--- title: Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccines? description: Pet insurance usually covers vaccinations through a wellness add-on plan. Learn more about vaccine coverage in this comprehensive guide. authors: - name: Alison Tobin role: Editor, Insurance and Loans url: https://money.com/author/alison-tobin/ bio: Alison is a former staff editor at Money, where she focused on insurance content and financial topics. She has been covering insurance since 2017, bringing clarity to complex insurance topics to help consumers make informed decisions. Before joining Money, she worked at an insurtech startup that aimed to empower customers with educational insurance content and unbiased company reviews. education: Merrimack College, B.A., Communication and Media at_money_since: 2020 articles: 32 covers: - Insurance - Credit - Housing - Identity Theft - Investing - Loans - Mortgages - Pets - Professional Services - Taxes social: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-tobin former_staff: true editors: - name: José Omar Rodríguez role: Content Manager url: https://money.com/author/jose-omar-rodriguez/ bio: As an editor, José Omar specializes in personal finance topics and in-depth company reviews. His work has been featured in publications such as the Sacramento Bee, the Miami Herald, and the Kansas City Star. education: University of Puerto Rico at_money_since: 2019 articles: 21 covers: - Insurance - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Economy and Politics - Housing - Identity Theft - Investing - Lifestyle - Loans - Mortgages - Pets - Professional Services - Retirement - Taxes - Technology published: '2024-01-29T20:04:14.000Z' modified: '2025-02-06T20:46:57.000Z' section: Insurance word_count: 766 canonical: https://money.com/does-pet-insurance-cover-vaccines/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccines?](https://money.com/content.money.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Evergreen-Pet-Insurance-Vaccines.jpg?crop=0px%2C301px%2C2880px%2C1620px&resize=1012%2C569&quality=85&strip&ssl=1) Vaccines are a vital part of your pet’s routine care to help keep your pet healthy. You may be wondering if your pet insurance covers this yearly expense. The answer is that it depends on the coverage you have. Pet insurance accident and illness coverage does not cover vaccines and other preventive veterinary care. To receive vaccine reimbursement, you must add a wellness plan to your policy. Fortunately, most of the [best pet insurance](https://money.com/best-pet-insurance/) companies offer wellness add-ons. Keep reading to learn more about pet vaccines, including how much they cost, how to get reimbursed for them and what insurance companies offer the best vaccine coverage. ## Table of contents - [Does pet insurance cover vaccinations?](#Does) - [Pet vaccine costs](#vaccine) - [What are the best pet insurance companies that cover vaccines?](#What) - [FAQs](#FAQ) - [Summary of Money’s guide to whether pet insurance covers vaccines](#Summary) ## Embrace Pet Insurance — for when the unexpected happens ### Personalize your pet’s policy to get the best for their needs and your budget. Get up to 90% reimbursement — just click on your state to get started. [View Plans](https://money.com/pr/c08cef208145?ap_referrer=%2Fdoes-pet-insurance-cover-vaccines%2F) ## Does pet insurance cover vaccinations? Standard [pet insurance covers](https://money.com/what-pet-insurance-covers/) vet bills if your pet is injured or sick. This type of [pet insurance policy alone won’t cover](https://money.com/what-pet-insurance-wont-cover/) vaccines or other routine care your pet receives each year. However, you can purchase a wellness add-on for that coverage. Here’s a breakdown of the difference: - **Standard accident and illness pet insurance:** Covers treatment and vet visits due to unexpected accidents and illnesses (e.g., vomiting, cancer, a broken bone and more) - **Wellness rider:** Covers routine care (e.g., vaccines, wellness exam fees, routine dental cleanings, spay or neuter procedures and more) With a wellness plan, you would pay for your pet’s vet bills and then submit a [pet insurance claim](https://money.com/how-to-make-a-pet-insurance-claim/) to be reimbursed for the covered amount included in your plan. Keep in mind that pet vaccine coverage can vary by company and wellness plan specifics. For example, you may have a limit on how many vaccines will be covered each year. ### What vaccines does my pet need? Your pet’s recommended vaccines depend on where you live and your pet’s risk of contracting certain diseases. Always discuss immunizations with your veterinarian to help determine which ones your pet should get. The most common vaccines for cats and dogs are listed below, but remember that not all pets need all of these vaccines. Common dog vaccines: - Rabies - Canine distemper - Canine parvovirus - Canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) - Leptospirosis - Lyme disease - Bordetella - Canine influenza virus (CIV) Common cat vaccines: - Rabies - Feline calicivirus (FCV) - Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) - Feline panleukopenia (FPV) - Feline leukemia (FeLV) - Bordetella - Chlamydia ## Ensure your pet’s well-being with Embrace ### The company’s pet insurance policies provide quality coverage with up to 90% reimbursement. Get a quote that fits within your budget today. [GET FREE QUOTE](https://money.com/pr/n3fb8951cd6f?ap_referrer=%2Fdoes-pet-insurance-cover-vaccines%2F) ## Pet vaccine costs ### How much do pet vaccines cost without insurance? Cat and [dog vaccines cost](https://money.com/how-much-do-dog-vaccinations-cost/) about $20 to $60 for each dose. In total, you will likely pay more for vaccinations in the first year of owning your pet. That’s because a [vaccine schedule for a puppy](https://money.com/puppy-vaccine-schedule/) or kitten may include multiple rounds of initial boosters to build immunity. Once they are adults, they may require boosters every one to three years to stay protected. ### Does pet insurance reimburse for vaccines? You can get more affordable pet vaccines with a pet wellness plan that reimburses some of the cost. The table below lists pet wellness plan providers and their vaccine reimbursement details. | Company | **Annual Vaccine Reimbursement** | | --- | --- | | Lemonade | Up to $75 for 3 vaccines or $150 for 6 vaccines | | Embrace | 100% reimbursement up to your allowance limit | | Pumpkin | 100% reimbursement for up to 4 puppy vaccines or 2 adult dog vaccines, 100% reimbursement for 1 kitten or adult cat vaccine | | MetLife | 70% - 90% of the cost | | Spot | $20 - $25 per covered vaccine | | Wagmo | 2 - 4 vaccines | ### Pet insurance policy costs According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s (NAPHIA) [State of the Industry Report](https://naphia.org/industry-data/), pet insurance with a wellness plan costs an average of $94.52 per month for dogs and $51.14 per month for cats. To put the cost into perspective, the table below compares average pet insurance costs with and without wellness coverage. **Average monthly pet insurance costs in the U.S.** | Type of pet | Insurance with wellness coverage | Accident & illness pet insurance | Accident-only pet insurance | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Dogs | $94.52 | $53.34 | $16.72 | | Cats | $51.14 | $32.25 | $10.18 | _*Source: NAPHIA State of the Industry Report, 2023*_ Keep in mind that premiums vary significantly by company and coverage details, including the [pet insurance deductible](https://money.com/how-does-pet-insurance-deductible-work/) and reimbursement rate you choose. Before choosing a plan, compare quotes from multiple pet insurance providers to find the best value. ## What are the best pet insurance companies that cover vaccines? The companies with the best pet wellness plans all offer vaccine coverage. For the most updated list, view our ranking of the [best pet wellness plans](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/). Best pet wellness plans: - [**Lemonade:**](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/#lemonade) Best Wellness Plan for Puppies and Kittens - [**Embrace:**](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/#embrace) Best for Budgeting - [**Pumpkin Pet Insurance:**](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/#pumpkin) Best for 100% Reimbursements - [**MetLife:**](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/#metlife) Best Variety of Covered Services - [**Spot:**](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/#spot) Best Affordable Wellness Plan - [**Wagmo:**](https://money.com/best-pet-wellness-plans/#wagmo) Best Standalone Wellness Plan ## Embrace offers reliable coverage for your pet’s needs ### With Embrace Pet Insurance, you can customize your policy for quality care within your budget. Also, get up to 90% reimbursement on your vet bills. Click below to get a free quote today! [GET FREE QUOTE](https://money.com/pr/r35d534ebd66?ap_referrer=%2Fdoes-pet-insurance-cover-vaccines%2F) ## Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccines? FAQs ### Are pet vaccines really necessary? Vaccines can protect your pet from various diseases and viruses, some of which are deadly. Vaccinating your pet can also limit the spread of diseases to other animals and humans. Many states require all pets to receive the rabies vaccine, but other shots may be optional. Ask your veterinarian for their recommendations. ### Does pet insurance cover puppy shots? Standard accident and illness pet insurance policies don’t cover puppy shots since they are part of your dog’s preventive treatment. However, pet wellness plans typically reimburse you for a portion of your pet’s vaccines. Most pet insurance companies offer wellness riders you can add to your pet insurance policy to receive some coverage for routine care such as vaccines, wellness checkups, dental cleanings, heart-worm prevention, tick prevention, microchipping and more. ### Does pet insurance cover wellness visits? Standard pet insurance doesn’t cover the cost of a wellness visit because it’s part of your pet’s routine care. For wellness exam coverage, you can purchase a pet wellness plan. This plan will reimburse you for routine care your pet receives each year, including an annual physical exam. ## Summary of Money’s guide to whether pet insurance covers vaccines Vaccines are an essential part of routine pet care, and you may be able to get reimbursed for them depending on your pet insurance coverage. Standard accident and illness pet insurance plans don’t cover the cost of vaccines, but wellness plans typically do. If you’re considering a plan, get pet insurance quotes from multiple providers to compare your offerings. 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