Pet insurance coverage for prescription food varies significantly across the industry. Some providers offer it with standard coverage, some with specific plans, and others without prescription food coverage. Among the plans that do, there are often rules to determine eligibility. Let’s explore how prescription food coverage works for pet insurance and some of the top plans on the market.
What is prescription food?
Prescription foods, sometimes called prescription diets, therapeutic diets, or veterinary diets, are pet foods specially formulated to support a medical condition. These foods have different nutrient profiles based on the conditions they were created to help manage. For instance, a prescription cat food for kidney disease may be lower in protein, and a prescription dog food for pancreatitis may be lower in fat.
Since these foods have nutrient profiles outside of the standard range, they should only be used for their intended purpose and under the direction and supervision of a veterinarian. Many prescription foods are on the market to support various medical conditions, age-specific nutritional needs, and weight loss. Some foods may require a prescription from your veterinarian, depending on the condition they were made for and where you purchased them.
Does pet insurance cover prescription food?
The short answer is that some pet insurance plans cover prescription food, and some don’t. However, prescription food coverage in pet insurance can be much more complex. It can vary based on the insurance provider, individual plan, and medical condition for which the food is prescribed.
Some providers cover prescription foods under basic coverage or standard plans, while others may only offer it as an add-on or part of a top-tier plan. Some also only cover prescription foods temporarily for certain conditions like urinary tract infections or gastrointestinal problems while excluding coverage for foods prescribed for long-term ailments like allergies or diabetes. Lastly, some pet insurance providers don’t cover any prescription food.
Coverage for prescription food, much like coverage for prescription drugs, can have many variables that determine eligibility and are best determined by looking at your plan.
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Prescription food coverage among top providers
Here’s a look at some of the current prescription food coverage among top providers in the pet insurance market. Like all insurance, this information can be subject to change at any time, and certain states may have different plans or additional stipulations.
| Pet insurance provider | Prescription food coverage | Requirements | Exclusions |
| ASPCA | Covered only in the Complete Coverage Plan | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a covered medical condition | Weight management foods not covered |
| Embrace | Covered only in the Wellness Rewards Plan — an optional add-on | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a covered medical condition | Only covers up to $650 per year |
| Fetch | No prescription food coverage | N/A | N/A |
| Figo | Covered only in the Extra Care Pack — an optional add-on | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a covered medical condition | Only covers up to $250 per year |
| Lemonade | No prescription food coverage | N/A | N/A |
| Nationwide | Covered in the My Pet Plan and Whole Pet Plan | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a covered medical condition | Weight management foods not covered |
| Pets Best | No prescription food coverage | N/A | N/A |
| Pumpkin | Included in basic coverage | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a covered medical condition | Weight management foods not covered |
| Spot | Covered only in the Accident and Illness Plan | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian to treat a covered medical condition | Weight management foods not covered |
| Trupanion | Included in basic coverage | Must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a covered medical condition | Only covers 50% of the cost of the prescription food and weight management foods not covered |
What medical conditions are prescription foods covered for?
Every pet insurance provider may have different rules for what conditions are eligible for prescription food coverage, but in general, the most commonly covered conditions include:
- Urinary tract issues
- Kidney/bladder stones
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Post-surgery/hospitalization/critical care
- Metabolic disorders
- Renal disease
- Pancreatitis
Decoding prescription food coverage in pet insurance
Prescription food coverage in pet insurance can seem tricky with so many variables, but like all aspects of coverage, it’s essential to read the fine print. Be sure to familiarize yourself with all parameters of your policy. If your plan simply doesn’t cover prescription foods at all, you’ll have a pretty straightforward answer, but if it does, you’ll want to look at a few key factors to determine eligibility:
- Was the food prescribed by a veterinarian for a specific medical condition?
- Is the medical condition covered under your policy?
- Are there any time limits (how long your pet can be on the prescription food) or spending limits (caps on the total cost of prescription food benefits for the year)?
By answering these three questions, you should have a good idea of whether your pet’s prescription food will be covered, but if it’s still unclear — don’t be afraid to contact your insurance provider. They can walk you through your plan, answer coverage questions, and help with claims. Prescription foods can be lifesaving for some pets but are more costly. If you can get them covered by pet insurance, it’s well worth the time and effort.
FAQ
What are the requirements for prescription food to be covered?
Most providers that cover prescription food require that a licensed veterinarian prescribe the food to support a covered medical condition (this typically excludes weight management, allergy, and age-related diets). The food will not be covered if the medical condition is not covered under your pet insurance plan (or if it’s related to a pre-existing condition).
What types of prescription food are covered by pet insurance?
Formulas and brands of prescription pet foods can vary across providers, but in general, most will cover formulas prescribed for a covered medical condition from the leading, scientifically-backed brands, including Hills Prescription Diets, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets, and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets.
Why aren’t weight loss foods covered by pet insurance?
Most pet insurance providers do not cover weight loss foods as they tend to fall under general health, lifestyle, or maintenance diet categories. At its core, pet insurance is meant to cover expenses associated with illnesses and accidents. The only exception to weight loss foods may be in cases with an underlying metabolic disease or other medical condition causing weight gain.
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Prescription pet foods are commonly prescribed by veterinarians to help manage certain medical conditions.
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Not all pet insurance covers prescription foods, but among those that do, the rules can vary greatly.
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Some pet insurers will only cover prescription food for specific conditions or times.
3 resources
- Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Clinical Nutrition Service. Much ado about therapeutic diets.
- PetMD. Should you feed your pet prescription dog food?
- Pawlicy Advisor. Compare top insurance providers.
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