Cryptorchidism occurs in male dogs and cats when one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum, increasing cancer risk and requiring surgical removal. Depending on the insurer, pet insurance may cover the procedure when it’s recommended by a licensed veterinarian as a treatment for a covered condition. If covered, you'll pay the vet bill upfront, then submit a claim for reimbursement based on your plan's specific terms after meeting your deductible.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Cryptorchidism?
Updated: October 6, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Pet insurance may cover cryptorchid surgery when medically necessary if it's not a pre-existing condition, though most insurers require adding an optional wellness plan to your base policy.
Most companies, including AKC, Embrace and Pets Best, offer wellness plans that cover spay and neuter procedures, which can include surgery for cryptorchidism during the typical neutering age.
Check your pet's age, research local surgery costs and compare wellness plan premiums to out-of-pocket surgery expenses before deciding whether you need cryptorchid surgery coverage.
How Does Pet Insurance Work for Cryptorchid Surgery?
What Covers Cryptorchid Surgery?
Pet insurance coverage for cryptorchid surgery depends on your policy type.
Accident and illness policies
These comprehensive plans cover surgeries, treatments and diagnostic tests for unexpected health issues, which may include cryptorchidism. Some insurers classify cryptorchid surgery as an illness-related procedure, so it's covered once you've completed the waiting period, ranging from 14 to 30 days after enrollment. If your pet was diagnosed before enrollment or during the waiting period, it's considered a pre-existing condition and won't be covered.
Wellness plans
Wellness plans focus on routine and preventive care like vaccinations, dental cleanings and annual checkups. Some plans offer coverage for cryptorchid neuter procedures during the typical neutering age window. Coverage varies by insurer, so check whether your wellness plan includes this procedure.
Who Has Cryptorchid Surgery Coverage?
Some pet insurers cover cryptorchid surgery in their standard plans when the condition isn't pre-existing, while others only provide coverage through optional wellness plans, as outlined in the table below.
AKC | ❌ | ✅ |
ASPCA | ❌ | ✅ |
Embrace | ❌ | ✅ |
Fetch | ❌ | ✅ |
Figo | ❌ | ✅ |
Healthy Paws | ❌ | ❌ |
Lemonade | ✅ | ✅ |
Liberty Mutual | ❌ | ✅ |
MetLife | ❌ | ✅ |
Nationwide | ❌ | ✅ |
Pets Best | ❌ | ✅ |
Prudent Pet | ❌ | ✅ |
Pumpkin | ❌ | ✅ |
Rainwalk | ❌ | ❌ |
Spot | ❌ | ✅ |
Trupanion | ✅ | ❌ |
Wagmo | ❌ | ❌ |
Coverage details also vary by state and individual policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms and exclusions.
Do You Need Cryptorchid Surgery Coverage?
Most insurers only cover cryptorchid surgery if you add a wellness plan with spay/neuter coverage to your base policy, which increases the cost of pet insurance. Here's how to decide whether this add-on coverage makes sense for your pet and budget.
- 1
Check your pet’s age
Vets usually diagnose cryptorchidism around 6 months old, so younger pets benefit most from wellness coverage that includes spay and neuter procedures. If your pet is already past the typical neutering age and hasn't been diagnosed, you may not need this coverage. Enroll before 4 months old to ensure coverage starts before diagnosis occurs and avoid pre-existing exclusions.
- 2
Research cryptorchid surgery costs
Cryptorchid surgery may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on your location and whether one or both of your pet's testicles are retained. Call local vets for quotes to understand what you'd pay out of pocket. Surgery for abdominal cryptorchidism costs more than removing a testicle in the inguinal canal.
- 3
Compare wellness plan costs to cryptorchid surgery expenses
If a wellness plan costs $25 monthly and you keep it for a year, you'll pay $300, which makes coverage worth it if surgery costs exceed that amount. However, most wellness plans have per-service caps that may not cover the full surgery cost. Check whether the plan's spay/neuter benefit limit covers your expected surgery expenses.
- 4
Factor in your total monthly insurance costs
Adding a wellness plan increases your monthly premium on top of your base accident and illness coverage. If you're already paying $50 monthly for standard coverage, a $25 wellness add-on brings your total to $75 monthly. Calculate whether this combined cost fits your budget, especially since you'll pay it year-round even if your pet doesn't need surgery.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Cryptorchidism?: Bottom Line
Pet insurance covers surgery for cryptorchidism when medically necessary, but most insurers require adding a wellness plan to your base policy. These include AKC, Embrace and Pets Best, which have wellness plans that include spay and neuter procedures during your pet's typical neutering age. Before enrolling, evaluate your pet's age, compare local surgery costs to wellness plan premiums and calculate whether the add-on coverage fits your budget.
Is Cryptorchidism Covered by Pet Insurance?: FAQ
Have questions about pet insurance cryptorchidism coverage? We've compiled frequently asked questions below:
What happens if my pet is diagnosed with cryptorchidism before I buy insurance?
If your pet is diagnosed with cryptorchidism before you enroll in pet insurance, it's considered a pre-existing condition and won't be covered by standard accident and illness policies. The best approach is enrolling before vets diagnose the condition to avoid pre-existing condition exclusions.
Does pet insurance cover cryptorchid surgery if only one testicle is undescended?
Depending on the insurer, pet insurance covers cryptorchid surgery, whether one or both testicles are undescended, as long as the condition isn't pre-existing. Surgery costs vary based on whether one or both testicles require removal, so get quotes from local vets to compare against your plan’s coverage limits.
Can I get pet insurance just for cryptorchid surgery?
You can't buy pet insurance specifically for cryptorchid surgery alone. Insurers require you to purchase either a base accident and illness policy or a wellness plan that covers multiple preventive care services. While you're paying for broader coverage, calculate whether you'll use enough of the plan's other benefits to justify the monthly cost, especially if cryptorchid surgery is your primary concern.
What's the waiting period for cryptorchid surgery coverage?
The waiting period for cryptorchid surgery coverage ranges from 14 to 30 days after enrollment, depending on your insurer and state. During this time, you can't file claims for the procedure. Wellness plans typically don't have waiting periods, so coverage begins immediately after enrollment.
Can I switch to a plan with cryptorchid surgery coverage after diagnosis?
Switching to a plan with cryptorchid surgery coverage after diagnosis won't help because the condition becomes pre-existing once diagnosed. Insurers won't cover pre-existing conditions regardless of when you switch plans or add coverage. Your best option is enrolling in a wellness plan that covers routine spay and neuter procedures during the typical neutering age window, though this may have limited benefit amounts.
What if my wellness plan's spay/neuter limit doesn't cover the full surgery cost?
If your cryptorchid surgery costs exceed your wellness plan's spay/neuter benefit limit, you're responsible for the remaining balance. Say the surgery costs $800 and your plan covers up to $150, you'd pay $650 out of pocket. Before enrolling, consider whether the plan's overall benefits are worth the monthly premium.
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.