Pet insurance can help reimburse pet parents for eligible veterinary expenses, including diagnostic tests like blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds. With blood work costing $100 to $200 for a routine CBC and chemistry panel², and more specialized tests adding to the bill, diagnostic expenses can add up quickly. In this article, we explain what pet insurance typically covers, with a focus on diagnostic tests and blood work, and what is usually excluded.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Blood Work?
Yes — pet insurance can help cover blood work when it is used to diagnose or monitor a covered accident or illness. However, the type of blood work and the reason for the test matter for coverage eligibility.
What Blood Work Is Typically Covered?
Diagnostic blood work ordered by a veterinarian to investigate symptoms or diagnose a covered condition is typically eligible for coverage under accident and illness plans. This includes:
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to identify conditions like anemia, infection, or dehydration
Biochemistry panel: Assesses organ function, electrolyte levels, and enzyme concentrations
Thyroid panel: Measures thyroid function to diagnose hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
Heartworm test: Detects heartworm disease and certain tick-borne illnesses
Allergy testing: Identifies environmental or food allergens triggering reactions
Cancer screening: Blood tests available for detecting common cancers in dogs
According to CareCredit¹, blood work costs for dogs include:
CBC: $78
Chemistry panel: $156
Thyroid test: $118
Glucose test: $36
For cats, diagnostic blood work averages $113 for a CBC and chemistry panel combined.
What Blood Work Is Not Covered?
Routine wellness blood work, tests performed during annual checkups when your pet appears healthy, is not covered under standard accident and illness plans. This type of preventive screening requires a wellness or preventive care add-on.
Blood work related to pre-existing conditions is also not covered. If your pet had a condition before enrollment or during the waiting period, diagnostic tests for that condition will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Learn more about pre-existing conditions and pet insurance.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Diagnostic Tests?
Pet insurance typically helps cover a range of diagnostic tests when they are used to diagnose or treat covered accidents and illnesses. Here are the common diagnostic tests and their average costs:
Diagnostic Test | Average Cost (Dogs) | Average Cost (Cats) |
|---|---|---|
X-rays | $133 | $133 |
Ultrasound | $453 | $465 |
CT scan | $1,113 | $915 |
Blood work (CBC + chemistry) | $188 | $113 |
Urinalysis | $56 | $25 |
Allergy testing | $281 | $243 |
Cost data from CareCredit¹ based on 2023-2024 veterinary data.
Spot Pet Insurance plans can help cover diagnostic tests, including X-rays, blood tests, and ultrasounds, when used to diagnose covered medical conditions. In 2024, the most common accident claims at Spot involved X-rays, with 8,475 claims and an average claim cost of $881.36.*
*Based on Spot Pet Insurance Services, LLC claims data from 2024.
What Types of Pet Insurance Coverage Are Available?
Accident-Only Coverage
Accident-only plans help cover eligible medical expenses from accidents, such as broken bones, lacerations, and ingestion of foreign objects. These plans can typically help cover diagnostic tests needed to assess accident-related injuries.
Accident-only coverage does not cover illnesses or routine care.
Accident and Illness Coverage
Accident and illness plans offer more extensive coverage, helping cover eligible expenses for both accidents and illnesses. This includes treatment for conditions like cancer, diabetes, allergies, and chronic conditions like arthritis.
With accident and illness coverage, diagnostic tests like blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds are typically eligible for reimbursement when used to diagnose covered conditions.
Learn more about how pet insurance works and how much pet insurance costs.
Preventive Care Coverage
Preventive care coverage is an optional add-on that can help cover routine care expenses, including:
Wellness blood work and health screenings
Vaccinations
Flea and tick prevention
Annual wellness exams
Dental cleanings
Spot offers preventive care add-ons starting at $9.95 per month, with no waiting periods for wellness coverage.^ Learn more about pet insurance with wellness coverage.
^Exam fees for wellness or annual exams are not covered unless you have purchased the optional preventive care coverage.
What Else Does Pet Insurance Typically Cover?
Beyond diagnostic tests, pet insurance plans can help cover a range of eligible veterinary expenses for covered conditions:
Surgeries: Surgical procedures for injuries or illnesses, including anesthesia, medications, and follow-up care
Hospitalization: Overnight stays, necessary medications, tests, and procedures during hospital treatment
Medications: Prescription medications prescribed by a licensed veterinarian to treat covered conditions
Specialist care: Visits to specialists like oncologists, cardiologists, or dermatologists
Emergency care: Emergency veterinary treatment, including surgeries and hospitalization
Spot Pet Insurance paid out over $48 million in reimbursements in 2024, with claims processing averaging less than 2 days.*
*Based on Spot Pet Insurance Services, LLC claims data from 2024.
Learn more about whether pet insurance covers spaying and neutering, dental care, and vaccines.
What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?
Pet insurance plans typically do not cover:
Pre-existing conditions: Conditions your pet had before enrollment or during the waiting period
Routine care without wellness add-on: Annual exams, vaccinations, and preventive blood work require a wellness plan
Elective or cosmetic procedures: Tail docking, ear cropping, and other non-medically necessary procedures
Grooming and hygiene: Nail trimming, bathing, and grooming services
Boarding and pet-sitting: Fees for boarding or pet-sitting, even if related to a medical issue
Breeding costs: Expenses related to breeding or pregnancy
For a full list of exclusions, review Spot's sample policies.
What Does Spot Pet Insurance Cover?
Spot Pet Insurance plans offer accident and illness coverage that can help cover a wide range of eligible veterinary expenses, including:
Diagnostic tests: Blood work, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and other tests used to diagnose covered conditions
Surgeries: Surgical procedures including anesthesia, medications, and follow-up care
Hospitalization: Costs for hospital stays, medications, and procedures
Medications: Prescription medications for covered conditions
Specialist care: Visits to veterinary specialists
Emergency care: Emergency treatment, surgeries, and hospitalization
Spot Plan Features
Customizable coverage: Choose from accident-only or accident and illness plans, with flexible reimbursement rates up to 90%, multiple deductible options, and many annual limit choices, including an unlimited option
No network restrictions: Visit any licensed veterinarian, emergency clinic, or specialist in the U.S. or Canada
Fast claims processing: Claims processing averaged less than 2 days in 2024*
Optional preventive care: Add coverage for routine care like blood work, vaccinations, and dental cleanings for an additional cost^
24/7 pet helpline: Access to a pet helpline and VetAccess telehealth services
Multi-pet discount: 10% discount on all pets enrolled after the first~
~10% multi-pet discount available on all pets enrolled after the first.
*Based on Spot Pet Insurance Services, LLC claims data from 2024.
^Exam fees for wellness or annual exams are not covered unless you have purchased the optional preventive care coverage.
Explore Spot's dog insurance and cat insurance options — getting a quote takes 30 seconds or less.
How Does Pet Insurance Reimbursement Work?
Pet insurance operates on a reimbursement model. Pet parents pay the veterinarian directly, then submit a claim to receive reimbursement for eligible expenses. Here is how it works:
1. Visit your vet. Get the care your pet needs for an accident, illness, or routine visit (if your plan includes wellness coverage).
2. Pay your bill. Keep your invoice and any supporting documents handy.
3. Submit your claim. Log in to the Spot Member Portal or open the Spot mobile app to upload your bill — it takes about 30 seconds to complete.
After your claim is reviewed, your annual deductible is subtracted from the eligible amount, and your reimbursement rate is applied to the remainder. For example, on a $500 diagnostic bill with a $200 annual deductible and 80% reimbursement rate: $500 - $200 = $300 eligible, then 80% of $300 = $240 reimbursed to you*.
*Reimbursement amounts may vary depending on the specific terms of the policy, including coverage selected, annual deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit. Individual experiences and outcomes may vary.
Learn more about how pet insurance reimbursement works and how to choose the best pet insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does pet insurance cover blood work for annual checkups?
Routine wellness blood work during annual checkups is not covered under standard accident and illness plans. Pet parents can add a preventive care (wellness) add-on to help cover eligible costs for routine blood work.
Does pet insurance cover X-rays?
Yes — pet insurance can help cover X-rays when they are used to diagnose or treat a covered accident or illness. X-rays for routine checkups would require routine coverage.
Can I use pet insurance at any vet?
Many pet insurance plans, including Spot Pet Insurance plans, do not have network restrictions. Pet parents can visit any licensed veterinarian, emergency clinic, or specialist and submit a claim for reimbursement of eligible expenses. Learn more about whether all vets accept pet insurance.
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance can be a valuable tool for helping manage unexpected veterinary expenses. With diagnostic tests, surgeries, and emergency care potentially costing thousands of dollars, pet insurance can help pet parents get their pets the recommended care. Learn more about whether pet insurance is worth it.
Check out pet insurance reviews and frequently asked questions to learn more.
I’m Charlie: canine enthusiast with a knack for figuring out why my dog, Dallas, is more infatuated with tennis balls than me. My lifelong passion for dogs has created a dedication to help other pet parents better understands their furry family members!
CareCredit. “Veterinary Care Costs: A Complete Guide.” CareCredit, 2024. https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/costs/
PetMD. “Blood Tests for Dogs and Cats: Costs and How to Read Results.” PetMD, 2024. https://www.petmd.com/dog/procedure/blood-work-for-dogs-and-cats
MoneyGeek. “Does Pet Insurance Cover Bloodwork?” MoneyGeek, 2024. https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/pet/coverage/blood-work/
North American Pet Health Insurance Association. “NAPHIA State of the Industry Report 2025.” NAPHIA, 2025. https://naphia.org/industry-data/
