What Does Pet Insurance Help Cover? (Complete Guide)

Accidents can happen when you least expect them, whether your pet swallows something they shouldn't, gets injured at the dog park, or is involved in a more serious emergency. Pets Best accident coverage can help cover the cost of diagnosing and treating eligible accidental injuries, giving you peace of mind when your pet needs immediate veterinary care.

Eligible accidents may include:

• Broken bones and fractures
• Cuts and lacerations
• Poisoning or toxin ingestion
• Bite wounds
• Foreign object ingestion requiring surgery or other treatment
• Car accidents
• Eye injuries
• Torn nails or other accidental injuries

Coverage may include emergency exams, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medications, and follow-up care for eligible accidental injuries, depending on your plan and policy terms.

Accident coverage also extends to injuries that occur while hunting or in the line of service, helping working dogs receive the care they need after a covered accident.

From common infections to chronic conditions and complex diseases, treatment often involves diagnostics, medications, follow-up visits, or even surgery. Pets Best illness coverage can help cover the cost of diagnosing and treating illnesses, so you can focus on helping your pet feel better.

Eligible illnesses may include:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Allergies
• Cruciate ligament injuries
• Skin and ear infections
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Digestive illnesses
• Respiratory infections
• Eye conditions
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease 

Many illnesses require long-term care or lifelong management. Having pet insurance can help make ongoing treatment for eligible conditions more affordable, whether your pet needs routine monitoring, prescription medications, or specialized veterinary care.

Good to know: Illness coverage is available with Pets Best Accident & Illness plans. Conditions that existed before your policy's effective date or developed during the applicable waiting period are considered pre-existing and are not eligible for coverage.

Cancer treatment often involves ongoing care over weeks, months, or even years. Having pet insurance can help make it easier to pursue recommended treatment by reducing the financial burden of eligible veterinary expenses.

If your pet is diagnosed with cancer after your policy’s waiting periods have been met, your plan may help cover expenses such as:

• Diagnostic tests, including bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs
• Biopsies and laboratory testing
• Surgery to remove tumors
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Hospitalization
• Prescription medications related to treatment
• Follow-up exams and ongoing monitoring for covered conditions

Coverage depends on your selected plan and policy terms. As with most pet insurance providers, pre-existing conditions are not covered. If your pet showed signs of cancer or was diagnosed before coverage began or during the applicable waiting period, treatment for that condition would not be eligible for reimbursement.

Some health conditions are inherited from a pet's parents (hereditary), while others are present at birth (congenital). These conditions can affect certain breeds more often than others, but they may occur in any dog or cat. With Pets Best Accident & Illness coverage, eligible hereditary and congenital conditions can be covered as long as they are not considered pre-existing and all applicable waiting periods have been met.

Examples of eligible hereditary and congenital conditions include:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia
• Luxating patella
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
• Cherry eye
• Wobbler syndrome
• Glaucoma
• Epilepsy

Treatment for these conditions may include diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medications, physical rehabilitation, and ongoing veterinary care.

Many hereditary and congenital conditions require long-term management, making early coverage an important consideration, especially for breeds that are predisposed to certain health issues.

Good to know: While eligible hereditary and congenital conditions may be covered, conditions that showed clinical signs or were diagnosed before your coverage began, or during the applicable waiting period, are considered pre-existing and are not eligible for coverage.

Our emergency care coverage lets you & your pet see any licensed veterinarian in the US or Canada, including emergency centers and specialists. Coverage for surgeries includes operations to remove foreign bodies like swallowed socks, surgeries for mass removals, and more.

Our plans also cover pre-anesthesia tests. Veterinarians typically require pre-anesthetic blood work to be performed before a pet’s surgery.

Most Pets Best Accident & Illness plans include coverage for eligible prescription medications prescribed by a licensed veterinarian to treat a covered condition.

Covered medications may include those used to treat conditions such as infections, allergies, arthritis, diabetes, seizures, cancer, and pain associated with a covered accident or illness. Coverage is subject to your policy terms and any applicable deductibles, reimbursement levels, and annual limits.

To see which medications may be eligible for coverage, download our covered medications formulary.

Good to know: Medications prescribed for preventive or routine care, or to treat pre-existing conditions, are generally not covered under Accident & Illness plans. If you have routine wellness coverage, some preventive medications may be eligible based on your selected plan.

Some health conditions require ongoing treatment, monitoring, or medication throughout your pet's life. With Pets Best, chronic conditions that are covered under your policy will continue to be covered when your policy renews. We do not consider previously covered conditions to be pre-existing simply because your policy enters a new term.

Whether your pet has diabetes, arthritis, allergies, epilepsy, or another eligible long-term condition, your coverage can continue from year to year, subject to your plan's annual benefit limits, deductible, reimbursement level, and policy terms.

Maintaining continuous coverage is important. If your policy lapses or is canceled, conditions that develop while you are uninsured may be considered pre-existing and may not be eligible for coverage under a new policy.

Good to know: This applies to eligible conditions that first occur after your policy becomes effective and are covered under your plan. Pre-existing conditions are not eligible for coverage.

When your pet is sick or injured, your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic testing to determine the cause of their symptoms and develop the right treatment plan. Pets Best can help cover the cost of eligible diagnostic tests used to diagnose or monitor a covered accident or illness.

Examples of covered diagnostic services may include:

• Veterinary exams
• Bloodwork and laboratory testing
• X-rays
• Ultrasounds
• CT (CAT) scans
• MRIs
• Pathology reports
• Cytology and biopsies

Good to know: Diagnostic tests are covered when they are medically necessary to diagnose or treat an eligible accident or illness. Routine wellness screenings and preventive testing may be covered separately if you have a wellness plan.

It's never too late to help protect your pet. Pets Best has no upper age limits for enrollment, so senior dogs and cats can still be eligible for coverage. We also won't reduce your coverage or cancel your policy simply because your pet is getting older.

As pets age, they're more likely to develop conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. Having pet insurance can help offset the cost of diagnosing and treating eligible accidents and illnesses, giving you greater peace of mind as your pet's healthcare needs change over time.

Coverage for older pets is subject to the same policy terms as pets of any age. As with all policies, pre-existing conditions are not covered, so enrolling before health issues arise may provide the greatest coverage opportunities.

It's never too late to help protect your pet. Pets Best has no upper age limits for enrollment, so senior dogs and cats can still be eligible for coverage. We also won't reduce your coverage or cancel your policy simply because your pet is getting older.

As pets age, they're more likely to develop conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, or heart disease. Having pet insurance can help offset the cost of diagnosing and treating eligible accidents and illnesses, giving you greater peace of mind as your pet's healthcare needs change over time.

Coverage for older pets is subject to the same policy terms as pets of any age. As with all policies, pre-existing conditions are not covered, so enrolling before health issues arise may provide the greatest coverage opportunities.

Good oral health is an important part of your pet's overall well-being. Depending on your policy, Pets Best Accident & Illness plans may include coverage for eligible dental conditions, including certain cases of periodontal disease, as well as medically necessary dental treatment for covered conditions.

Coverage for dental care varies based on your policy, state, and enrollment date. Eligibility for periodontal disease coverage, dental cleanings required to maintain coverage, covered procedures, and other policy terms may differ.

To understand the dental benefits available under your policy, download the sample policy for your state or, if you're already a Pets Best customer, log in to your Customer Account to review your policy documents.

Routine dental cleanings are considered preventive care and are not included with Accident & Illness coverage. If you'd like help covering the cost of routine teeth cleanings, they're available as a benefit with the BestWellness™ plan.

Some pets need mobility support to recover from an injury or adapt to a long-term condition. When prescribed or provided by a licensed veterinarian as part of the treatment for a covered accident or illness, eligible prosthetic devices and wheelchairs may be covered under your Pets Best policy.

Examples may include:

• Prosthetic limbs
• Pet wheelchairs or mobility carts
• Other veterinarian-prescribed mobility devices designed to improve your pet's quality of life

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy. When euthanasia is recommended by a licensed veterinarian for humane reasons due to a covered accident or illness, Pets Best plans can help cover the cost of the procedure, subject to your policy terms.

Pets Best allows your pet to be treated by any licensed veterinarian in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico, so you don't have to worry about your pet getting the care they need while you're away from home.

If your pet becomes sick or injured while traveling, you can seek care from the nearest licensed veterinarian and submit your claim just as you would at home.

Most plans include coverage for exam fees when your pet is seen by a licensed veterinarian for covered accidents and illnesses. Optional coverage for exam fees can be removed to reduce your monthly premium.

Most plans include coverage for acupuncture and chiropractic treatments administered by a licensed veterinarian to treat a covered accident or illness. Optional coverage for these treatments can be removed to reduce your monthly premium.

Coverage for physical therapy is included in most plans for treatments prescribed by a licensed veterinarian as part of your pet's treatment plan for a covered accident or illness.

Examples of covered rehabilitation therapies may include:

• Physical therapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Cold laser therapy
• Therapeutic exercises and other veterinarian-directed rehabilitation treatments

These therapies can help improve mobility, reduce pain, restore strength, and support your pet's recovery, helping them return to their normal activities as safely and comfortably as possible.

Any illness or injury that begins before your policy is effective, or during your waiting period, will be considered“pre-existing”. Some conditions, like broken legs or kennel cough, heal or are curable and require no further treatment. Once healed or cured, these are not considered pre-existing conditions. Learn more about your pet coverage options for pre-existing conditions.

Conditions that develop or injuries that occur during your policy's applicable waiting period are not covered. Waiting periods are the amount of time between your policy's effective date and when certain coverages begin.

Waiting periods vary by state and coverage type. Visit our Waiting Periods page to view specific information for your state.

Pets Best Accident & Illness plans do not cover preventative care or elective procedures. Preventive care includes services and products such as annual wellness exams, vaccinations, and flea and tick prevention. Elective procedures, such as ear cropping, tail docking, and feline declawing are also not covered.

However, you have the option to add a wellness plan to your pet insurance policy for an additional cost, which can help pay for eligible preventive services including vaccinations, wellness exams, and other routine care benefits.

Testing, treatment and prevention of parasites are not included in our accident and illness plans. Limited coverage for parasite testing and prevention is available with our optional BestWellness™ plan. Examples of parasites: fleas, ticks, heartworms, roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia, coccidia, ear mites or scabies.

Examples of non-veterinary expenses include: taxes, administration fees, waste disposal fees, transportation fees, shipping and handling fees, bathing, grooming, and any service not performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Examples of non-veterinary expenses include: taxes, administration fees, waste disposal fees, transportation fees, shipping and handling fees, bathing, grooming, and any service not performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.