Reviewed by Dr. Fiona Lee
The demand for service dogs is exploding, and it's no surprise. Service dogs perform a vital role in our society, and they're being trained to help a growing number of people. Whether they're assisting people with epilepsy or autism, providing support for individuals with visual or hearing impairments or aiding individuals with diabetes or mental illness, the need for service dogs is expanding.1
But service dogs aren't cheap. Simply adopting one can cost $15,000 to $40,000, leaving less savings behind to help ensure the dog's health and well-being throughout their life.1 This makes pet insurance for service dogs even more important for people desiring to add such an important dog to their lives.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Service Dogs?
Yes, pet insurance covers service dogs. However, you won't find a pet insurance policy designed specifically for service dogs.2 You also won't find service dog insurance coverage through your own health insurance policy.3 Rather, your service pet is eligible for the same type of pet insurance plan as any other family pet. Pets Best, for example, states in some of its policies that any dogs living with you for companionship or as a service dog are eligible for coverage, as long as they aren't owned for commercial reasons.
When getting pet insurance for your service dog, you'll choose from the same types of coverage that you would for any family pet. These typically include:
- Accident only coverage
- Illness coverage (which also includes accidents)
- Wellness coverage for routine veterinary visits, vaccinations and the like. This may be offered as an add-on or stand-alone policy.
When choosing a policy, ask about the fine print, such as the deductible, exclusions (including pre-existing conditions that aren't covered), monthly premiums and how reimbursements are handled.
Service Dog-Specific Coverage and Plans
While there isn't a general pet insurance plan specifically for service dogs, there are other policies and programs that might help cover some of your service dog's expenses, depending on your situation.
1. Veterans coverage
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a Service Dog Veterinary Health Insurance Benefit for veterans with visual, hearing or mobility impairment who are prescribed certified guide or service dogs. Applications should be made through the veteran's VA clinical care provider or mental health provider.
If approved, the policy covers all the dog's health treatments and medications, up to a specified maximum per year. It also covers hardware repairs or replacements and travel expenses to get the dog.
2. Flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) funds
If you qualify, the IRS may allow you to use FSA or HSA funds on some service dog costs, including the costs of buying, training and maintaining your dog.4 Consult a tax professional for more details.
3. State-specific programs
Check if your state offers any program to help with costs. California has an Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program that pays $50 a month to some qualified recipients. This can be used for expenses including veterinary care.
4. Charities and nonprofits
Some charities and nonprofit organizations can help cover the cost of adopting and training a service dog. Paws With A Cause® (PAWS), for example, charges no fee to its clients, despite the $35,000 cost of training and placing a PAWS Assistance Dog.5
5. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits
If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance from the government, you can typically use those benefits to help cover your service dog's medical care.6 Talk to a financial advisor if you have any questions about how to do this.
6. Guide Dogs of America coverage
If you adopt your pup from Guide Dogs of America, graduates are eligible for free veterinary care, but only if received on their campus.7
7. Auto insurance coverage
Some car insurance plans help cover the costs of veterinary bills or burial expenses if you're in an accident and your pet is injured. This may be part of your policy's collision coverage. It's typically an add-on to standard coverage.8
Service Dog-Related Expenses
Service dogs can be expensive—simply adopting a fully trained service dog can cost from $15,000 to $40,000. And that doesn't include the general cost of owning and caring for a dog, plus ongoing veterinary care. Part of the reason these costs are so high is that trainers must compensate themselves for the dogs that don't make it through training, often due to health or temperament issues.1
You might be able to reduce your cost a bit if you hire someone to train your dog, but the success rate tends to be lower than if you adopt a fully trained service dog. And with some programs, if your dog doesn't finish the training, you're still responsible for the training cost.1
Unfortunately, neither pet insurance nor health insurance covers the cost of a service dog, including training. In fact, because of how expensive these dogs can be to adopt and replace, some owners may even cover them with a pet life insurance policy.3
After all these upfront expenses, families may not have much money left for veterinary emergencies, making pet insurance even more important. According to a Synchrony study, the lifetime cost of owning any dog can range from around $20,000 to $55,000 over 15 years. This includes expenses like food, routine illness visits, vaccinations, treats and toys, along with unexpected costs like dental cleaning, emergency veterinary visits and surgeries.9 Thankfully, pet insurance can help with these costs.
Does Insurance Cover Emotional Support Animals?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is any domesticated pet that provides a psychological or emotional benefit. Your doctor or licensed mental health professional may give you an ESA letter confirming you have a diagnosed mental illness that your pet helps with. But ESA dogs aren't protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, so the letter may not be accepted everywhere.10
Unfortunately, you won't find a special insurance plan for emotional support animals either. But you can purchase a regular pet insurance policy for your emotional support dog, just like you would for a service dog.10
Conclusion
Service dogs are a big investment, and a lot of resources can go into adopting and training them. But they also play a vital role in improving the lives of people with disabilities. That's why investing in pet insurance is so important if you have a service dog. You'll want to keep your special companion happy and healthy, without worrying about unexpected health costs in the future. Just make sure you explore all your coverage options and read the fine print closely before choosing a plan.
Pets Best Can Help You Keep Your Service Dog Healthy
Investing in pet insurance is a great way to help you protect your service dog from diseases and illnesses they may encounter growing up. At Pets Best, our dog insurance plans can be customized for your pet's unique needs. In addition, Pets Best policyholders can speak to a veterinary expert anytime through a 24/7 Pet Helpline.
Sources/Citations
1. "Demand for service dogs unleashes a 'Wild West' market," Markian Hawryluk (2/2022), NBC News, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/service-dog-training-unregulated-market-demand-grows-rapidly-rcna16184, accessed March 29, 2024.
2. "Service dogs insurance coverage," Taylor Morgan (8/2021), Service Dog Training School International, https://www.servicedogtrainingschool.org/blog/service-dogs-insurance-coverage, accessed March 29, 2024.
3. "Does insurance cover service dogs?" Lorraine Roberte (12/2023), Investopedia, https://www.investopedia.com/does-insurance-cover-service-dogs-7964155, accessed March 29, 2024.
4. "Can you use your FSA and HSA benefits on your pets?" Mike Winters (1/2021), Lifehacker, https://lifehacker.com/can-you-use-your-fsa-and-hsa-benefits-on-your-pets-1846096080, accessed March 29, 2024.
5. "Donate to change a person's life," (1/2024), Paws With A Cause, https://www.pawswithacause.org/donate/, accessed March 29, 2024.
6. "Can I use SSDI benefits to cover the cost of service animals or therapy animals for emotional support?" Keefe Disability Law, https://www.keefelaw.com/faqs/using-disability-benefits-for-service-animals-and-emotional-support-animals.cfm, accessed March 29, 2024.
7. "A beginners guide to getting pet insurance," (12/2023), Guide Dogs of America, https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/a-beginners-guide-to-getting-pet-insurance/, accessed March 29, 2024.
8. "Car insurance with pet injury coverage," Penny Gusner (6/2023), Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/pet-injury-coverage/, accessed March 29, 2024.
9. "Lifetime of Care Study," (1/2022), Synchrony, http://petlifetimeofcare.com, accessed March 29, 2024.
10. "What's an emotional support animal and how to get one," Aaliyah Pasols (1/2024), Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-care/emotional-support-animal, accessed March 29, 2024.