Banfield Wellness Plan Review

Pros Explained

• Covers preventive and routine care: Unlike insurance plans, the entire purpose of the Optimum Wellness Plans is to cover routine care for your pet. The plans may help owners budget and stretch out payments for services with a monthly fee, as opposed to paying for larger amounts all at once. 
• Customizable with multiple tiers and add-ons: The Banfield plans are available in several different tiers, with higher tiers costing more and covering more services. You can also add on coverage for parasite prevention products, spaying, and neutering.
• No waiting periods: Banfield’s coverage begins immediately upon enrollment.

Cons Explained

• Only applies to care at Banfield hospitals: Because this is an in-house payment plan, you won’t get coverage for treatment at any other hospital or clinic other than Banfield. This can be an issue if you want to switch veterinarians or can’t get to a Banfield hospital.
• Does not cover any accidents or illnesses: Unlike typical pet insurance accident and illness plans, Banfield does not cover any veterinary care that your pet requires for an injury or illness.
• Some critical services are not covered or require an add-on: Important preventive surgeries, such as spaying and neutering, are not covered in the base plans. Dental care is not covered in all of the packages, and treatments for issues found during a cleaning (extractions, etc.) are not covered at all.

Introduction

Banfield Pet Hospitals offer wellness plans with multiple levels to help to cover the costs of routine veterinary care. Plans are available for young pets and adults, but they can only be used in Banfield hospitals.

Company Overview

Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield is a corporation that owns and operates more than 1,000 veterinary clinics in the United States. In 2007, it was bought by the Mars Corporation, the company behind M&M's, Snickers, and Twix.

Although Banfield hospitals will treat a variety of pets, the Optimum Wellness Plans are only available for dogs and cats. You can enroll at a Banfield hospital or online; plans are available to residents of all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, but they only cover services performed at Banfield hospitals. See the kinds of services offered and check for nearby Banfield hospitals to determine if it could be a reasonable option.

Available Plans

Banfield offers five Optimum Wellness Plans: three for adult dogs and cats and two for puppies and kittens under six months old.

• Dog/cat wellness plans: Active Care, Active Care Plus, Special Care
• Puppy/kitten wellness plans: Early Care, Early Care Plus

Covered treatments and coverage limits will vary depending on the plan and level you choose. Some covered services are limited to a certain number of occasions per year, and if your pet requires more you’ll have to pay out of pocket. If your pet requires a service that is not included in your chosen package, Banfield may offer a percentage discount.

Add-Ons

You can add the following coverages to your plan if you wish, for an additional cost:

• Parasite prevention treatment, such as for heartworm, fleas, and ticks
• Spaying and neutering surgery (already covered in the Early Care Plus plan)

Waiting Periods

One nice feature of Banfield wellness plans is that there is no waiting period for coverage. Once enrolled, pets may be seen at a Banfield hospital for preventative and routine care immediately.

Cancellation Policy

According to Banfield customer support, if you wish to cancel your Banfield plan you can:

• Use the online customer portal
• Email wellnessplanteam@banfield.com
• Call (888) 649-2716

Plan Exclusions

Any veterinary services that are needed as a result of injury or illness, from exams to testing and medications, will not be covered. This program is for wellness care only. Be sure to understand which services are covered and at what level.

That means you won’t get coverage for some common situations that may be covered by pet insurance companies, like:

• Surgery/hospitalization
• Behavioral problems
• Rehabilitation/alternative care
• Genetic conditions
• Cancer/chronic conditions

Pre-Existing Conditions

Because these plans only cover preventative care, pre-existing conditions won't be covered.

Plan Pricing

Banfield wellness plans are subscribed to under an annual agreement, paid for with a monthly draft of your account. You’ll also pay a one-time enrollment fee.

We found an average monthly price of $50.62 for Banfield’s adult pet plans, using an average of three adult pet personas (two dogs and a cat). Your monthly price depends on which plan tier you choose, along with factors like the age and breed of your pet and your residential area. 

Claims

As an in-clinic wellness-only plan, there is no need to ever file a claim. You can take advantage of your plan benefits when you and your pet visit a Banfield hospital.

Customer Service

If you need to contact customer service, you may call, email, or fill out the query form on the website. If your pet is currently enrolled in a wellness plan you will have access to a virtual chat option called “VetChat." 

For enrollment:

• Phone: (866) 277-7387
• Email: OWP@banfield.com

For billing and payment:

• Phone: 866-935-5738
• Email: CST.inbox@banfield.com

For cancellations and general questions:

• Phone: (888) 649-2716
• Email: wellnessplanteam@banfield.com

Third-Party Ratings

Banfield Pet Hospitals as a whole don’t do very well when it comes to third-party rating agencies. Banfield has a Trustpilot score of only 1.3 out of five, and Consumer Affairs gives it 1.5 out of five, although many of the reviews refer to hospital service rather than wellness plans.

Alternative Choices

If you’re looking to purchase wellness coverage for your pet, it is paramount to know what the plan covers and excludes. It’s also important to learn how you’ll be charged, if you’ll be expected to pay upfront and be reimbursed, and if it’s possible to cancel without paying extra fees.

Because so many veterinary fees come as a result of an accident, injury, or illness, it may be more cost-effective to purchase a traditional pet insurance plan and add on wellness coverage. This will protect your pet and typically gives you the freedom to use any veterinarian you wish.

Competition

Final Verdict

Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans can be a helpful way to break up the cost of preventive care for your pet over the course of a year. It may make it easier to keep up with such care as well. However, the plan will not necessarily save money if pet parents don’t utilize enough of the offered care. Lower-cost preventive care may be available elsewhere for lower prices, even without a plan. And the fact that your pet has to be treated at a Banfield drastically limits veterinarian choice, so care may be unavailable if you move or travel; all services are offered at Banfield’s set prices and you can’t shop around.

Additionally, the Banfield wellness plans will do nothing to aid in the costs resulting from any accident, injury, or illness your pet sustains. You’ll have to look for another wellness provider or insurance company for that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cancel a Banfield Wellness Plan online?

According to to Banfield customer support, you can use the online customer portal to cancel your plan. However, there have been many complaints filed against Banfield for issues with cancellations and unwanted continuations. If you cancel online, it would be a good idea to follow up with a call or in person.

Can I cancel Banfield Wellness Plan if my pet dies?

You can cancel your Benfield Wellness Plan, but you may have an outstanding balance. If that's the case, you will need to either pay the retail value of those services and discounts used under the OWP less the amount of monthly payments made or make the remaining payments due under the plan, whichever is the least expensive.

What does dog wellness insurance cover?

Banfield's Optimum Wellness Plans are designed to cover routine care for your pet. That means it does not cover accidents or illnesses that your dog might experience.

Can I use my Banfield Wellness Plan at any veterinarian?

No—because this is an in-house payment plan, you won’t get coverage for treatment at any other hospital or clinic other than Banfield. This can be an issue if you want to switch veterinarians or can’t get to a Banfield hospital.

Methodology

Investopedia is dedicated to providing consumers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews of pet insurance companies. We rated 25 providers and collected over 2,000 data points, including information about plan options, company features, fees, and limits, to ensure that our reviews help users make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs. 

Our full pet insurance methodology, including our data collection process and weighted data points, is available for review.