Petsmart Insurance Review
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In this article, we will talk about the Petsmart Insurance and Banfield Optimum Wellness Plan. We will explain how they work and provide detailed information on the different Banfield Pet Wellness Plans.
What is Petsmart Pet Insurance?
Petsmart’s insurance/medical care plans for pets are often referred to as pet health insurance; they are actually a little different. Instead, Petsmart offers a range of “wellness” plans for your pet that have a focus on providing regular preventative medicine and care.
Banfield and Petsmart Insurance: How Does it Work?
The Banfield and Petsmart insurance does not work like conventional insurance policies but rather as discount membership programs or something like wellness plans – it is more about supporting the pet’s health than providing reactive veterinary care.
When getting actual insurance, you pay monthly fees, and in case of an emergency, the insurance has you covered – first, you pay the procedure and then get a reimbursement. Therefore, most insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions.
The Banfield and Petsmart benefits plans are a bit different. You still need to pay a monthly fee, but instead of covering accidents, you get discounts on preventive care services such as parasite control, vaccinations, and even physical exams. Because of the preventive nature of the plans, they do not offer coverage for illnesses and injuries.
Basically, if your pet needs a trip to the emergency room, the Petsmart insurance will not make the payment easier. However, it provides you discounts on regular vaccines. Because of the partnered nature of the two companies, the Petsmart discounts are valid strictly in the Banfield pet hospitals.
Pet Insurance Plans Petsmart Offers
Petsmart offers several different wellness programs. Let’s take a look at each so you can decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
Petsmart Puppy Wellness Plans
The puppy wellness plans are recommended for puppies under six months. There are two wellness plans for puppies, and both can be upgraded to get discounts on parasite control.
EARLY CARE. Here are the services included in this plan:
- Two regular wellness visits
- Early detection blood screening
- Initial vaccinations
- Heartworm and Lyme disease test
- Fecal exams and deworming
- Unlimited Banfield Health Clinic office visits
- 5% discount on Banfield services and products
EARLY CARE PLUS. This wellness plan offers the same services as the Early Care plan with the addition of a spay and neuter surgery discount. Here is what you get with the early care plus plan:
- Two physical exams
- Yearly vaccinations
- Blood screening
- Heartworm and Lyme screening
- Fecal exams and deworming
- Dental cleaning
- Urine testing
- Preventative X-rays
- Eye pressure test
- Electrocardiograms or ECG
- Unlimited office visits
- 20% discount on Banfield services and products
Petsmart Adult Wellness Plans
Once your dog reaches the age of 6 months, it is time to switch the puppy wellness plan for an adult wellness plan. Same as the puppy plans, the adult wellness plans can be upgraded to include parasite control. Plus, you can choose add-ons for additional dental cleanings, late spay/neuter surgery, DNA tests, and chronic care.
ACTIVE CARE. This is the basic package and offers only physical exams and annual vaccination boosters. To be more precise, here are the services:
- Two physical exams
- Yearly vaccinations
- Blood screening
- Heartworm and Lyme screening
- Fecal exams and deworming
- Unlimited office visits
- 10% discount on Banfield services and products
ACTIVE CARE PLUS. As an upgraded version, the active care plus plan includes urine testing and dental cleaning. These are the services that go with this plan:
- Two physical exams
- Yearly vaccinations
- Blood screening
- Heartworm and Lyme screening
- Fecal exams and deworming
- Dental cleaning
- Urine testing
- Unlimited office visits
- 15% discount on Banfield services and products
SPECIAL CARE PLUS. The special care plan is best for dogs with pre-existing illnesses as it includes certain diagnostic testing such as three preventive x-rays, two electrocardiograms, and two eye pressure tests. Here is a more detailed overview of the services included:
- Two physical exams
- Yearly vaccinations
- Blood screening
- Heartworm and Lyme screening
- Fecal exams and deworming
- Dental cleaning
- Urine testing
- Preventative X-rays
- Eye pressure test
- Electrocardiograms or ECG
- Unlimited office visits
- 20% discount on Banfield services and products
Cost of Petsmart Insurance Plans
On the face of it, the cost of dog insurance or a wellness plan can seem expensive. Even if you opt for a monthly payment scheme, it does add up.
But, if you have ever had a pet that has needed to receive serious medical attention as a result of a chronic illness or an accident, you know the vet services come with hefty price tags.
Here are the monthly fees for the different Banfield wellness plans:
- Puppies under six months
- Early care: $37.95
- Early care plus: $47.95
- Kittens under six months
- Early care: $34.95
- Early care plus: $41.95
- Dogs over six months
- Active care: $33.95
- Active care plus: $44.95
- Special care: $56.95
- Cats over six months
- Active care: $29.95
- Active care plus: $43.95
- Special care: $52.95.
Pros and Cons of Banfield’s PetSmart Insurance
The purpose of Banfield Petsmart insurance is to encourage you to get your pet to the vet for regular check-ups and medical treatment. That way, any potential issues are identified and prevented or managed before your pet gets sick or treated early.
Namely, by helping your pet stay as healthy as they can be, you are potentially saving money in veterinary care. It is better to prevent an illness or medical condition that could cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars if caught later on.
- There are various benefits of Petsmart insurance. For starters, you can customize plans to your individual pet’s needs. And there are no exclusions for pets with pre-existing conditions.
- Plus, each plan offers different discounts on additional products and services offered by Banfield. Not to mention the unlimited office visits you get with each package.
- Last but not least, all Petsmart wellness plans include free 24/7 access to the Vet Chat App - an on-demand online vet service.
- The main disadvantage of Petsmart insurance is the lack of medical coverage for illnesses and injuries. The nature of Banfield’s plans is more about preventing than proactively treating.
- Another con of the Petsmart pet insurance plan is that the discount can only be used in one of the Banfield locations. Plus, they only offer benefits plans for dogs and cats.
- The final disadvantage is the requirement of yearly contracts. This is tricky for pet owners who end up paying high fees to get out of the annual contract.
Our Final Thoughts on Petsmart Insurance
If you are interested and want to invest in your pet’s health, check out the official website for Petsmart insurance, as it provides a summary of your PetSmart benefits, the operations of Petsmart, and the different Banfield wellness plans.
Being a responsible pet parent is a full-time job. In such a case, knowing you have a well-crafted and individually tailored wellness plan as a backup is more than comforting. Not to mention discounts on veterinary care.