Does Pet Insurance Cover Neutering?

How Much It Costs to Neuter a Dog

The  cost to spay or neuter a dog  can vary significantly, ranging anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars . ² The price you can expect to pay will depend on several factors, such as:

• Your dog’s size: A small dog will likely cost less than a large dog because it requires less anesthesia and surgery time.
• Age: The older your dog is, the more expensive their spay or neuter surgery may be due to potential complications.
• Location: Spay/neuter procedures are often available at reduced rates at low-cost clinics like the Humane Society, animal shelters, and veterinary schools.
• Where you live: Vet visit costs fluctuate by location, and are typically higher in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Spay or Neuter Expenses?

Standard pet insurance policies typically do not cover spay or neutering procedures because, although vets usually recommend them, they are nonetheless considered elective or preventive procedures.

Pet insurance is only designed to protect you against financial hardship arising from unexpected accidents and illnesses that might befall your pet throughout their lifetime.

How to Offset the Cost of Neutering with Pet Wellness Plans

The good news is that many pet insurance companies offer wellness plans that cover preventive care, which often include benefits for spaying or neutering. Rather than paying for the procedure in full at the time of service, a wellness plan allows you to spread out the cost by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable monthly payments.

Wellness plans are sold as add-ons to standard policies and charged at an additional monthly rate, typically ranging from $10 to $35 depending on the plan. In most cases, you can begin accessing wellness benefits immediately upon purchase of the plan without being subject to a waiting period, and claims are usually not subject to an annual deductible.

How much your insurance company will repay you for a spay/neuter procedure will vary based on the company and the plan you choose. In some cases, it may be possible to cover the entire cost of the procedure through your pet insurance provider. Otherwise, spay/neuter coverage may be defined by a pre-determined benefit schedule or a flat percentage of the total cost of the procedure.

Best Pet Insurance Plans for Neutering

Similar to how pet insurance policies differ by company, wellness policies will also differ in terms of what they cover and how much they cost. If you're considering enrolling in a wellness plan for spay or neuter coverage, it’s important to  compare pet insurance options to ensure you find the best solution for your needs.

The chart below shows how some of the top pet insurance providers include coverage for spay/neuter procedures in their wellness plans, which you can add to their traditional policies.

Why Neuter Your Pet

Now that you know standard pet insurance policies do not cover neutering for dog, you might be wondering if the procedure is worth paying for out-of-pocket.

Neutering has numerous benefits for your dog’s health and behavior. Research shows it can help prevent certain cancers, reduce undesirable mating behaviors, and decrease the risk of some health problems in pets. ³

Before choosing a pet insurance policy, carefully review the coverage options to ensure they align with your needs and budget. Even if a standard policy does not cover neutering, adding a wellness plan may be a cost-effective way to get reimbursed for the procedure.

Pawlicy Advisor can help you quickly compare quotes from some of the nation’s top providers, making it easy to see which pet insurance companies cover neutering through their wellness plans. Click the button below to see how easy it is to get started.

References:

1. Humane Society, “ Why You Should Spay/Neuter Your Pet ” Accessed July 31, 2024.
2. Brown University, “ Spay/Neuter ” Accessed July 31, 2024.
3. Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine “ Why Spay and Neuter Pets ” Accessed July 31, 2024.