Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccines?

Vaccines are an important part of your pet’s preventative care plan, whether they’re a newly adopted puppy or a distinguished senior cat. If vaccine affordability is a concern for you, you may be asking, “Does pet insurance cover vaccines?” We’ll discuss what types of plans cover vaccines for dogs and cats, give you examples of providers to check out, and recommend tips for saving money on your pet’s vaccinations.

What Vaccines Do Pets Need?

Core vaccines are those which are recommended for the pet regardless of their lifestyle, unless they have a specific medical reason for not getting vaccinated. Non-core vaccines are those which are recommended for pets based on the pet’s lifestyle and circumstances, such as where the animals lives geographically and whether they participate in social activities with other animals.

The following table shows which vaccines are core and non-core in dogs and cats.

Schedule recommendations may vary based on your individual pet, but the following are examples of a common vaccine schedule for a dog and a cat over 16 weeks of age.

Dog:

• Rabies: Administered every 1 or 3 years, depending on the product.
• DAPPV: Initially given as two vaccines 2 to 4 weeks apart, then repeated every 3 years.
• Leptospirosis: Initially given as two vaccines 2 to 4 weeks apart, then repeated annually.
• Bordetella and parainfluenza (kennel cough): Administered annually.

Cat:

• Rabies: Administered every 1 or 3 years, depending on the product.
• FVRCP: Initially given as two vaccines 3 to 4 weeks apart, then repeated every 3 years.
• FeLV: Initially given as two vaccines 3 to 4 weeks apart, then repeated annually if the cat is considered high risk.

The vaccine schedule for puppies and kittens is more intensive. Depending on the pet’s circumstances, puppies may start getting their DAPPV vaccine as early as 4 weeks and receive boosters every 2 to 4 weeks until they’re over 16 weeks of age. On the cat side of things, they’ll receive the FVRCP vaccine following a similar schedule.

Puppies and kittens receive more vaccines because the immunity they’ve received from their mother may interfere with the efficacy of the vaccine. They lose their maternal immunity at some point before 16 weeks of age, and repeated vaccines are geared towards finding the sweet spot between where they lose the immunity and begin to build their own immunity—a time where they’re highly susceptible to disease.

For both young and senior animals, vaccines are the most effective method of disease prevention, especially in animals who are exposed to others. If you have questions about your pet’s vaccine schedule, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian.

Are Vaccines Covered by Pet Insurance?

So, does pet insurance cover vaccines? The simple answer is “no,” but there’s more to it than that!

Standard pet insurance plans, which are accident and illness plans, do not cover vaccines. This is because pet insurance plans are designed to reimburse pet owners for unexpected veterinary expenses that are deemed medically necessary.

In the context of pet insurance, “medically necessary” usually refers to services or products that are needed to diagnose or treat an illness. While preventative care is important for your pet’s health, it’s not “unexpected” and does not fall under the pet insurance definition of “medically necessary.”

However, some pet insurance companies will allow you to add on a pet wellness plan to your accident and illness policy, and this is the key to getting vaccines covered by the policy.

Pet Wellness Plans: The Key to Vaccine Coverage

Pet wellness plan vs. insurance, what’s the difference? For starters, a pet wellness plan isn’t really an insurance plan since it’s not protecting you from an unexpected veterinary expense. Pet wellness plans are usually available as add-ons to an existing accident and illness plan.

While an accident and illness insurance plan will reimburse the costs of medical care for issues like bone fractures, cancer, or kidney disease in accordance with your plan’s specifics (deductibles, reimbursement percentages, etc.), the wellness plan provides reimbursement for routine preventative care, usually up to a specified benefit amount. The wellness plan is more of a budgeting tool that helps you distribute the cost of routine care over the year.

Services typically covered by a pet wellness plan include:

• Wellness exam
• Vaccination
• Parasite prevention

In some cases, pet wellness plans can also offer reimbursement for:

• Routine screening labs (e.g. annual blood work, fecal tests, heartworm tests)
• Screening X-rays
• Spay/neuter
• Dental cleanings
• Grooming services
• Training services
• Microchipping
• Health certificates

So, if you’re looking for pet insurance that covers vaccines, your best bet is to look for pet insurance that offers pet wellness plans in addition to accident and illness plans.

Which Pet Insurance Providers Cover Vaccines Through Wellness Plans?

To find the best pet insurance for preventative care, check out providers who offer wellness add-ons to existing policies. Examples of providers to consider include:

• Embrace Pet Insurance
• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
• Spot Pet Insurance
• Pets Best Pet Health Insurance

When perusing pet wellness plans, ask the following questions:

• How many plans are offered and what are the reimbursement limits? How does this break down into monthly costs?
• Which wellness services are included, and which are excluded?
• Is there a waiting period for any of the wellness services (like spay/neuter)?
• Are there limits to how often a service can be submitted for reimbursement?
• What is the turnaround time for reimbursement?
• Does the company offer 100% reimbursement up to the maximum, or do they rely on flat rates for services, meaning you’d get partial reimbursement?

These insurance providers vary in how much wellness coverage you can add on to your plan. For example, Embrace Pet Insurance allows you to choose between a $300, $500, and $700 Wellness Rewards add-on while ASPCA Pet Health Insurance allows you to choose between a Basic preventative care add-on that reimburses up to $250 and a Prime preventative add-on that reimburses up to $450.

The different insurers vary in what sorts of services they will cover. For all wellness plans, you can generally count on at least partial reimbursement for wellness exams, vaccinations, and parasite preventatives. Depending on the plan you choose, you may also get reimbursed for routine lab screenings, dental cleaning, spay/neuter services, or microchipping.

Some insurance providers include more services under the umbrella of “wellness”. For example, Embrace Pet Insurance includes nutritional supplements, prescription diet food, and some alternative treatments in this add-on.

How Much Do Pet Vaccines Cost Without Insurance?

Without insurance that includes a pet wellness plan, you’ll need to be prepared to cover vaccine costs upfront without reimbursement.

The following are prices you might expect for the core vaccines and do not include exam fees or any additional testing or treatments that may occur during your visit. Your price will vary based on geographic location and the type of clinic you use (private practice vs. non-profit, etc.).

According to CareCredit, the following were the averages of individual dog vaccine costs in 2023:

• Rabies: $30
• DAPPV: $45
• Leptospirosis: $25

CareCredit lists the following averages for cat vaccine costs in 2024:

• Rabies: $30
• FVRCP: $32
• FeLV: $42

You should expect to pay more for vaccines when your puppy or kitten is young. Remember, they’re going to get wellness exams and vaccines every 2 to 4 weeks until they’re at least 16 weeks old.

How Reimbursement for Vaccines Works

For these plans, you pay into an annual plan monthly and generally have access to the full plan from day one, though some exceptions exist to this rule (check your policy for condition-specific waiting periods).

After your veterinary visit, you’ll still have to pay the veterinarian upfront. You’ll then submit a claim for reimbursement, and the insurance provider will reimburse you. These plans typically have a set amount they’ll reimburse for each service, so you’re likely to remain responsible for at least part of the costs for veterinary services.

For example, let’s say you submit a claim to ASPCA Pet Insurance for pet vaccine reimbursement. If you paid $35 for a rabies vaccine and ASPCA Pet Insurance has set the fixed price at $25, you’d get reimbursed $25 and have essentially paid $10.

There is usually no deductible or co-insurance for wellness plans. Once you reach the maximum, you are responsible for all additional wellness costs.

Some companies, like Embrace Pet Insurance, will reimburse you 100% until you reach your plan’s maximum, at which point any additional wellness care becomes entirely your financial responsibility.

Are Wellness Plans Worth the Money?

You should view wellness plans not as a cost-saving measure but instead as a budgeting tool that helps distribute the cost of the pet’s care over the year.

If you do not spend enough on wellness per year to meet your maximum, then you will be losing money. For example, if you’re only intending to use the wellness plan for vaccines and wellness exams but elect for a $700 plan through Embrace Pet Insurance, you are unlikely to reach the maximum of your wellness plan in a young adult animal.

However, if you were to pursue the full range of recommended wellness services, the wellness plan will help you distribute the cost over the course of year rather than paying all upfront.

For puppies and kittens, you may reach your plan’s maximum more quickly than you expect because of the high amount of wellness needs they have in the first few months of life. Senior animals may also require additional wellness services that make the plan worth it.

Whether you have a puppy or a kitten, we’d encourage you to familiarize yourself with what’s included in the wellness plan and then utilize it accordingly. A wellness plan can be a worthwhile addition to affordable pet insurance plans as long as you utilize the services included in the plan.

Alternatives to Insurance for Affordable Vaccines

If you’ve decided that pet insurance isn’t for you, there may be other options in your area for affordable vaccines. Options to consider include:

• Low-cost and nonprofit clinics
• Animal shelters with vaccine services
• Mobile vaccine events
• Vaccine clinics or events put on by veterinary schools or public health programs

Some low-cost and affordable-care clinics may require income verification for you to utilize their services.

While not very common, some veterinary practices offer membership plans that allow you to distribute your pet’s wellness costs over the course of a year (similar to a pet insurance wellness plan) rather than paying for all their routine needs upfront. Speak with your veterinarian to find out if they have payment plans.

Takeaways: How to Get Vaccines Covered

Does pet insurance cover shots? Not exactly, but that doesn’t mean you have to bear the full burden of your pet’s vaccine costs at once. If you have pet insurance, check to see if your provider offers wellness add-ons to help distribute the cost of vaccines throughout the year. If you’re currently shopping for an insurance provider, consider looking for one that has options for preventative care.

Even if you don’t choose a wellness plan for vaccine coverage, you may be able to get help with affordability through low-cost, nonprofit clinics or shelters. Speak with your veterinarian about whether pet insurance is a good idea for your pet, and plan ahead to make preventative care more affordable. Remember—wellness plans are not true insurance, but they’re useful as a budgeting tool to ensure you can afford your pet’s wellness needs!