How does pet insurance work? Choose the best plan.

Pet insurance providers don’t pay the vet — they use a reimbursement model. This means that you pay your vet bill in full after your pet receives treatment, then you file a claim to get paid back for covered care.

Getting paid back is fast and easy with Fetch Pet. After you pay the vet, submit a claim in minutes by uploading your paid invoice and your pet’s supporting medical records. Claims are typically processed in less than 10 days and once approved, you’ll be reimbursed up to 90% straight to your bank account via direct deposit.

Here’s how pet insurance works when you go to the vet:

1. After your visit, you pay your bill in full and get an itemized receipt for your pet’s treatment. Unlike human health insurance, you don’t need to worry about whether your vet is in-network or show an insurance card. There are no networks and every vet is covered in the U.S. and Canada with Fetch Pet.
2. After you’ve paid, you’ll file a claim by sending a copy of your paid invoice and your pet’s medical records to your pet insurance provider.
3. Once your claim is approved and you've met your deductible, your provider pays you back for covered care. Fetch Pet claims are typically processed in less than 10 days.

The short answer is yes — pet insurance is worth it. Every 6 seconds a pet parent gets a vet bill for $1,000 or more. According to Access Veterinary Care, emergency visits and surgeries can range from $1,000 to $10,000+, depending on the condition and location. With Fetch Pet, you can get up to 90% of that paid back, so it's more affordable to give your pet the best care possible.

If you have a younger pet, Fetch Pet has the best insurance for puppies and kittens at the best price. If you're adopting, Fetch Pet is the #1 pet insurance for shelter and rescue pets.

Fetch Pet Insurance helps you give your pet their longest, healthiest life, but every pet is different. If you're looking to enroll a senior pet, for example, then Fetch Pet is probably not the best choice for you. Older pets cost more to insure and are more likely to have pre-existing conditions that will not be covered.

Learn more about whether pet insurance is worth it for you and your pet.

Pet insurance coverage varies by provider, but here are some examples of what’s typically not covered:

• Pre-existing conditions are typically not covered. These are injuries, illnesses or conditions that your pet shows signs or symptoms of either before you enroll in insurance or during the waiting period.
• Preventive care is typically not covered unless you add Wellness coverage to your Accident and Illness pet insurance.
• Grooming is generally not covered by pet insurance.
• Claims need to be submitted within a certain timeframe after your vet visit. Claims filed after that window won’t be reimbursed even if the condition itself is covered. With Fetch, you have 90 days to submit your claim.

No pet insurance covers all pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is defined as any injury, illness or condition that your pet shows signs or symptoms of either before you enroll in insurance or during the waiting period of up to 15 days. With Fetch Pet Insurance, any claims for treatment related to a pre-existing condition will not be covered — unless it’s a curable pre-existing condition.

Pet insurance is generally worth it because it makes your vet bills more affordable and helps you give your pet a longer, healthier life with the best care possible. But there are a few situations where your pet may not be able to get the most out of pet insurance.

• As pets age, they have a higher likelihood of health issues, which can make them more costly to insure. It may not be worth it to sign up a senior pet.
• If your pet has already been treated for many different conditions before you enroll, it’s likely that those will be considered pre-existing conditions and won’t be covered. That means you wouldn’t be able to take full advantage of your pet insurance coverage.
• If you wait until after your pet is sick or hurt to sign up, you’ll miss out on savings. Any vet visits that took place before enrollment or during the waiting period won’t be covered, and any condition your pet has been treated for prior to enrollment may be considered a pre-existing condition and won’t be covered in the future.