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.
Can Pet Insurance Help 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 can include:
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Biochemistry panel: Assesses organ function, electrolyte levels, and enzyme concentrations
Thyroid panel: Measures thyroid function to diagnose hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
Heartworm test: Detects heartworm illness and certain tick-borne illnesses
Allergy testing: Identifies environmental or food allergens triggering reactions
According to CareCredit¹, average blood work costs for dogs include:
CBC: $78
Chemistry panel: $156
Thyroid test: $118
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.
Can Pet Insurance Help Cover Other Diagnostic Tests?
Pet insurance typically helps cover a range of diagnostic tests when they are used to diagnose or treat covered accidents and illnesses. Common diagnostic tests and their average costs according to CareCredit¹:
For Dogs:
X-rays: $133
Ultrasound: $453
CT scan: $1,113
Blood work (CBC + chemistry): $188
Urinalysis: $56
For Cats:
X-rays: $133
Ultrasound: $465
CT scan: $915
Blood work (CBC + chemistry): $113
Spot Pet Insurance plans can help cover diagnostic tests, including X-rays, blood tests, and ultrasounds, when used to diagnose covered medical conditions.
What Types of Pet Insurance Coverage Are Available?
Accident-Only Coverage
Accident-only plans can 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, but do not help 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 can include 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.
Preventive Care (Wellness) 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
Spot offers preventive care add-ons for an additional cost with no waiting periods for wellness coverage.
What Else Can Pet Insurance Typically Help 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 and follow-up care
Hospitalization: Overnight stays, necessary medications, and procedures during hospital treatment
Medications: Prescription medications prescribed by a licensed veterinarian
Specialist care: Visits to specialists like oncologists, cardiologists, or dermatologists
Emergency care: Emergency veterinary treatment, including surgeries and hospitalization
Gastrointestinal conditions are among the most common claims, Spot processes, with over 74,000 GI-related claims in 2025*.
What Does Pet Insurance Typically 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: Nail trimming, bathing, and grooming services
Boarding: Fees for boarding or pet-sitting
What Can Spot Pet Insurance Help 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
Surgeries: Surgical procedures, including anesthesia and follow-up care
Hospitalization: Costs for hospital stays and procedures
Medications: Prescription medications for covered conditions
Specialist care: Visits to veterinary specialists
Emergency care: Emergency treatment and hospitalization
Spot Plan Features
Customizable coverage: Choose flexible reimbursement rates up to 90%, multiple deductible options, and annual limits, including an unlimited option
No network restrictions: Visit any licensed veterinarian, emergency clinic, or specialist in the U.S. or Canada
Fast claims processing: Spot processed over 865,000 claims in 2025*
Optional preventive care: Add wellness coverage for routine care like blood work and vaccinations
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
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:
Visit your vet. Get the care your pet needs for an accident or illness.
Pay your bill. Keep your invoice and supporting documents.
Submit your claim. Log in to the Spot Member Portal or app to upload your bill.
After your claim is reviewed, your annual deductible is subtracted from the eligible amount, and your reimbursement rate is applied to the remainder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pet insurance help 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.
Can pet insurance help 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 wellness 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.
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
*Based on 2025 Spot Pet Insurance Services, LLC claims data.
