pet insurance for rabbits: what you actually need to know
This article expands on our original thoughts on pet insurance from 2022.
Pet insurance for rabbits is not like pet insurance for dogs and cats. There are not ten companies to compare. There are not rabbit-specific plans with wellness add-ons and dental riders. In California, there are two insurers that cover exotic pets including rabbits: Nationwide and MetLife. That is it.
We called both. Here is what we found.
Note: The pricing in this article reflects quotes obtained directly by BCB for our own three rabbits. Your premiums will vary based on your rabbit's age, health history, and location. Use these numbers as a reference point, not a guarantee.
Why Pet Insurance for Rabbits Is Worth Thinking About
A single GI stasis emergency can easily run $500–$1500+. A liver lobe torsion surgery, if your rabbit is a candidate, can run significantly more. EC management, dental disease, eye surgery, bladder sludge - rabbit medicine is expensive, and rabbits are living longer with better care than ever before.
BCB has been on rabbit pet insurance with Nationwide since 2021. We were on their Whole Pet Wellness plan, comprehensive coverage, no annual cap, $250 deductible, paying approximately $1500 per rabbit per year for three rabbits (that’s $4500+!) It was (and still is) worth the investment as our vet bills surpassed that $4500 initial payment to Nationwide. In 2024, Nationwide mass-cancelled the Whole Pet Wellness plan for exotic pets. We were among those cancelled, and the plan no longer exists.
The modular plan replaced Whole Pet and it is a significantly different product. Even so, we stayed with Nationwide after evaluating both options. Here is why.
Nationwide: What It Actually Covers Now
Nationwide's current offering for rabbits is their modular plan. It covers accidents and illness, both chronic and temporary conditions. Wellness coverage is no longer available.
The Details
Coverage: $3000 per condition (accident and illness - $6000 total)
Deductible: $250
Reimbursement: 50% (maximum)
Multi-pet discount: 5% (per pet)
Rescue discount: none
Installment fee: $3.25 per pet per month if paying monthly - avoidable by paying annually ($39/pet/year overall)
Employment affiliation discount: available for Nationwide employees only
What BCB Annually Pays (for our trio)
Macaron (6 years old): $365.92/year
Marshmallow (10+ years old): $281.31/year
Chocolatte (10.5+ years old): $281.31/year
Total: $928.54/year paid annually
On Preexisting Conditions
Nationwide does not permanently flag all preexisting conditions. If a condition is considered resolved or cured, they will remove it from your rabbit's record. Marshmallow had a history of bloat - it was removed from her preexisting conditions because she is considered ‘cured’. This matters enormously when you are insuring a rabbit who has had any GI history, because GI issues are the most common rabbit emergency and the most likely thing to recur.
This is the primary reason we stayed with Nationwide rather than switching to MetLife. A rabbit with any health history has a realistic path to getting those conditions cleared over time with Nationwide. With MetLife, that path does not exist.
MetLife: The Alternative
MetLife is the other option for rabbit insurance in California. They entered the California market relatively recently and offer a more flexible plan structure.
The Details
Coverage range: $1000–$10000
Deductible range: $0–$2500
Reimbursement: 50–100%
Type: accident + illness, all risk (no wellness)
Rescue discount: available
Multi-pet discount: 10%
Sample Pricing (based on our call, for three rabbits at 100% reimbursement)
Base: $539/year
With 10% multi-pet discount: $521.64
With rescue discount applied:
First rabbit: $521.64/year
Second rabbit: $500.66/year
Third rabbit: $473.68/year
Lower coverage option: $112.88–$138.76/year per rabbit
On Preexisting Conditions
MetLife is more aggressive than Nationwide. Preexisting conditions are flagged permanently - there is no review process, no removal for resolved conditions. If your rabbit has ever had stasis, a GI issue, EC, or any documented health event, that condition stays on their record indefinitely.
Which One Is Right for Your Rabbit
The answer depends entirely on your rabbit's history.
If your rabbit is newly adopted with no documented health history -
MetLife is worth serious consideration. The preexisting condition issue is irrelevant if there is no history to flag, the rescue discount applies, and the higher reimbursement options give you more flexibility.
If your rabbit has any health history - GI issues, EC, dental disease, anything - Nationwide is the better choice. The preexisting condition review process means conditions can be cleared over time, and a rabbit with any GI history needs an insurer that does not permanently lock that against them.
If your rabbit is currently on Nationwide's old Whole Pet plan -
It no longer exists. If you were cancelled into the modular plan like we were, that is your current coverage - significantly less comprehensive than what you had, but still worth keeping.
What Neither Plan Covers
Both plans are accident and illness only. Neither covers:
Wellness exams
Routine bloodwork
RHDV-2 vaccines
Preventive care of any kind
Dental cleanings (though dental disease treatment may be covered as illness)
Budget for those separately. Annual exotic vet visits, RHDV-2 boosters, and routine grooming are out-of-pocket regardless of which plan you carry.
BCB hosts low-cost RHDV-2 vaccine clinics throughout the year in partnership with rabbit-savvy exotic veterinarians - one less out-of-pocket expense to factor in. See our RHDV-2 Vaccine Information Page for clinic details and upcoming dates.
A Note on BCB's Guest Coverage
BCB is insured through Pet Sitters Associates - one of the only rabbit hotels in Southern California to carry insurance that specifically covers guests during their stay.
What this means for your rabbit (or other small pet) while they are in our care: if an accident happens, your rabbit is covered. This includes veterinary expenses for accidental injuries, regardless of negligence, and broader animal liability coverage. You are not left holding the bill for something that happened on our watch.
This is separate from your own pet insurance. Your policy covers your rabbit's medical care broadly. Our coverage specifically protects your rabbit during their time with us.
When you are evaluating any boarding facility for your rabbit, asking whether they carry guest animal coverage is a reasonable and important question. A facility without it is a facility where, in the event of an accident, the financial and medical responsibility may fall entirely on you.
Is It Worth It?
This is a personal financial decision we cannot make for you. What we can say is this: rabbit emergencies are expensive, they happen without warning, and they happen even to well-cared-for rabbits in loving homes. BCB has carried insurance for our three residents since 2021 because the alternative, where we face a $2000 emergency visit with no safety net, is a harder position to be in.
At $928/year for three rabbits on Nationwide's modular plan, we are paying roughly $77/month for all three. One avoided emergency pays for multiple years of premiums.
Whether that math works for your household is up to you. But knowing your options before an emergency happens is always better than researching them during one.
Sources:
Nationwide Pet Insurance - direct call, August 2026. Modular plan details, premium quotes for BCB's three resident rabbits.
MetLife Pet Insurance - direct call, pricing and plan details as quoted to BCB.