Wellness Care Plans

A recent survey from Wagmo has revealed some pretty interesting statistics about pets and pet owners, including some eye-opening facts that highlight just how important our animal companions are to us. We’ll cover things like pet names and most popular pets another time: for this blog we’re focusing on wellness care plans. Wellness care plans for pets are basically equivalent to basic healthcare for people. But what are they and how can they help? A local Mapleton, UT veterinarian offers some insight on this below.

What Are Wellness Plans?

Wellness plans are in some ways similar to insurance, but they are quite different. Insurance is typically aimed at covering illness and injury, whereas wellness plans focus on the basic veterinary care that all pets need.

Why Do People Get Wellness Plans?

According to the survey, the main reason people get wellness plans is to ensure that their pets are getting top-quality care. About 36 percent of the respondents gave that as their top reason. Saving money was close behind, at about 30 percent. Quick reimbursement was also popular, at 18 percent.

Why Are Wellness Plans Popular?

Many people see their pets not just as furry roommates, but as part of the family. That special love translates into some real-world effects … and some real-world worries. Over 75 percent of pet owners had missed at least one day of work due to pet care issues during the prior year. More than a quarter—26 percent, to be exact—reported missing six or more days. Plus, a whopping 65 percent reported feeling distracted at work when their pets were sick. About 65 percent said they were ‘extremely’ distracted, while 38 percent said ‘very’ distracted.

This is no surprise to us: we see every day that special bond that people have with their animal companions. What is surprising is the difference pet wellness plans make. Only 29 percent of people with pet insurance and pet wellness plans reported being extremely distracted.

A few other related figures:

• Research from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that Americans spent $186 billion on their pets in 2023. That’s more than they spent on childcare!
• The U.S. Census shows that more U.S. households have pets (70%) than children (40%).
• Wagmo’s research also revealed that nearly 60 percent of working pet owners spent more than $1000 in veterinary care in the last year. Additionally, 35% spent over $2,000, and 15% spent more than $5,000.
• With the price of everything going up, up, up, it’s probably no surprise that veterinary care costs are a major concern. The 56 percent of respondents who do not have pet insurance or pet wellness plans reported care costs as being a top worry.

What Do Wellness Plans Cover?

Wellness plans are different from pet insurance, which will typically cover unexpected accidents and injuries, such as Fido needing emergency surgery after swallowing your phone. Or, to put it another way, wellness plans are geared at keeping your pet healthy, as opposed to treating problems. 

Wellness plans are basically programs that cover routine care. Different plans do have different features, but some of the things that may be covered include wellness exams, vaccinations and boosters, blood panels, parasite control/deworming, urine tests, and fecal tests. Some plans are structured around pets’ ages. For instance, a puppy or kitten plan may include spay or neuter. 

What Are The Benefits Of Pet Wellness Plans?

Wellness plans fill a unique need in the pet care world. While they are by no means mandatory, they can be extremely helpful for both you and your furry friend. 

Here are a few reasons to consider one:

Promote Proper And Regular Veterinary Care

The key goal of any veterinary care regime is to keep pets as happy and healthy as possible. One reason we always recommend wellness care plans is the fact that they encourage and facilitate people bringing their pets into the Mapleton, UT animal hospital regularly. Think of this as similar to that old gym membership mind hack: you’re more likely to use a membership if you’re already paying for it. At the end of the day, that just helps keep pets happy and healthy. That’s pretty ‘pawesome’ in our book!

Budgeting Your Pet’s Veterinary Care 

Financial planning can make or break you fiscally, especially with the pressure of inflation and rising housing costs. Wellness plans allow you to budget for your pet’s basic care needs, which in turn allows you to spread those costs out over time. You may also find this easier than paying the cost of those wellness visits entirely out of pocket.

Prepare For Emergencies

As mentioned above, wellness plans and insurance plans are separate. However, wellness plans can still help here. One example would be if your kitty were to slip out and come back with bites or scratches. If Fluffy is current on her rabies shots, that’s one worry off your plate.

Preventative Care

As the saying says, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. That goes triple for pets. It’s much easier—not to mention cheaper—to prevent issues than it is to treat them. Heartworm infestations, for instance, can be effectively prevented with parasite control products. An active infestation, however, can be very costly and difficult to treat. Some cases require Fido to be kenneled for long periods. Surgery may be required for some. Plus, those regular exams greatly reduce the chances of any developing issues being caught fairly early. That can not only increase the chances of a positive outcome, it also often means you may have more options as far as treatment.

Peace Of Mind

There’s certainly no shortage of things to worry about in this day and age. Nobody wants to think of their beloved animal friends getting sick or hurt. Unfortunately, it does happen. Wellness care plans help keep your furry pal at optimal health. They also facilitate good care, which means up-to-date vaccinations and records. Those things definitely matter in an emergency!

Perks

Wellness care plans sometimes do come with perks. You may get discounts on certain services, for instance. While these may vary, depending on what sort of plan you get, it never hurts to learn more!

What Should I Look At When Choosing Pet Wellness Plans?

If you’re interested in wellness plans, you may want to start with your pet’s doctor. If your animal hospital offers their own wellness plans, then that would be a great place to start. Other than that, you may want to note some of the things to look into. 

Here are a few of the key ones: 

• Are there annual limits?
• What services are covered? 
• How fast is reimbursement? 
• What information is needed? 
• What are the different tiers of coverage, and how do they differ? 
• Are there any exclusions? 
• How does payment/billing work at the appointment? 

You may also have some queries of your own. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Your vet may also be able to provide valuable insight. 

Conclusion: Wellness plans are a great tool, and can help not just promote and encourage regular veterinary care, but can also assist with budgeting and planning. At the end of the day, they ultimately help keep pets happier and healthier. That’s what we like to see! 

Visit Our Mapleton, UT Pet Clinic

Do you want to learn more about wellness plans? Do you need to make an appointment for your pet? Contact us, your Mapleton, UT pet hospital, anytime.