If you’re hoping for pet insurance to cover your dog’s taste for expensive shoes or your cat’s love for spas, you’ll be disappointed. Having said that, pet insurance can help cover the cost of surgery if your dog ends up eating a part of your shoe or your cat develops a skin condition. From surprise illnesses to unexpected injuries, pet insurance has your back (and your pet’s paws, head, skin, tail, teeth, and eyes).
Here’s a detailed answer to your question –
What Can Pet Insurance Help Cover?
You’ll mostly find two types of pet insurance policies in the market –
Accident only
Accidents and illnesses
Here’s what an accident-only plan would typically help cover –
Diagnostics
Vet exam fees
The above costs must be related to an accident. It won’t cover the costs arising from any kind of treatment of an illness.
An accident and illness plan, also known as a more robust plan, would help cover the accidents mentioned above and the following-
Hereditary conditions*
Congenital conditions*
Cancer & growths
Eye problems
Illnesses like urinary tract infections, bloat, and other gastrointestinal issues
(This is not an exclusive list - to learn more about our accident and illness coverage, please visit our homepage.)
*Hereditary and congenital conditions are not covered by every pet insurance provider, but hereditary and congenital conditions can be covered with a plan from Spot.
What does Pet Insurance not cover?
Routine care is usually not included in base-level pet insurance plans. However, most insurers offer a preventive add-on at an additional cost. Here’s what it can help cover –
Wellness exams
Apart from routine care, here’s what pet insurance plans usually do not cover –
Elective or cosmetic procedures like tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing
Grooming and everyday expenses like food, dog walking, dog training, etc.
Breeding and pregnancy-related expenses, like prenatal care, delivery, or any complications.
Alternative and experimental treatments*
Why the asterisk on alternative treatments? Most other insurers do not cover those expenses, but Spot Pet can.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
The average cost of veterinary care is around $679.50 annually(1), not including the cost of treatment for any accidents or illnesses that might affect a pet.
Here are the average costs for a few common conditions in pets–(2)
Cancer treatment - $4,000
Diabetes - $1,600-$2,900
Kidney disease - $1,318
Heart murmur - $1,140
Hernia - $700-$2,500
Urinary tract infection - $1,053
The average cost of dog insurance is around $44 per month, and the average cost of cat insurance is about $24 per month.(3)
How Spot Pet Insurance Can Help
Coverage - Spot has the most robust coverage. We don’t just cover vet bills and medications; we can also help cover prescription diets, microchipping, alternate therapies, behavioral issues, specialist vet visits, and much more. We even help cover chronic, hereditary, and congenital conditions.
We help cover pre-existing conditions - Most insurers do not cover pre-existing conditions, but we do in some cases. We help cover pre-existing conditions as long as they are treated and symptom-free for at least 180 days, excluding pre-existing knee and ligament conditions.
No upper age limit - We do not have an upper age limit for insurance. We know how big vet bills can be for senior pets.
Curated discounts - As part of our mission to help pets lead happier and healthier lives, we offer access to a curated list of discounts on pet essentials.
FAQs
1. What if my pet passes away? Does pet insurance cover those types of expenses? Some policies can help reimburse pet parents for the cost of end-of-life expenses if a pet passes due to an accident or illness, but this varies.
2. Does pet insurance cover overseas travel? Most policies do not cover vet bills resulting from a pet falling sick or getting into an accident abroad. Spot Pet plans can provide reimbursement in the US and Canada.
3. Does pet insurance cover euthanasia? Pet insurance policies usually do not cover the cost of euthanasia. Spot pet plans, however, do help cover the cost of euthanasia for covered illnesses and accidents.
More About Spot Pet Insurance
Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions, including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more.
Learn more about pet insurance or get a free quote!
Mostly a tech person, always a pet person. I am dedicated to improving the lives of pets and their humans with technology. Off-duty, I enjoy writing about the misbehaving of computer programs and my two Aussiedoodles, Calvin and Hobbes.
*2025 Spot Pet Insurance Services, LLC. claims data
Megna, M. (2025, January 2). Pet Ownership Statistics 2025. Forbes Advisor. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/
How much does a vet visit cost? Average pricing by procedure. (2024, August 5). https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/costs/
Getman, S. (2025, March 12). Average pet insurance rates as of March | Insurify. Insurify. https://insurify.com/pet-insurance/news/average-pet-insurance-rates-march-2025/
