Spay/Neuter Clauses – Why The Fine Print In Your Pet Insurance Plan Matters

In our series – Why The Fine Print In Your Pet Insurance Plan Matters – we are educating customers on loopholes in their dog insurance or cat insurance plans which could cause disappointment in coverage down the line.

You can download our entire Pet Insurance Guide: Why The Fine Print Matters.

Today’s topic: 
Spay/Neuter Clause

What is this?

Pet insurance providers can require a pet be neutered or spayed prior to a specific age, and if you do not choose to spay/neuter your pet prior to this timeframe, they will add additional exclusions to your coverage for issues they deem related to not spaying and/or neutering your dog or cat.
 

How does this affect you?

If you plan on breeding your pet, it can create a tight timeline for which your pet is able to mate. But, the bigger impact is the additional exclusions and illnesses which will no longer be paid for if you choose to keep your pet intact.
 
List of conditions pet insurance companies may not pay for if your pet is not spayed/neutered by a young age:
 

• Prostate problems
• Hormonal skin conditions
• Perianal hernias
• Testicular tumors
• Perianal tumors
• Mammary tumors
• Uterine and ovarian conditions
• Birthing
• Injury due to fighting
• Collision with motor vehicle
• Aggressive behavior

 
These conditions can become very expensive veterinary costs when you factor in all the diagnostic tests and treatments. Here are average vet bills for some of these issues (based on claims by PetFirst Pet Insurance pet owners in 2016):
 

• Vehicular trauma:           $998.21
• Prostate conditions:       $753.71
• Testicular tumor:            $628.59
• Ovarian issues:              $752.93
• Dog fight wounds:         $645.91

 

Which Pet Insurance Companies Have A Spay/Neuter Clause?
 

• Figo Pet Insurance
• Trupanion

 

Where does PetFirst stand?

While PetFirst is proud to support spay/neuter initiatives to mitigate pet overpopulation, we do not have any requirements for your pet to be spayed or neutered in order to receive pet health insurance coverage. 

 

In this series, we deep dive into the other following areas where coverage could be lacking if you have another pet insurance company’s plan:

• Exam or Records Required for Enrollment
• Annual Care Requirements
• Enrollment by Specific Age for Hip Dysplasia Coverage
• Exam Fee Coverage
• Bilateral Conditions
• Holistic/Alternative Therapies
• Vaccinatable Diseases
• Extended Wait Period on Orthopedic Conditions
• Periodontal Disease
• Dermatological Conditions
• Injuries Caused by Housemates
• Aging Ear & Eye Conditions
• Over-Insuring Your Pet
• Medical Prescriptions
• Reimbursement Formula

Now that you’ve done your research on pet healthcare plans, you can see PetFirst provides the most comprehensive, best pet insurance plan for dogs and cats. With no “gotchas” in the fine print, you can rest easy knowing you are able to give your pet the care they need.

How much does pet insurance cost?

In less than 2 minutes, you can get a customized quote for your pet.
?