What does pet insurance cover?

Not all pet insurance is the same. Before picking coverage, it's important to understand the 3 main types of pet insurance policies. Keep in mind that depending on your pet insurance company, they may use other names for their coverage options, or group what is covered differently.

Accident Coverage

This type of policy provides coverage for accidental injuries to your pet. Some common examples of may include

• Foreign object ingestion
• Injuries caused by a car accident
• Bite wounds
• Broken bones
• Torn ligaments

Accident and Illness Coverage

In addition to Accident Coverage, this type of policy also covers expenses related to a covered illness. Common examples can include

• Allergies
• Growth or tumor removal
• Cancer treatments
• Upper respiratory infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Gastroenteritis

Accident, Illness, and Wellness Coverage

This type of policy includes coverage for covered accidents and illnesses, as well as health and wellness checks and treatments. Common examples can include

• Wellness exams
• Vaccinations
• Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
• Bloodwork
• Spay/Neuter surgery
• Microchipping
• Fecal exams

Most pet insurance policies include specific exclusions for what they don't cover. Typical exclusions include

• Pre-existing conditions
• Pets that are over a certain age
• Preventable diseases
• Behavioral problems
• Elective procedures (ex., ear and tail cropping)
• Pregnancy and breeding-related issues
• Pet supplies (ex., prescription diet foods and training tools)
• Breeds of animals commonly predisposed to certain health conditions

Other considerations when selecting a pet insurance policy include

• Whether or not you can choose your own veterinarian
• Specific coverage limits and deductibles
• Reimbursement percentages
• The initial waiting period until coverage starts

If your home and auto insurer offers pet insurance, be sure to check and see if you may be eligible for a Multi-Policy Discount. This can help to lower the cost of your pet insurance policy and makes it easy to manage all your insurance with one company.

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