Who has experience with Banfield (PetSmart) Veterinary Plan?
1Do you like it? Do you feel that it’s a good value? What do you do if your dog needs surgery or some other more extensive care? I’m looking for a new vet for Tempest and Zephyr and this looks like a reasonably good deal, especially with the dental.
- 8 comments, 4 replies
- Comment
I looked into this plan. Went over the numbers quite a bit. I didn’t get it because you can get real pet insurance for similar price, which can cover much more in the case of major procedures and emergencies. In my area anyways, major surgery or procedures would just be at a 15% discount.
I do like the doctors at Banfield. However, the last few times I’ve had a not-quite-emergency-but-can’t-wait-till-next-tuesday issue with my 3 cats and 1 german shepherd, they’re always booked solid, even on weekdays. So I moved to a local vet and I like them a lot. I also found Banfield, even though the doc was sweet as can be, seemed to “sell” a lot of tests and was quick to agree to concerns based on limited research, even when I later found out I was totally wrong and didn’t need that test. they also seemed skittish with my german shepherd, like they were always afraid she would tear their head off, which in turn made her nervous.
@meh Real pet insurance tends to be high for giant breeds with a high per incident deductible. Simba’s insurance started at about $70 month when he was a puppy, and I was paying about $1,400 per year for 80% coverage with a $500 per incident deductible by the time he was 8 and I dropped it.
@moondrake it does get quite high when they start to age. but still, the banfield program just doesn’t cover enough. routine expenses are routine, and they may just use the “free” routine exams just try to sell you more tests.
I had it when I had a boxer mix puppy a few years ago. A good friend of mine worked at the local Banfield clinics and I wanted to support her.
I don’t remember specifics of the numbers but I remember thinking it was a good deal for a new puppy, covering all the puppy stuff, but that I wouldn’t have wanted to continue it after the first year. When it came time to cancel, they kept asking for a reason and my ex told them it was because I didn’t like one of the doctors, which was partially true but didn’t do my friend any favors. We switched to a vet on our side of town and their regular prices were more affordable than continuing the Banfield plan.
Also, since then Banfield bought up the private franchises and made them all corporate stores. Banfield corporate is much more about the upsell, and will do a lot to push high priced meds like certain flea and heartworm pills that increase their margins.
I’ve been reading reviews and they aren’t very good, but my sister’s been very happy with them so I was sort of weighing that.
@moondrake Is your sister’s experience at a single location? Is that the same location you would go to? Sometimes the people can make all the difference with whether you are happy to pay for something or feel ripped off.
@djslack She lives 600 miles from me, so we wouldn’t be going to the same location. But you are right, staff is important.
I knew a country vet years ago that ran her own clinic during the week, but worked for Banfield on the weekends.
She was thrilled when she was able to dump working for them. I don’t know the specifics, but she was not happy operating under their brand.
I know that this is a very small sampling, but it verifies what I’ve heard – they overcharge for their services, so in the long term you end up paying more than you would not being on a “service” plan.
https://banfield-pet-hospital.pissedconsumer.com/state/kansas/city/wichita.html
We’ve had it for a bit and we’re pretty ok with it. Physical comes in handy, Westie had some tooth problems they took care of reasonably.
NO no no no no Banfield SUCKS don’t do it! We had a dog and three cats on their plan and it always wound up costing us more than a regular vet because nothing is freaking covered- they hit you with millions of charges that aren’t part of the plan every damn time. Plus, they would make us leave our pets all day when they were just there for immunizations and “wellness checkups” because they just work on them in between non-plan patients etc. Our critters would come home so stressed and miserable. We finally had enough and cancelled our account. So yes, I have experience with them. All bad.
Every time I’ve done the math, it never works out in my favor. Even with long term chronic conditions to manage and a bilateral TTA procedure + management for an internal pivot shift - the insurance wouldn’t have paid off for us.
There may be someone out there who makes out okay with these plans, but I haven’t come across them directly. (This goes for any pet insurance, BTW.)
Also - I prefer a local vet office to a chain. Mine takes great care of my boys and they actually like going there. The last time I walked Thor into a big box pet store, he came out with a terrible case of kennel cough that kicked off his chronic bronchitis.