VCA CareClub Pet Insurance Review & Prices (2024)
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We researched and scored the best pet insurance providers available. VCA CareClub didn’t make our list of top providers because it doesn’t offer typical pet insurance coverage. However, its unique, wellness-only approach provides a hard-to-find membership plan pet parents may find valuable. VCA CareClub costs $61.99 for dogs and $60.99 for cats.
VCA CareClub is a membership program offered by the national chain VCA Animal Hospitals. Whereas most pet insurance providers help to cover urgent, unexpected health care expenses such as X-rays and surgeries, VCA CareClub focuses on coverage for routine preventive care, such as vaccinations, diagnostic testing, and annual wellness exams. This care must be administered at VCA Animal Hospitals. Learn more about VCA CareClub and how it can help you save money below.
Key Takeaways
- VCA CareClub is a membership for routine pet care like checkups and vaccinations but doesn’t provide accident or illness coverage.
- VCA CareClub memberships start at $61.99 per month for dogs and $60.99 per month for cats.
- VCA CareClub includes three plan options based on your pet’s age.
How Did We Rate VCA CareClub?
What is VCA CareClub?
VCA’s CareClub is a membership program that helps you save money on routine and preventive vet care for your pet. This includes services such as annual checkups and vaccinations. It does not include accident- or illness-related care, such as surgery or disease treatment.
How Does VCA CareClub Compare to the Competition?
VCA CareClub stands out from other pet insurance providers in a few ways. For starters, your membership only includes wellness coverage. While VCA animal hospitals are available for pet emergencies, CareClub membership only covers your pet’s preventive care. We feel VCA’s pricing is high for this limited offering. Many providers in the table below allow you to add wellness coverage to an accident-and-illness plan for just $10–$20 more, so you get all types of coverage for less than you would wellness-only coverage with CareClub.
See how VCA CareClub’s pricing compares to other pet insurance providers’ wellness plans:
| Company | Star Rating | Monthly Cost for Dogs* | Monthly Cost for Cats* | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33.69 | $13.32 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $38.44 | $21.53 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $65.15 | $53.43 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $20.76 | $18.47 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.83 | $24.68 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $61.99 | $60.99 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49.85 | $26.55 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.79 | $16.36 | VISIT SITE |
*Based on sample quotes for a mixed, medium-sized, 4-year-old dog in Raleigh, North Carolina.
How Much Does VCA CareClub Cost?
CareClub pricing is vague online unless you go through the process of requesting a sample quote for your location. Membership starts at $61.99 per month for dogs and $60.99 for cats, then increases for any extra services you want to add to your membership. Your pet’s age and your location are also price factors.
Sample Pricing Premiums
| Breed/Species | Sample Quote for Puppy/Kitten (1 year)* | Sample Quote for Adult Dog/Cat (4 years)* | Sample Quote for Senior Dog/Cat (10 years)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed dog | $61.99 | $61.99 | $115.99 |
| Golden retriever | $61.99 | $61.99 | $115.99 |
| Dalmatian | $61.99 | $61.99 | $115.99 |
| Mixed cat | $60.99 | $60.99 | $117.99 |
Does VCA CareClub Offer Discounts?
CareClub members have access to discounts on various pet essentials, such as prescription diet foods, parasite prevention products, dental chews, ointment creams, pet toothbrushes, and other products to help you take care of your pet. Deals change regularly. Members are given promo codes to get a dollar amount or percentage off on select products.
What Are VCA CareClub Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage?
VCA CareClub offers three plans based on your pet’s age and what kind of vet care is most needed in that stage of life. There are no deductibles, reimbursement rates, or annual coverage limits to figure out. The only limitation is the number of treatments you can have per policy year.
The Junior Paws Plan for puppies and kittens up to 12 months old includes the following:
- 3 wellness exams each year
- All vet-recommended puppy/kitten core vaccinations*
- Diagnostic testing**
- Microchipping
- Spaying/neutering
The Adult Paws Plan for dogs and cats ages 1 to 6 years covers the following:
- 1 annual wellness exam
- 1 semi-annual wellness exam
- 1 dental cleaning (including cost of anesthesia)
- All vet-recommended core vaccines*
- Diagnostic exams for early disease detection**
- Heartworm testing
- Unlimited vet exams to care for skin, coat, weight, or health issues
The Senior Paws Plan is for dogs and cats 7 years old and over. It includes the following:
- 1 annual wellness exam
- 1 semi-annual wellness exam
- 1 dental cleaning (including the cost of anesthesia)
- 5 chest and X-ray exams
- All vet-recommended core vaccines*
- Blood pressure tests
- Diagnostic exams for early disease detection**
- Heartworm testing
- Unlimited vet exams to care for skin, coat, weight, or health issues
Preventive care for most hereditary and congenital issues falls under all plans. Some chronic conditions, such as allergies or fleas, are also covered unless treatment progresses beyond prevention. You can add services such as dental care or spaying/neutering to your VCA CareClub plan at an increased fee.
*Recommended vaccines may include rabies, distemper, parvovirus, Bordetella, canine influenza, FVRCP, FeLV, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease, depending on your pet’s species and your location.
**Lab work checks for issues such as diabetes, liver and kidney disease, parasites, and general infections.
Coverage Exclusions
VCA CareClub cannot be used for treatments related to accidents or illnesses. The membership program is for preventive care only, so you won’t be able to use it at a VCA Animal Hospitals emergency department. It’s purely to save money on the wellness care outlined under each plan.
Where is VCA CareClub Available?
VCA CareClub is available in 46 states. It’s not currently available in Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, or South Dakota.
Find the Best Pet Insurance in Your State
How Are Customer Reviews of VCA CareClub?
The reviews of VCA CareClub are limited online, as many customer comments are geared toward VCA Animal Hospitals. The few reviews we could find were largely negative. Customers criticized high cancellation fees or difficulty canceling their plan, as well as low savings on vet care compared to what they expected. This could be due to misunderstanding VCA CareClub’s terms; we always recommend reviewing your policy’s terms and conditions before enrollment so you’re aware of any fees or exclusions.
One customer noted it was helpful that vet exams are covered by the program, but other providers also cover these fees in their wellness plans at a lower rate.
See a selection of customer reviews below.
“I find that the visits being a part of the plan is super helpful on its own–you can make an appointment for any concern you have without worrying if the problem is big enough to justify the cost of the exam”
goldenshadows via Reddit
“Over the last couple years during COVID it became hard to get an appointment, which was taking upwards of three to four weeks to schedule for vaccines and checkups. They made no attempt to help, and mainly said things like, ‘Due to COVID, we have been unable to hire vets.’ They have continued to charge with no adjustments even though, according to them, they don’t have enough veterinarians to fulfill their end of the contract of CareClub.”
Anonymous via the Better Business Bureau
“I have been enrolled in VCA care club for five years. Since that time the price has increased by $18 per month without notice. You simply have no notice of fee increases until they debit or charge your card. I only received one annual visit, which I made sure to utilize however, when I tried to cancel the care plan, I was told that I had an outstanding balance of $600. I contacted the Care Plan directly and was told I would not be able to cancel until the balance is paid in full. Perhaps this is in the fine print of the contract, but each visit services are rendered, and then put towards a balance that you pay off each month. Therefore, in order to stop payment, you must pay that balance off without utilizing any services. I feel trapped. At $68/month, I was paying $816/year for an annual visit. I pay less directly. Did not save any money and now I’m stuck paying while not being able to utilize the care.”
Kitty via Complaints Board
“I paid 2k for care club in 2019. I was assured I would save over 3k in costs. All my vet could charge care club was $200. I lost $1800 and now they are trying to auto renew on my charge card.”
Colleen via the Better Business Bureau
Is VCAs CareClub Worth It?
A wellness plan can help you save money on preventive veterinary care—as long as you plan to use wellness coverage enough to make the monthly cost worth it.
VCA CareClub is different from most pet insurance providers’ wellness plans in that it can stand alone from a standard pet insurance plan. It also comes with exclusive discounts on pet products. However, it can only be used at VCA Animals Hospitals locations, so you don’t have as much freedom as you would with companies that let you see any licensed veterinarian.
If you’re open to other wellness plan providers, Lemonade, Spot, and Embrace all offer wellness plans and have positive industry reputations. See our list of the cheapest pet insurance providers to find affordable standard plans you can combine with your pet’s wellness care.
FAQs About VCA CareClub
Can you cancel VCA CareClub?
You can cancel your VCA CareClub membership when your policy year ends. If you wish to cancel before then, you can email or call the company at careclubpayments@vca.com or 1-800-743-8838. CareClub is vague about its cancellation policy online, though some customers report there is a cancellation fee of $225.
Does VCA have care credit?
Yes, VCA locations accept CareCredit.
What does VCA stand for?
VCA stands for Veterinary Centers of America.
Our Rating Methodology
We are dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
