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One of the most common procedures pet parents have to think about when their pets are young is a spay/neuter procedure. In addition to controlling the animal population, spaying and neutering has many benefits to pets and their parents—but procedures can get expensive. Let’s get into whether pet insurance can help offset those costs, what those costs are, and if pet insurance is worth it for spaying and neutering.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying and Neutering?
In a standard accident and illness plan, pet insurance does not cover spaying and neutering. However, many pet insurance providers offer coverage under a rider to your plan, otherwise known as an add-on.
How does coverage work for spaying or neutering?
With many pet insurance providers, you can get spay/neuter coverage under a wellness add-on to your standard policy. These add-ons are essentially preventative care packages that come at an additional cost to your standard accident and illness plan. Typical preventative care packages offer some coverage for things pet parents can plan for, such as:
- Vaccinations
- Teeth cleanings
- Spaying/neutering
- Flea and tick prevention
- Microchipping
- Routine examinations
- Blood tests
- Heartworm testing
It’s important to note that pet parents will only be reimbursed up to the amount laid out by the plan. Here’s an example of how it could work:
A pet parent pays $25/month for their wellness add-on (which does not include the premium cost of their standard plan). The spaying procedure for their pet costs them $300 at their veterinary clinic, and their pet insurance provider offers reimbursement for this procedure up to $150. This means the spaying procedure will have cost them $150.
How Much Does Spaying or Neutering Typically Cost?
The cost for spaying or neutering your pet depends on where you’re located and where you get the procedure done. According to Good Rx, the cost of spaying your dog can range from free via an assistance program or humane society all the way up to $500 at a private animal hospital or veterinarian.
For cats, this procedure typically ranges from free to nearly $300, depending on where you have this procedure done.
What Pet Insurance Providers Have Spay and Neuter Coverage?
Several pet insurance providers offer spaying and neutering coverage under a wellness plan. Below is a look at the cost of these plans along with the reimbursement amount designated for spaying and neutering procedures.
| Pet Insurance Provider | Monthly cost of wellness plan (with spaying and neutering coverage) | Spaying and neutering reimbursement amount |
| Figo | $10 / $17 | $40 / $75 |
| Spot | $25 | $150 |
| Prudent Pet | Varies / Varies | $40 / $60 |
| Pets Best | $26 | $150 |
| Lemonade | Varies | Varies |
| Fetch | $10 / $20 / $30 | $100 / $100 / $125 |
Generally, Fetch offers the best spay/neuter coverage when strictly looking at how monthly plan cost compares against your reimbursement amount, with Spot and Pets Best close behind. However, each pet insurance provider’s standard plan offerings and wellness programs are different, so it’s important for pet parents to consider their financial and overall coverage needs when choosing the right pet insurance, rather than focusing on one small element of a plan.
Why Should You Get Your Pet Spayed or Neutered?
Other than the obvious—i.e., maintaining animal population and preventing overcrowding at animal shelters—there are a few different advantages to spaying and neutering your pets.
Life expectancy and longevity
According to a University of Georgia study, cited by The Humane Society, neutered male dogs had a greater life expectancy of about 13.8%, while spayed female dogs had a greater life expectancy of 26.3%. A similar Banfield Hospitals study found that spayed female cats lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer.
Additionally, cats and dogs who have not been spayed—known as “intact”—have a greater chance of developing reproductive cancers like uterine and mammary gland cancer. Intact male pets also have a greater risk of testicular cancer.
Curtail problematic behaviors
Intact dogs and cats are more prone to urine-marking, also known as spraying. Neutering and spaying your pets largely takes care of this issue. A spay or neuter procedure may also help with other problems, such as roaming, in-heat behaviors like howling, constant barking, and some types of aggression.
Potentially save money
As mentioned above, keeping your pet intact may lead to both health problems, like certain cancers, and behavioral issues. Dealing with these issues can be costly—taking care of a pet with a reproductive cancer, for example, can cost thousands.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It for Spaying and Neutering?
Buying a pet insurance policy is not worth it for spaying and neutering alone—between your deductible, standard plan premium, and wellness plan cost, you’ll pay much more than you would simply pay out-of-pocket for the procedure by itself. Instead, you’ll want to consider what kind of expenses you may expect and whether or not a pet insurance policy will meet your needs. For more information on weighing these considerations, visit “Is Pet Insurance Worth It?”
Further Reading
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? How To Know If It’s a Good Deal for Your Pet
- What Does Pet Insurance Cover, and How Does It Work? A Beginner’s Guide
- How Does a Pre-Existing Condition Affect Pet Insurance Coverage?
- The Best Pet Insurance Wellness Plans: How Preventive Care Add-Ons Work
- How To Choose the Right Insurance for Your Pet
- How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
- What To Know About Waiting Periods and Pet Insurance
- What Are Pet Insurance Deductibles, and How Do You Pick One?
- When Should You Get Pet Insurance?
- Savings Account Versus Pet Insurance: Which Is Better?
