Vaccines are a vital part of your pet’s routine care to help keep them healthy. You may be wondering if your pet insurance covers this annual expense. The answer is that it depends on the coverage you have.
Pet injury and illness insurance coverage does not cover vaccines and other preventative veterinary care. To receive vaccine reimbursement, you must add a wellness plan to your policy. Fortunately, most of the best pet insurance companies offer additional wellness services.
Read on to learn more about pet vaccines, including how much they cost, how to get reimbursed for them, and which insurance companies offer the best vaccine coverage.
Summary
Does pet insurance cover vaccinations?
Standard pet insurance covers veterinary expenses if your pet is injured or ill. This type of pet insurance policy alone will not cover vaccines or other routine care that your pet receives each year. However, you can purchase a wellness add-on for that coverage.
Here’s a breakdown of the difference:
- Standard pet insurance against accidents and illnesses: Covers veterinary care and visits due to accidents and unexpected illnesses (e.g. vomiting, cancer, broken bones and more)
- Wellbeing Knight: Covers routine care (e.g., vaccines, wellness exam fees, routine dental cleanings, spay or neuter procedures, and more)
With a wellness plan, you would pay your pet’s veterinary bills and then file a pet insurance claim to be reimbursed for the covered amount included in your plan. Please note that pet vaccination coverage may vary based on company and wellness plan specifics. For example, you may have a limit on the number of vaccines that will be covered each year.
What vaccines does my pet need?
The vaccines recommended for your pet depend on where you live and your pet’s risk of contracting certain diseases. Always discuss vaccinations with your veterinarian to determine which ones your pet should receive.
The most common vaccines for dogs and cats are listed below, but remember that not all pets need all of these vaccines.
Common Vaccines for Dogs:
- Anger
- Canine distemper
- Canine parvovirus
- Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV)
- Leptospirosis
- Lyme disease
- Bordetella
- Canine influenza virus (CIV)
Common Vaccines for Cats:
- Anger
- Feline calicivirus (FCV)
- Feline Herpes Virus-1 (FHV-1)
- Feline panleukopenia (FPV)
- Feline leukemia (FeLV)
- Bordetella
- Chlamydia
Pet Vaccine Cost
How much do pet vaccines cost without insurance?
Vaccines for dogs and cats cost $20 to $60 for each dose.
In total, you will likely pay more for vaccinations in the first year of owning your pet. This is because a vaccination schedule for a puppy or kitten may include multiple rounds of initial boosters to build immunity. Once adults, they may need boosters every one to three years to stay protected.
Does pet insurance reimburse vaccines?
You can get more affordable pet vaccines with a pet wellness plan that reimburses some of the cost.
The following table lists pet wellness plan providers and their vaccine reimbursement details.
Annual vaccine reimbursement
Up to $75 for 3 vaccines or $150 for 6 vaccines
100% refund up to the limit of your deductible
100% refund for up to 4 puppy vaccines or 2 adult dog vaccines, 100% refund for 1 kitten or adult cat vaccine
$20 – $25 per vaccine covered
Pet insurance policy costs
According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) State of the Industry Report, pet insurance with a wellness plan costs an average of $94.52 per month for dogs and $51.14 per month for cats .
To put the costs in perspective, the table below compares the average costs of pet insurance with and without health coverage.
Average monthly costs of pet insurance in the United States
Insurance with wellness coverage
Pet insurance against accidents and illnesses
Pet insurance against accidents only
Keep in mind that premiums vary significantly based on the company and coverage details, including your pet insurance deductible and the reimbursement rate you choose. Before choosing a plan, compare quotes from multiple pet insurance companies to find the best value.
What are the best pet insurance companies that cover vaccines?
The companies with the best pet wellness plans all offer vaccination coverage. For the most up-to-date list, see our ranking of the best pet wellness plans.
Best pet wellness plans:
Does pet insurance cover vaccines? Frequent questions
Are pet vaccines really necessary?
Does pet insurance cover puppy vaccinations?
Does pet insurance cover spa visits?
Standard pet insurance does not cover the cost of a wellness visit because it is part of your pet’s routine care. For wellness exam coverage, you can purchase a pet wellness plan. This plan will reimburse you for the routine care your pet receives each year, including an annual physical exam.
Summary of Money’s guide to checking if pet insurance covers vaccines
Vaccines are an essential part of routine pet care, and you may be able to get a refund depending on your pet’s insurance coverage. Standard pet accident and illness insurance plans do not cover the cost of vaccines, but wellness plans typically do.
If you’re considering a plan, get pet insurance quotes from multiple providers to compare your offers. Routine care plans are generally only available as pet insurance, but some companies offer stand-alone plans.