Updated: September 16, 2025
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Pet insurance doesn't cover routine grooming, but some wellness plans may reimburse costs for services like nail trimming and deshedding, depending on the provider.
MoneyGeek’s analysis found that only Embrace and Wagmo offer grooming coverage through their optional wellness plans, with annual benefit limits from $100 to $700.
Consider your pet's breed and health needs, along with your annual budget, to determine if paying extra for pet insurance with grooming coverage makes financial sense.
Pet insurance doesn't cover routine grooming, like nail trims, baths or haircuts since these are considered regular maintenance rather than medical treatments.
However, coverage may apply when grooming becomes medically necessary due to skin conditions, infections or injuries that require professional care. Depending on your insurance provider, your policy may reimburse grooming expenses when a licensed veterinarian prescribes the service to treat a covered medical condition.
Wellness plans sometimes include routine grooming services like nail trims and ear cleaning, but coverage varies widely between providers. Some accident and illness policies may also cover medically necessary grooming when prescribed for treating conditions like skin infections.
It’s best to review your specific plan details carefully since grooming benefits are rare among pet insurance providers.
Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, only a few pet insurance providers offer grooming coverage through their optional wellness plans.
Embrace | Embrace's Wellness Rewards covers grooming expenses as part of its flexible wellness plans, which come in three annual allowance options: $300, $500 or $700. The plan reimburses for everyday grooming costs like toenail trimming and medicated shampoos. |
Wagmo | Wagmo Wellness offers limited coverage for grooming services under its Classic and Deluxe wellness plans, with the former providing up to $100 for grooming expenses and the latter covering up to $200 for grooming services. Coverage includes grooming costs like nail trims, deshedding, gland expressions and standard bath and brush grooming. |
Coverage details also vary by state and individual policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms and exclusions.
Since grooming coverage isn't included in standard pet insurance policies or most wellness plans, you'll need to weigh several factors before paying extra for this benefit.
Long-haired breeds like Persian cats, Poodles and Golden Retrievers require professional grooming every six to eight weeks to prevent matting and maintain healthy coats. If your pet needs bi-monthly grooming sessions that cost $75 each, you'll spend $450 annually, making a wellness plan with grooming benefits worth considering.
Pets with skin conditions, allergies or mobility issues may require more frequent professional grooming or specialized services that cost more than standard grooming. Medical conditions like seborrhea or hot spots often require medicated baths and professional care that can add $200 to $400 to your annual grooming costs. If your pet has ongoing health issues that affect their grooming needs, coverage becomes more valuable.
Add up what you expect to spend on your pet's grooming this year and see how it compares to a wellness plan premium. Coverage becomes worthwhile when your grooming costs exceed the plan's annual cost. Keep in mind that wellness plans work on a reimbursement model, meaning you'll pay the groomer upfront, then file a claim and wait to get your money back based on your policy's terms.
Most pet insurance companies won't pay for grooming costs, but a few wellness plans do include services like baths and nail trims. We found that Embrace and Wagmo both offer grooming benefits through their wellness coverage, providing anywhere from $100 to $700 per year. As always, consider whether your pet's grooming frequency and health needs justify the additional cost before purchasing pet insurance with grooming coverage.
We’ve addressed some frequently asked questions about whether pet insurance covers grooming below:
Standard pet insurance policies don't cover routine grooming expenses like nail trims, baths or haircuts. These services are considered regular maintenance rather than medical treatments. However, some wellness plans may reimburse routine grooming costs and accident and illness policies might cover grooming when it becomes medically necessary due to skin conditions or infections that require professional care prescribed by your veterinarian.
Based on MoneyGeek's analysis, only Embrace and Wagmo offer grooming coverage through their optional wellness plans. Embrace's Wellness Rewards provides three annual allowance options of $300, $500 or $700 for grooming expenses, while Wagmo Wellness offers up to $100 for grooming under its Classic Plan and up to $200 under its Deluxe Plan.
Depending on the insurer, covered grooming services may include nail trims, deshedding, and standard bath and brush grooming.
Wellness plans work on a reimbursement basis, meaning you pay for grooming services upfront, then submit claims for reimbursement based on your policy’s specific terms.
Grooming may be covered when medically necessary to treat covered conditions like skin infections, seborrhea, or hot spots. However, this depends on the insurance provider, so check your policy documents for the exact terms and conditions.
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.
