Updated: October 3, 2025
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Pet insurance covers medically necessary lipoma surgery after your waiting period ends, excluding lipomas diagnosed before enrollment.
Most pet insurance companies like AKC, Figo and MetLife cover lipoma surgery after a waiting period of 14 days for illnesses.
Consider your pet's breed, age and lipoma size to determine whether you need pet insurance with lipoma surgery coverage.
A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor that commonly develops under your pet's skin. While most lipomas are harmless, surgery becomes necessary when they grow large enough to restrict movement, cause discomfort or become infected.
Pet insurance covers lipoma surgery when it’s medically recommended by a licensed veterinarian, excluding pre-existing conditions. Your insurer will reimburse 60% to 90% of eligible costs minus your deductible, after you pay the vet bill upfront and file a claim.
Accident and illness pet insurance covers lipoma surgery after the waiting period is over, which is usually 14 days. If your pet develops even one lipoma before enrollment or during the waiting period, all future lipomas become ineligible for coverage since insurers classify them by cell type rather than location.
Also, accident and illness plans won’t cover lipoma surgery for cosmetic purposes, as insurers only reimburse costs for medically necessary procedures that address health concerns like restricted movement or infection risk.
Check the table below to see how major pet insurance companies provide lipoma surgery coverage in their standard policies.
AKC | Covers lipoma surgery after a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, with unique coverage for pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous enrollment |
ASPCA | Covers medically necessary lipoma removal after a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, with curable pre-existing conditions after 180 symptom-free days |
Embrace | Provides lipoma surgery coverage after a 14-day illness waiting period, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible after 12 symptom-free months |
Fetch | Covers lipoma surgery after a 15-day waiting period for illnesses, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible after 365 symptom-free days |
Figo | Offers lipoma surgery coverage following a 14-day illness waiting period, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible if cured and symptom-free for 12 months |
Healthy Paws | Provides lipoma coverage after a 15-day waiting period for illnesses |
Lemonade | Covers lipoma surgery after a 14-day illness waiting period, with non-chronic pre-existing conditions eligible after 12 symptom-free months |
Liberty Mutual | Covers medically necessary lipoma removal after a standard 14-day illness waiting period |
MetLife | Provides lipoma surgery coverage following a 14-day illness waiting period, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible if you switch providers through your employer |
Nationwide | Provides lipoma surgery coverage after a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible if cured and symptom-free for six months |
Pets Best | Covers lipoma surgery following a 14-day illness waiting period |
Prudent Pet | Offers lipoma surgery coverage after a standard 14-day illness waiting period for illnesses, plus curable pre-existing conditions are eligible if cured and 365 days pass without treatment |
Pumpkin | Covers lipoma removal after a 14-day illness waiting period, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible if symptom-free for 180 days |
Rainwalk | Provides lipoma surgery coverage following a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible after 180 symptom-free days |
Spot | Covers medically necessary lipoma surgery following a 14-day illness waiting period, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible after 180 symptom-free days |
Trupanion | Offers lipoma surgery coverage following a 14-day illness waiting period |
Wagmo | Covers lipoma surgery after a 15-day illness waiting period, with curable pre-existing conditions eligible if cured and symptom-free for 12 months |
Coverage details also vary by state and individual policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents for exact coverage terms and exclusions.
Most insurers cover lipoma surgery for new conditions that develop after your waiting period ends. Whether you need this coverage depends on several factors specific to your pet and financial situation.
Certain breeds face higher lipoma risks as they age. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers and Cocker Spaniels develop lipomas more frequently than other breeds. Older pets are also more likely to develop these fatty tumors, making coverage valuable if you're insuring a younger pet.
Lipomas near joints, organs or blood vessels require more complex surgical removal than those in fatty areas. These complicated surgeries cost significantly more and may need specialist care. Coverage protects you from these higher costs if your pet develops a lipoma in a difficult location.
According to Lemonade, lipoma surgery costs average between $200 and $1,000 based on size, location and surgical complexity. Pet insurance with lipoma surgery coverage helps provide financial protection by reimbursing 60% to 90% of eligible costs (minus your deductible), after you pay the vet bill upfront and submit a claim to your insurer.
Pet insurance covers medically necessary lipoma surgery once your policy’s waiting period ends, with companies like AKC, Figo and MetLife providing coverage after a 14-day waiting period. However, any lipomas your pet has before enrollment may be excluded from coverage, depending on the insurer. Your pet's breed, age and potential lipoma size should guide your coverage decision, especially since surgery costs between $200 and $1,000 out of pocket.
Have questions about pet insurance with lipoma surgery coverage? We’ve compiled answers below:
Pet insurance covers benign lipoma removal when it's medically necessary. While lipomas are non-cancerous fatty tumors, insurers cover their removal if they restrict your pet's movement, cause discomfort or risk infection. Coverage applies after your policy’s waiting period ends.
If your pet develops a lipoma during the waiting period, that lipoma and all future lipomas become permanently excluded from coverage. Insurers classify lipomas by cell type rather than location, so one lipoma diagnosis excludes coverage for any additional fatty tumors your pet develops later.
You can still get pet insurance if your dog already has a lipoma, but that specific lipoma and all future lipomas won't be covered since insurers classify them by cell type. Your policy will cover other accidents and illnesses that develop after your waiting period ends.
Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers and Cocker Spaniels develop lipomas more frequently than other breeds as they age. Older pets across all breeds face higher lipoma risks, making coverage valuable if you're insuring a younger pet.
Pet insurance covers lipoma surgery for cats under the same terms as dogs. Cats can develop lipomas, though they're less common than in dogs. Pre-existing lipoma rules also apply to cats, meaning any lipomas before enrollment exclude all future lipomas from coverage.
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.
