Pet Insurance That Covers Spaying & Neutering

Want your pet to live a long and happy life? Getting them spayed or neutered just might be the secret. Research shows spayed cats live 39% longer, and dogs live 23% longer. Likewise, neutered dogs live up to 18% longer and neutering also reduces the risk of cancer in all pets.

Considering it costs anywhere from $40 to $240 to spay and neuter a cat and $150 to $600 to spay and neuter a dog, you may wonder if pet insurance can help. 

Pet insurance doesn’t cover spaying and neutering because it’s a form of preventive care—not an accident or illness. However, many pet insurance companies offer optional pet wellness plans that will reimburse you for these procedures. Here’s a closer look at your options.

The best pet insurance that covers spaying and neutering

The Humane Society of the United States reports that roughly 80 to 90% of pets in the U.S. are spayed and neutered. We conducted thorough research to find the best pet insurance providers to cover your pet’s spay and neuter surgery. 

For every pet insurer on our list, the only way to get wellness coverage is by buying a pet insurance policy, too. You can’t purchase a standalone wellness plan. Also, none of the options have waiting periods, so spay/neuter coverage starts immediately. 

Here’s an overview of the best pet insurance companies for spaying and neutering: 

Company	Monthly cost	Maximum reimbursement for spay/neuter	LendEDU rating	Best for	How to get coverage
Fetch	$10, $20, or $30	$100 or $125	4.9/5	Best coverage	Wellness add-on
Embrace	$18.75, $35.42, or $52.09	$250, $450 or $650	4.7/5	Best for quick coverage	Wellness add-on
Lemonade	$49 for puppies and $38 for kittens	$120	4.7/5	Best for fast claims	Wellness add-on
Spot	$24.95	$150	4.5/5	Best variety of terms	Wellness add-on
ASPCA	$9.95 or $24.95	$150	4.3/5	Best for reliability	Wellness add-on

Fetch – Best coverage

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LendEDU Rating: 4.9 out of 5

• Get reimbursed up to $125 for spaying/neutering
• Three plans available for $10 to $30 per month
• No waiting period for wellness coverage.

Fetch is the best pet insurance if you’re looking for comprehensive coverage. No matter which wellness plan you choose, spaying or neutering is included in all of them. This is one reason why Fetch has the highest LendEDU rating of any pet insurance company we’ve reviewed. 

With Fetch, you’ll find three tiers of wellness plans: Essentials, Advantage, and Prime. 

• Essentials: Starts at $10 monthly and provides up to $315 in annual benefits, including $100 towards spaying or neutering.
• Advantage: Priced at $20 per month and offers up to $520 in annual benefits, with spaying or neutering coverage also at $100.
• Prime: At $30 per month, this is the most comprehensive plan, providing up to $735 in annual benefits and $125 for spaying or neutering.

Apart from spay or neuter coverage, these plans cover other preventive care costs like annual exams, vaccinations, and in some cases, dental cleaning and health tests.

Embrace – Best for quick coverage

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LendEDU Rating: 4.7 out of 5

• Get reimbursed up to $650 for spaying/neutering 
• Three coverage amounts available from $18.75 to $52.09 per month
• No waiting period for wellness coverage

Unlike other pet insurance companies that cap how much they’ll reimburse for spaying or neutering, Embrace lets you use up to your full annual benefit. So if you buy a wellness plan with $650 in benefits, it could theoretically cover up to that amount for surgery. 

In addition to spaying and neutering, Embrace’s wellness plan includes exam fees, blood tests, microchipping, preventive teeth cleaning, prescription diet food, and more. 

Embrace is a good option if you need quick coverage because you can begin using your wellness rewards up to your full limit as soon as you purchase a policy. It also covers accidents in just two days, which is a shorter waiting period than other pet insurance companies. 

Lemonade – Best for fast claims

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LendEDU Rating: 4.7 out of 5

• Get reimbursed up to $120 for spaying/neutering
• Three wellness options, but only the puppy/kitten preventive care package has spay/neuter coverage
• There’s no waiting period

Lemonade isn’t just known for its lightning-fast claims. It’s also known for having some of the best pet insurance for spaying and neutering, especially for kittens and puppies under two years old. 

Under its puppy/litten preventive care package, you can get reimbursed up to $120 for spay/neuter surgery, as well as wellness exams, microchipping, vaccines, and fecal tests. 

Lemonade has two preventive care packages for adult cats and dogs over two years of age, but neither includes cover spay and neutering. 

Spot – Best variety of terms

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LendEDU Rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Get reimbursed up to $150 for spaying/neutering 
• Two plans are available, but only the platinum preventive care plan has spay/neuter coverage
• No waiting period for wellness coverage

Spot has two wellness plans: Gold and Platinum. But you must buy the platinum version if you want to get reimbursed for spaying and neutering. This plan comes with up to $450 in total annual benefits and reimburses up to $150 for spaying or neutering. 

Spot is also a top-rated pick if you’re looking for a pet insurance company with many options. It has the largest combination of deductibles, reimbursement rates, and benefit limits, so you can customize a policy that fits you and your pet’s needs. 

ASPCA: Best for reliability

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LendEDU Rating: 4.3 out of 5

• Get reimbursed up to $150 for spaying/neutering
• Two plans available, but only the Prime plan includes coverage for spay/neuter
• No waiting period for wellness coverage

ASPCA is practically a household name at this point. It has the most reviews of any other pet insurance company and has been around since 2006. So if you’re looking for reliable pet insurance that covers spaying and neutering, it’s a solid choice. 

ASPCA has two preventive care coverage options: Basic and Prime. Prime is the only package that covers spaying and neutering, as well as flea and heartworm prevention, blood tests, and a urinalysis. It reimburses up to $150 and costs $24.95 per month. 

How to choose the best pet insurance that covers spaying & neutering

Selecting the right pet insurance for spaying and neutering involves several key steps. Here’s how to get the best coverage for your cat or dog.

1. Understand the basics. Spaying and neutering are generally not covered under standard pet insurance policies as they’re considered preventive care. Most companies offer this coverage under additional wellness plans instead.
2. Estimate how much your pet’s surgery will cost. The cost of spaying and neutering depends on your location, your pet’s size and health, and the type of clinic you choose. Cats are usually the cheapest to spay and neuter, while larger dogs are the most expensive.
3. Find a wellness plan that includes spay/neuter coverage. Start shopping around once you’ve estimated how much your pet’s surgery will cost. Beware: Some insurers will have multiple wellness plans, but only the top-tier option will include spaying and neutering. 
4. Check for coverage limits. Once you’ve found a wellness plan that covers spaying and neutering, there’s one thing left to do: see if there’s a cap on how much it will reimburse for surgery. Ensure the limit aligns with the estimated cost of your pet’s surgery. 

Is pet insurance for spaying & neutering worth the cost?

There are a couple of things you can do to decide if a wellness plan is worth it for spaying and neutering. 

1. Evaluate your needs. You usually can’t get a wellness plan without pet insurance. If you already have insurance, research how much it would cost to add wellness coverage on top of it. If you don’t have insurance, consider whether getting a policy is worth it based on your pet’s pre-existing conditions. 
2. Compare the cost of surgery to the cost of a wellness plan. If the cost of a wellness plan is similar to the spaying/neutering cost, it might be worth it. Especially if the plan covers other preventive care you’d use, like vaccines, flea medication, and annual vet visits. But if the plan is significantly more expensive, or you’re unlikely to use the other benefits, it might not be your best option.

What to do if pet insurance for spaying and neutering isn’t worth it 

If you decide pet insurance isn’t worth it, look into alternatives. Many communities offer low-cost spay/neuter programs. Also, some animal shelters and non-profit organizations provide these services at reduced rates or even for free, depending on your circumstances. 

These programs can be significantly cheaper than going through a private vet. Research local options or ask your vet for suggestions. In most cases, there are ways to get your pet the care they need without straining your budget.

Most veterinarians recommend spaying and neutering a cat before they’re five months old. For dogs, the recommended age depends on their breed and size. The longer you wait, the more expensive it may be.