Most pet insurance plans don't cover routine spaying and neutering since these are elective preventive procedures. However, standard policies may provide coverage for spay or neuter surgeries when they become medically necessary, such as emergency spaying for life-threatening pyometra. Coverage applies as long as the medical condition requiring the procedure wasn't pre-existing when you bought your policy.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying and Neutering?
Updated: August 22, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Optional wellness plans that supplement standard pet insurance policies may include spaying and neutering coverage, reimbursing up to $150 for these procedures.
Several pet insurance companies like AKC, Embrace and Pets Best offer spaying and neutering coverage through their wellness plans.
To determine if you need spaying or neutering coverage, check your pet's age, compare annual wellness expenses to procedure costs and assess your upfront payment ability.
How Does Pet Insurance Work for Spaying and Neutering?
What Covers Spaying and Neutering?
Pet insurance companies offer wellness plans as optional add-ons that may include spaying and neutering coverage, along with other routine care services. Wellness plans provide immediate coverage without deductibles upon enrollment.
However, not all wellness plans include spay or neuter coverage, and these add-ons usually have annual limits that may not cover the full procedure cost.
Who Has Spaying and Neutering Coverage?
Several pet insurance providers include spaying and neutering coverage in their optional wellness plans. These add-ons may reimburse up to $150 for these procedures, though coverage amounts vary between companies, as detailed in the table below.
AKC | $150 under DefenderPlus |
ASPCA | $150 under Prime |
Embrace | $300, $500 or $700 under Wellness Rewards |
Fetch | $175 under Essentials, $200 under Advantage or $250 under Prime |
Figo | $40 or $75 under Wellness Powerup |
Lemonade | Up to $135 under Puppy/Kitten Preventative Care Package |
MetLife | $100 under Preventive 365, $150 under Preventive 575 |
Pets Best | $150 under BestWellness |
Prudent Pet | $40 under Medium Wellness, $60 under High Wellness |
Spot | $150 under Platinum |
Do You Need Spaying and Neutering Coverage?
Whether spaying and neutering coverage makes sense depends on several factors, including your pet's age and budget. Start with the steps below to determine if you need this specific coverage.
- 1
Check your pet's age
Pets should be spayed or neutered between 4 months and 2 years old, making this the ideal window for spaying or neutering coverage. Young pets in this age range will definitely use the benefit, while older pets may have already had the procedure. Some companies, like Lemonade, offer special wellness plans for puppies and kittens that include spay and neuter benefits.
- 2
Research spay and neuter costs
Spaying costs $465 for dogs and $155 for cats, while neutering costs $315 for dogs and $95 for cats, based on CareCredit's 2024 data. If local low-cost clinics charge less than these averages, paying out-of-pocket for spaying and neutering might be cheaper than purchasing a wellness plan.
- 3
Compare wellness plan costs to spay and neuter expenses
Calculate the annual cost of wellness coverage against your expected spaying or neutering bill. If the procedure costs less than one year of wellness premiums, coverage may not provide good value for spaying/neutering alone. Consider whether you'll use other wellness benefits like vaccinations and checkups to justify the cost.
- 4
Factor in your total monthly insurance costs
Add the wellness add-on cost to your base pet insurance premium to see the complete expense. Determine if paying both the total monthly premium and full procedure cost is manageable while you wait for reimbursement.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying and Neutering?: Bottom Line
Most standard pet insurance policies don't cover routine spaying and neutering, but optional wellness add-ons may provide this coverage. Providers like AKC, Embrace and Pets Best offer wellness plans that reimburse up to $150 for these procedures. Whether you need spaying and neutering coverage depends on your pet's age, local procedure expenses and your financial capacity to handle the combined cost of veterinary bills and total monthly premium while waiting for reimbursement.
Pet Insurance Spaying and Neutering Coverage: FAQ
We've answered the most frequently asked questions about pet insurance spaying and neutering coverage below:
What pet insurance companies cover spaying and neutering?
Several pet insurance companies offer spaying and neutering coverage through optional wellness plans. These include AKC, ASPCA, Embrace, Figo and Spot.
Does pet insurance cover emergency spaying or neutering?
Standard pet insurance may cover spaying and neutering when medically necessary, such as emergency spaying for life-threatening pyometra or neutering for testicular cancer. Coverage applies as long as the condition wasn't pre-existing when you bought your policy.
At what age should I get pet insurance that covers spaying and neutering?
Enroll your pet between 4 months and 2 years old to maximize spaying and neutering coverage value. This is the ideal window when pets actually need these procedures.
How do I file a claim for spaying or neutering with pet insurance?
Pay your veterinary bill in full at the time of service, then submit your claim for reimbursement within the specified timeframe (usually 90 to 180 days). Wellness plan claims typically process faster than standard claims since they don't require medical review.
Can I get pet insurance just for spaying and neutering?
Wellness plans that cover spaying and neutering are usually add-ons to standard accident and illness policies. You'll need to buy a base pet insurance policy first, then add wellness coverage for an extra cost. Ultimately, getting pet insurance solely for spaying and neutering isn't cost-effective since one year of premiums often exceeds the procedure cost.
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 August 19, 2025.