Flea and tick medications protect pets from parasites that cause irritation, transmit diseases like Lyme disease and can infest your home. Most pet insurance companies don't provide coverage for these medications because they're classified as routine preventive care. Pet insurance is generally designed for unexpected expenses, not regular costs that pet owners can budget for.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Flea and Tick Medication?
Updated: September 29, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Pet insurance doesn't cover flea and tick medication because it's considered routine preventive care, not an unexpected expense.
Companies like Embrace, Liberty Mutual and Pumpkin offer optional wellness plans that include flea and tick medication coverage with annual reimbursement limits.
Determine if you need coverage by calculating your annual medication costs, considering your pet's lifestyle and evaluating the add-on plan's total value.
How Does Pet Insurance Work for Flea and Tick Medication?
What Covers Flea and Tick Medication?
Wellness plans are the only type of pet insurance that covers routine flea and tick medications. These plans function as add-ons to standard accident and illness policies, helping you budget for predictable expenses like flea and tick medication. Wellness plans don't have deductibles or waiting periods, but they reimburse a set amount annually for routine preventive care expenses.
Who Has Flea and Tick Medication Coverage?
Not all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans that include flea and tick medication coverage. Check the table below to see which providers offer this coverage and how much they reimburse annually.
AKC | *$80 annually under Defender, $95 annually under DefenderPlus |
ASPCA | *$25 annually under Prime |
Embrace | *$300, $500 or $700 annually under Wellness Rewards |
Fetch | *$30 annually under Essentials, $50 annually under Advantage, $60 annually under Prime |
Lemonade | Up to $75 annually under Preventative+ Care package |
Liberty Mutual | $50 annually under Wellness and Preventive Care Coverage endorsement |
MetLife | *$75 annually under Preventive 365, $100 annually under Preventive 575 |
Nationwide | *$100 annually under Level 1 and Level 2 |
Pumpkin | *$150 annually under Premium for Dog Wellness Plans, $100 annually under Premium for Cat Wellness Plans |
Spot | *$25 annually under Platinum |
Wagmo | *$100 annually under Classic, $200 annually under Deluxe |
*Maximum annual benefits also include heartworm prevention medication.
Coverage details vary by state and individual policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms and exclusions before making coverage decisions.
Do You Need Flea and Tick Medication Coverage?
Deciding whether to add wellness coverage for flea and tick medication depends on your budget and your pet's needs. Follow the steps below to determine if this coverage makes financial sense for your situation.
- 1
Calculate your annual flea and tick medication costs
Add up what you spend yearly on preventive treatments from your vet. CareCredit’s 2024 research shows flea and tick prevention runs $31 monthly for dogs and $28 for cats, which adds up to $372 per year for dogs and $336 for cats. Compare this amount to the wellness plan's annual coverage limit and monthly premium.
- 2
Consider your location and lifestyle
Pets in wooded areas, warm climates or homes with yards face higher parasite exposure than indoor-only pets in apartments. Your vet may recommend year-round prevention in high-risk areas but seasonal treatment in cooler climates. Factor in how often your pet spends time outdoors or around other animals.
- 3
Evaluate your current financial habits
If you set aside money for regular pet care and prefer knowing what you'll pay each month, wellness coverage lets you spread these costs across the year. But if you're good at saving up for pet bills, you might save more by paying directly. Remember that wellness plans often cost $10 to $25 monthly, which may exceed your actual medication expenses.
- 4
Review the plan's total value
Wellness plans cover more than just flea and tick medication, including vaccinations, annual exams and dental cleanings. Calculate the total value of all covered services you'll use, not just parasite prevention. Choose coverage only if the total annual benefits exceed what you'd pay in premiums plus the cost of services you won't use.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Flea and Tick Medicine?: Bottom Line
Pet insurance classifies flea and tick medication as routine care rather than unexpected expenses, so standard policies exclude this coverage. Wellness add-ons from companies like Embrace, Liberty Mutual and Pumpkin may reduce some of these expenses. Calculate what you spend on medication each year and weigh that against what the plan covers before deciding if the coverage fits your budget and needs.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Flea and Tick Meds?: FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions about pet insurance flea and tick medication coverage:
Does pet insurance cover flea and tick medication?
Standard pet insurance policies don't cover flea and tick medication because these treatments are classified as routine preventive care rather than unexpected expenses.
Which pet insurance companies offer flea and tick medication coverage?
Several companies offer flea and tick medication coverage through optional wellness plans, including Embrace, Pumpkin, Liberty Mutual, MetLife and Lemonade. Coverage amounts and availability vary by state, so check with individual providers for specific terms in your area.
Are wellness plans worth it just for flea and tick coverage?
Wellness plans often aren't worth it solely for flea and tick coverage, since annual medication costs may exceed plan benefits. However, these plans make more sense when you use other covered services like vaccinations, annual exams and dental cleanings. Calculate the total value of all services you'll use, then compare that to the plan's monthly cost to determine if it's financially worthwhile.
What other services do wellness plans cover besides flea and tick medication?
Wellness plans usually cover vaccinations, annual wellness exams, dental cleanings, heartworm prevention, deworming, microchipping and sometimes spaying/neutering procedures. The specific services and reimbursement amounts vary by provider and plan level. Review each plan's complete benefit list to calculate total potential savings.
Do indoor pets need flea and tick medication coverage?
Indoor-only pets in apartments face lower parasite exposure than outdoor pets, but they're not completely immune to fleas and ticks. These parasites can enter your home on clothing, other pets or through open doors. Your veterinarian may recommend seasonal treatment for low-risk indoor pets rather than year-round prevention.
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 29, 2025.