Does Pet Insurance Cover Allergies?

Once diagnosed, allergies could be something your pet faces for the rest of their life, since symptoms can only be managed, not cured. But there are ways you can make managing the costs a little easier.

MetLife Pet Insurance can help you with allergy expenses by reimbursing you for covered costs.¹ Learn more about how our coverage works for pet allergies. 

MetLife Pet Offers Coverage for Allergy Costs

A standard accident and illness pet insurance policy with MetLife Pet can reimburse you up to 90% of costs related to your pet’s allergy diagnosis and treatment.¹

Allergies happen when a dog or cat’s immune system overreacts to certain substances — like food ingredients or pollen.² Excessive itching along with other skin, digestive, and respiratory issues is common. Treatment usually starts with a diagnosis from your vet to determine which allergens are causing the reaction, allowing them to be managed through substance removal, immunotherapy, or various medications.²

Check your exact policy for coverage details and note that accident-only pet insurance plans likely won’t cover allergies.

Can you see any vet for pet allergies?

Your regular vet may refer your pet to a veterinary dermatologist who can conduct more advanced procedures, like skin allergy testing or specialized treatments.² With MetLife Pet Insurance, you can see any licensed vet in the country — including specialists like vet dermatologists — for the care your dog or cat needs.

What Types of Allergy Expenses Can Be Covered?

Whether it’s food, environmental, or flea allergies, some of the expenses you could be reimbursed¹ for with a MetLife Pet policy include:

• Diagnostics (like allergy testing or special blood tests)
• Exam fees
• Prescribed supplements, food, and medications (oral, topical, or injections)
• Hospitalization and emergency care
• Prescribed alternative therapies (like acupuncture or herbal medicines)

Pets with allergies can also experience related health issues, such as hot spots, gastrointestinal upsets, respiratory problems, or even anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction).² With a MetLife Pet plan, there’s coverage for these issues, too.

Does pet insurance cover allergy testing?

Yes, MetLife Pet Insurance can help you cover your dog or cat’s allergy testing, as long as the allergies aren’t considered a pre-existing condition. Allergy testing can be very helpful in diagnosing and properly managing your pet’s allergies.

While food allergies are typically diagnosed by conducting a food trial, environmental allergies can be identified through blood tests and intradermal skin testing.² Blood and skin tests that can help your vet diagnose specific allergies can be reimbursable through MetLife Pet’s cat and dog insurance policies.¹

Does pet insurance cover allergy shots?

MetLife Pet provides coverage for allergy shots, like Cytopoint^®3 for dogs, that can help manage your pet’s allergies. Immunotherapy shots can gradually desensitize your pet to allergens and may be used for long-term management of allergies.²

Prescriptions like Apoquel^®3 and other oral or topical medications (including prescribed medical shampoos) can also be covered by pet insurance. Affected pets may need these treatments during peak allergy seasons, when they have a flare-up, or regularly.²

Are There Exclusions to Allergy Coverage?

Your exact policy dictates coverage of your pet’s allergies, so be sure to check the details. Make sure you have a comprehensive versus an accident-only pet insurance plan, as accident-only plans typically won’t cover allergies.

Any vet visits that happen or bills you receive before or during applicable waiting periods won’t be covered. So if your pet has pre-existing allergies, those often aren’t covered by insurance.

Other allergy-related expenses not generally covered also include over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, food, or treatments not prescribed by your vet, as well as grooming.

Knowing what’s covered and which costs you’re ultimately responsible for can help you when managing your pet’s expenses.

Pre-existing conditions

Allergies are a chronic condition that can only be managed, not cured. It’s also a health condition that could develop at any point in your pet’s life. So it’s important to remember that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by pet insurance.

If your pet showed any signs of allergies or was previously diagnosed with allergies before you enrolled them in a policy, or during the policy’s waiting period, related costs won’t be covered. To help you avoid pre-existing condition exclusions, get pet insurance for them early on — especially for pets that may be at a higher risk of developing allergies.

However, MetLife Pet may be able to help dogs and cats with pre-existing allergies. If your pet’s allergies are already covered by another provider and you switch to MetLife Pet through your employer, you may be able to get continued coverage for their allergies.⁴

The Cost of Managing Allergies

Diagnosing allergies can get expensive, with the average allergy test costing $200.⁵ When it comes to management, oral allergy meds could be $1 – $3 per tablet, a course of steroids could cost $20 – $60, and topical treatments can cost $15 – $45 per month. Additionally, a single allergy shot might cost $70 – $275 and custom shots can be around $40 – $60 per month.⁶

Since your pet will likely need treatment for the rest of their life, allergies could end up being a large expense. Pet insurance can help you put money back in your pocket and save on these vet costs over the years.

MetLife Pet members who saved on allergy costs

Allergy-related costs can vary quite a bit based on what your pet needs, where you live, where they receive care, and the frequency of treatments. It may be helpful to see real-life examples of MetLife Pet reimbursing pet parents.¹ Let’s take a look at a few:⁷

• Paris the dog was brought to the vet for her therapeutic treatment that helps manage her allergies and resulting skin issues. Her family was reimbursed over $900 of the $1,150 bill.
• A senior dog named Burg was experiencing a flare-up of his chronic allergies and was brought to the vet for a diagnostic assessment. The vet visit and tests cost almost $550. His family was reimbursed over $450.
• Mitzy the cat was brought to the vet and diagnosed with an ear infection caused by her allergies. Her owners got more than $400 back on the nearly $450 cost for the vet exam.

We know you want your pet to feel their best. A pet insurance policy can help you make allergy treatments more financially accessible so you can get the care they need.

Get Pet Insurance That Covers Allergies With MetLife Pet

Allergies don’t have to mean lifelong discomfort for your pet. With a proper diagnosis and the right treatments, allergies can be managed — leaving pets feeling healthier and happier.

To help you with the cost of managing allergies, enroll your dog or cat in a pet insurance plan before symptoms arise. Choose a customizable MetLife Pet policy and get up to 90% back on covered costs like allergy testing, shots, and medications.¹ See your personalized rates today by getting a free quote.