Got a new puppy and Im trying to figure out what I actually need. The vet is pushing their wellness plan which covers vaccines and checkups. Then theres pet insurance which people keep telling me to get. Are these the same thing? Different? Do I need both? My head is spinning and my wallet is already crying from the puppy itself lol
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Totally different things! Wellness plans cover routine stuff - vaccines, checkups, sometimes teeth cleaning. Insurance covers unexpected stuff - accidents, illnesses, emergencies. Wellness plans are basically payment plans for predictable expenses. Insurance is protection against big surprise bills. Some people have both, some just have insurance, some just have wellness. Depends on your finances and risk tolerance.
ohhhh that makes way more sense. so insurance wont help pay for his vaccines?
correct. basic pet insurance is accident/illness only. some insurers offer wellness add-ons for extra cost but theyre usually not great value imo. you can budget for routine care yourself since you know roughly what it costs
I work at a vet clinic and honestly the wellness plans are mostly good for the vet, not you. You end up paying similar to what youd pay if you just paid for stuff as needed, but youre locked in. Insurance is different - its actual risk protection for the big stuff that can bankrupt you. If I could only pick one itd be insurance every time.
Did the math on my vet's wellness plan vs just paying out of pocket. Over 12 months the plan costs $35/month ($420/year). It covers a checkup ($65), vaccines ($150), and fecal test ($45). Thats $260 in actual services. So youre paying $160 extra for... I guess convenience? Made zero sense to me. Insurance is different math because youre hedging against unpredictable expensive events.
wow when you put it that way the wellness plan seems like a bad deal
I have both but only because my insurance has a wellness add-on that actually makes sense (Embrace). It covers about $450 in routine care per year for $15/month extra. Not amazing savings but I like having everything under one billing. Definitely prioritize the actual insurance part though - thats what saved me $4k when my dog ate a sock and needed surgery