Does pet insurance cover boarding? Today, more pet owners are seeking pet insurance policies to help reduce the financial strain associated with pet care. Pet insurance can provide peace of mind in the event of illness or accidents, but what about other services such as boarding?
If you’re a frequent traveler, have emergencies, or need temporary housing for your furry friend, you might be wondering whether pet insurance can cover the cost of boarding.
Boarding your pet can become necessary during vacations, hospital stays, or unexpected situations. However, this type of care is often considered a luxury or non-essential service by insurers.
Knowing what’s covered under your policy, including any special provisions for boarding, is crucial.
What Pet Insurance Coverage Is
When you want to purchase a pet insurance policy, most people assume it works similarly to human health insurance. In many ways, that’s true.
Pet insurance does covers accidents, illnesses, surgeries, and medications. However, the coverage can vary significantly between insurers and policy types.
Most standard pet insurance plans do not include routine care or non-medical services such as grooming, training, or boarding.
However, some insurers offer optional add-ons or wellness plans that may include partial reimbursement for boarding expenses; usually only in very specific situations, such as a medical emergency affecting the pet owner.
Key factors generally covered by standard pet insurance include:
- Accidents (e.g., broken bones, lacerations)
- Illnesses (e.g., infections, chronic conditions)
- Emergency care and hospitalization
- Diagnostic tests and lab work
- Surgery and prescription medications
Nevertheless, the coverage for boarding falls outside these core areas unless stated otherwise.
When Does Pet Insurance Cover Boarding?
Boarding isn’t usually included in some base plans, but some insurance policies do offer coverage for boarding fees under specific conditions. This is outlined in the additional coverage options or emergency boarding benefits section of a policy.
Pet insurance may cover boarding when:
- The pet owner is hospitalized and unable to care for the pet for some days
- There is a medical emergency that requires the temporary relocation of the pet.
- The policy includes an optional rider or wellness package that offers partial reimbursement for pet boarding in emergencies.
Even in these cases, insurers usually impose Daily limits, Maximum benefit caps and Documentation requirements, such as proof of hospitalization and receipts from licensed boarding facilities.
This is why you must always read your policy documents thoroughly to determine eligibility and exclusions.
Types of Pet Insurance Plans and Their Relevance to Boarding
Understanding the different types of pet insurance can help determine whether or not boarding is included, and if it can be added. Here are some of the types of pet insurance plans and how they might be related to boarding issues:
- Specialty or Premium Plans: Some elite plans might provide custom benefits, including hotel stay reimbursements for the owner and boarding for the pet, particularly during travel or medical crises.
- Comprehensive Plans with Wellness Coverage: This is the only category that may offer partial reimbursement for boarding expenses. The wellness package is often optional and includes preventive care (vaccines, dental cleanings) along with possible boarding benefits, but with limitations.
- Accident and Illness Plans: These plans still offer broader protection but still usually exclude non-medical expenses like boarding. Some mid- to high-tier plans may offer emergency boarding as an optional benefit.
- Accident-Only Plans: These are the most basic and affordable types of coverage. They typically do not cover any boarding services since they are limited strictly to accidents and emergencies affecting the pet.
Alternatives to Insurance for Boarding Costs
If your pet insurance doesn’t cover boarding or if you don’t have pet insurance, there are still other few cost-effective options you can explore:
- Friends or Family Help: You can try asking a trusted friend or family member to pet-sit instead of using a formal boarding service.
- Pet Care Credit Cards: There are some financing options like CareCredit that can be used to cover boarding services.
- Pet Wellness Plans: Offered by some veterinary clinics and pet care providers, these plans sometimes include discounts or allowances for boarding services.
- Pet Sitting Apps: Platforms like Rover or Wag! Also sometimes provide affordable and flexible care options that may be cheaper than traditional boarding.