The bill is
$3,840.
You'd pay $968.
That's a torn knee ligament on a four-year-old Lab — one of the most common surgeries in dogs. Here's the actual invoice, and exactly which part a plan covers.
- Any licensed vet
- No sold leads
- A real producer, not a call centre
Illustration using a $250 annual deductible, 80% reimbursement, and a $10,000 annual limit. Not a quote — your numbers depend on your pet and the plan you choose.
The stuff you can't plan for.
A plan is for the bill that arrives without warning — not the check-up you already budget for.
Accidents
The sudden, expensive things — a fall, a fight, a swallowed sock.
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments
- Swallowed objects
- Lacerations & bite wounds
- Toxic ingestion
Illness
Diagnosis and treatment of conditions that develop after coverage starts.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Skin & ear infections
- Digestive illness
- Hereditary conditions
Diagnostics & care
The work it takes to find out what's wrong, and to fix it.
- Bloodwork & imaging
- Surgery & hospitalization
- Prescription medication
- Specialist referrals
- Emergency visits
Four things nobody tells you.
Every carrier applies these. We'd rather you hear it now than at the claims desk.
Pre-existing conditions
Anything your pet showed signs of before coverage started, whether or not it was diagnosed. This is the single biggest reason to enroll while a pet is healthy — and the single biggest source of denied claims.
Waiting periods
Coverage starts after a waiting period, typically a few days for accidents and around two weeks for illness. Orthopedic conditions often wait longer.
Routine & preventive care
Vaccines, annual exams, dental cleanings, and spay/neuter are not covered by an accident-and-illness plan. Some carriers sell a separate wellness add-on for these.
Cosmetic and elective procedures
Tail docking, ear cropping, declawing, and anything else not medically necessary.
You pay the vet. We get you paid back.
You go to any licensed vet
No networks. Your vet doesn't need a relationship with the carrier — you keep whoever you already trust.
You pay the clinic
Almost every pet plan reimburses you rather than paying the vet directly. Plan for that at checkout.
You file the invoice
Send the itemized invoice and the visit notes. Straightforward claims are usually settled within a couple of weeks.
You're reimbursed
Your deductible comes off first, then the plan pays its percentage of what's left, up to your annual limit.
We'll tell you the day we can quote it.
Scruff is a licensed Utah producer finalising pet carrier appointments. One email when it's ready — never a call centre, never a sold lead.