Covered.
Not covered.
A plan pays for things that go wrong unexpectedly. It doesn't pay for things you could see coming. Almost every disappointed pet insurance customer got caught by that one sentence.
Accidents
The sudden, expensive things — a fall, a fight, a swallowed sock.
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments
- Swallowed objects
- Lacerations & bite wounds
- Toxic ingestion
Illness
Diagnosis and treatment of conditions that develop after coverage starts.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Skin & ear infections
- Digestive illness
- Hereditary conditions
Diagnostics & care
The work it takes to find out what's wrong, and to fix it.
- Bloodwork & imaging
- Surgery & hospitalization
- Prescription medication
- Specialist referrals
- Emergency visits
Read this part twice.
These apply at every carrier. We'd rather you learn them here than at the claims desk.
Pre-existing conditions
Anything your pet showed signs of before coverage started, whether or not it was diagnosed. This is the single biggest reason to enroll while a pet is healthy — and the single biggest source of denied claims.
Waiting periods
Coverage starts after a waiting period, typically a few days for accidents and around two weeks for illness. Orthopedic conditions often wait longer.
Routine & preventive care
Vaccines, annual exams, dental cleanings, and spay/neuter are not covered by an accident-and-illness plan. Some carriers sell a separate wellness add-on for these.
Cosmetic and elective procedures
Tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, and anything else not medically necessary.