Does pet insurance cover X-rays and diagnostic tests?
Yes, pet insurance policies generally cover x-rays and other diagnostic tests when they are deemed necessary for diagnosing and treating covered accidents or illnesses.
If your pet becomes sick or injured, it is very likely that your veterinarian will recommend diagnostic tests to help them understand your pets current health condition and guide their ongoing medical treatment. Common diagnostic tests needed for working up your pets illness or injury can include lab tests such as blood work, urinalysis, fecal tests, and diagnostic imaging such as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasounds, or even CT or MRI scans. Sometimes your pet may need to have the same tests repeated throughout their medical care to ensure they are responding well to their treatment.
If your pet requires a complete blood screening, without insurance you can expect to pay around $700 for the procedure and with insurance you can expect to pay $540 because you have not met your $500 annual deductible.
Example Bill If Your Pet Needs An X-Ray And Complete Blood Screening
| Total Vet Bill $700 | You Pay This At Time Of Service Need help with up front expenses? Check out Vet Spend |
| Insurance Coverage -$160 | Insurance Reimbursement (Here’s The Math) Total Vet Bill: $700 Your Deductible: – $500 Eligible For Reimbursement: = $200 Reimbursement Rate: x 80% = $160 |
| Your Final Cost $540 | You Saved 22% With Insurance! |
If your pet requires an X-ray. Without insurance you can expect to pay around $350 for the procedure and with insurance you can expect to pay $350 because you have not met your $500 annual deductible.
Example Bill for X-Ray:
- Total Cost – $350
- Reimbursement rate 80%
- Cost before deductible $350 (Example deductible is $500) (Annual deductible for your pet insurance is the required amount you pay out of pocket before your pet insurance policy begins covering medical expenses.)
- Co-insurance 20% cost after deductible is met = $0.00
- Total Cost with insurance $350. Total cost without insurance is $350.
Note: You might be wondering why the insurance doesn’t seem to help much in this situation. If your pet goes to the vet for an X-Ray that is most likely not the only claim resulting from that visit. Most likely reason for needing an X-Ray is a bone fracture, broken bone or accidental ingestion of a foreign object. You will meet your deductible under one of those claims, and will see the full value of the insurance policy. SEE DOES PET INSURANCE COVER A BROKEN BONE / DOES PET INSURANCE COVER ACCIDENTAL INGESTION OF A FOREIGN OBJECT for additional cost associated with an X-Ray.
Example Bill For A Complete Blood Screen (metabolic/chemistry panel, CBC with a differential +/- a urinalysis +/- a T4/thyroid screen) (Complete Blood Count):
- Total Cost – $350
- Reimbursement rate 80%
- Cost before deductible $350 (Example deductible is $500) (Annual deductible for your pet insurance is the required amount you pay out of pocket before your pet insurance policy begins covering medical expenses.)
- Co-insurance 20% cost after deductible is met = $0.00
- Total Cost with insurance $350. Total cost without insurance is $350.
Note: You might be wondering why insurance doesn’t seem to help much in this situation. If your pet goes in for Complete Blood Screen. Most likely if your pet needs a Complete Blood Screen your pet will also need an X-Ray with an added cost of about $350. With the combined diagnostic test you will reach and exceed your annual deductible. Once you reach your $500 deductible you will then be responsible for your co-insurance of 20% at an 80% reimbursement rate.
