Pet insurance claims: How to submit & get paid back fast
How do you file a pet insurance claim, and how fast do you get reimbursed?
Fetch Pet Insurance makes it fast and easy. After your vet visit, simply upload your paid invoice in our top-rated app and submit your claim. We’ll typically process it in less than 10 days.
Ruby & Amber
Cruciate ligament tear costs:
$4,085
Fetch paid back:
$3,268
First pet insurance claim: How to set yourself up for the quickest & easiest experience
Fetch Pet makes it easy to have a great claims experience — every time. Simply take these key steps.
Download the Fetch Pet Insurance app
The app is the most convenient way to submit claims and get reimbursed quickly. It puts everything you need at your fingertips.
Add your vet
We’ll reach out to your vet directly for your pet’s medical records, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Set up direct deposit
Direct deposit is the fastest way to get reimbursed — you’ll get paid back right to your bank account 5 to 10 earlier than paper checks.
How to submit a claim in 3 simple steps
It’s fast and easy to get your claims reimbursed with Fetch Pet.
1
You pay the vet first
You pay your pet’s bill in full at the veterinarian’s office during your visit.
2
Submit a claim to get paid back
Upload a picture of your paid invoice and supporting medical records and submit them in the Fetch Pet Insurance app.
3
Get reimbursed — fast
Claims are typically processed in less than 10 days. Once approved and you've met your deductible, get paid back up to 90% straight to your bank account when you set up direct deposit.
Documents you’ll need to submit a Fetch Pet Insurance claim
Invoice
What is a pet insurance invoice? An invoice is an itemized bill from your veterinarian that shows what your pet was treated for and how much you were charged. A paid invoice also shows proof of payment.
Why it matters: Each time you submit a claim, you’ll need to upload an itemized invoice from your pet’s vet visit that clearly shows it was paid in full. This is how we know what treatments your vet charged you for and what you paid. This information is needed to reimburse you for covered care.
Download a sample invoice
Medical records
What are medical records? Medical records document your pet’s health history. The portion of these records that your insurance provider needs are known as “SOAP notes” — which stands for Subjective (your observations as the pet parent), Objective (the vet's clinical findings), Assessment (the diagnosis) and Plan (the recommended treatment or next steps).
Why it matters: These records are used to determine what treatments are eligible for coverage under your pet insurance plan and whether your pet has any pre-existing conditions. Fetch Pet requires medical records from any vet visit your pet had in the 12 months before you signed up. If your pet has a clean bill of health, Fetch Pet will cover future accidents and illnesses your pet may encounter throughout their life. If your pet’s records show any signs or symptoms of a medical issue, those conditions will likely not be covered since they’re pre-existing.
Download a sample medical record
Claims reimbursement: how it works & how fast you get paid back
When you file a claim with Fetch Pet, it’s typically processed in less than 10 days. Here’s how: First, we first look at your paid, itemized invoice to assess which treatments are eligible for coverage. Once we have the total dollar amount you paid for covered treatments, we subtract your copay and your deductible (you choose these when you enroll). The remaining amount is what we pay you back. Set up direct deposit for the fastest and easiest reimbursement — it’s 5 to 10 days quicker than paper checks. Each time we reimburse you, you’ll get an explanation of benefits (EOB), which explains exactly how we calculated the amount that is paid back to you.
Winston
Swallowed toy cost:
$3,783
Fetch paid back:
$3,026
How your reimbursement is calculated
When you sign up for Fetch Pet, you choose an annual deductible, max annual payout and reimbursement rate. These factors will affect how much you’re reimbursed for your pet’s vet bills. Take a look.
Reimbursement examples with a $2,000 vet bill
When you first submit a claim, you will not have met your deductible yet. Here’s what this can look like in a few different scenarios:
Reimbursement rate | Deductible | Max annual payout | Reimbursement amount |
|---|---|---|---|
70% | $500 | $5,000 |  $900 |
80% | $300 | $10,000 | $1,300 |
90% | $250 | $15,000 | $1,550 |
Reminder: Once your deductible has been met, it won’t be subtracted from your reimbursements again until it resets the next policy year. This typically occurs after the second or third claim.
Annual deductible
Your deductible is the amount of veterinary care you need to pay for yourself before your insurer starts reimbursing you. Once it's been met (it resets annually), you will get reimbursed up to 90% during that policy year.
Max annual payout
The max annual payout is the maximum dollar amount you can get paid back each year (sometimes this is called an “annual limit” in insurance-speak).
Reimbursement rate
Your reimbursement rate is the percentage of your vet bill that your insurance will cover.
Did you know?
Over 7 million pets are insured in the U.S., according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). The reason is simple — the majority of pet parents don’t feel confident they can afford a pet medical emergency, according to the ASPCA. Fetch Pet Insurance alleviates this concern by reimbursing you up to 90% for unexpected vet bills.
Common reasons for claim denials & how to set yourself up for success
Fetch Pet has paid back $500 million+ in claims since 2021. Only a small percentage of claims are not approved, and it’s easy to avoid. Follow these pointers for the fastest, easiest claims experience.
Unless you add Fetch Wellness, preventive care is not covered
When you enroll with Fetch Pet, you’ll be given the option to add Fetch Wellness to your plan for preventive care coverage. If you don’t add Fetch Wellness, any claims for preventive care will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Examples of preventive care only covered with Fetch Wellness:
Annual exams
Dental cleanings
Vaccinations
Heartworm, flea & tick prevention
Spaying/neutering
Microchipping
If you’ve already enrolled with Fetch Pet and decide you want coverage for preventive care, you have 30 days from your enrollment date to add Fetch Wellness to your plan.
No pet insurance covers all pre-existing conditions
Fetch Pet does not cover pre-existing conditions. In general, no pet insurance policy does. Any claims for treatment related to a pre-existing condition will not be covered — unless it’s a curable pre-existing condition. To learn more, read about pre-existing conditions.
Claims submitted after 90 days won’t be covered
Claims must be submitted within 90 days of the vet visit to be eligible for reimbursement. Claims submitted after 90 days are not covered, so be sure to file your claims as soon as you can.
Track & manage pet insurance claims in the Fetch Pet Insurance app
The Fetch Pet Insurance app has 4.8 stars on the Apple App Store and 4.7 stars on Google Play. The app is the fastest, most convenient way to submit claims, track reimbursement status, shop Fetch Deals and more. Download it now and see for yourself.
Fetch Pet pays back claims for these 7 coverages at 100% — $0 copay, $0 deductible
When you file a claim for these 7 coverages with Fetch Pet, we reimburse 100% — no matter what your reimbursement rate or deductible is. Only Fetch Pet does this.
7 coverages with 100% reimbursement — up to $1,000/yr. each with Fetch Pet
Behavioral therapy
Fetch Pet gives 100% of the cost to diagnose and treat behavioral disorders with a vet back to you.
Boarding
Fetch Pet covers the cost to board your pet at a licensed facility when you’re hospitalized 4+ days.
Online vet visits
Access to licensed vets on-demand from your phone, computer or tablet is covered 100% by Fetch Pet.
Find a lost pet
Fetch Pet covers the cost of advertising a lost pet and paying a reasonable reward for finding them.
Stolen or stray pet
In the tragic event you're unable to find your pet, we'll cover the cost you paid to adopt or buy them.
Canceled vacation
If your pet gets sick or injured when you’re traveling or before you leave, we'll cover cancelation costs.
Passing of a pet
In the heartbreaking event that your pet dies, we'll cover the cost you paid to adopt or buy them.
Learn more about all 100% reimbursement coverages
Your questions about submitting claims, answered
How can I track my pet insurance claim?
Why do pet insurance providers require medical records?
How do I set up direct deposit for claim reimbursement?
Does filing a pet insurance claim raise my premium?
Does Fetch Pet Insurance have a mobile app for submitting and tracking claims?
Can I submit a pet insurance claim before I receive the itemized invoice?
Can I cancel pet insurance after filing a claim?
How soon can I file a claim after getting pet insurance?
How does Fetch Pet Insurance compare to other pet insurers on claims speed and ease?
Fetch is on a mission to help you give your pet a longer, healthier life.
Making the best veterinary care accessible to your dogs and cats — no matter the cost — is just the beginning. When you join Fetch, you’re getting the most complete pet insurance and unlocking a world of exclusive Member Perks on products and services that help you enjoy more good days with your pet.
