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What is the difference between pet insurance and wellness plan?

Pet insurance and wellness plans are two different options for helping make your pet’s healthcare more affordable. Here, our vets explain the differences and the benefits of each.


Protecting Your Pet's Future

When it comes to veterinary care, it’s important to understand what types of services your pet is and isn't covered for.

This helps ensure you aren’t left out of pocket when you visit your vet or need to plan the payment for your pet's care. 

Both wellness plans and pet insurance policies offer benefits, but they are very different. 

In this post, our Charlotte veterinarians explain the differences and benefits of both pet insurance and pet wellness plans. 

Pet Wellness Plans

What is a wellness plan?

Wellness plans can help you cover the cost of routine veterinary care and, unlike pet insurance, you only pay for the treatments and services you use. By paying a small monthly amount, you can adopt a more proactive approach to veterinary care. Wellness plans help your vet spot early signs of any conditions or diseases your pet may have, before they become more serious, and potentially very expensive. 

What does a wellness plan cover?

Wellness plans generally cover routine vet care such as microchipping, vaccinations and dental care. These plans help you to spread the cost of improving and maintaining the standard of your pet’s overall health during their lifetime.  

What is pet insurance?

If your pet requires emergency veterinary care, pet insurance takes care of any veterinary bills to ensure you won’t be left out of pocket. 

Emergency treatment or treating an illness like cancer or diabetes can quickly become very expensive. Pet insurance means you will have financial help to pay the bills for conditions and accidents that are covered by your pet insurance policy. 

What does pet insurance cover?

Pet insurance generally covers treatment for illnesses or emergency treatment needed after accidents. It may also include the treatment of hereditary and congenital conditions, orthopedic conditions, and prescription medications.

How do I choose which option to buy?

Some pet owners opt for either a wellness plan or pet insurance, while some subscribe to both to ensure their pet has complete protection. Making sure you know exactly how wellness plans and pet insurance can benefit you and your pet and can help you decide on what to purchase.

You vet can also help you decide what is right for your pet based on their particular needs and concerns. 

Our annual Wellness Plans help keep pets healthy. Choose the Wellness Plan that's right for your pet.

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Providence Animal Hospital has been providing comprehensive veterinary care for your cherished pets in Charlotte since 1993.

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