Pet Insurance for Surgery

One of the major benefits of pet insurance is that it protects your pet if they need a major, unexpected expense—such as surgery. Surgical procedures are a standard coverage item for almost all pet insurance policies.

However, due to standard waiting periods, you may need to wait a few weeks for surgical coverage to begin once you purchase a policy. Below, we’ll cover the best pet insurance for surgery, common surgeries covered by typical policies, and how the waiting periods work.

Best pet insurance for surgery

Here are four of our top picks for pet insurance for surgery. Each of these companies covers pet surgery and surgery-related expenses, helping ensure that your pet is protected against any number of emergencies, illnesses, or diseases that may occur.

Choosing the right pet insurance for surgical needs is essential to ensure that your pet receives the best care without breaking the bank. Below are top pet insurance providers known for their exceptional service and coverage options tailored for surgeries.

Fetch

Lemonade

Embrace

Spot

Our expert’s advice

Erin Kinkade

CFP®

I suggest that pet owners consider their pets’ age, breed, and health history when choosing coverage options. They should also look at the deductibles and reimbursement rates to determine whether the coverage fits within their budget. Last, they should always check for any network or provider restrictions that may limit their choices.

What types of pet insurance cover surgeries?

Whether surgery is covered under your pet insurance policy depends on both the carrier that you choose and the specific policy you buy. The following table outlines the typical coverage for surgery based on different plan types:

Plan type	Surgery coverage?
Accident-Only	Only covers surgery related to accidents. Surgeries for congenital defects, diseases, or illnesses aren’t covered.
Comprehensive	Covers surgery for accidental injuries and any new (covered) illnesses that arise after the policy goes into effect.

Most pet insurance policies cover the diagnostic and recovery-related expenses for a covered surgery. So the majority of plans cover the following:

• X-rays
• Ultrasounds
• Biopsies
• MRIs
• Medications
• Overnight hospital stays
• Pre- and post-operative visits

Pet insurance benefit limits

Many pet insurance policies have benefit limits, which may be annual, lifetime, or per-incident. This is the maximum amount of coverage your plan may offer for your pet, either in total over the course of each year or for one specific condition. 

Let’s say your pet has an embolism and requires emergency surgery. Here’s a breakdown of the costs and coverage:

Expense	Amount
MRIs, surgical costs, and two nights in the animal hospital	$6,500
Annual coverage limit	$10,000
Annual deductible	$250
Reimbursement percentage	90%

In this case, you would pay your $250 deductible if you hadn’t already done so that year. Of the remaining $6,250, your pet insurance plan would cover 90%—or $5,625—and you’re responsible for the remaining $625. 

Payment Breakdown	Amount
Your deductible	$250
Pet insurance covers (90% of $6,250)	$5,625
Your responsibility (10% of $6,250)	$625
Total out-out-of-pocket expense	$875
Remaining annual coverage	$4,375

Your total out-of-pocket expense for this surgery would be $875, and your pet would have $4,375 in possible coverage remaining for the year.

Common surgeries pet insurance may cover 

Carriers and pet insurance policies differ, but here are several of the most common surgeries or related conditions covered by pet insurance plans.

Type of Surgery	Dogs	Cats
Tumors/cancer	✅	✅
Cuts/bite wounds	✅	✅
Joint surgery	✅	✅
Torn ligaments	✅	✅
Broken bones	✅	✅
Hernias	✅	✅
Eye surgery (including cataracts)	✅	✅
Twisted stomach/bloat	✅	✖️
Foreign object removal	✅	✅

These coverages might have limitations. For example, some policies will cover cataract removal in older cats but not juveniles. Before enrolling your pet, it’s important to read a sample policy for each provider to see what is covered and what coverage limits may exist.

Common surgeries pet insurance doesn’t cover

Most pet insurance plans cover emergency surgery, but your plan may not cover several types of surgery. Here are the most common surgeries excluded from pet insurance coverage.

Type of surgery	Dogs	Cats
Spaying/neutering*	✖️	✖️
Preventive/prophylactic procedures	✖️	✖️
Cosmetic/elective procedures (tail docking or ear cropping, etc.)	✖️	✖️
Claw/nail removal	✖️	✖️
Injuries due to neglect/cruelty, such as fighting or racing	✖️	✖️
Pregnancy/breeding-related procedures	✖️	✖️

Some of these procedures, such as dew claw removal, may be covered if your vet deems them medically necessary. Others, such as a preventive gastropexy in a high-risk breed, are never covered, even if your vet recommends them.

How waiting periods impact your coverage

Buying pet insurance is an action you should take long before you think you need it. Here’s why: 

• All pet insurance policies have waiting periods. Buying insurance after you realize your pet needs surgery likely won’t result in coverage for the surgery. A waiting period will apply before they’re fully covered.  
• Waiting periods vary by carrier and coverage type. Your pet may need to wait 14 days for illness coverage but only two days for accident coverage. Conditions such as hip dysplasia and torn ligaments may have longer waiting periods.
• Waiting periods may not matter if your pet already needs surgery. If your pet needs surgery now, purchasing a policy today won’t help them because their ailment may be considered a pre-existing condition. 

Tip

Plan ahead and buy pet insurance before you think you need it to ensure your pet is covered when the time comes.

Is surgery covered for pre-existing conditions?

No pet insurance plans will cover surgery related to pre-existing conditions, even if the waiting period is up. So if your pet’s condition arose before the plan was purchased, it likely won’t be covered.

However, coverage may be available if your pet has a curable pre-existing condition and they’ve been symptom-free for at least a year. This table highlights the difference between curable and incurable conditions: 

Curable pre-existing conditions	Incurable pre-existing conditions
Can be resolved or cured	Can’t be resolved or cured
Example: Vomiting	Example: Heart murmur
If vomiting was a year or more prior and appears to have subsided, your policy may cover future stomach issues and surgeries.	If a heart murmur was detected in a puppy, even if it never caused issues, surgeries related to heart conditions in their older years may be excluded from coverage.

Tip

Buying coverage after your pet is sick or injured only serves to exclude them from their new plan’s coverage. So buy pet insurance before you need it; you never know when a condition or accident will crop up.

Are unknown genetic conditions considered pre-existing?

Many pets may have genetic or congenital conditions that exist when you buy pet insurance, even if you don’t know about them yet. 

In most cases, if your policy isn’t accident-only and your pet hasn’t shown a pattern of issues related to that disease, any surgery related to their genetic condition will be covered. 

It’s important to read the details of your plan’s coverage so you know what is covered and what isn’t.

Alternatives to pet insurance to pay for surgery

If your pet requires surgery, it can be expensive. You might face a hefty vet bill if you:

• Don’t have pet insurance coverage
• Bought a plan after your pet was diagnosed with a condition
• Are still in your plan’s waiting period when your pet develops a condition
• Purchase a plan with an annual, per-condition, or lifetime coverage limit that’s less than your pet needs

You may also need to plan for deductibles or cost-sharing if your pet insurance plan only covers a percentage of your pet’s care expenses.

These are alternatives to pet insurance to consider—and ways to cover out-of-pocket expenses even if you do have a policy:

• Ask your veterinarian about financing options. If you’re facing a major bill, your vet may offer financing so you can make monthly payments. Financing charges might apply, but it can give you immediate access to the funds your pet needs in an emergency.
• Set up a personal pet emergency savings fund. Consider setting up a pet emergency fund as soon as you get your pet. You can use it to cover routine or emergency care expenses.
• Buy an alternative pet insurance plan. Companies such as Pawp offer routine and emergency care for your pet when needed without any contracts or cancellation fees. With this sort of plan, you can get virtual care as needed and emergency care funds for up to six pets—all with one monthly fee.

Protecting your furry friends means planning for the unexpected and the unexpected. With the right pet insurance plan, you’re covered whether your dog or cat is injured, falls ill, or otherwise needs surgery in their lifetime.

Recap of pet insurance for surgery