Which Pet Insurance Has a Better Wellness Plan?

Whether you adopt a pet from a local shelter or purchase one from a breeder, they'll need healthcare at some point. Veterinary visits can be expensive — fortunately, there are many pet insurance plans to choose from that cover injuries and illnesses. But what about wellness visits and vaccinations? Are there plans that will pay for these and other preventive costs?

As it turns out, wellness plans are on the rise as pet insurance providers realize that wellness care can reduce how much they pay out for illnesses in the future. But not all preventive plans are created equal. Read on to find out about pet insurance companies that rock their wellness plans!

• Most comprehensive: SPOT
• Most affordable: Figo
• Most routine care coverage: Nationwide
• Best alternative care options: Embrace

SPOT's pet wellness plans are add-ons to a selection of other Crum & Forster pet insurance policies. You can choose either the Gold or Platinum option. The list of benefits is long, giving pet parents comprehensive preventative care coverage.

Why SPOT's wellness plans are a great choice

• The company offers two plans with different reimbursement rates, providing financial flexibility
• The annual benefit limit is generous
• The Platinum plan covers a long list of preventive, routine services

What’s covered?

Some of the services covered by the SPOT Wellness Plans include:

• Dental cleaning
• Wellness exams
• Routine vaccines
• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• Fecal test 
• Deworming
• Canine heartworm or Feline FeLV testing
• Flea/heartworm prevention
• Rabies test and vaccine

Coverage limits

• Gold plan: $250/year
• Platinum plan: $450/year

Reimbursement rates

SPOT Pet Wellness Plans reimburse at a set rate for each service. Examples include:

• Dental cleaning: Gold Plan $100, Platinum Plan $150
• Spay/neuter: Gold Plan $100, Platinum Plan $150
• Wellness Exam: $50 for both plans
• Fecal test: Gold Plan $20, Platinum Plan $25
• Deworming: Gold Plan $20, Platinum Plan $25

Waiting period: 14 days

Monthly premium:

• Gold plan: $9.95
• Platinum plan: $24.95
  

Figo's accident and illness policies are flexible and affordable, and the same holds true for its wellness add-ons. Plus, when you insure your pet with Figo, you'll get access to an intuitive mobile app. How's that for convenient?

Why Figo's wellness plans are a great choice

• Easy-to-use mobile app
• Covers exam fees and miscellaneous costs of pet parenthood, like property damage liability
  
• Easy claim process

What’s covered?

• Routine exams
• Vaccines
• Fecal test
• Urinalysis 
• Lost pet services
• End-of-life services
• Diagnostic tests
• Routine blood tests
• Boarding fees
• Spay/neuter

Deductibles: None

Coverage limits

• Basic: $135/year
• Plus: $250/year

Waiting period: None

Monthly premium:

• Basic plan: $9.50
• Plus plan: $16.50

Please note that Figo's wellness plans are only available in select states

Nationwide’s Pet Wellness program offers a comprehensive range of coverage at affordable prices. Its Wellness Basic and Wellness Plus plans differ slightly on what’s covered and plan cost. With premiums ranging from $12 to $22 per month, there’s bound to be a combination of services and reimbursements to suit you and your fur buddy.

Nationwide offers illness and injury plans, to which the wellness plans are added at additional monthly cost. This pet insurance company also offers a standalone wellness plan, which may not be available in every state. Nationwide places a strong focus on preventive care, with physical and behavioral exams taking priority.

Why Nationwide's wellness plans are a great choice

• Combines economy with generous reimbursement
• Covers may items that others don't
  
• Reimbursements for vaccination and diagnostics is higher in the Wellness Plus plan, making it a good option for puppies and senior dogs

What’s covered?

Both the Wellness Basic Plan and the Wellness Plus Plan cover the same items but reimburse different amounts per plan. Here’s what’s covered:

• Physical exam (2 per policy term)
• Behavior exam and/or treatment
• Vaccinations
• Fecal test
• Heartworm test
• Nail trim
• Microchipping
• Deworming
• Health certificate
• Flea/tick/heartworm medication
• Health screening (blood tests, x-rays or EKG)

Deductibles: None

Coverage limits

• Wellness Basic: $400/year
• Wellness Plus: $500/year

Reimbursement rates

Reimbursement rates are by invoice item, not as percentages as in most illness and injury policies. Examples include:

• Physical exam: $50 for Basic, $30 for Plus
• Behavior exam: $30
• Heartworm test: $35
• Microchip: $40
• Flea/tick/heartworm medication: $50 for Basic, $75 for Plus
• Vaccination: $50 for Basic, $75 for Plus

Monthly premium: $15–$20 on average (rates vary depending on your pet's age, size, and breed)

Embrace offers a tier of wellness plans that accommodate budget-minded pet parents in their search for affordable preventive pet care. Its unique coverage provides options for tailoring care to the needs of individual pets. Embrace Wellness Rewards has a long list of approved coverage that includes alternative care for dogs.

Although this wellness option acts more like a savings account than an insurance policy, any unused benefits don't roll over to the next year.

Why Embrace's wellness plans are a great choice

• Covers a wide variety of expenses from routine to alternative care
• Reimburses up to $650 a year in wellness expenses
  
• Doesn't impose age limits for illness, injury, or wellness care

What’s covered?

• Wellness exams
• Vaccinations
• Chiropractic care
• Reiki
• Microchipping
• Prescription diet food
• Medicated shampoos
• Teeth cleaning
• Massage therapy
• Training (behavioral and obedience

Deductibles: None

Coverage limits

• $250
• $450
• $650

Waiting period: None

Monthly premium: Varies

More and more traditional pet insurers are embracing wellness as a wise route to fewer illnesses and lower payouts in the long run. While not all insurers have them, the number is growing. Wellness plans currently available provide an array of coverage and reimbursement options. 

Considering alternative treatment for your pet? Most pet insurance companies offer wellness add-ons that cover the cost of natural supplements and preventive care. Start shopping around for pet insurance plans today to find the “pawfect” option for your fur-baby.