How much does pet insurance cost?
How much does pet insurance cost?
$15 – $75 average cost per month
$180 – $900 average total cost per year
Average cost of pet insurance
Pet insurance costs $180 to $900 per year for an accident-and-illness plan. Dog insurance costs $35 to $75 per month on average, while cat insurance costs about $15 to $50 per month for similar coverage. The cost of pet insurance depends on the plan type, coverage details, and the pet’s age, breed, and location.
| Pet type | Average annual cost* | Average monthly cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | $420 – $900 | $35 – $75 |
| Cat | $180 – $600 | $15 – $50 |
*Average cost for an accident-and-illness policy.
*Average cost for an accident-and-illness policy.
An accident-only pet insurance plan typically costs 50% or more less than an accident-and-illness policy, but also includes less coverage.
Many companies offer add-on wellness plans for an extra $10 to $25+ per month to cover routine and preventative care.
What does pet insurance cover?
Most insurance companies offer various coverage types, including accident-only and accident-and-illness plans.
An accident-only insurance plan, as the name suggests, typically covers emergency care for accidental injuries, such as broken bones, lacerations, and poisoning.
An accident-and-illness plan provides comprehensive coverage for both accidents and illnesses. These plans often include emergency care, diagnostic testing, surgeries, hospitalization, and prescription medications after any deductible, up to the percentage detailed in the policy (usually 80% or 90%).
Some pet insurance companies cover curable pre-existing conditions, like bladder infections or respiratory issues, with certain stipulations. Most do not cover incurable pre-existing conditions such as cancer, heart disease, or arthritis.
What does pet insurance not cover?
Pet insurance typically does not cover:
Breeding or pregnancy costs
Cosmetic procedures
Grooming
Incurable pre-existing conditions
Preventative or routine care (unless you have a wellness plan)
Dog insurance cost
Pet insurance premiums for dogs tend to be higher than for cats due to dogs' larger size and higher average medical costs. A dog’s age, breed, and size are major pricing factors. Older dogs and breeds predisposed to certain medical conditions, like hip dysplasia or cancer will typically have higher premiums.
The table below lists pricing for some popular dog breeds:
| Dog breed | Puppy – Monthly cost* (less than 2 years old) |
Dog – Monthly cost* (2+ years old) |
|---|---|---|
| Beagle | $35 – $50 | $50 – $90 |
| Dachshund | $30 – $55 | $40 – $70 |
| French Bulldog | $45 – $85 | $80 – $120 |
| German Shepherd | $40 – $75 | $55 – $100 |
| Golden Retriever | $50 – $75 | $60 – $110 |
| Labrador Retriever | $45 – $80 | $60 – $115 |
| Rottweiler | $70 – $120 | $90 – $150 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | $25 – $40 | $35 – $70 |
| Mixed breed – small | $30 – $45 | $40 – $60 |
| Mixed breed – medium | $35 – $55 | $45 – $75 |
| Mixed breed – large | $45 – $65 | $50 – $100 |
*Average monthly premium for an accident-and-illness policy.
Cat insurance cost
Cat owners can generally expect lower pet insurance premiums compared to the insurance premiums for dogs. However, a cat's breed and age still impact pricing. The following table shows the average monthly cost for some common cat breeds.
| Cat breed | Kitten – Monthly cost* (less than 2 years old) |
Cat – Monthly cost* (2+ years old) |
|---|---|---|
| Abyssinian | $25 – $35 | $30 – $60 |
| Bengal | $25 – $40 | $35 – $65 |
| Maine coon | $20 – $40 | $30 – $70 |
| Persian | $30 – $40 | $35 – $70 |
| Ragdoll | $25 – $35 | $30 – $60 |
| Siamese | $25 – $35 | $30 – $60 |
| Mixed breed / domestic shorthair | $15 – $25 | $20 – $50 |
| Mixed breed / domestic longhair | $20 – $35 | $30 – $60 |
*Average monthly premium for an accident-and-illness policy.
Pet insurance prices by company
Not only do prices vary based on your pet, but different companies charge varying rates even for the same coverage. The table below details the average monthly premiums for several top pet insurers:
| Insurance company | Dog Average monthly cost |
Cat Average monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| ASPCA | $50 – $60 | $18 – $25 |
| Embrace | $20 – $75 | $15 – $50 |
| Fetch | $35 – $75 | $20 – $45 |
| Figo | $25 – $60 | $15 – $40 |
| Healthy Paws | $45 – $65 | $20 – $40 |
| Lemonade | $22 – $50 | $12 – $35 |
| ManyPets* | $20 – $45 | $12 – $35 |
| MetLife | $25 – $45 | $15 – $35 |
| Paw Protect | $30 – $60 | $15 – $45 |
| Pet's Best | $25 – $35 | $15 – $30 |
| Progressive | $40 – $45 | $25 – $30 |
| Pumpkin | $20 – $80 | $15 – $30 |
| Spot | $40 – $75 | $20 – $45 |
*Average monthly cost for an accident-and-illness policy.
Pet insurance cost factors
Beyond your pet's species, breed, age, and the insurance provider you choose, several other factors impact pet insurance premiums:
Coverage type: The better the coverage, the higher the cost. Plan options typically include accident and illness, accident only, or illness only.
Annual limits: Higher annual coverage limits come with higher premiums.
Deductible amount: Choosing a higher deductible amount lowers your premiums, but you have to pay more out of pocket before your coverage kicks in.
Reimbursement level: Pet insurance reimbursement levels, or the percentage covered by your provider after meeting your deductible, usually fall between 60% and 100%, with 80% to 90% being the most popular range. Higher reimbursement levels generally come with higher costs.
Location: Pet insurance will cost more in areas with higher vet costs. Vets in larger cities often have more advanced treatment options that contribute to their higher prices.
Discounts: Most insurance providers offer multi-pet discounts. Other discounts may include lower prices for veterans, people working in the animal care industry, and paying upfront for the year.
Add-ons: Some providers offer optional coverage options, such as exam fee coverage and plans to cover routine and preventative care.
Wellness plans
The costs to care for your pet can add up quickly, and standard pet insurance usually does not cover essential routine care such as annual vaccinations to prevent deadly diseases. Fortunately, many companies now provide wellness plans to bridge this gap.
The table below details some common expenses you may incur for your pet’s care without a wellness plan.
| Treatment type | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Average vet visit cost | $40 – $80 |
| Cat and kitten vaccination cost | $150 – $350 (first year) $35 – $125+ (years 2+) |
| Dog and puppy vaccination cost | $75 – $400+ (first year) $35 – $365+ (years 2+) |
| Cat teeth cleaning cost | $560 – $2,000+ |
| Dog teeth cleaning cost | $560 – $3,000+ |
| Cost to spay or neuter a cat | $35 – $500 |
| Cost to spay or neuter a dog | $50 – $650 |
| Doggy daycare cost | $30 – $50 per day, per dog |
Pet insurance FAQs
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance can provide valuable financial protection for pet owners, especially for costly surgeries, cancer treatment, or emergency care. While it does represent a recurring cost, fitting a pet insurance plan into your budget could potentially save you thousands of dollars in veterinary expenses down the line.
How does pet insurance work?
Most pet insurance policies have a waiting period before coverage begins, ranging from 1 to 14 days for accidents and 14 to 30 days for illnesses. Once coverage is active, you pay all vet bills at the time of service, then file a claim with your insurer for reimbursement of covered expenses.
Can you get pet insurance after a diagnosis?
Most pet insurance companies do not cover incurable pre-existing conditions. However, several companies offer coverage for curable pre-existing conditions. Note that some providers restrict this coverage to pets that have been symptom-free for a specified amount of time. Always read the policy details to confirm the coverage and limitations.
Does pet insurance increase with age?
Yes, your pet insurance premium will typically increase as your pet gets older due to the higher risk of illness and injury in a pet’s later years. Significant price hikes often start around age 6 to 9.
Getting estimates from pet insurance companies
Follow these guidelines to find a top-rated pet insurance company with the right coverage at the best price:
Be prepared with your pet's breed, age, location, and desired coverage options like annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage.
Get quotes from 3 to 5 reputable pet insurance providers. Request quotes with similar coverage details so you have an accurate side-by-side comparison.
Ask about multi-pet discounts if you have more than one pet, annual payment discounts, or any other available discounts the company may offer.
Check out reviews on sites like Vety and Google. Look for comments about policy details, the company’s claims process, and if most customers note positive claims experiences or frequent claim denials.
Questions to ask a pet insurance agent
Asking these important questions will help ensure you pick the pet insurance plan best suited for your pet and budget:
What is the annual coverage limit?
Is there a cap on the number of claims you can make in a year?
What is the reimbursement percentage?
What is the deductible amount? Is this per year or an incident?
Are there any exclusions for my pet's breed or age?
Do you cover vet exam fees?
Is routine wellness care covered? If not, do you offer it as an add-on?
Are there any discounts available?
How quickly are claims typically processed?
What is the process if I'm not satisfied with the coverage?
Using our proprietary cost database, in-depth research, and collaboration with industry experts, we deliver accurate, up-to-date pricing and insights you can trust, every time.