Pet Dental Insurance Claims: 4 Companies Compared 2026

Last time I saw a friend whose Bichon Frise just had a periodontal surgery under anesthesia, the bill came out to NT$58,000. She gave a wry smile and said, "I should've gotten insurance first." From basic cleanings to root canals, extractions, and periodontal surgery, dental procedures for pets can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. When a pet has dental problems, owners are often forced to decide whether to spend the money within a short window, with little room to hesitate.

Why Get Insurance for Your Pet?

Pets can't tell us when they're in pain. Dental issues often only become noticeable to owners when appetite drops, bad breath worsens, or drooling becomes constant. By that point, it's usually beyond what a routine cleaning can fix—requiring anesthesia, X-rays, root canal treatment, or even extractions.

Here are some common price ranges for dental procedures (for reference only; actual prices depend on each animal hospital's published rates):

These prices are no small amount for most pet owners. The purpose of insurance isn't "to expect a payout"—it's to ensure that when your pet truly needs treatment, you won't have to make medical decisions under financial pressure.

Key Considerations and Common Pitfalls

Dental care is a particularly unique area in pet healthcare. When choosing a policy, there are several things you need to look at carefully.

Coverage Scope and Exclusions

In policy terms, dental coverage is typically divided into several categories:

• Accidental dental injuries: such as trauma or fractures, usually covered under accident insurance
• Disease-related dental issues: such as periodontal disease, endodontitis, or tooth resorption, depending on whether illness insurance includes dental coverage
• Preventive procedures: cleanings and polishing are often listed as "exclusions" or have specific payout conditions

Many pet owners only discover after purchasing insurance that cleanings aren't actually covered. I recommend asking customer service specifically about "dental" before signing up, rather than just looking at the marketing materials provided by the agent.

Waiting Period Length

Insurance companies design waiting periods to prevent people from buying policies only after their pets get sick. Pet insurance waiting periods are typically divided into two segments:

• Accident coverage: usually 0-15 days
• Illness coverage: usually 15-30 days, with some dental illnesses having even longer periods

This means that even after a policy takes effect, dental illnesses occurring in the first few weeks or months may not be eligible for claims. This design doesn't significantly affect newly adopted pets that appear perfectly healthy, but if your pet already has minor tartar buildup, pay special attention to the waiting period length.

Annual Limits and Deductibles

Two commonly overlooked numbers:

• Annual claim limit: the maximum amount the insurer will pay out in a year
• Deductible: the portion the owner pays out of pocket each time

For example, if the annual limit is NT$100,000 with a 20% deductible, then for a NT$30,000 dental surgery, the insurer would pay at most NT$24,000. The remaining NT$6,000 would be the owner's responsibility.

Some policies have "per-procedure limits" or "per-tooth limits," meaning that even if the overall cap hasn't been reached, treatment on a single tooth is capped at a fixed amount. I recommend doing the math before filing a claim to avoid surprises when the actual payout differs from your expectations.

Pre-existing Conditions and Age

Dental issues diagnosed before enrollment are typically listed as exclusions on most policies. If your pet already has periodontal disease or missing teeth, the dental portion of a new policy may not cover them at all—only future new conditions would be included.

Regarding age, pet policies usually have minimum and maximum enrollment age limits. Common designs include:

• Minimum: 8 weeks to 3 months
• Maximum renewal age: varies—some companies won't allow renewal after age 11-13, while others offer lifetime renewal with adjusted premiums

Comparison of 4 Insurance Plans

Several property and casualty insurance companies in Taiwan currently offer pet insurance. I've compiled information on four common plans, highlighting what to pay special attention to in terms of "dental coverage."

The following information reflects general directions and common policy designs. Actual terms, premiums, and claim amounts should be verified against each company's official website and policy documents. Insurance products are subject to change—please confirm again before purchasing.

Comparison Overview

Key Points for Each Plan

1. Ming Tai Property — Pet Comprehensive Insurance

Ming Tai is one of the earlier companies to enter Taiwan's pet insurance market, known for offering diverse plans. Dental coverage is typically designed as an "illness coverage add-on," meaning you need to choose whether to include the dental option when signing up. If your pet already has tartar or mild periodontal disease, a new policy may list the dental portion as an exclusion.

2. Cathay Century Property — Pet Insurance

Cathay Century's pet insurance has a certain level of recognition in the market. How dental treatment is handled depends on the plan tier you sign up for—some plans include dental as basic coverage, while others require it as an add-on. When calculating premiums, I recommend separately checking whether "dental coverage" is included.

3. Fubon Property — Pet Insurance

Fubon offers a wide range of pet insurance products, with some plans treating dental procedures as add-on coverage. When filing a claim, the documentation required is similar to general medical claims, but if the dental procedure has a "per-procedure limit" or "per-tooth limit," make sure you understand these first.

4. Shin Kong Property — Pet Insurance

Shin Kong's pet insurance products are relatively focused, and dental coverage depends on the plan content you sign up for. Accidental dental injuries are usually covered under accident insurance, while disease-related dental issues depend on the specific terms of the illness coverage.

⚠️ Reminder: All four insurance companies above offer pet insurance products, but specific plan names, premium ranges, dental coverage scopes, waiting periods, deductibles, per-procedure limits, and other details are subject to change with annual updates and plan revisions. I don't have a real-time database to verify the latest announcements during compilation, so please go directly to each company's official website to calculate premiums before purchasing, and request the policy terms PDF from customer service to compare "dental"-related clauses line by line.

Final Reminders

Q1: What should owners of brachycephalic dogs watch out for?

Brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Pekingese, etc.) have higher anesthesia risks than typical breeds due to congenital respiratory structure issues. Since nearly all dental procedures require anesthesia:

• Pre-surgical bloodwork and chest X-rays are essential
• Choose a hospital equipped with gas anesthesia monitoring equipment
• When inquiring about insurance claims, ask whether anesthesia costs are included in the calculation basis for dental procedures

Q2: What documents are needed for a claim?

Common documentation required for pet insurance claims:

• Diagnostic certificate issued by the veterinarian (clearly stating the cause and procedure performed)
• Medical expense receipts (original or copy, depending on each company's rules)
• Copy of insurance application or insurance card
• Copy of owner's ID
• Some insurers require copies of lab reports or X-rays

Call customer service to confirm the checklist before applying to avoid back-and-forth document submissions.

Q3: Are there age restrictions?

Nearly all pet policies have enrollment age limits:

• Minimum enrollment age: mostly 8 weeks to 3 months
• Maximum initial enrollment age: mostly 7-9 years
• Renewal age: some companies offer lifetime renewal, while others set a renewal cap

Older pets can still be insured, but premiums are typically higher, and pre-existing dental issues may be listed as exclusions.

Q4: Does insurance cover dental cleanings?

The answer depends on the policy. Most policies list "preventive procedures" as exclusions, and routine cleanings are considered preventive and may not be eligible for claims. However, if a "therapeutic periodontal procedure" must be performed under anesthesia due to severe periodontal disease, it may be claimable under illness coverage.

Before filing a claim, ask your veterinarian to clearly note in the medical record whether it's a "preventive cleaning" or a "therapeutic procedure"—this directly affects the claim outcome.

Insurance product terms are subject to change, and dental coverage scope and claim calculation methods may also be revised. Actual coverage is subject to the policy terms signed at the time of enrollment. Before purchasing, please be sure to request the latest version of the policy PDF from the insurance company's customer service, and ask your veterinarian to help confirm that the procedure names align with the policy terminology.