Our Thoughts on Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans
Banfield Pet Hospital started as a local veterinary clinic in Portland, Ore., in 1955. In 1994, Banfield partnered with PetSmart to open clinics in or attached to stores. Mars, the conglomerate known primarily for its candy business, also owns Banfield Pet Hospitals.
Banfield Veterinary Hospital helps to provide animal care to otherwise underserved areas, and its OWPs can make it easier for pet parents to care for their furry friends. A Banfield OWP can help cover recommended preventive and routine care services each year, including annual dental cleanings, which some pet owners may skip due to cost. Unlike wellness plans offered by pet insurance companies, which cover preventive care visits to any licensed veterinarian, Banfield OWPs only work at Banfield hospitals.
We think Banfield OWPs offer a good choice for pet owners looking for ways to save on preventative care and who live near a clinic, which you may find inside a nearby PetSmart store. Unlike wellness plan add-ons with traditional pet insurance, Banfield OWPs cover the entire cost of each service included in the package. Because packages also include office visit fees, Banfield OWPs can offer a deal for puppies and kittens that must visit the vet frequently during their first year of life.
OWPs cover a specified set of wellness services each year, which you pay for in monthly installments. If you cancel mid-year for any reason, including for the death of a pet, you must still pay the full cost of the plan. Pet owners looking for illness and injury coverage or more flexibility in wellness options may benefit from choosing a standard pet insurance provider over a Banfield OWP.
If you choose to enroll your pet in a Banfield OWP, our team recommends visiting your local pet hospital and meeting the veterinarians before officially signing up. According to customer reviews, many Banfield veterinarians are compassionate and helpful, but some facilities seem overworked and cannot provide individualized attention and care for each pet.
Banfield Pet Hospitals have markedly mixed reviews on platforms such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. Customers often comment that Banfield’s quality of care varies from location to location. While some reviewers praised their local Banfield veterinary practice, others refused to return.
Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans and Pricing
You can sign up for a Banfield OWP online by choosing from three options for adult pets and two options for puppies and kittens. To confirm your plan details and enroll in coverage, you must visit your preferred location within 30 days. Banfield’s website clearly explains what’s included with each plan choice and how much it costs, based on our experience.
What Do Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans Cover?
Banfield OWPs are annual service bundles that pet owners can pay for in monthly installments or once upfront. The service bundles cover pet wellness services meant to prevent future health issues and offer a few extras, such as discounts on services and products outside of the plan.
Each plan covers basic preventive care services, such as routine exams, vaccinations, deworming and diagnostic screening tests. Plans also include access to a 24/7 vet chat line and a nutrition consultation. Different plan levels are available to suit puppies and kittens and adult and senior pets.
Early Care
Puppies and kittens that have already been spayed or neutered or are scheduled for surgery can sign up for an Early Care plan. Plans include the following services over a puppy or kitten’s first year:
- Unlimited office visits
- Unlimited pet chat
- Two virtual visits
- Pet wellness one-on-one consultations
- Two comprehensive physical exams
- Necessary vaccinations
- Heartworm and tick disease screening (for dogs only)
- Feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus screening (for cats only)
- Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites
- Three fecal examinations
- One Wisdom Panel DNA test (for dogs only)
- Four deworming treatments
- Unlimited interstate health certificates
- A 5% discount on additional products and services
Early Care Plus
A separate and upgraded plan is available for puppies and kittens under 6 months old. The Early Care Plus plan includes all services listed above and adds a spay or neuter surgery with pre-anesthetic blood tests for safety. This plan includes a 10% discount on products and services — double what’s offered by the Early Care plan.
Active Care
Active Care is the cheapest plan available for pets older than 6 months. It covers most wellness needs, except for annual dental cleanings. The plan includes the following services that renew each year, with a few exceptions:
- Unlimited office visits
- Unlimited pet chat
- Two virtual visits
- Pet wellness one-on-one consultation
- Two comprehensive physical exams
- Necessary vaccination boosters
- Blood panel, heartworm test and tick screen (for dogs only)
- Blood panel (for cats only)
- Heartworm, feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus (only in a cat’s first year)
- Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites (in the first year only)
- Two fecal exams
- Two deworming treatments
- Unlimited interstate health certificates
- A 10% discount on additional products and services
Active Care Plus
The Active Care Plus plan is meant for young to middle-aged adult dogs and cats, based on our review. The plan includes the same coverage as under the Active Care plan plus a urine screening test and a professional dental cleaning with pre-anesthetic blood work. It also includes a 15% discount on additional products and services.
Special Care
The Special Care plan is recommended for senior pets or those with chronic health issues that require more frequent monitoring. It includes all services listed on the Active Care Plus plan plus a few additions as outlined below. Instead of the 10% to 15% discount on products and services offered on lower plans, the Special Care plan offers a 20% discount.
Additional services on the Active Care Plus plan include:
- One additional urine screening
- One set of preventative X-rays
- Two eye pressure tests
- Two electrocardiograms
Optional Add-On Coverage
After choosing a base Banfield OWP, you can add other services that provide extra protection for your pet’s health. If you already know what your pet needs, you can add specific coverage when you register online. If you are unsure, you can skip this step or choose preliminary options and discuss it with your Banfield vet during your pet’s first visit, which is required in order to complete enrollment.
For example, your Banfield veterinarian may recommend a specific parasite control regimen based on where you live and your pet’s lifestyle. If you choose, your OWP could cover that regimen. We were offered the following add-on and cost options based on a 5-year-old, 50-pound dog living in Illinois.
- Flea, tick and heartworm prevention for $25 per month
- Flea and heartworm prevention for $20 per month
- Heartworm prevention for $10 per month
- Flea and tick prevention for $16 per month
Only one parasite control product is offered for cats — a 3-in-1 combination flea, tick and heartworm product. For a 5-year-old, 10-pound cat living in Illinois, we were quoted $18 per month for this add-on.
How Much Do Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans Cost?
Our team collected quotes for Banfield OWPs to determine an average cost of $60 per month for dogs and $54 for cats, with a one-time enrollment fee of $75. To get a general idea of costs in different parts of the country, we obtained quotes for base plans for four sample pets in three U.S. cities — New York, Denver, Colo., and Knoxville, Tenn.
- A 3-month-old, mixed-breed kitten weighing 5 pounds
- A 5-year-old, mixed-breed adult cat weighing 10 pounds
- A 3-month-old, mixed-breed puppy weighing 25 pounds
- A 5-year-old, mixed-breed adult dog weighing 50 pounds
| Early Care | Early Care Plus | Active Care | Active Care Plus | Special Care | |
| Average cat cost* | $49 | $59 | $38 | $56 | $67 |
| Average dog cost** | $53 | $67 | $45 | $60 | $76 |
Banfield OWPs are prepaid, discounted service bundles that customers can redeem at any Banfield location. Because Banfield OWP services cost the same for pets regardless of age, breed or size, pricing is fixed in a given region. Costs can vary in different parts of the country and may increase in areas with higher costs of living.
Each OWP requires a one-time enrollment fee, which also varies by location. You can choose to pay for your plan in a lump sum or over 12 months. If you choose the monthly recurring billing option, your plan will auto-renew each year. Customers can cancel coverage at any time but must continue to pay monthly payments for the remainder of the year regardless of whether they use the allocated benefits.
Early Care Plans Cost
The chart below shows how the Early Care and Early Care Plus plans vary in cost based on your location and type of animal.
| Location | Pet Type | Early Care Monthly Cost | Early Care Plus Monthly Cost |
| New York, N.Y. | Puppy | $65 | $82 |
| Kitten | $60 | $72 | |
| Denver, Colo. | Puppy | $51 | $64 |
| Kitten | $47 | $56 | |
| Knoxville, Tenn. | Puppy | $44 | $56 |
| Kitten | $40 | $49 |
Active and Special Care Cost
Compare the Active Care and Special Care plans based on cost across three locations and dogs and cats using the table below.
| Location | Pet Type | Active CareMonthly Cost | Active Care PlusMonthly Cost | Special CareMonthly Cost |
| New York, N.Y. | Dog | $55 | $73 | $93 |
| Cat | $46 | $68 | $82 | |
| Denver, Colo. | Dog | $43 | $57 | $73 |
| Cat | $36 | $54 | $64 | |
| Knoxville, Tenn. | Dog | $37 | $50 | $63 |
| Cat | $31 | $46 | $56 |
Banfield OWPs can save pet owners hundreds each year compared to paying for certain wellness care services out of pocket. When signing up for a Banfield OWP, you should see the annual cost of your plan and how much you could save for the year. Additionally, OWPs allow for extra discounts on services and products you could need if your pet gets sick.
Policy Sign-Up, Claims Filing and Payout Processes
You can sign up for a Banfield OWP on the company’s website, where our team found details about each plan clearly laid out. When you scroll down on the main page, you can see icons to explore plans for puppies, kittens and adult pets and a link to frequently asked questions (FAQs) that explain how the plans work.
When you click the enroll button, you’re asked to fill in a few details about your pet and choose a Banfield location where you can take your pet for its first visit. Then, you can select a plan and add-ons, enter your contact information and read instructions on how to finalize your pet’s enrollment. Alternatively, you may enroll in person at a local Banfield hospital.
You’ll be asked to provide a credit card during enrollment, but you should not get charged until you visit a Banfield veterinarian and confirm plan details. Banfield emphasizes that your pet’s plan recommendations may change once a veterinarian does an exam. You’ll have 30 days to schedule your initial visit and confirm the plan. If you don’t visit a clinic within 30 days, you’ll have to re-apply.
With a Banfield OWP, you don’t need to file claims or wait for reimbursements. Banfield stores your pet’s wellness plan information and automatically updates your remaining services after each wellness visit. Because you pay for the plan in monthly installments, you should not owe anything out of pocket for covered services.
Log into your Banfield account online or through its mobile app to check the status of your pet’s plan or book an appointment. While customer reviews appreciated the accessibility of Banfield locations, many noted that their local hospitals seemed overbooked. If your clinic is often busy, it may help to book ahead of time.
Banfield’s Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
Unlike pet insurance, which typically enforces waiting periods, customers can use Banfield’s wellness plans from the day they confirm their pet’s enrollment. Pet owners can use the services as they see fit or as recommended by a Banfield veterinarian at any time throughout the year.
Banfield has no upper age limit for enrollment, meaning pets of all ages can enroll in wellness packages and the added discounts and perks. The only restriction is that pets enrolling in an Early Care plan, which is designed exclusively for puppies and kittens, must be younger than 6 months old.
What Customers Think About Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans
To determine what Banfield OWP customers think of their pet’s plans, we read through dozens of reviews on Trustpilot and threads on Reddit. Our team identified trends in what customers like and dislike about the company, which we outline below.
What Customers Like
- Caring teams: According to a few reviewers on Reddit, Banfield veterinary staff took their time and seemed to care genuinely about the pets.
- Plan value: Some reviewers noted that although care quality is subpar in some locations, the plans offer value for the money.
- Temporary solution: Several reviewers noted they would not use Banfield long-term, but the plans provided them access to some veterinary services during major life transitions when it was difficult to establish care with a new clinic.
What Customers Don’t Like
- Overbooking: Reviewers in urban and metro areas felt nearby clinics were always too busy for appointments, forcing them to visit emergency clinics when their pets were ill.
- Quality of care: Many reviewers cited concerns about mistakes made with their pets’ charts, rushed appointments, overworked employees and misdiagnoses.
- Drop-offs: Some locations require drop-offs, and pet owners complained that they didn’t get updates until the end of the day or that their pet’s services were not completed.
- Difficulty canceling: Many customers were upset that Banfield refused to cancel or prorate their plans after their pet’s death, citing poor customer service as a reason they would not return to the company.
We contacted Banfield for comment on the negative customer reviews included throughout this guide but have not received a response.
Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans vs. Other Pet Insurance Companies
Banfield OWPs are different from typical pet insurance plans and companies. Customers can only use a Banfield wellness plan for specified services at Banfield locations. In contrast, you can use pet insurance to cover services related to pet illnesses and injuries at any veterinary practice.
Some pet insurance providers offer wellness plans as an addition to a policyholder’s base coverage. These plans are comparable to Banfield’s wellness coverage, which we explain below.
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Star Rating | Accidental Waiting Period | BBB Rating | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $26-$80 | N/A | N/A | EXPLORE PLANS | ||
| $16-$65 | N/A | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS | ||
| $53-$123 | N/A | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS | ||
| $24-$54 | N/A | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Star Rating | Accidental Waiting Period | BBB Rating | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $26-$80 | N/A | N/A | EXPLORE PLANS | ||
| $16-$65 | N/A | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS | ||
| $53-$123 | N/A | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS | ||
| $24-$54 | N/A | A+ | EXPLORE PLANS |
Banfield OWP vs. Lemonade Preventive Care
Lemonade and Banfield wellness plans operate similarly, with pet owners purchasing a year’s worth of coverage at a time and paying in monthly installments. Each plan offers coverage for similar services, including vaccines, wellness visits, screening tests and dental care. However, in contrast to Banfield, pet owners can use Lemonade plans at any veterinary practice of their choice.
Banfield plans offer prepaid bundles in which services are automatically deducted from your pet’s account when you use them. With Lemonade, you must pay your veterinarian for services, file a claim and then receive a partial reimbursement according to a standard fee schedule. Like most wellness plans, neither company requires a waiting period or deductible to use available benefits or services.
| Banfield OWP | Lemonade Preventive Care | |
| Annual reimbursement maximum | Covers bundled services in full | Up to $480 for adult pets and $650 for puppies and kittens |
| Average cost for dogs | $60 per month | $48–$57 per month* |
| Average cost for cats | $54 per month | $27–$34 per month* |
*We calculated average costs for Lemonade by adding the cost of a base plan ($30 for dogs and $16 for cats) plus a wellness care add-on ($18 to $27 for dogs and $11 to $18 for cats).
For more information about Lemonade’s pet insurance plans, read our full review.
Banfield OWP vs. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Preventive Care
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers add-on preventative care plans that pet owners can use anywhere, while Banfield plans are only accepted at Banfield locations. However, Banfield’s services are paid in full and do not require claims or reimbursements, both of which pet owners must undergo with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance preventive care plan.
| Banfield OWP | ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Preventive Care Plans | |
| Annual reimbursement maximum | Covers bundled services in full | Up to $625 |
| Average cost for dogs | $60 per month | $54–$69 per month* |
| Average cost for cats | $54 per month | $28–$43 per month* |
*We calculated average costs for ASPCA Pet Health Insurance by adding the cost of a base plan ($44 for dogs and $18 for cats) plus a wellness care add-on ($10 to $25 for dogs and cats).
Learn more in our ASPCA Pet Health Insurance review.
Frequently Asked Questions about Banfield Optimum Wellness Plans
Banfield does not sell traditional pet insurance policies. Rather, Banfield is a pet hospital that sells Optimum Wellness Plans (OWPs), which cover preventive care services and do not provide reimbursements when your pet gets sick or hurt. However, OWPs offer discounts on other Banfield services and products that could offset costs if your pet falls ill.
If you are looking for accident and illness coverage in addition to preventive care or you want the flexibility to visit any veterinarian, look into a full-coverage pet insurance provider, such as Lemonade or Spot.
You can cancel a Banfield wellness plan by calling its customer service line. However, the company will not provide you with a refund for the services you did not use. If you are enrolled in monthly payments, you must continue paying monthly until the end of your annual policy term. This policy applies under all circumstances, including if your pet passes away.
Although Banfield and PetSmart have a longstanding partnership, they are separate companies. Many, but not all, Banfield clinics are located inside or next to PetSmart stores.
Banfield OWPs can help pet owners pay for preventative care, which the company offers at its more than 1,000 locations in the U.S. Banfield hospitals and staff are trained to educate pet owners and enroll pets in the plans. However, the financial handling of OWP payments happens at the corporate level.
