Does Pet Insurance Cover Prescription Pet Food? (2024 Guide)
Allergies, obesity, skin problems, and other health issues can burden our pets. Switching them to prescription food might help clear up these problems, but it can also be costly. Thankfully, some pet health insurance providers cover prescription pet food and will fully or partially reimburse you for this expense.
We evaluated the best pet insurance companies, looking for standout features. Keep reading to learn about our top picks for pet insurance providers that cover prescription pet food.
What Should You Know About Prescription Pet Food Coverage?
If your pet experiences certain health conditions, prescription food can be part of maintaining their health. Most pet insurance providers don’t cover prescription food in their standard accident-and-illness plans. However, some providers cover it under their wellness plans as an optional add-on This coverage is supplementary care that you can combine with your base plan for an additional monthly fee.
Top 3 Pet Insurance Companies for Prescription Food Coverage
After researching the market for pet insurance companies that cover prescription food, we found the top three pet insurance providers based on price and plan options. These include:
Spot Rating
Learn more: Spot Pet Insurance Review
Embrace Rating
Learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
Trupanion Rating
Learn more: Trupanion Pet Insurance Review
What Is Considered Prescription Pet Food?
Prescription food is any food a veterinarian prescribes for your pet. If your pet has a health condition affected by diet, your vet may prescribe a food with a particular nutritional content. This can be a wet or dry food, yet it is often more expensive than non-prescription pet food. Because the nutritional content is meant for specific conditions, it’s recommended that pet owners use prescription food only under a vet’s guidance.
The following conditions may require prescription diet food:
- Arthritis
- Bladder stones
- Cancer
- Dental problems
- Diabetes
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Heart disease
- Joint problems
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Post-surgical recovery
- Weight issues
Your pet may need to be on a prescribed diet long-term, or your vet may only recommend it for a short period of time until the condition improves.
Is Pet Insurance for Prescription Food Worth It?
Having a pet insurance plan can save you money on your prescription food and other vet bills, but it’s important to read the fine print. Providers often have limitations on their prescription food coverage, such as only covering certain types of food or having minimum or maximum age limits to qualify. They may also cover food only for particular conditions. You can typically find a sample policy on each provider’s site that details the rules of their prescription food coverage.
We recommend that pet owners get a quote from multiple providers to find a monthly premium that suits your budget and pet’s needs. Spot, Embrace, and Trupanion each have positive features, so your decision may come down to the price you’re quoted. Read our report on pet insurance costs to learn more about average prices.
FAQs About Prescription Pet Food Coverage
Does a pet plan cover prescription dog food?
Some pet insurance plans cover prescription dog food. Several pet insurers don’t cover prescription food at all, while others offer coverage if you buy a wellness add-on for an additional monthly price. Occasionally, you can find providers that cover prescription food in their standard plan, such as Spot and Trupanion.
How can I afford prescription pet food?
A pet insurance plan can help partially or fully cover the cost of prescription pet food. In cases where it doesn’t fully cover the prescription, it can at least help reduce the expense. See our list of cheapest pet insurance companies to find a budget-friendly plan.
Are prescription pet foods worth it?
Whether or not prescription pet food is worth it depends on your pet’s needs and your vet’s guidance. If your vet thinks your pet has a health condition that requires prescription food, you have to decide whether it’s worth it for you and your pet.
Does my dog really need prescription pet food?
Only a licensed veterinarian can provide trustworthy guidance on whether your dog needs prescription pet food as part of a health care plan. If it does, having a dog insurance plan can help reduce the cost.
Our Rating Methodology
Our team is dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.