Pet Insurance Alternatives To Consider For Your Dog – CanineJournal.com


Are you looking to save money on your pet’s health care expenses? There are alternatives to pet insurance for you to consider. Some companies offer coverage for routine care, discounts on in-network vets, emergency funds, and more.

In some cases, you may even be able to use one of these alternatives in conjunction with a traditional pet health insurance policy. Find out what each of these plans has to offer and if one of them could benefit you.

Oops, Were You Seeking Pet Health Insurance?

2 yellow dogs in grass (caption: Pet Insurance Reviews)The companies reviewed on this page are NOT insurance providers. So, if you are looking for more comprehensive health protection, we recommend you check out our pet insurance reviews. Our experts have analyzed over a dozen pet insurance companies to help you find the best for your needs and discover the companies that deliver the best products on the market today.

Best Pet Insurance Alternative: Eusoh Review

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Eusoh is a pet insurance alternative that reimburses your pet’s eligible illness, injury, and wellness expenses. How does it work? Eusoh uses a community-based health sharing plan to reimburse you for your pet’s medical care expenses. Pet parents join groups and directly fund each other’s vet expenses.

The monthly payment can fluctuate, but typically only by a few dollars. The reason it fluctuates is because unused contributions roll over, decreasing the next month’s payment. And for months that experience an increase in expenses, the following month’s payment may increase.

You still get to choose your vet, so after your pet’s appointment, you pay for the services, submit the invoice and proof of payment to Eusoh via your smartphone, and wait for reimbursement. Eusoh is NOT pet insurance, but it is the closest alternative in this article.

Pros

Cons

  • Reimburses illness, injury, and wellness expenses
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • BBB rating: A+
  • Offers pre-approval of estimates/procedures in advance of treatment
  • Multiple forms of customer support: live chat, phone, email, FAQ
  • Monthly payment fluctuates but only by a few dollars typically
  • Doesn’t reimburse for spay/neuter, breeding, grooming, supplements, preventative medication, food, dental cleanings, and pre-existing conditions
  • Reimbursement percentage, annual limit, and out of pocket amount aren’t customizable
  • Live chat is slow to respond

Price

Eusoh’s monthly fee consists of two parts.

  • Eusoh membership fee: $17/month
  • Care contribution: $0-$48/month
    • This amount fluctuates each month
    • Averages $24/month for dogs
    • Averages $12/month for cats
  • View all options

At the time of writing, the maximum monthly payment for the Eusoh membership and care contribution combined was $65 per month. Billing occurs on the 28th of each month.

Eusoh also charges a one-time, refundable deposit to set up your account. At the time of writing, this fee was $48.

Your Eusoh membership has the following coverage:

  • 80% reimbursement
  • $8,500 annual limit
  • $250 annual out of pocket
  • No premium

Learn about reimbursement, annual limits, premiums, and other pet insurance costs to know what they are and how they compare to Eusoh.

Coupon

Use coupon code HEAT to get 2 free months subscription ($34 value) to Eusoh! Use this link to get started.

Best Emergency Fund: Pawp Review

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Pawp offers a $3,000 emergency fund to help cover unexpected, emergency vet bills. How does it work? Pawp charges $19 per month, no matter the breed, age, medical history, etc. Unlike pet insurance, there’s no copay or deductible. In the event of an emergency*, Pawp may reimburse up to $3,000 per year, but it can only be used once per year. So, if your pet experiences multiple emergencies in a year, you can only use your Pawp emergency fund once for a maximum claim of $3,000.

How do you obtain access to your Pawp emergency fund? If something has happened to your pet, you place a video call to a Pawp veterinarian to discuss necessary care. The vet will confirm whether or not your pet’s emergency qualifies for access to your fund.

Next, you can take your pet to any vet within four hours, admit them for care, and obtain treatment. Once you receive your final invoice, have someone at your vet’s office call Pawp’s hotline to review the charges. Pawp will then provide payment for any eligible items, up to $3,000 total.

Examples of emergencies that are eligible for coverage include toxic ingestions, choking and difficulty breathing, severe blockages, severe internal and external injuries, and more. Pawp doesn’t cover scheduled surgeries, regular checkups and wellness visits, vaccinations and routine procedures, pregnancy and pregnancy-related issues, and more.

*An emergency is defined as your pet requiring vet care immediately. Accidents or illnesses that lead to a vet recommendation for the pet to be seen in the near future but not immediately are not covered. Only true emergencies requiring urgent medical attention are eligible for the emergency fund.

Pros

Cons

  • Protect up to 6 pets under 1 plan
  • One price, regardless of pet’s age, breed, medical history, etc.
  • No reimbursement process; Pawp pays for eligible items before you leave the vet clinic
  • Emergencies related to pre-existing conditions are eligible for coverage
  • Multiple forms of customer support: live chat, FAQ, and send photos or video chat with vet
  • Only covers vet care that is required immediately
  • 14-day waiting period until your emergency plan is available
  • Pawp vet must confirm your emergency to activate your fund
  • Fund can only be used once per year for an emergency bill up to $3,000
  • No BBB rating

Price

Coupon

Looking for a Pawp promo code? Click here for the best deal we could find.

Best Discount Plan: Pet Assure Review

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Pet Assure can save you 25% on vet bills. How does it work?

  1. You can purchase a Pet Assure plan directly using this link (or check with your employer in case they offer it as a benefit).
  2. Enroll in a Pet Assure plan and find an in-network vet.
  3. Show your ID card to the in-network vet at the time of service and receive a 25% discount on most in-house medical services, including dental cleaning, spay and neuter procedures, diabetes management, cancer care, allergy treatments, parasite screenings, tumor removal, wellness visits, and more.

Pros

Cons

  • Pre-existing conditions are covered
  • Can be used with pet insurance
  • Accepts all pet ages, breeds, and health conditions
  • All medical services are covered
  • No annual limits
  • Not all vets honor the plan, so finding a provider near you that you trust may be difficult
  • If your pet has an expensive procedure, you’ll most likely have to pay a lot more than you would with traditional pet insurance

Price

  Single Cat Single Dog Family Unlimited
Type Of Pet Cat, Rodent,
Reptile Or Other Small Animal
Dog, Horse
Or Other Large Animal
2-4 Pets Of Any Size Every Pet In Your Household
Price Per Month $8.45 $10.15 $14.40 $18.65
Price Per Year $67.15 $84.15 $126.65 $169.15

Examples of savings on common vet procedures:

Vet Service Average Cost* Your Savings
Routine Wellness Exam $45 Save $11.50
Vaccinations $118 Save $29.50
Fecal Exam $57 Save $14.25
In-House Lab Work $96 Save $24.00
Dental Cleaning & X-Rays $475 Save $118.75
Emergency Sick Exam $90 Save $22.50
X-Rays $120 Save $30.00
Cruciate Ligament Repair $825 Save $206.25
Tumor Removal $525 Save $131.25

*Based on actual vet bills of Pet Assure members

Coupon

Looking for a Pet Assure promo code? Click here for the best deal we could find.

Best Wellness Coverage: Banfield Review

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Banfield is a wellness membership plan. How does it work? You pay a monthly fee, and in return, the company covers many of your pet’s preventative care needs.

To take advantage of the plan, you must visit a Banfield Pet Hospital, primarily found at one of 1,000 PetSmart stores. The plans offer annual preventative care coverage for your dog or cat, including two wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care, and more.

If you’re interested in wellness coverage for your pet, many traditional pet insurance providers offer wellness coverage as an add-on or stand-alone product. Be sure to compare Banfield against other wellness coverage plans to make sure you buy the best plan for you and your pet’s needs.

Pros

Cons

  • Widely available across the U.S.
  • Unlimited office visits
  • Weekend and evening hours
  • $15 discount on membership fee for additional pets
  • Personalized plans available
  • BBB rating: A+ (not accredited)
  • Can be used in conjunction with pet insurance
  • Annual contract required
  • No illness or injury coverage
  • Contract automatically renews each year
  • Some Banfield reviews online complain about upselling while at appointments, so the bill is rarely fully covered by the annual fee
  • Plans are often more expensive than competitors’ wellness plans
  • Must visit a Banfield location

Price

Pricing for Banfield’s Wellness Plans varies based on your pet’s breed, age, residence location, and several other factors. It offers different plans for each type of pet: dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens, which we highlight below. We’ve also included quotes we ran in December 2020.

Black Labrador Retriever

The following quotes are for a 1-year old spayed female with a birthdate of 01/01/2020 in the Iowa zip code 50125.

  • Active Care: $31.95/month
  • Active Care Plus: $42.95/month
  • Special Care: $53.95/month

Mixed Breed Cat

The following quotes are for a 1-year old spayed female with a birthdate of 01/01/2020 in the Iowa zip code 50125.

  • Active Care: $25.95/month
  • Active Care Plus: $37.95/month
  • Special Care: $45.95/month

Optional add-ons include parasite control, spay/neuter, additional dental, chronic care, and a Wisdom Panel DNA test.

Coupon

Looking for a Banfield promo code? Click here for the best deal we could find.

Read Our Full Banfield Review

Should I Get Pet Insurance Instead?

Are you unsure about going with one of these pet insurance alternatives, emergency funds, discount plans, or wellness programs? Consider all of the available options to manage the financial risk of pet ownership when by also learning more about pet insurance. By having more information, you can determine the best tool to help assist you when pet emergencies strike and financial burdens weigh you down.

Which type of financial assistance sounds the best for your needs?



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