Does pet insurance cover surgery?

Pet insurance can help cover surgery if it is to treat a condition or accident that is not pre-existing and did not happen during the waiting period. While this summarizes the topic, there is more you need to know about pets and surgery, and the role of pet insurance.

Pets and Surgery: Introduction

You never know when Mr. Snuggles or Coco will suddenly decide to swallow the toy they were playing with. Next thing you know, you’re rushing to the vet for an emergency, worried about your pet’s life. This can even happen when your pet decides to get adventurous and jump fences to explore the world, only to be hurt or involved in an accident. Instances like these can require surgical treatment.

Pets, just like humans, can also be affected by medical conditions like fever, kidney problems, stomach pains, etc. Some severe conditions, like arthritis, bladder stones, tumors, etc., can also require surgery for treatment.

Common Medical Conditions that Require Surgery in Pets

Conditions like tumors, gastrointestinal issues, or orthopedic problems sometimes cannot be cured just with medication. Below are some of the common medical problems that often require surgery for treatment –

There may be instances of a complication arising from a surgery. In such a case, the pet may need additional surgery.

Which Surgeries are covered by Pet Insurance?

Pet insurers usually offer two types of plans –

Surgery to treat an accident can be covered under the accident-only or accident-and-illness plans. Examples: Broken bones, torn ligaments, foreign object ingestion, etc.

For coverage for surgery or medications to treat a medical condition, you may want accident-and-illness coverage. Examples: Cataracts, bladder stones, tumor removal, etc.

Emergency surgeries are also covered under pet insurance.

Which surgeries does Pet Insurance not Cover?

Spot’s Platinum Preventive Care plan option helps reimburse up to $150 on spaying or neutering with no deductible or waiting periods.

Average Surgery Costs for Pets

As we mentioned above, pets can need surgery for something as small as a tooth extraction and something as big as tumor removal. The costs can vary depending on the breed, age of the pet, severity of the condition, your location, type of facility used, experience of the vet, hospitalization days, etc.

Below are the average costs for some of the common medical conditions and accidents for pets – ^(1)(2)(3)

Is Pet Insurance Worth It for Surgeries?

Don’t forget, apart from the surgery, you’ll have to pay for additional costs like blood work, hospitalisation, medications, specialist vet visits, etc. These costs can easily add a couple of hundred dollars to the total bill.

With pet insurance, you can get a reimbursement for up to 90% of the surgery and all related costs. With Spot Pet, you can get reimbursement even for covered follow-up vet visits, prescription diets, alternative therapies, and much more.

Spot Facts!

More About Spot Pet Insurance

Dog Insurance can help provide financial assistance for eligible veterinary care in case of unexpected accidents, illnesses, or injuries. Our plans can help pet parents manage the eligible costs of covered veterinary care and help ensure that their pets can receive the best treatment possible. Here are some ways that Spot pet insurance plans can help:

To learn more about Spot Plans or to get a free quote, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be reimbursed for surgery costs or does the vet get paid directly?

The insurance claim process usually goes like this – you pay for the bill, file a claim, then you can get reimbursed for up to 90% (or other reimbursement % depending on your policy) of all covered costs minus the deductible amount.

Are there any waiting periods before surgery is covered?

Pet insurance policies usually have a waiting period of 14 days before the coverage starts. If your pet gets affected during this period, the surgery cost may not be covered.

Does pet insurance cover emergency surgeries?

Yes, pet insurance policies can help cover emergency surgeries. The clause here again is that the underlying medical condition must be covered by the policy.