Travel Insurance for Pets: What You Need to Know
Many travelers who buy travel insurance are interested in Trip Cancellation to protect their trip investment if they are forced to cancel their trip. If they cancel for a reason listed in their policy, they can be refunded 100% of their prepaid and non-refundable trip payments. However, if a traveler cancels for a reason that is not listed as a covered reason, they will not be refunded.
For travelers with pets, travel insurance coverage is pretty limited. However, depending on the situation, some benefits may apply if you need to cancel your trip due to an illness, injury, or death of a pet. We break it down below.
How Can I Get Cancellation Coverage for a Pet?
Unfortunately, the Trip Cancellation benefit typically does not provide reimbursement to cancel your trip due to the illness, injury, or death of a pet. There are a select few plans that may cover you to cancel due to the death of a dog or cat, but this is not commonly included. However, some policies can cover your for an illness, injury, or death of your service animal.
The only way to guarantee you covered by travel insurance for the illness, injury, or death of a pet is with the Cancel For Any Reason benefit. This optional upgrade can be added to some single trip policies for 14-21 days after you make your first trip booking.
Under the Cancel For Any Reason, you can be reimbursed for 75% of your prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses if you cancel for a reason not otherwise covered by your policy, such as the death of a pet. However, this benefit is time-sensitive. In order for coverage to be available under this benefit, you must:
- Purchase your policy within 14-21 days of making your first trip booking
- Insure 100% of your prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses
- Cancel your trip in its entirety at least 2-3 days before your scheduled departure date
Other Travel Insurance Benefits for Pets
While cancellation coverage for pets is quite limited, there are some other travel insurance benefits that can apply. This includes the following:
- Pet Housing/Return Home: If you are traveling with your pet and you become hospitalized for a covered reason, plans with this benefit can reimburse you for the cost of transporting your pet back home.
- Pet Medical: Some plans provide upgrade options that offer between $500 and $2,500 in medical coverage for your pet. This can apply if you are traveling with your pet and they get sick or hurt.
- Travel Delay: If your itinerary is delayed and your pet needs care until you can return, some plans can cover boarding and kennel fees.
- Concierge Services: Select travel insurance plans will help you locate pet services if you are traveling with your pet and they need care.
Please note that travel insurance for pets is limited and is only offered by some trip insurance plans. If this is a concern of yours, we recommend reading the certificate of insurance thoroughly and contacting the provider directly to be sure the plan has the coverage you need.