Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccines?

When you adopt a pet, you take on the expense of making sure their medical needs are covered. That means bringing them to the vet for treatment when they're ill and keeping up with preventive care, including vaccines.

There are certain vaccines your pet may need on an annual basis to keep them healthy. But the cost of those vaccines could add up over time. And when you're new to the world of pet healthcare, such as if you've just adopted a puppy for the first time, it can be hard to know what to budget for.

You may also be wondering: Does pet insurance cover vaccines? The answer depends on the type of coverage you have.

Here, we'll review how pet insurance vaccine coverage typically works so that you know what to expect and what type of insurance to shop for.

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What Standard Pet Insurance Typically Covers

Most pet insurance policies offer what's known as accident and illness coverage. This means your pet insurance policy will cover the cost of:

Are Vaccines Covered by Pet Insurance? Vaccine Coverage for Pets

Pet vaccines are considered preventive care. So, if you have an accident-and-illness pet insurance policy, your vaccines typically won't be covered.

That said, some pet insurance policies offer a wellness or preventive care add-on or allowance. If you get one of these policies, your pet's vaccines may be covered. Similarly, if you get a wellness-only package, your pet's vaccines may be covered along with an annual wellness exam.

It's important to recognize that coverage can vary significantly from one pet insurance policy to another. So, if having your pet's vaccines covered is a priority for you, it's important to shop for coverage carefully.

Common Vaccines That May Be Covered

There are certain vaccines that are considered routine for dogs and cats that may be covered under a wellness or preventive care package.

Common dog vaccines include:

Common cat vaccines include:

Coverage for these vaccines may depend on your provider, as some may not be considered "core" vaccines. Bordetella, for example, may not be recommended by your vet if you don't board your pet. Because of this, it may or may not be covered.

What Wellness Packages Usually Include

Preventive or wellness add-ons usually cover more than just vaccines. They may also provide coverage for:

Common Exclusions and Limitations

Pet insurance plans tend to come with exclusions as well as limits on what's covered. Again, this varies by plan.

Some common exclusions include:

Also, it's common for pet insurance plans to put a cap on annual coverage. Plus, you may only be eligible to get reimbursed a certain percentage of your costs (for example, 80% or 90%). That's why it's so important to shop for pet insurance carefully and review all plan documents before enrolling.

Is Preventive Care Coverage Worth It?

Getting preventive care or wellness coverage for your pet could make it easier to work those yearly costs into your budget. If your package will pick up the cost of your pet's wellness care, you can just pay your premiums every month (or at whatever frequency you pay) rather than have to come up with a larger sum once a year when you take your pet to the vet.

Also, if you're adopting a puppy or kitten, they may need more vaccines and routine care that first year, so having coverage for that could be helpful. And it may make it easier to keep up with preventative care.

That said, it's best to compare the cost of getting wellness or preventive add-ons to paying for it yourself. Your vet, for example, should be able to give you an estimate of how much it costs to get your pet examined and vaccinated yearly.

Of course, accident-and-illness insurance is different. You can't predict when your pet might get hurt or sick, so it's important to have coverage in case those things happen. But when it comes to predictable, routine care, you may find that you're better off paying out of pocket.

Questions to Ask Before Getting Pet Insurance

If you're going to pay for a pet insurance policy, it's important to get a plan that meets your needs. Before you commit to a policy, make sure you answer these key questions:

Don't assume off the bat that the insurance policy with the lowest premiums is your best bet. You may find that a policy with higher premiums offers better coverage and reimburses at a higher percentage (for example, 90% versus 70%).

The Bottom Line on Pet Insurance and Vaccines

Most accident-and-injury pet insurance policies do not cover the cost of vaccines. However, if you have a wellness-only add-on, you may be eligible for coverage.

Whether it's worth paying for wellness depends on the cost and the amount of money it can save you compared to paying out of pocket. You should take your pet's age and health into consideration when making your choice and shop thoroughly for pet insurance before committing to a policy.

Regardless of whether you decide to get pet insurance for vaccines, make sure to discuss preventive care recommendations with your vet. That way, you can make a point to stay on top of your pet's health.