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what is a preventive care package for pets?
A preventive care package for pets is a yearly set of routine veterinary services that help you stay ahead of health issues.
These packages are sometimes called routine care packages or veterinary care packages. At Banfield, we have Optimum Wellness Plans®, which offer preventive services for a predictable monthly or annual price.
Instead of paying separately at each appointment, a preventive care package lets you pay for a group of services over time. Many packages also include savings on those services compared to purchasing those some services individually, plus discounts on additional items. This can make planning and budgeting for your pet’s care more manageable.
Many preventive care packages include services like physical exams, vaccinations, and fecal tests to help keep your pet healthy.
Just keep in mind: these plans aren’t the same as insurance and don’t include emergency or accident coverage.
How does a pet preventive care package work?
Preventive care packages are typically offered through veterinary hospitals, large petcare chains, or specialty providers. Some plans are tied to a single veterinary network, while others can be used at multiple locations.
When you sign up, you’re purchasing a package of preventive care services that can be used over a set period of time. Packaging services in this way makes preventive petcare more affordable than paying individually for services. Plans vary in what they include, their terms of use, and how much they cost. Pet owners can often find one that fits their needs and budget.
A preventive care package can be especially valuable when you bring home a new furry friend. Plans designed just for them, like our Optimum Wellness Plans® for puppies and kittens, offer peace of mind during this busy stage.
To set them up for success, young pets should receive a series of vaccines. With our Early Care package, they will receive all routinely recommended vaccines, as well as comprehensive exams, fecal exams, a nutrition consultation, and more. Our Early Care Plus package even includes a spay or neuter surgery.
What’s included in most preventive care packages?
Preventive care packages often include:
- Comprehensive exams
- Waived exam fees
- Vaccines
- Virtual care
- Discounts on other services
Many preventive care packages also include unlimited office visits and 24/7 live chat access, making it simple to stay on top of your pet’s health.
Explore our preventive care packages
Our Optimum Wellness Plans® include all these basics as well as other services to help keep your pet healthy. From lab work to diagnostics, dental care, and more — you can find a plan that best fits your pet and budget.
Compare Optimum Wellness Plans®
What’s not included in most preventive care packages?
While preventive care packages can make routine care more predictable and affordable, they aren’t designed to cover every aspect of veterinary medicine. Most plans include preventive care only and don’t include the following:
- Accidents or emergency care: Preventive care packages aren't designed for urgent situations like broken bones, ingestion of toxic substances, or severe allergic reactions. However, you can bring in your pet to be seen and treated if there are appointments available.
- Illness treatments: Some plans may or may not include diagnostic testing, but treatment for conditions such as cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, or respiratory infections are usually excluded. (Diabetes care is an add-on for OWPs!)
- Specialist care: Visits to board-certified veterinary specialists, like cardiologists, dermatologists, or oncologists, aren’t usually included.
- Surgeries: Procedures such as orthopedic repairs, tumor removals, or emergency operations are usually outside the scope of a preventive care package.
- Long-term medications: Ongoing prescriptions for chronic conditions are generally not included unless it’s offered as an add-on or specifically listed in a plan’s benefits.
While the above items aren’t typically included, you may be able to receive a discount with your preventive care package.
Explore our preventive care packages
Preventive care package vs. pet insurance
Preventive care packages and pet insurance both help manage the cost of veterinary care, but they serve very different purposes. A package focuses on predictable preventive care, while insurance is designed for the unexpected. Many pet owners choose to purchase both.
Key differences
| Feature | Preventive care package | Pet insurance |
| Focus | Preventive and routine care | Unexpected accidents and illnesses |
| Cost structure | Monthly or annual fee | Monthly premium plus deductibles, co-pays, and reimbursement models |
| What’s included | Exams, unlimited office visits, vaccinations, bloodwork, sometimes dental cleaning | Treatments, surgeries, hospitalization, specialist care, medications |
| What’s it’s not intended for | Emergencies, accidents, most surgeries, long-term meds | Preventive services like vaccines or wellness exams (unless added as a rider) |
| Best for | Pet owners who want predictable budgeting for routine care | Pet owners who want protection against large, unexpected bills |
A preventive care package spreads out the cost of helping to keep your pet healthy day-to-day. Insurance helps protect against financial strain when something sudden and/or serious happens. Together, they can help provide peace of mind by combining both the expected and the unexpected.
Learn more about preventive care vs insurance
Are preventive care packages worth it?
Preventive care packages help pets stay on track with routine preventive care. Keeping up with this care can help identify health issues before they become serious.
Instead of paying out of pocket for each visit, preventive care packages make it easier to budget with predictable monthly or yearly payments. Plus, packages provide you with significant savings*!
The combination of routine care, predictability, and savings makes preventive care packages worth it for many pet owners.
You can save more than 30% with an Optimum Wellness Plan for your furry friend.* Explore plans
How much do preventive care packages cost?
Costs vary based on factors such as where you live, which preventive services are included, if you have a dog or cat, and whether the plan is offered through a pet hospital or 3rd party provider. Our Optimum Wellness Plans start as low as $26.95/month and can be upwards of $100/month. Plans that include more services, such as dental cleanings or diagnostics, are generally priced higher than basic packages. Some providers (like us!) have multi-pet discounts, which can make enrollment more affordable.
We also now offer the Banfield Access Plan, a simplified package of veterinary support that includes unlimited office visits, access to Pet Chat™, comprehensive exams, an annual heartworm test, and a 10% discount on most other Banfield products and services. Learn more about the Access Plan
Choosing the right plan for your pet
Selecting the right preventive care package depends on your pet’s age, health, and lifestyle. Puppies and kittens may benefit from plans that include vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, and preventive screenings, while older pets may need plans that also include dental cleanings or additional lab work. If your pet requires frequent checkups or care, a more extensive plan may be the best value.
Our Optimum Wellness Plans are designed to grow with your pet — from their frisky puppy/kitten phase through their stately senior years. Plus, they’re customizable because your pet is unique and their preventive care should be too.
Talk to your vet to help find the plan that’s right for your pet. Learn more about our wellness plan options
FAQs about preventive care packages
Do packages include flea and tick prevention?
Preventive care packages generally don’t include medications like flea, tick, and heartworm prevention — but it depends on the provider, so always review what’s included before signing up.
With our Optimum Wellness Plans, you can easily add parasite prevention to your pet's package. You’ll even get a discount on it!
Can I cancel a preventive care package?
Cancellation policies vary by provider. Some allow early cancellation with a fee, while others require payment for services used. Learn more about cancelling an Optimum Wellness Plan.
What happens if my pet dies?
Most providers will allow you to cancel the plan, though terms may differ. Contact your provider directly to discuss options and any outstanding balance.
If your pet passes away and you have an active Optimum Wellness Plan, you can call to cancel at 1-888-649-2716. Learn more about our cancellation policy.
Can I use my package at any vet?
Packages purchased from a vetcare company are usually tied to specific veterinary hospitals or networks. Check whether your provider restricts usage to certain locations. Banfield OWPs can be used at any location.
Are preventive care packages worth it for indoor pets?
Yes! Indoor pets still need routine preventive care like exams, diagnostic tests, and vaccines. A preventive care package can help make those costs more predictable and affordable.
Ready to sign up for an Optimum Wellness Plan?
You can save more than 30% on your pet’s preventive petcare with an Optimum Wellness Plan.*
See which package is right for your pet*Minimum average savings of 30%. Savings are based on our individual service prices compared to discounted service prices in Optimum Wellness Plans. Savings are based on using all services included in a plan.
Important Notice: The information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Always consult a veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet's health or medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional veterinary advice based on information from this page.