Pet insurance FAQs

Plans on CompareCove start from about $10 a month and most owners pay $25 to $60 for a dog and $15 to $35 for a cat. Species, breed, age, ZIP code, reimbursement rate and deductible all move the premium.

Yes. Comparing carriers is completely free, with no account, no card and no phone call. CompareCove earns a commission if you choose a carrier through one of our links, at no extra cost to you.

We rate 17 US pet insurance carriers on coverage, cost, waiting periods, payout limits and claims experience, and re-score the comparison every Monday and Thursday.

It is worth it when an unexpected bill would be hard to absorb. A single cruciate ligament repair runs $3,500 to $6,000 and emergency surgery for a swallowed object often passes $4,000, so most owners break even after one major claim.

No US carrier covers conditions that showed symptoms before your policy start date or during the waiting period. Some carriers will reconsider a curable condition, such as an ear infection, once your pet has been symptom-free for 6 to 12 months.

Accident waiting periods run from 0 to 14 days, illness waiting periods are usually 14 days, and orthopedic or cruciate conditions can wait 6 to 12 months. Our carrier table lists the waiting period for every plan.

It is the amount you pay each policy year before reimbursement starts. Most carriers offer $100 to $1,000. A lower deductible raises your monthly premium; a higher one lowers it.

You pay the vet, submit the invoice, and the carrier reimburses your chosen percentage — normally 70%, 80% or 90% — after the deductible. Most claims are paid within 3 to 14 days by direct deposit.

Accident-related dental injuries are covered by nearly every plan. Dental illness such as periodontal disease is covered by some carriers only, and routine cleanings need a wellness add-on.

Yes. Accident and illness plans cover surgery, hospitalization, anesthesia, imaging and follow-up care when the condition is not pre-existing and any orthopedic waiting period has passed.

Yes, though some carriers cap new enrollment at 14 years and may exclude hip dysplasia for older pets. Several carriers we rate have no upper age limit for accident and illness cover.

MetLife Pet Insurance, Nationwide and Pet Assure cover exotic pets such as birds, rabbits, reptiles and horses. Our carrier table marks exotic coverage for every carrier.

Yes. US pet insurance is reimbursement-based, so any licensed vet, emergency hospital or specialist qualifies. There is no network to check.

Not by default. Vaccinations, dental cleanings, flea treatment and annual exams are covered only through an optional wellness or preventive plan, usually $10 to $25 extra a month.

Buy the new policy first, wait for it to become active, then cancel the old one. Remember that anything treated under the old policy may count as pre-existing with the new carrier.

Every rated carrier is scored on five pillars — coverage breadth, cost, waiting periods, payout limits and digital claims experience — using published policy documents and sample quotes. The board is re-scored every Monday and Thursday.

Accidents, injuries, illnesses, cancer, hereditary and congenital conditions, diagnostics, imaging, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication and specialist referrals — as long as the condition is not pre-existing.

Pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking, elective breeding and pregnancy, grooming, boarding, food, and anything caused deliberately or by neglect.

The annual limit caps how much a carrier reimburses each policy year, from about $5,000 to unlimited. Unlimited costs a few dollars more a month and is worth it for large breeds prone to expensive orthopedic or cancer claims.

80% suits most owners. 90% lowers your share of a big bill but raises the premium; 70% keeps the premium low if you can absorb more of a large claim yourself.

Most US carriers use an annual deductible you meet once per policy year. A few use a per-condition deductible, which you pay again for each new condition — check the table before comparing prices.

Straightforward claims filed through an app are usually reimbursed in 3 to 10 days by direct deposit. Claims needing full medical records can take 2 to 4 weeks.

A handful offer direct vet payment when the clinic agrees to it, including Trupanion's software at participating hospitals. Everywhere else you pay and get reimbursed.

Yes, when the medication treats a covered accident or illness. Flea, tick and heartworm preventives are covered only through a wellness add-on.

Some carriers reimburse therapeutic diets prescribed to treat a covered condition, usually for a limited period. Regular food is never covered.

Many accident and illness plans now cover behavioral treatment for diagnosed problems such as separation anxiety or destructive chewing, including vet-prescribed medication and consults.

Acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic care and physical rehabilitation are covered by several carriers when prescribed by a vet for a covered condition, sometimes with a separate limit.

Yes. Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and oncology consults are covered by accident and illness plans as long as no symptom appeared before the policy started.

Most carriers cover hip dysplasia after an orthopedic waiting period of 6 to 12 months. A few waive or shorten that wait if your pet passes a vet exam.

Yes, after the orthopedic waiting period. Repairs run $3,500 to $6,000 per knee, which is why the waiting period matters more than the premium for active dogs.

Yes. Emergency exams, overnight hospitalization, oxygen, IV fluids and emergency surgery are all covered once your waiting periods have passed.

Euthanasia for a covered condition is reimbursed by most carriers. Cremation and burial are covered by only a few, sometimes as part of an end-of-life benefit.

Not under an accident and illness plan. It is a routine procedure covered only by a wellness or preventive add-on.

Only through a wellness add-on. Some plans include the chip and registration in their first-year preventive allowance.

Some carriers include the exam fee for a covered illness, others charge extra for it. On a $150 emergency visit that difference is real money, so it is scored in our cost pillar.

As early as 8 weeks. Premiums are lowest and nothing has been diagnosed yet, so no condition can be excluded as pre-existing.

Yes. Almost every US carrier raises premiums each year as your pet gets older and as vet costs rise, typically 5% to 20% per renewal.

US carriers cannot cancel a policy for claiming, but they can decline to renew a whole book of business or adjust pricing for a breed and area at renewal.

Strongly. Large and brachycephalic breeds — French bulldogs, bulldogs, Great Danes, German shepherds — cost the most because their claims are more frequent and more expensive.

Yes. Premiums track local vet prices, so urban areas such as New York, San Francisco and Miami are priced well above rural ZIP codes in the same state.

Most carriers take 5% to 10% off each additional pet. Some also discount for military service, veterinary staff, annual payment or bundling with a home policy.

Most carriers issue a separate policy per pet under a single login, and several support unlimited pets on the account with the multi-pet discount applied automatically.

Yes, and it is usually cheaper. Each pet gets its own policy, limits and deductible, billed together with the multi-pet discount.

Not to buy a policy, but carriers require a recent exam record — usually within 12 months — before paying claims, and use it to determine what was pre-existing.

The full history from every clinic your pet has visited, including exam notes and lab results. Filing that early speeds up your first claim considerably.

Yes to both. Most denials cite a pre-existing condition or an unmet waiting period. Every carrier has an appeal process, and a vet letter explaining the timeline often reverses the decision.

A one-off, resolvable problem such as a urinary infection, diarrhea or a respiratory infection. Many carriers cover it again once your pet has been symptom-free for 6 to 12 months.

It can be. If one knee or one ear was affected before enrollment, some carriers exclude the matching side too. Our carrier notes flag which ones apply it.

It is a preventive add-on for exams, vaccines, dental cleanings and parasite prevention, usually $10 to $25 a month. It saves money only if you use the full allowance each year.

A cheaper plan covering injuries, ingested objects and broken bones but no illnesses. It suits older pets who cannot pass illness underwriting or very tight budgets.

No illness plan starts immediately, but several carriers have a 0 to 2 day accident waiting period. That is the fastest cover available in the US.

US policies generally cover the US and short trips to Canada. Longer international stays usually need a separate travel or expat policy.

A few carriers reimburse kennel fees if you are hospitalized for several days, and some cover advertising and reward costs for a lost pet.

Rarely in the US — it is common in the UK. Dog bite liability is normally handled by your homeowners or renters policy instead.

Pay the vet, photograph or download the itemized invoice, and upload it in the carrier's app with a short description. Most carriers also accept email or a web form.

Usually 90 to 270 days from treatment, depending on the carrier. Filing within a couple of weeks avoids missing the window entirely.

Yes. Every carrier allows cancellation any time and most refund unused premium. Nearly all offer a 14 to 30 day money-back period if you have not claimed.

Yes. A new policy means new waiting periods and anything already treated may be excluded, which is why switching is best done before problems appear.

Yes, through the exotic carriers we rate. Cover is typically narrower than dog and cat plans, so read the species list before buying.

Usually $10 to $30 a month for small mammals, birds and reptiles, with lower annual limits than dog and cat policies.