Service dogs provide valuable assistance to people with disabilities, but health insurance plans generally do not cover the cost of acquiring, training, or maintaining a service dog. However, alternative financing options and nonprofit group assistance can help you finance this purchase.
Once you have a service animal, a pet health insurance policy can help protect you against unexpected medical expenses your service dog may need.
Key takeaways
- Health insurance plans generally do not cover the cost of obtaining, training, or maintaining service dogs.
- Alternative financing options for a service dog include grants, crowdfunding, state or federal aid, and personal loans.
- You can also purchase other types of insurance for your dog to help you care for it throughout its life and protect you financially if your dog ever accidentally hurts someone or damages something.
What is a service dog?
A service dog is trained to work or assist a person with a disability, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Depending on their owner’s needs, these dogs help in different ways. You might see a service dog help with:
- Guide handlers around obstacles in public places
- Alert hearing-impaired managers to everyday sounds, such as the doorbell ringing or an alarm going off.
- Assist with mobility tasks, such as pulling a wheelchair or providing balance support
- Detect psychiatric episodes and help mitigate their effects.
- Ask for help if their owner has a seizure
Insurance generally does not help owners acquire or maintain a service dog, with one exception. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a veterinary health benefit to eligible veterans who have a trained dog from an assistance dog organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF). ).
Accredited agencies provide service dogs and training to veterans free of charge. These service dogs receive comprehensive veterinary services covered by the VA, including annual visits for preventative care, urgent and emergency treatments, and medications.
How much does a service dog cost?
These dogs are specially trained, often for years, which makes their price unsurprisingly high. A fully trained dog can typically cost between $15,000 and $30,000, but prices can range up to $50,000, depending on the breed and the level of specialized training required.
Additional costs could include application fees, additional training services, your travel costs, or the dog’s travel costs.
It is possible to pay less by purchasing and training the dog yourself. But you will have to make sure that your dog can carry out his tasks well and demonstrate good citizenship when traveling. A Public Access Test (PAT) can certify that your dog is ready, so review these requirements as you train him.
You can also hire a professional dog trainer to help you with this process. Since it is recommended that your dog undergo at least 120 hours of training over six months, costs can add up quickly. For example, training a service dog can cost anywhere from $2,000 to almost $27,000.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to get a service dog for free. For example, approved veterans may be eligible for a free service dog from an organization. Nonprofit organizations may also offer free service dog or animal training to those who qualify. However, the qualification and placement process can take years.
How much does it cost to maintain a service dog?
Initial purchasing and training costs aren’t your only expenses. Each year you will encounter additional expenses for:
- Food
- Veterinary care for routine exams and any accidents or illnesses
- Medications to prevent heartworms, fleas and ticks
- Supplies such as leashes, collars, vests, toys and beds
- Additional training to acquire new skills or refresh the performance of existing ones
When you take all of these into account, you should budget between $500 and $5,000 per year for your dog’s care. On average, general dog owners spent $1,480 on additional fees.
You may be able to deduct expenses associated with purchasing, training and maintaining a service dog on your tax return if the dog helps a person with vision, hearing or other disabilities physical.
Programs to help with costs associated with a service dog
If you are looking to reduce some of the costs associated with a service dog, consider the following:
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)), Health Spending Accounts (HSA) and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA): You can use pre-tax dollars to pay for your dog’s training and care.
- Government and state assistance: The VA pays for veterinary care and equipment required by service dogs for eligible veterans, while the California Department of Human Services provides $50 per month to eligible individuals using a service dog for needs linked to a disability.
- Crowdfunding: Crowdfunding platforms can help pet owners pay for expensive veterinary care.
- Non-profit organizations: Pets are People Emergency Relief, Pet Help Finder and dozens of other nonprofits can help qualified people pay for or find affordable veterinary services, dog food and other supplies.
Types of Insurance Coverage for Assistance Dogs
Although your health insurance policy does not cover costs associated with your service animal, you can purchase other types of coverage for them, just as you would for any other pet. Policies for service dogs generally cost the same as those for regular dogs.
If your disability doesn’t prevent you from driving, consider purchasing an auto insurance policy with dog injury protection to cover veterinary costs if your dog is injured in an accident.
Pet Insurance
Pet Insurance can help cover veterinary and other medical costs for your service dog.
The three main types of policies are: accident only, accident and illness (complex) and well-being cover. Each covers different types of treatments and services, so read the policy carefully to understand what is included. Most types of insurance pay a percentage of claims up to a specified limit and have a deductible that you must first meet.
You can expect to pay around $640.04 per year for comprehensive coverage for a dog. Some employers offer affordable dog insurance as a fringe benefit. Your dog’s breed, health, age and residency affect your premiums, so buy the most affordable pet insurance plan possible.
Civil liability insurance
Although service dogs are well trained, they are still animals. Your homeowner’s or renters’ insurance policy may cover your liability for dog bites on guests or others outside your home. It can also cover damage caused by your animal to other people’s property, within the limits of your animal policy.
Having a service dog (or other pet) could increase your home insurance rates, based on several factors, including breed, because some insurers consider certain breeds riskier. However, some states prohibit insurers from excluding owners or raising rates based on race.
You can take out a stand-alone animal liability plan separate from your home insurance policy. Or you may be able to add a special plan that covers your service dog’s final costs if your dog dies as part of a covered home loss (such as a covered flood or fire).
Life insurance
One way to protect the investment you’ve made with your service dog is to purchase a life insurance policy. Pet life insurance can help cover the costs of euthanasia, cremation or burial, as well as counseling after the death of your service dog, or potentially cover the cost of replacing a dog assistance.
Pet life insurance can cost between $20 and $100 per month, depending on the age, health and value of your service dog. Insurance coverage may also be provided by your employer at low cost.
Your dog must be in good health at the time the policy is written to be eligible for this coverage. As with other types of life insurance, there may be race or age restrictions, exclusions for deaths resulting from hereditary diseases or pre-existing conditions. Check with your insurer to see if your service dog is eligible.
Can insurance companies refuse service dogs?
Insurance companies must treat service dogs like any other dog. This means that if your state allows higher premiums or exclusions for certain dog breeds, your service dog may also be denied coverage.
Does my home insurance cover my dog?
Most home insurance policies cover injuries and damage your dog may inflict on others but do not cover medical expenses or replacement costs for your service dog. When you purchase insurance or update your policy, tell your insurer about your service dog and any other animals you own. Next, decide whether the policy provides sufficient coverage or whether you need to purchase additional insurance, such as general policy.
What is the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog?
Service dogs are specially trained to help people with disabilities perform specific tasks and are guaranteed access to public facilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A therapy animal is not trained to perform a particular job or task and is not considered a service animal under the ADA with the same access rights.
Can I train my own service dog?
Yes, service dog laws allow you to train your own service dog. You don’t need to send them to a professional trainer if you feel comfortable taking on this task.
The essential
Your health insurance plan will generally not pay directly for a service dog. However, there are many community resources and programs aimed at helping qualified individuals make that initial purchase or acquire a service dog at no cost. Once you have the dog, consider purchasing pet insurance to help pay for medical expenses. This way, your service dog remains healthy and can continue to help you for many years.