Cat insurance coverage

Cat insurance is health insurance for your pet. It helps you afford veterinary care when your cat is sick or hurt. Unlike human health insurance, you're usually responsible for paying the bill at the appointment, and then, you get reimbursed for approved claims.

Cat insurance typically covers unexpected accidents and illnesses — the things you can’t see coming. Accident coverage includes vet visits for issues like broken bones, swallowed objects and other emergency care. Illness coverage can range from common issues like vomiting to more serious conditions like gum disease and cancer. Treatment for issues your cat already has when you enroll are not covered (these are known as “pre-existing conditions” in insurance-speak). Fetch has the most complete insurance for accidents and illnesses. We cover what others charge extra for or don't cover at all.

Preventive care (think: vaccinations and annual exams) is not a part of most standard cat insurance plans, but can often be added on for an extra cost.

Whether cat insurance is worth it depends on your cat's health and age. Cat insurance is a great investment for kittens and younger cats because they're less likely to have pre-existing conditions.

Pet insurance is probably not the best choice for older cats. Senior cats are more likely to have existing health issues. This means they'll cost more for you to insure and their pre-existing conditions will not be covered.

No. In general, no cat insurance covers pre-existing conditions.

A pre-existing condition is defined as any injury, illness or condition that you or your veterinarian notice either before you enroll in insurance or during the waiting period of up to 15 days.

It depends on which cat insurance you have and which veterinary practice or clinic you visit. With Fetch cat insurance, there are no networks — you can use any vet in the U.S. or Canada, including emergency and specialty clinics.

Other insurers have restrictions on which vets are covered for reimbursement.

If you get pet insurance right before your cat has surgery, that surgery won't be covered — it will be considered treatment for a pre-existing condition. In general, no pet insurance covers costs related to injuries, illnesses or conditions your pet has before they sign up or during the waiting period of up to 15 days.

So while you can sign up for pet insurance right before a surgery, it's best to sign up when your cat is healthy, so you have protection for your pet and your wallet when you need it.

Some pet insurance providers have age restrictions or might limit coverage based on your cat’s breed.

Fetch covers cats 6 weeks and older, with no upper age limits. Fetch also covers hereditary conditions linked to breed.

Flea and tick meds are typically covered with cat insurance if your plan includes preventive care.

Preventive care is not a part of most standard cat insurance plans, but can be added on for an additional cost.

Cat insurance works differently than human health insurance. In most cases, you’ll pay the vet and then file a claim so your insurer can reimburse you for covered services.

With Fetch, filing a claim is as easy as snapping a picture of your paid invoice and submitting it in our app — it just takes a minute.

• Accident and illness — Coverage for what you can't see coming (think: broken bones and infections). Some insurers offer an accident-only version of this plan that doesn’t include illness coverage.

• Preventive (often called "Wellness") — Coverage for routine treatments (think: vaccinations and annual exams).

With Fetch, you get the most complete cat insurance, covering what others charge extra for or don't cover at all.

The waiting period is the span of time between when you enroll your cat in insurance and when coverage actually kicks in. It typically begins on your policy effective date.

‍Here's an example:‍

‍Enrollment date: January 1
‍Policy effective date: January 3
‍Waiting period ends: January 17

This means that if you enroll in insurance on January 1, you will begin getting reimbursed for vet visits starting on January 17. Any vet visits that take place during the waiting period will not be covered.

With Fetch, there’s a waiting period of up to 15 days before illness coverage begins. There is no waiting period for accident coverage and, if added, Fetch Wellness.

The best time to sign up for cat insurance is when your pet is young. Kittens are the ideal candidates because they’re more likely to be in good health with no pre-existing conditions — and, in general, no pet insurance covers pre-existing conditions. Younger cats also usually cost less to insure.

Fetch is the best insurance for kittens at the best price.

You can get cat insurance even if your cat is already sick. But since your cat was sick before you enrolled, that particular illness will be considered a pre-existing condition and won’t be covered.

In general, no pet insurance covers costs related to pre-existing conditions — meaning you will not be reimbursed for vet bills associated with treatment of that particular condition.

Most cat insurers will cover some dental — but the exact amount varies widely. Some only cover the 4 canine teeth.

With Fetch, you get coverage for injury and disease in every adult tooth, as well as full coverage for periodontal disease, oral tumors, broken teeth and more.

The best cat insurance for you depends on the specific needs of your pet. If you have a younger cat, Fetch has the best coverage for kittens at the best price. If you're adopting, Fetch is the #1 pet insurance for shelter and rescue pets.

But if you're looking to enroll a senior cat, for example, then Fetch is probably not the best choice for you. Senior cats are more likely to have existing health issues. This means they'll cost more for you to insure and their pre-existing conditions will not be covered. Fetch also doesn't offer accident-only plans because we firmly believe that every pet deserves complete coverage. So if you're looking for a more bare-bones plan, we're not the right choice.