Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying and Neutering?

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Pumpkin Team
Nov 4
6 min read

Key Points

Most pet insurance plans won’t cover routine spay or neuter procedures, but pet wellness plans can.
Spay/Neuter procedures have many health benefits, including extending the lifespan of your pet.
The average cost of the procedure can be a couple of hundred dollars, but with wellness plans and/or low-cost clinics, it can be far less or even free.

If you’re a new pet parent, you’re probably learning that bringing home a furry family member can be equal parts cuddles and chaos. Somewhere between the zoomies and the endless chew toys, your veterinarian will bring up the question: “When are you scheduling your pet’s spay or neuter treatment?”

It’s a big milestone in pet ownership. It’s one that keeps your pets healthy, helps fight overpopulation, and can even improve behavior. But it can come with a surprising price tag. So it’s only natural to wonder: Can pet insurance help with this?

The short answer: Routine spay or neuter costs aren’t typically covered under standard pet insurance plans. However, pet wellness plans like Pumpkin Wellness Club can help cover the costs of preventive or routine services like spaying or neutering procedures.

Why standard pet insurance plans don’t cover spay/neuter procedures

You may be wondering, why is an important procedure like this not covered by pet insurance? If you’re new to pet insurance or need a refresher, it’s important to know what pet insurance is and why it exists.

Pet insurance is designed to cover unexpected accidents & illnesses. It’s not designed to cover routine care or preventive care that you expect your pet to get every year such as wellness exams, dental cleanings, or heartworm prevention. This means that standard pet insurance plans reimburse you for your pet’s eligible health care costs only if they are for diagnosis or treatment of an unexpected accident or illness. For example, your pet insurance plan may not cover joint support supplements for general wellbeing, but it will cover medicine for an unexpected eligible illness.

Many standard pet insurance policies generally exclude elective surgeries such as spay/neuter procedures. Of course, as nearly any veterinarian will tell you, keeping up with routine preventive care is just as important as emergency care for an injury or illness. In fact, many pet insurance providers also offer optional wellness plans that are additions to their plans. These pet wellness plans can help you pay for crucial preventive care such as fees for annual physical examinations and parasite screening tests.

Cat and dog snuggling on green grass, cat resting its head on the dog's face

What does pet insurance cover?

Think of pet insurance like a safety net for the unexpected. A standard accident and illness plan can help reimburse you for eligible veterinary expenses if your pet gets hurt or sick in the future. This can include:

Emergency surgeries for accidents or illnesses
Diagnostic testing, such as X-rays or ultrasounds
Prescription medications
Eligible hospitalization or specialist care

How does a Pet Wellness Plan support Preventive Care?

Routine and preventative procedures (think annual checkups, vaccines, routine dental cleanings, and yes, routine spay or neuter surgeries) are considered expected parts of care. Pet wellness plans, are designed to help support this type of care that falls outside of what most pet insurance plans cover under accidents or illnesses.

Gif showcasing the Pet Health Predictor, text reads Pumpkin Wellness Club See what the future holds for your pet - and what it will cost. Try our free Pet Health Predictor. Jersey Common Conditions, Hip Dysplasia, Environmental Allergies, Ear Infections, Hypothyroidism, Canine Cancer, Periodontal Disease

Pet wellness plans are not insurance, so they do not have restrictions based on pre-existing conditions or age. Instead, they can reimburse you for routine or preventive medicine for your cat or dog, like spaying and neutering procedures.

Why spay or neuter your pet?

Spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) is a surgical procedure that prevents pets from reproducing, but the benefits extend well beyond that.

Getting your pet spayed or neutered is an important step towards taking care of their overall health and well-being. Alongside other preventive care services like vaccines and parasiticides, the spay/neuter surgery is often one of the first forms of routine care pet owners experience at the vet.

According to the ASPCA, sterilized pets are less likely to develop certain cancers and infections, and they often live longer, healthier lives.

Key benefits include:

Reduced cancer risk: Spaying reduces the risk of uterine infections and greatly lowers the chance of breast tumors. Neutering prevents testicular cancer and prostate issues.
Fewer hormonally-driven behaviors: These behaviors include roaming, marking, or aggression, which can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst.
No surprise litters: Spaying or neutering your pet prevents accidental breeding and reduces shelter crowding — a win for both your household and community!

While professional breeders are equipped to give litters of puppies and kittens great care, chances are most pet parents would be a bit overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of 3-5 extra kittens or up to 12 puppies or more!

Graph showing that a Domestic Shorthair cat costs $1,660/year for wellness care. Text reads Pumpkin Wellness Club, How much does wellness care cost for a tabby cat? Try our Free Pet Health Predictor. Based on the projected cost of wellness care for a 4 year old male Domestic Shorthair in New York, NY

How much does spaying or neutering cost?

While the procedure itself is relatively straightforward, prices vary based on your pet’s size, species, and location. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the average cost is about $300 for dogs and $150 for cats.

For many, this cost can come as a surprise when you first adopt or purchase a pet, but there are options available. In addition to helping you save up to $460/year on routine veterinary care, Pumpkin Wellness Club can also help with costs associated with spaying and neutering procedures. There are also hundreds of low-cost clinics and options across the country worth considering. Check out resources like the United Spay Alliance, the ASPCA, or SpayUSA’s directory to locate low-cost spay/neuter options near you.

Pet Insurance or Pet Wellness for Preventive Care

Pet insurance is a great way to help future-proof your pet’s health care, and make it easier for you to get the care your pet may need for unexpected accidents & illnesses that may pop up. Unfortunately, it generally will not cover spay/neuter procedures.

Even so, spaying or neutering your pet is a crucial procedure that offers multiple health benefits. Not

only does it help prevent serious health issues later in life, like ovarian cancer or a uterine infection for females and testicular cancer for males, but it also prevents unexpected litters from being born, which can cause overpopulation, animal shelter surrenders, and families of strays. It also prevents female cats and female dogs from going into heat, which is an added element of care that not every pet parent is prepared for.

Pet insurance combined with an add-on pet wellness plan like Pumpkin Wellness Club can be the perfect way to make sure your pet is covered for accidents, illnesses, and the routine care to keep them healthy.

As a responsible pet parent, you want to do what’s right for your children. Remember that there is no better advocate for your pet’s health than your veterinarian. When in doubt, ask them what the best options are for you and your pet.

Ready to learn more?

To compare the best pet insurance options, check out our helpful pet insurance comparison page.

Or get more information on the difference between a pet wellness plan and pet insurance to see if an add-on wellness plan is right for your pet.

FAQs

What are the negatives of spaying and neutering?

Recent studies have shown that if a pet is spayed or neutered too early in life it may cause health issues down the line such as obesity or orthopedic issues. However, implications vary by species, breed, and size. If timed correctly, however, it is actually a form of preventative care as it can reduce the risk of cancers, uterine infections, and more.

How risky is spay/neuter surgery?

As with any major surgery, there is always a risk, however, this procedure is one of the most commonly performed on both cats and dogs alike. The AVMA states that “Sterilization is associated with some anesthetic and surgical risk, but the overall incidence of complications is very low.” It also produces many long-term benefits as we mentioned before.

What are some affordable spay and neuter options for pet owners?

If cost is a concern, talk to your veterinarian. They can help you find trusted, lower-cost options. The ASPCA runs subsidized spay and neuter clinics across the U.S., and organizations like PetSmart Charities maintain a database of affordable providers. Many shelters even include sterilization in their adoption fees.

Why should I consider spaying or neutering my pet?

Beyond preventing unwanted litters, spaying and neutering your cat and dog offer real health and behavioral benefits. These include a lower risk of certain cancers and infections, as well as fewer hormonally driven behaviors. Plus, it helps reduce the number of homeless pets.

What is the best age to spay or neuter a dog?

Most dogs are spayed or neutered between six and nine months old, but when you should spay or neuter your dog varies by breed and size. Always consult your veterinarian for personalized guidance.

References