Does Pet Insurance Cover Prescription Food?
The unfortunately vague answer is “sometimes.” Prescription food isn’t covered by most providers, but you can find it in some plans. Pet insurance policies are generally more useful for covering unexpected accidents or illnesses and the diagnostics and exam fees that result.
All pet insurance excludes preexisting conditions, so don’t start your search hoping that you can get a current prescription covered. Buying pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy will ensure you get the most coverage.
If your pet already has a health issue that requires prescription food, the underlying concern is a preexisting condition and will not be covered by any pet insurance provider. If your pet no longer requires the food but later needs to resume eating it (typically after a year or more has passed), some pet insurance companies may cover it.
Some pet insurance providers cover prescription food, but others don’t. Our top picks for companies that do cover prescription pet food are Spot, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Embrace. Use the table below to compare the depth of coverage for our top-rated pet insurance companies:
*Lemonade may offer shorter waiting periods depending on where you live.
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
Pet insurance is typically available as an accident-only plan or accident-and-illness plan with options for wellness add-ons to cover routine care. When you enroll your pet in a plan, you’ll choose the coverage level, deductible, and reimbursement percentage you want. Depending on these factors and your pet’s age, as there are often age limits to coverage, you’ll be given a monthly premium.
All providers have a waiting period before coverage begins, typically a few days. Once this period is over, if your vet diagnoses your pet with a covered condition, you’ll pay the bill and file a claim with your provider. Your provider will then reimburse you for anywhere from 70% to 90% of the cost. Insurance may also cover preventive care such as checkups, vaccinations and heartworm medication if you add this coverage when you enroll.
What Is Prescription Pet Food?
Prescription pet food is any food that you need a prescription from your veterinarian to buy. This food has specific nutritional content to help with your pet’s digestion or hereditary conditions. It may be wet or dry and can be purchased from most large pet food retailers, but it’s more expensive than regular food. The nutritional needs it meets are so specific that it’s only recommended for use with a vet’s guidance.
Why Is Prescription Pet Food Needed?
Although a prescription diet alone usually won’t cure an illness, prescription food can ease a number of acute or chronic conditions. This diet may also help balance nutrient deficiencies. Here are some conditions for which your vet may prescribe food:
- Arthritis
- Bladder stones
- Cancer
- Dental problems
- Diabetes
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Gastrointestinal problems (vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, etc.)
- Heart disease
- Joint problems
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Post-surgical recovery
- Weight management
Just because your vet prescribes a specific food doesn’t mean your pet needs to eat it for the rest of its life. In fact, many prescription foods don’t have as complete a nutritional profile as regular, over-the-counter pet foods. A dog with kidney problems may benefit from a low-protein food, but only for a certain amount of time. Always follow your vet’s recommendations so you don’t inadvertently deprive your pet of nutrients.
What Types of Pets Have Prescription Food?
Because cats and dogs are the most popular pets in the United States, large pet food companies only manufacture prescription food for these two animals. There are specialty or premium foods for birds, rodents, snakes and other pets, but there aren’t currently prescription options.
What Is The Average Cost of Prescription Pet Food?
The price of prescription pet food depends on the type of food and amount your pet eats. Here are sample prices for the most common brands of prescription dog and cat food available at popular retailers such as Chewy, Petco and Petsmart. According to Pet Place, regular dry dog and cat food costs $0.50 to $3 per pound.
| Manufacturer | Type of Food | Cost per Pound* |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet | Hydrolyzed for Food Intolerance Dry Dog Food | 4 |
| Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet | K+M Kidney + Mobility Support Dry Cat Food | 7 |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet | c/d Multicare + Metabolic Weight Dry Dog Food | 5 |
| Hill’s Prescription Diet | t/d Dental Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food | 7 |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets | EN Gastroenteric Low Fat Dog Food | 4 |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets | DM Dietetic Management Dry Cat Food | 7 |
| Royal Canin Veterinary Diet | Hydrolyzed Protein Small Breed Dry Dog Food | 7 |
| Royal Canin Veterinary Diet | Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food | $7.49 |
*Based on retail pricing on Petco.com.
Though prices vary considerably, all prescription food is more expensive than regular, over-the-counter food. Assuming a 30-pound dog eats 2 cups of dog food per day and there are 4 cups of dry kibble in a pound, that’s 182.5 pounds of food per year. Regular dog food would cost $182.50 to $638.75 per year, while prescription dog food would cost $781.10 to $1,222.75 per year.
Are There Alternatives to Prescription Pet Food?
There may be alternatives to prescription pet food, but what you’re paying for is certainty and convenience. Alternative therapy diets often require you to make your own pet food from raw ingredients or purchase premium limited-ingredient foods or nutritional supplements. Additionally, you’ll want to clear any alternative diets with your vet to make sure they’re equivalent to the prescription food.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prescription Pet Food
Pets experiencing skin or dietary allergies, kidney or liver problems, diabetes, arthritis or gastrointestinal issues can benefit from a therapeutic diet of prescription food.
The FDA regulates prescription pet food that’s intended to treat, mitigate, or prevent disease or other health problems. In practice, prescription food is almost always used in conjunction with other health care treatments.
Currently, the FDA only appears to regulate prescription food for dogs and cats. However, your vet may recommend special nutrition requirements for other kinds of pets.
Some pet insurance providers may offer prescription food coverage as an add-on. For example, Pet First and Embrace allow you to add prescription food coverage for an additional fee.
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