Most standard pet insurance plans don’t cover vaccinations because they’re considered routine care. However, many insurance carriers provide wellness plans that can help in paying for vaccines, annual exams, and other regular care.
“Pet owners often get confused between wellness plans and insurance,” says Alexandre Douzet, CEO of Pumpkin Pet Insurance. Also, you need to know that unlike human health insurance, pet insurance will only cover unexpected illnesses and accidents. It won’t help in covering routine care.
Adding a wellness plan to your pet insurance can help fill this gap. You can usually include it with your standard policy for an extra cost, or sometimes buy it separately.
How Does Vaccination Coverage for Pets Work?
Vaccination coverage is usually part of a pet wellness plan that also includes other preventive care services. Some insurers require you to add this wellness plan to your standard accident and illness policy, while others offer it as a separate option. Wellness plans aren’t considered traditional insurance, so they typically don’t have deductibles.
Generally speaking, vaccination coverage is included in an optional wellness plan that you can add to your normal pet insurance. Depending on the provider, the plan may cover either a percentage or a fixed amount for vaccines and other wellness services. If you exceed the plan’s yearly limit, you’ll need to pay any additional costs yourself.
For instance, with a Pets Best EssentialWellness plan that has a $45 annual vaccine limit, if your puppy’s vaccines cost $75, you can claim reimbursement and get $45 back if approved. After that, you’ve hit your yearly limit and won’t get more vaccine coverage until the next year.
Which Pet Insurance Companies Cover Vaccinations?
Fortunately for pet owners, many pet insurance companies cover vaccinations as part of their wellness or preventive care plans. These plans usually offer an annual reimbursement limit for vaccines and other routine care, like checkups, dental cleanings, and parasite prevention.
Different insurers handle preventative care differently, and plan costs vary based on factors like your location, your pet’s age, and their breed. Here’s a breakdown:
• Figo
Figo offers two wellness plans for dogs and cats, costing $9.50 to $16.50 monthly, with an annual vaccine limit of $30 or $50. These can only be added to your pet insurance policy during enrollment or renewal.
• Embrace
Embrace provides three wellness reward options, ranging from $23 to $56 per month, with coverage limits of $300, $500, or $700 annually.
• Lemonade
Lemonade has three tiers of add-on preventive care packages for $11 to $48 a month, depending on your pet’s type and age. They cover three vaccines with a $75 annual limit or six vaccines with a $150 limit.
• Pets Best
Pets Best offers two wellness packages ranging from $14 to $32.58 monthly. Vaccine limits vary by state and type but can range from $15 to $55.
• Spot
Spot provides Gold and Platinum preventive care coverage for $10 to $25 a month. The Gold plan offers a $40 annual vaccine limit, while the Platinum plan increases this to $75.
• Pumpkin
Pumpkin has wellness plans costing $13.95 to $20.95 monthly. They cover up to four vaccines in a puppy’s first year and two each year after, with one annual vaccination for cats.
• ASPCA
ASPCA offers Basic and Prime preventive care plans for $10 to $25 per month, with vaccine limits of $40 or $75 annually.
• Fetch
Fetch has three wellness plan options starting at $10, $20, or $30 per month, with vaccine limits of $40 to $100 annually. These options allow you to choose the plan that best fits your needs, ensuring your pet stays healthy without breaking the bank.
Which Vaccines does Pet Insurance policy cover?
If your pet insurance offers wellness plans, they may cover these essential vaccines:
- Rabies
- Distemper
- Parvovirus
- Leptospirosis
- Bordetella
- Canine Influenza
- Lyme Disease
To find out exactly what’s covered, check with your pet insurer. Your plan might also include coverage for other vaccines beyond this list.
Is Getting Insurance for Pet Vaccines Worth it?
If you’re only looking for reimbursement for vaccines, this might not be the right option for you.. Vaccine coverage has low annual limits, so you could end up paying more in premiums than you save. In this case, a wellness plan just for vaccines might not be cost-effective.
However, a broader wellness plan that covers vaccinations along with other preventive care like vet visits, diagnostic tests, parasite prevention, and dental care could save you money, depending on your pet’s needs. It can also help you budget better for your pet’s care.
Even if you skip a wellness plan, getting traditional pet insurance for accidents and illnesses is still a good idea. It can protect your pet and your finances from unexpected issues like injuries, diseases, and infections.
