Will pet insurance pay for surgery?

Does pet insurance cover surgery? If your pet is going through a tough time, you may wonder how to get affordable care. With a firm pet insurance policy, you can guarantee that it will cover your furry one for most medical emergencies.

Does pet insurance cover surgery? Enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool to see what you could pay for a comprehensive pet insurance plan today.

Does insurance cover my pet’s surgery?

When you find out that your pet may be injured and needs serious surgery, you may be stressed at the potential cost. However, it’s possible to save on the cost of major surgery for your pet with the help of a pet insurance plan.

Because medical bills can get costly, it may be worth seeing if your pet qualifies for a health insurance policy.

With these policies, you’ll save on any significant medical treatments your pet will need in exchange for a monthly premium. So if you’re worried about potential surgeries, make sure you choose a comprehensive plan that provides the most affordable options.

What is the best pet insurance for surgery?

Pet insurance prices and coverage will likely depend on your pet’s breed, age, health, and other factors that will come up in a sort-of pet underwriting. The insurer will want to make sure that it will have a chance to make a profit on the policy before it pays out on significant illnesses.

How does pet insurance work?

Pet insurance works similarly to standard insurance, where you pay a monthly premium in exchange for help paying for medical issues. The insurer won’t pay immediately, though, and you’ll have to meet the deductible before the insurer starts paying.

After you meet your deductible, the insurer will pay somewhere between 50% to 100% depending on your coverage and what you pay into premiums.

What is the cost of pet insurance?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average annual premiums for dogs in 2021 were as follows:

• $218 for accident-only coverage
• $594 for accident and illness

The monthly pet insurance for dogs is affordable, with the monthly rates coming out to $18 and $49, respectively. Cats may be slightly less expensive due to their safer nature and penchant for being inside animals. Even cheaper still are birds, lizards, and rabbits.

Will pet insurance save money?

When you enroll in an insurance plan, the idea is that it will save you more money in the long run than you end up paying in premiums. You can get reimbursed from 50% to 80% of your pet’s medical expenses with pet insurance. With this insurance, your pet can be taken care of without breaking your bank.

What does pet insurance cover?

As a member of your family, you don’t want to see your pet in any pain or discomfort. Having a comprehensive vet plan can take care of a variety of pre-emptive and emergency conditions, including:

• Accidents: Cuts, bites, broken bones from accidents, and diagnostic testing

• Sickness: Conditions like cancer, arthritis, ear infection, hyperthyroidism, etc

• Behavioral Issues: Some comprehensive policies will help cover the cost of diagnosing and treating excessive licking, chewing, pacing

With a proper pet insurance plan, you can guarantee that you don’t go bankrupt caring for your furry one’s needs.

Does pet insurance cover ACL surgery?

Seeing as the average cost of an ACL surgery for your pet can reach the thousands, it makes sense you’d want help paying for it. Luckily, some pet insurance companies will pay for the surgery. However, whether they pay will likely depend on your policy and any pre-existing conditions that your pet may have had.

Does pet insurance cover emergency surgery?

Most pet health insurance plans will cover emergencies stemming from accidents. This can include anything from an accidental injury to accidental poisoning. More comprehensive policies extend this coverage to illness and will likely cover any emergency surgeries stemming from a general condition.

Does pet insurance cover neutering?

Typically, pet insurance doesn’t cover spaying and neutering services. That being said, some insurance companies may offer you the ability to add on the coverage for those elective surgeries.

Does SPOT pet insurance cover neutering? Yes, the company states that you can add on additional coverage to help pay for that surgery.

Read more:

• How much does it cost to neuter a cat?
• How much does it cost to neuter a dog?
• How much does it cost to spay a cat?
• How much does it cost to spay a dog?

What does pet insurance not cover?

As with other insurance policies, there are limitations on the coverage that an insurer will give out. For example, you may have trouble getting coverage for:

• Pre-Existing Conditions – The insurer won’t cover anything that happened before the policy started.

• Routine Care – Standard care is typically more affordable, including teeth/ear cleaning, vaccinations, and spaying/neutering.

• Office Fees – Most vets charge a fee when you visit the office. However, the insurer doesn’t cover these as they act more like copays.

While pet insurance can help with the costs of medical needs, having a pet can get expensive. So, it’s wise to make sure that you have the funds in place before you go in for any vet visit.

Will pet insurance cover grooming and training? Unless it’s a behavioral training specifically outlined in your policy, you likely won’t get grooming or training services covered by your policy. (For more information, read our “Will pet insurance pay for grooming and training?“).

Read more: What does pet insurance cover?

Are there alternatives to pet insurance plans?

If you find that the policy can’t insure your pet due to pre-existing conditions, age, or some other factor, then you’ll likely be a little stressed as you face the costs. However, there may still be options for you to get more affordable treatment for your pets.

Some vets network together to offer discount plans for specific veterinary procedures. Unfortunately, while it may be helpful, it doesn’t provide the same savings as a pet insurance plan.

Read more: How much does a veterinary visit cost?

What are veterinary discount plans?

Veterinarians understand the costs that come with owning a pet can get expensive, even more when you add in surgeries or medical treatments. So to help save pet owners money, some vets network together to provide cheaper procedures.

However, it does come with risks. This network is entirely optional, and you run the risk of your vet dropping out of the discount plan.

Pet Insurance and Surgery: The Bottom Line

If you’re worried about what the future may bring for your pet, understand that there are options to protect them. You can insure your pet with a comprehensive pet insurance policy to properly make sure that your furry ones are cared for.

Does pet insurance cover surgery quotes? That depends on the company, so enter your ZIP code below to see what you could pay for a pet surgery insurance plan today.

Case Studies: Pet Insurance and Surgery

Case Study 1: Max’s Life-Saving Surgery

Max, a 5-year-old Golden Retriever, was involved in a serious accident and required immediate surgery to save his life. His owner, Sarah, had a comprehensive pet insurance policy in place. Thanks to the coverage, Max’s surgery was fully covered, including the cost of anesthesia, surgery, post-operative care, and medications.

Sarah only had to pay the deductible specified in her policy, and the insurance company reimbursed her for 80% of the total vet costs. Without the pet insurance, Sarah would have faced a substantial financial burden.

Case Study 2: Bella’s ACL Surgery Coverage

Bella, a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever, developed a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and required surgery to regain mobility. Bella’s owner, Mike, had recently enrolled her in a pet insurance plan that covered orthopedic procedures.

As a result, Bella’s ACL surgery was covered by the insurance company, and Mike only had to pay the deductible and a portion of the remaining costs. The insurance coverage significantly eased the financial strain on Mike and ensured Bella received the necessary treatment.

Case Study 3: Luna’s Neutering Not Covered

Luna, a 6-month-old domestic shorthair cat, reached the appropriate age for neutering. However, her owner, Emily, discovered that her pet insurance policy did not cover elective procedures like spaying or neutering.

Emily had to pay for the neutering surgery out of pocket. While pet insurance provided coverage for Luna’s other medical needs, it’s important to review the policy details to understand the specific surgeries that are excluded.

Case Study 4: Oliver’s Emergency Surgery

Oliver, a 7-year-old Beagle, experienced a sudden medical emergency and required immediate surgery to address a life-threatening condition. His owner, Mark, had comprehensive pet insurance that covered emergency surgeries.

Mark rushed Oliver to the veterinary hospital, where the surgery was performed. The insurance company covered a significant portion of the surgery costs, alleviating the financial burden on Mark during a stressful time.

Case Study 5: Ruby’s Exclusion for Pre-Existing Condition

Ruby, a 2-year-old mixed breed dog, had a pre-existing heart condition diagnosed before her owner, Alex, enrolled her in a pet insurance policy. Unfortunately, the policy excluded coverage for pre-existing conditions, including surgeries related to Ruby’s heart condition.

Alex had to bear the full cost of Ruby’s surgery and ongoing treatment. It’s crucial to understand that pre-existing conditions are typically not covered by pet insurance policies.

Case Study 6: Alternative Option for Reduced Costs

Milo, a 10-year-old Persian cat, needed dental surgery, but his owner, Lisa, discovered that her pet insurance policy did not cover routine dental care. To manage the costs, Lisa explored alternative options and found a veterinary discount plan offered by a local network of veterinarians.

The discount plan allowed Lisa to get the dental surgery for Milo at a reduced price, providing some financial relief.