Pet insurance covers MRI scans when medically necessary to diagnose or treat a covered accident or illness: you'll pay the full veterinary bill initially, then file a claim with your insurer and receive payment based on your policy's reimbursement rate minus your deductible. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of your pet's internal organs, brain and soft tissues, helping veterinarians diagnose conditions like torn ligaments, brain tumors or spinal injuries that often require expensive specialized treatment.
Does Pet Insurance Cover MRI Scans?
Updated: September 17, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Pet insurance covers MRI scans when they're medically necessary to diagnose new accidents or illnesses.
Major pet insurance companies like AKC, Pets Best and Spot include MRI coverage in their accident-only and accident and illness plans.
Evaluate your pet's age, breed and lifestyle, along with your financial situation to determine if getting pet insurance that covers MRI scans fits your needs.
How Does Pet Insurance Work for MRI Scans?
What Covers MRIs?
Accident-only policies cover MRI scans for injury diagnosis, while accident and illness plans cover MRI scans for accidents and medical conditions. Your MRI coverage depends on which type of pet insurance you have:
Accident-only policy
Accident-only policies cover MRI scans only when needed to diagnose injuries from accidents, like a car collision or fall that causes internal injuries.
Accident and illness plan
Accident and illness plans cover MRI scans for both accidents and medical conditions, including brain tumors, seizure disorders or spinal disc problems. Any condition showing symptoms before your policy starts or during the waiting period won't be covered because it's considered pre-existing.
Who Has MRI Coverage?
Most pet insurance companies cover MRI scans through their standard plans when the imaging relates to a new accident or illness. Compare how MRI coverage varies by provider:
AKC | Covers MRI under accident-only and accident and illness policies, including curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage. |
ASPCA | Includes MRI under Complete Coverage℠ and accident-only coverage, plus exam fees. |
Embrace | Reimburses MRI scans under its full coverage pet insurance, with accident coverage kicking in on the policy’s effective date. |
Fetch | Covers diagnostic imaging in standard accident and illness policies, including exam fees. |
Figo | Provides coverage for MRI in its illness and injury plans, with a 1-day waiting period for accidents and up to 100% reimbursement. |
Healthy Paws | Pays for MRI scans under its standard accident and illness plan, with unlimited coverage and direct vet pay option. |
Lemonade | Includes MRI coverage in its base policies, with a 2-day waiting period for accidents and up to $100,000 in annual limits. |
Liberty Mutual | Reimburses diagnostic imaging under its three standard plans, with a waiting period of 14 days across all coverages. |
MetLife | Covers MRI scans in injury and illness policies, with 0-day waiting period for accident coverage and $0 deductible option. |
Nationwide | Provides MRI coverage in accident-only and comprehensive policies, with a waiting period of two days for accidents. |
Pets Best | Includes MRIs under its accident-only and BestBenefit accident and illness plans, with unlimited coverage and direct vet pay options available. |
Prudent Pet | Pays for MRI scans under accident-only and accident and illness policies, with unlimited coverage available. |
Pumpkin | Reimburses MRI scans in its accident and illness coverage, including exam fees. |
Rainwalk | Includes MRI coverage in its standard accident and illness plans, including exam fees for covered conditions. |
Spot | Covers MRIs under its accident-only and accident and illness coverages, including exam fees. |
Trupanion | Provides MRI coverage in its standard accident and illness plan, with no payout limits and the option to pay vets directly. |
Wagmo | Pays for diagnostic imaging under its accident and illness coverage, with up to 100% reimbursement available. |
Coverage details vary by state and individual policy terms. Review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms and exclusions.
Do You Need MRI Coverage?
MRI coverage comes standard with pet insurance for covered conditions, so ask yourself which coverage level makes sense for your pet. Several factors can help you decide whether basic accident-only or comprehensive accident and illness coverage better fits your situation:
- 1Your pet’s age
Young pets face lower immediate health risks but benefit most from early enrollment before conditions develop. Starting coverage early means you're financially protected if your pet develops chronic conditions that might require ongoing MRI monitoring.
- 2Your pet’s breed
Certain breeds are genetically predisposed to conditions that commonly require MRI diagnosis, like brain tumors in Boxers or spinal issues in Dachshunds. Large breed dogs face higher risks of joint problems and neurological conditions that need advanced imaging to diagnose properly, making pet insurance with MRI coverage more valuable for high-risk breeds.
- 3Your pet’s activity level
Active pets who spend time outdoors or participate in sports face higher accident risks. High-energy dogs and adventurous cats are more likely to experience injuries that could require MRI diagnosis, such as head trauma or spinal injuries. Indoor pets with calmer lifestyles may have lower accident risks but can still develop illnesses that need advanced imaging.
- 4Your financial situation
The national average cost of a dog MRI is $1,958, but prices can range from $1,532 to $3,840, based on CareCredit's 2024 data. Pet insurance with MRI coverage provides valuable financial protection if an unexpected veterinary bill in this range would strain your finances.
Actual costs may vary by location and veterinary facility.
Will Pet Insurance Cover MRI: Bottom Line
MRI coverage comes included with most pet insurance plans when you need diagnostic imaging for new accidents or illnesses. Insurers like AKC, Pets Best and Spot make this expensive diagnostic tool more affordable through their basic accident-only and comprehensive accident and illness policies. Evaluate your pet's profile and financial situation to determine if you need pet insurance that covers MRI scans.
Does Pet Insurance Cover MRI: FAQ
Find answers to common questions about pet insurance MRI scan coverage:
Does pet insurance cover MRI scans for pre-existing conditions?
Most pet insurance companies don't cover MRI scans for pre-existing conditions, which are any illness or injury that showed symptoms before your policy starts or during the waiting period. AKC is unique in covering curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous enrollment.
What's the difference between accident-only and accident and illness plans for MRI coverage?
Accident-only policies cover MRI scans only when needed to diagnose your pet's injuries from accidents, like car collisions or falls. Accident and illness plans cover MRI scans for both accidents and medical conditions, including brain tumors, seizure disorders or spinal disc problems.
How long do I have to wait before my pet insurance covers MRI scans?
Waiting periods vary by provider, from Liberty Mutual's 14-day waiting period for accidents to MetLife's no waiting period for accident coverage. Check your specific policy for exact waiting period terms.
Which pet insurance companies offer direct vet pay for MRI scans?
Healthy Paws, Pets Best and Trupanion offer direct vet pay for MRI scans, where your insurance company pays the veterinarian directly for covered expenses. You'll still pay your deductible and any non-covered expenses, but the insurer handles the bulk of the MRI bill directly, reducing your upfront costs.
Will pet insurance cover my dog's MRI if it reveals an unrelated condition?
MRI coverage depends on when the condition developed. If an MRI uncovers a pre-existing condition that showed symptoms before your policy started, it typically won't be covered. If the MRI discovers a new condition that developed after coverage began, it should be covered under your policy terms.
How do I file a claim for my pet's MRI scan?
To file a claim for your pet's MRI scan, pay the full veterinary bill upfront, then submit your completed claim form, itemized veterinary invoice and medical records to your insurer. You'll receive reimbursement based on your policy's reimbursement rate minus your deductible, usually within a few weeks after approval.
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. "How Much Does a Dog MRI Cost? What to Expect and More Explained." Accessed September 1, 2025.