Every pet parent wants their fur baby to live a long, healthy, and happy life. When your pup becomes ill or injured, pet health insurance can help with veterinary expenses. But what about the routine year in and year out wellness visits that keep our pets in good health the rest of the time? 

Vaccinations, wellness exams, routine diagnostic tests and procedures, and other expenses can put a major dent in our budgets. The average cost of preventative care can range from $120 to $650 a year. This is where wellness plans can make a financial difference, as well as create peace of mind.

In this guide, we'll compare two popular wellness plans: VCA and Wag! Wellness. These are not insurance plans – they don’t cover swallowed socks and infections. What they do cover, however, are items such as annual or bi-annual routine vet visits and diagnostic testing, along with fecal exams and more. Read on to see which plan might be best for you and your pet.

The VCA CareClub wellness plan is owned and operated by Veterinary Centers of America, Inc. which operates over 1,000 VCA hospitals throughout the country. 

The plan is divided into six categories – three for dogs and three for cats, covering kittens and puppies to senior care. Each level also has a “plus” category that offers more services than the basic plan. In order to be a member of the VCA wellness plan, pet parents must take their furries to a VCA hospital. 

One monthly premium for each level covers a variety of preventative care services. As with all wellness plans, VCA has its pros and cons: 

Pros:

Cons:

In New York City, VCA basic wellness plans carry monthly membership fees of $89.95 for senior dogs, $70.99 for adult dogs, and $94.99 for puppies. In less expensive cities such as Raleigh, NC, the monthly premiums are $87.99 for seniors, $46.99 for adult dogs, $50.99 for puppies. The relatively expensive premiums make the plan most cost-effective for very young pets and seniors who will utilize more of the services covered under the VCA umbrella. There are no discounts offered for multiple pets. To apply for a wellness plan with VCA you must enroll through an individual VCA hospital. Most VCA hospitals offer a $20 discount for first visits.

Plans require an annual contract, and premiums can be paid monthly or annually. There is a penalty for canceling the contract before the annual period has expired. 

Junior Paws Puppy Wellness (under 12 months)

Junior Paws + 

Adult Paws (7 months to 6 years)

Adult Paws + 

Senior Paws

Junior Paws Kitten (Up to 12 months old)

Junior Paws + Kitten 

All of the above services plus spay/neuter surgery (with pre-op tests, anesthesia, fluids, surgery, post-op care, and pain medications)

Adult Paws Cat (7 months to 6 years)

Adult Paws Cat +

All of the above plus: 

Senior Paws Cat

Includes all services in the Adult Paws plan and:

Senior Paws Cat +

All services in the Senior Paws plan, plus:

Wag! Wellness offers coverage with any veterinarian in any clinic in the U.S., so you can choose who treats your pet. There are 3 tiers of plans, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, with varying costs and services included so that you, the pet parent, can decide which services are most important to you and your furry.  It’s easy to change plans annually with no added fees, and there aren't fees any or enrollment or reimbursement either.

Pros:

Cons

The Wag! Wellness plan is charged as a fixed monthly premium with no added fees:

Wag! Wellness also offers optional add-on services that allow you to choose the services you need in addition to your chosen plan:

Gold Plan

Platinum Plan

Flea, tick, and heartworm meds add-on

The flea, tick, and heartworm meds add-on covers all brands, including:

Grooming add-on

With the grooming add-on, you'll get $300 of services covered in a 12-month period, including:

Dental care add-on

Wag!’s add-on for dental cleaning covers up to $400 of dental expenses per year, including:

Spay/neuter add-on

The spay/neuter add-on covers up to $400 of spay/neuter expenses per year, including:

You have many choices of wellness plans, and the decision of which to choose is ultimately yours to make. You will need to think of the factors that will impact your decision, such as your budget and the services your pet needs.

With Wag!, you can take your pet to any veterinarian or clinic you choose – you’re not limited to one hospital system. You’ll pay one flat rate per month for routine preventative care, with no hidden fees or extra costs to surprise you. With the comprehensive, affordable add-on services on offer, you can also select additional coverage based on your pup’s needs.

Use our Wag! Wellness Plans comparison tool to find the right plan for your dog or cat. If you have questions, please leave a comment below!