Pet Insurance That Covers Emergencies

Pet insurance plans cover various emergencies, such as sudden illnesses or accidents. These plans offer varying coverage limits and reimbursement rates for eligible care, helping pet owners shoulder the cost of getting their four-legged friend well again.

Finding the right pet insurance that covers emergencies may be simpler—and more affordable—than you expect. Let’s take a look at what these plans provide to pet owners.

Does pet insurance cover emergencies?

Yes, most pet insurance policies cover emergencies. Typical pet insurance plans don’t cover routine or preventive care costs—they will only step in if your pet gets sick, is injured, or develops a health condition after you’ve purchased a policy.

See more about what pet insurance covers.

These are the best pet insurance companies for emergency care:

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Tip

Pet insurance plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions. If your pet’s emergency care is related to a condition that existed before you bought your policy, those expenses may not be reimbursed. For example, if your pet had unexplained bouts of nausea and vomiting a few weeks before you bought their pet insurance policy and then requires emergency stomach surgery, your provider might determine that their issue was pre-existing and therefore excluded.

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Pet insurance companies that cover emergencies

If your dog or cat needs unexpected care in the future, the following pet insurance carriers offer coverage that can help.

Lemonade

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Affordable policies with optional add-ons for extended coverage

• Visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S.
• Get reimbursed up to 90% for emergency care
• Covers specialty and emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and more

Pet insurance plans through Lemonade are comprehensive, offering coverage if your pet experiences an unexpected illness or injury. If your pet has an emergency condition, you can take them to any licensed vet, emergency clinic, or specialist without worrying about networks, participating providers, or preapprovals.

Lemonade lets you customize your policy to determine what level of coverage you want and whether to include extended coverage for vet visits, physical therapy, behavioral conditions, or dental illness. You can get a quote from Lemonade in just two minutes, and coverage for accidents kicks in two days after you enroll.

Fetch

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Unique benefits to further protect your pet

• Up to $1,000 in virtual vet visit coverage
• Approved claims paid out in as little as two days via direct deposit

Pet insurance coverage through Fetch can help you protect your cat or dog against a wide range of emergency situations and conditions.

This comprehensive policy covers accidents and illnesses after your waiting period has passed. The waiting period varies by state but is never longer than 15 days from the date of enrollment for injuries and illnesses or six months for knee and hip issues. You must file claims within 90 days of the service, or Fetch won’t cover them.

Fetch insurance coverage allows you to take your pet to any licensed provider in the U.S. or Canada, including emergency clinics and specialists, even if the appointment is virtual. You can choose from deductible options of $300, $500, or $700 per year.

Once you meet the deductible, reimbursement rates are 70%, 80%, or 90%, depending on the plan you build, with an option to select an unlimited annual benefit. Fetch doesn’t limit the number of claims you can file for your pet.

Spot

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Excellent selection of policy terms

• No per-incident or lifetime caps
• Your choice between an accident-only or accident and illness policy

With Spot, you can choose accident-only or accident and illness coverage, so your pet’s emergency care could be covered whether they get sick, get hurt, or develop certain medical conditions. 

Spot allows you to choose any licensed veterinary provider. Deductibles range from $100 to $1,000, with a reimbursement rate of 70%, 80%, or 90%. Annual coverage limits range from $2,500 to unlimited. Spot doesn’t impose lifetime coverage caps or limits on individual conditions, but a 14-day waiting period applies for accidents or illnesses.

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ASPCA

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Years of experience covering pets

• Has insured over 400,000 dogs and cats while processing more than 1.6 million claims
• All plans are customizable

With ASPCA pet insurance coverage, you can take your pet to any licensed vet, emergency care clinic, or specialist in the U.S. or Canada if they are sick, injured, or develop a medical condition. Pre-existing conditions and routine care are excluded, but ASPCA’s Complete Coverage plan offers protection for accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Accident-only plans are also available.

Annual deductibles for either type of policy can be $100, $250, or $500, with reimbursement rates of 70%, 80%, or 90% on eligible expenses. Annual coverage limits range from $3,000 to unlimited, with no limit to the number of claims you can file. 

A 14-day waiting period applies for illnesses and injuries before your pet’s eligible expenses are covered.

Embrace

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Comprehensive coverage

• Offers preventive care coverage
• One of the most comprehensive policies in the industry

Embrace is a pet insurance carrier that offers coverage against injuries and illnesses for your dog or cat. Embrace has no provider network, so you can use any licensed veterinary provider, including emergency clinics and specialists. 

An Embrace policy covers a range of services, such as exams, diagnostic testing, surgeries, treatments, and even alternative care (such as hydrotherapy or laser therapy). Annual coverage limits range from $5,000 to $30,000, with no lifetime limits or benefit caps on specific conditions. 

The deductible options range from $200 to $1,000 per year. The deductible is annual and not per condition. After meeting your deductible, Embrace will reimburse 65%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of your pet’s remaining care expenses, depending on the plan you choose.

Can you insure a sick pet?

With few exceptions, you can buy pet insurance coverage for your dog or cat at any time, even if they are sick or injured. But conditions they are already experiencing or have been diagnosed with are excluded from the new policy’s coverage.

We recommend purchasing insurance coverage for your pets as early as possible to avoid any potential pre-existing conditions. However, the plan will still cover care if your pet experiences an unrelated illness or injury, such as a cancer diagnosis.

Most pet insurance plans have a waiting period before the coverage kicks in, so rushing to buy pet insurance when your dog or cat gets sick or injured may not be an option.

A waiting period can last two to 15 days. During this time, emergency care isn’t covered, and any injuries or illnesses may be considered pre-existing conditions even if you bought coverage prior to seeking care.

Recap of the best pet insurance that covers emergencies