Telemedicine for Pets: Does Insurance Cover It? Here's What to Know

Tele-what-now? A quick Google search reveals the murky depths of telemedicine for pets. Clarity is harder to come by than a dog with decent table manners. To make matters worse, many confuse telemedicine with telehealth, two completely different things.

What in the world is going on?

The rules are all out of whack, that's what. Some states, like California, allow pet parents to form veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPRs) online. Others don't. States limit who can get their pets treated remotely, limiting what insurers can cover.

Enough with the confusion. Below, we'll briefly discuss the difference between telehealth and telemedicine, what a VCPR is, and what pet insurance covers.

Telehealth vs. telemedicine

To understand what pet insurance covers, you must understand the difference between telehealth and telemedicine.

Telehealth is an umbrella term for remote healthcare, typically done over video or phone calls. Pet telehealth typically means getting general health advice from vets remotely. If Bruno is chasing his tail a little too often, you can call up any vet and ask for next steps.

Telemedicine is a subcategory of telehealth. It concerns the treatment of pets. If you want a vet to diagnose and possibly prescribe Bruno meds remotely, you're engaging in telemedicine.

The rules concerning telemedicine are a lot more strict than those relating to telehealth. Any qualified vet can answer general questions, but to get prescriptions over the air, you need a special relationship known as a VCPR.

VCPR and telemedicine

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says a VCPR exists when your veterinarian knows your pet well enough to be able to diagnose and treat any medical conditions your animal develops.

Establishing a VCPR is like finding and sticking with a primary care doctor, but for pets. It's a special relationship that grants a vet special privileges, like the power to diagnose and treat pets how they see fit, within reason.

Most states require VCPRs to be formed in person. That means taking Fluffy to the clinic at least once, meeting the vet face to face, and going from there. In these states, pet parents must meet a vet at least once (in person!) before asking them to treat the animal over Zoom.

Once you've established a VCPR, either remotely or in-person (depending on state laws), you can consider telemedicine and whether the best pet insurance companies cover it.

Pet insurance sometimes covers telemedicine

Not all pet insurers cover telemedicine, but many popular insurers offer on-demand advice from professionals. Customers of Chewy, the online pet supply superstore, can connect with vets remotely for free through the platform. Chewy isn't an insurer, though; it doesn't offer telemedicine.

Here are some insurers that cover quick consultations:

• Figo Pet Insurance (Costco members get a 15% discount on plans)
• Pets Best Insurance (24/7 emergency helpline)

Fewer pet insurers cover telemedicine, i.e., over-the-air diagnoses and prescriptions. Here are some that cover remote treatment:

• Fetch Pet Insurance (up to $1,000 annually)
• Lemonade Pet Insurance (with Vet Visit fee add-on)

These insurers may require pet owners to purchase add-ons that raise the cost of premiums. To check, the best thing to do is consult your policy or call an insurance agent directly.

Whether insurance covers virtual treatment boils down to your insurer and specific policy. Be sure telemedicine is something you're interested in before purchasing a plan. Even if your insurer offers coverage, it could raise your premiums if you sign on.