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Best Cat Wellness Plans for Preventive & Routine Care of 2024

Lisa Scott

Your cat’s overall health contributes to the likelihood of them contracting illnesses or experiencing injuries throughout their life. Keeping up with your cat’s preventive and routine care is the best defense against unexpected health issues. We’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.

Extensive coverage to help keep your pet healthy

$20,000

Coverage Up To

90%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

Pumpkin offers high-quality pet insurance plans for cats and dogs as well as an optional non-insurance preventive care plan for vaccinations, key tests and wellness exams, which will help to keep your pet happy and healthy through their life. You can travel with your pet in Canada or the US and can get access from any licensed vet in these countries. The platform is entirely digitized and serves as a one-stop-shop for all your pet's healthcare needs.

Pumpkin will cover up to $20,000 for dogs and $15,000 for cats annually.

What we like

  • Extensive coverage on multiple health issues
  • Optional preventive care plan that reimburses in full for annual wellness exams and vaccines
  • No exclusion on breeds or older pets
  • Offers a Fur Family Discount on multiple pets
  • Healthcare coverage in Canada and the US

What we don't

  • Pre-existing health conditions not covered
  • Pumpkin only covers dogs and cats

Pumpkin Advertiser Disclosure: Pumpkin Pet Insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/insurancepolicy. Products, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (“Pumpkin”) (NPN #19084749) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a Crum & Forster Company (NAIC #21113, Morristown, NJ) and produced by Pumpkin. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy. It is offered as an optional add-on non-insurance benefit. Pumpkin is responsible for the product and administration. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not available in all states. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/customeragreement. Paid Endorsement.

Short waiting periods on accidental coverage

$25,000

Coverage Up To

50% - 100%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

MetLife Insurance offers pet insurance for cats and dogs and is known for the shortest waiting periods in the industry.

What we like

  • No restriction on breeds and pet age
  • Customizable annual benefit limits
  • Short waiting periods accidental coverage
  • Flexible deductibles from $50 to $2,000
  • No incident limits

What we don't

  • Wellness treatment not included (optional add-on)
  • Pay first out of pocket and reimbursed later

Affordable prices with a fast reimbursement process

$100,000

Coverage Up To

70% - 90%

Reimbursement Rates

Overview

Lemonade has earned a stellar reputation in the pet insurance industry with its affordable monthly premiums and fast reimbursement of claims with its AI technology. This technology has attracted thousands with its customizable policies and provides comprehensive coverage on illness and accidents to dogs and cats.

What we like

  • Customizable plans so you only pay for coverage that your pet needs
  • Claims are reimbursed in minutes
  • Affordable monthly premiums starting at $10/month
  • Comprehensive wellness plans to keep your pet in good health
  • Pay deductible once per year and not per incident

What we don't

  • Lemonade is only available in 33 states
  • Certain hybrid breeds may be denied

Is cat wellness coverage worth it?

While we take good care of our cats, we may not think about treating illnesses or injuries until the moment they happen. Many times with cats, though, we may not recognize that they are sick or hurt right away. In fact, it is common for owners to not notice health issues with their cats until the issues have progressed significantly.

Once these illnesses or injuries have progressed, it may require extensive treatments and procedures to fix the issue and prevent long-term damage to their overall health. These serious treatments can come at a high cost, and many people may not be able to cover their cat’s medical needs in an emergency.

One of the best defenses against serious illnesses or injuries in cats is to prioritize preventive and routine care. This includes regular visits to the vet for wellness exams and check-ups. Cat wellness plans that include preventive and routine care helps you to maintain your cat’s overall health at an affordable rate.

What do cat wellness plans cover?

Not all cat insurance providers have preventive and routine care coverage plans. You will want to ensure your provider has this option available to be able to get coverage for preventive and routine treatments.

Typically, these coverage options are offered in addition to regular pet insurance, which covers treatments for injuries, illnesses, or a combination of these two. Wellness plans are often offered as a separate plan, or as an additional option to add to your overall pet insurance coverage. Wellness plans often cover:

  • Wellness visits: Check-ups and wellness exams to evaluate the overall health of your cat are often included in wellness insurance plans.
  • Pest prevention treatment: Prevention for ticks, fleas, heartworm, and other pests that commonly plague cats are generally covered under wellness insurance plans.
  • Preventive procedures: Spaying, neutering, deworming, and other preventive treatments your cat may need can be included in your overall coverage.

Though wellness plans cover many treatments and procedures related to routine and preventive care, they will not typically cover pre-existing conditions. Most pre-existing conditions, like cancer or arthritis, that your cat may experience will often not be covered by your wellness plan.

How are cat wellness premiums determined?

There are many factors that help to determine your cat’s wellness plan monthly premium. Here are some of the things that contribute to your plan’s premium amount:

  • Age: Your cat’s age will influence the total monthly premium amount. The older your cat is, the more expensive your plan will be, as older cats are more likely to experience serious health issues.
  • Breed: Some cats are likely to experience specific health issues throughout their life that will require more intense routine or preventive care. These breeds that are susceptible to more serious illnesses that require this level of care are likely to have higher monthly premiums.
  • Plan details: The procedures and treatments that are covered in your wellness plan will help to determine your monthly premium. The more types of treatments covered in your overall plan, the more expensive your premium may be.

Additionally, whether you have a separate wellness plan, or a wellness plan added on to your overall pet insurance coverage will contribute to your monthly premium. If you have a separate plan from your regular pet insurance coverage, you may need to pay more per month than if it is included as an add-on to your overall coverage. Your deductible, coverage cap, and reimbursement percentage will also factor into your monthly premium amount.

How to choose the best cat wellness plan?

Choosing the right wellness plan for your cat can be difficult, as there are many options available. Here are some things to keep in mind as you make your decision:

  • Consider your cat’s unique needs: Your cat’s breed, age, and medical history may make them more susceptible to certain illnesses or injuries throughout their life. If you are expecting your cat to deal with specific medical issues, make sure your wellness plan covers any necessary preventive or routine care treatments they may need.
  • Determine your budget: What you are able to pay on a monthly basis will help to determine which plan you can get for your cat. Take a look at what each plan has to offer that fits within your budget to ensure you get the best overall coverage.
  • Compare plan options: Compare your top choices with each other to decide which gives you the best options for the cost. Each plan differs when it comes to the specifics of what is covered, so be sure to review what services you may take advantage of most and ensure they are covered.
  • Review customer feedback: Read what customers have had to say about their experiences with your potential cat wellness plans. You will want to know how they process claims, how long reimbursements may take, and how they handle customer inquiries before signing up for a plan.

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