Does Pet Insurance Cover Surgery?

Pet insurance covers medically necessary surgeries for accidents and illnesses after waiting periods, reimbursing 60% to 90% of eligible costs.

Explore pet insurance plans for your furry companion below.

Written by Connor Bolton

Updated: May 29, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Pet insurance coverage includes surgeries for accidents and illnesses that occur after waiting periods end, typically after you meet your annual deductible.

Most providers, including AKC, Lemonade and Pumpkin, include surgery coverage in their base policies without requiring add-ons.

Whether you need pet insurance that covers surgery depends on your pet’s breed risks and age, along with your financial situation.

How Does Pet Insurance Work for Surgery?

Pet insurance covers surgeries that are medically necessary for new accidents and illnesses, though pre-existing conditions and elective procedures like cosmetic surgeries or declawing are excluded.

You'll pay the veterinary bill upfront, then submit receipts and medical records to your insurer for reimbursement. According to MoneyGeek's analysis of major pet insurance providers, most insurers reimburse 60% to 90% of eligible surgery costs after you meet your deductible, with payments arriving within a few days to two weeks.

What Covers Surgery?

Your surgery coverage depends on which type of pet insurance policy you have:

Accident-only plans

These policies pay for surgeries after accidents like car strikes, falls or injuries from fights with other animals. Common surgeries include:

Broken bone repair
Laceration stitching
Foreign object removal
Bite wound treatment

Accident and illness policies

These comprehensive plans cover surgeries for both accidents and health conditions that develop after policy enrollment and any waiting periods. Some examples are:

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair
Patellar luxation surgery
Tumor removal
Cataract surgery
Heart surgery
Hip replacement
Bladder stone removal

Wellness plans

These optional add-ons cover routine surgical procedures that are preventive rather than treatment-focused, reimbursing eligible costs up to annual limits. They're usually purchased alongside accident and illness coverage to handle scheduled procedures, such as:

Spaying and neutering
Basic tooth extractions

Who Has Surgery Coverage?

Most pet insurance companies cover surgery through their standard accident and illness plans when related to a covered condition, while accident-only policies cover surgical procedures for injuries only. Compare how major providers offer pet insurance for surgery below:


AKC	✓	✓	✓
ASPCA	✓		✓
Embrace	✓		✓
Fetch	✓		✓
Figo	✓		✓
Healthy Paws	✓
Lemonade	✓		✓
Liberty Mutual	✓		✓
MetLife	✓		✓
Nationwide	✓		✓
Pets Best	✓		✓
Prudent Pet	✓		✓
Pumpkin	✓		✓
Rainwalk	✓	✓
Spot	✓		✓
Trupanion	✓	✓
Wagmo	✓

Coverage details vary by state and individual policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms and exclusions.

Compare the top pet insurance companies to determine the best option for your pet:

ASPCA vs. Figo Pet Insurance

ASPCA vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

ASPCA vs. Met Life Pet Insurance

ASPCA vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Embrace vs. ASPCA Pet Insurance

Embrace vs. Fetch Pet Insurance

Do You Need Surgery Coverage?

Surgery coverage comes standard with accident-only and accident and illness policies, so the real question is whether getting pet insurance that covers surgery makes financial sense for your situation. Consider these key factors:

1
Your pet's breed and health risks
Some breeds carry higher surgical risk from genetic predispositions. German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers tear their CCL at high rates, with repairs averaging $2,299 for dogs, according to CareCredit's 2024 cost study.

Mixed breeds have fewer hereditary conditions on average, but are still vulnerable to accidental injury and age-related issues.
2
Your pet’s age
Young pets are more likely to need surgery from accidents. Senior pets are more likely to need it for developing conditions. Enrolling early matters because pet insurance excludes pre-existing conditions. In other words, a CCL tear or foreign body ingestion that happens before the policy starts won't be covered.
3
Your financial situation
Surgery costs vary by procedure and species. Cataract surgery averages $3,600 for dogs. Bladder stone removal averages $1,821 for dogs. Foreign body removal averages $1,260 for cats, according to CareCredit's 2024 data.

Pet insurance reimburses 60% to 90% of eligible costs after the deductible is met, which can recover hundreds or thousands of dollars on a single surgery bill.

Pet Insurance for Surgery: Bottom Line

Pet insurance covers medically necessary surgeries for accidents and illnesses that occur after your waiting period ends, reimbursing 60% to 90% of eligible costs. Most major providers like AKC, Lemonade and Pumpkin include surgery coverage in their standard plans without requiring add-ons. Consider your pet's breed-specific health risks, their age and your financial situation to determine if you need the best pet insurance that covers surgery.

Can I Get Pet Insurance Before Surgery: FAQ

Find answers to common questions about pet insurance coverage for surgery:

Can I get pet insurance after surgery is recommended?

Pet insurance won't cover surgeries for conditions that existed before your policy starts or during waiting periods. If your veterinarian has already recommended surgery, that condition becomes pre-existing and excluded from coverage. But you can still get coverage for future, unrelated conditions. Before purchasing a policy, compare multiple quotes and read the fine print to get the cheapest pet insurance with quality surgery coverage.

Does pet insurance cover emergency surgery?

Pet insurance covers emergency surgeries for covered accidents and illnesses that occur after your waiting period ends. You'll pay upfront and get reimbursed 60% to 90% of eligible costs, potentially saving thousands on emergency procedures.

Does pet insurance cover CCL surgery?

Most accident and illness policies cover CCL surgery when the condition develops after your waiting period ends. But CCL tears that occur before enrollment or during waiting periods are excluded as pre-existing conditions.

Do I need pre-authorization for pet surgery?

Most pet insurers don't require pre-authorization for covered surgeries. Some give the option of pre-certification to confirm coverage before a procedure. Requirements vary by carrier and procedure, so check your policy terms before scheduling.

Can I get pet insurance before BOAS surgery?

You can get pet insurance before BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) surgery, but timing matters. If your flat-faced breed shows breathing symptoms before enrollment, BOAS surgery becomes pre-existing and excluded. But if you enroll while your pet is symptom-free, future BOAS surgery would be covered after waiting periods.

About Connor Bolton

Connor Bolton is Senior SEO and Content Manager at MoneyGeek, where he leads the business and pet insurance editorial teams. He sets the research framework, data standards and content structure for his team. All content goes through his accuracy review before publication. Connor also writes in-depth guides and has spent more than four years covering insurance products across personal, commercial and specialty lines.

The research infrastructure Connor built covers auto, home, renters, life, health, business and pet insurance across pricing analysis, carrier research, customer experience and coverage evaluation. It includes over 6 million data points for business insurance across 408 industry areas, all 50 states and 16 vehicle types. The pet insurance side covers over 5 million profiles across 18 major providers, 100+ breeds and ages up to 20 years. Connor’s insurance research and his team's work has been cited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Allstate, Liberty Mutual, CBS News, Forbes and LegalZoom.

Connor also talks with underwriters and carrier liaisons at Ethos, The Hartford, ERGO NEXT, Nationwide and State Farm, and monitors business and pet owner communities on Reddit. Those sources shape how his team evaluates carriers, structures rate analysis and writes for human buyers rather than search engines.

For questions about MoneyGeek's business and pet insurance content, contact him at connor@moneygeek.com or on LinkedIn.

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Sources

CareCredit. "Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs." Accessed September 2, 2025.