Spaying or neutering your pet is an essential part of being a responsible pet owner. Most would assume that because pet insurance can be used to help owners cover the costs of unexpected vet bills, that it would cover a basic procedure like this. Technically, regular pet insurance does not cover the cost of spaying or neutering pets. However, there are some ways you can get coverage for preventative care, such as spaying and neutering, to lessen your vet bills.
Also Read: Why You Should Get Pet insurance As Soon As You Bring Your Puppy Home
How The Procedure Works
Surgeries for spaying and neutering cost around $200 to $300 for dogs and $50 to $200 for cats. This changes drastically depending on who your vet is. For example, if you go to an animal hospital compared to going to an organization like the SPCA.
Spaying works by removing the ovaries or both the ovaries and uterus. This is also known as an ovariectomy or an ovariohysterectomy. Similarly, with neutering, the animal’s testicles are removed during the sterilization surgery. This is also known as an orchiectomy.
Although the surgery itself only costs around $200, there are some other costs you have to consider such as anesthesia, pain killers, hospital fees, and post-treatment medications. In addition to these basic costs, your pet may also have complications during surgery, especially if they’re an older animal.
In the example above, you can see that although spaying the dog was only around $300, the owner had to pay for other costs as well.
Your pet’s insurance would help cover unexpected illnesses and injuries, meaning that this would have been something you would have never anticipated. Therefore, your regular pet insurance wouldn’t cover the expected costs that come with the spaying or neutering procedures.
Also Read: Surgery Costs To Remove Foreign Object From Your Dog
How To Get Coverage For Your Spay or Neuter
Although regular pet insurance won’t cover spaying and neutering, a pet wellness plan will cover the costs for spays, neuters, vaccines, and other preventative care. Wellness plans help cover the costs of these expected costs, like teeth cleanings.
With a wellness plan, you can get coverage for:
- Routine checkups
- Vaccinations
- Spaying or neutering surgery
- Parasite preventatives
- Dental cleaning
- Microchipping
Your coverage changes depending on where you get your insurance. Some pet insurance companies do offer wellness plans, but some may only offer traditional pet insurance. The easiest way to find plans is to use a third-party tool like QuotePurple.com or PawlicyAdvisor.com and compare quotes.
In most wellness plans, the benefits will not carry over into the next year. Meaning, if you haven’t been accessing what’s available in your plan, you will lose that coverage in the next year.
Since you only need to spay or neuter your pet once, a wellness plan may not be worth it after your pet’s first birthday. We’ll go over what is included in your pet’s wellness plan in the next section to help you decide whether or not wellness insurance is really worth it.
What’s Covered In Pet Wellness Plans
When considering coverage for your pet’s spay or neuter surgery, a wellness plan seems like a great idea. However, if you don’t regularly access your wellness plan after surgery, it might not be worth it for you. Some pet insurance companies do not cover spaying and neutering in either insurance or a wellness plan.
Pet wellness plans are valuable if:
- Your pet uses all the covered procedures throughout the year.
- The vet has prices similar to what your plan will reimburse.
- There are no pre-exsisting conditions that may affect coverage.
Just like with regular pet insurance, your coverage can be affected by your pet’s pre-existing conditions. Vets always recommend talking to an insurance agent as soon as your pet can be enrolled at six weeks old. Speaking directly with an insurance agent can help you decide if either regular pet insurance or wellness insurance is truly worth it for you.
Wellness plans are truly valuable for anyone who wants to commit to their pet’s everyday health and wellness. Plans vary depending on who you choose to get coverage with and how old your pet is. In general, here’s a list of things your pet’s wellness insurance can cover.
