Banfield Pet Hospital Review

Banfield Pet Hospital® is a veterinary practice powered by more than 3,600 veterinarians across 1,000+ locations within the US and Puerto Rico.

Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield is one of the oldest and largest general pet hospitals in the country.

Through delivering high-quality, customized routine and preventative care for every pet’s unique needs, Banfield has been a partner to every pet owner when it comes to supporting overall pet health.

Banfield’s proactive approach is aimed at diagnosing pet illnesses at the earliest stages. They make sure each pet’s health state is at an optimal level by focusing on everything from primary care and managing preventable diseases, to oral health, mobility, and nutrition.

To learn about how Banfield managed to stay an industry leader for so long and why so many pet owners choose them as their primary pet care option, continue reading this Banfield Pet Hospital review. 

Banfield’s Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.	All wellness plans require annual commitment.
There is no requirement for a physical exam prior to enrolling with Banfield.	A hefty enrollment fee is imposed.
Pre-existing conditions aren’t taken into consideration when forming your coverage policy.	Can’t use coverage at every vet clinic in the country.
No waiting periods.	Banfield prices are a bit on the high-end.
Pet wellness coverage is available at over 1,000 locations in the USA and Puerto Rico.
No copayment and deductibles are involved.
5%-20% discounts for other Banfield products and services.
Access to a 24/7 Vet Chat service.
Unlimited veterinary visits with each plan.

Banfield’s Key Attributes

1. Underwriter: Banfield Pet Hospital doesn’t have an underwriter since the company isn’t an insurance one. Their main purpose is to provide customers with wellness care for their pets. Therefore, they aren’t rated by the AM Best who evaluate only insurance agencies and underwriters.
   • AM Best Rating: N/A
   • BBB Rating: A+
2. Exam period: There’s no need to subject your pet to a complete physical exam so you could become eligible for a Banfield pet coverage plan. After all, that’s what Banfield is for – they provide thorough wellness exams and unlimited office visits, and they have no issues with pre-existing conditions, so you can sign up without any trouble.
3. Increase in monthly premium: There’s no clear information on whether Banfield’s plan gets more expensive with time. The company notes that you’ll have to commit to paying for your plan annually, so we doubt that they’ll raise their prices for providing the same stuff every year.
4. Claim submission time limit: Banfield doesn’t reimburse for any unforeseen medical expenses, so naturally, there are no claims to file for the coverage that you use. Everything that comes on your Banfield wellness plan is already pre-paid for.
5. Claim processing times: As me already mentioned, the wellness benefits that your pet is entitled to are all covered by your optimum wellness plan. You don’t need to wait for anything to be processed,
6. Waiting periods: You Banfield pet wellness coverage starts as soon as you enroll with the company. With Banfield, there are no waiting periods as is the case with almost all pet insurance providers.
7. Pet coverage with Banfield is valid throughout the entire US and Puerto Rico. The company has veterinary offices and clinics at over 1,000 locations, many of which are in partnership with PetSmart, the pet supplier chain of stores. You can use your Banfield coverage only at their locations, not with any licensed vet in the country. To discover the nearest Banfield Pet Hospital® to you, access their facility locator.

Banfield’s Coverage Plans

Banfield’s pet coverage policy comes in a simple, easy-to-understand shape and form. The company has several pet wellness care plans that provide coverage for everything that’s wellness-related.

Their main coverage is named the Optimum Wellness Plan®. It stems into five smaller packages, two of which are dedicated to puppies and kittens and three are custom-built for dogs and cats.

All of them include a ton of benefits to ensure your pet is always at their best. Besides the office visits, wellness exams, and diagnostic testings, since the Covid-19 pandemic, Banfield added many benefits in their wellness plan to help their members keep their pets happy with the aid of modern technology.

There are a few important facts that are valid for all plans:

1. You need to commit to an annual contract when you enroll in any of the Optimum Wellness Plans®. You can still pay for it in monthly installments but need to commit to at least 12 of those;
2. You can use the coverage only at designated Banfield locations, not in any vet clinic in the US;
3. There are no waiting periods that you need to meet so you could start using your wellness coverage;
4. Coverage for pre-existing conditions is included;
5. There are no annual or per-incident deductibles like pet the ones in pet insurance plans.

Below, we’ll discuss each plan and review how much you’ll get in a year with Banfield if you decide to hop on any of those.

Banfield Wellness Coverage for Puppies and Kittens

Early Care

Banfield’s first plan comes with almost everything your little fur babies need. Only puppies and kittens below the age of 6 months can get on this plan and stay on it until you’re ready to renew your Banfield wellness policy after your first year.

The following are all of the benefits that come with the Early Care optimum wellness plan:

• Unlimited veterinary visits;
• Two virtual veterinary visits;
• 24-7 virtual veterinary service with Vet Chat™;
• 1:1 session dedicated to pet nutrition coaching (one per year);
• Nose-to-tail physical exams for diagnosing conditions (two per year):
  • Oral exam;
  • Pulmonary/lung evaluation;
  • Urogenital evaluation;
  • Eye exam;
  • Ear exam;
  • Coat and skin evaluation;
  • Rectal exam;
  • Cardiovascular evaluation;
  • Neurological evaluation;
  • Abdominal palpation;
  • Musculoskeletal evaluation;
  • Weight and nutrition advice;
• Preventative vaccinations:
  • Puppies:
    • Bordetella;
    • Distemper/Parvo;
    • Rabies;
    • Lyme disease;
    • Leptospirosis;
  • Kittens:
    • Feline Distemper;
    • Feline Leukemia;
    • Rabies;
• Lab testing for early diagnosis of illnesses and parasites (one per year):
  • Puppies:
    • Mites;
    • Heartworm;
    • Ehrlichia;
    • Lyme disease;
  • Kittens:
    • Mites;
    • Feline immunodeficiency virus;
    • Leukemia test;
• Fecal exams that help to early diagnose parasites and other disorders (three per year);
• Medications for deworming in order to eliminate parasites such as (four per year):
  • Roundworms;
  • Hookworms;
  • All other intestinal parasites;
• WISDOM PANEL™ DNA testing (only available for puppies);
• 5% discount on other Banfield services or products.

Early Care Plus

If you’d like to step up one level further, you can opt for the Early Care Plus optimum wellness plan. This is an extension to the Early Care plan and it’s meant for puppies and kittens up to 6 months old.

The Early Care Plus plan includes everything that we’ve listed above for the Early Care plan, plus coverage for a routine spay or neuter surgery and everything necessary for the surgery to go as smoothly as possible.

To be more precise, this is what’s covered for the entire spay/neuter procedure:

• Health evaluation before the surgical procedure;
• Anesthetic-related blood panel:
  • Electrolyte check-up;
  • Internal-organ imaging;
  • Complete blood count;
• Monitoring of blood pressure;
• General anesthetic;
• Pain meds during the spay/neuter procedure and while in the vet clinic.

A 10% discount on other Banfield services or products is also one of the benefits of having the Early Care Plus plan.

Banfield Wellness Coverage for Dogs and Cats

According to Banfield, but also pretty much common sense, as soon as pups and kittens cross the 6-month threshold, they’re no longer babies. They need care and treatments fit for the adult they are, which means more suitable wellness coverage to keep them cootie-free.

For this reason, Banfield adapts their optimum wellness plans into three other plans catering to dogs and cats. Let’s review them!

Active Care

With the Active Care optimum wellness plan by Banfield, your doggo or catto is basically set for life. The plan includes everything from wellness visits to detailed lab work so your pet is always kept in check.

This is everything that’s provided by the Active Care plan:

• Unlimited veterinary visits;
• Two virtual veterinary visits;
• 24-7 virtual veterinary service with Vet Chat™;
• 1:1 session dedicated to pet nutrition coaching (one per year);
• Nose-to-tail physical exams for diagnosing conditions (two per year):
  • Oral exam;
  • Pulmonary/lung evaluation;
  • Urogenital evaluation;
  • Eye exam;
  • Ear exam;
  • Coat and skin evaluation;
  • Rectal exam;
  • Cardiovascular evaluation;
  • Neurological evaluation;
  • Abdominal palpation;
  • Musculoskeletal evaluation;
  • Weight and nutrition advice;
• Preventative vaccinations:
  • Dogs:
    • Bordetella (two per year);
    • Distemper/Parvo (one per year);
    • Rabies (one per year);
    • Lyme disease (one per year);
    • Leptospirosis (one per year);
  • Cats:
    • Feline Distemper (one per year);
    • Feline Leukemia (one per year);
    • Rabies (one per year);
• Lab testing for early diagnosis of illnesses and parasites (one per year):
  • Dogs:
    • Heartworm;
    • Ehrlichia;
    • Lyme disease;
    • Blood panel;
    • Internal organ imaging;
    • Mites (only during the first year of coverage);
  • Cats:
    • Blood
    • Internal organ imaging;
    • Mites (only during the first year of coverage);
    • Feline immunodeficiency virus (only during the first year of coverage);
    • Leukemia test (only during the first year of coverage);
    • Heartworm (only during the first year of coverage);
• Fecal exams that help to early diagnose parasites and other disorders (two per year);
• Medications for deworming in order to eliminate parasites such as (two per year):
  • Roundworms;
  • Hookworms;
  • All other intestinal parasites;
• 10% discount on other Banfield services or products.

Active Care Plus

Unlike the Early Care Plus plan which added coverage for spaying or neutering to the Early Care plan, the Active Care Plus plan adds coverage for urine testing and professional dental cleanings.

Besides that, everything that comes with the Active Care plan is also available for the cats and dogs that enroll in the Active Care Plus plan.

Here’s more detail of all the additional benefits your pet can enjoy with this plan:

• Professional dental cleaning so that tooth loss, gum disease, and even kidney or heart disease can be prevented. The following is also included:
  • Descaling and professional cleaning around the gum line;
  • Health evaluation before the dental cleaning procedure;
  • Anesthetic-related blood panel:
    • Electrolyte check-up;
    • Internal-organ imaging;
    • Complete blood count;
  • Monitoring of blood pressure;
  • General anesthetic;
  • Pain meds during the dental cleaning procedure and while in the vet clinic.
• Urine test for early detection of diseases, infections, and dehydration.

A 15% discount on other Banfield services or products is included in the Active Care Plus plan.

Special Care

If your pet is one of the unfortunate ones to suffer from a chronic condition, you can benefit the most from Banfield’s ultimate optimum wellness plan – the Special Care plan.

All of the coverage from the Active Care Plus plan is also there, but more diagnostic testing is included as well:

• An additional urine test for early detection of diseases, infections, and dehydration;
• Preventative radiology (X-rays) for inspecting how healthy your pet’s bones, tissues, and organs are (one per year);
• Eye-pressure exam for early diagnosis of eye issues such as glaucoma – only for dogs (one per year);
• Electrocardiograms for inspecting how healthy your dog’s heart is – only for dogs (one per year);
• More diagnostic testing for thyroid disease and heartworm – only for cats (one per year).

The Special Care plan also grants a 20% discount on other Banfield services or products.

Extra Features

To provide even more for the neediest of pets, Banfield offers several optional add-ons that can be added to your base optimum wellness coverage plan of choice.

Flea, Tick & Heartworm Prevention

For a bit more added to your monthly fee, you can add protection against those pesky parasites that attack so many pets each year. Fleas, ticks, and heartworm are known to prowl our favorite little fur buddies, especially if they love to play outdoors during the warm months.

There can be a myriad of disorders and illnesses caused by flea or tick infections, and heartworm can be especially dangerous and cause heart failure and severe liver and other organ damage for both cats and dogs.

Having the Flea, Tick & Heartworm Prevention add-on on board can ensure you and your pet never need to deal with serious complications caused by these types of parasites.

Note that you can mix and match this prevention package to get the coverage that you need the most. Separate add-ons for Flea & Heartworm Prevention, Heartworm Prevention, and Flea & Tick Prevention are all at your disposal with Banfield.

Adult Canine or Feline Spay/Neuter

None of the optimum wellness plans for cats and dogs don’t include coverage for spaying or neutering an adult pet, as was the case with the Early Care Plus plan for puppies and kittens.

However, for an extra fee of about $30/month for dogs and $18/month for cats, you can add this coverage to your chosen optimum wellness plan.

With it, you can ensure your pet is safely spayed/neutered since your coverage will include diagnostic testing for their vitals, anesthesia-related testing, and pain meds.

Wisdom Panel™ Canine DNA test

This coverage is included on the Early Care and Early Care Plus plans for puppies, but missing from the Active Care and Special Care plans for dogs. If you wish to add it to your dog wellness coverage, you can opt for the optional add-on which costs about $7/month.

It will cover a Wisdom Panel™ DNA test for your dog which enables you to discover a large amount of data that you never knew about your dog before.

With this feature, you can find out the breeds involved in your mixed-breed dog in a pool of 350+ breeds. Tracing their ancestry is also possible and this test will illustrate how your dog’s real parents and grandparents may have looked like.

Understanding more details about your dog’s eye color, hair color, coat type, and ideal weight range is made easy with this test as well.

But the most important info that you’ll receive through this test is your dog’s genetic makeup, helping you identify conditions that they may be predisposed to or understand which medications or food may be bad for them. That way, you’ll brush up on your dog parenting and learn how to provide better care for your doggo.

Banfield’s Pricing Quotes

Researching Banfield’s wellness plans tells us that the company isn’t exactly too affordable. Their pet coverage is truly comprehensive, but if you want a more inclusive plan and add a couple of extra features, your monthly fee may easily reach $100 per month.

The worst thing about Banfield’s pricing policy is their enrollment fee. It’s undeniably one of the highest entry fees we’ve ever witnessed on the pet coverage market – it ranges from $50 to $70, making your first payment to Banfield easily above $100.

But not everything is so dark. Banfield’s prices don’t fluctuate because your pet is growing older. They’ll most likely stay the same during their entire lifespan.

Below you can check some sample quotes that we’ve pulled from Banfield for several cat and dog breeds living in different areas in the country.

Pricing Quotes for Puppies

Breed	German Shepherd	French Bulldog	Labrador Retriever
Gender	Male	Male	Female
Age	3 months	4 months	5 months
Location	New York	California	Colorado
Deductible	$0	$0	$0
Reimbursement	100%	100%	100%
Banfield’s Early Care Plan	$47.95/month	$47.95/month	$39.95/month
Banfield’s Early Care Plus Plan	$60.95/month	$60.95/month	$49.95/month
Entry fee	$69.95	$67.95	$57.95
Optional add-ons:
Flea, Tick & Heartworm Prevention (3 in 1)	$24.50/month	$24.50/month	$24.50/month
Flea & Heartworm Prevention	$19.50/month	$19.50/month	$19.50/month
Heartworm Prevention	$9.50/month	$9.50/month	$9.50/month
Flea & Tick Prevention	$15.00/month	$15.00/month	$15.00/month

_{*quotes obtained in December 2021}

Pricing Quotes for Dogs

Breed	German Shepherd	French Bulldog	Labrador Retriever
Gender	Male	Male	Female
Age	8 months	1 year 5 months	2 years 4 months
Location	New York	California	Colorado
Deductible	$0	$0	$0
Reimbursement	100%	100%	100%
Banfield’s Dog Active Care Plan	$40.95/month	$40.95/month	$35.95/month
Banfield’s Dog Active Care Plus Plan	$54.95/month	$54.95/month	$46.95/month
Banfield’s Dog Special Care Plan	$68.95/month	$68.95/month	$59.95/month
Entry fee	$67.95	$67.95	$57.95
Optional add-ons:
Flea, Tick & Heartworm Prevention (3 in 1)	$24.50/month	$24.50/month	$24.50/month
Flea & Heartworm Prevention	$19.50/month	$19.50/month	$19.50/month
Heartworm Prevention	$9.50/month	$9.50/month	$9.50/month
Flea & Tick Prevention	$15.00/month	$15.00/month	$15.00/month
Adult Canine Neuter	$31.50/month	$30.41/month	$34.83/month
WISDOM PANEL™	$7.50/month	$7.25/month	$6.91/month

^{*quotes obtained in December 2021}

Pricing Quotes for Kittens

Breed	Siamese	Persian	Abyssinian
Gender	Male	Male	Female
Age	3 months	4 months	5 months
Location	New York	Colorado	California
Deductible	$0	$0	$0
Reimbursement	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Banfield’s Early Care Plan	$44.95/month	$36.95/month	$44.95/month
Banfield’s Early Care Plus Plan	$53.95/month	$43.95/month	$53.95/month
Entry fee	$67.95	$57.95	$67.95
Optional add-ons:
Flea, Tick & Heartworm Prevention (3 in 1)	$16.50/month	$16.50/month	$16.50/month

^{*quotes obtained in December 2021}

Pricing Quotes for Cats

Breed	Siamese	Persian	Abyssinian
Gender	Male	Male	Female
Age	8 months	1 year 5 months	2 years 4 months
Location	New York	Colorado	California
Deductible	$0	$0	$0
Claim Limit	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Reimbursement	100%	100%	100%
Banfield’s Cat Active Care Plan	$33.95/month	$27.95/month	$33.95/month
Banfield’s Cat Active Care Plus Plan	$50.95/month	$41.95/month	$50.95/month
Banfield’s Cat Special Care Plan	$60.95/month	$49.95/month	$60.95/month
Entry fee	$67.95	$57.95	$67.95
Optional add-ons:
Flea, Tick & Heartworm Prevention (3 in 1)	$16.50/month	$16.50/month	$16.50/month
Adult Feline Neuter	$17.50/month	$16.16/month	$22.83/month

^{*quotes obtained in December 2021}

Discounts and Savings

We’ve already noted that each Banfield Optimum Wellness Plan comes with a certain discount for using other Banfield services or products.

Depending on which plan you’ll choose, you’ll get a discount ranging from 5% to 20% on Banfield’s products like prescription medications and supplements, parasite control aid, and more. Note that the discount doesn’t apply to PetSmart products or services.

Additionally, just like most pet insurance providers, Banfield offers a multi-pet discount. So, if you choose to add more wellness for any other pets you may own, Banfield will grant you $15 off of each additional pet’s enrollment fee. It’s not much, but it is something.

Lastly, before you decide on joining Banfield, you can experience their services first-hand for free. The company offers one complimentary office visit for anyone who wants to see how great Banfield’s vet care is. Fill out your details here and get your free visit coupon.

How Does Banfield Compare With Its Competitors?

Below we’ll compare Banfield’s optimum wellness coverage with some of the leading pet wellness care providers on the current market.

One of the companies that we’ll stack Banfield against is quite similar to their own business model – VCA Animal Hospitals. The other two are widely known for their pet insurance policies for accidents and illnesses – Embrace and PetSmart’s main competitor – Petco.

Banfield vs. VCA Animal Hospitals

Incredibly similar to Banfield, the VCA CareClub coverage is organized in several wellness plans tailored to cover specialized wellness procedures for baby pets, adult ones, and senior pets.

The six VCA plans dedicated to cats and dogs are all in line with Banfield’s plan – both providers provide coverage for wellness exams, diagnostic testings, spaying/neutering, dental cleaning, and more. However, VCA provides microchipping with all their plans and a one-year free membership with Home Again.

On the other hand, Banfield provides a bit more regarding lab work and diagnostics, and their puppies plan includes the Wisdom Panel™ service – a DNA testing service helping you discover more about your dog’s breed and their genetic predispositions.

Feature	Banfield	VCA
Coverage Effective	USA and Puerto Rico	USA
Reimbursement	100% of covered expenses	100% of covered expenses
Co-Payment	0%	0%
Deductible	$0	$0
Type of Deductible	Not applicable	Not applicable
Claim Limit Options	Limited benefits	Limited benefits
Accident-Only Plan	Not Available	Not available
Wellness Plan	Available	Available
Unlimited Benefits Plan	No	No
Accidents	No	No
Illnesses	No	No
Illness Waiting Period	Not applicable	Not applicable
Accident Waiting Period	Not applicable	Not applicable
Orthopedic Conditions Waiting Period	Not applicable	Not applicable
Bilateral Exclusions	Yes	Yes
Chronic Conditions	No	No
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions	No	No
Cancer	No	No
Dental Coverage	Only routine dental care	Only routine dental care
Prescription Medicine	Coverage for vaccines and deworming; Parasite control meds as an optional add-on	Only vaccines
Alternative/Holistic Therapy	No	No
Behavioral Issues	No	No
Exam Fees	Yes	Yes
Exam Required for Enrollment	No	No
Available At Any Vet Clinic	No	No
Microchip	No	Yes
Minimum Pet Age Limit	No limit	No limit
Maximum Pet Age Limit	No limit	No limit
Entry Fee	Around $50 – $70	Unknown
Monthly Transaction Fee	$0.00	Unknown
Multi-Pet Discount	$15 on each additional pet	Not available
Claim Repayment	No claims	No claims
Direct Vet Bill Payment	Not available	Not available
Money-Back Guarantee	Not available	Not available
AM Best Rating	Not available	Not available
BBB Rating	A+	A+

^{*companies compared in December 2021}

Read the full VCA Animal Hospitals review.

Banfield vs. Embrace

Embrace is a pet insurance company that besides their incredible coverage for accidents and illnesses, provides decent pet wellness coverage as well.

Embrace’s wellness plans are simple and work on the basis of reimbursing you for the routine and preventative care you provide for your pets up to the annual allowance on your chosen plan. They have three wellness plans providing coverage for up to $250, $450, or $650 per year.

With each plan, you get a $25 reward after each policy period which you can use for wellness treatments for your pet.

Feature	Banfield	Embrace
Coverage Effective	USA and Puerto Rico	Worldwide
Reimbursement	100% of covered expenses	Choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses
Co-Payment	0%	10%, 20%, or 30%
Deductible	$0	$200 – $1,000
Type of Deductible	Not applicable	Annual
Claim Limit Options	Limited benefits	$5,000 – $30,000
Accident-Only Plan	Not Available	Available
Wellness Plan	Available	Available
Unlimited Benefits Plan	No	No
Accidents	No	Yes
Illnesses	No	Yes
Illness Waiting Period	Not applicable	14 days
Accident Waiting Period	Not applicable	2 days
Orthopedic Conditions Waiting Period	Not applicable	6 months (14 days with orthopedic report card)
Bilateral Exclusions	Yes	Yes
Chronic Conditions	No	Yes
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions	No	Yes
Cancer	No	Yes
Dental Coverage	Only routine dental care	Yes
Prescription Medicine	Coverage for vaccines and deworming; Parasite control meds as an optional add-on	Yes
Alternative/Holistic Therapy	No	Yes
Behavioral Issues	No	Yes
Exam Fees	Yes	Yes
Exam Required for Enrollment	No	No
Available At Any Vet Clinic	No	Yes
Microchip	No	Yes
Minimum Pet Age Limit	No limit	6 weeks
Maximum Pet Age Limit	No limit	14 years
Entry Fee	Around $50 – $70	$25.00
Monthly Transaction Fee	$0.00	$1.00
Multi-Pet Discount	$15 on each additional pet	5%-10% (depending on state) for each pet
Claim Repayment	No claims	Within 14 days (8-9 days on average)
Direct Vet Bill Payment	Not available	No
Money-Back Guarantee	Not available	30 days
AM Best Rating	Not available	A+
BBB Rating	A+	A+

^{*companies compared in December 2021}

Read the full Embrace Pet Insurance review.

Banfield vs. Petco

Petco has a unique solution for everyone that wants to tackle the wellness subject once and for good.

Their Vital Care plan costs only $19/month and provides pet parents with unlimited vet visits, 30% on all grooming appointments that you schedule for your pet, and even rewards you with a free bag of pet food and $10 for each month you spend with them. You can use the reward at any Petco location for pet supplies like toys, treats, food, or supplements.

Feature	Banfield	Petco
Coverage Effective	USA and Puerto Rico	USA, Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, and Canada
Reimbursement	100% of covered expenses	Choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses
Co-Payment	0%	10%, 20%, or 30%
Deductible	$0	$100 – $500
Type of Deductible	Not applicable	Annual
Claim Limit Options	Limited benefits	$5,000 – Unlimited
Accident-Only Plan	Not Available	Available
Wellness Plan	Available	Available
Unlimited Benefits Plan	No	Yes
Accidents	No	Yes
Illnesses	No	Yes
Illness Waiting Period	Not applicable	14 days
Accident Waiting Period	Not applicable	14 days
Orthopedic Conditions Waiting Period	Not applicable	14 days
Bilateral Exclusions	Yes	Yes
Chronic Conditions	No	Yes
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions	No	Yes
Cancer	No	Yes
Dental Coverage	Only routine dental care	Yes
Prescription Medicine	Coverage for vaccines and deworming; Parasite control meds as an optional add-on	Yes
Alternative/Holistic Therapy	No	Yes
Behavioral Issues	No	Yes
Exam Fees	Yes	Yes
Exam Required for Enrollment	No	No
Available At Any Vet Clinic	No	Yes
Microchip	No	Yes
Minimum Pet Age Limit	No limit	8 weeks
Maximum Pet Age Limit	No limit	No limit
Entry Fee	Around $50 – $70	$0.00
Monthly Transaction Fee	$0.00	$2.00
Multi-Pet Discount	$15 on each additional pet	10% on each additional pet
Claim Repayment	No claims	Within 30 days (10-16 days on average)
Direct Vet Bill Payment	Not available	Available
Money-Back Guarantee	Not available	30 days
AM Best Rating	Not available	A
BBB Rating	A+	B

^{*companies compared in December 2021}

Read the full Petco Pet Insurance review.

Customer Service

Shooting an email to Banfield is so easy as it only requires access to their Contact page. There you can find an online form which you can fill in with your details and they’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

If you’d like to express your opinion about Banfield’s services, you can submit your feedback to the following email address: banfieldcares@banfield.com.

Regarding online and website inquiries, you can call Banfield at 877-656-7146 or email them at banfield.websupport@banfield.com.

When it comes to concerns about their Optimum Wellness Plans®, you can reach the company using the following contact channels:

• Enrollment:
  • Phone: 866-277-7387
  • Email: owp@banfield.com
• Billing and payment:
  • Phone: 866-935-5738
  • Email: cst.inbox@banfield.com
• Plan cancellations and general questions:
  • Phone or text: 888-649-2716
  • Email: wellnessplanteam@banfield.com
• Mailing address:
  18101 SE 6thWay
  Vancouver, WA 98683

To refine things even further, Banfield provides a convenient mobile app so you could easily manage your online account, schedule and review appointments, and use their Vet Chat™ 24/7 support whenever you need advice regarding your pet’s health. 

Customer Reviews

No real review is complete without insight into genuine experience that real customers had with the service in question.

For that reason, we’re including a couple of positive and negative real customer reviews about Banfield’s pet coverage services.

Positive Banfield Pet Coverage Reviews

I have and do have my pets on the Wellness plan. Over the last 15 or so years and have had nothing but great experiences with the Vet’s and all the staff. I feel like family when I bring in my 2 dogs and 1 cat. I am getting a puppy here in a couple weeks and she will go on the plan. I don’t know where these people have gone to get their sad happenings. But I drive all the way across town to go to the Banfield Clinic in North Spokane. Would not even think of changing.

Susie Workman

I have been with Banfield for 15 years. I used the wellness plan primarily to reduce the cost of teeth cleaning. Their basic service was adequate for my needs and they served me and my pet well through the years. Thanks for that.

Today, after 15 good years of loyalty and devotion I decided it was time for my beloved pet to be put to sleep. Banfield Southlake was EXTREMELY accommodating sympathetic empathetic and made the bad a learning comforting experience. I was never rushed nor in the dark about the entire event. They even dimmed the lights and provided a quilted blanket to lay her on. They left the room so I could say my goodbyes. God bless my attendees at Southlake Tx facility and God bless my dear Maggie. May you find your last moments with your pet as pleasantly memorable as mine.

Dick Irby

Negative Banfield Pet Coverage Reviews

I have been enrolled in the Banfield Wellness plan for my pet for 8 years. During this time the price has regularly increased and I have never been able to get an appointment when my pet has been ill. I have always had to go to another vet. I finally decided to cancel and have discovered that I have to pay to get out of the plan. I foolishly assumed that after all of this time I could cancel at any time.

Beware of this plan. I will say the people were always nice but so are the people at the vet’s office that I have to use when my pet is ill!! I will cancel at the end of the yearly period and it better be free!! I have already notified them of my intent to cancel them.

M Herbert

Totally bamboozled. The vet talked me into going from the $17 plan to $74 stating that my dog’s dental and chest x-rays would be taken care of. Three months later when it’s time to perform the services the vet says because of his heart condition they wouldn’t put him under anesthesia. So I had to pay $200 for his cardiologist to do the x-ray, which by the way you don’t need to put them under for!! And the cardiologist said his heart has not changed in the last year.

Called and asked to go back to the old plan since I can’t use these services and they would only take off $20. So I’m now paying $552 a year more than my original plan for NOTHING. Canceling at first opportunity.

Cicely Moore

Conclusion

With everything that we’ve covered above about Banfield’s wellness options, we’re pleased to say that this pet coverage provider receives our highest regards.

The company’s services are not only smart, comprehensive, and accessible, they’re even set for aiding the situation of pets which aren’t even among their members.

The Banfield Foundation provides relief for natural disasters, resources for people and pets that are victims of domestic abuse, takes care of displaced or homeless animals, and so much more.

One of the best reasons to become a part of the Banfield family is their all-encapsulating coverage. Having a dedicated Banfield clinic will ensure your pet has a second home where they’ll always feel welcomed and loved.

Our only pet peeve with Banfield are their hefty enrollment fees. If you can get past that, we’re sure you’ll enjoy their hospitality and their great attention to detail.

For more pet coverage options, simply take a look around Protect My Paws.

F.A.Q.

I’ve completed my online enrollment process with Banfield, but now I want to cancel. How can I do that?

There’s nothing to worry about. Your online enrollment isn’t final. To get fully enrolled with Banfield, you need to visit your preferred Banfield location and get their staff to process your definite entry application.

Are Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans customizable?

Banfield’s pet wellness care plans are already set up with the benefits dedicated to your particular pet. If you want more benefits, there are always some extra add-ons available which you can reinforce your coverage with at any time.