Pet insurance policies don’t cover routine care such as vaccines. However, add-ons to these policies do.
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Vaccinations are a regular part of your pet’s life, with recommended immunizations starting as early as six weeks of age. These vaccines may be able to help your pet avoid certain illnesses and diseases, or could prevent more serious symptoms if your pet does get sick.
Of course, they come at a cost. Depending on your pet’s age and breed, you could potentially spend hundreds of dollars each year on their scheduled vaccines and the appointments necessary to administer them. With the right pet insurance plan, you may be able to get some (or all) of these costs covered for your dog or cat, but it’s important to understand exactly what your plan covers.
Here’s a look at how you can get routine vaccinations covered through a pet insurance plan.
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Your traditional pet insurance policy will not cover vaccinations, because they’re considered routine care and most pet insurance plans only cover illnesses and injuries. Preventative visits and care are out-of-pocket expenses instead, often resulting in hefty vet bills for pet owners who only have standard insurance plans.
If you want pet insurance that covers vaccinations—as well as routine care such as annual exams, dental cleanings, spay/neuter surgery, and the like—you will need to purchase a wellness plan instead of (or in addition to) a standard pet insurance policy.
Even with wellness plans though, there may be limits on the type or number of vaccines covered each year. However, the coverage these plans do offer can help pay for vaccines as well as many of your pet’s other preventative care costs.
Pet wellness plans typically operate on a reimbursement model, similar to traditional pet insurance companies’ accident and illness plans. This means that pet owners will usually pay their vet directly for the visit, then file a claim for reimbursement from the insurance company.
Example: Let’s say your wellness plan offers vaccine coverage for up to $75 per shot, with an annual plan maximum of $500. If you have four vaccines administered at $60 each, your plan would reimburse you the full $240. You would still have up to $260 remaining in your plan for other covered preventative treatments, like flea control or heartworm prevention.
In your pet’s first year of life, your vet will likely recommend up to four core vaccines: three doses of DAP and one of rabies. They may also suggest a number of other lifestyle-related vaccines, such as those for Lyme, Bordetella, Leptospirosis, or Canine Influenza.
Most of these vaccines are highly recommended by veterinarians, especially if your dog spends time outdoors, is ever around other animals, or gets boarded when you travel. In some cases, certain vaccines may even be required by your state or local government. You can also expect some vaccines to be required before obtaining certain pet services, such as grooming or boarding.
The most common vaccines that you may encounter for your pet include:
While many pet insurance companies only offer accident and illness coverage, some also offer optional pet wellness plans. These plans are often available as an add-on to an existing insurance plan, though standalone coverage may also be possible. Wellness plans typically offer coverage for routine care such as vaccines.
| Company | Vaccine coverage for dogs | Vaccine coverage for cats |
| ManyPets | Cost of vaccinations reimbursable up to $150 annually | Cost of vaccinations reimbursable up to $150 annually |
| Spot | Gold package: Cost of 2 vaccinations reimbursable up to $40 annually Platinum package: Cost of 3 vaccinations reimbursable up to $75 annually | Gold package: Cost of 2 vaccinations reimbursable up to $40 annually Platinum package: Cost of 3 vaccinations reimbursable up to $75 annually |
| Embrace | Cost of routine care, including vaccinations, reimbursable up to $650 annually, depending on the plan chosen | Cost of routine care, including vaccinations, reimbursable up to $650 annually, depending on the plan chosen |
| ASPCA | Basic package: Cost of 2 vaccinations reimbursable up to $40 annually Prime package: Cost of 3 vaccinations reimbursable up to $75 annually | Basic package: Cost of 2 vaccinations reimbursable up to $40 annually Prime package: Cost of 3 vaccinations reimbursable up to $75 annually |
| Wagmo | Value plan: Cost of 2 vaccines reimbursable up to $100 annually Classic plan: Cost of 3 vaccines reimbursable up to $150 annually Deluxe plan: Cost of 4 vaccines reimbursable up to $200 annually | Value plan: Cost of 2 vaccines reimbursable up to $100 annually Classic plan: Cost of 3 vaccines reimbursable up to $150 annually Deluxe plan: Cost of 4 vaccines reimbursable up to $200 annually |
The ManyPets wellness plan covers a range of preventative care costs. Plans offer up to $600 per year in annual benefits, which include routine exams, vaccines, dental cleanings, holistic care, and flea/tick/heartworm prevention or testing. Coverage begins after just a 24-hour waiting period.
Wellness coverage costs $19.99 for cats and $24.99 for dogs.
Spot wellness coverage can be added to a pet insurance plan and comes in two packages: Gold or Platinum. The Gold wellness plan offers an annual benefit of up to $250 and costs $9.95 per month, while Platinum increases this maximum benefit to $450 and costs $24.95 per month. Preventative care covered by these plans includes exams, dental cleanings, vaccinations, deworming, and more.
This plan operates on a reimbursement model, so you’ll pay your vet directly and then file a claim to get your portion of the procedure sent back to you from Spot. Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll be reimbursed up to the maximum allowed amount for that category. For example, with the Gold plan, you’re able to get reimbursed for up to two select vaccines per year, for a total of up to $40 back.
| Vaccine | Annual benefit limit |
| Canine DHLPP or Feline FVRCP Vaccine/Titer | $20 |
| Rabies and/or Canine Lyme or Feline FIP Vaccine/Titer | $20 |
| Vaccine | Annual benefit limit |
| Canine DHLPP or Feline FVRCP Vaccine/Titer | $25 |
| Rabies and/or Canine Lyme or Feline FIP Vaccine/Titer | $25 |
| Canine Bordetella or Feline FELV Vaccine/Titer | $25 |
Note: Wellness Rewards is not available in Rhode Island.
Embrace wellness plans, called Wellness Rewards, can be added onto any pet insurance policy purchased through the company. They come in three different coverage amounts, depending on your pet’s needs and how high of a reimbursement rate you want.
Wellness Rewards coverage can be either $250, $450 or $650 per year, and covers things like wellness exams, routine vaccinations, dental exams and cleanings, spay/neuter surgery, and even grooming (including nail trims). This plan has no waiting period and can be used the day you sign up for coverage.
The monthly cost for wellness coverage is between $18 and $52, depending on the plan you choose.
Embrace doesn’t set a reimbursable amount for specific vaccines, instead, you can get any vaccine you deem necessary for your pet and be reimbursed up to your total yearly allowance.
There are two ASPCA wellness plans that can be added to a pet insurance policy. The Basic plan offers up to $250 in benefits annually and costs $9.95 per month. The Prime plan offers up to $450 in benefits annually and costs $24.95 per month.
Both options have specific coverage limits based on care categories, which include everything from wellness exams to heartworm tests, dental cleanings, deworming, and vaccines.
These plans work on a reimbursement model, so pet parents will pay their vet directly and then file a claim with ASPCA for reimbursement. The maximum reimbursement depends on the care category and the overall annual limit of the plan.
| Vaccine | Annual benefit limit |
| DHLPP or Feline FVRCP Vaccine/Titer | $20 |
| Rabies or Feline FIP, or Lyme Vaccine/Titer | $20 |
| Vaccine | Annual benefit limit |
| DHLPP or Feline FVRCP Vaccine/Titer | $25 |
| Rabies or Feline FIP, or Lyme Vaccine/Titer | $25 |
| Bordetella or FeLV Vaccine/Titer | $25 |
Wagmo is the only carrier on this list that offers a standalone pet wellness plan. This means that even if you don’t purchase a typical pet insurance policy, you can still buy coverage for routine care.
There are three Wagmo plans to choose from, each of which offer their own annual maximum reimbursement limit: Value, which costs $20 per month and has an annual coverage amount of $350, Classic, which costs $36 per month and has an annual coverage amount of $650, and Deluxe, which costs $59 per month and has an annual coverage amount of $1,100.
Categories of coverage include routine exams, grooming, dental cleanings, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, blood work, and vaccines.
Wagmo operates on a reimbursement model, so pet parents will pay their vet directly for care expenses incurred, then file for a claim through Wagmo based on their plan’s coverage limit and the care received.
Typical pet insurance plans don’t cover routine care, such as annual checkups or regularly scheduled vaccinations, even though these can play an important role in your pet’s continued health. If you want protection for preventative care—either in addition to accident and illness coverage, or as a standalone product—you’ll need to buy a wellness plan.
These plans generally cover routine vet visits and care, including vaccinations. Each plan differs in terms of the amount of coverage offered and which vaccines are included, so be sure to consider your pet’s age and care needs when shopping around.
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