The three buckets
Almost every policy on the market falls into one of three buckets. Accident-only covers the broken legs and swallowed socks and nothing else. Accident and illness is the standard plan and what most people mean by pet insurance. Wellness add-ons, usually sold on top, cover the routine stuff: vaccines, dental cleanings, annual checkups.
What accident and illness usually covers
Broken bones. Swallowed objects and the surgery to get them out. Infections, vomiting and diarrhea that needs a vet, ear and skin troubles, cancer diagnosis and treatment, surgeries, hospital stays, diagnostic imaging, and prescription medications tied to a covered condition.
What it usually doesn’t
Pre-existing conditions: anything your pet showed signs of before the policy started, or during the waiting period. Routine care like vaccines and nail trims, unless you buy the wellness add-on. Cosmetic or elective procedures. Every company draws these lines slightly differently, which is exactly why the sample policy matters more than the ad.
Waiting periods, the part nobody reads
Policies don’t cover day one. Accidents usually get a waiting period of a few days, illnesses a couple of weeks, and some companies add longer ones for joint conditions. If your dog limps during the waiting period, that knee may be excluded for good. Buy before there’s a problem, not after.
How the money actually flows
You pay the vet, you submit the claim, the company reimburses a percentage after your deductible. Some companies now pay the vet directly; it’s worth asking when you quote. Check what the percentage applies to: some plans reimburse your actual bill, others a company-set schedule.
The honest advice
Coverage is where companies differ most. Price is the easy part; the exclusions are the real decision. Read a sample policy before you buy, and compare companies side by side. We’re putting up a comparison of seven of them with the pros and cons written out.