Holistic Pet Care: Does Pet Insurance Cover It?

MetLife Pet Insurance can cover holistic and alternative treatments if they are prescribed by a veterinarian as part of a treatment plan for covered conditions. Potentially eligible treatments include acupuncture, chiropractic care, laser therapy, hydrotherapy, and other techniques that may support your pet’s overall health and recovery.

Let’s take a look at what kinds of holistic pet care services are available and which might be covered by a MetLife Pet policy.

What Is Holistic Health?

Holistic health for pets focuses on treating and healing the whole animal. It encourages the use of a wider range of treatment options than conventional veterinary medicine offers on its own. Typically, treatments are minimally invasive and designed to be spread out over time for long-term wellness.¹

Holistic pet care focuses on identifying and addressing underlying causes of health issues rather than just managing symptoms.¹ For example, while a veterinarian may prescribe medication to manage arthritis pain, a holistic approach might also involve recommending supplements, laser therapy, or dietary adjustments to support your pet's overall health.

MetLife Pet’s Holistic Health Coverage

Let’s look at some types of alternative treatments used in holistic veterinary medicine that our standard pet insurance policy or our optional Preventive Care plan can typically provide coverage for, so long as they are prescribed by a veterinarian to treat a covered condition.

• Chiropractic care: A non-invasive technique to properly align the spine and promote nervous system health.¹
• Acupuncture: An ancient technique for relieving pain and improving organ function via acupuncture points.¹ Acupuncture treatment can be used for many common conditions.
• Laser therapy: A modality that targets cells to help repair damaged tissue faster, laser therapy is often recommended for wound healing, decreasing inflammation, and pain.¹
• Hydrotherapy: Low-impact water therapy that can help with rehabilitation after injury. Hydrotherapy can improve joint range of motion, muscular balance, and more.²
• Diet: This can include prescription food, vitamins/supplements, herbal medicine, homeopathic remedies, CBD oil, aromatherapy, and more^.1

MetLife Pet examples of holistic coverage

Here are some real-world examples of MetLife Pet covering holistic pet treatment.³

• Trixie, a 9-year-old golden retriever from Pennsylvania, needed therapeutic treatment to help with her hip dysplasia. We reimbursed her pet parents over $325 for a $425 bill.
• Angie, a senior dog from Arizona, was prescribed supplements after her liver enzymes came back elevated. We covered over $275 of the $325 cost.
• Sinbad, a 13-year-old cat from Illinois, needed prescription food after being diagnosed with diabetes. MetLife Pet covered $350 of the $400 bill.

Benefits of Holistic Pet Care

Depending on your pet’s condition and your vet’s care plan, treatments may be done individually or combined to address different aspects of care. Some of the potential benefits of using holistic health treatments for pets include:^1,4

• Fewer side effects
• Addressing underlying illnesses rather than managing symptoms
• Strengthening of the immune system
• Improving organ function
• Possibility of speeding up the healing process alongside conventional medicine
• Improving the overall well-being of your pet

All pets are unique — some may do well with alternative therapies and treatments, others may not. It’s important to have your pet examined by a licensed holistic vet to see if it’s a safe option for them.

Get Coverage for Holistic Pet Care Treatments With MetLife Pet

Many people may consider bringing their pet to veterinarians who practice holistic health. With treatments that are typically designed to be spread out over time, it can be beneficial to have pet insurance that can help you cover certain costs.

MetLife Pet’s standard policy and our optional Preventive Care plan can help you cover some of the costs of vet-prescribed holistic and alternative pet treatments if the condition is covered under your policy. To see what your personalized rates for a MetLife Pet policy are, get a free quote today.