Glossary

Deductible

The amount you pay toward covered vet bills before pet insurance begins to reimburse you.

Also called: annual deductible, per-condition deductible, lifetime deductible, insurance excess

The deductible is the part of a covered claim that you pay yourself before the insurer starts repaying. In an annual deductible, you pay the set amount once per policy year, after which the plan reimburses claims at its rate for the rest of that year. A per-condition deductible applies separately to each new illness or injury and may apply once for life or each year.

A higher deductible usually means a lower monthly premium, and a lower deductible means a higher one. Choose a figure you could pay on the day of an emergency.

In some countries the same idea is called the excess. Only covered costs count toward it, so routine visits, exam fees or excluded items may not count. Read the policy to see exactly what applies.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Pet insurance A policy that reimburses a share of veterinary bills for covered accidents and illnesses in return for a monthly premium. Reimbursement rate The percentage of a covered vet bill that a pet insurer repays after the deductible, often 70, 80 or 90 percent. Pre-existing condition An illness, injury or sign that a dog had before pet insurance began or during the waiting period, and which a policy usually will not cover.