Are pet wellness plans worth it?
Wellness add-ons pay for routine care, not emergencies. What each insurer offers, and how to check the math.
Updated October 2, 2026. Plan facts come from each insurer's published documents; each insurer's policy documents control.
The short answer
A wellness plan pays fixed amounts toward routine care like checkups, vaccines and sometimes dental cleanings; it is not insurance against accidents or illness. Six of the seven insurers we could check sell one as an add-on; Healthy Paws doesn't.
It is worth it only when the routine care it pays for costs more than the add-on itself.
What will it cost for your dog?
Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.
Wellness option, by insurer
| Insurer | Wellness option | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | Wellness Rewards: $300/$500/$700[1] | Optional non-insurance add-on; no per-item limits; covers exams, vaccines, dental cleaning, diets, grooming. |
| Fetch | Optional Fetch Wellness add-on[2] | Covers annual exam, dental cleanings, vaccines, parasite prevention, spay/neuter, tests and microchipping; only sold with insurance. |
| Healthy Paws | No wellness coverage or add-on[3] | Wellness and preventive care (vaccines, spay/neuter, dental cleanings, parasite control) are not covered. |
| Lemonade | Preventative / Preventative+ packages[4] | Routine vet care plan: one wellness exam, up to three vaccines, wellness tests; Plus adds unlimited exams and more. |
| Odie | Routine Care add-on (Basic/Plus)[5] | Basic up to $305/yr, Plus up to $535/yr (adds spay/neuter, teeth cleaning); a standalone Odie Wellness Plan is also sold. |
| Pets Best | EssentialWellness or BestWellness add-on[6] | Two tiers, no deductible: up to $305/yr or $535/yr for exams, vaccines, tests, preventives; spay/neuter/teeth cleaning only on BestWellness. |
| Spot | Gold or Platinum preventive add-on[7] | Platinum pays scheduled annual maximums, e.g. $150 dental cleaning or spay/neuter, $50 exam, $25 per test/vaccine; Gold is lower. |
| Trupanion | Not verified yet | Trupanion's website blocks automated requests, so we could not check this against its policy yet. Ask Trupanion directly. |
From each insurer's own sample policy, terms or FAQ, checked October 2, 2026. Terms vary by state and plan, and the policy you buy controls.
Check how this applies to your breed
What this means for your dog
Do the math with your own vet's prices. Add up what you would spend anyway in a year on the items a plan pays for (exam, vaccines, tests, parasite prevention, a cleaning) and compare it with the yearly cost of the add-on. Pets Best and Odie publish yearly maximums of $305 or $535 depending on the tier; Embrace's Wellness Rewards comes in $300, $500 or $700 per policy year options.
Puppies tend to get the most from a plan: vaccines, spay or neuter and frequent visits fall in the first year. Small breeds that need regular cleanings, like the Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua and Maltese, can also come out ahead if the tier includes dental cleaning.
The insurance part is what protects you from a large bill. If the budget only stretches to one, choose accident and illness cover first. Puppy insurance and the wellness question.
Before you buy
- List the routine items your dog needs this year and price them at your vet.
- Compare that total with the yearly cost of the wellness add-on.
- Check the per-item limits, and whether unused amounts are lost at the end of the year.
- Make sure accident and illness cover comes first in the budget.
Questions owners ask
What does a pet wellness plan cover?
Routine and preventive care such as wellness exams, vaccines, tests, parasite prevention and, on some tiers, dental cleaning or spay and neuter, each up to set amounts.
Is a wellness plan the same as pet insurance?
No. It pays toward planned routine care. Accident and illness insurance pays for unexpected injuries and illnesses. Embrace describes its Wellness Rewards as a non-insurance add-on.
Which insurers offer a wellness add-on?
Embrace, Fetch, Lemonade, Odie, Pets Best and Spot offer wellness or preventive add-ons. Healthy Paws does not cover wellness care.
Is a wellness plan worth it?
Only if the routine care it pays for costs more than the add-on. Compare its yearly price with your vet's prices for the items you would buy anyway.
Sources
- What is Embrace's Wellness Rewards?. Embrace Pet Insurance.
- Does Pet Insurance Include Wellness Coverage? | Fetch FAQs. Fetch.
- Frequently Asked Questions | Healthy Paws. Healthy Paws.
- Lemonade FAQ (Pet Health Insurance section). Lemonade.
- Help Center - Odie Pet Insurance. Odie Pet Insurance.
- Routine Care and Pet Wellness Coverage | Pets Best. Pets Best Insurance Services.
- Preventive Care Amendatory Endorsement: Platinum (sample). Spot Pet Insurance.
How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.
Get an email if prices for your breed change
We update our estimates monthly. We will email you when the estimate for your dog changes, and nothing else.