Pet Insurance Glossary: Every Term Explained in Plain English

Pet insurance helps dog and cat owners manage the cost of unexpected veterinary bills by covering a portion of eligible medical expenses whenever a pet gets sick or injured. It works similarly to health insurance for humans: you take your pet to any licensed veterinarian, pay the bill, then submit a claim through the Kanguro app and receive reimbursement of up to 90% of covered costs.Kanguro's base plan covers accidents and illnesses — including surgery, cancer treatment, emergency care, X-rays, and prescription medications. An optional Wellness & Preventive add-on (Premier Care+ or Early Years Care+) covers routine exams, vaccinations, and preventive medications for an additional monthly fee.Without pet insurance, a single dog or cat can cost $28,000–$34,000 in vet bills over their lifetime. A single emergency visit for a broken bone or foreign-body ingestion can exceed $3,000–$5,000. Pet insurance protects your savings and ensures your pet always gets the care they need, not just what you can afford.

Kanguro pet insurance is currently available in 27 states and Washington DC:Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington DC, and Wisconsin.Coverage is underwritten by Cimarron Insurance Company and administered by Kanguro Insurance LLC, headquartered in Miami, Florida. Kanguro is expanding to new states regularly — visit kanguroinsurance.com to check current availability in your state.

Kanguro offers several advantages over other major pet insurance providers:Up to 90% reimbursement — among the highest in the industry10% multi-pet discount for up to 5 pets on a single policyFree 24/7 Televet consultations included in every plan (connect with a licensed vet via video or chat at no extra cost)Claims are filed entirely through the Kanguro app in three steps, with real-time tracking.Covers hereditary and genetic conditions (hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, blood disorders) — excluded by some competitorsBilingual support (English & Spanish), Monday–Friday 9am–7pm EST and Saturday 10am–2pm ESTNAPHIA member — committed to transparent, high-quality coverage standardsUnlike some providers, Kanguro Insurance does not require you to use a network of vets — you can visit any licensed veterinarian.

Yes! Each additional pet qualifies for a 10% multi-pet discount, making Kanguro Insurance one of the most affordable options for multi-pet households.All pets are managed from a single account through the Kanguro mobile app, where you can file claims, access Televet, and track reimbursements for every pet in one place.

Renters insurance and pet insurance cover different things. It's important not to confuse them. Renters insurance (Kanguro offers this too) covers liability if your pet injures another person or damages someone else's property. For example, if your dog bites a neighbor or your cat knocks over and breaks something in a guest's home, your renters policy may cover associated legal and medical costs. However, renters insurance does not cover: Veterinary bills for your pet Damage your pet causes to your own rental unit Your pet's medical conditions or injuries For vet cost coverage, you need a separate Kanguro pet insurance policy. Note that some renters insurance policies exclude certain high-risk dog breeds, review your specific policy or speak with a Kanguro agent.

Kanguro pet insurance starts at $30/month for dogs and $15/month for cats. Your actual price depends on your pet's species, breed, age and where you live, plus the coverage you choose: your reimbursement percentage, your annual deductible and your annual limit are all selected during the quote and shown on your Declarations page.A 10% multi-pet discount is available, and annual and quarterly payment plans may include additional discounts. You can get a full quote in about 60 seconds without talking to anyone — and you'll see the exact monthly price before you commit.

No. Pre-existing conditions are excluded from all Kanguro plans, as they are with every pet insurance provider in the US.A condition counts as pre-existing if a veterinarian gave advice on it, treated it, or your pet showed signs or symptoms of it before your policy start date or during a waiting period. Everything else about your pet's health is still covered — which is why enrolling while your pet is young and healthy means fewer conditions get counted as pre-existing later.

Two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. Cruciate ligament and other knee injuries and illnesses have a six-month waiting period, which Kanguro may reduce to 14 days if you provide your pet's complete medical history and it shows no prior or existing knee problem. Preventive care benefits begin as soon as your premium is paid.Two things worth knowing: waiting periods may be waived entirely for pets insured within the first six months after birth, or when the policy is issued the same day you buy or adopt from an authorized Kanguro partner. And if you upgrade your policy later, waiting periods reset.

Kanguro offers two optional preventive add-ons, and which one is right for you depends on your pet's age — not on how much coverage you want.Premiere Care+, for pets of any age, reimburses a wellness exam, a heartworm test, up to three vaccines, a fecal or parasite exam, a blood test, flea/tick/heartworm medication, a deworming, and routine hygiene services.Early Years Care+, for pets under three, reimburses up to two wellness exams, a heartworm test, up to four vaccines or boosters, up to two fecal or parasite exams, a blood test, flea/tick/heartworm medication, a deworming, and — the difference that matters at this age — spaying or neutering, and microchipping.Both include a heartworm test. The real difference is that Premiere Care+ adds routine hygiene services, and Early Years Care+ adds spay/neuter and microchip. Each service has its own annual limit, shown in your endorsement.One thing to know: if a preventive exam or test finds an actual medical condition, those costs get reviewed under your main policy instead of the preventive add-on.

Kanguro covers the diagnostics that make an expensive diagnosis possible: X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, blood tests, urinalysis and lab work, prescribed by a veterinarian and medically necessary.On the treatment side, coverage includes hospitalization and in-hospital care, surgery, specialty and emergency room veterinarian fees, endodontic treatment for dental injuries and illnesses, and prosthetic limbs, devices and mobility aids — which most policies in this market don't mention at all.Kanguro also covers holistic and alternative therapies when they're performed by a licensed veterinarian and result from a covered accident or illness. Aromatherapy and massage aren't covered, and experimental or investigational treatments need prior approval.

Yes. Kanguro has no restricted veterinary network — you can visit any licensed veterinarian in an authorized state, including specialists and emergency hospitals.You pay your vet, then submit the claim through the Kanguro app in three steps with real-time tracking. Average reimbursement time is 3.5 days. For qualifying claims over $900, Kanguro can pay your veterinarian directly, so you don't have to cover a large bill up front and wait.

Yes. Kanguro Pet Insurance covers elbow and hip dysplasia, hernias, and blood and eye disorders — a set of conditions that several providers exclude outright or charge extra to add.They're covered on every plan, as long as they weren't pre-existing when your policy started and the waiting period has passed. This is a defined list, so if you have a specific breed-related condition in mind, ask an agent before you buy and you'll get a straight answer.