Introduction

Pet insurance can help protect you from paying for large, unexpected medical expenses for your pet. It can cover some or all of the costs of routine vet visits, emergency care after an accident, and medications in the event of an illness. Pet insurance can even help pay for final expenses when the time comes.

However, pet insurance policies vary widely in the specifics of what types of care they cover and how much they’ll pay. It’s important to choose the best pet insurance or else you could still be on the hook for expensive vet bills.

In this guide, we’ll explain what pet insurance covers and help you decide what type of policy is right for your pet.

Types of Coverage

Pet insurance policies can include multiple types of coverage so that you’re protected no matter whether your pet gets sick or injured. However, not all policies are designed to cover everything, so it’s important to understand how each type of coverage works and what’s included.

Accident coverage

Most unexpected events that require your pet to get urgent veterinary care are covered by accident plans. This type of coverage kicks in if, for example, your pet swallows something they shouldn’t, is bitten by another animal, breaks a bone, tears a tendon or ligament, or is involved in a car accident.

Importantly, accident coverage will pay for diagnostics and treatments, including X-rays, MRIs, blood tests, stitches, hospitalizations, surgeries, and medications. So, if your pet is injured, it’s comprehensive and can save you from having to pay a large total. Many pet insurance providers offer inexpensive plans that include accident coverage only.

Illness coverage

Illness coverage pays for all care related to illnesses, such as diabetes, thyroid issues, cancer, allergies, heart disease, urinary tract infections, and stomach issues. It covers most of the costs of care, including vet visits, diagnostics, medications, hospitalizations, and surgeries.

There are some things to keep in mind with illness coverage. Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded, and if your pet develops a chronic condition, it could be difficult to renew your insurance coverage when your plan term ends.

Some pet insurance providers offer illness-only plans and many offer combined accident and illness plans. This coverage can be very worthwhile if you’re worried about paying out of pocket for any future illness your pet may develop.

Wellness and preventative care coverage

Wellness and preventative care policies are typically offered as add-ons to accident and illness insurance plans rather than standalone policies. They cover the cost of routine pet care, such as annual vet visits, vaccinations, microchips, spaying and neutering, dental cleanings, and flea or heartworm medications.

Wellness policies typically cost nearly as much as the services they include. So, it’s important to think about whether you’ll use all of the services offered by your policy. If you won’t, this add-on may not be worthwhile.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive pet insurance plans include accident and illness coverage, plus several additional types of coverage:

• Alternative therapy coverage: Many pet insurance plans now cover alternative therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic care, and physical therapy. There’s no standard for what types of alternative therapies are covered by insurance, so be sure to read your plan documents carefully.
• Behavioral therapy coverage: Comprehensive plans may include coverage for behavioral therapy or offer it as an add-on. This coverage pays for the cost of training and medications to treat issues like aggression, self-biting, or destructive chewing.
• Prescription medication and food coverage: Essential medications are typically included with accident and illness plans. However, these plans usually don’t cover supplemental prescriptions or alternative diets that can support your pet’s health. Prescription medication and food coverage pays for medications that standard accident and illness plans don’t cover.
• Dental coverage: Comprehensive plans also protect your pet’s teeth. Read the fine print of your plan to see what’s covered—some plans cover annual cleanings, others cover dental diseases like gingivitis, and others only cover damage to your pet’s teeth.
• Final expenses coverage: When your pet’s time comes, most comprehensive policies will cover the cost of euthanasia. Some plans will also pay some or all of the costs associated with cremation or burial.

Not all comprehensive plans include all of these coverage options. Be sure to check a provider’s plan documents before signing up.

Common Exclusions

Pet insurance policies frequently exclude certain types of injuries and illnesses from coverage:

• Pre-existing conditions: If your pet was diagnosed with or showed symptoms of a medical condition before you purchased pet insurance, most policies won’t cover it. Congenital conditions and birth defects are also excluded as pre-existing conditions.
• Hereditary conditions: Many pets have hereditary conditions that don’t appear until later in life. These can include intervertebral disk disease, hip dysplasia, and some heart diseases. Most policies won’t cover these hereditary conditions, but some will.
• Breeding: If your pet is injured or becomes ill due to breeding practices, most policies won’t cover your veterinary expenses.
• Breed-specific conditions: Some pet breeds are known to be at risk of specific hereditary conditions. Some pet insurance providers put in additional coverage exclusions for these breeds.
• Cosmetic procedures: Most pet insurance policies won’t cover cosmetic or elective surgeries or medications.
• Routine check-ups: Unless you have a wellness coverage add-on, most policies won’t cover routine vet visits or preventative care. If you have wellness coverage, one or more vet visits each year may be covered.

Coverage Limitations

Most pet insurance plans put limits on the maximum they will pay out for each type of coverage. For example, an accident-only plan may pay out a maximum of $2,000 per accident or $5,000 per year, regardless of how many accidents your pet has.

There may also be lifetime coverage limits for treating specific illnesses—and especially chronic illnesses. For example, you may only be eligible for up to $5,000 in coverage for chronic diabetes over your pet’s entire lifetime.

Pet insurance includes a deductible, which you’ll be responsible for paying before your coverage kicks in. In addition, many plans don’t cover veterinarian exam fees, so you’ll need to pay this fee for every vet visit regardless of whether the reason for your pet’s visit is covered.

Many pet insurance plans must be renewed annually. If your pet has high covered costs multiple years in a row—because of a chronic condition, for example—it’s possible that your pet insurance provider will decline to renew your plan.

Factors Affecting Coverage

There are a few factors that can impact your pet insurance coverage.

The most important is which pet insurance provider you choose. Policies can differ widely from one provider to another in what they’ll cover and how much they pay out. When researching, read plan documents carefully to compare deductibles, annual payout limits, and illness-specific payout limits.

Your pet’s age is also a factor in coverage. Most pet insurance providers only offer comprehensive plans for young pets. Older pets may qualify only for accident-only coverage—or may not qualify for coverage at all.

In addition, if your pet has a history of poor health, be aware that any pre-existing conditions are unlikely to be covered. Some insurers may decline to offer policies for middle-aged pets with a lengthy health history, while others may offer plans with additional exclusions or lower payout limits.

Finally, some pet insurance providers have breed-specific coverage restrictions. For example, dog breeds that commonly have aggression issues may not qualify for behavioral coverage.

Conclusion

The main types of pet insurance are accident, illness, and comprehensive. All types of plans include coverage for diagnostics and standard treatment for your pet. Comprehensive policies can also include coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, prescriptions, dental treatment, and final expenses.

Pet insurance policies often come with exclusions for pre-existing and hereditary conditions, breeding-related injuries, and cosmetic procedures. In addition, routine care is typically only covered if you purchase a wellness care add-on for your policy. Be sure to read your policy documents carefully to understand what’s covered and ensure your insurance plan will pay out when you need it.