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PET INSURANCE

Does Pet Insurance Cover Cancer?

5 min read

Jun 25, 2024

Cancer can affect any pet — regardless of their breed, species, health, or age. Having pet insurance that can cover cancer expenses can be a huge help, so you can focus more of your care and attention on your pet’s treatment and recovery. Read on for more information on how MetLife Pet provides coverage for pets diagnosed with cancer.

MetLife Pet Insurance can help reimburse vet bills for cancer diagnoses and treatments. Get your free pet insurance quote.

Pet Insurance and Cancer Coverage

Having a pet insurance policy for unexpected expenses can make a difference in securing your pet’s health and future. This may be especially true when it comes to a cancer diagnosis. Most pet insurance policies that provide comprehensive benefits can cover cancer diagnosis and treatment expenses, as long as it’s not considered a pre-existing condition. If you have an accident-only policy, cancer expenses likely won’t be covered. Check your policy for exact coverage details. However, if you are a policy holder that purchases the pet policy through your employer and you decide to switch to a MetLife Pet policy, you can rest easier knowing that if your pet already has cancer covered under your previous provider, MetLife Pet can provide coverage.

Does MetLife Pet Insurance Cover Cancer Treatment?

Yes! MetLife Pet can typically help you cover vet bills related to cancer — whether it’s for your pet’s diagnosis or treatment. We offer policies with up to 90% reimbursement on covered expenses after you reach your deductible.1

Like most new pet insurance policies, we typically don’t cover cancer that was diagnosed before your enrollment (aka a pre-existing condition) or during your waiting period.

Cancer Expenses MetLife Pet Can Cover

To provide transparency on some of the cancer expenses MetLife Pet can typically cover, take a look at the list below. You can also view our Coverage and Exclusions page or download a sample policy for more details.

✔️Exam fees

✔️Diagnostic testing (including X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, bloodwork, and more)

✔️Surgery

✔️Treatments

✔️Hospitalization

✔️Recovery therapies (such as physical therapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, and more)

✔️Prescription medications

✔️Holistic treatments (like vet-prescribed food and supplements, CBD oil, herbal remedies, and more)

If it’s your beloved companion’s time to cross the rainbow bridge, we know that losing a pet is never easy. That’s why we offer supportive benefits for pet parents — such as grief counseling,2 and coverage for euthanasia, burial, and cremation expenses to help ease financial stress during a tough time.

The Cost of Cancer Treatment

Diagnosing and treating cancer can be expensive, and bills may be spread out over years. The average cost of a vet visit for cancer-related treatment is approximately $725 for a dog and $605 for a cat.3 This cost can vary depending on the cancer diagnosis, your zip code, the frequency and type of cancer treatment your pet is receiving, and more.

Some of the main types of cancer treatment costs can look like:

Chemotherapy: The cost of chemotherapy for dogs and cats can range from $150 – $600 per dose.
Radiation: The cost of radiation therapy could be $1,000 – $6,000 depending on your pet’s treatment plan.4
Surgery: Costs to surgically remove a tumor can vary based on the type and location of the tumor, but it could start around $500.5

MetLife Pet Cancer Claims Stories

When it comes to your pet, hearing the word “cancer” can be scary. It may become even more stressful if you’re worried about affording the treatment your companion needs. MetLife Pet has helped many pet parents secure their furry friends’ life-saving cancer treatments.

Cole's Hospital Stay

Cole, a 10-year-old cat from Massachusetts, was diagnosed with lymphoma and needed to be hospitalized because he got so sick. Cole’s pet parents were reimbursed nearly 90% of the vet bill through their MetLife Pet policy.⁶

Real claim $2,900

MetLife Pet covered⁶

^$2600

Willa's Surgery

A 6-year-old dog, Willa, from Ohio was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and needed surgery as part of her treatment plan. After meeting their deductible, Willa’s parents were reimbursed almost 90% of the vet bill.⁷

Real claim $3,400

MetLife Pet covered⁷

^$3,000

Rex's Diagnosis

Rex, a 6-year-old pit bull terrier from California, was diagnosed with mast cell tumors in a few places on his body. After his first round of treatments, he went back to the vet for diagnostic testing. Rex’s parents were reimbursed nearly 90% for the diagnostic vet bills.⁸

Real claim $2,500

MetLife Pet covered⁸

^$2,200

Common Symptoms of Cancer in Pets

Cancer is a major disease-related cause of death for dogs — with around 50% of dogs over age 10 developing cancer.⁹ And while less is known about the rates of cancer in cats, they’re not immune to developing it — especially lymphoma.⁹ So it’s important to know the signs and symptoms to help detect the disease as early as possible. Signs you can search for in your pet to assist in detecting cancer include:⁹

Difficulty eating or breathing
Visible lumps and bumps
Swelling, pain, lameness, or heat that’s unexplainable
Wounds that won’t heal
Sudden weight changes
Bleeding from mouth, nose, or other openings
Vomiting or diarrhea that won’t stop

It’s important to remember that many cancer symptoms may be subtle, or they commonly go unnoticed until cancer is in its later stages. Regular vet visits can help ensure your pet stays healthy and that everything gets checked regularly. To help with these costs, we offer our Preventive Care add-on that can help cover wellness expenses, like routine exams and more.

Common cancers in pets

Knowing what you may be up against can also help you prepare. Common types of cancer in dogs can include melanoma, mammary tumors, basal tumors, and hemangiosarcoma. While there’s some overlap between dogs and cats, common types of cancer in cats can include lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, mammary carcinoma, and mast cell tumors.

Certain breeds may be predisposed to specific cancers, and the environment or condition your pet is in may also influence their risk of developing cancer — such as being exposed to secondhand smoke or whether pets are neutered or spayed.⁹ Talk with your vet about your pet’s cancer risk and the steps you can take to help keep them in good health.

MetLife Pet Can Help Protect Your Finances From Pet Cancer

While cancer isn’t always preventable, do what you can to keep your pets healthy, bring them in for regular checkups, and create a financial plan for the unexpected. Having a MetLife Pet Insurance policy, along with our Preventive Care add-on, can be a great part of your plan to help with pet care expenses.

Get your pets covered today with individual policies, or our family plan,¹⁰ before you have to choose between finances and your furry friend’s health. We know pets are family, and we want to make sure they can continue being a happy part of the family for as long as possible. Check out some other reasons why pet insurance may be worth it for you, or get a free, personalized quote in just a few minutes.

Cancer Can Be Scary. Vet Bills Don’t Have To Be.

Find Out More

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**As with any insurance policy, coverage may vary. Learn how MetLife Pet pet insurance works and review our coverage and exclusions.

¹ Reimbursement options include: 50%, 70%, 80% and 90%. Pet age restrictions may apply.

² Grief Counseling services are provided through an agreement with TELUS Health, an unaffiliated third-party service provider. Grief counseling services provided by TELUS Health are separate and apart from the insurance provided by MetLife . Not available to NY residents.

³ Vet costs based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from June 2023 to December 2023, unless otherwise noted. All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from June 2023 to December 2023. Story altered for illustrative purposes.

⁴ “Pet Owner Resources,” Veterinary Cancer Society

⁵ “Cancer Management - Frequently Asked Questions,” Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine

⁶ All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from December 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.

⁷ All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from December 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.

⁸ All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from December 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.

⁹ “Cancer in Pets,” American Veterinary Medical Association

¹⁰ Family plan policies are limited to dogs age 12 and under and cats age 14 and under. Multi-policy discount is not available with Family Plans.

Coverage issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886. Availability is subject to regulatory approval. Coverage subject to restrictions, exclusions and limitations and application is subject to underwriting. See policy or contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC (“MetLife Pet”) for details. MetLife Pet is the policy administrator. It may operate under an alternate or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), and MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois).

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