Pet Insurance for Routine Care


If you have researched pet insurance, you probably found many options that cover major accidents and illnesses. But you may be left wondering if there is anything you can do to help offset the cost of general vet visits, treatment and routine veterinary care.

The good news for all pet parents, even those with older pets or those who have hereditary conditions, is that some insurance companies that offer pet insurance also provide wellness rewards (reimbursement) as an add-on to cover routine visits and procedures. But is the extra cost really worth it?

What are pet wellness plans and what do they cover?

Pet wellness plans can be purchased on their own or added to an existing insurance policy. These plans provide coverage for routine care including regular exams, medications and standard procedures. Since standard pet insurance policies cover things like accidents, injuries and serious illness only, wellness rewards can help with routine expenses. While many insurance companies require you to also purchase a regular pet insurance policy in order to get wellness coverage, there are other options through veterinary hospitals and other companies that offer wellness plans as a standalone offering.


Preventive and routine care coverage for pets

You may be wondering about a pet insurance that covers vaccinations and neutering. If that is the case, adding a pet wellness plan to your coverage is likely what you are looking for. The point of a wellness plan is to make sure your pets have access to affordable preventive and routine care. By definition, these services are planned and predictable, so most of what is covered are things that your pet actually needs. Here is a sample of some of the services that might be covered with a wellness plan:

Always be sure to ask your pet wellness plan provider, or those you are considering, for the exact list that they cover, as each plan and company will vary on what is included.

Is pet wellness insurance worth it?

Whether a pet wellness plan added to your pet's insurance is worth the cost depends on how much you spend per year on routine pet care. A wellness plan helps you stay on top of your pet's health by encouraging routine care. For example, if you know your wellness plan covers dental cleaning and nail clipping, you’re more likely to make sure these things get done - benefiting your pet’s overall health and potentially saving you from more costly treatments later.

vet dental exam on dog

While every plan is different, pet wellness plans are usually a good investment for pet owners who spend $400 to $500 per year on preventive and routine care for their pet. However, it is important to keep in mind is that there are limits to these plans. For example, if you have a plan that tops off at $500 per year, anything over that will have to be paid out of pocket. Some companies offer different levels of wellness coverage, and you can even change it every policy year as your pet gets older.
 
Pet wellness plans also help spread out the cost a bit. If you have trouble affording a $50 annual checkup and an additional $200 for boosters and blood tests at the same time, wellness insurance covers the same visit but allows you to make small, affordable monthly payments instead of worrying about coming up with a large chunk of money or putting the costs on a high-interest credit card.

Wellness plans are also a good investment if you have a puppy or kitten because they usually require more frequent wellness visits and vaccinations as well as spay and neuter surgeries. Furthermore, most policies have lower premiums for younger pets so adding a wellness plan on may not be cost prohibitive.

new puppy tips

Is pet insurance worth the cost?

Whether you add on a pet wellness plan or not, pet insurance is the best way to help offset the expenses of unplanned health events that can actually end up being quite costly. If your pet gets hit by a car or develops a serious life-threatening illness, the cost of emergency visits, specialists, tests and procedures required to make them healthy again can be pretty high. This is exactly why pet insurance is geared toward helping out with these costs instead of routine health care costs. Not only are routine costs more affordable, but they’re also pretty predictable since your pet generally requires the same preventive care at every annual pet visit.

If you’re on the fence about pet insurance, adding a wellness rewards plan to the policy may be something to consider, particularly if you find routine care too pricey. With a wellness plan, routine services such as regular checkups are covered. Keeping up with routine services  can make recovery from an accident or illness a little easier should something happen to your pet in the future. If you’re ready to compare pet insurance options, start your research today.

Find out what your deductible is

Just like with your own health insurance, your pet’s insurance policy will come with a deductible that you will need to pay in full before you can start getting reimbursed for medical care. Petco | Nationwide insurance plans offer annual deductible options of $100, $250 or $500. The higher your annual deductible, the less you’ll likely pay in monthly premiums throughout the year. 

After you’ve met your deductible, Petco | Nationwide insurance plans offer reimbursement percentages from 50-90% amounts. As with deductible options, the lower the reimbursement percentage you opt for, the less expensive your monthly premium will be. 

Understand your policy’s annual limit

Besides coverage, exclusions, premiums and deductibles, another thing you’ll want to review when getting a quote is the “annual limit” on the pet insurance policy. An annual limit is the total amount that the policy will actually reimburse you for over a 12-month period. When picking your policy and deciding on a deductible, it’s important to gauge as best you can how much money you think you might need to cover veterinary bills for your pet throughout the year—factoring in some cushion for emergencies that might crop up—so that you select a policy with the right monthly premium, deductible and annual limit that works for your needs.

For example, a dog with known hereditary issues or a working dog that’s often in contact with other animals  and is kept busy with strenuous exercise throughout the day might require a higher annual limit than a pet that’s generally healthy and spends most of their time indoors.

Putting your pet insurance policy into action

Pet insurance can help you cover the costs of veterinary bills, but you’ll still be responsible for paying for them before they’re submitted for reimbursement. With a Petco | Nationwide pet insurance policy, you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian, specialist or emergency clinic in the US to receive care, keep the receipts and then submit a claim online for reimbursement based on your policy coverage.

Keep in mind that your insurance policy will also come with a waiting period, which is a specific amount of time that needs to pass before coverage kicks in. Petco | Nationwide insurance, for example, offers coverage that starts on the 15th day after the policy effective date. Be sure to inquire about specific rules with the insurance company before bringing your pet in for non-emergency procedures during your waiting period.  

As you know, a pet insurance policy is an excellent way to financially prepare for your pet’s future and maintain their overall health and wellness, now it’s just a matter of finding the right plan. 

Keeping these considerations in mind, learn more about Petco | Nationwide insurance here or contact a Petco insurance specialist by phone (844-244-3649) to get a quote and to start your pet’s coverage.

*Some exclusions may apply. Certain coverages may be excluded due to pre-existing conditions. See policy documents for a complete list of exclusions. Plans may not be available in all states. Policy eligibility may vary.*

Your monthly total accurately reflects your final cost. Individual coverage costs shown may vary by up to $0.02 due to rounding differences. Insurance products underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH. Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Insurance terms, definitions and explanations are intended for informational purposes only and do not in any way replace or modify the definitions and information contained in individual insurance contracts, policies or declaration pages, which are controlling. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2024 Nationwide.

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