Pet insurance lingo can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Let us help you make sense of it all with this A-Z guide to some of the most common pet insurance terms and what they mean.
Get Fetch nowAccident and illness coverage
With Fetch, accident and illness coverage comes as a package deal in one comprehensive plan. The “accident” part of accident and illness pet insurance covers your pet when they get hurt. This means Fetch covers unexpected injuries and the treatment your vet recommends as your pet recovers, including X-rays, surgery, specialty care and more.
The “illness” part of accident and illness pet insurance provides coverage when your pet unexpectedly gets sick. This includes common gastrointestinal issues and gum disease as well as more critical conditions like cancer and diabetes. Fetch also provides coverage for prescribed medications and sick-visit treatments.
Alternative and holistic care
In terms of pet insurance, alternative and holistic care refers to non-traditional treatments like acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, chiropractic and homeopathic therapy. These alternative therapies can ease pain and aid in the healing process for dogs and cats. Fetch covers many alternative and holistic therapies when administered by a vet.
Chronic condition
A chronic condition is a long-term illness or disease that may require ongoing treatment or medical attention. Fetch offers coverage for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and arthritis.
Claim
A pet insurance claim is a request you send to your insurance provider asking for reimbursement for care that’s covered in your plan. After your vet visit, you’ll submit your claim with supporting documentation to your provider. With Fetch, filing a claim is as easy as snapping a pic of your pet’s vet invoice and medical records and submitting them through the Fetch app or your account.
Coverage
Coverage refers to the treatments, prescriptions and types of care that are eligible for reimbursement under your pet insurance policy. Fetch offers the most comprehensive pet insurance that covers up to 90% of unexpected vet bills.
Deductible
Your pet insurance deductible is the amount of veterinary care you need to pay for yourself each year before we can reimburse you for claims. So if your annual deductible is $300, you have to pay for $300 worth of approved veterinary care before we can start reimbursing you.
Exam fee
Every unexpected visit to the vet comes with an exam fee, which can cost around $50 – $250. That’s in addition to any tests and treatment your pet may need. Fetch covers the complete sick visit — exam fee included.
Exclusions
An exclusion refers to a specific condition, treatment or situation that would not be covered under your pet insurance policy.
Hereditary condition
Pets can be prone to medical conditions based on their breed, like breathing problems in French Bulldogs or kidney stones in Burmese. Hereditary conditions linked to breed are covered with Fetch Pet Insurance.
Invoice
An invoice is the bill or receipt you receive from your vet after a visit. In order to file a pet insurance claim, you need proof of a paid invoice. It should also be itemized, meaning it details exactly what you were charged for.
Lifetime limit
A lifetime limit is the maximum amount of money an insurance provider will reimburse you for veterinary treatment over the lifetime of your pet. Fetch doesn’t have lifetime limits.
Max annual payout
Your max annual payout is the maximum dollar amount you can be paid back each year. Choosing a lower max annual payout will make your pet insurance price lower.
Medical record
A medical record is a report from your vet that details your pet’s medical history. This includes exam notes, lab results and any medical information.
Policy
Your policy is the document that tells you exactly what is and isn’t covered by your pet insurance plan.
Pre-existing condition
A pre-existing condition is any injury, illness or condition that you or your veterinarian notice your pet has (or shows signs of) before you enroll with Fetch, before your policy’s effective date or during the waiting period of up to 15 days.
Premium
Your premium is the amount you pay for your pet’s coverage. It’s just another way of saying how much pet insurance costs. You get to choose if you pay monthly, quarterly or annually.
Preventive Care
Preventive care refers to routine veterinary care that keeps your pet healthy. It includes services like annual exams, vaccinations, heartworm prevention and dental cleaning. Fetch Wellness offers routine and preventive care as an optional add-on to your accident and illness policy. Learn more about the differences between accident, illness and wellness coverage.
Quote
A quote is an estimate of the cost of your pet insurance plan, based on specific information about your pet and your desired level and coverage. Want to see how it works? Start a quote with Fetch to get your price.
Reimbursement rate
Your reimbursement rate is the percentage of an approved claim total that pet insurance can cover. For example, if your reimbursement rate is 80% and you submit a claim for $500, we can cover up to $400 (once you’ve reached your deductible).
Rider
A rider (sometimes called an “endorsement” in insurance-speak) is an add-on to your standard pet insurance policy that you have to pay extra for.
Waiting period
A waiting period is a specific amount of time between when you sign up for pet insurance and when your pet is covered. With Fetch, there’s a waiting period of up to 15 days.
Wellness plan
With Fetch, a wellness plan is separate from your accident and illness policy and is offered as an optional add-on to cover routine and preventive care. If you think of accident and illness as pet insurance coverage for the unexpected, think of a wellness plan as coverage for what you can expect — the routine care that helps keep your pet healthy.
Underwriting
Underwriting is the process an insurance provider uses when determining your policy, eligibility and price. Your provider may ask your pet’s breed, age, medical records and other related information as part of the underwriting process.
Fetch is the most comprehensive pet insurance in Canada and the U.S. We pay back up to 90% of unexpected vet bills when your pet gets sick or hurt. And with our optional Fetch Wellness add-on, you can help prevent health issues before they start.
This is a list of terms intended to help with general comprehension of pet insurance. These terms are not indicative of the definitions or coverage of Fetch plans or plans of other insurance providers unless otherwise stated. Please read your policy terms and conditions closely to understand how these terms are defined.
This information is descriptive only. Policy activation periods, risk free cancellation terms, waiting periods, limitations, exclusions to coverage and other terms and conditions vary by state or province and are subject to change without notice. Please see your policy for full terms and conditions of coverage. If there is any conflict between the policy and this product information, the provisions of the policy shall prevail.
Fetch insurance policies are administered by Fetch Insurance Services, LLC (d/b/a Fetch Pet Insurance, Fetch Pet Insurance Services in New York and British Columbia, Fetch Insurance in Nebraska, Fetch Pet Insurance Services, LLC in Michigan, North Dakota, New Mexico and California) CA license # 0F60627 and underwritten by AXIS Insurance Company, an Illinois Corporation, in the U.S. and AXIS Reinsurance Company (Canadian Branch) in Canada. For more information, visit fetchpet.com. ©️2025 Fetch, Inc.
Discounts and offers are subject to approval and may change at any time. Maximum available discount is 10% and may not be available in all states and is not valid with any other offer. Charitable donations offer not available in AK, HI, ID, IN, KS, ND, NY, RI, SC, or TX, limited to $15 in AL and $10 in MI and UT. For policies purchased in LA or NH, the installment fee is waived for the first payment and applied to all remaining payments.
Most comprehensive and most extensive coverage according to Consumers Advocate, January 2023. Based on a comparison of injury and illness coverage between Fetch and North American pet insurance providers on consumersadvocate.org. Consumers Advocate is a Fetch partner. Best pet insurance according to Consumer Rating, August 2023. Based on a comparison of top pet insurance companies on consumerrating.org. Consumer Rating is a Fetch partner. MarketWatch, NerdWallet, Forbes Advisor and Rover are Fetch partners. Unmatched according to The Dodo, May 2022. Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot based on consumer reviews as of February 2025.
Fetch is a registered trademark owned by Fetch, Inc. Fetch Wellness is insurance coverage added by endorsement to the core injury and illness policy, if purchased. It is not a “Wellness Program” meaning a subscription or reimbursement-based program that is separate from an insurance policy.
Program not available in New Brunswick and Quebec. Program not available in New Brunswick and Quebec. Average monthly premiums are based on Canadian annual premiums, using a 12-month average, for the period of 1.1.2022 through 12.31.2022 and all available limit combinations. Exam fees based on average costs. Policies in force and number of pets helped based on Fetch data as of 8.16.2024.
Fetch Health Perks offers access to savings on health and wellness products and services that policyholders may purchase from independent vendors, which are not covered benefits under your policy. Fetch does not recommend, endorse, warrant or guaranty any specific vendor, product or service available under or through the Fetch Health Perks program or site. Fetch Health Perks is not insurance and is not provided by AXIS Insurance Company. The service discounts described on this page are not insurance and are not affiliated with AXIS Insurance company.
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