What Does Pet Insurance Cover? – Money

By clicking “TRY IT”, I agree to receive newsletters and promotions from Money and its partners. I agree to Money’s Terms of Use and Privacy Notice and consent to the processing of my personal information.
Many companies featured on Money advertise with us. Opinions are our own, but compensation and
in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Learn more about how we make money.
https://money.com/what-pet-insurance-covers/
Pet insurance coverage ranges widely by provider and plan, and some of the omissions may surprise you – beginning with the fact that standard coverage typically doesn’t include checkups, vaccinations and other routine care.
Buying the right coverage for your pet involves understanding the general types of policy and what they include. But it’s also wise to dig into the details of comparable policies at competing providers, since they differ in what is and isn’t covered and when.
This guide breaks down what is and isn’t covered by most pet insurance policies. If you want to know which companies offer the best pet insurance coverage options, check out our picks for the best pet insurance companies.
In general, most pet insurance plans cover unexpected injuries/accidents, unexpected illnesses, surgery, medication, tests/diagnostics, and emergency care and exam fees. But not every expense in those categories is customarily eligible for reimbursement.
In short, the details of your pet insurance policy will depend on the type of coverage and the provider you choose.
Insurers typically offer three main coverage options: accident-only coverage, accident and illness coverage, and wellness coverage.
Specific benefits and restrictions for each option differ by company, which is why we cover pet insurance costs separately.
For instance, although all the companies we’ve researched cover hip dysplasia, some impose an age limit on treatment (between 10 and 14 years of age). Others have no restrictions for the same condition.
Although some insurers sell stand-alone illness coverage, it’s far more common to see it bundled with accident coverage. Accident & illness policies (also typically known as “comprehensive policies”) cover a gamut of illnesses, from the minor — such as vomiting and diarrhea, even if due to unidentified causes — to the serious, like cancer. They can also cover all veterinary examination and consultation fees, hospitalization, treatments, surgery costs and prescription medications.
Most of these insurance policies also cover hereditary and congenital conditions that are breed-specific, like torn ligaments. However, this is only true so long as your vet identifies the problem after the policy is in place. If your dog suffered any of these conditions before enrollment, they will be considered “pre-existing” and won’t be covered.
Some policies also cover specific conditions, but only after a waiting period elapses. For example, an insurance company might pay for surgery to alleviate hip dysplasia, but only if treatment happens at least six months after the policy takes effect.
Unfortunately, some policies omit certain types of prescriptions — such as those for behavioral problems — and put the pet owner on the hook for exam fees.
Virtually every pet accident & illness policy covers cancer and specialty care of any kind. Here are other specific conditions, both chronic and inherited, for dogs and cats that you can typically expect coverage for — although not every insurer may cover every condition.
Some comprehensive (that is, accident and illness) plans are available bundled with wellness coverage. As we cover below, wellness coverage can include alternative therapies, and a whole host of additional covered treatments, from behavioral therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care, to laser therapy and hydrotherapy. Some plans also cover specific dietary supplements and foods needed to treat your pet’s health condition.
Accident-only policies reimburse the cost of treating injuries or illnesses caused by mishaps, whether they’re self-inflicted by the animal or the fault of the owner.
While claims for accidents stemming from such behaviors won’t increase your monthly premiums, breed disposition to accidents may affect the cost of accident insurance – and of comprehensive plans that include the coverage. For example, premiums are high for Labrador Retrievers in part because of the breed’s tendency to swallow foreign objects.
Accidents that can be traced back to the pet owner — such as intentional injuries or those that result from the use of the pet in organized fighting or racing — will not be covered, and neither will any accident that results from a pre-existing condition.
Accidents: What is and isn’t reimbursed
How you buy pet insurance will depend on a variety of factors. For instance, not all policies cover poisoning and flea or tick bites, since those perils are often the result of owner negligence. As with any type of coverage, read the fine print to verify what is and isn’t covered.
Often referred to as “preventive care” coverage, wellness coverage is available as an add-on or “rider” to a broader policy or, with some carriers, as a separate stand-alone policy.
Many routine veterinary care procedures are typically included. Other services like grooming and training can sometimes also be included.
Wellness: What is and isn’t reimbursed
The following table provides a summary comparison of the different types of pet insurance coverage options available and what they generally include:
Reimbursement under pet insurance differs from the norm for human health insurance. Unlike your own insurance coverage, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to pay just a copay at the time of treatment for your pet. Instead, you’ll be required to pay the bill in full and wait to be reimbursed for the agreed-upon percentage stipulated in your insurance plan.
As with human health insurance, pet insurance policies have deductibles you must meet before coverage kicks in. Policyholders can choose the deductible amount they are comfortable paying, typically ranging between $200 and $1,000. (The lower the deductible, though, the higher the premium, as a rule.)
As a rule, insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions. That’s to say, if your animal has a medical problem that predates you enrolling them for insurance, you can’t claim the cost of treating it, as a rule.
However, some conditions may eventually be covered, provided your pet is symptom-free and deemed to be cured for a certain length of time – often 180 days. Every insurer has a different definition of what constitutes a pre-existing condition, so it pays to dig into these details before you buy a policy.
The reason for waiting periods is simple: they prevent pet owners from rushing to insure their animals after any diagnosis or symptom pops up. The traditional waiting period for pet insurance policies is 14 days, except for hip dysplasia and other conditions that have their own specific periods.
Most policies require that you choose certain coverage limits. These typically include an annual limit on reimbursed expenses, typically within a range of $5,000 to $30,000 — the higher the limit, the higher the premium. Lifetime limits are also sometimes imposed.
Also, many insurers set age limits on coverage. This means that after a certain age, coverage on existing policies will stop. Likewise, some pet insurance companies won’t issue new policies for pets over a certain age limit.
It’s rare for a policy to pay the entire expense for any type of care. The best cheap pet insurance will usually cover a set percentage — typically 70%, 80% or 90%.
As with many other types of insurance, you must also select an annual deductible to be paid upfront before reimbursement kicks in. These normally cost around $250, $500 or $1,000.
Our analysis of the costs and benefits of pet insurance concluded that coverage is unlikely to pay off if your pet has a typical medical life, as in occasional non-catastrophic illnesses or accidents.
Instead, a pet insurance policy will pay off financially only if your animal develops a serious — and probably long-term — medical condition, such as cancer, or suffers a catastrophic accident that requires major surgery. Depending on the type of  pet owner you are, though, a policy may provide an emotional payoff that justifies getting it, despite the low odds that you’ll recoup its cost in premiums, deductibles and copays.
A willingness to pay for peace of mind increases the appeal of insuring your pet. Conversely, insurance may be less suitable if you’re the type of pet owner who might be less comfortable undertaking any or all steps to save the life of a very ill animal, especially when they’re old.
The cost of pet insurance will depend on the pet type, age, breed and gender, in addition to the type of policy, co-pay, deductible and reimbursement level you choose.
Premiums will also vary depending on where you live. The cost of pet insurance is also higher in cities with high costs of living, such as New York and California. Most companies offer online insurance quotes.
Accident-only plans cover vet bills for things like toxin ingestion and physical injuries. Illness plans, on the other hand, cover illnesses such as ear infections and cancer, and hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia.
Accident-only and wellness policies are the most affordable pet insurance plans, mainly because they are less comprehensive.
Purchasing one of these policies will only cover specific aspects of your pet’s health, like fractures and cuts under accident-only plans and routine labs under wellness-only plans. If you want a more comprehensive policy, you will have to pay more.
Connect
Physical Address
Ad Practitioners, LLC
Lots 81-82 Street C
Dorado, PR 00646
Mailing Address
Metro Office Park
7 calle 1, Suite 204
Guaynabo, PR 00968

source