Pet Health Insurance for Dogs and Cats
Pet health insurance helps pay your veterinary bills when your dog or cat is hurt or sick, so a big emergency bill doesn’t decide your pet’s care. Chelsea Insurance Services is a family-owned independent agency in Firestone, Colorado, helping pet owners compare plans.
Quick facts
- Most plans cover accidents and illnesses; routine care usually needs a wellness add-on.
- Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded.
- You typically pay the vet, then get reimbursed for covered costs after your deductible.
- Most plans have a waiting period before illness coverage starts.
- Availability, plans and pricing vary by state and insurance company.
What pet health insurance typically covers
Most pet health insurance is sold as an accident and illness plan. Exact coverage depends on the plan and insurance company, but these are the costs such plans commonly help with, after your deductible:
- Accidents, such as broken bones, cuts, bite wounds and swallowed objects.
- Illnesses, from infections and digestive problems to cancer and chronic conditions such as diabetes or allergies.
- Diagnostics, such as x-rays, bloodwork, ultrasounds and other tests.
- Emergency, specialist and hospital care, including surgery.
- Prescription medications for covered conditions.
Some plans also include, or let you add, exam fees, dental illness, behavioral therapy or alternative therapies such as rehabilitation. Accident-only plans are also available from some insurers and typically cost less, but cover much less.
What it usually doesn’t cover
- Pre-existing conditions that showed signs before coverage began or during a waiting period.
- Routine and preventive care, such as vaccines and annual exams, unless you add a wellness option.
- Cosmetic or elective procedures, such as tail docking or ear cropping.
- Breeding, pregnancy and whelping costs, in most plans.
- Bilateral conditions, which some plans limit when a condition affecting one side of the body, such as one knee, started before coverage.
Some plans limit coverage for certain hereditary or congenital conditions. Exclusions vary by plan, so read the policy’s exclusions before you buy.
How pet health insurance works
Most pet health plans work on reimbursement. You take your pet to the vet, pay the bill, and submit a claim. The insurance company reimburses its share of covered costs, based on three choices you make when you buy the plan:
- Deductible: what you pay before the plan starts reimbursing. Many plans use an annual deductible, and some use a per-condition deductible.
- Reimbursement percentage: the share of covered costs the plan pays after the deductible, commonly 70%, 80% or 90%.
- Annual limit: the most the plan will pay in a policy year. Some plans offer an unlimited option.
A higher deductible or lower reimbursement percentage usually lowers the premium, and the reverse raises it. The right mix depends on how you’d handle a large, unexpected vet bill.
Waiting periods and enrolling early
Most plans don’t cover illnesses that begin right after you enroll. There’s usually a waiting period for illnesses, often a shorter one for accidents, and sometimes a longer one for certain orthopedic conditions. Waiting periods vary by insurance company and by state.
Because conditions that appear before coverage starts are usually excluded, many owners enroll when a pet is young and healthy. Some insurers also set age limits for new enrollments.
Choosing a plan
When we compare options with you, these are the questions that usually matter most:
- How does the plan define a pre-existing condition, and can any be covered again later?
- Is the deductible annual or per condition?
- Are exam fees covered, or only treatment?
- Is there a limit per condition, per year or over the pet’s lifetime?
- How do premiums change as your pet ages?
- How are claims submitted, and how quickly are they usually paid?
Availability, plans and pricing vary by state and insurance company. Tell us where you live and about your pet, and we’ll check what’s available.
Health, liability and pet businesses
Pet health insurance is one part of protecting life with pets. If your dog has a bite history, or your landlord or HOA requires dog liability coverage, see dog liability insurance. If you care for other people’s pets for a living, see pet care business insurance.
How to get a pet health quote
- Tell us what you need. Use the quote form or call 720-669-3647.
- We compare options. As an independent agency, we can look at more than one insurance company for you.
- You choose. We walk you through the options in plain English, and you decide.
What to have ready:
- Your pet’s species, breed, age and sex
- Your ZIP code
- Any known health conditions or recent vet visits
- Whether you want a wellness add-on
- Your current pet policy, if you have one
Pet health insurance FAQs
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. Most pet health plans exclude conditions that showed signs or symptoms before coverage started or during a waiting period. Some insurers treat certain conditions as curable and may cover them again after a symptom-free period, while others exclude them permanently. How a plan defines pre-existing matters, so read that section before you choose, or ask us to walk through it with you.
Is there a waiting period before coverage starts?
Typically, yes. Most pet health plans have a waiting period after enrollment before illness coverage begins, and accidents often have a shorter one. Some plans have a longer waiting period for certain orthopedic conditions, such as knee ligament injuries. Waiting periods vary by insurance company and by state, so we’ll point them out when we compare options.
Can I keep using my own veterinarian?
In most cases, yes. Many pet health plans reimburse you for care from any licensed veterinarian, including emergency hospitals and specialists, rather than using a network. You typically pay the vet, submit a claim, and are reimbursed for covered costs after your deductible. Some plans offer direct payment to the vet. Check the plan’s terms to confirm how it works.
Does pet insurance cover vaccines and checkups?
Standard accident and illness plans usually don’t cover routine or preventive care such as vaccines, annual exams, flea and tick prevention or routine dental cleanings. Some insurers offer an optional wellness add-on that reimburses a set amount for that kind of care. Whether a wellness add-on is worth it depends on its cost compared with what you already spend on routine care.
Will my premium go up as my pet gets older?
Often, yes. Many pet health plans raise premiums as a pet ages, and premiums can also change with where you live, veterinary costs in your area and the plan options you pick. Some insurers also have age limits for new enrollment. Enrolling while your pet is young and healthy can help, because fewer conditions are likely to be excluded as pre-existing.
What’s the difference between pet health insurance and dog liability insurance?
Pet health insurance helps pay your own pet’s veterinary bills when it’s sick or hurt. Dog liability insurance helps if your dog injures another person or damages their property. They solve different problems, and some dog owners carry both. See our dog liability insurance page for the liability side.
Get a pet health quote from a family-owned agency
Tell us a little about what you need and we’ll follow up to review options with you.