Pet insurance typically won’t cover pre-existing conditions, routine care like vaccinations and checkups, elective procedures such as ear cropping, or breeding-related expenses. Accident-only plans exclude illnesses entirely. Most policies also skip dental cleanings and preventative measures unless owners pay extra for wellness riders. Genetic conditions usually get the boot too. Even extensive plans maintain these standard exclusions, leaving owners to foot the bill for what seems like basic pet care. The fine print reveals exactly where coverage stops and owner responsibility begins.
Design Highlights
- Pre-existing conditions, including injuries or illnesses before coverage starts or during waiting periods, are excluded from all pet insurance policies.
- Routine and preventative care like annual checkups, vaccinations, and dental cleanings are not covered unless you purchase additional wellness riders.
- Elective and cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping, tail docking, and anal gland expression are excluded from standard coverage.
- Breeding-related expenses including pregnancy, delivery, and fertility treatments are generally not covered, though emergency complications may have limited coverage.
- Accident-only plans cover injuries exclusively, while genetic and hereditary conditions typically remain excluded unless specifically included in your policy.
While pet insurance promises to cushion the blow of unexpected vet bills, it comes loaded with more fine print than a pharmaceutical commercial. The reality? There’s a long list of things these policies won’t touch with a ten-foot pole.
Pre-existing conditions top the exclusion list. Universally. Every provider draws the same hard line: if the injury or illness existed before coverage started, or even during those waiting periods, forget about it. That limp Buddy had last month? Not covered. The rash that popped up during the two-week waiting period? Also not covered.
Some insurers might reinstate coverage for curable conditions after a period of remission, but don’t count on it. Genetic and hereditary conditions often get the boot too, unless specifically included in the policy.
Routine care is another significant gap. Annual checkups, vaccinations, dental cleanings—all those things responsible pet owners do to keep their animals healthy—aren’t covered under standard policies. The irony is thick.
Insurance companies might offer wellness or preventive riders as add-ons, which could cover flea and tick preventatives, heartworm tests, and annual exams. But that costs extra. Because of course it does.
Elective and cosmetic procedures don’t make the cut either. Ear cropping, tail docking, declawing—these fall squarely in the “not our problem” category. Soft tissue surgery and anal gland expression? Nope.
Insurance providers consider these non-essential, which means pet owners are on their own. Though if complications arise from an elective procedure and things go sideways, some policies might cover the emergency care. Small consolation.
Breeding-related expenses are also off the table. Pregnancy costs, delivery, fertility treatments—standard policies exclude them all. Some insurers might cover emergency procedures like C-sections, but that’s a maybe at best.
Providers do offer optional breeding add-ons, though those come with their own price tags. Death of a pet typically isn’t covered without shelling out for additional fees either.
Grooming services like haircuts, baths, and nail trims aren’t covered either. Not surprising, but worth noting.
The types of coverage vary wildly. Accident-only plans are bare bones, covering injuries but excluding illnesses entirely. Accident and illness plans cast a wider net, including diagnostics and treatments, and typically provide the most comprehensive coverage available.
Extensive plans might throw in alternative therapies, lab work, X-rays, and MRIs. But even the most robust policy still carries those standard exclusions.
Bottom line: pet insurance covers some things. Just not nearly as many things as people assume. Don’t expect reimbursement for administrative costs like claim form completion or vet sign-offs either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pet Insurance Cover Pre-Existing Conditions From Before Policy Purchase?
No, pet insurance won’t cover pre-existing conditions from before policy purchase.
That’s the deal-breaker for most providers—if your pet showed symptoms or got diagnosed before coverage started, you’re out of luck.
The whole point? Stop people from buying insurance only after their pet gets sick.
A few insurers might cover “curable” conditions after your pet’s been symptom-free for about 12 months.
But generally, pre-existing means you’re paying out of pocket.
Are Routine Vaccinations and Wellness Checkups Covered by Pet Insurance?
Standard pet insurance won’t cover routine vaccinations or wellness checkups. Period. Those policies focus on accidents and emergencies—the unexpected stuff.
Preventive care like vaccines and annual exams? Excluded. Insurance companies consider routine care predictable, so it doesn’t qualify for reimbursement.
Here’s the workaround: wellness add-ons or separate preventive care plans. These riders cover vaccinations, checkups, and dental cleanings.
They come with annual caps and benefit limits, but at least they reimburse routine expenses that standard policies ignore completely.
Will Pet Insurance Pay for Cosmetic Procedures Like Tail Docking?
No, pet insurance won’t cover tail docking or other cosmetic procedures.
Insurance companies are pretty clear about this—they only pay for medically necessary treatments, not stuff done for looks or breed standards.
Tail docking, ear cropping, declawing? All excluded.
The only exception is if tail docking becomes medically necessary due to injury or disease.
Otherwise, appearance-related surgeries are grouped with other elective procedures that pet owners pay for out of pocket.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Behavioral Training or Therapy Sessions?
Pet insurance typically won’t cover standard obedience training—that’s on the owner’s dime.
However, behavioral therapy sessions might get reimbursed if a vet diagnoses an actual medical condition like anxiety or aggression and prescribes treatment.
Some policies include it through preventive care add-ons, with coverage limits ranging from $500 to $5,000 annually.
Pre-existing behavioral issues? Forget it. Those are excluded.
Owners pay upfront and file claims for reimbursement later.
Are Experimental Treatments or Alternative Therapies Covered Under Pet Insurance?
Most pet insurance policies don’t cover experimental treatments—period.
That includes things like stem cell therapy or ozone therapy.
Alternative therapies? It’s complicated.
Acupuncture, chiropractic care, and hydrotherapy are often covered, but usually only on specific plans or with add-ons.
Some insurers like Embrace include them automatically.
The catch? They must be administered by licensed vets and treat covered conditions.
Herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine? Generally excluded.
Coverage varies wildly between insurers.
