Does Pet Insurance Cover Putting a Pet to Sleep?

Most pet insurance coverage does include putting them to sleep when recommended as a part of veterinary care for a covered accident, illness or condition. Some will have restrictions based on your pet’s age or the reason the treatment is required.

Pet parents looking for the most comprehensive coverage for their furry friend’s end-of-life expenses are best off choosing Lemonade’s end-of-life add-on or Embrace’s preventive care add-on. Both provide the most coverage for cremation, burial, and memorial items. It can be hard to think about money when it happens, so it’s best to plan now.

Putting an animal to sleep is the practice of providing a peaceful, humane death for animals who are in pain or suffering from a terminal illness. The procedure used to take place mostly in animal hospitals and vet clinics, but nowadays, many vets will travel to your home for a more private experience. It’s usually done with two injections: the first is a sedative to relax and calm your pet, and the second is an anesthetic to stop the lungs and heart.

Afterward, you’ll have to make some choices about your pet’s remains. At-home burial is not allowed in some states, but there may be a local pet cemetery where your animal can be interred. Alternatively, you can choose cremation, either private or communal, and purchase a receptacle for your pet’s ashes or other memorial items. Every option comes with costs that you’ll need to cover.

Pet health insurance works a bit like property insurance in that you’ll pay for covered vet visits out of pocket and then file a claim to receive reimbursement. All pet insurance has a waiting period between the time you enroll and the time coverage begins. If your pet insurance policy covers putting an animal to sleep, you’ll be reimbursed based on your chosen reimbursement rate and whether you’ve met your deductible for the year. Some pet insurance will cover other costs like cremation or burial, and the process will work the same way. If the coverage period extends past your pet’s death, you must usually continue to pay your premium until the coverage period ends.

Without insurance, the cost can range from $50 at a shelter or clinic to $645 (or more) in the home due to travel fees. Cremation costs are often determined by the pet’s weight and can range from $50 to about $350. Choosing communal cremation is less expensive, but the ashes won’t be returned to you. Burial is more expensive at $300 to $800 for the plot and more for the casket*. Some animal funeral homes will take care of the entire process for a packaged fee.

Cost data courtesy of ThePricer.org

In general, most pet insurance providers will cover putting animals to sleep if your vet recommends it because of a covered condition and the waiting period has passed. There are usually exclusions for preexisting conditions and cremation or burial expenses, but some providers will also cover these end-of-life costs.

Lemonade Coverage

Lemonade’s single accident-and-illness plan doesn’t cover putting animals to sleep, but you can purchase an end-of-life add-on for an extra $3.75 per month. This add-on covers vet-recommended euthanasia and cremation and commemorative items like urns, framed pictures and even tattoos. You’ll receive up to $500 of coverage which isn’t subject to the usual deductible or preexisting condition restrictions. However, it won’t cover burial or funeral costs and is subject to the standard waiting period of two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.

To learn more: Lemonade pet insurance review

Embrace Coverage

Embrace Pet Insurance covers euthanasia under its single accident-and-illness policy if it’s recommended for humane reasons and the result of a covered condition. That means it won’t be covered if it’s recommended due to a preexisting condition. If you add Wellness Rewards to your plan for an extra $18.75 to $52.09 a month, you can also receive reimbursement of up to $650 for cremation, burial and keepsake items. With this add-on, you’ll also be covered for routine care like regular checkups, spaying/neutering, vaccinations and heartworm medication.

To learn more: Embrace pet insurance review

Spot Coverage

Spot offers both accident-only coverage and accident-and-illness coverage. Both of these plans cover end-of-life expenses including putting animals to sleep, cremation and burial when they result from a covered condition. That means if you have inexpensive accident-only coverage, your plan would only cover end-of-life expenses if your pet died or was recommended for being put to sleep as the result of an accident, not an illness. Related expenses like funerals, memorial items and burial plots are generally not covered.

To learn more: Spot pet insurance review

Figo Coverage

Figo’s single accident-and-illness plan covers putting animals to sleep, but there aren’t many specifics available about the coverage. If you add the Extra Care Pack Powerup for about $6.62 a month, you can receive up to $250 of coverage for cremation or burial costs. This add-on also provides coverage for boarding, vacation cancellation and lost or stolen pet expenses.

To learn more: Figo review

Trupanion Coverage

With Trupanion’s accident-and-illness plan, you’ll receive coverage and 90% reimbursement for costs of putting an animal to sleep. The basic plan doesn’t cover other end-of-life expenses, but adding the Pet Owner Assistance Package for $4.95 a month will cover cremation or burial for accidental deaths. Cremation or burial resulting from illnesses, congenital conditions or hereditary conditions are not eligible for coverage.

To learn more: Trupanion pet insurance review

Pets Best Coverage

Pets Best’s BestBenefits accident-and-illness coverage includes putting an animal to sleep “for humane reasons.” There are add-on options for wellness plans, but they don’t include any additional coverage for end-of-life expenses.

To learn more: Pets Best Review

Prudent Pet Coverage

Prudent Pet’s Ultimate and Ultimate Plus Plans include a mortality benefit of up to $250 for cremation and burial expenses, plus the original purchase price of your pet. These plans do come with the highest monthly premiums. There is no copay or deductible for the mortality benefit, but it doesn’t cover illness-related deaths in dogs age 8 and over or cats age 10 and over.

To learn more: Prudent Pet insurance review

Here are some sample pet insurance costs for plans and add-ons that cover putting animals to sleep.

*Our sample quotes are based on quotes we obtained for a 4-year-old, medium-size, mixed-breed male dog in Phoenix, Ariz.