How we price vet care
The wellness-plan calculator answers one question: would a chain wellness plan cost you less than paying for the same care a-la-carte? This page shows the numbers behind it and where they come from, so you can decide whether our assumptions match your situation.
Where the plan prices come from
Chain wellness plans are billed monthly, and the chains rarely post a clean per-tier price. We read each chain's own plan pages, take the figures they do publish, and anchor the calculator's three plan tiers to them. The low tier tracks VCA CareClub's posted $19.99/mo starting price and Thrive Plus at $14.95/mo. The mid tier uses Banfield's own stated average of $52/mo. The high tier reflects the top of the in-clinic band, between VCA's real-world adult-dog pricing and Banfield's stated ceiling near $100/mo. A plan that costs one figure in a metro area can cost less two states over, so treat the tiers as a national reference point, not a quote for your clinic.
Where the a-la-carte costs come from
The pay-per-visit side uses typical published US fees for the services owners actually use: a wellness exam, a core vaccine set, an annual fecal and parasite test, annual bloodwork, and a dental cleaning. Each is a representative figure drawn from published vet-cost guides, not a quote from one clinic. Cats tend to run a little lower than dogs on the exam, vaccines, and fecal, and the calculator applies a downward adjustment to reflect that.
The numbers behind the calculator
| Figure | Value | Source | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan tier: basic (monthly) | $20 | VCA CareClub posted floor $19.99/mo; Thrive Plus $14.95/mo | Jun 2026 |
| Plan tier: plus (monthly) | $52 | Banfield stated average ($52/mo) | Jun 2026 |
| Plan tier: total (monthly) | $75 | Blend of VCA adult-dog ~$70.99/mo and Banfield ceiling ~$100/mo | Jun 2026 |
| A-la-carte: wellness exam | $65 | Published US vet-cost guides (avg dog exam ~$62) | Jun 2026 |
| A-la-carte: core vaccine set | $90 | Published US vet-cost guides (DHPP + rabies set) | Jun 2026 |
| A-la-carte: dental cleaning | $400 | Published US vet-cost guides (avg routine $388) | Jun 2026 |
| A-la-carte: annual bloodwork | $150 | Published US vet-cost guides (CBC + chemistry $100-$200) | Jun 2026 |
| A-la-carte: fecal + parasite test | $50 | Published US vet-cost guides (~$50 each) | Jun 2026 |
What the calculator does not claim
A wellness plan is not insurance. It spreads out the cost of routine care; it does not protect you from the large, unexpected bills that come with an accident or a serious illness. The calculator compares routine-care math only. If the result says pay-as-you-go, that is usually the moment to look at a basic accident-and-illness policy instead, which is a different decision with a different page.
Assumptions you can change in your head
We assume one core vaccine set a year and let you set the number of wellness exams and which services you actually use. If your pet needs more frequent visits, or your clinic is well above or below typical fees, slide the inputs and the comparison moves with you. The tool is a starting point for a conversation with your vet, not a substitute for one.
Open the calculator with the figures above, then read why a basic accident-and-illness policy often protects you better than a wellness plan against the bills that actually hurt.