5,534 pet owners requested and received a free no-obligation quote from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.
What Is Pet Cancer?
Pet cancer is the abnormal growth of cells or tissues in the body, referred to as neoplasms or tumors. These masses can be benign or malignant, and only malignant masses are considered cancers.
The rate of cancer in dogs is similar to that of humans; the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that about one in four dogs develops cancer at some point in its life. While less is known about the rate of cancer in cats, there are some cancers, such as lymphoma, that are more common in cats than dogs.
According to UW Veterinary Care at University of Wisconsin-Madison, here are some of the most common types of cancer found in pets:
- Bone tumors: Bone tumors can be difficult to treat but are often managed with amputation or radiation therapy.
- Lymphoma: Lymphoma can often be effectively treated with a regimen of medications such as prednisone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and doxorubicin.
- Mast cell tumors: Most mast cell tumors are manageable and can often be treated with surgery alone. In some instances, radiation or chemotherapy may be recommended.
- Soft tissue sarcomas: Most soft tissue sarcomas can be treated with surgery. Once the sarcoma is removed, your vet may recommend further treatment, such as radiation.
Thanks to diagnostic tools including X-rays, ultrasounds and blood tests, it’s much easier to detect cancer in pets than it previously was. In some cases, MRIs or CT scans may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.
Though it’s much easier to detect cancer in pets, many of the treatments can be costly. If you don’t want to end up shouldering expensive vet bills, enrolling in a pet insurance program can help.
How Does Cancer Coverage Work?
Many pet insurance companies will cover cancer care as long as your pet is enrolled in a policy before it is diagnosed. Most pet insurance providers don’t cover preexisting conditions, so if your pet has already been diagnosed, getting coverage can be difficult if not impossible.
Pet insurance companies offer various types of coverage. Most companies offer accident-only and accident-and-illness plans. Some plans include cancer coverage, while others offer cancer coverage as an add-on. Many companies cover a range of diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Once your pet has received treatment, you must submit a claim. Your insurance company will reimburse you if your claim is approved. If your pet is predisposed to cancer due to its breed or hereditary conditions, it’s a good idea to contact insurance providers to see what cancer coverage they offer.
What Companies Cover Cancer?
Pet insurance companies offer coverage for a range of pet health issues. Many providers also include coverage or offer add-ons for cancer and related treatments. We’ve researched some of the top pet insurance providers’ costs and coverage options.
Lemonade Cancer Coverage
Lemonade provides pet owners with a base accident-and-illness policy that covers diagnostics, medications and procedures. The company offers a range of reimbursement rate, annual payout and deductible options, all of which determine your monthly premium. As long as the waiting period is over, this plan covers chronic conditions including cancer and related treatments.
Lemonade’s policy will cover diagnostic tests to determine the cancer’s location, medications to treat the cancer and surgery if needed. Lemonade also offers wellness add-ons, though these add-ons aren’t necessary to receive treatment for cancer.
To learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance review
Spot Cancer Coverage
Spot offers accident-and-illness coverage that includes cancer treatments. Spot also covers any exam fees related to the illness, which is fairly unique for pet insurance. You can choose your deductible, reimbursement rate and annual payout, making it possible to customize your plan and monthly premium.
Spot covers costs related to diagnostics and advanced cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery. It also covers stem cell therapy, which your vet may recommend depending on your pet’s condition.
To learn more: Spot Pet Insurance review
Fetch by The Dodo Cancer Coverage
Fetch by The Dodo’s pet insurance coverage is comprehensive. It covers your pet for many treatments, from routine vaccinations to cancer care. Based on your vet’s recommendation, Fetch will cover cancer-related treatments including diagnostics, surgery, chemotherapy and radiology.
Its policies are customizable, and you can choose coverage and payout options to fit your budget. Regardless of the annual payout you choose, a Fetch policy covers veterinary oncology care and treatments.
To learn more: Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance review
Trupanion Cancer Coverage
Trupanion offers unlimited payouts at a 90% reimbursement rate. Its accident-and-illness plan covers hereditary conditions, congenital conditions and other unexpected illnesses, including cancer.
With a Trupanion policy, your pet is covered for cancer and related treatments. Trupanion’s policy covers diagnostics, surgery, hospitalizations, medications and supplements, which are all often necessary for the treatment of cancer in pets.
To learn more: Trupanion Pet Insurance review
Figo Cancer Coverage
Figo pet insurance has customizable coverage options. Policyholders can choose their annual deductible, payout and reimbursement rates. Monthly premiums vary accordingly.
Figo offers coverage for cancer and related treatments. In addition to diagnostics, hospitalizations, medications and surgeries, Figo also covers cutting-edge cancer treatments, such as radiosurgery and CyberKnife.
To learn more: Figo Pet Insurance review
Embrace Cancer Coverage
Embrace offers personalized coverage for pet parents, making it possible to cover your fur baby according to your budget. Regardless of how you personalize your plan, Embrace covers cancer treatment for no additional cost.
Embrace’s policy covers oncologist consultations, diagnostics and treatments, including surgery and radiology. The company even includes coverage for rehabilitation and other follow-up care.
To learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance review
Healthy Paws Cancer Coverage
Healthy Paws offers unlimited coverage to all policyholders with no maximum limits on payouts and no per-incident, lifetime or annual caps. Its coverage plan has two options for an annual deductible and two options for a reimbursement rate.
Regardless of the options you choose, Healthy Paws offers cancer coverage. This coverage includes diagnostics, surgery, hospitalizations, prescription medications, specialty care, and alternative therapies and treatment options.
To learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance review
Annual Cost of Cancer Coverage
It’s always a good idea to get several free quotes when shopping around for pet insurance. There is a range of costs and options, from cheap pet insurance to comprehensive coverage with a higher price tag. Based on our research, here’s what you can expect to pay for monthly pet insurance that includes cancer coverage.
| Company | Average Cost for Dogs* | Average Cost for Cats* |
|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | $17.36–$71.31 | $11.00–$39.64 |
| Spot | $17.84–$141.32 | $9.86–$83.18 |
| Healthy Paws | $34.39–$45.14 | $13.34–$17.57 |
| Figo | $19.22–$93.83 | $8.72–$42.62 |
| Embrace | $30.56–$88.18 | $13.65–$39.39 |
| Fetch | $35.57–$79.61 | $20.16–$38.26 |
| Trupanion | $58.96–$178.14 | $27.86–$75.74 |
*Quotes are based on quotes we obtained for a 4-year-old, medium-sized, mixed-breed female dog and a 4-year-old, medium-sized, mixed-breed, medium-hair female cat in Portland, Ore.
Is Cancer Common in Dogs?
Unfortunately, cancer in dogs is quite common. Dogs more than 10 years old get cancer at a rate of almost 50%, and it’s one of the leading causes of death in older pets. Dogs develop cancer at roughly the same rate as humans.
As heartbreaking as a cancer diagnosis can be, there are many veterinary care options and treatments available to help your dog recover.
Is Cancer Common in Cats?
Roughly one in five cats will get cancer in its lifetime. Some cat cancers are more common than others. Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers occurring in cats.
Regardless of the type of cancer, cats are very responsive to a variety of cancer treatment options and can still have a good quality of life after receiving treatment.
Compare National Pet Insurance Providers
*Lemonade may offer shorter waiting periods depending on where you live.
The Bottom Line: Does Pet Insurance Cover Cancer?
Learning that your pet has cancer can be devastating, but helping your best friend recover doesn’t have to leave you in financial ruin. Most pet insurance providers provide coverage for cancer treatment. However, many providers do not offer coverage for preexisting conditions.
Many pet owners enroll in pet insurance while their pets are still puppies or kittens for peace of mind. Securing a comprehensive pet insurance policy while your pet is still healthy means you’ll be covered for veterinary bills if your pet gets a cancer diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cancer in Pets
If your dog did not show signs or symptoms of cancer prior to your policy starting or during the waiting period, your pet insurance policy should cover its treatment. Unfortunately, if your dog already has cancer when you enroll, it will be considered a preexisting condition and your policy will not cover it. You can still purchase pet insurance if your dog has cancer, but it will only cover any future conditions that arise, not the cancer itself.
Treating cancer in your pet is often a multi-step process. On average, a regimen to treat your pet’s cancer, including surgery and chemotherapy, costs about $10,000. A pet insurance policy may provide reimbursement for cancer-related vet bills up to a predetermined coverage cap.
If your pet gets a cancer diagnosis, there are many options available for treatment. Talk with your vet to find out what options are available to you and your pet. Surgery, medication, chemotherapy and radiation are common treatments.