Does Pet Insurance Cover Heartworm Treatment?

Being a pet parent comes with a lot of responsibility. The biggest responsibility is ensuring your pet gets the medical care they need when they need it. There are many health risks out there for our pups and a very big one is heartworm disease. Heartworm disease can be a potentially life-threatening one that affects mostly dogs but sometimes our feline babies as well. Heartworm requires proper care and management for the very best health outcomes, and many pet parents wonder, “Does pet insurance cover heartworm treatment?”

What is Heartworm Disease?

Before we dive further into the topic of whether pet insurance covers heartworm treatment, it’s important to understand the nature of the disease. Heartworm disease is a result of a parasitic infection caused by the filarial worm Dirofilaria immitis. 

While the disease mostly affects dogs, it can also infect cats, ferrets, and other mammals. Heartworms are transmitted through mosquito bites, with the mosquito serving as an intermediary host for the immature stage of the larvae. When an infected mosquito bites the animal, the larvae are transmitted into the new host, where they grow and take up residence in the animal’s heart and lungs.

As mentioned, heartworm disease can be deadly as the parasites negatively impact the function of the lungs, and sometimes other organs. Treatment of heartworm disease is intricate and involves several medications to kill the worms. Your pet must also be confined to prevent complications.

Will Pet Insurance Help Cover the Cost of Heartworm Treatment?

The quick answer to that question is, it may. It really depends on the insurance provider. Each pet insurance company offers different plans with different coverage. Some may include treatment as part of their accident and illness plan, while other providers may consider treatment a preventative measure.

Let’s look at it a bit more…

Treating Heartworm Disease

Most comprehensive pet insurance plans (accident & illness) will cover the treatment of heartworm disease. Plans should include the costs of medications and procedures required to eliminate the heartworms from your pet’s system. Be aware that this treatment process will be lengthy and complex, requiring multiple visits to your vet for careful monitoring.

Heartworm Prevention

When it comes to heartworm disease, prevention is truly key. That’s why some pet insurance plans may even cover the cost of preventative measures such as monthly heartworm medications. If your current policy does not cover preventative care, see if they offer an add-on wellness package. Often pet insurance providers will offer these plans in addition to their accident & illness plan to cover costs associated with routine care and prevention.

Testing and Diagnosis

Diagnosing heartworm disease usually involves a blood test to determine if the animal is infected. Some vets will also do imaging to determine the extent of the infection. Some pet insurance plans will cover these costs as well, but again, this can vary widely from provider to provider.

Exclusions and Waiting Periods

It’s important to mention that all pet insurance companies have waiting periods and exclusions. Pay attention to these. 

Waiting periods refer to the period of time between enrollment into a plan and when coverage for certain conditions becomes effective. Some policies may have a waiting period before covering heartworm disease. 

How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance for You

It can feel a bit overwhelming selecting the right pet insurance policy with so many providers on the market. Here are some tips to help you choose the best plan for your needs and budget:

Read the Policy Carefully

Because it bears repeating: every pet insurance provider has their own coverage plans, rules, waiting periods and exclusions. Just because some plans cover heartworm treatment does not mean they all do. You will want to read the policy thoroughly to be certain you understand coverage. If you don’t see heartworm coverage specifically mentioned, contact the provider and ask.

In our experience, the majority of pet insurance providers are always happy to answer any questions you may have. They also want to be certain people understand coverage before enrollment to mitigate any confusion down the road. So don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call for clarification on the extent of heartworm coverage including medications, diagnostics, and preventative measures.

Compare Different Providers

Because different providers offer varying levels of coverage at different price points, it’s always a good idea to do a side-by-side comparison of multiple companies. Luckily Pet Insurance Reviews makes it incredibly easy for you to compare multiple providers at the same time.  

Check Out Reviews

What’s really important in making a decision is not so much what the company says about themselves, but about what other pet parents have to say about the company. Read as many reviews and testimonials as you can before making a final decision. 

Pet Insurance Review is the only pet insurance website that has collected over 150,000 verified reviews from real pet parents like you. This allows you to get a 100% accurate and unbiased review of the biggest pet insurance providers in the marketplace.

We’ve also used an algorithm that constantly tracks these reviews to rank the top providers. Here are the top providers based on reviews from pet parents just like you:

Final Thoughts

Heartworm disease is a serious illness that can affect dogs and cats. While prevention is key, should your pet be diagnosed with heartworm, there is a protocol that can kill the parasites and get your fur baby well again. 

Does pet insurance cover heartworm treatment? As you can see, it really depends on the provider. If you’ve recently adopted a pet and want to be certain you purchase a policy that covers heartworm, take the time to compare to find the right provider for your budget and needs.

References:

https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics

The information contained on this blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet's health care or treatment plan.

The authors of this blog are not veterinarians and do not claim to be experts in pet health. The information provided here is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from reputable sources. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information.

We encourage you to do your own research and consult with your veterinarian before making any decisions about your pet's health.