Pet parents want the best care for their furry friends. But vet bills can get expensive, especially as pets age. Wellness plans from Petco Vital Care and Banfield offer preventative care coverage to help reduce out-of-pocket costs. But how do you choose between them?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare Petco Vital Care and Banfield’s features, pricing, and more. Read on to learn which pet wellness plan may be the better fit for you and your pet.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Petco Vital Care | Banfield |
| Use any vet | Yes | No, Banfield hospitals only |
| Illness/injury coverage | No | Yes, pay fee for treatment |
| Prescription food discount | 15% Royal Canin | 25% Royal Canin with Optimum plan |
| Enrollment waiting period | None | 1-2 weeks typically |
| Contract term | Cancel anytime | 1 year minimum term |
| Reimbursement process | File claim to get reimbursed | Pay discounted fees at time of visit |
| Multiple pet discount | 5% off each pet for 3+ pets | Discount offered |
| Pre-existing conditions | $5-$15 surcharge per pet | No exclusions or fees |
| Price changes | Premiums increase as pet ages | Fixed pricing |
Overview Of Petco Vital Care
Petco launched their Vital Care wellness plans in 2019. Here are some key things to know about Vital Care:
- Preventative care focus: The plans cover unlimited exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, lab work, and more. They do not cover illness, injuries or emergency care.
- Customizable plans: You can choose between the Basic, Advanced and Ultimate plan levels. Higher tiers include more services.
- Use any vet: Get reimbursed for care from any licensed veterinarian, not just Petco clinics.
- Monthly pricing: Plans start at $19/month for cats and $25/month for dogs. Prices vary based on location, pet age and other factors.
Overview Of Banfield Pet Hospital Wellness Plans
Banfield Pet Hospital was founded in 1955 and is now owned by Mars, Inc. Here’s an overview of their wellness plans:
- Preventative focus: Like Vital Care, Banfield plans cover exams, vaccines, dental cleanings and more. They do not include illness/injury coverage.
- Use Banfield vets: Care is provided at Banfield’s 1,000+ hospitals. You cannot use other vets.
- Three plan tiers: There are Essential, Plus and Optimum plans with increasing levels of coverage.
- Monthly pricing: Plans start at $19/month for cats and $26/month for dogs. Prices depend on location, pet age and other specifics.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s do a detailed comparison of these two pet wellness plans.
Comparing Covered Services
The preventative care services included in Vital Care and Banfield plans are quite similar. Here’s an overview:
Exams
- Vital Care: Unlimited routine exams.
- Banfield: Unlimited routine exams.
Vaccines
- Vital Care: Unlimited vaccines.
- Banfield: Unlimited vaccines.
Lab work
- Vital Care: Unlimited lab work like heartworm tests, fecal exams, blood tests and urinalysis.
- Banfield: Varies by plan. Optimum includes unlimited lab work. Lower tiers have limits.
Dental cleanings
- Vital Care: Unlimited full mouth dental cleanings.
- Banfield: Unlimited dental cleanings. Frequency depends on pet’s needs.
Microchipping
- Vital Care: One complimentary microchip.
- Banfield: Microchipping included in Optimum plan only. Add-on for other plans.
Deworming
- Vital Care: Deworming as needed.
- Banfield: Deworming as needed.
Flea/tick/heartworm prevention
- Vital Care: Discounted medications.
- Banfield: Discounted medications. Optimum plan includes one year supply of heartworm and flea prevention.
Prescription food
- Vital Care: 15% off Royal Canin Veterinary Diet dog and cat foods.
- Banfield: Optimum plan includes 25% off Royal Canin Veterinary Diet foods. Lower tiers offer a discount.
So, in terms of covered services, the plans are very similar. The main differences are Banfield’s limits on some services for lower tier plans, while Vital Care has no limits.
Comparing Plan Exclusions
Pet wellness plans focus on preventative care. So, they generally exclude coverage for illnesses, injuries and other emergency services.
However, there are some key differences in the exclusions:
- Vital Care reimburses you for routine vet services. Exams for illnesses/injuries would not be covered.
- Banfield provides unlimited office visits at their hospitals. Your pet can see the vet for illness, injury, or emergency. You just pay additional fees for treatments, medications, hospitalization, etc.
So Banfield offers more flexibility to get vet access when your pet is sick or hurt. But you’ll have larger out-of-pocket costs for those services.
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Provider Network Differences
A major distinction between Vital Care and Banfield is where you can get care:
- Vital Care: Get reimbursed for vet services from any licensed vet, including specialty and emergency clinics.
- Banfield: You must use Banfield’s veterinary clinics and hospitals. Care from other vets is not covered.
This gives Vital Care members more choices in veterinary care. Banfield has over 1,000 hospitals nationwide, but your location may only have one clinic. And if you’re traveling or need emergency care, having the flexibility to use any vet is a major perk of Vital Care.
Comparing Pricing
Monthly premiums for Vital Care and Banfield are similar, starting around $19-$26 depending on your pet’s species, age when enrolling, and location.
Some key pricing differences:
- Pre-existing conditions: Vital Care charges an extra $5-$15/month for pets with pre-existing conditions. Banfield doesn’t exclude or charge extra.
- Multiple pet discount: Vital Care gives 5% off each monthly premium when you enroll 3+ pets. Banfield offers Wellness Plan discounts for multiple pets.
- Kittens/puppies: Vital Care offers discounted “starter” pricing for pets under 1 year old. Banfield does not discount for age.
- Price changes: Vital Care premiums can increase as your pet ages. Banfield plans stay the same monthly price.
To compare exact pricing, get quotes from each provider for your specific pet’s details. But overall costs are in the same ballpark.
Also Read: Comparison Between PetCareRx And Chewy.
Enrollment, Cancellation And Reimbursement
There are some logistical differences to note between these pet wellness plans:
Enrollment waiting periods
- Vital Care: No waiting period. Coverage starts right away.
- Banfield: May be a 1-2 week waiting period before coverage starts.
Reimbursement process
- Vital Care: File claims online or via their app to get reimbursed for eligible vet charges. Reimbursement is sent by check or direct deposit.
- Banfield: Pay discounted set fees for services at time of visit. No claims filing needed.
Contract and cancellation
- Vital Care: No long-term contract. Cancel anytime with 30 days notice.
- Banfield: 1-year minimum contract required. Pay $100+ fee to cancel before 12 months is up.
Additional Perks
A few extra membership perks to note:
- Vital Care: Get 30% off grooming at Petco and a free 30-minute training session.
- Banfield: Optimum plan includes one free annual teeth cleaning under anesthesia and free nail trims.
So Banfield offers some complimentary services, but Vital Care provides discounts.
Petco Vital Care Vs. Banfield: Which Is Better?
With this full comparison in mind, here are a few key takeaways on which plan may be the better choice:
- Flexibility is key with Vital Care – The freedom to use any licensed vet, enroll pets with pre-existing conditions, cancel anytime, and get care right away makes Vital Care the more flexible option.
- Banfield provides predictability – With no waiting periods, consistent monthly pricing, and unlimited free office visits to Banfield hospitals, you know what to expect. But you must use their vets.
- Vital Care offers broader specialty care access – Need emergency care while traveling? Want to see specialists like dermatologists or surgeons? Vital Care is the only choice.
- Banfield has more physical locations – With over 1,000 hospitals nationwide, Banfield may just be more convenient if you have one nearby.
- Check pricing for your pet’s details – While costs are similar, pricing variations based on location, age, and other factors may make one program cheaper for your specific pet.
Overall, Petco Vital Care offers more flexibility, choice of vets, and specialty care access. But Banfield provides predictability and convenience if you have a hospital nearby.
Get pricing quotes tailored to your pet, and you’ll know which provides more value.
Also Read: Is Petco Better Than Pet Supplies Plus?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For pets needing frequent vet services like seniors or those with chronic conditions, Vital Care can absolutely be worth it. The savings on unlimited exams, dental cleanings, lab work and more can outweigh the monthly premiums. Plus you get flexibility to use any vet.
Vital Care allows you to redeem unused annual benefits as Rewards dollars. These rewards can be used for vet services not included in the plan, pet medications, Petco/Unleashed merchandise and grooming, training, PALS rewards membership, and more. It’s a nice perk for healthy pets who don’t use all their allowed benefits each year.
Petco and PetSmart are very competitively priced with each other. Make sure to comparison shop between both stores when buying food, medications, toys and other pet supplies. Joining the free PALS loyalty program at Petco can help you save more through member prices and earned rewards. PetSmart also has loyalty discounts. Overall pricing will depend on the specific items you buy.
Petco launched their Vital Care wellness plans in 2019. The plans were part of Petco’s broader business shift toward growing their services like grooming, training and vet care. For a company that started in 1965 as a mail-order veterinary supplies business, the move into pet health insurance marked a significant new chapter for Petco. Vital Care expanded Petco’s offerings beyond just retail products to comprehensive pet care.
Also Read: Comparison Between Dogtopia And Camp Bow Wow.
Conclusion
Preventative care is crucial for our pets’ health and longevity. Petco Vital Care and Banfield offer budget-friendly wellness plans to help manage vet costs. Think about your needs for flexibility, plan inclusions, pricing, and convenience. And consider getting quotes from other pet insurance providers too. This will ensure you find the ideal wellness plan fit for your furry family member. Focusing on preventative care today can help catch issues early and avoid costly emergency care down the road.
