Standard pet insurance policies are designed to handle surprise veterinary bills from accidents or sudden illnesses, like broken bones from a fall or cancer. Coverage usually doesn't extend to routine vet visits you can plan and budget for, including vaccines.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccines?
Updated: August 22, 2025
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Key Takeaways
Although standard pet insurance doesn't cover vaccines because they're considered preventive care, you may still get coverage for your pet by adding a wellness plan with this specific benefit to your policy.
Several pet insurance companies, including Fetch, Lemonade and Pumpkin, provide vaccine coverage under their wellness plans, with varying annual limits.
Determine if vaccine coverage is worth it by calculating your annual vaccine expenses, considering your pet's age and weighing your total monthly insurance costs against your budget.
How Does Pet Insurance Work for Vaccines?
What Covers Vaccines?
You can get vaccine coverage by adding a wellness plan to your standard pet insurance policy. This optional add-on reimburses routine preventive care like vaccinations without deductibles, though coverage levels vary widely by insurer. Also, not all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans.
Who Has Vaccine Coverage?
Several pet insurance companies cover vaccinations through their optional wellness plans. Check the table below to see which insurers offer wellness plans and how much they reimburse for vaccines.
AKC |
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ASPCA |
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Embrace |
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Fetch |
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Figo |
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Lemonade |
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MetLife |
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Pets Best |
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Prudent Pet |
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Pumpkin |
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Spot |
|
Do You Need Vaccine Coverage?
Vaccine coverage through wellness plans reimburses routine vaccinations like rabies, DHLPP for dogs and FVRCP for cats. Follow the steps below to determine if getting a wellness plan that covers vaccines makes financial sense for your situation.
- 1
Calculate your pet's annual vaccine costs
Start by adding up what you paid for your pet's vaccines last year to see if a wellness plan would save you money compared to paying out of pocket. Most wellness plans provide varying vaccine coverage, from as little as $10 per vaccine to $105 for up to three vaccines or even 100% reimbursement for specific vaccines, so compare these limits to your total costs.
- 2
Consider your pet's age
Puppies and kittens benefit most from vaccine coverage because they need multiple vaccines in their first year to build immunity against diseases they've never been exposed to. Adult pets need fewer vaccines since they've already developed protection from their previous shots, usually requiring just yearly rabies and core vaccine boosters, so vaccine coverage alone may not provide significant savings for older pets.
- 3
Factor in other routine care expenses
Most wellness plans cover more than just vaccinations, so include costs for annual exams, fecal tests and heartworm testing. If your pet needs dental cleanings, spaying and neutering procedures or microchipping, these can increase your annual costs. Compare this total to the wellness plan's annual cost.
- 4
Determine your total monthly insurance costs
Add the wellness plan cost to your base pet insurance premium to see your total monthly payment, since it's usually an add-on to standard accident and illness policies. For example, if your base policy costs $40 per month and a wellness plan adds $20, your total monthly cost becomes $60. Compare this annual total ($720 in this example) to what you'd spend on vaccines and other routine care to determine if the wellness plan makes financial sense.
What Pet Insurance Covers Vaccines: Bottom Line
Standard pet insurance excludes vaccines as preventive care, but optional wellness plans from companies like Fetch, Lemonade and Pumpkin fill this gap with varying coverage limits. To decide if you need vaccine coverage, calculate your annual vaccine costs and compare them against your annual premium for a standard accident and illness policy with a wellness plan.
Are Vaccines Covered by Pet Insurance: FAQ
Pet owners researching whether pet insurance covers vaccines often have additional questions about coverage details and costs. We've addressed these frequently asked questions to help you make an informed decision:
Does pet insurance cover vaccines?
Standard pet insurance policies don't cover vaccines because they're considered preventive care rather than unexpected medical expenses. However, you can get vaccine coverage by adding an optional wellness plan that includes this specific benefit to your standard policy.
What pet insurance companies cover vaccines?
Multiple pet insurance companies offer vaccine coverage through wellness plans, including Fetch, Lemonade, Pumpkin, ASPCA, Embrace and MetLife. Each provider structures its wellness plans differently, so compare the specific vaccine limits against your pet's annual vaccination costs.
Do wellness plans have deductibles for vaccine coverage?
Unlike your standard pet insurance policy, most wellness plans usually reimburse preventive care like vaccinations without requiring you to meet a deductible first, though specific terms vary by provider. However, pet insurance works on a reimbursement model, so you'll still pay the vet upfront and submit receipts to get money back later.
Can I get vaccine coverage without buying full pet insurance?
Wellness plans with vaccine coverage are usually add-ons, not standalone policies. If you only want vaccine coverage without full pet insurance, research companies that offer standalone wellness plans, though your options will be more limited than the traditional add-on approach.
Do older pets need vaccine coverage as much as puppies?
Older pets need fewer vaccines because their immune systems are already protected from previous vaccinations, only requiring annual boosters for rabies and core vaccines. Puppies need a full series of vaccines during their first year since they haven't developed any protection against common diseases yet.
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.