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Best Pet Insurance for Routine Care

Updated
David Chang, ChFC®, CLU®
By: David Chang, ChFC®, CLU®

Our Insurance Expert

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

As a pet owner, it's important to make sure your furry friend is always taken care of. That's why having pet insurance for routine care is so important. When it comes to pet insurance, "routine care" can mean different things to different companies.

For some insurers, routine care is included as part of a standard policy, while others consider it to be an optional add-on. Some insurers do not offer routine care. Here is our list for the best pet insurance companies for routine care.

Logo for Embrace
Best for flexible routine care plan optionsEmbrace
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Bottom Line

Embrace offers more wellness plan options than most insurers. It has three options for Wellness Rewards reimbursements: $250, $450, and $650 per year. You also get a $25 annual reward. You can also change your plan during renewal every year. Puppies and kittens typically require more care, so you can start off with the $650 plan and as your pet gets older, switch to the $250 plan. Your full Wellness Rewards amount is also available for use the day you sign up.

For its pet insurance plans, Embrace has a feature called the "Healthy Pet Deductible." For every year a pet owner doesn't receive a claim reimbursement, the deductible is reduced the next year by $50. This means if you have a $200 deductible and do not have a claim for four years, then your deductible will be $0. Once you submit a claim, the Healthy Pet Deductible resets. Many pet insurance companies have waiting periods from 14 to 30 days before coverage kicks in. Waiting periods for Embrace are just two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. Many insurers also do not cover the cost of a pet's exam fee, but Embrace covers the exam fee for all covered accidents and illnesses.

Logo for Spot
Best for customizable coverage choicesSpot
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Bottom Line

The cost of Spot's Gold Preventive Care Plan is $9.95/month, which adds up to $119.40/year. If used to its full potential, the Gold Plan pays up to $250 in routine vet bills. The Platinum Plan at $24.95/month comes to $299.40/year. If used to its full potential, it pays up to $450 on routine vet bills. The Platinum Plan also gives additional benefits such as spaying/neutering, blood tests, urinalysis, and deworming.

Spot Pet Insurance offers customizable options for dog and cat owners. Many pet insurance companies offer a limited selection of coverage options, but Spot allows pet owners to choose tailored pet policies, the reimbursement percentage they want, and the annual limit amount as well as the annual deductible amount. Spot offers an unlimited annual limit. With this option, there is no cap on the annual claim limit after the deductible is met. If pet owners want the maximum level of coverage, then Spot provides policies with 100% coverage option, low deductibles, and a variety of preventive pet insurance options. Spot plans include coverage options for alternative therapy, behavioral training, vitamins, and supplements.

Logo for ASPCA
Best for pets with hereditary and health conditionsASPCA
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Bottom Line

ASPCA offers two preventative care plans. The basic plan is $9.95 a month and the Prime Preventive Plan is $24.95 a month. The total annual benefits for the basic plan are $250 and the Prime plan $450. There is no waiting period or deductible for these plans. These benefits are available as soon as your plan is effective. Some insurers require you to have the policy for 30 days before you can add on a wellness plan.

Another benefit that ASPCA offers is coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions. Most plans exclude pets with hereditary and congenital conditions or have age requirements for pets to qualify. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans have coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions and covers pets regardless of health conditions. ASPCA has no age limits for illness coverage enrollment. It also does not require an exam before pet owners get reimbursed for claims.

Logo for Lemonade
Best for extensive routine care plan optionsLemonade
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Bottom Line

Lemonade is a pet insurance company that uses AI to process claims quickly through its digital app. Lemonade can cover pet owners in seconds and states that claims will be approved in minutes. Lemonade offers three types of preventive packages: the basic Preventative Package, Preventative+ Package, and the Puppy/Kitten Preventative Package. The costs range from $10 to $44 a month depending on the package. The Puppy/Kitten Preventative Package is the most expensive, but it includes coverage for two wellness exams, six vaccines, two fecal or internal parasite tests, spay/neuter, microchipping, and heartworm or flea/tick medication.

Lemonade also offers renters, homeowners, and car insurance. Pet owners can receive a 10% bundle discount if they use Lemonade's other services and a 5% multi-pet discount. Lemonade is a public benefit corporation. A public benefit corporation is a corporation created to generate social and public good. Its goal is to operate in a responsible manner while making a positive impact. Lemonade donates a portion of profits to meaningful causes customers choose, including animal welfare organizations.

Logo for Figo
Best for routine plan pricesFigo
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Bottom Line

Figo offers two tiers of Wellness coverage: Basic and Plus. The price for the basic is $9.50 a month and $16.50 for the plus. Figo's plan prices are among the lowest, but they also have the fewest number of services. In addition, you can only purchase a wellness plan in conjunction with a pet insurance policy.

Figo has no lifetime maximum for care for their pet insurance plans. In addition, there is no per incident cap, meaning there is no maximum for claim payments by condition type. While no plan covers pre-existing conditions, Figo may cover pre-existing conditions considered curable if pets show no signs or symptoms within 12 months of the last treatment. Figo also offers the Figo Pet Cloud app. Pet owners can use the app to connect with other pet owners, find pet parks, pet day care centers and more. Through the app, Figo offers free 24/7 access to a licensed veterinarian to help during emergencies.

Logo for Pets Best
Best for most routine care plan benefitsPets Best
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Bottom Line

Pets Best offers two wellness plans, EssentialWellness at $16 per month and BestWellness at $26 per month. The total annual benefits for the EssentialWellness plan is $305 and $535 for the BestWellness plan, one of the highest compared to its competitors. However you can only add the plan within 30 days of enrolling in a pet insurance plan or at renewal.

Pets Best states that it offers pet insurance policies with customizable coverages and rates based on your budget. It has a 24/7 Pet Helpline where you can talk to veterinary experts who can answer your questions. One of the biggest perks is that Pets Best offers Vet Direct Pay, where the insurer will pay your vet directly. Most insurers require you to pay out of pocket and will reimburse you for veterinary care costs. Pets Best allows you to easily submit claims through its Android and iOS apps.

Logo for Nationwide
Best for basic wellness plan and additional routine care testsNationwide
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Bottom Line

Nationwide offers two wellness care plans. The wellness basic plan ranges from $12 to $18 a month and the wellness plus plan ranges from $17 to $22 a month. The total annual benefits for the wellness basic plan is $400 and $500 for the wellness plus plan. Nationwide's basic wellness plan offers more benefits than most of its competitors. Nationwide also offers one additional test such as a health screen (blood test), radiograph (X-rays), or electrocardiogram (EKG).

Many pet insurance companies only cover the most common pets, such as dogs and cats. Nationwide offers an Avian & Exotic Pet Plan that covers birds, rabbits, reptiles, and other exotic pets. The exotic pet insurance plan covers accidents and illnesses as well as examinations, lab fees, prescriptions, X-rays, hospitalization, and more. Nationwide offers two kinds of reimbursement. Its Whole Pet plan reimburses a percentage of what pet owners pay their veterinarian and its Major Medical plan and Pet Wellness plan reimburse owners according to a benefit schedule. The reimbursement is capped at a set amount for each condition or service.


What is routine care?

Routine care, also known as wellness plans, typically refers to preventive measures that help keep your pet healthy, such as vaccinations, teeth cleaning, and regular check-ups. Some policies may cover routine procedures like spaying/neutering, microchipping, and de-worming. While routine care is not usually considered to be an emergency or necessary medical treatment, it can still be expensive if you have to pay for it out of pocket.

The good news is that many pet insurance policies do cover routine care, either as part of the standard coverage or as an add-on. However, it's important to read the fine print of your policy to see exactly what is and is not covered. Some policies have pre-existing condition exclusions that might prevent certain types of routine care from being covered.

What does pet insurance cover?

There are three types of pet insurance coverage: accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness coverages. Each level determines the type of care covered as well as the cost.

Although most insurers offer the three types of coverage, each plan will have differences within each plan, so it is important to shop around to compare plans.

  • Accident Only (AO) policies offer limited coverage. They do not cover most illnesses. These policies are cheaper than comprehensive coverage and are typically best for emergencies, including:
    • Accidents such as car accidents
    • Foreign body ingestion (swallowed objects)
    • Lacerations
    • Poisoning
    • Ligament tears
  • Accident and Illness (A&I) policies are also known as "comprehensive policies" since they cover accidents plus minor and major illnesses, such as:
    • Accidents
    • Injuries
    • Chronic illnesses (such as cancer, infection, and digestive problems)
    • Infections
    • Diagnostic testing
    • Prescription drugs
    • Emergency care
  • Wellness policies cover routine and preventive care, such as annual check-ups, vaccinations, and teeth cleaning. Routine care policies tend to be riders to A&I policies. If bundled with an A&I policy, they may include:
    • Vaccinations
    • Early screening diagnostics
    • Dental care
    • Consultations for proper nutrition

How much does pet insurance cost?

The cost for pet insurance depends on many variables such as the type of pet, breed, sex, age, location, annual coverage limit, and the deductible. It also depends on the type of coverage you get. Average premium costs can vary from $10 to $50 a month.

Accident only average premiums

  • Dog
    • Annual: $239.11
    • Monthly: $19.93
  • Cat
    • Annual: $130.24
    • Monthly: $10.85

Accident and illness average premiums

  • Dog
    • Annual: $583.91
    • Monthly: $48.66
  • Cat
    • Annual: $342.84
    • Monthly: $28.57

Routine care typically costs $20-$25 per month as a standalone plan. Some pet insurance policies either offer it as part of a standard policy or it can be added on to a plan for an additional fee.

Is routine care for pets worth it?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question since it depends on each pet owner's individual circumstances. Some people feel that routine care is essential for their pet's health and well-being, while others may not think it's necessary. For most pet owners, the cost of a wellness policy is what they would pay out of pocket anyway, so it may not be worth getting a standalone wellness plan. While a basic accident and illness pet health insurance policy will cover pet owners for unexpected vet bills, adding preventive care to a plan can help with expenses they are already paying for.

If pet owners are already paying more than the cost of a preventive care rider for their pet's ongoing healthcare, adding the endorsement can keep their pets healthier. Common items covered under a preventative care or wellness plan include an annual physical exam, fecal or internal parasite test, heartworm test, blood test, vaccines, flea/tick medication, routine dental cleaning, and more.

If your visits to the vet tend to be expensive or your pet needs a lot of preventive care, it may be worth it. Some plans have reimbursement limits for different routine care services. A basic plan may be capped out at $40 for flea prevention, whereas a higher-tier routine care plan may be capped at $60. It is important to know what type of preventive care your wellness plan will cover.

Pet routine care vs. pet insurance plan

There is a big difference between routine care and a pet insurance policy. A routine care plan is a preventive care package that can be purchased from an insurer or even your veterinarian. You are essentially prepaying for care. There is typically no deductible. It will pay up to a certain limit for care such as a wellness exam, vaccinations, spay/neutering, flea/tick prevention, heartworm screening and other preventive services.

Pet insurance, on the other hand, is a type of financial protection that helps to pay for unexpected veterinary expenses, such as emergency surgeries or illnesses. Wellness plans do not typically cover these types of unforeseen costs. There is also a deductible and some plans have no limits on the amount of coverage you receive.

So, which one is right for you? That depends on your budget and your pet's needs. If you're looking for comprehensive coverage that will help you with unexpected vet bills, then pet insurance is the way to go. However, if you're looking for a more affordable way to cover just routine care expenses, then a pet wellness plan might be what you need.

If you're not sure if your pet insurance policy covers routine care, the best thing to do is contact your insurer and ask. They should be able to tell you what is and is not covered under your particular policy. And, if you're in the market for a new pet insurance policy, be sure to compare plans and look for one that offers the coverage you need, including routine care.

Our Insurance Expert