Exploring Pet Insurance: Plans That Cover Accidents and Illnesses
Curious about which pet insurance plans cover accidents and illnesses? Our latest insights can help guide your research. Pet insurance plans vary widely in coverage, so finding one encompassing accidents and illnesses is crucial for your pet's wellbeing.
Which Pet Insurance Plans Cover Accidents and Illnesses in the USA?
Unexpected accidents and illnesses can lead to expensive veterinary bills. From broken bones and swallowed objects to infections, allergies and chronic diseases, pets may need medical treatment at different stages of their lives.
Pet insurance with accident-and-illness coverage can help owners manage eligible veterinary expenses. These plans generally cover both accidental injuries and many unexpected illnesses, subject to policy terms, deductibles and exclusions.
Here are 10 U.S. pet insurance providers offering accident-and-illness coverage options in 2026.
Top 10 Pet Insurance Companies That Cover Accidents and Illnesses
1. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers accident-and-illness coverage for eligible veterinary expenses. Depending on the plan, covered treatments can include accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, dental illnesses, diagnostic tests, medications and alternative therapies.
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: Common options include $100, $250 and $500
- Annual coverage: Options vary by plan and location
It also offers accident-only and preventive-care options.
2. Spot Pet Insurance
Spot offers customizable accident-and-illness plans for dogs and cats. Eligible expenses can include emergency treatment, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication and certain hereditary conditions.
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductible options: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
- Annual limits: Options range from $2,500 to unlimited
Spot also offers optional preventive-care coverage for routine expenses such as vaccinations and wellness examinations.
3. Pets Best
Pets Best offers accident-and-illness coverage designed to help with eligible veterinary expenses following injuries or unexpected diseases. Depending on the selected plan, coverage can include diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medications and treatment for certain hereditary conditions.
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductible options: Vary by policy
- Annual limits: $5,000 or unlimited options
Some plans also provide access to a direct veterinary payment option, subject to eligibility and participating-provider requirements.
4. Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace offers accident-and-illness coverage for eligible injuries and diseases. Depending on the policy, covered expenses may include emergency treatment, cancer care, diagnostic tests, surgery, prescription medication and certain dental illnesses.
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductible options: Common choices include $100, $250 and $500
- Annual limits: Options include $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
Embrace also offers optional wellness benefits for routine and preventive care.
5. Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade provides customizable accident-and-illness plans for eligible dogs and cats. Covered treatments may include accidents, infections, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization and prescription medication.
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Deductibles: Common options include $100, $250 and $500
- Annual limits: Options vary, including $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 and $100,000
Some treatments and services require optional add-ons, and availability varies by state.
6. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pumpkin offers accident-and-illness coverage for eligible veterinary expenses. Depending on the policy, it can cover accidents, illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medications and certain hereditary conditions.
- Reimbursement options: 80% or 90%
- Deductible options: $100, $250, $500 or $1,000
- Annual limits: Options include $5,000, $7,000, $15,000 or unlimited
Pumpkin also offers preventive-care packages separately from its main insurance coverage.
7. Figo Pet Insurance
Figo offers accident-and-illness plans that can help cover eligible veterinary expenses for injuries and diseases. Depending on the policy, benefits may include diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication and treatment for certain chronic conditions.
- Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%
- Deductibles: Common options include $100, $250, $500 and $750
- Annual limits: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited options
Figo also offers optional coverage enhancements, depending on the state and policy.
8. Nationwide Pet Insurance
Nationwide offers pet insurance options that can include accident and illness coverage. Depending on the selected plan, eligible expenses may include veterinary examinations, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, medications and treatment for certain hereditary or congenital conditions.
- Coverage options: Depend on the selected policy
- Deductibles: Vary by plan
- Annual limits: Certain plans have specified annual benefit limits
Nationwide also offers coverage options for some birds and exotic pets, in addition to cats and dogs.
9. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws offers accident-and-illness coverage for eligible dogs and cats. Its plans can cover qualifying accidents, unexpected illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization and prescription medication.
- Reimbursement options: Commonly 70%, 80% or 90%
- Annual coverage: Unlimited options
- Deductibles: Vary by pet and policy
Healthy Paws does not offer a separate routine wellness plan, so vaccinations and regular preventive-care expenses are generally not included.
10. Trupanion
Trupanion offers accident-and-illness coverage for eligible veterinary expenses. Its policy can cover qualifying injuries, illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization and certain hereditary or congenital conditions.
- Reimbursement: Generally 90% of eligible expenses
- Deductible: Per-condition deductible
- Annual payout limit: No overall payout limit under its standard policy structure
Trupanion also offers direct payment to participating veterinary hospitals, which can reduce the need for owners to pay the entire eligible bill upfront.
What Does Accident-and-Illness Pet Insurance Cover?
Most accident-and-illness plans combine two main types of veterinary protection.
Accident coverage may include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Bite wounds and injuries
- Accidental poisoning
- Swallowed foreign objects
- Cuts and other accidental injuries
- Emergency treatment following an accident
Illness coverage may include:
- Infections and digestive conditions
- Allergies and skin diseases
- Cancer treatment
- Diabetes and other chronic conditions
- Hereditary and congenital conditions, when eligible
- Diagnostic testing and prescribed medications
Actual coverage depends on the policy, medical history and applicable exclusions.
What Is Usually Not Covered?
Pet insurance does not automatically cover every veterinary expense. Common exclusions include:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Routine vaccinations and wellness examinations unless covered by an add-on
- Grooming and cosmetic procedures
- Elective procedures
- Breeding and pregnancy-related expenses
- Certain dental conditions or treatments, depending on the policy
Waiting periods also apply. Accident coverage may begin sooner than illness coverage, but the exact waiting periods vary by provider and state.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Premiums depend on the pet's age, breed, location, selected coverage limit, deductible and reimbursement percentage.
According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association's 2024 industry averages, accident-and-illness insurance cost approximately:
| Pet type | Average monthly premium |
|---|---|
| Dogs | $62.44 |
| Cats | $32.21 |
These are historical industry averages, not guaranteed 2026 quotes. Current premiums can be higher or lower depending on the pet and policy.
How to Choose an Accident-and-Illness Plan
Before purchasing pet insurance, compare:
- Annual coverage limit: Check the maximum amount the insurer will reimburse each year.
- Reimbursement percentage: Compare whether the plan pays 70%, 80%, 90% or another percentage of eligible expenses.
- Deductible: Understand how much you must pay before reimbursement begins.
- Waiting periods: Check when accident and illness benefits become active.
- Pre-existing conditions: Review how the insurer defines and handles previous medical conditions.
- Hereditary conditions: Check whether breed-related conditions are covered.
- Claims process: Find out whether you pay the veterinarian first or whether direct payment is available.
Conclusion
ASPCA, Spot, Pets Best, Embrace, Lemonade, Pumpkin, Figo, Nationwide, Healthy Paws and Trupanion offer accident-and-illness pet insurance options in the United States.
These plans can help manage eligible veterinary expenses resulting from unexpected injuries and diseases. However, coverage limits, reimbursement rates, deductibles and exclusions vary significantly.
Compare several personalized quotes and read the policy details before choosing coverage for your pet.
Disclaimer: Insurance benefits, pricing, waiting periods and availability vary by state, pet and policy. Coverage examples are not guarantees of claim approval.