What Does Pet Insurance cover?

Your dog or cat is a member of the family, so it’s natural that you want to keep your furry friend as healthy as possible. But sometimes that isn’t easy — or inexpensive. Pet insurance is one way to help manage the potential costs of veterinary care.

But what does pet insurance cover?

From puppy vaccinations  to cat dental care to emergency surgery, coverage varies by policy. Here, we look at three common types of pet insurance coverage and share tips to help you know what’s covered by pet insurance before you enroll.

Accident-only pet insurance coverage

Pet insurance policies that only cover veterinary costs related to accidents and injuries are typically the least expensive option. These plans usually cover expenses for unexpected health issues such as car accidents, snake bites, wounds, poisoning, broken bones and surgery to remove something that Fluffy or Fido ate but shouldn’t have.

Accident and illness pet insurance coverage

Pet insurance policies that cover accidents, injuries and illness are the next step up in pet insurance coverage and the most popular type of pet insurance.¹ These plans cover everything that an accident-only pet insurance policy covers, as well as illnesses — which could include everything from allergies to epilepsy, ear infections to arthritis, and kennel cough to cancer.

There are often exclusions for health conditions that are more likely to appear in specific breeds. If your pet is a purebred, be sure to check the policy for this restriction.

Preventive care pet insurance coverage

Typical pet insurance policies don’t cover routine care, such as annual check-ups, vaccinations, parasite prevention and treatment, and basic dog or cat teeth cleaning. However, some insurers do offer this kind of coverage as an add-on if you purchase an accident or accident and illness policy.

Ask about these pet insurance coverage details

There are many veterinary care services and procedures that may or may not be covered, depending on the specific policy. Make sure to ask about coverage for these items:

• Care providers — most policies allow you to use any veterinarian, specialist, veterinary hospital or emergency center
• Diagnostics, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests and MRIs, are often covered
• Preexisting conditions (those that your pet has at the time of enrollment) are usually excluded — but in some cases, if your pet has a condition and gets better, that condition may be covered in the future if it recurs; or, if your pet develops a condition that will require ongoing treatment, that may be covered when you renew your policy
• Hereditary or genetic conditions — such as hip or elbow dysplasia, glaucoma or a luxating patella — are often covered as part of an accident-and-illness policy
• Medications prescribed by your veterinarian as part of treatment for a covered ailment are usually covered
• Alternative and rehabilitative therapies , like acupuncture, chiropractic and hydrotherapy, may or may not be covered
• Dental coverage isn’t usually covered for preventive procedures, but treatment for non-routine dental care, such as periodontal disease or tooth extractions, may be covered
• Behavioral consultations may or may not be covered
• Elective procedures , such as declawing and ear cropping, usually are not covered
• Non-veterinary expenses – including supplements, administrative fees, bathing and grooming — usually are not covered

Pet insurance extras

Pet insurance companies often provide additional services to their customers. This can include a phone helpline for pet health questions, and customer support by telephone or online chat. Some plans also offer pre-authorization options (so you know in advance how much of a specific procedure will be covered) and vet direct-pay (which means you don’t need to pay upfront).

More must-know information

It’s important to realize that your pet insurance coverage will also depend on your pet insurance deductible, any annual reimbursement limits and your reimbursement percentage. For instance, if you haven’t yet met your deductible, or you’ve reached your maximum annual reimbursement amount, you won’t be eligible for pet insurance reimbursement, even for covered care. If you’ve selected a 90% reimbursement level, then more costs will be paid by the insurer than if you choose a 70% reimbursement level.

To ensure you fully understand the complete terms and pet insurance coverage, make sure to review a sample pet insurance policy and ask questions before you enroll in a pet insurance plan. And remember, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for veterinary care expenses that aren’t covered by insurance.* You can use the Acceptance Locator and CareCredit Mobile App to find a veterinary care provider near you that accepts the CareCredit card.