Our Editorial Opinion on Banfield Pet Insurance
Banfield is a chain of veterinary clinics operating since 1955. The company doesn't actually offer pet insurance. Instead, Banfield offers "Optimum Wellness Plans," which are wellness and preventive packages specifically for Banfield locations.
Compared to the best pet insurance companies, Banfield's wellness is a unique product, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's good. Its worth highly depends on your specific situation and whether you live near a reputable Banfield clinic.
Banfield Pet Wellness Overview
Banfield does not provide pet insurance. Instead, it offers several wellness plans that cover a wide range of preventive treatments including deworming, physical exams, and vaccinations. Separate plans are available for puppies and kittens, some of which cover spaying and neutering.
Most pet insurance providers require that you purchase an insurance policy to qualify for their wellness package, which can be frustrating if you like a provider's insurance policies, but aren't thrilled about its wellness package. Banfield stands out for offering a standalone wellness package, so you can enroll in your insurance policy of choice and also enroll for Banfield's wellness.
There are a few reasons you might choose Banfield's wellness. For one, you'll get 5% to 20% off Banfield products and services, depending on which plan you enroll in. Additionally, you'll get unlimited office visits and Pet Chats, which is Banfield's 24/7 vet hotline.
Banfield has a few shortcomings. Most notably, Banfield's wellness benefits can only be accessed when you use a Banfield clinic. This can be quite limiting, especially for people who don't live near a Banfield clinic. Additionally, the quality of care you'll receive at Banfield clinics can vary widely depending on the location.
Banfield also has an unforgiving policy regarding cancellations. Its wellness plan is a yearly subscription that you're locked into, even if you're paying monthly. As a result, Banfield requires you to continue paying until the end of your term, even if your pet dies.
While we're not thrilled that customers who choose Banfield's wellness are limited to using Banfield clinics, the truth is that there aren't very many standalone pet wellness packages out there. As such, Banfield stands out simply because it's one of the only contenders.
Banfield Pet Wellness Pros and Cons
Banfield Pet Wellness Pros
- Discounts on Banfield products and services
- Offers puppy and kitten plans that include spay/neuter surgery
- Canine DNA test available
Banfield Pet Wellness Cons
- Wellness benefits are only available through Banfield clinics
- High enrollment fee
- No coverage for prescription medication
- No refunds on unused services (even if pet dies)
Banfield Pet Wellness Plans Available
As mentioned, Banfield offers wellness plans instead of traditional pet insurance to pay vet bills when your pet is sick or injured. The company describes its pet wellness plans as "a smart and affordable yearly package of preventive pet care services." It also lets members pay for plans monthly or annually without any interest charges.
Banfield offers three tiers of wellness care for adult dogs and cats: a basic Active Care plan, a mid-tier Active Care Plus plan, and a premium Special Care plan. Here's a full list of each plan's benefits:
| Active Care | Active Care Plus | Special Care | |
| Office visits | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pet Chat | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Virtual Visits | 2/year | 2/year | 2/year |
| Pet Wellness 1-1 | 1/year | 1/year | 1/year |
| Comprehensive physical exam | 2/year | 2/year | 2/year |
| Vaccinations | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Diagnostic testing | 1/year | 1/year | 1/year |
| Fecal exams | 2/year | 2/year | 2/year |
| Deworming | 2/year | 2/year | 2/year |
| Unlimited interstate health certificates | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Professional dental cleaning | Not included | 1/year | 1/year |
| Urine testing | Not included | Varies | Varies |
| Preventive x-rays | Not included | Not included | 3 views |
| Eye pressure test | Not included | Not included | 2/year |
| Electrocardiograms | Not included | Not included | 2/year |
| Discounts on Banfield products/services | 10% | 15% | 20% |
There are also wellness plans for puppies and kittens under six months old. Banfield's puppy and kitten wellness is offered in two different tiers: Early Care and Early Care Plus. Let's go through the benefits offered:
| Early Care | Early Care Plus | |
| Office visits | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Pet Chat | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Virtual Visits | 2/year | 2/year |
| Pet Wellness 1-1 | 1/year | 1/year |
| Comprehensive physical exam | 2/year | 2/year |
| Vaccinations | Varies | Varies |
| Diagnostic testing | 1/year | 1/year |
| Fecal exams | 3/year | 3/year |
| Wisdom Panel Canine DNA test (puppies only) | 1 | 1 |
| Deworming | 4/year | 4/year |
| Unlimited interstate health certificates | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Spay/Neuter surgery | Not included | 1 |
| Discounts on Banfield products/services | 5% | 10% |
Additional coverage options from Banfield
Banfield has some additional coverage options you can add while purchasing. You can get parasite control (flea, tick, and heartworm). For adult pets, you can add adult neuter/spay coverage.
Banfield also has an optional Wisdom Panel add-on for adult dogs. This DNA test will screen your dog for any potential issues as well as identify your dog's genetic makeup.
What is not covered by Banfield pet wellness?
Since Banfield offers pet wellness plans instead of traditional pet insurance, you can't use this coverage to pay for medical care resulting from accidents and injuries. Likewise, a Banfield plan won't protect you from excessive pet care bills. Instead, its wellness plans are intended to pay for routine wellness services to keep dogs and cats in the best possible shape.
That said, some Banfield plans offer discounts on other products and services. If you ask whether pet insurance covers surgery, medical treatments, prescription drugs, and rehabilitation, the answer may be yes with other companies. Banfield only offers modest discounts at Banfield hospitals.
Currently, Banfield is also state-restricted. Buyers can use its location search tool to find locations nearby. Based on our research, Banfield does not have servicing locations in the following states:
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Maine
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Banfield Pet Wellness Cost
Because Banfield plans are wellness plans and not pet insurance, they're meant to help you spread out the cost of preventative care instead of covering unexpected vet bills. Especially when you start your pet's care young, quality wellness care can go a long way. Most importantly, Banfield provides predictability. No matter which of its clinics you go to, you'll get the services included in your chosen wellness plan without additional costs.
To get a better idea of how much Banfield pet wellness costs, we'll look at how much a pet owner would pay when using a Banfield location in Brooklyn, New York. We chose New York City for our quotes because it is one of the most expensive places to receive vet care, which premiums will reflect. Your premiums will likely be lower than the prices below.
| Plans | Prices (Monthly) |
| Dog Active Care | $49.95 |
| Dog Active Care Plus | $65.95 |
| Dog Special Care | $83.95 |
| Cat Active Care | $41.95 |
| Cat Active Care Plus | $61.95 |
| Cat Special Care | $73.95 |
From our tests, prices did not vary based on pet breed or age. That said, the monthly price of your wellness plan will vary based on your home clinic.
While proceeding with the enrollment, we found that plans required a one-time enrollment fee. It remained steady at $82.95, regardless of the species of the enrolled pet or plan we chose. If you enroll multiple pets, you'll receive a $15 discount on your enrollment fee.
How to Purchase and Manage a Banfield Pet Wellness Policy
To purchase a Banfield wellness plan, you'll need to obtain a quote on its website. Be prepared to provide your pet's name, species, breed, age, sex, weight, color, and whether your pet is neutered/spayed.
You'll also have to select a home clinic when you sign up. This is one of the largest factors that determines the price you'll pay. Clinics as close as 30 minutes away from each other were priced differently, so be sure to consider all your options when signing up. Additionally, be sure to read the reviews of each clinic you're considering, as reviews between clinics can vary.
Once you confirm your details, you'll be able to select which plan you want. You'll also be able to add riders to your plan. Availability will vary depending on the species and age of your pet.
How to File a Claim With Banfield Pet Wellness
Because Banfield offers pet wellness plans instead of traditional pet insurance, you don't file claims after paying a bill. Instead, you prepay for a pet wellness plan with a certain amount and type of services for each coverage year. From there, you visit Banfield locations to use your plan, in which case the covered services you receive are completed at no charge.
Just remember some services offered through Banfield are unlimited, whereas others come with limits on benefits for each coverage year. For example, members get unlimited office visits and chats with veterinarians, but annual limitations apply to other services like diagnostic testing, fecal exams, and deworming.
If you need services not included in your plan or have surpassed the limit on included services, you'll need to pay for additional pet care out-of-pocket. However, this is where having the Special Care plan helps, since this plan gets you 20% off most other services and products Banfield offers.
Banfield Customer Service and Claims Experience
Banfield has overwhelmingly negative reviews online, receiving an average of 1.14 stars on its Better Business Bureau page and 1.3 stars on its Trustpilot page. These reviews pertain to Banfield as a whole, not just its wellness package. However, given that you'll have to use Banfield clinics when using your wellness plan, it's worth taking note of negative reviews pertaining to the clinic as well.
As a customer, the most important customer reviews will pertain to the specific Banfield location you'd be using. If you're finding overwhelmingly negative reviews at the Banfield closest to you, it may be best to look elsewhere for your wellness plan.
Banfield Pet Wellness Plan Alternatives
Remember that Banfield doesn't sell traditional pet insurance in the form of coverage for medical emergencies. However, many other companies do. Below, see how Banfield compares to alternative providers: Figo and Wagmo.
Banfield vs. Figo Pet Insurance
Figo plans pay for vet bills resulting from accidents and injuries, excluding preexisting conditions, thus helping you avoid excessive vet bills. In addition, its wellness plan helps pet parents pay for things like spaying or neutering, vaccines, and routine exams.
Like most pet insurance companies, Figo sells its "Wellness Powerup" as a rider to its insurance plans. As a result, you'll have to pay for a Figo insurance policy to have the option of buying its wellness plan. Fortunately, Figo is not only one of the best insurance providers — it's also one of the cheapest pet insurance companies.
Figo's wellness coverage is less extensive than Banfield's, covering fewer annual services. More importantly, Figo allocates a fixed amount for each service. So if you go to a more expensive vet, you may end up paying the difference. On the other hand, you'll have the freedom to choose which vet you visit, which is more than we can say about Banfield.
Ultimately, if you're already searching for pet insurance in addition to wellness, Figo is the better option. However, if you're dead set on only buying a wellness package, Banfield is the stronger option.
Read our Figo pet insurance review.
Banfield vs. Wagmo
Like Banfield, Wagmo pet insurance also offers standalone wellness packages in three tiers. All tiers of wellness provide access to 24/7 vet chats and benefits like office visits, fecal tests, blood work, and vaccines. Some of the higher tiers offer grooming, dental cleaning, and parasite prevention. Coverage limits per year vary by plan, ranging from $350 to $1,100.
Wagmo Pet Insurance tends to run cheaper than Banfield plans, but the prices are very comparable. The main reason you should choose Wagmo over Banfield is that you can use any vet with a Wagmo preventive package. However, you'll have to go through a claims process through Wagmo, which can be inconvenient.
Read our Wagmo pet insurance review.
Banfield Pet Wellness FAQ
No, Banfield does not offer pet insurance. However, it offers a pet wellness plan, which covers preventive and wellness treatments.
No, you cannot go to any vet with Banfield's wellness plan. You must use a Banfield clinic to use your benefits.
You can cancel a Banfield wellness plan by calling 1-888-649-2716 and speaking to a representative. You can also cancel your account online. Regardless, it's best to ask for email confirmation, as customers have reported phone cancellations not registering. You will not receive a refund for unused services. Customers who pay monthly will be required to continue paying until the end of their policy term.
No, Banfield only covers preventive and wellness treatments. You'll need to get a separate insurance policy for accidents and illnesses.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Banfield Pet Wellness
To write this review of Banfield pet insurance, Business Insider compared popular pet insurance companies' policies, benefits offered, and exclusions. We also compared providers based on annual and lifetime caps (if applicable) and the premiums for various pet profiles.
Coverage, pricing, and company reputation are significant factors in finding the right pet insurance company. For example, $10,000 coverage caps may seem like a lot until your pet has a severe medical emergency with one surgery that costs $20,000 or more. Conversely, paying just $30-$50 per month per pet is affordable and accessible for pet parents on a tight budget. We do the work for you to get a comprehensive picture of your best pet insurance options.
Read the full methodology for how Business Insider rates pet insurance.
