PetSmart Pet Insurance Review 2024 (Banfield Pet Hospital): Pros, Cons & Verdict

Banfield Pet Hospital purchased PetSmart’s clinics, PetSmart Veterinary Services back in the year 2000. They now operate out of more than 1,000 PetSmart locations nationwide providing veterinary care and services for pets.

Banfield offers veterinary care packages called Optimum Wellness Plans to help pet parents offset the cost of preventative care for dogs and cats. These wellness plans are not to be confused with pet insurance, as these are not technically insurance policies and do not offer the same scope of coverage.

PetSmart’s Banfield Pet Wellness Plan Review

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About PetSmart’s Banfield Partner

PetSmart’s partner, Banfield Pet Hospital operates out of PetSmart locations and offers veterinary services right there within the store. They also have Optimum Wellness Plans for pets that take care of preventative care services in full for either a monthly or yearly installment.

These wellness plans should not be confused with your typical pet insurance policy, as they are much different. With pet insurance, you either pay a monthly or yearly premium in conjunction with an established deductible, reimbursement percentage, and an annual limit for coverage.

Pet insurance policies can vary but typically cover accidents and illnesses, but some do offer additional wellness packages as an add-on service. With Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plan, things like accidents and illnesses are not covered since these packages are for preventative care only. There are three different levels available for both dogs and cats.

Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2024)

Optimum Wellness Plans

Base Policy

Banfield offers three different Optimum Wellness Plans so that pet owners can choose which one best suits their needs. These plans are available for both dogs and cats. They also have separate puppy and kitten packages for those 6 months old or younger. Customers pay a fixed price for services each month regardless of breed, age, and medical history.

Customizations

Banfield’s services do not offer the same type of flexible plan customizations that can be found with your average pet insurance policy that involves deductibles, reimbursement percentages, and annual limits. Here’s an extensive overview of the plans offered within Banfield’s wellness packages:

Dogs and Cats

Active Care

The Active Care Plan is the least expensive package offered by Banfield. It’s in place to cover all the basics of routine care.

Active Care Plus

The Active Care Plus Package includes everything included in the Active Care plan but includes one professional dental cleaning per year, urine testing, and an increased discount on Banfield products and services.

Special Care

The Special Care package is in place for dogs and cats that have more chronic issues and need a little extra TLC. This package includes everything that the Active Care Plus package includes plus preventative x-rays, eye pressure tests, electrocardiograms, and an increase in the discount for Banfield products and services.

Puppies and Kittens

Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans also feature packages for the little ones. Preventative care within the first 6 months is a bit different, which is why the puppy and kitten packages are offered. They feature the Early Care plan and the Early Care Plus plan.

The only difference between the two is that the Early Care Plus Plan will cover spay or neuter surgery and offers a 15 percent discount on Banfield products and services compared to the 10 percent discount for the Early Care plan. Once your puppy or kitten reaches 6 months of age, they will be eligible for the dog and cat packages.

Parasite Control Add-On

Parasite prevention is another important aspect of preventative care. While parasite-preventative medication is not included in any of the wellness plans, it’s an optional add-on that can be included in your monthly or yearly plan cost.

Here’s an example of the monthly cost comparison for a young Great Dane in Fort Worth, Texas compared to the monthly cost of a senior French Bulldog in the same location:

Banfield Price Comparison Dogs vs Cats

Pricing for Banfield’s wellness plans is dependent on your location. Unlike pet insurance, they do not base their prices on breed, medical history, or age unless your pet is eligible for puppy or kitten packages.

(Since Banfield operates differently than average pet insurance and prices are the same regardless of dog breed and age, I added this table to compare the average monthly cost for dogs vs cats. The information I would have provided in the original table would have been redundant. Let me know if this is a problem and I will happily fix it.)

Deductibles & Claims

One of the upsides to having a wellness plan through Banfield is that you don’t have to worry about meeting a deductible or submitting any claims. This service operates much differently than your average pet insurance policy. With Banfield, you will either pay a monthly or yearly installment for your pet’s care and will face no upfront costs for the services you receive that fall within that scope.

What Do Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans Cover?

Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans cover a wide variety of preventive care services. Specific limitations and extra services are dependent on which package you choose and the age of your dog or cat. While we have covered the specifics in detail above, here’s a comprehensive list that includes all the available services covered by the company and a list of what will not be covered.

Pre-Existing Conditions

The Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans do not cover any specific coverage for pre-existing conditions since the plans are designed specifically for preventative and routine care services, but office visits for both new and existing health concerns are included. Treatment for any pre-existing condition will not be covered in a wellness plan but it’s important to note that no pet insurance providers offer coverage for pre-existing conditions, either.

Waiting Periods

Unlike pet insurance policies, Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans do not have a waiting period for care. Once your pet is enrolled under your chosen package, they are immediately eligible for all the covered services within your plan.

Reviews from Customers

Customers offer mixed reviews regarding Banfield’s wellness plans. While it’s convenient to pay a monthly fee upfront without having to worry about any other costs for preventative care, there are costs associated with any injuries or illnesses.

Some people feel they would be better off paying upfront for costs rather than committing to a full year of monthly payments while others are grateful to have a wellness plan, especially for puppies and kittens that have more extensive preventative care needs within the first several months of life.

Certain customers did feel that they are pressured during appointments and that the staff will try and upsell their various products and services, so they rarely escape appointments free of charge.

The biggest complaint among customers was the 12-month commitment to pricing and an expensive fee if you wish to cancel early. There were instances where pets had passed away and Banfield insisted they either wait until the 12-month plan is completed or pay the associated fee, which was highly frowned upon by many.

FAQ

What Are the Main Differences Between an Optimum Wellness Plan and Pet Insurance?

Pet Insurance takes a more reactive approach to cover accidents and illnesses that occur unexpectedly and could pop up at any time. Wellness plans offer a more proactive approach and focus on preventative medicine. Here’s a quick comparison between Banfield’s wellness plans and traditional pet insurance:

How Is Payment Collected for Optimum Wellness Plans?

There is an enrollment fee when getting set up on a Banfield Optimum Wellness Plan. In addition to the enrollment fee, you can either choose to pay for the full year upfront or you can set up a 12-month payment plan.

If you pay for a full year in advance, you will need to re-enroll each year without an enrollment fee if done within 90 days of the plan lapsing. If you pay monthly for the 12 months, you will automatically be re-enrolled each year with no additional re-enrollment fees.

Is There Any Multiple Pet or Other Discounts?

There is only a discount on each additional pet’s enrollment fee, not on their plan costs. As for other discounts, no others are available except for the discount percentages on certain products and services offered by Banfield.

Our Verdict

While Banfield does not offer traditional pet insurance or any type of accident or illness coverage, they do have comprehensive wellness plans that can help offset the cost of preventative veterinary care. There are some mixed reviews among consumers and there’s no shortage of bad reviews, but we do like the variety of choices and services offered, especially for kittens and puppies that have more preventative care needs during those first 6 months.