If you've ever sat in a vet's waiting room wondering what the bill is going to look like, you know the feeling. Dogs eat things they shouldn't, cats get sick out of nowhere, and one emergency visit can turn a normal week upside down.
Pet insurance can help eligible pet owners manage the cost of covered veterinary care, depending on the plan. Troy Lentz helps pet owners across the Kansas City area — and throughout Missouri and Kansas — understand how pet insurance works and what to look for before choosing a policy, explained in plain English.
Working With Shield Squad
Troy Lentz
Licensed Insurance Advisor · A Farmers Insurance Agency
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Pet insurance plans vary a lot from company to company, and not every plan includes everything below. Here's what these coverages generally mean — always check the policy details for what's actually included.
May help with vet costs after unexpected injuries — like a broken leg, a cut paw, or swallowing something they shouldn't have.
Some plans cover accidents only, and others cover accidents and illnesses. Check how the policy you're considering defines an accident.
May help with vet costs when your pet gets sick — from infections and stomach trouble to longer-term conditions — depending on the plan.
Illness coverage often has a waiting period before it starts, and conditions that showed up before coverage began are generally treated differently. Read those parts of the policy closely.
May help pay for tests your vet uses to figure out what's wrong — like bloodwork, X-rays, or ultrasounds — when they're related to a covered condition.
Diagnostics can add up fast before you even have an answer. Check whether they're included and how they count toward your plan's limits.
May help with the cost of surgery, anesthesia, and hospital stays for a covered accident or illness.
These are often the biggest vet bills people face. Your reimbursement percentage and annual limit affect how much help you'd actually get, so pay attention to both.
May help pay for medications your vet prescribes to treat a covered accident or illness.
If your pet ends up needing medication for a long time, it's worth knowing how the plan handles ongoing prescriptions.
Some plans may cover conditions a pet is born with or is more likely to develop because of breed — depending on the plan and whether the condition showed up before coverage started.
This is an area where plans differ quite a bit. If your breed is known for certain health issues, ask how the policy treats them.
Routine care like checkups and vaccines generally isn't part of standard accident and illness coverage, but some companies offer optional wellness add-ons or programs.
A wellness program can be separate from the insurance policy itself. Compare what it costs with what it would actually pay toward your pet's routine care.
May help with costs from an emergency or after-hours vet visit for a covered accident or illness, depending on the plan.
Emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. Most plans reimburse you after you pay the vet, so it helps to know how you'd handle the bill up front.
These are the moments that usually get people thinking about pet insurance. Whether a specific situation is covered always depends on the policy.
Pet insurance has its own vocabulary, and the details matter a lot. Here's what the most important terms mean in plain English.
With most plans, you pay your vet first and then send a claim to the insurance company. If the care is covered, you're reimbursed based on your deductible, your reimbursement percentage, and your plan's limits.
| Deductible | What you pay toward vet bills before the plan starts paying |
|---|---|
| Reimbursement percentage | The share of a covered bill the plan pays after your deductible |
| Annual or lifetime limit | The most the plan will pay in a year, or over your pet's lifetime, depending on the plan |
| Waiting period | Time after you enroll before some or all coverage begins |
| Pre-existing conditions | Conditions your pet had signs of, or was treated for, before coverage started — generally limited or excluded |
| Exclusions | Things the policy doesn't cover — always read this list |
| Age requirements | Some plans have age limits or different terms for older pets |
| Enrollment | What the company asks for to sign up, like your pet's age, breed, and health history |
| Claims | Usually you pay the vet, submit the bill, and get reimbursed for covered costs |
Source:NAIC: Regulator's Guide to Pet InsuranceNAIC Pet Insurance Model Act
Pet insurance isn't like auto insurance. It's optional coverage you choose for your dog or cat, and plan options, availability, and pricing can vary by where you live, your pet, and the insurance company.
Pet insurance through Farmers is provided by Pets Best. Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC places pet insurance with partner insurers, including American Pet Insurance Company and Independence American Insurance Company. Farmers doesn't underwrite the pet insurance itself, and your policy documents will show which insurance company issues your coverage.
| Provided by | Pets Best |
|---|---|
| Insurance companies | Pets Best places coverage with partner insurers, including American Pet Insurance Company and Independence American Insurance Company |
| Underwritten by Farmers? | No |
| Choosing a vet | Farmers says you can use any licensed veterinarian or specialist in the U.S. or Canada |
Source:Farmers: Pet Insurance
Shield Squad Agency works with pet owners in both Missouri and Kansas. Around Kansas City, it's common to live in one state and have your favorite vet — or the nearest emergency clinic — in the other.
If you travel with your pet or might need care outside your home state, check how your policy handles vets in other places. For pet insurance through Farmers, provided by Pets Best, Farmers says you can use any licensed veterinarian or specialist in the U.S. or Canada — but always check the policy details.
Moving across the state line? Let your insurance company know your new address, since plan details and pricing can depend on where you live.
| Your regular vet | Confirm your plan lets you use them |
|---|---|
| Emergency clinics | Know where the nearest one is, on either side of the line |
| Traveling with your pet | Check how care away from home is handled |
| Moving | Update your address with the insurance company |
Not sure what your policy should include? Let's walk through it together.
Pet is already selected below. Fill in your contact details, and a Shield Squad Agency representative will reach out to talk through pet insurance options for your dog or cat.
It depends on the plan. Many plans focus on unexpected accidents and illnesses and may help with things like diagnostic tests, surgery, hospital stays, and prescriptions for covered conditions. Some plans cover accidents only, and routine care is often separate. Always check the policy details.
Generally, conditions your pet showed signs of or was treated for before coverage started are limited or excluded. Each policy defines pre-existing conditions in its own way, so ask how the policy you're considering handles them.
Usually, yes. Many plans have a waiting period after you enroll before some or all coverage begins, and it can be different for accidents and illnesses. Check the policy details for the exact timing.
Standard accident and illness coverage generally doesn't include routine care like checkups and vaccines. Some companies offer optional wellness add-ons or programs, which may be separate from the insurance policy itself.
Often, but it depends on the company. Some plans have age limits or different terms for older pets, and existing conditions are generally treated as pre-existing. It's worth looking into your options sooner rather than later.
With most plans, you pay your vet and then submit a claim. If the care is covered, the company reimburses you based on your deductible, your reimbursement percentage, and your plan's limits. Keep your vet receipts and records handy.
Many pet insurance plans let you choose your own licensed veterinarian. For pet insurance through Farmers, provided by Pets Best, Farmers says you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian or specialist in the U.S. or Canada. As always, check the policy details.
Farmers: Pet Insurance