Last updated: October 2026
The reimbursement rate is the percentage of a covered vet bill your insurer pays you back, and it’s one of the two biggest levers (along with your deductible) on both your monthly premium and what lands in your bank account after a claim. [enlace: #4]
Quick answer: Most insurers let you choose 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement; some offer as low as 50% or as high as 100%. A higher rate means a higher premium but more money back per claim. 80% is the most common balance between the two. [enlace: #1]
Percentage-based vs. benefit schedule
Most modern plans use percentage-based reimbursement: you pick a rate when you buy the policy, and the insurer pays that share of your actual, covered vet bill after the deductible. A smaller number of older-style plans use a benefit schedule instead: the insurer pays a fixed, pre-set amount for a given treatment or condition, no matter what your vet actually charged — this method is less common today and generally considered less comprehensive. (MoneyGeek)
Example — percentage-based, 80% rate, $1,000 bill, $200 deductible already met this year: You receive $800 (80% of the full $1,000).
Example — percentage-based, deductible not yet met: You receive $640 — 80% of the remaining $800 after the $200 deductible is subtracted first.
Example — benefit schedule: A $500 broken-bone bill with a $300 scheduled amount for that treatment pays out $300, regardless of what you actually owed the vet.
Always confirm which method a plan uses before buying — a «90% reimbursement» plan on a benefit schedule can pay far less in practice than an 80% plan based on your real bill.
Typical reimbursement rates by insurer
| Insurer | Reimbursement options |
|---|---|
| AKC Pet Insurance | 70% / 80% / 90% |
| ASPCA Pet Insurance | 70% / 80% / 90% |
| Embrace | 70% / 80% / 90% |
| Healthy Paws | 50% / 60% / 70% / 80% |
| Trupanion | 90% (fixed) |
| Figo | up to 100% |
| Wagmo | up to 100% |
Ranges from MoneyGeek; confirm current options directly with each insurer. [enlace: #11]
Payout caps to watch for
A high reimbursement rate doesn’t matter if a payout cap kicks in first. Three kinds to check before buying:
- Annual limit: the maximum the insurer pays in a 12-month period, across all claims.
- Per-incident limit: a cap on what’s paid for one specific condition or event.
- Lifetime limit: a maximum for that condition, or for the pet overall, across the life of the policy.
Some modern plans advertise «unlimited» annual and lifetime limits — that combination matters more for a serious chronic illness than the reimbursement percentage alone.
How to choose the right reimbursement rate
- Go higher (90–100%) if you want claims to feel close to «paid in full» and can absorb the higher monthly premium.
- Go lower (70%) if you’re mainly protecting against a catastrophic bill and are comfortable keeping more of the routine cost yourself in exchange for cheaper premiums.
- Pair it with your deductible choice — a high reimbursement rate with a high deductible can land at roughly the same premium as a low reimbursement rate with a low deductible, but the two pay out very differently claim by claim. [enlace: #4]
- Confirm the calculation method (percentage of actual bill vs. benefit schedule) before comparing rates between insurers — the number alone isn’t comparable otherwise.
- Check the payout caps, not just the percentage, especially if your pet is a breed prone to a specific expensive chronic condition.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100% reimbursement realistic?
A few insurers (Figo, Wagmo) offer it, but it comes with the highest premium of any option, and payout caps still apply on top of it.
Can I change my reimbursement rate later?
Usually yes, at renewal — most insurers let you adjust it for the next policy term, which changes your premium.
Does the reimbursement rate apply before or after the deductible?
Most insurers apply the deductible first, then the percentage to what’s left — but confirm this with each insurer, since the order changes your actual payout. [enlace: #4]
Why did I get back less than I expected?
Usually one of three reasons: the deductible hadn’t been fully met yet, an annual or per-incident cap was reached, or part of the bill (an excluded condition, a non-covered item like a wellness exam) wasn’t eligible in the first place.
The bottom line
The reimbursement rate decides what share of a vet bill actually comes back to you, but the number on its own doesn’t tell the whole story — how it’s calculated (percentage of your real bill vs. a fixed schedule) and the payout caps attached to it matter just as much. [enlace: #2] 80% is a reasonable default for most owners; go higher if you want claims to feel close to fully paid, or lower if you’re mainly buying protection against the rare catastrophic bill.
This article is for general information and isn’t personalized financial advice. Reimbursement options and caps vary by insurer and change over time — confirm current terms before buying.
Sources
- PetInsuranceQuotes.com, Pet Insurance Reimbursement 101
- MoneyGeek, Pet Insurance Reimbursement