Banfield Insurance
 

Does anyone use the Banfield Early Care Plus Plan (Puppy Plan)?

It includes comprehensive physical exam, free vacinations, free diagnostic testing including heartworm, lyme, ehrlichia and ear swab, 3 free fecal exams, 4 free dewormings, free office calls/exams, and it also includes free neutering including pre-anesthetic blood testing, blood pressure check, internal organ streens, and electrolytes. You also get 10% off most other services.
It's 31.95 a month.

If you do use it do you like what it covers, any additional comments?

I don't personally have it, but my good friend does. She says it's good for routine things but does not cover illness,accident ts or emergencies.. You might want to check into that.

i have been looking into using Banfield also. When i met with them at my local petsmart they emphasize that it is NOT health insurance. it is great for routine things as you mentioned. however, they are a full vet office. but for some reason if my girl came down with something more serious i do not see myself bringing her there for any major surgery.
My breeder told me that the total cost covers TWO TEETH CLEANINGS A YEAR! which is awesome. although when i went in to get info i did not think to ask if there were any catches to that, did you find out that information? i can vaguely remember seeing that included on the website, but not sure if it was in the puppy plan or an adult plan.
The spay/nuder allotment will cover one pre-op blood work, so say if your pup does not pass it the first time, from what i understood you would be responsible for paying for the second, but the surgery would still be covered. if that makes sense?
also- did you find out that every single vaccination is covered, until the puppy plan runs out? that is how i took that information.

if you found anything else out i would love to hear too!!

I have two dogs and I have one at a regular vet and one at Banfield. I wanted to see which I liked best. I haven't had to use Banfield for anything more than routine so I don't know about costs of that. But I don't imagine it would be more than my other vet. I will say that their meds are cheaper at Banfield than they are at the vets. I like all the vets I have seen and I feel that they take good care with Riley. I do like the idea that they are open 7 days a week.
I also like the idea that if I travel he is covered at any Banfield. Maybe you should try it for a year and see what you think after that. I think it is cheaper after the first year because the spay/neuter is no longer an issue.

I wouldn't let a Banfield vet touch my dog under any circumstances.

nancy, it is good to hear that the costs are the same in your situation.
i agree that is must be convenient that you can use any location.
autumn_girl if you are not dead set on having your pup spayed/neutered at Banfield, i found that the SPCA charges $55 for females and i think $45 for males which includes pre-op blood work, which saves you about $40-50 and you can then move down to the most basic plan at Banfield which is exactly the same besides the spay/neuter.
also, if you have considered microchipping them, it is $40 plus tax at Banfield, and $20 flat at the SPCA.

Agreed.

any reasons why tem_sat and armaniman?

I prefer to personally interview the vets with whom I wish to entrust the health of my pet. I want an ongoing professional relationship with that vet and I want to be confident that his or her reputation and experience will allow me to feel that I am giving my pet the best care possible. I want my vet to be extremely knowledgeable about my dog's breed and the common illnesses found within that breed. For Yorkies this is crucial.

I would not be a potential client for Banfield as it is way too corporate for me. I will also make an assumption (correct me if I am wrong) that most highly successful and experienced vets would not be associated with a corporate structure such as Banfield. If I were you, I would do my research and make sure that the "deal" you are getting with the puppy plan is indeed in your pet's best interest. If me, I would be on the phone with vets in my area checking to see who is the most experienced and familiar with Yorkies and their needs. Ask questions, get their opinions.

Lastly, I would also research consumer complaints concerning Banfield. A quick Google search showed this link: Consumer complaints about Banfield Pet Hospital

I have no idea regarding the credibility of that site, however, it is at least worth reviewing.

I hope that helps you.

I have heard only bad things about Banfield and I would never trust them with Callie.

I agree,I have had a great relationship with my vet and his staff for 10+ years. I an emergency I can call,tell them that I will be walking through the door in 5min and what the emergency is. The last time this happened, one of the techs was standing in the waiting room with her arms out when I walked through the door.
I can discuss articles that I have found interesting as well as new medications,my vet either can add to my knowledge or he will go looking to add to both of our educations.

I agree with most of the above. Banfield isn't the place for my pups. I do think some great vets work for them and I don't think the business itself makes it so no great vets work there. IMO though, people like the looks of the plan and purchase it instead of looking for a vet that is a good fit for their pups and that's concerning. Even if we're just talking about the first year of life, there will still be surgery going on (what's their surgery protocol - at least one location was still using euthasol as of a few years ago, they may be unwilling to do any dentistry while spaying/neuter - their anesthesiology book says it's not a good idea, etc.). I would not like the idea of being able to jump locations. When I'm out of town, I choose a vet based on reviews online and hopefully their website (which is still a bad way of doing it, but the best I have at the time). I would not choose one just because my plan covered it. And if your pup has any issues beyond routine ones, I've heard they can be relaly expensive.


We don't do spay/neuter clinics either. I've volunteered at a like this (and will continue to do so) and have realized this isn't the kind of place I want my pups having surgery.Shelter medicine style facilities have their place, but for my pups their vet does their surgeries.It's all in developing a patient/client/vet relationship and knowing you can trust them. My vet manages 100% of all of my dogs' care unless she refers out because IMO it is best for the dogs.

It is a decision you will have to weigh. I am sure some Banfields have good vets and some do not.
Private practice does not mean good vets. It just means they had money to set up practice.
If your puppy is for the most part healthy there would be nothing wrong with trying Banfield for the first year to see how you felt about it.
If god forbid your puppy were ever really sick you would probably be at a specialist.
There is nothing wrong with watching your pennies. I for one watch mine but would certainly spare no expense if needed.
No one should put their nose up at anybody.
Some people go to vets for shots, some go to mobile units, some go to shelters.
The important thing is that you get the shots.
Another thing with Banfield is that there are different vets there. That could be good and it could be bad. Bad thing is that there is not personal knowledge of the dogs and they look at the records. On a good note it is not a bad thing to have a fresh set of eyes on your puppy.
I have not decided what I will do when my contract expires but go to local Banfield and talk to the people in the waiting room. Current patients will give you all the information you need.
Good luck with whatever you decide. You can also look into private insurance that could help cover other issues. I currently have PetPlan which I have fortunately not had to use.

My nail tech goes to Banfield and she highly reccomemded them. As for right now Cricket gets all her shots from her "Mom" (her breeder) and I can get all of her shots from her except of course her Rabies.
We have a membership with PlannedPethood, who has $40 spaying for females, and you can go to any vet that recognizes them. As for the insurance, my mom thinks it's a good idea as he Chihuahua, Whiskey, has a congenital problem with his kidneys, and had to spend a significant amount at two vets because the one had no idea what was wrong with him, and the other is significantly over priced.
Anywho, I have been looking into another per insurance that was named on here, although I don't remember which one it was, and I think that would be a good match even though it doesn't have all the perks of Banfield.
When I went for information about Banfield, my mom and I talked to the vet, not a vet tech, and he was very personable, and even asked to see some pictures of Cricket. He talked to us about what the plans included, what they didn't, asked how much heartworm pills for Whiskey is, then said that it was about $10 more from them, and that we should continue getting the pills from where ever we already get them.
As for the other two vets that I've been to (not including the one that neutered Whiskey) they were a "get it in and out" type, and I don't plan on them touching my dog.

I have found it to be better putting $50 away a month than buy insurance.

I couldn't agree more :thumbup:

Take it from someone that made the mistake of using Banfield on a very sick puppy that ended up dying, they SUCK. I'm not blaming the death of my puppy on them, but the way they conducted themselves was less than professional. When I decided to take my dog to another vet bc their fees were ridiculous (as it has been stated, you're only paying for routine care) they handed my 1 pound puppy to me without saying a word to me and handed me an IV bag which I had to ask what I was to do with and they said that I had paid for it and so the new vet could continue using it. When I took her to the new vet (my friend's uncle who has been in practice for over 20 years) told me that the type of fluids used on her were too strong for a puppy that small. After I cancelled the plan since my puppy died, they made me pay full price for the so called discounts I had received plus a cancellation fee. Not a good way to treat someone that just lost their dog and I will always wonder if she would have lived had I taken her to a better vet in the first place. I urge you to steer away from Banfield. When I got my new puppy, I did a TON of research on vets before I even got her. The vet I have now is WONDERFUL and I only pay $20/month there for the same routine care that Banfield offers plus I have insurance on her now just in case. As a college student, I've found it to be necessary for my peace of mind. My brother recently had to pay over $10,000 within a week to save his dog. He is now on meds for the rest of his life. Some people can pay that, but I surely cannot so I'd rather have insurance which ends up being $30/month and be assured that if something happens, I will be reimbursed for the costs incurred. I can assure you that you can find a better vet in your area than Banfield. Look around, look up their Facebook pages and see what other people using that vet are saying. Even message a couple of them to ask questions! I know it's a little weird, but I did it! I was set on finding a good vet for my puppy so I'd never have to face a nightmare like the one I did again. It takes work and a lot of research, but trust me, it will be worth it in the end.

Banfield is a scam. Its nothing more than a money sucking business that cares very little for your babies welfare. Any vet would be better than Banfield. Read the fine print. Search the internet as well, as you will find little if not anything positive. Boy, i could share a story or two.
After much research, we now use Petplan. We have yet to need it(thankfully), but we have heard very little negative feedback. Insurance is never perfect, but banfield, and the crap they sell is useless. The cost of wellness checks is minimal. Its the emergencies and unexpected that hurt.

The price of the plan I have per year is cheaper than just the dental cleaning with anesthesia at my other vet's clinic, not to mention including all the tests & shots. It is a real deal for me. Just don't expect them to be able to really help/treat a sick dog.

Free dentals, shots and minor issue office visits
 

Well I've used them since I got Giorgio last year. I got the wellness plan for him and it has saved me a lot of money. When I first got Giorgi I would take him to the vet for every little thing. As he has gotten older, I've gotten better about it. The cost of what I pay for the plan is less than shots, dental, anesthesia combined which for me is a deal breaker. They seem to be going through some staff changes at this point.

When Giorgi had the elevated enzymes, I got him established at the Univ of Illinois with their Internal Medicine office. So he has two docs. I wouldn't trust Banfield if he really got sick. Univ of Ill is about 4 minutes away which is so much easier. It's all about saving money free dentals and shots is worth it. We've had no real serious problems.

I think when it comes to insurance, it is the fine print that you have to read carefully. Some vets raise prices when they know you have insurance.

Lets say you pay $35 a month in a two year contract.....$840, you must call and see what wellness costs would be for two years at your vet based on what the insurance covers.

I always paid for wellness care and put $50 away for emergencies. I'm sure it would take more for today's prices and yet if you can find insurance that works for you and you are not putting your yorkie in the hands of someone careless or inexperienced then I say go for it.

The more I read about Banfield though, the more concerned I am. Google (gmail) is now offering a free coupon for Banfield and they have taken alot of what had been on the internet off.

wellness costs are minimal, and banfield offers a "short term" savings on things that are costs that are not long term expenses. Wellness costs are the greatest during the first 6-8 months and then drastically decrease. Look at the FINE PRINT. Small dogs, especially yorkies, unfortunately have accidents(falling off the couch, bed and breaking a limb) or more serious issues( check the ER section). these are the issues that you need to be concerned with. Banfield, even if their plan did cover assist with these costs(and they dont), at most locations, could not help you with them.
Id like to meet one person who walked into Banfield and was not pitched an insurance plan within the first 5 minutes. Our vet charges 45 for a wellness visit. With a vaccine, fecal and nail trim...65.00 total.
Once the vaccines are done..45 a year for a wellness visit. Banfield also charges well above the norm for the little things most local vets will not charge for. Ill scan in a " free new puppy check" which cost us 75.00. Far from free, but hey, the coupon got us in. The vet told us our 12 week puppies skull had not closed all the way, and that we would probably require medical attention long term, and possibly surgery(all things there plan does not cover)??? It's noted in his comments... 4 weeks later his skull had completely closed. The same vet wanted to give a rabies shot at 12 weeks old, along with his 3rd set of vaccines. Dickie weighed 2.6 lbs that day. Who would do this? He also tried to sell me heartworm meds for dogs from 5-35 lbs, when there are plenty of small breed specific meds out there. This was all after we spent the first 10 minutes getting a sales presentation. To end the story, we brought a baggie of fresh poop, and they charged us for a fecal sample "collection" $10.00 and a fecal exam $15.00. When asked about that, i was told they charge for it regardless of if they collect it themselves or not...but... if we got their wellness plan these charges would be covered. My vet charges 5.00 for a fecal.
So. Our dogs have had all their shots, and barring any unforeseen issues, we will not be back at the vet for one year for an annual wellness visit. Outside of our banfield visit, we have a spent 212.00 for two dogs. How much will you pay for a banfield policy for year? i promise you that you will not walk out of that place without paying for something regardless of the plan.
Find a good legit vet who has experience with small breed dogs. You will feel better in the end, even if it costs a bit more on the front end. If your going to need pet insurance, get a plan that offers the greatest reimbursement that you can afford. Its not like people insurance(you will pay in advance and then get reimbursed), but most of the top plans would be a wiser investment of your money. We have little and its hard earned, so we have chosen to spare the quick fix and protect ourselves from the unexpected.
Take a really close look at what banfield covers.
as far as the internet goes, there is STILL website after website with nothing but horror stories and complaints.
In my opinion, it remains a scam. In my opinion, it remains staffed by under-qualified vets , with little or no desire to continue to educate themselves past what they learned in vet school( which is more than likely outdated and inaccurate).

Hi, Truffles is in the puppy plan and so far happy for all the services include also her spayed :) (little extra additional $)
But I just put her in regular "pet insurance" as peace of mind and we have emergency vet near by too. but also I am thinking about to find nice vet that we can be more personal with :)banfield is just too busy so if your pups are healthy and just need vaccines and such I think it's okay to use them but I am considering change to other private vet when the first year plan end. but so far great deal for us

agree with crystals mom

I am thinking about getting that puppy plan but also some insurance for the big things that might happen. ;)

Don't go with Banifield though I have heard many terrible things about them.

I have banfield for my yorkie and bulldog its actually very good from my experience. I think the service you receive can make/break whether or not you'd go with them. I've used the one in Memphis, TN as well as the in Texas on their routine vaccinations and check ups. I also have an emergency vet for anything Banfield can't handle after hours. If you're tempted to go with them ask ppl in your area if they use them, what their experience was, if they'd recommend them. As well as speak with a vet that works there and their techs.

I also want it where I don't have to pay out of pocket that's what I need help on too.

Most pet insurance I have looked at you have to pay the vet the money and then the pet insurance will reimburse you.

See i might have the money right then. So what can I do then?

Do you have a credit card?