Worms in Dogs: Prevent, Diagnose, and Treat Different Types of Worms
Best Pet Wellness Plans For Routine Care (2024)
Top 7 Pet Wellness Plans from Insurance ProvidersWe at the MarketWatch Guides team have reviewed dozens of pet insurance providers offering wellness plans to help you determine the right coverage for your pet. Based on our in-depth review, we picked the following providers as the best pet insurance companies offering wellness coverage.
Compare The Best Pet Insurance Wellness PlansAccording to our analysis of how much it costs to own a pet, the average base price for wellness care is $448 annually. Use the table below to compare our top picks based on available wellness coverage, cost and expected savings.
*We estimated annual costs based on average pricing to insure dogs and cats. Your price will vary depending on your pet, location and chosen plan.
What is a Pet Wellness Plan?A pet wellness plan covers routine veterinary visits and other routine health care such as annual vet checkups, lab work, blood work, vaccines, dental care, physical exams and more. These routine treatments and checkups are essential to maintaining your pet's health. A pet wellness plan often only covers preventive care and does not include accident and illness coverage.
In most cases, wellness plans are add-ons for pet insurance and not available as stand-alone coverage. Wellness plans usually include a monthly fee, or premium, in exchange for reimbursement for preventative vet visits up to a specific annual allowance. However, some providers may use a similar copay method to pet insurance.
Dog Wellness PlansPuppy wellness plans typically cover exams, microchipping, spaying/neutering, vaccines such as DHLPP and various other preventative care treatments. According to Dr. Angela Beal, DVM, the annual cost of routine care for a puppy could reach as high as $1,890. Dog wellness plans help cover these costs, alleviating the need for out-of-pocket payments.
Cat Wellness PlansCat wellness plans cover similar preventative care measures as dog wellness plans, with the difference that companies typically include coverage for cat-specific vaccines. These may encompass vaccines for the feline panleukopenia virus, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
Our Top Recommended Pet Wellness Plans How We Ranked The Best Pet Wellness PlansMany pet insurance providers offer comprehensive insurance options for pet owners, but few companies offer quality wellness plans that will guarantee savings. At MarketWatch Guides, we pride ourselves in providing the most accurate and up-to-date pet insurance cost information by manually gathering over 2,000 sample insurance premiums and comparing pet ownership costs. We used the following factors to help rank our top pet wellness plans:
For more information on how we review pet insurance companies, review our editorial guidelines.
What's The Difference Between Pet Insurance and Pet Wellness Plans?Pet insurance plans typically cover costs associated with accidents and illnesses. They often don't include wellness coverage unless you have it as an add-on. Pet insurance that covers routine care is associated with any routine expenses, such as your pet's annual check-up.
The table below compares coverage for a pet insurance policy versus a pet wellness plan.
Watch the video below to learn more in-depth differences between pet insurance plans and preventative care plans by Heart and Paw.
What Does a Wellness Pet Insurance Plan Cover?In contrast to pet health insurance, pet wellness plans provide an annual allowance for preventative care. This includes items like pest prevention, vaccination, fixing procedures and exam fees. Pet wellness plans typically cover the following:
We asked Angela Beal, DVM, for the average cost of common wellness treatments based on her 20 years as a licensed veterinarian. Here's what she said:
Coverage Item Average Cost* Annual exam $50–$80 Vaccines $20–$60 each (up to six required each year, depending on the pet) Dental cleaning $300–$500 Spay or neuter $200–$600 Heartworm test $35–$75 Blood and urine tests $80–$200 Fecal test $35–$75*Average cost is based on our conversation with Dr. Beal and may vary depending on your location, veterinary technician and pet.
What's Not Covered by Pet Insurance Wellness Plans?Wellness plans do not cover emergency vet care, which includes treatments related to the following:
However, you can obtain coverage for accidents and illnesses, or just accidents, by purchasing a standard pet insurance policy.
How Much Do Pet Wellness Plans Cost?The cost of pet wellness care will depend heavily on the provider and the amount of coverage included. Pet owners cannot buy just a pet wellness plan; they must also buy an accident-and-illness or accident-only insurance plan.
The cost for just a pet wellness plan add-on is typically under $20, ranging from $10-$19 for our top recommended companies. The cost ranges from around $41 to $67 for a basic pet insurance policy and a preventative care package.
Most pet insurance companies offer the same pet wellness plan option for all breeds. The table below has a breakdown of pet wellness plan costs and the overall cost of pet insurance and preventative care.
Many pet insurance companies offer two tiers of wellness coverage: A basic tier that typically ranges from $10-$22 per month and a more comprehensive package that averages $20-$35 per month. Which plan option you choose will depend on your exact preventative care needs.
Do Pet Wellness Plans Have Waiting Periods?Every pet insurance company has waiting periods before coverage begins, which also applies to wellness plans. Pet insurance that covers routine care also has an average waiting period of one to two weeks. Be sure to enroll in a pet insurance plan with an additional wellness plan before starting routine care to receive coverage.
Do Pet Wellness Plans Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?No, pet wellness plans don't cover preexisting or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, no pet insurer currently covers pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies see pets with these medical conditions as costly and high-risk investments, especially since they're guaranteed to need veterinary care in the foreseeable future.
However, some companies will distinguish between curable and incurable conditions, opting to cover curable conditions with specific stipulations. In addition, some routine treatments covered in wellness plans may help cure these conditions.
Is a Pet Wellness Plan Worth It?A pet wellness plan can be worth it, especially if you have a young puppy or kitten, because oftentimes, you will get more use of your preventative pet insurance if you start your pet young. Though routine pet care costs less than surgeries or cancer treatments, you'll ultimately spend more on preventive care throughout your pet's lifetime if you don't have a wellness plan.
According to health care financing company Care Credit, vet exams, core vaccinations, and procedures such as spaying or neutering and microchip implantations can total $2,800 in a puppy's first year. The first-year cost for a cat is nearly $2,500.
DID YOU KNOW?
If you paid $55 per month for a pet insurance plan with wellness care, you'd pay $660 over the course of a year for coverage rather than $2,800. That's $2,140 in savings!
Without a wellness plan, pet owners should plan to spend $7,600 to $19,000 in veterinary care over their cat or dog's lifetime. An add-on wellness plan can help to offset the cost of annual preventive healthcare for your dog or cat through a low monthly fee added to your pet insurance premium. While it will not cover all expenses, it will help spread the cost out over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Wellness Plans Do all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans?No, not all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans. However, it is a quite common offering that most companies allow.
How do I enroll in a preventative care plan?Most pet insurers allow you to enroll in a wellness plan by applying online or over the phone. The best time to obtain wellness coverage is when you sign up for pet insurance or renew your policy.
Do wellness plans cover neutering?Yes, many pet wellness plans cover neutering. However, the neuter/spay package is often included in a higher tier preventative care plan or one made specifically for kittens or puppies. Be sure to check the coverages of your wellness plan before purchasing.
Does a wellness plan cover vet office visits for accidents?No, treatments for accidents are not considered preventative care and are not covered under wellness plans. However, you can purchase accident-only pet insurance for this type of coverage.
What is a wellness package for dogs?A wellness package for dogs is an add-on for dog insurance that expands coverage to include preventative care treatments like blood and urine tests, vaccinations and exam fees.
Dog Owners Encouraged To Be Aware Of Heartworm Risk As Temperatures Rise
Risk of heartworm transmission rises as mosquitoes become more activeRising mosquito activity heading into the summer months poses an increased risk of transmitting heartworm disease to dogs, which can lead to damage of the heart, lungs and arteries if left untreated.
Cathy Campbell, DVM, veterinary diagnostician at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, in Bryan-College Station, explains the heartworm life cycle, the best time for testing, and tips for prevention.
What are heartworms and how are they transmitted to dogs?Heartworm disease is caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis and is transmitted to animals through mosquitoes, according to the American Heartworm Society. Mature heartworms can live within dogs for up to seven years.
"When a mosquito happens to bite an animal infected with heartworms, it ingests microfilariae, or baby heartworms, through a blood meal," Campbell said.
Those microfilariae morph into larvae inside the mosquito in 10-14 days. That infected mosquito tends to fly around and bite a dog, transmitting the larvae to a new host. Once transmitted, the larvae enter the dog's bloodstream and migrate to the heart.
"Larvae set up housekeeping in the heart and grow into sexual maturity in six to seven months," Campbell said. "Mature worms produce microfilariae, which are released into the bloodstream where they await another mosquito to come and bite the dog, take up a blood sample and continue the cycle."
It takes six to seven months in the heartworm's life cycle before they can be detected on a test. Therefore, most veterinarians recommend testing dogs for heartworms around 6 to 7 months of age.
Testing to detect heartworms in dogsTVMDL offers two different approaches to testing.
The first approach is to detect the baby heartworms produced by adult heartworms in the heart. TVMDL's clinical pathology section can detect microfilariae using either a filter method or through a modified Knott's test.
However, not all heartworm infections produce baby heartworms, so it is best to include an "occult" heartworm test using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA — the second testing approach.
Technicians at TVMDL use the ELISA test to detect antigens associated with pregnant female heartworms. A positive result indicates adult female heartworms are present. This is the primary testing method to detect heartworms.
TVMDL's role in testing for heartworm diseaseMost private veterinary clinics can perform heartworm antigen/ELISA testing in-house, Campbell said. TVMDL primarily conducts confirmatory heartworm testing with a different antigen test after these clinics have gotten an initial positive result.
Confirmatory testing is performed for several reasons. The first is to confirm a dog truly is positive for heartworms prior to undergoing treatment, because the treatment drug used for heartworms can have significant side effects and should not be used unless adult heartworms are present.
The second reason is to document heartworm prevention drug failure. Several manufacturers guarantee coverage of treatment for a dog that has been on their product but developed heartworms despite well-documented testing and dispensing of medication by a licensed veterinarian. There is evidence of a preventative-resistant heartworm variant, primarily in the Mississippi delta region of the U.S.
Lastly, sometimes test results can be unclear. TVMDL can offer a differing testing option to help support or confirm findings.
Although TVMDL serves a confirmatory role for most antigen heartworm tests, the agency typically conducts initial testing for the heartworm antibody test in felines. Due to the infrequency with which this test is needed in private practice on cats, many veterinary clinics do not perform this test in-house and defer testing to TVMDL.
Prevention recommendationsTVMDL encourages veterinarians to educate their clients on the benefits of giving year-round heartworm preventatives to both their canine and feline patients and supports annual testing of canines.
"Texas' mild climate lends toward year-round mosquito activity," Campbell said. "Missing a dose of heartworm preventative, or even administering a dose late, may allow a window of opportunity for mosquitoes to infect pets."
Sign up for HPJ InsightsOur weekly newsletter delivers the latest news straight to your inbox including breaking news, our exclusive columns and much more.
For additional information on heartworm disease, visit the American Heartworm Society. For more information on testing, visit TVMDL's testing services or call the TVMDL laboratory nearest to you.
PHOTO: Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory officials are reminding pet owners that with rising mosquito populations comes the need for testing and prevention against heartworms. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)
The 7 Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies (May 2024)
The Cheapest Pet Insurance CompaniesHere are the eight best and most affordable pet insurance companies based on our review:
Why Trust MarketWatch GuidesOur editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing pet insurance companies based on coverage, cost, customer service and more. Our team secret-shopped for quotes in April 2024 to provide the most accurate rates possible. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.
5
Veterinary Professionals
To determine which pet insurers offer the cheapest coverage, our team secret-shopped several brands and collected nearly 18,000 quotes. We requested quotes for 10 pet types with a variety of breeds and ages ranging from 3 months to 8 years old. Then, we averaged rates from each provider to complete our ranking of the cheapest companies.
What Companies Didn't Make the Top 8 Cheapest Pet Insurers?If none of the above options fit your pet's needs, consider Embrace or Paw Protect. Embrace offers an accident and illness plan that covers a comprehensive list of services and an optional wellness plan with three benefit levels. Paw Protect offers the unique option of applying for an interest-free line of credit to pay for vet bills.
However, cost was a determining factor in excluding these providers from our list. According to our research, Embrace and Paw Protect policies cost $56 per month on average.
Compare Cheap Pet Insurance CompaniesWhen comparing pet insurance plan costs, it helps to start with a clear picture of the coverage you want. Keep the plan details — such as deductible, reimbursement rate and annual percentage — the same across companies you consider for a fair comparison. If you compare an unlimited policy to one with a $5,000 annual limit, the cost and value difference between the two companies will not be evident. Not all pet insurers measure risk equally, so be sure to collect at least three quotes before enrolling in any plan.
Cheap Pet Insurance Rating MethodologyWe reviewed rates and plan options from each pet insurance company to find the cheapest options for pet owners. Our team analyzed data from 35 pet insurance companies, gathering pricing information for four different pets directly from companies' websites and through PetInsurer.Com. We then scored each provider on a 100% scale and divided the final score by 20 to calculate an overall rating out of 5 stars. Here are more details about the factors we considered for the cheapest companies:
To learn more about our rating methodology, read our full pet insurance methodology for reviewing and scoring providers.
Ask an Expert: A Veterinarian's Take on Finding Affordable Pet Insurance"Any pet at any age can have medical problems, so I recommend pet insurance for almost all pets, but especially young animals who are otherwise healthy and without preexisting conditions. This will allow for the least expensive and most comprehensive insurance."
What Is the Best and Most Affordable Pet Insurance?ManyPets is the most affordable pet insurance company for cats, offering coverage for less than $30 per month in many scenarios we tested. We averaged actual quotes from all 50 states for a total of 200 sample premiums and obtained the following average monthly rates for four types of pets:
Lemonade is the most affordable pet insurance company for dogs, offering plans on average $0.10 less than ManyPets. Lemonade's overall average landed $0.12 more than ManyPets. For the same pets as above, Lemonade's averages are as follows:
There are more ways to find the cheapest pet insurance than simply shopping for the lowest premiums. We surveyed 1,000 pet owners with pet insurance to learn more about how much pet insurance costs, what customers look for in a policy and how to save money.
Here, we offer tips and tricks for lowering your monthly premium without minimizing the peace of mind that your furry friend is covered in the event of unexpected vet care.
Consult a Veterinarian on Which Plan Your Pet NeedsYour veterinarian can help you determine which affordable pet insurance plan best fits your pet's needs without exceeding your budget. For example, a vet can help you pinpoint common conditions your pet's breed faces and ensure they are covered in the plan you buy.
Insure Your Pet EarlyNo pet insurer will cover pre-existing conditions, which are injuries or illnesses a vet notices before your coverage starts. Insuring your animal at an early age is the best way to maximize your coverage and avoid denied claims.
Our 2022 pet insurance survey showed that 77% of pet owners insured their pets before age two, but we recommend insuring your pet even earlier if possible. For example, Fetch offers an advantage by allowing coverage to start when your pet is just six weeks old — typically before many health issues present themselves.
Consider an Accident-Only PlanAccording to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association's (NAPHIA) 2022 State of the Industry Report, you can expect to pay $29 monthly for dogs and $11 for cats with accident-only coverage. That amounts to monthly savings of about $20 for dogs and $9 for cats compared to accident and illness coverage.
Although accident-only plans have limited coverage, they are ideal for some pet owners' needs and budgets. For example, if you have a vaccinated indoor cat, you may not be as worried about the probability of illness. An accident-only plan would still cover accidental injuries from chewing cords, falling from heights, eating poisonous houseplants and more at a lower cost.
Adjust the Coverage LevelsMost pet insurers allow you to customize components of your policy, enabling you to adjust the amount of coverage you receive and the cost. Here are the key components of pet insurance policies and how they affect your bottom line:
When customizing your coverage, be mindful that you don't make changes that will drastically limit your coverage's effectiveness.
"Keep in mind that a lower coverage level means a lower premium, but it also means less protection for your pet and more out-of-pocket costs if your pet becomes ill or injured," said Becky Simmonds, professional dog trainer and behaviorist at Breed Advisor.
Review Available DiscountsWhether you have multiple furry friends or a history of military service, you can save money on pet insurance by selecting a provider with discounts that match your situation. The following are common pet insurance discounts:
Every pet insurance plan will have different costs, coverage options and features, so it's important to take your time and research which provider is the best fit for you. We recommend you get a quote from at least three pet insurance providers on this list.
In addition to price, consider other features that may be important to you, like a mobile app, a 24/7 emergency vet line, or a robust wellness plan. Dr. Jamie Whittenburg, veterinary director with Senior Tail Waggers, emphasized the importance of learning about each policy's finer details.
"Understanding what is and is not covered, claim procedures and turnaround times, and reimbursement policies are especially important," Whittenburg said.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?The average cost of pet insurance is $49 per month. However, pet insurance prices can vary significantly depending on the level of coverage you want and the details of your pet, among other factors. You'll get the most accurate cost information by gathering quotes for your specific needs. That said, our team collected and reviewed actual quotes from top pet insurers to find the providers with the lowest prices. We obtained quotes for the following pets:
For each species, we calculated the average premium by taking the mean of the quotes obtained.
What Affects the Cost of Pet Insurance?Pet insurers consider the following factors when determining the cost of a policy:
Pet insurance can save you money if your pet experiences an emergency accident or illness and requires expensive veterinary care. Unless it is a pre-existing condition, pet insurance may pay a significant portion of this bill — typically between 70% and 90% — allowing your pet to receive needed care for a much lower fee.
Here is an example. Suppose you have an accident and illness plan for your dog, costing $584 per year according to NAPHIA's averages. After two years of coverage and $1,168 in premiums, your dog swallows a bone and needs emergency vet care.
According to Care Credit, treating a foreign object in a dog's stomach costs $3,262. You consent to the treatment and file a claim.
Your insurance company pays $2,436 once the claim is approved, leaving you with a bill for $826 (your $500 deductible plus 10% of $3,262).
In this example, you pay a total of $1,994 for pet insurance and the cost of the claim. That's $1,268 cheaper than the out-of-pocket expenses for this emergency without pet insurance.
The following chart shows the amount an average pet owner can expect to save each year when they enroll in a comprehensive pet insurance plan that covers vet visits, medication, emergency care, vaccines, and spaying or neutering.
Monthly pet insurance costs in each state were found by averaging the price of 4 pet care plans for 11 providers for a total of 38 quotes averaged. The cost to own a pet was calculated through a Guides Home Team analysis of the annual reoccurring costs of pet care. Our team only considered the pet care costs that would be covered by pet insurance in calculating yearly savings.
At What Age Is Pet Insurance the Cheapest?Simply put, the younger your pet is, the cheaper it is to insure. Pet insurance plans are the most affordable at the minimum pet age requirement, which for most companies is 8 weeks. This is because puppies and kittens are less likely to experience health complications than older animals and, therefore, present a smaller risk to insurers. Some insurers even impose an age cutoff for coverage or charge more for senior pets.
Additionally, it can be financially advantageous to enroll your animal before pre-existing conditions develop and exclude your pet from insurance coverage.
Is Cheap Pet Insurance Worth It?Pet insurance is worth the cost for over 81% of respondents in our 2023 survey of 1,000 pet owners. However, whether cheap pet insurance is worth it for you depends on your needs and the methods you use to reduce the cost of coverage. An accident-only plan may be worth it for a pet parent of an indoor cat but it might not be enough coverage for an energetic puppy with free reign outdoors.
Becky Simmonds, dog trainer and behaviorist at Breed Advisor, said, "Unexpected veterinary expenses can be very costly, and pet insurance can help cover these costs. If you are worried about being able to afford unexpected veterinary bills, pet insurance can provide financial protection for your pet."
Additionally, cheap pet insurance is not inherently inferior to more expensive options in terms of coverage and plan details. Our top picks in this article all offer full-service accident and illness plans that can protect pet parents financially after a wide variety of pet emergencies. We recommend carefully reading through a pet insurance policy before enrolling to ensure it covers any breed-specific dental or other health conditions you're particularly concerned about.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Pet Insurance How can I qualify for cheap pet insurance?There is no special qualification for cheap pet insurance. Details about your pet, such as its species, age and pre-existing conditions, may determine its eligibility for any given plan.
How much is full coverage pet insurance?Using cost data gathered from 11 top pet insurers, we found pet insurance costs $23 to $48 for an adult dog, and cat insurance costs anywhere from $15 to $24.
Is it easy to find cheap pet insurance?The providers on this list offer high-quality pet insurance at affordable prices, making it easy to find an excellent policy in your price range. Lemonade consistently offers low prices across multiple states, but Spot or ASPCA may be a good choice for pet parents who want affordable accident-only coverage.
What is the average annual cost to insure a dog?According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average annual premiums for dog insurance in 2020 were $218 for accident-only insurance plans and $594 for an accident-and-illness plan.
Are wellness care add-ons worth it?Yes, wellness care add-ons can be worth it. Based on our 2021 survey of 1,000 pet owners, 70% of those without pet insurance paid between $200 and $1,000 for routine care services each year. A preventive care add-on covers wellness care such as vaccinations, blood work, flea and tick treatment, heartworm prevention and spay/neuter surgery. Additionally, the average annual price of a preventive care add-on is less than these combined services.
Is there a pet insurance policy without a deductible?There are pet insurance policies without deductibles. However, remember that some pet insurance policies with no deductible require a much higher premium.
Comments
Post a Comment