Updated: August 25, 2025
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
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.
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.
Pet insurance regulations vary by state. Coverage options and limitations may differ based on your location.
You can get vaccine coverage by adding a wellness plan to your standard pet insurance policy. This add-on covers routine preventive care like vaccinations without deductibles (your regular policy usually requires meeting a deductible first). Coverage amounts vary widely by company, and not all pet insurers offer wellness plans.
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 |
|
ASPCA |
|
Embrace |
|
Fetch |
|
Figo |
|
Lemonade |
|
MetLife |
|
Pets Best |
|
Prudent Pet |
|
Pumpkin |
|
Spot |
|
Coverage amounts based on publicly available policy information. Actual coverage may vary. Contact providers directly for current rates and terms.
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.
Look at what you paid for your pet's vaccines last year to see if a wellness plan would save money. Wellness plans offer different vaccine coverage, from as little as $10 per vaccine to $105 for up to three vaccines or even 100% reimbursement for certain vaccines. Compare these limits to what you actually spent.
Puppies and kittens get the most value from vaccine coverage because they need lots of vaccines in their first year to build immunity. Adult pets need fewer vaccines since they already have protection from previous shots, usually just yearly rabies and core vaccine boosters. So vaccine coverage alone might not save much money for older pets.
Most wellness plans cover more than just vaccines, so add up costs for annual exams, fecal tests and heartworm testing. If your pet needs dental cleanings, spaying and neutering or microchipping, these bump up your yearly costs. Compare this total to the wellness plan's yearly price.
Add the wellness plan cost to your base pet insurance premium to see your total monthly payment (wellness plans are add-ons to accident and illness policies). For example, if your base policy costs $40 per month and a wellness plan adds $20, you'll pay $60 total. Compare this yearly amount ($720 in this case) to what you'd spend on vaccines and routine care to see if the wellness plan saves money.
Regular pet insurance won't pay for vaccines because they're considered routine preventive care, but wellness add-ons from insurers like Fetch, Lemonade and Pumpkin cover this with different benefit limits. Want to know if vaccine coverage is worth it? Add up what you spend on vaccines yearly and see how it stacks up against the cost of adding a wellness plan to your basic accident and illness policy.
Pet owners researching whether pet insurance covers vaccines often have additional questions about coverage details and costs. We've answered addressed these common questions to help you make an informed decision:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
