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Coverage & Exclusions

COVERAGE

Coverage and Exclusions

MetLife Pet Insurance can help you cover costs related to new injuries and illnesses over the life of your pet. Our optional Preventive Care plan can be added to your standard coverage for reimbursements on routine and wellness care.

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or call 855-270-7387

Coverage Made Easy With Our Accident & Illness Plan

Our goal is to make pet insurance clear and easy to understand by offering comprehensive coverage with minimal exclusions in a single accident and illness plan. Dogs and cats of all breeds are eligible, and your pet will never age out of their coverage.¹ You can see any licensed vet in the U.S., including vet specialists and emergency care vets.

The following examples highlight common expenses and conditions that are typically covered under MetLife Pet plans, helping you feel more informed about what to expect when submitting a claim.

Accidents and Injuries

Hospitalizations and emergency care
Cruciate ligaments, including anterior (ACL), medial (MCL), cranial (CCL), and posterior (PCL)
Foreign body ingestion
Poisoning/toxicity
Bites, wounds, and lacerations
Broken bones and trauma

Illnesses and Conditions

Hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions
Periodontal disease
Infections and digestive upsets
Diabetes, arthritis, and cancer
Pregnancy² (for mother only)
Heart, kidney, liver, thyroid disease, etc.

Procedures

Surgeries
Routine complications
Endodontics (root canal) and orthodontics (braces)
Removal of deciduous teeth²

Diagnostics

Diagnostic tests
Blood work
X-rays
Ultrasounds
MRIs
Urinalysis
Vet visit exam fees

Prescriptions and Treatment

Vet-prescribed pet foods
Medications, including allergy and anxiety
Anal gland expression²
Preventative treatment²
Medicated baths²
Medicated baths²
Treatment of heartworm, parasites, and Lyme disease
Outpatient treatments

Supportive Care

Prescribed holistic care (herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and CBD oil)
Alternative therapies (chiropractic, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, etc.)
Boarding fees (while you’re hospitalized)
Burial and/or cremation (including grief counseling³)
Lost pet advertising and rewards

Add-On

What's Covered Under the Preventive Care Add-On?

Optional Preventive Care provides additional coverage to your standard policy. Get reimbursed, up to your selected benefit limit, for various routine and wellness costs.

Parasites, heartworm, and Lyme prevention
Vaccines
Teeth cleaning
Microchipping
Fecal test
Blood panel
Spay/neuter
Behavior training
Deworming
Health/travel certificates
Urinalysis
FeLV/FIV test
Heartworm tests

NOT COVERED

What's Not Covered Under MetLife Pet Insurance?

To help make insurance premiums more financially accessible for all pet parents, there are some exclusions — as with every pet insurance company.

Pre-existing conditions
Obedience training
Grooming costs and routine nail trims
Breeding or conditions related to breeding
Non-prescription food
Organ transplants
Illness or injury that arises from racing, coursing, commercial guarding, law enforcement, or organized fighting
Elective surgeries
Cosmetic or aesthetic procedures

See the Potential Savings With MetLife Pet Insurance⁴

Skin Allergies
Growth or Tumor
Heart Disease
Diabetes

You Would Pay

$250

MetLife Pet Could Cover

$2,250

Total Vet Bill

$2,500⁵

You Would Pay

$38

$342

Total Vet Bill

$380⁵

You Would Pay

$60

$540

Total Vet Bill

$600⁵

You Would Pay

$45

Total Vet Bill

$50⁵

You Would Pay

$27

Total Vet Bill

$30⁵

You Would Pay

$250

MetLife Pet Could Cover

$2,250

Total Vet Bill

$2,500⁵

Protect Your Pet Now

Pre-existing conditions may not be covered

Typically, pet insurance companies don’t fully cover pre-existing conditions. These are generally illnesses, injuries, or symptoms that occurred before your policy’s effective date and/or any applicable waiting periods.

However, MetLife Pet may be able to cover pre-existing conditions that are already covered by another provider when you switch to MetLife Pet through your employer.⁷ So if your cat’s diabetes or your dog’s allergies are already covered, and you switch to a MetLife Pet plan through your employer, you could still have coverage for those conditions.

Learn more about pre-existing conditions and reference your policy for full details.

How To Create a Plan To Fit Your Budget

Get a quote in a few simple steps, then customize your plan by adjusting the coverage levels detailed below. For more customization options, contact us at 888-486-7379.

Annual benefit limit⁸

The maximum dollar amount you can be reimbursed per policy year. Select a lower limit for a typically lower monthly premium.

Reimbursement rate⁹

The percentage of your vet bill reimbursed by MetLife Pet. Go for a higher rate if you want more cash back on covered, approved claims. Note that the premium may increase if you select a higher reimbursement rate.

Deductible¹⁰

The amount of money you must pay before MetLife Pet will pay a claim. Choose a high deductible for a typically lower monthly premium.

How much is pet insurance for a dog?

Dog insurance typically costs more than cat insurance, and the national average in 2026 comes in at around $52 per month for adult dogs. If you have a puppy, you might find the monthly average to be around $43. However, the younger the puppy is, the more expensive it may be to insure them. For example, a 3-month-old puppy may be more expensive to insure than a puppy who’s a year old.²

Typically, the most expensive dog breeds to insure can include:³

Bulldogs
Great Danes
Rottweilers
German shepherds
Bernese mountain dogs
Golden retrievers
Newfoundlands
Boxers

How much is pet insurance for a cat?

Cat insurance generally costs less than dog insurance, with the national 2026 average being $28 per month for adult cats. Kittens might cost around $25 to insure per month. Just like puppies, it could cost more to insure a younger kitten than an older kitten.²

The most expensive cat breeds to insure typically include:⁴

Abyssinian
Bengal
Burmese
Devon Rex
Persian
Maine coon
Munchkin
Ragdoll

Types of Plans and How They Affect Pet Insurance Costs

There are a few different kinds of pet insurance plans you can purchase, depending on what providers offer. Let’s take a look at how these choices impact costs.²

Accident and illness: Also known as comprehensive coverage, this plan covers a broad range of health issues and injuries your pet may experience. It’s also usually the most expensive.
Accident-only: If you don’t want coverage for illnesses, you can get a lower-coverage plan that only covers accidents and injuries. This typically costs less than comprehensive coverage.
Wellness: Some pet insurance providers offer wellness or preventive coverage. It may be included in your insurance plan’s coverage or presented as an add-on for an additional cost.

MetLife Pet offers a customizable accident and illness policy and optional Preventive Care coverage for an additional cost. Check out our pet insurance plans to find the right level of coverage for your furry family.

Get Coverage for the Unexpected

Caring for your pet is a commitment — one that can come with real financial weight. Annual pet care costs can reach up to $3,095 for cats and $5,295 for dogs, and unexpected vet bills can push those numbers higher.^11,12

With award-winning¹³ coverage from MetLife Pet, you can have a plan in place to stay ahead of those costs and manage eligible expenses before they become overwhelming. Take the next step and get a free, personalized quote today.

Reimbursements up to 90% on covered expenses⁹

Choose a rate that works for your pet’s needs and your budget.

No breed restrictions or upper-age limits to enroll¹

Fewer barriers to coverage mean more pets are eligible for enrollment.

Deductible savings with our healthy pet incentive¹⁴

Start getting money back sooner next year if your pet is healthy this year.

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What are you looking for?

**As with any insurance policy, coverage may vary. Review our coverage and exclusions.

¹ Coverage options may be limited for certain ages.

² Covered only if related to an illness, injury, or medically necessary

³ 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 in all states.

⁴ Examples are for illustrative purposes only. Please note that these examples do not include or account for any premium expense required to pay the pet policy. Actual premium rates may vary based on pet age breed, location, deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limits you choose. Examples are based on covered expenses on a policy with a 90% reimbursement after meeting a $250 deductible. The pet policy issued by MetGen 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.

⁵ “How Much Does a Vet Visit Cost? (2026 Pricing),” MarketWatch, 2025, https://www.marketwatch.com/insurance-services/pet-insurance/how-much-does-a-vet-visit-cost/, last accessed February 2026

⁶ The cost of common dog and cat emergencies,” Betterpet, 2025, https://www.betterpet.com/learn/cost-guide-to-emergency-pet-care, last accessed February 2026

⁷ Pre-existing coverage only available to individuals with active pet insurance coverage that have purchased MetLife Pet Insurance as part of an employer group benefit offering

⁸ Annual limit options range from $500 – $25,000 in $1,000 increments or unlimited benefit option also available. Restrictions apply.

⁹ Reimbursement options include: 50%, 70%, 80% and 90%. Restrictions apply.

¹⁰ Deductible options range include: $0 – $750 in $50 increments and $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500. Restrictions apply.

¹¹ “The Cost of Cat Parenthood in 2025,” Rover, 2025, https://www.rover.com/blog/cost-of-cat-parenthood/, last accessed February 2026

¹² “The Cost of Dog Parenthood in 2025,” Rover, 2025, https://www.rover.com/blog/cost-of-dog-parenthood/, last accessed February 2026

¹³ “2025 Pet Insurance of the Year Award” Winners, Pet Independent Innovation Awards

¹⁴ Your policy deductible decreases by $50 each policy year that you don’t receive a claim reimbursement. Deductible reverts on renewal if claim reimbursement for claims other than preventive care have been made. Restrictions apply.

Pet Insurance coverage issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company, a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886. 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).

Coverage and Exclusions