Editorial Note: We earn a fee from companion hyperlinks on Forbes Advisor. Commissions don’t have an effect on our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Most pet insurance coverage corporations cowl solely cats and dogs, however pet house owners preferring different kinds of furry, feathered or scaly mates might want pet insurance coverage, too.
If you’re sharing your home with pets like a cockatoo, chinchilla, bearded dragon or pot-bellied pig, it’s possible you’ll wish to take into account getting unique pet insurance coverage.
What is Exotic Pet Insurance?
Exotic pet insurance coverage is a medical health insurance coverage on your unique pet that pays for veterinary bills. This consists of unique pets similar to amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles and small mammals.
Types of Exotic Pet Insurance
Nationwide pet insurance coverage provides an avian and unique pet accident and sickness pet insurance coverage plan. This sort of plan covers vet payments for accidents (similar to gentle tissue trauma) and sicknesses (similar to feather loss or arthritis).
Exotic pet insurance coverage from Nationwide is reimbursement-based: You’ll pay upfront on your unique pet’s vet payments and submit a declare to your pet insurance coverage firm. If your vet bills are lined by your coverage, your insurer will reimburse you.
Featured Partner Offers
Maximum annual protection
Unlimited
Reimbursement decisions
50%, 70%, 90%
What Does Exotic Pet Insurance Cover?
Exotic pet insurance coverage from Nationwide covers veterinary bills for accidents similar to:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue trauma
- Sprains
- Lacerations
- Poisoning
It covers veterinary payments for sicknesses similar to:
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Diarrhea
- Ear infections
- Eye accidents
- Feather selecting/loss
- Foreign physique ingestion
- Internal parasites
- Mouth rot
- Overgrown tooth
- Upper respiratory an infection
And an unique pet insurance coverage plan covers veterinary companies similar to:
- Avian particular diagnostic assessments.
- Diagnostic assessments similar to blood assessments, biopsies, radiographs and urinalysis.
- Hospitalizations.
- Prescription medicine.
- Treatments.
- Surgeries.
Does Exotic Pet Insurance Cover Routine Care?
Exotic pet insurance coverage from Nationwide doesn’t cowl routine care. Pet wellness plans sometimes cowl routine care prices similar to annual vet exams and vaccinations.
You could possibly discover a wellness plan for routine look after unique pets as a stand-alone plan. For instance, Pet Assure’s “Mint Wellness” plan covers vet examination charges and different kinds of bills for all sorts of pets, together with unique pets.
What Exotic Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Common unique pet insurance coverage exclusions embody:
- Boarding or transport bills.
- Breeding prices.
- Congenital or hereditary defects or ailments.
- Costs unrelated to veterinary care.
- Diseases preventable by vaccines.
- Elective procedures similar to wing clipping and nail trims.
- Food and dietary supplements similar to nutritional vitamins.
- Orthodontics.
- Pre-existing situations, that are accidents or sicknesses that occurred earlier than you bought an unique pet insurance coverage plan.
- Routine care, examinations and vaccinations.
- Surgical removing of reproductive organs, expression or removing of scent glands.
Certain kinds of unique pets will not be lined, together with:
- Any species that requires a license, allow or registration by federal or state regulation.
- Any species that’s unlawful to personal by federal or state regulation.
- Endangered or threatened species.
- Hybrids of domesticated pets with a wild/non-domesticated species.
- Species which might be stored in flocks or on show.
- Venomous or toxic species.
How Much Does Exotic Pet Insurance Cost?
Exotic pet insurance coverage from Nationwide usually prices lower than $21 a month, in accordance with the corporate’s web site. Your personal unique pet insurance coverage prices will rely on components similar to:
- Type of pet.
- Annual protection quantity.
- Where you reside.
Is Pet Insurance for Exotic Animals Necessary?
Pet insurance coverage for unique animals will not be essential, nevertheless it’s a great way to cowl sudden veterinary payments. For instance, in case your pot-bellied pig ingests a overseas object, emergency surgical procedure may cost you hundreds of {dollars} on the vet. Without pet insurance coverage, you would need to pay the vet payments out of pocket.
The finest method to decide if pet insurance coverage is price it’s to think about how a serious vet invoice would affect your private funds versus the annual cost of an unique pet insurance coverage plan.
Find The Best Pet Insurance Companies Of 2023
Exotic Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How a lot is Nationwide unique pet insurance coverage?
Nationwide unique pet insurance coverage prices about $21 monthly, in accordance with the corporate’s web site.
Your unique pet insurance coverage prices will rely on components similar to the kind of pet you might have, your protection ranges and the place you reside.
How does unique pet insurance coverage work?
Exotic pet insurance coverage, like most common pet insurance coverage, is reimbursement-based. You’ll pay upfront on your unique pet’s veterinary payments and submit a declare to your insurer. If your pet’s vet bills are lined by your plan, your insurer will ship you a reimbursement cost, minus your deductible and coinsurance.
When ought to I purchase unique pet insurance coverage?
The finest time to buy unique pet insurance coverage is as early as doable. That’s since you wish to purchase a plan earlier than your pet develops any situations. Exotic pet insurance coverage usually doesn’t cowl any pre-existing situations that began earlier than your protection started.
You can ask Nationwide to overview your pet’s pre-existing situation and, if it has been cured, it might be added to your protection.
Do you want pet insurance coverage for a rabbit?
If you’re unsure if you happen to want pet insurance coverage for a rabbit, ask your self how a serious vet invoice would affect your funds. If you need protection for medical emergencies on your rabbit, then unique pet insurance coverage could also be a great choice. It covers accidents and sicknesses and pays for vet bills similar to diagnostic assessments, surgical procedures and prescription medicine.
How a lot is unique pet insurance coverage for a reptile?
Exotic pet insurance coverage for a reptile can cost round $10 monthly to $17 monthly, relying on the kind of reptile, in accordance with a Nationwide pet insurance coverage charge submitting in Florida that we analyzed.
For instance, charges for iguanas, tortoises, turtles and small to giant snakes cost $10 monthly for an unique pet insurance coverage coverage. But further giant snakes similar to boa constrictors and pythons cost about $17 monthly for a plan.
