What does dog insurance cover?
Dog insurance helps pay your vet bills when your dog is injured or falls ill, after you've paid your share. It won't pay for anything your dog had before you took out the policy, or for routine care unless you add a wellness plan. Here's what's usually covered, what isn't, and how the main types of policy work, based on the policy documents of the 9 US insurers we compare.
What does dog insurance cover?
Accidents and illnesses
The heart of every policy: vet treatment when your dog is injured or falls ill, including tests, surgery, hospital stays and medication. You pay your deductible and your share of each bill, and the insurer pays the rest.
Dental illness, with most insurers
Broken teeth after an accident are almost always covered. Gum disease is covered by most insurers too, although some only pay if you keep up yearly dental check-ups. Does pet insurance cover dental?
Vet exam fees, with some
This one varies a lot. Pumpkin and Spot include exam fees; Embrace, Figo, Lemonade and Pets Best only as an optional extra; and Trupanion and Healthy Paws don't cover them at all.
Behavioural treatment, with some
Treatment from a vet or a qualified behaviourist can be covered, but ordinary obedience training never is. You'll find each insurer's answer further down this page. Who covers it
What does pet insurance not cover?
Pre-existing conditions
Anything your dog had, or showed signs of, before cover started or during the waiting period. Pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions
Anything in the waiting period
Usually the first 14 to 30 days for illness, and up to 6 months for knee problems with some insurers. Pet insurance waiting period
Routine and preventive care
Everyday care such as vaccinations, flea and heartworm prevention, and spay or neuter isn't covered by Trupanion or Healthy Paws. Nationwide, Lemonade and Spot cover it only if you add a wellness or preventive plan.
Breeding and pregnancy
Most US sample policies we read exclude these, although Figo covers complications in some cases.
Cosmetic and elective treatment
Treatment your dog doesn't medically need, for example cosmetic or orthodontic dental work (Pumpkin, Spot).
What types of dog insurance are there?
Accident and illness
The standard policy at every insurer we read. It covers injuries and illnesses, with an annual deductible (Trupanion's is per condition instead), a reimbursement percentage and a yearly or lifetime limit.
Accident only
Covers injuries but not illness. Pets Best and Spot both sell one.
Wellness or preventive add-ons
Set amounts towards routine care such as vaccinations, added on top of the main policy. Nationwide, Lemonade and Spot offer them.
Does pet insurance cover behavioural treatment?
If your dog is struggling with anxiety, reactivity or another behaviour problem, you may be wondering whether your pet insurance will help with the cost. Some policies pay for a qualified behaviourist or behaviour medication, some only as an add-on or on their top cover level, and some don't cover it at all. Ordinary obedience training is almost never included.
Covered as standard
- EmbraceCovered: diagnosis by your vet, tests, medication and training sessions as part of behavioural therapy.
- SpotCovered when treated by a vet, or by a certified animal behaviourist or veterinary behaviourist your vet refers you to.
- PumpkinCovered when treated by a vet, or by a certified animal behaviourist or veterinary behaviourist your vet refers you to.
Only as an add-on
- TrupanionOnly with the Recovery and Complementary Care rider, which you can only add in your first 30 days.
- FigoOnly with the optional Holistic and Alternative & Behavioral Problems cover.
- NationwideAn optional coverage on the Modular Plan. Obedience training, and training that isn't medically necessary, isn't covered.
- Pets BestTraining and treatment aren't covered; vet consultations and prescription medication are, if you buy the add-on benefits.
Not covered
- Healthy PawsNot covered: training, therapy and behaviour medication are all excluded.
Whether or not your insurance helps, finding the right professional makes the biggest difference. Read how to choose a reactive dog trainer, or find a trainer near you, each one labelled by how they train.
Your questions answered
Do I need pet insurance?
It isn't a legal requirement. Insurance pays for vet treatment you'd otherwise have to pay for yourself, often all at once. Whether you need it really comes down to whether you could cover a large, unexpected vet bill from your savings.
Is dog insurance worth it?
For many owners, yes, because it's there for the big, unexpected bills and the long-term conditions that are hardest to budget for. Before you buy, check what it doesn't cover (see above), how much of each claim you'll pay, and how the limit works, because those decide how much you actually get back.
Every answer is a plain-English summary of the insurer’s own policy wording, read in October 2026. Policies change and terms can differ by plan and state, so check the policy before you buy. Each insurer’s page shows the exact section we read.
More guides to dog insurance: Pet insurance for senior dogs · Puppy insurance · Multi-pet insurance · Dog insurance by breed · Pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions · Does pet insurance cover dental? · Pet insurance waiting period · Pet insurance deductible · Does pet insurance cover hip dysplasia? · Does pet insurance cover cancer? · Does pet insurance cover surgery? · Does homeowners insurance cover dog bites? · Costco dog insurance · PetSmart dog insurance · USAA dog insurance · State Farm dog insurance · Geico dog insurance · Trupanion vs Pets Best · Healthy Paws vs Trupanion