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In this article: How Surgery Coverage Works | Companies That Cover Surgery | Annual Cost | Surgery for Dogs and Cats | The Bottom Line | FAQs | Methodology

Surgery is daunting and stressful for pet parents and their companions. Not only do you have to worry about your pet’s well-being, but also costly expenses that can rack up quickly. Having a solid pet insurance plan reduces this financial stress so that you can focus on your pet’s care.

Most pet insurance companies cover surgery, but some offer more extensive coverage than others. We at the Home Media reviews team have researched the best pet insurance companies that cover surgeries and provided our top recommendations.

Pet insurance covers most medically necessary surgeries required to save your pet’s life, such as removing a tumor. Accidental injuries that require surgery, such as surgery for a broken leg,  are also usually covered. 

Surgeries for preexisting conditions aren’t usually covered. These exclusions depend on the insurance company but are typically defined as any condition your pet is diagnosed with before your pet insurance policy’s start date or during the set waiting period.

Many pet insurance companies don’t cover elective or preventive surgeries such as spaying and neutering. However, they often include coverage or reimbursement for these procedures as add-ons.

Most pet insurance companies cover surgery under their standard accident-and-illness plans. Below are some of our top recommendations for pet insurance companies that cover surgery.

Known for its renters and home insurance policies, Lemonade offers more affordable coverage than many competitors. It also has a user-friendly mobile app for managing your pet’s health, filing claims and keeping track of your policy coverage and billing. 

Lemonade offers one standard pet insurance plan that covers accidents and illnesses. This plan covers vet bill costs related to those accidents or other conditions, such as hospitalization, diagnostics, lab work, surgery, emergency care and prescription medication.

Spot Pet Insurance provides an excellent low-cost accident-only plan. The company’s policies are more customizable than most competitors, with annual limit options ranging from $2,500 to unlimited. Spot offers surgery coverage through both its Accidents-Only plan and its Accident-and-Illness plan. However, its Accident-and-Illness plan provides more comprehensive coverage for surgeries related to illness, such as dental disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more. 

Trupanion offers one plan that covers injuries or sickness related to an accident, illness or emergency as long as it’s not a preexisting condition. It also covers specific conditions, including congenital and hereditary conditions and other undiagnosed issues. 

Trupanion stands out for its customizable deductible, which allows you to select a deductible between $0 and $1,000. It also pays your vet directly. So rather than paying your bill, filing a claim and waiting for reimbursement, as with most providers, you only pay a percentage of the bill when checking out at the vet’s office.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is one of the most reputable and well-known providers in the pet insurance industry, with more than 15 years of experience. It offers an affordable accident-only plan and a comprehensive Complete Coverage plan at a higher cost. 

ASPCA’s Complete Coverage plan is a better option for surgery coverage. Whereas the accident-only plan covers treatments, procedures, diagnostics and exam fees for accidents, the Complete Coverage plan extends to treatments relating to illnesses and other conditions. It includes surgeries related to cancer, arthritis, hip dysplasia, digestive problems, heart issues and even behavioral disorders.

Fetch provides one pet insurance plan for accidents and illnesses. This comprehensive plan covers injuries, chronic conditions, hereditary conditions and more. You receive surgery coverage up to your annual limit for dental problems, cancer, diagnostic testing, intestinal issues and more. 

Fetch is one of the few pet insurance companies that cover specialist treatments and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, homeotherapy and stem-cell therapy. Fetch also covers therapies related to behavioral issues, such as separation anxiety.

Most pets don’t need annual surgeries. When required, surgery is a high-cost procedure with additional costs such as X-rays and sedation. Below is a breakdown of the average cost of common pet surgeries.

Your dog or cat hopefully shouldn’t require many surgeries other than spay or neuter surgery. However, some pet surgeries are more common than others. We’ve listed some of the most common pet surgeries and their average costs below.

Most accident-and-illness plans include surgery coverage. In instances where out-of-pocket costs are high, such as cancer surgery, a pet insurance plan could save your pet’s life by ensuring it gets the necessary treatment. 

Lemonade Pet Insurance offers comprehensive pet insurance coverage at affordable prices, including surgery coverage. We also recommend Spot Pet Insurance for its accident-and-illness plan, which covers a wide range of surgeries with an unlimited coverage limit option. Trupanion Pet Insurance is a great choice to avoid high up-front surgery costs, as it offers a $0 deductible. 

We recommend looking for pet insurance policies that offer well-rounded coverage, as your pet will need health care beyond surgery. Get a quote from at least three pet insurance providers to compare coverage options closely. Use our tool below to get started.

Yes, pet insurance should cover surgery complications for medically necessary surgeries. A policy would not cover complications from elective surgeries.

Pet insurance companies know about preexisting conditions because they require your pet’s medical records to enroll in coverage. 

The pet insurance claims process is simple. It typically takes about 10 working days to receive reimbursement.

Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage.

We scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements. We then divided the points earned for each provider’s final score on a 5-point scale.

Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:

We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.

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