VCA CareClub has no deductibles, coverage limits, or accident or illness coverage, but it does have an expansive wellness package as part of its preventive coverage.
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.
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:
*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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
