What end of life benefits does pet insurance offer?

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and money is the last thing you want to worry about during this emotional time. Fortunately, pet insurance not only protects you from the cost of your pet’s accidents and illnesses but can also provide a financial cushion when facing their final moments and beyond. End-of-life coverage can include hospice care, euthanasia, cremation and even memorial items.

Understanding what end-of-life care includes, the cost involved and which of the best pet insurance companies offer coverage can help limit financial stress so you can focus on compassionate care. 

What is end-of-life care for pets?

One of the hardest parts of pet ownership is knowing our pets are only with us for a short amount of time. Maintaining their comfort is vital as they age or face serious illnesses. End-of-life care, also known as palliative care or pet hospice, focuses on ensuring the comfort of elderly or terminally ill pets during their final days.

To maintain their quality of life, in-home veterinary visits, pain management, antibiotics, fluids to prevent dehydration and assisted mobility devices may be necessary. Vets may also recommend adjustments to the home environment to keep your furry friend comfortable and involved in daily activities. In some cases, your vet may suggest euthanasia to alleviate suffering.

Does pet insurance cover end-of-life care?

Most pet insurance companies cover end-of-life care. However, the extent of coverage can vary depending on the policy and provider.

End-of-life care typically includes services like euthanasia, cremation and burial. Pet insurance may also cover hospice care, which ensures your pet is comfortable in their final days.

There are two main types of pet insurance plans: accident-only and accident and illness coverage. Typically, only accident and illness coverage includes end-of-life care. It’s crucial that you review your policy to understand what specific end-of-life benefits are included. While some insurers offer comprehensive coverage for a wide range of end-of-life services, others might only cover euthanasia or require you to purchase an add-on or rider for more extensive coverage. Additionally, there may be limits on the amount the insurance will pay for these services.

Below is a breakdown of the most commonly covered end-of-life services.

Euthanasia 

From Greek, meaning “good death,” euthanasia is the act of ending an animal’s life peacefully and humanely. Veterinarians may recommend euthanasia when an animal is terminally ill, critically injured or suffering from a condition that prevents them from living a natural and comfortable life. It can be performed in the vet’s office or in your home. 

Most pet insurance companies will cover euthanasia for humane reasons. Accident-only plans may only cover euthanasia when deemed necessary as a result of a covered accident. If your pet is euthanized as a result of a pre-existing condition, your pet insurer may not cover the cost. 

Cremation

Cremation is common after a pet is euthanized. It’s a dignified way of handling your pet’s remains. Cremation is not considered a medical expense, so pet insurance doesn’t usually reimburse for this cost. A handful of pet insurance plans include cremation as part of their end-of-life benefits, often under a special rider or add-on — though it may be subject to reimbursement limits.

Memorial items

Pet insurance typically does not cover memorial items such as urns and keepsakes. These items are generally considered personal expenses and fall outside the scope of what most pet insurance policies will reimburse.

Palliative care

Pet insurance may cover various palliative care costs, depending on the policy and provider. In fact, some insurers offer this as part of senior dog or cat pet insurance plans. Coverage may include:

• Acupuncture and hydrotherapy: Some pet insurance plans include alternative therapies like acupuncture and hydrotherapy. However, these are often only covered if they are part of a broader treatment plan for a covered condition or as an add-on.
• Home visits: Taking pets to and from a vet’s office can be uncomfortable and stressful during the end-of-life stage. Coverage for in-home veterinary visits is less common and may require a special rider or be part of a more comprehensive plan.
• Pain medications and antibiotics: These are generally covered by most pet insurance policies, especially if they are prescribed to treat cancer in pets, a diagnosed illness or injury.
• Prescription diets: Coverage for prescription diets varies widely. Some plans offer partial reimbursement, while others exclude these costs altogether.

Pet burials

Pet cemeteries are becoming more and more common as a final resting place. But burying your pet is typically not included in a standard pet insurance policy. When pet insurers offer pet burial insurance, it is usually through a pet life insurance policy.

Pet life insurance is typically only available for animals earning money for their owners. Examples include prize-winning show animals, pure-bred breeding cats or dogs or pets that earn money from social media or product endorsements.

Costs of end-of-life pet care

Ultimately, we want to make our furbabies as comfortable as possible. But a dignified farewell isn’t always budget-friendly. The costs associated with end-of-life care can vary widely. Euthanasia alone can range from $50 to $500 with fees, while cremation and burial services can add several hundred dollars more.

Understanding the nuances of each end-of-life service is essential for planning and ensuring your pet’s final days are as comfortable as possible.

Pain management and medications

The cost of pain management and drugs such as antibiotics or corticosteroids will vary greatly. Your location, pet’s size, age, breed and the type of medication will all play a role. Most accident and illness policies will cover the cost of these prescriptions and medications for your pet if they are for a condition included in your policy.

Holistic therapies

Some pet insurance companies cover holistic therapies, such as acupuncture or massage therapy, recommended to ease your pet’s pain. The cost of these and the extent of your coverage will vary depending on your selected policy, your location and your pet’s particulars.

Euthanasia

The cost of putting your pet to sleep depends on a few factors, including your pet’s breed and size. The site you choose for the procedure can dramatically impact the price. In the case of planned euthanasia, some pet parents opt to have their pets put to sleep in their home. 

• If your vet is willing to come to your home to do the procedure, you can expect to pay between $200 and $400, plus fees for weekend or holiday appointments.
• If you opt for in-clinic euthanasia, the cost will be between $80 and $195, plus fees.

Cremation

Cremation costs depend largely on the size or weight of the pet and whether pet parents choose a private or communal cremation. A private cremation means that your beloved friend is cremated in a private chamber, and you are guaranteed to receive only their ashes. Communal cremation is a more affordable option, but several pets are cremated together and there is no attempt to separate the ashes. Below is a breakdown of cremation costs based on your pet’s weight.

There’s also the cost of the urn, which typically starts around $50, and memorial items like paw prints and other keepsakes. These may or may not be included under the terms of your pet insurance policy.

Pet insurance companies with end-of-life coverage

Whether your pet is getting closer to the rainbow bridge or you’re planning ahead, several top pet insurance providers include at least some coverage for end-of-life care. 

ASPCA

ASPCA offers a range of end of life benefits under its Rainbow Bridge Support, including euthanasia, cremation and burial. Pet parents who purchase the Complete Coverage℠ policy can access alternative treatments for covered conditions to help with palliative care. For those with aging pets, ASPCA has senior cat and dog policies with no age limits, though premiums may be higher.

Embrace

Embrace pet insurance covers humane euthanasia under its accident and illness policy. It also reimburses for memorial costs such as cremation, burial and keepsake items under its optional Wellness Rewards plan. Embrace will also reimburse costs associated with palliative care when related to a covered condition.

Figo

Figo will cover veterinarian-recommended euthanasia and medically necessary treatment for accidents or illnesses covered by your policy. Holistic and alternative treatments are also included in most cases.

Hartville

Hartville covers euthanasia, burial and cremation expenses under its accident-only policy and its Complete Coverage℠ policy. Both policies also include coverage for prescription food and supplements when required to treat covered conditions. However, they do not cover house call fees.

Lemonade

Lemonade’s base accident and illness policy is just that — basic to keep its premiums competitive. However, Lemonade offers various add-ons that pet parents can opt into, such as end-of-life and remembrance and benefits, which include coverage for humane euthanasia, cremation and memorial items.

Unlike most pet insurance companies, Lemonade’s end-of-life coverage reimburses vet-recommended euthanasia for pre-existing conditions. This add-on is not subject to your base policy deductibles and reimbursement rates. Reimbursement is capped at $500 per policy year.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual’s accidental death benefit covers euthanasia as well as cremation or burial for injury-related death under all three of its policies. This benefit is not subject to your policy’s deductibles and co-pays. For pet parents looking to make their terminally ill furbaby more comfortable, alternative treatments are covered under the Accident and Illness or Accident, Illness, and Wellness policies. 

ManyPets

The comprehensive accident and illness plan from ManyPets covers euthanasia and cremation resulting from an accident or illness covered by your policy. Acupuncture is covered if deemed medically necessary and due to an accident or illness and must be performed by a veterinarian. 

MetLife

The Standard Plan from MetLife provides coverage for burial or cremation, up to $500. Unique to this company, MetLife also offers grief counseling services for pet parents through an agreement with TELUS Health. If your dog or cat dies before age eight, MetLife’s mortality benefit includes reimbursement for the cost of purchasing or adopting your pet, up to $500.

Nationwide

Nationwide covers several veterinary expenses related to end-of-life services. These include euthanasia, cremation, urns, burial fees, aqua cremation, necropsy and paw prints. The company also covers these expenses even if death is associated with an ineligible or pre-existing condition.

Nationwide reimburses up to $250 per policy term, and your policy deductibles and coinsurance terms do not apply to this coverage. Pet parents who purchase the My Pet Protection Plan, an employer-offered Nationwide policy, have a mortality benefit. Nationwide will reimburse the cost of purchasing or adopting the pet up to $1,000 as long as the dog is under eight years of age and the cat is under 10 years of age.

Pets Best

Pets Best plans cover humane euthanasia but do not include coverage for cremation, burial or any other after-life procedures or care. Most plans cover alternative treatments such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy. For parents of senior pets, Pets Best does not have an age limit on pet insurance.

Progressive

Progressive’s pet insurance plans cover the costs of humane euthanasia as long as you have confirmation from your licensed vet that the procedure was necessary. However, the company does not cover cremation or burial expenses as these are deemed a non-veterinary cost.

Spot

Spot’s pet insurance policies cover end-of-life expenses such as euthanasia, burial and cremation when caused by a covered condition. However, they do not cover house visits or funeral service and memorial item costs. Alternative therapies and advanced care are also covered under Spot’s Accident and Illness policy. 

Trupanion

Trupanion policies cover euthanasia recommended by a licensed veterinarian. Coverage for cremation and burial fees is included in the Pet Owner Assistance Package add-on. Alternative therapies like acupuncture and hydrotherapy for aging pets are included in the Recovery and Complementary Care coverage.

Other ways to cover end-of-life expenses for your pet

If your pet insurance policy doesn’t include end-of-life coverage or you prefer not to pay for an end-of-life rider, there are several alternatives to cover end-of-life costs for pets:

• Charities and assistance programs: Various animal welfare organizations and charities offer financial assistance for pet care, including end-of-life services, to those in need.
• Credit options: Pet care-specific or general credit cards can help cover costs, but consider the interest cost if you plan to pay off the balance over time.
• Payment plans: Some veterinary clinics offer payment plans, allowing you to spread the cost of end-of-life care over several months.
• Savings: Setting aside a dedicated emergency fund for your pet’s care can help cover unexpected expenses, including end-of-life services. Depending on the type of savings account you open, you may earn interest that can help pay for pet insurance premiums.

Bottom line

We share a profound bond with our pets, and the thought of saying goodbye is never easy. End-of-life care for pets presents an emotional and financial challenge. Pet insurance can ease the burden while helping you plan ahead.

Choosing a pet insurance policy that includes end-of-life benefits helps limit the financial stress of caring for your pet at an already difficult time. By getting the right coverage or exploring other financial resources, you can focus on what truly matters — giving your beloved pet a dignified and loving goodbye.