By Jessica Martinez, Contributing WriterUpdated July 9, 2026
How does pet insurance reimbursement work?
Take the bill, subtract the deductible, apply the reimbursement rate, then cap the result at the annual limit. That sequence gives your reimbursement and what's left as your out-of-pocket share.
How Is Your Reimbursement Calculated
The calculator above runs the same three-step math an insurer uses to process a claim.
After-deductible amount = bill minus deductible (never below zero).
Reimbursed = after-deductible amount times your reimbursement rate, capped at the annual limit.
Out-of-pocket = bill minus reimbursed.
Worked example: a claim under the limit
Using the default numbers above, a $4,000 bill with a $250 deductible, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $5,000 annual limit: the after-deductible amount is $3,750. Eighty percent of that is $3,000, which is well under the $5,000 limit, so you'd be reimbursed the full $3,000 and left with $1,000 out-of-pocket.
Worked example: a claim that hits the limit
Now try a bigger bill: $10,000, a $250 deductible, a 90% rate and the same $5,000 limit. The after-deductible amount is $9,750, and 90% of that is $8,775, but the plan only pays up to $5,000 a year. Reimbursement is capped at $5,000 and you're left owing $5,000, even though the raw math on the reimbursement rate alone would have suggested a bigger check.
Typical reimbursement rates
| Reimbursement rate | Insurer pays (of after-deductible bill) | You keep paying |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | 70% | 30% |
| 80% | 80% | 20% |
| 90% | 90% | 10% |
These are the same rate options referenced in the FAQ below; the annual limit still applies on top of whichever rate you pick.
Check your premium before you file a claim
Run the numbers on what a plan like this actually costs per month.