Routine Care is Covered by Pet Wellness Plans
Those who opt to sign their pet up for a wellness plan usually are better at bringing their pet in for routine checkups as the cost is already covered and those clients will not want to lose out on services already paid for.
Wellness Plans Can Be Pet Specific
With wellness plans, you sign your pet up for the exact care that they need for their size and type. This ensures that your pet gets the care that they need while only paying for what you need.
Pet Wellness Plans Can Be Customized
At Perry Animal Hospital, our Wellness Plans cover canine companions and feline friends of all sizes, shapes, and ages. Most wellness plans have options for small, medium, large, XL, and giant dogs, as well as cats, and offer a range of preventive annual and biannual wellness procedures.
Animals with special needs such as senior cats and dogs, new puppies and kittens, and pets with chronic or recurring issues benefit from routine vet care including early detection screenings, important preventive vaccinations, and physical examinations.
Wellness Plan Disadvantages
As with just about any decision, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing whether a wellness plan is right for you.
Frequency of use
It may seem counter-intuitive to subscribe to a wellness plan if your pet is young, healthy, or otherwise seems fine. Although for most, it is better to have coverage and not need it than otherwise, we understand that healthcare decisions - whether for humans or their companion animals - are intensely personal and should be made with the patient's best care in mind, with the advice of a medical professional.
Need for additional coverage
Just as it is important to know what pet insurance does and does not cover, you should be aware of what your vet clinic's wellness plans cover. Wellness plans are for ongoing preventive and wellness care from your veterinary team and do not cover illness, surgeries, or other emergency or chronic healthcare needs. Ultimately, discussing your pet's needs and your budget openly and honestly with your veterinarian can be a good opportunity to find out more about what could suit you and your pet best.Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.