ADVERTISEMENT: PRODUCTS FROM OUR PARTNERS
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Pet insurance covers medicine, diagnostic tests, hospitalization and other expenses if your pet gets hurt or sick. Read on to learn more.
1.
Spot
Covers what others don’t: prescription food, microchips, and behavioral therapy- Offers preventative treatment and screenings plans
- No upper age limit for coverage of older pets
- 10% multi-pet discount
See Details
on Spot's website
2.
ASPCA
- Generous coverage options, including wellness and accident-only plans
- Shorter waiting periods than most insurers
- 10% discount for veterinarians and multiple pets
- In addition to cats and dogs, horse plans are also available
See Details
on ASPCA's website
3.
Lemonade
- Easy claims submission process through the app
- Quick claims payout, with about 50% paid immediately
- 5-10% discounts available for some customers
- Donates a portion of profits to pet charities
See Details
on Lemonade's website
Types of pet insurance coverage
Accident and illness - The most common type of pet insurance plan covers accidents and illnesses. So if your dog is hit by a car or gets a urinary tract infection, his treatment would be covered, up to your plan limit.
Accidents may include things like animal bites, broken bones, poisoning, or swallowing a foreign object. Illnesses may include things like allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or urinary tract infections.
Why choose this type of coverage: Accident and illness plans cover the broadest range of problems that your pet could have. They’re also the most customizable and widely available, which means you’ll have plenty of options to find the coverage you need.
Accident-only - Accident-only plans are more limited than accident and illness plans. They’ll pay to treat accidental injuries like the ones listed above but won’t cover expenses due to cancer, infections or other illnesses. They tend to be cheaper than accident and illness plans because they cover so much less.
Why choose this type of coverage: In some cases, accident-only plans may be the only option for pets who are too old at the time of enrollment to qualify for an accident and illness policy. An accident-only plan may also be a good choice if you can’t afford accident and illness coverage but you still want some emergency insurance for your pet.
Wellness - Wellness or preventive care plans are typically sold as add-ons to an accident and illness policy (or, less commonly, an accident-only policy). They generally offer a set list of routine services for which they’ll reimburse you, along with an annual limit for each. Depending on the plan, those services might include: wellness exams, vaccinations, bloodwork, flea, tick and/or heartworm medication, or spay or neuter surgery.
Why choose this type of coverage: Wellness coverage may save you money if you know you’ll need all or most of the services it covers. Otherwise, you may end up paying more for the coverage than you get back in reimbursements. Do the math before you commit.
Why choose this type of coverage: In some cases, accident-only plans may be the only option for pets who are too old at the time of enrollment to qualify for an accident and illness policy. An accident-only plan may also be a good choice if you can’t afford accident and illness coverage but you still want some emergency insurance for your pet.
Wellness - Wellness or preventive care plans are typically sold as add-ons to an accident and illness policy (or, less commonly, an accident-only policy). They generally offer a set list of routine services for which they’ll reimburse you, along with an annual limit for each. Depending on the plan, those services might include: wellness exams, vaccinations, bloodwork, flea, tick and/or heartworm medication, or spay or neuter surgery.
Why choose this type of coverage: Wellness coverage may save you money if you know you’ll need all or most of the services it covers. Otherwise, you may end up paying more for the coverage than you get back in reimbursements. Do the math before you commit.
What does pet insurance cover?
But beyond these basics, coverage can vary quite a bit among plans. Your pet insurance may cover:
Alternative and rehabilitative treatment - Some plans cover physical therapy and a wide range of alternative treatments, such as acupuncture and chiropractic care. Others charge more to add this coverage. There’s no standard definition of alternative care, so read the details to find out exactly which treatments your pet is eligible for.
Behavioral therapies - If your vet recommends treatment for issues such as aggression or compulsive behavior, some plans will cover the expense, and some won’t. Others may charge extra for a package that includes this coverage.
Congenital or hereditary conditions - A congenital condition is an abnormality your pet is born with that can lead to later complications. A hereditary condition, such as hip dysplasia or patellar luxation, is passed down to an animal from its parents. Many plans will cover such conditions as long as your pet didn’t show symptoms before you bought the policy. Other plans may limit coverage for these conditions.
Exam fees - Some plans reimburse you for procedures and drugs but don’t cover exam fees when your pet is sick or injured. Others may offer the coverage for an additional charge.
Prescription diets and supplements - If your vet prescribes a certain type of food or supplement to treat your pet’s medical condition, some plans will pay for it. Others won’t, or they will charge extra for the coverage.
Dental care - If you want to keep your furry pal’s chompers in good shape, read your policy’s fine print about dental coverage. You might find, for instance, that your insurer will cover certain issues such as broken teeth or congenital conditions but not dental diseases like gingivitis. Or your carrier may cover dental disease only if your pet has had a recent cleaning under anesthesia.
Final expenses - The end of your pet’s life may bring not only heartbreak but also expenses associated with euthanasia, cremation or burial. Depending on your plan, pet insurance may cover some or all of these costs.
NerdWallet Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
1.
Spot
- Covers what others don’t: prescription food, microchips, and behavioral therapy
- Offers preventative treatment and screenings plans
- No upper age limit for coverage of older pets
- 10% multi-pet discount
See Details
on Spot's website
2.
ASPCA
- Generous coverage options, including wellness and accident-only plans
- Shorter waiting periods than most insurers
- 10% discount for veterinarians and multiple pets
- In addition to cats and dogs, horse plans are also available
See Details
on ASPCA's website
3.
Lemonade
- Easy claims submission process through the app
- Quick claims payout, with about 50% paid immediately
- 5-10% discounts available for some customers
- Donates a portion of profits to pet charities
See Details
on Lemonade's website
