Pet insurance enables welfare-optimal veterinary care decisions by removing cost as a primary constraint, but coverage gaps and affordability issues limit its reach.
Pet insurance creates conditions where veterinary care decisions can be made primarily on medical need rather than cost, significantly improving welfare outcomes for insured animals. The welfare gap between insured and uninsured pets is substantial. Expanding insurance access through lower premiums, removal of pre-existing condition exclusions, and subsidy for low-income households would improve welfare across the companion animal population.