Banfield’s Wellness Plans: A Comprehensive Guide
Banfield Pet Hospital offers a range of wellness plans designed to help pet owners manage the costs of routine veterinary care. These plans, designed to focus on preventative care, are a distinct service from pet insurance. Unlike pet insurance, Banfield’s plans are only applicable at Banfield Pet Hospital locations and do not cover accidents or illnesses.
Understanding Banfield’s Wellness Plans
Banfield’s plans cover wellness-related expenses such as routine exams and vaccinations. It’s important to distinguish these from pet insurance plans. Pet insurance typically covers unexpected vet bills for accidents and illness, and allows you to choose any licensed veterinarian. Banfield’s wellness plans are stand-alone options that are not connected to pet insurance plans.
Banfield Wellness Plan Options
Banfield offers several wellness plan options. Generally, the more you pay, the more coverage you receive.
Active Care Plan
The Active Care plan covers:
- Exam fees for office visits
- Two comprehensive exams per year
- Two virtual vet visits yearly
- 24/7 Vet Chat service
- One advisor session for nutrition
- One routine diagnostic test annually, such as blood tests
- Vaccinations
- A 10% discount on select Banfield products and services, not included in the plan
- Two fecal exams yearly
- Two dewormings yearly
- Unlimited interstate health certificates
Active Care Plus Plan
This plan includes all the benefits of Active Care, plus:
- One professional dental cleaning each year
- Urine testing
- A 15% discount on some Banfield products and services
Special Care Plan
This plan covers everything offered in both the Active Care and Active Care Plus plans, as well as the following:
- Preventative X-rays (three views)
- Two annual eye pressure tests for dogs
- Two electrocardiograms for dogs each year
- A 20% discount on some Banfield products and services not included in the plan
Early Care Plans for Puppies and Kittens
For pets under six months old, these plans provide all the base plan (Active Care) benefits but also offer coverage for spaying and neutering. Under the Early Care plans, there are additional benefits.
- Three fecal exams each year
- Four dewormings each year
- Unlimited interstate health certificates
- A 5% discount on some Banfield products and services
- Early Care Plus plans also include coverage for spaying and neutering and a 10% discount on some products and services.
- Puppy owners receive a “Wisdom Panel DNA test” to detect potential genetic health risks.
Banfield Wellness Plan Add-Ons: Parasite Control
Banfield wellness plans allow you to add parasite control options for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens. The parasite options include:
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention (3-in-1), such as Simparica Trio
- Flea and heartworm prevention, such as Trifexis
- Heartworm prevention, including Interceptor Plus and Tri-Heart Plus
- ProHeart, an injectable heartworm preventative
- Flea and tick prevention, which includes Simparica and FirstShield Trio
Note: Preventative care is important for your pet’s health. Make sure you have the coverage that is right for your pet’s needs.
What Banfield Wellness Plans Do Not Cover
Banfield’s wellness plans are not a substitute for standard pet insurance. The plans cover routine wellness-related expenses at Banfield Pet Hospital locations. They do not cover vet bills for accidents or illnesses, such as ear infections or broken bones. The plans also have limitations, such as the two comprehensive exams per year limit, with no coverage for additional exams until renewal. If you want to cover accidents and injuries, it is important to have pet insurance in addition to the wellness plans.
Banfield plans only work at Banfield Pet Hospital locations. Make sure there is a location near you before purchasing a Banfield plan.
Age Restrictions
Banfield offers wellness plans for puppies, kittens, and senior pets. The Early Care plans are designed for pets under six months old, while other plans cater to pets six months or older. Older plans provide for specific services that older animals may need.
Costs of Banfield Wellness Plans
The average cost for a Banfield Optimum Wellness Dog Active Care plan is around $42 per month, while a Cat Active Care plan averages about $34 per month. An enrollment fee of approximately $69 is also typical for both dogs and cats. The enrollment fee is waived if you renew your plan or re-enroll within 90 days of the plan’s end. Remember that the cost of these plans can change, so you will want to verify the current fee.
Average Costs for Banfield Wellness Plans
You’ll find the average costs for each of the Banfield Wellness care plans listed below. These costs may vary based on location and the specific services offered. Please confirm these numbers at your local Banfield.
Source: Forbes Advisor analysis of costs for dogs and cats ages 2 and 5 in ZIP codes in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Source: Forbes Advisor analysis of costs for puppies and kittens age 3 months in ZIP codes in California, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Banfield Wellness Plan Availability
Banfield Pet Hospitals are located throughout most of the United States. However, there are a few states where Banfield locations are not available:
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Maine
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I add multiple pets to my plan? Yes, you can, and you’ll receive a discount on each additional pet’s enrollment fee.
- Does the plan work with any vet? No, Banfield wellness plans are only accepted at Banfield Pet Hospitals.
- Do Banfield plans cover dental care? Active Care Plus and Special Care plans include one annual dental cleaning. The brand does not offer pet dental insurance for accidents and illnesses like broken teeth.
- Do Banfield plans cover spaying and neutering? Spaying and neutering are included under its Early Care Plus plan.
- How can I contact Banfield customer service? You can contact Banfield’s customer service at (866) 277-7387.
Comparing Banfield Plans
Banfield’s wellness plans are designed for preventive care. If you want coverage for accidents and illnesses, pet insurance is necessary. The additional cost of a pet insurance plan may be worth it, depending on the coverage you seek.
Banfield Versus Other Pet Insurance
You can use the following comparison chart from Forbes Advisor to consider whether Banfield or other pet insurance services are best for you.
Banfield Wellness Plan vs. Pets Best Pet Insurance
Banfield Wellness Plan vs. Embrace Pet Insurance
Banfield Wellness Plan vs. ManyPets Pet Insurance
Conclusion
Banfield’s wellness plans offer a convenient way to manage the costs of routine pet care. Understanding what’s covered, the limitations, and how they differ from pet insurance allows pet owners to make informed decisions for their pet’s healthcare.
