Insurance Curator Keeping your pet healthy means more than covering emergencies. For many U.S. pet owners—especially in cities like Los Angeles, CA; Austin, TX; and Boston, MA—a comprehensive policy that includes a wellness or routine-care plan can reduce out-of-pocket spending and help keep vaccines, dental cleanings, and annual exams on schedule. This guide compares top providers, explains typical costs, and shows how wellness add-ons deliver preventive benefits and savings.
Why include a wellness plan with pet insurance?
- Routine prevention reduces long-term costs. Regular dental care, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and wellness exams catch problems earlier and can prevent expensive treatments later.
- Budget predictability. Wellness plans convert variable routine expenses into a predictable monthly charge.
- Complement to accident & illness coverage. Most accident-and-illness policies exclude routine care; a wellness rider fills that gap.
How wellness plans are structured
Wellness or routine-care plans are typically sold as an add-on (rider) to accident & illness coverage or as a stand-alone preventive plan. Key variables:
- Monthly cost: usually $7–$30 per month depending on coverage level, pet age, and location.
- Coverage types: vaccines, wellness exams, flea/tick prevention, spay/neuter, dental cleanings, and sometimes routine bloodwork.
- Benefits model: fixed-dollar allowance per service or per-year maximums.
- Reimbursement: wellness is often paid directly or reimbursed at set amounts rather than percentage of vet bill.
According to market analyses, average U.S. pet insurance premiums for accident & illness coverage vary by species and region. For context, ValuePenguin reports national averages (2023) of roughly $59/month for dogs and $22/month for cats for accident & illness coverage; wellness riders are additional costs on top of those premiums. (Source: ValuePenguin)
Source: https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-pet-insurance
Top providers that offer wellness/routine care (U.S.-focused)
| Provider | Wellness / Routine Offer | Typical monthly wellness cost (estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | Routine Care add-on (vaccines, wellness exams, microchipping) | $8–$20 | Fast online claims; competitive starting premiums — get a quote at site. Source: Lemonade Pet Insurance. https://www.lemonade.com/pet-insurance |
| Embrace | Wellness Rewards (flexible allowance for routine care) | $7–$25 | Tiered plans and customizable reimbursements. Known for good claim service. https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/wellness/ |
| Nationwide | Whole Pet with Wellness or Wellness Plans | $15–$35 | Includes wellness bundles and optional extensive wellness riders; larger legacy company with many plan options. https://www.nationwide.com/ |
| Healthy Paws | No formal wellness rider (focuses on accidents & illness) | N/A | If you want wellness, pair with a standalone preventive plan or pay-out-of-pocket. https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/ |
| Trupanion | No wellness rider (focus on comprehensive illness/accident with no payout limits) | N/A | Best-known for dedicated claim payments for illness/accident; pair with separate wellness program. https://trupanion.com/ |
Notes:
- Exact wellness prices vary by pet age, breed, ZIP code (e.g., NYC/Los Angeles are typically more expensive than Austin, TX), and selected benefit level. Always get an individual quote.
- Lemonade and Embrace both publish wellness/routine options and sample costs on their product pages.
Sample cost scenarios (illustrative U.S. cities)
- Los Angeles, CA (3-year-old Labrador): Accident & Illness premium estimate: $60–$85/month. Add wellness rider: +$12–$25/month.
- Austin, TX (3-year-old Labrador): Accident & Illness premium estimate: $45–$65/month. Add wellness rider: +$10–$20/month.
- Boston, MA (3-year-old Labrador): Accident & Illness premium estimate: $55–$80/month. Add wellness rider: +$12–$28/month.
Why ranges? Breed-specific risks, local veterinary costs, and state regulations drive price differences. For national average figures and state-by-state breakdowns, see ValuePenguin. https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-pet-insurance
What routine services are commonly covered?
- Annual wellness exam(s)
- Core vaccinations (e.g., rabies, DHPP for dogs; FVRCP for cats)
- Flea/tick and heartworm prevention (some plans cap amounts)
- Routine dental cleaning (may be limited)
- Spay/neuter (often capped)
- Microchipping and registered microchip fees
- Routine bloodwork for senior wellness (sometimes an add-on)
Read plan details carefully: some policies reimburse at fixed amounts (e.g., $20 per vaccine), others provide a yearly allowance (e.g., $250/year). Check exclusions and waiting periods.
How wellness plans produce savings — real examples
- Vaccination series + annual exam: typical out-of-pocket $100–$300/year; a wellness rider that costs $10/month ($120/year) could break even or save money if it covers all vaccines/exam.
- Dental scaling with anesthesia: $300–$800. A wellness plan that includes an annual dental cleaning (rare at high coverage) can produce major savings.
- Parasite prevention (yearly): heartworm/flea meds often cost $100–$200/year; many wellness plans offer partial or full reimbursement.
Embrace and Lemonade list sample routine-care coverages and can show exact benefit amounts after you enter pet details. See Embrace Wellness for examples. https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/wellness/ and Lemonade’s pet page. https://www.lemonade.com/pet-insurance
Choosing the right combination: policy + wellness
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Evaluate your pet’s needs:
- Young pets: vaccines, spay/neuter, microchipping.
- Adult pets: parasite prevention, annual checkups, dental maintenance.
- Senior pets: bloodwork, more frequent dental and wellness needs.
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Compare total monthly cost = accident & illness premium + wellness rider cost. Use provider quotes for your ZIP code and pet age.
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Compare benefit structure:
- Annual allowance vs per-service fixed amounts.
- Per-condition limits, waiting periods, and breed exclusions.
- Reimbursement speed and claims experience (see provider reviews).
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Consider alternatives:
- Pay-as-you-go for minimal care if your pet rarely needs routine services.
- Use a standalone preventive plan or clinic membership for routine services if insurer doesn’t offer acceptable wellness options.
For deeper comparisons on reimbursement types and which is best for different owners, see: Best Insurance For Pets Comparing Reimbursement Models: Percentage Reimbursement vs Fee Schedules.
If you have an older pet, check specialized guidance on balancing routine care with coverage limits: Best Insurance For Senior Pets: Affordable Coverage for Older Dogs and Cats.
If you’re deciding between accident-only and comprehensive plans (and whether the wellness rider justifies the extra cost), read: Best Insurance For Pets: Accident-Only vs Comprehensive Plans—Which Is Worth It?.
Final checklist before buying
- Get at least three quotes for your pet’s age, breed, and ZIP code.
- Confirm whether wellness benefits are reimbursed or paid at flat rates.
- Check cap amounts per year and per service.
- Verify waiting periods for both illness and wellness benefits.
- Review claim turnaround times and customer service reputation.
Bottom line
A wellness plan is often a worthwhile add-on when you want predictable, budget-friendly preventive care—particularly in higher-cost U.S. cities like Los Angeles or Boston. For many owners, a combined accident & illness policy plus a modest wellness rider (roughly $7–$25/month) delivers peace of mind and long-term savings. Get tailored quotes from Lemonade, Embrace, Nationwide, and others to see which mix of coverage and routine benefits fits your pet and your wallet.
External references
- ValuePenguin — Average Cost of Pet Insurance (2023 data): https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-pet-insurance
- Lemonade Pet Insurance: https://www.lemonade.com/pet-insurance
- Embrace Wellness plans: https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/wellness/