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Exotic pet insurance: How it works

Your ferret, iguana, parakeet, or tortoise might not seem so exotic to you. In fact, you might consider your pet part of the family — just like cat and dog owners think of their pets as fur babies.

However, when it comes to getting pet insurance for your bird, reptile, amphibian, or small mammal, they're considered exotic in the eyes of insurers. That means if you want coverage to help pay for veterinary care, you need to understand the ins and outs of exotic pet insurance.

Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.

Exotic pet insurance reimburses you for certain costs of medical care if your pet has an accident, injury, or illness. However, only a few insurance companies offer coverage for exotic pets.

Although most pet insurance providers solely cover cats and dogs, MetLife and Nationwide offer insurance for exotic pets as well. Pet Assure also offers a wellness plan that reimburses routine exotic pet care expenses.

Learn more: MetLife pet insurance review

If your pet needs medical treatment, you can use a veterinarian of your choice, then submit a claim to be reimbursed for expenses your policy covers. Typically, you’ll be required to include a detailed invoice from your vet visit and your pet’s medical records with your claim.

To be clear, not all medical expenses are covered, and the reimbursement you receive is determined by the following:

Annual deductible. This is the amount you must pay for your pet’s medical expenses before insurance starts providing reimbursement.
Reimbursement percentage. This is the portion of your vet bill the insurer will pay for covered expenses once you’ve met your deductible. For example, Nationwide offers reimbursement options of 50%, 60%, 70%, or 80% for its exotic pet insurance plans.
Maximum annual benefit. This is the total amount your insurance will pay each year for all claims.

Example: Let’s say your pet swallows something, and the vet bill to remove it is $1,000. If your deductible is $300 and your reimbursement rate is 80%, you would be reimbursed $560 ($1,000 - $300 x 80%).

“Exotic pet” is a term used to describe animals that aren’t domesticated. Technically, an exotic animal is a wild animal that comes from a different continent than where you live, according to the American Humane Society.

For insurance purposes, pets other than cats and dogs — birds, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals — are considered exotic pets. Whether your specific exotic pet will be covered depends on the insurance company. But here are a few examples of what some pet insurers offer:

Amphibians and reptiles
Birds
Ferrets
Goats
Hedgehogs
Opossums
Pigs
Rabbits
Small rodents

Amphibians and reptiles (including lizards, snakes, and tortoises)
Birds
Ferrets, hedgehogs, rodents, and other small mammals
Goats
Guinea pigs
Mini pigs

Every member of the animal kingdom is covered under its wellness plan.

Endangered or threatened species
Fish
Horses
Livestock

Endangered or threatened species
Poisonous or venomous species
Species kept in flocks
Species that are hybrids of domesticated and wild animals
Species that are illegal to own or require a permit, license, or registration by state or federal law

The types of conditions and treatments that are covered can vary depending on the type of pet and insurance company. In general, though, exotic pet insurance covers costs related to the following:

Bladder infections
Cardiovascular disorders
Dehydration and constipation
Diagnostic tests
Diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders
Emergency dental treatment
Excessive egg laying
Eye infections
Infectious diseases
Internal parasites
Medications
Prescription food
Skin and shell disorders
Upper respiratory infections

Nationwide offers wellness coverage only for birds, which can help cover the cost of physical exams, beak trims, wing trims, nail trims, parasite tests, parasite prevention, parasite treatment, and more, according to a Nationwide spokesperson. Pet Assure doesn’t cover unexpected accidents or illness, but its Mint Wellness plans reimburse for routine care, such as wellness visits, vaccinations, blood work, fecal tests, and dental care.

Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers

Like pet insurance for cats and dogs, exotic pet insurance generally won’t cover preexisting conditions. A preexisting condition is typically defined as a condition your pet showed signs of, was diagnosed with, or was treated for before the start of your policy or during the waiting period.

However, if your pet has a curable condition and has been symptom-free for a certain period of time, the insurer might cover the condition. For example, Nationwide allows policyholders to request reviews of preexisting conditions that have been cured.

Also, exotic pet insurance typically doesn’t cover:

Routine preventive care
Cosmetic and elective procedures
Grooming
Injuries or illnesses resulting from neglect or intentional acts
Injuries or illnesses resulting from the commercial use of an animal or racing
Obedience training

Learn more: Does pet insurance cover vaccines?

Exotic pets can have different medical needs compared to domesticated pets like cats and dogs. Plus, illnesses and conditions can vary greatly depending on the species. Some common medical problems among exotic pets include:

Abscesses
Bladder stones
Feather picking and loss
Foreign body ingestion
Intestinal issues
Mouth rot
Pneumonia

Pet insurance policies typically have waiting periods before coverage begins. MetLife has a 14-day waiting period for illness coverage and no waiting period for accidents and injuries. Nationwide states that coverage for most plans begins after a 14-day waiting period.

The cost of exotic pet insurance can vary depending on the coverage you choose, your location, and the type of pet you have.

MetLife pet insurance policies are customizable, so prices vary, according to a MetLife spokesperson. Call 877-570-1173 for a quote.
Nationwide states on its website that plans start as low as $9 a month, but the most popular plans are about $20 a month. Call 844-397-8937 for a quote.
Pet Assure offers three Mint Wellness plans:
- Basic reimburses up to $350 in care costs for $18 a month
- Essential reimburses up to $650 in care costs for $34 a month
- Premium reimburses up to $1,100 in care costs for $57 a month

Learn more: Is pet insurance worth it? How to decide.

Yes, both MetLife and Nationwide allow pet owners to cancel their policies. If you cancel a MetLife policy within 30 days and haven’t filed any claims, you’ll get a full refund of your premium. With Nationwide policies, you can get your money back if you haven’t filed any claims and cancel within a certain period of time that varies by state, ranging from 10 to 30 days.

Owning certain exotic pets can pose risks because their behavior can be more unpredictable. If your pet were to injure someone else, you could be on the hook for their medical bills or potentially face legal action. Exotic animal liability insurance can help cover these costs.

For example, Prime Insurance and XInsurance offer liability policies that will cover costs if your exotic pet injures someone or damages their property. And it will help cover legal costs if you go to court. Pets covered include big cats and monkeys, birds, rabbits, reptiles, and other more common nontraditional pets.

According to the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation, caring for an exotic pet can be more expensive than caring for a cat or dog. Plus, vets are less likely to provide care for exotic pets, so exotic pet owners might have to travel longer distances to get care for their animals, adding to the overall cost of pet ownership.

Learn more: The best pet insurance companies

Because it can help offset the cost of unexpected accidents and illness, and the wellness plan from Pet Assure can cover routine care costs, exotic pet insurance might be worth the cost. Consult with your vet to understand what care expenses you might face with an exotic pet to determine whether exotic pet insurance makes sense for you.