Best pet insurance that covers neutering and spaying

Many pet insurers offer wellness play to help pay for neutering and spaying. Check out our top picks for pet insurance that covers these procedures.
Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon/Getty ImagesAbout 80% to 90% of pets in the U.S. have undergone spay and neuter surgery, according to the Humane Society of the United States. While spaying and neutering are common, these procedures are considered preventative. Therefore, most pet insurance companies don’t cover them in a traditional accident-and-illness policy.
The good news is that some pet insurers offer wellness plans or optional coverage to help pay for spaying or neutering dogs and cats. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best pet insurance for neutering and spaying so you can decide which provider makes the most sense for your unique situation.
Pet insurance and neutering/spaying: Key takeaways
- Pet insurance typically only covers neutering and spaying if you buy a wellness plan for an additional fee.
- Not all pet insurers offer wellness plans that include neutering and spaying, so you might have to shop around to find your ideal coverage.
- Beyond a wellness plan from a top pet insurance company, you can save money on neutering and spaying through low-cost vet clinics.
Does pet insurance cover neutering and spaying?
In general, traditional pet insurance only pays for expenses related to unexpected accidents and illnesses, such as broken bones, wounds, poisoning, and foreign object ingestion. Neutering and spaying are elective and preventative procedures that do not meet these criteria.
Fortunately, pet insurance companies often offer wellness plans as add-ons to accident-only or accident-and-illness coverage to help cover neutering and spaying and other routine services like vaccinations and dental cleanings.
The best pet insurance for spaying and neutering
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Spaying/neutering coverage: Preventative Care Coverage is the ASPCA’s wellness plan that covers routine services. If you choose Prime, the higher-tier plan, the insurer will reimburse you up to a maximum annual amount for spay/neuter procedures.
Fine print: Only available as an add-on to Complete Coverage or Accident-only Coverage, Preventative Care Coverage also covers annual exams, fecal tests, and deworming. Note that if you opt for spay/neuter surgery, you won’t get reimbursed for dental cleanings because ASPCA requires you to choose one or the other. There are no waiting periods or deductibles.
Price range: Prices vary by pet; we were quoted $9.95 per month to $24.95 per month for a 4-year-old male mixed breed dog in San Francisco (zip code 94112).
Read our full ASPCA Pet Health review or get a quote from the insurer.
Embrace
Spaying/neutering coverage: Embrace’s wellness membership program is called Wellness Rewards. It comes with spay/neuter coverage and lets you choose an annual maximum coverage of $300, $500, or $700.
Fine print: Wellness Rewards is an optional add-on to the Embrace accident-and-illness plan. In addition to spay/neuter procedures, it will reimburse you for vaccinations, lab tests, and grooming. There are also no deductibles; you’ll earn a $25 bonus to apply toward eligible services just by signing up.
Price range: Prices vary by pet; we were quoted $22.92 per month to $56.25 per month for our sample pet.
Read our full Embrace review or get a quote from the insurer.
Fetch
Spaying/neutering coverage: Fetch Wellness is Fetch’s wellness plan, available in three tiers: Essentials, Advantage, and Prime. Essentials and Wellness cover up to $100 for spaying and neutering, while Prime reimburses up to $125 for these procedures.
Fine print: You can buy Fetch Wellness with Fetch’s comprehensive accident-and-illness plan. There are no copays, deductibles, or waiting periods. Plus, you can lock in coverage for annual exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and heartworm tests.
Price range: Plans start at $10 to $30 monthly; prices vary by state.
Read our full Fetch review or get a quote from Fetch.
Figo
Spaying/neutering coverage: The Figo Wellness Powerup is Figo’s wellness plan that includes coverage for spay/neuter procedures. The Basic level covers up to $40 per year, while the Plus tier pays up to $75.
Fine print: The Figo Wellness Powerup, an optional add-on to the accident-and-illness plan, reimburses you on a fixed schedule. You should refer to your policy for specific coverage information. Note that the Powerup covers spaying or neutering or teeth cleaning, not both.
Price range: We were quoted $9.50 per month; your price may vary.
Read our full Figo review.
Lemonade
Spaying/neutering coverage: Lemonade’s offers a Puppy/Kitten Preventative Care Package. The pet insurance company will pay up to $120 for spay/neuter surgery (based on 80% co-insurance) with this plan.
Fine print: If you invest in a Puppy/Kitten Preventative Care Package in addition to its accident-and-illness policy, Lemonade will cover up to two wellness exams, six vaccinations, microchipping, one bloodwork, and more. Reimbursements depend on the co-insurance and deductible you select when you sign up.
Price range: Prices may vary by pet; we were quoted $17.58 per month to $26.71 per month.
Read our Lemonade Pet Insurance review or get a quote from Lemonade.
MetLife
Spaying/neutering coverage: Preventive Care is MetLife’s wellness plan that reimburses you for spay/neuter surgery. You can choose a reimbursement level (70%, 80%, or 90%), annual benefit ($2,000, $5,000, or $10,000), and deductible ($50, $100, $250, or $500).
Fine print: MetLife Preventative Care is an add-on to the pet insurance company’s accident-and-illness policy. In addition to spaying and neutering, it pays for teeth cleanings, vaccinations, and fleas, ticks, and heartworm medications.
Price range: Prices can vary by pet; we were quoted an extra $30.74 to $50.90 per month, depending on the base plan’s reimbursement level, annual benefits, and deductible
Pets Best
Spaying/neutering coverage: Pets Best has two wellness plans: EssentialWellness and BestWellness. You’ll only receive coverage for spay/neuter procedures if you opt for BestWellness, which offers the most comprehensive coverage and total annual benefits of up to $535.
Fine print: BestWellness adds to the cost of an accident-only or accident-and-illness policy. Pets Best will pay up to $150 for spaying and neutering. This wellness plan also covers vaccines, wellness exams, heartworm prevention, and microchipping.
Price range: $14 to $33 per month; pricing and coverage may vary by state.
Read our full Pets Best review.
Spot
Spaying/neutering coverage: Spot’s Preventative Care Coverage is a wellness plan available in Gold or Platinum. If you choose the Platinum tier, you’ll receive a reimbursement of up to $150 for spay and neuter surgery.
Fine print: Preventative Care Coverage is offered with Spot’s accident-only or accident-and-injury policy. Platinum is the comprehensive option that covers many routine services besides spaying and neutering, such as health certificates and dog Bordetella or Cat FELV. There are no waiting periods or deductibles.
Price range: We were quoted $9.95 per month to $24.95 per month; your prices may vary.
Read our Spot Pet Insurance review or get a quote from Spot.
Methodology: How we selected the best pet insurers for spaying and neutering
We rate and review pet insurance companies across five core categories: Plans, Coverage scope, Costs, Claims process, and Customer service. For this list, we aimed to highlight top pet insurance companies that offered at least some coverage for spaying and neutering procedures. Learn more about how we rate and review pet insurers.
Do I need to spay or neuter my pet?
Spaying removes a female animal’s uterus and ovaries, while neutering removes a male animal’s testicles. The primary goal of these procedures is to ensure that a dog or cat can no longer reproduce.
“Spaying or neutering is an important decision pet parents can make for their pets’ preventive health,” says Dr. Whitney Miller, chief veterinarian at Petco. “The procedures have numerous health-related benefits, from helping to prevent serious diseases to avoiding certain hormonal issues later in life.”
According to Miller, spay surgery can significantly decrease the risk of mammary cancer, which is malignant in 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. There’s also a reduction in the types of mammary tumors in spayed dogs compared to unspayed dogs.
“Neutering can reduce the risk of hormonal prostate problems, such as an enlarged prostate or prostatitis, and eliminate the chance of testicular cancer. It may also help prevent unwanted behaviors such as marking and roaming,” says Miller.
Despite the benefits of spaying and neutering, these procedures aren’t right for every pet.
“Some pets may not be healthy enough to endure the anesthesia, and for others, such as some large breed dogs, spaying or neutering can actually increase the risk of some types of cancer or orthopedic issues,” says Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian at Hepper.com. “These conditions can be better managed by the timing of surgery, but it is definitely something to discuss with a veterinarian.”
How much does spaying and neutering cost?
“Medical technology and training for spay and neuter surgeries have advanced over time and become more affordable,” says Miller. “This means these procedures aren’t as costly as they used to be.”
According to CareCredit, spaying or neutering may cost between $35 and $250. The price depends on your location, whether you have a dog or cat, the vet you choose, and other factors, such as whether you have a pet wellness plan.
“In general, neutering is less expensive than spaying, and smaller animals are less expensive than larger ones,” says Dr. Bonk. Therefore, you can expect to spend less on the surgery if you have a tiny male puppy than a larger female puppy.
How to lower the cost of spaying, neutering, and routine pet care
There’s no denying that the cost of pet ownership can add up quickly. However, these tips can help you save money on spaying, neutering, and other routine veterinary services for your furry friend.
- Develop a relationship with a vet: “I always recommend pet parents begin by building a relationship with a veterinarian to understand their pets’ overall health and individual needs across routine and preventative care. Then, determine a budget range you are comfortable with so you can start building a plan that works for you,” says Dr. Miller.
- Look for low-cost vet clinics: There are many mobile or low-cost clinics that focus on spaying/neutering. “These clinics may perform a large number of surgeries on certain weekends or weeks of the year at a reduced cost. However, note that they usually don’t offer pre-anesthetic bloodwork like a regular spay or neuter would receive,” says Dr. Bonk. She explains that you may also receive a reduced price if you have multiple animals spayed or neutered at the same time.
- Explore pet wellness plans: Pet wellness plans like those listed above are great for routine care. “Wellness plans can spread out the cost of care over the year. Ensure that you always read the fine print and understand exactly what’s covered,”says Dr. Kelly Hood, veterinarian and in-house expert at Pet Portraits.
- Build a dedicated pet savings account: A savings account for your pet can ensure you have funds available for routine care and emergencies. It’s a good idea to keep funds in a high-yield savings account to earn interest and access the money whenever needed. Even a small contribution of just $10 to $20 per month can pay off the next time your pet needs to see the vet.
- Be mindful of food choices: Not all pet food is created equal. If possible, spend extra on “complete and balanced” pet food approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). A quality diet can save you a great deal on vet bills down the road.
- Shop around for medications: Supplements and medications tend to be more expensive at the vet’s office. That’s why it’s well worth your time to research and compare prices from various sources. Some well-known retailers offer the same quality meds without a high markup. You might also want to browse the internet to find medications at affordable online pharmacies. An online pharmacy can also be convenient and save time because they deliver meds to your doorstep.
- Commit to annual wellness exams: Wellness exams can detect problems before they become more severe and expensive to treat. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends annual exams at the very least and more if your pet has a chronic condition. Note that many wellness plans provide coverage for these exams.
- Focus on prevention: Being proactive can help you in the long run. “Keeping your pet at a healthy weight, giving monthly parasite control, and staying on top of dental care can save you so much money on their medical care over time,” says Dr. Hood. Ask your vet which routine services your dog or cat needs to achieve and maintain optimal health. Then, commit to them.
Still shopping for traditional pet insurance? Compare plans from top providers.
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