Well care plans vs pet insurance at the vet near you!

What is the difference between pet insurance and well care plans? We hear this all the time at the Animal Clinic of Mandarin! But don't worry, you will know the difference and the best choice after reading this simple explanation and example of each below.

You are almost in the know !


Lets compare: Well care plans vs great pet insurance like Trupanion.


Well care plans are a book of services for one year that are purchased in advance. They are at a reduced rate and are paid on a monthly basis over a one year contract. Wellness plans cover only the exact services and number of services identified in the wellness plan with a minimal discount services and products and are considered a finite and fixed plan. Well care plans are not pet insurance. Well care plans are only usable at the veterinary establishment that you purchase them and are not transferable to another business entity such as the ER or specialty hospital. In addition, cancelation of well care plans involve paying the full price for any services that have been used if the plan is canceled before the plan has run the full one year course. Lastly, these well care plans do renew automatically each year. 


Pet insurance  is coverage for your pets care including accident, illness, injury, disease, inherited condition and traumic events as long as your pet is not demonstrating any clinical signs and has not been recently documented as such , when you sign up. Pet insurance can be used anywhere, ie: regular vet hospital, ER and specialty vet hospital. Good quality pet insurance will have unlimited out of pocket coverage, and the best will pay your doctor directly enabling you to avoid paying up front and having to get reimbursed. Additionally, good pet insurance is on a month to month basis. Good pet insurance will cover your pet as long as they live and your chosen percentage coverage will apply to everything your pet needs your basic annual maintenance.


So now you know the difference but lets look at an example.


Sam owns a 2 year old female spayed yellow lab named Daisy, who started vomiting after eating something out of the trash can. We will look at an example where Sam has a well care plan and the same example where Sam has  good pet insurance like Trupanion. 

Well care plan:

 Sam calls the hospital at which he has a well care plan and lets the hospital know he needs to get in for acute vomiting. The hospital  is very busy and he cannot get in today. They can see him tomorrow but he is advised to go to the ER today. Sam thinks about this and is frustrated that his well care plan ( which he just paid his 59$ installment yesterday) is not usable. He contemplates going to the ER but in reality he has no idea of how much this will cost and ultimately he decides to wait till tomorrow. The next morning, Daisy is no better, has vomited 3 times over night and cannot hold down water. Sam takes Daisy in for her 10 am appointment. He is told that Daisy needs an exam, fluid support via IV fluids, anti nausea injection, antacid injection, abdominal x-rays and full blood work. He is quoted approximately 1000 dollars. His well care plan has a few services left, saving him 200 dollar and he gets 20 percent off of the rest and his bill is now 640 dollars. Sam agrees and leaves Daisy with the hospital and agrees to pick up Daisy at 5 pm. When Sam arrives at 5 pm he is informed that the doctor saw what appeared to be a small bowel obstruction and Daisy urgently needs surgery and emergency over night care. Sam pays the bill and now heads to the ER. Once at the ER he waits for approximately 2 hours. When he sees the ER doctor he is given an estimate for 3,500 dollars. Sam agrees as poor Daisy is miserable and he knows that this is what's best. Sam goes home and awaits a call from the ER. Thankfully, Daisy did well, had her surgery and is recovering well, the doctor expects Daisy to be able to go home in about 24- 36 hours once she is eating and can be dispensed with oral medication. Sam in the end has paid a total of 4,140 dollars. Sam still has well care coverage on Daisy and her next bill of 59 dollars in due in 3 weeks. 


Good pet insurance:  ( Sam has Trupanion pet insurance with 90 % coverage and no deductible and no copay)

 Sam calls the hospital, and lets the hospital know he needs to get in for acute vomiting. The hospital is very busy and he cannot get in today. They can see him tomorrow but he is advised to go to the ER today. Sam thinks about this and decides to go to the ER as he has insurance coverage and he is not worried about the bill with his 90 % coverage and no deductible or copay. Sam knows all he will have to pay is the exam fee and 10 % of the bill. Sam now heads to the ER. Once at the ER he waits for approximately 2 hours. Sam sees the ER doctor, he is given an estimate for 3,500 dollars. Sam agrees as poor Daisy is miserable and he knows that this is what's best. Sam goes home and awaits a call from the ER. Thankfully, Daisy did well, had her surgery and is recovering well, the doctor expects Daisy to be able to go home in about 24- 36 hours once she is eating and can be dispensed with oral medication. Sam has paid for the exam fee and 10 % of the 3,500 dollar bill. Sam's total was 150 dollars plus 350 dollars for a grand total of 500 dollars. Sam is happy to pay his next month of pet insurance, as he has saved 3,640 dollars and Daisy got urgent care the day she needed it and didn't wait.


If you would like to save thousands of dollars, have your pet be seen faster and have a better chance at a quicker recovery then contact us at the Animal Clinic of Mandarin. We can set your pet up for a physical exam and get you started on Trupanion insurance with a complimary certificate instantly redemable with one phone call and instant pet insurance overage for free for the first 30 days!


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  • "I began working for Dr. Kaiser at the Animal Clinic of Mandarin over 3 years ago. I decided
    to get a new Lab mix puppy and made the decision to enroll Zuri in Trupanion. I made this
    decision after hearing other employees and Dr. Kaiser talking about how great it has been for
    their own pets and our clients.
    Within the first 6 months my puppy Zuri’s knee kept coming out of place and she would stiffen
    up and could only walk on 3 legs. She had to have surgery and between working with Dr. Kaiser
    and the specialist I couldn’t have been happier that I was able to take care of Zuri and give her
    the treatment that was needed at such a young age. I now have no worries as she grows older
    that I won’t be able to take care of her financially. I recently added a new 1 year old rescue Great
    Dane, Zane to our family. He also has Trupanion because I can’t imagine the cost if something
    happens to him being such a large dog."
    Melissa P.
  • "Dr. Kaiser and staff are awesome. Great customer service. They deal with the pet insurance company directly for you so you don't have to pay what is covered directly out of pocket. They have gone above and beyond to help our fur baby. Super clean! We love to see Harry (the beautiful St. Bernard) growing up as well!"
    Nicole P.
  • "I called and was able to get an appt the same day. The office was very clean and customer service was very exceptional. Dr. Kaiser took her time to go explain everything and get a thorough history. Sick call exam and consultation came up to $51.75. She also offered a deal on pet insurance. Overall we had a very good experience."
    Charlene H.