Pet Health Plans - are they really good value?

Pet Health Care Plans

I see that a lot of the local Corporate veterinary practices are starting to offer Pet Health Care Plans to:

 "allow you to spread the cost of caring for your pet throughout the year. It covers your pet for all of their basic health care needs, including preventative treatments and expert advice, giving you complete peace of mind".

These may not always be such good value as they seem.......

The way that these schemes work is that you set up a standing order for a certain amount each month, and in return you get a certain amount of "included" services and preventative health products. Lets examine one in more detail:

Cat Plan

Cost = £12/month = £144 yearly

Includes:

• Annual Booster Vaccination  
  
• Two routine clinical examinations (one at the booster time)
  
• Enough wormers for 12 months (a dose every 3 months)
  
• Enough flea treatments for 12 months (does not specify which, but normally would be a monthly spot-on treatment)
  
• Dietary advice
  
• Microchip (this is a one off procedure)
  
• Total Cost = £144

Just totting up what this would cost at Wrekin View:

• Annual Booster Vaccination £28 inducing clinical examination
  
• Wormers for average size cat x 4 £13
  
• One extra clinical health check examination £25.95
  
• Flea Treatment @ £17 for 4 months (Effipro) = £51
  
• {Microchip] £15
  
• Dietary Advice   Free at any time, just ring and ask
• Total cost = £132.95
  

Take off the Microchip (if already done) and the extra health check examination and our cost for the equivalent is £92......... a whopping £52 cheaper!

Dog packages range from £13/month to £24/month depending on size.

Is this really good value? Why are these vets doing this?

At Wrekin View, we try to keep things simple for you; you only pay for what you get. We are always happy to offer advice to our clients free of charge when appropriate.