Your dog or cat can develop diabetes just like humans do, requiring ongoing treatment that adds up quickly. Pet insurance covers diabetes when it's diagnosed after your policy's waiting period ends and isn't considered a pre-existing condition. You'll pay your vet bill upfront, then file a claim to your insurer for reimbursement based on your plan's specific terms.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Diabetes?
Updated: September 30, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Pet insurance covers diabetes when the condition is diagnosed after your policy's waiting period ends.
Some companies like Healthy Paws and Trupanion cover diabetes with no payout limits.
Whether you need pet insurance with diabetes coverage depends on your pet’s breed and age, as well as your financial situation.
How Does Pet Insurance Work for Diabetes?
What Covers Diabetes?
Accident and illness insurance covers diabetes-related expenses like insulin, blood glucose monitors, vet visits and emergency care for complications. Diabetes won't be covered if your pet showed symptoms or was diagnosed before your policy started, as insurers consider it a pre-existing condition. Most policies have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, meaning diabetes diagnosed during this time will be excluded.
Who Has Diabetes Coverage?
Many pet insurance companies cover diabetes in standard plans, as long as the condition didn’t develop before enrollment or during the waiting periods. The table below shows how insurers provide diabetes coverage.
AKC | Covers diabetes if you purchase the HereditaryPlus add-on, plus pre-existing diabetes will be eligible for coverage after 365 days of continuous enrollment |
ASPCA | Covers diabetes-related treatments and exam fees without the need for a rider |
Embrace | Covers diabetes with the option for unlimited coverage |
Fetch | Covers diabetes-related treatments and exam fees without the need for a rider |
Figo | Covers diabetes with the option for unlimited coverage and up to 100% reimbursement |
Healthy Paws | Covers diabetes with no payout limits and offers the option to pay veterinarians directly |
Lemonade | Covers diabetes with up to $100,000 in annual limits |
MetLife | Covers diabetes-related treatments and exam fees without the need for a rider |
Nationwide | Covers diabetes-related treatments and exam fees without the need for a rider |
Pets Best | Covers diabetes with the option to pay veterinarians directly |
Prudent Pet | Covers diabetes with the option for unlimited coverage |
Pumpkin | Covers diabetes-related treatments and exam fees without the need for a rider |
Spot | Covers diabetes with the option for unlimited coverage |
Trupanion | Covers diabetes with no payout limits and offers the option for direct vet pay |
Wagmo | Covers diabetes with up to 100% reimbursement available |
Coverage details, waiting periods and exclusions vary significantly by state and individual policy terms. Always review your policy documents for exact coverage terms, waiting periods and exclusions before making coverage decisions.
Do You Need Diabetes Coverage?
Most pet insurance companies cover diabetes when it develops after your policy's waiting period ends, giving you financial protection against this common chronic condition. Whether you need this coverage depends on your pet's risk factors and your financial situation.
- 1
Your pet's breed
Dogs like Beagles, Poodles, Dachshunds, Samoyeds, Australian Terriers and Miniature Schnauzers develop diabetes more frequently than other breeds, while Burmese, Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest Cat and overweight male domestic shorthairs face higher risks. If you own one of these breeds, diabetes coverage protects you from expensive treatment costs that could last your pet's entire life.
- 2
Your pet's age
Most pets develop diabetes between 7 and 10 years old, though cats can show symptoms as early as age 6. Enrolling younger pets in pet insurance with diabetes coverage prevents the condition from being excluded as pre-existing when they reach these high-risk years.
- 3
Your financial situation
CareCredit’s 2024 study shows that diabetes diagnosis costs $391 for dogs, with initial treatment and meter adding another $421, plus $162 monthly for ongoing treatment. With pet insurance that covers diabetes, you can receive 60% to 90% reimbursement of covered costs. Without coverage, you'll spend around $2,756 annually on diabetes treatment alone, not counting emergency vet visits for complications.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Diabetes?: Bottom Line
Pet insurance covers diabetes when it’s diagnosed after your policy's waiting period. Most pet insurers provide diabetes coverage in their standard plans, with some like Healthy Paws and Trupanion offering unlimited payouts. Consider your pet's breed and age, along with your financial situation to determine whether getting pet insurance that covers diabetes makes sense for you.
Will Pet Insurance Cover Diabetes?: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about pet insurance diabetes coverage:
Can I get pet insurance if my pet already has diabetes?
Most pet insurance companies won't cover diabetes diagnosed before enrollment, as they exclude pre-existing conditions. Your best option is to enroll your pet before symptoms appear, as diabetes diagnosed after your policy's waiting period for illnesses receives full coverage.
What diabetes expenses does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance covers insulin, blood glucose monitors, test strips, prescription medications, routine vet visits and emergency care for diabetes complications. Accident and illness plans also reimburse diagnostic testing, hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis and follow-up appointments to adjust insulin doses.
When should I enroll my pet in insurance for diabetes coverage?
Enroll your pet while young and healthy, ideally before age six for cats and age seven for dogs, when diabetes risk increases. High-risk breeds like Beagles, Poodles, Dachshunds and Burmese cats should be enrolled as early as possible since genetic predisposition makes early-onset diabetes more likely.
How long is the waiting period for diabetes coverage?
Most pet insurance companies have a 14-day waiting period for illness coverage, including diabetes. Diabetes diagnosed or showing symptoms during this waiting period won't be covered and will be considered pre-existing.
Can I switch pet insurance companies if my pet develops diabetes?
Switching pet insurance after your pet develops diabetes means the new insurer will exclude diabetes as a pre-existing condition. Your new policy will cover accidents and unrelated illnesses but won't reimburse diabetes treatment costs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
sources
- CareCredit. "Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs." Accessed September 30, 2025.