Everybody who owns a pet tries to keep their buddy as comfy as possible from getting Interactive dog toys to offeirng them their delicous treat, we do everything to make them happy. However, you might be shocked to discover just how much owning a pet costs. Given the rising price of caring for, treating, and medicating pets, purchasing pet insurance might ease the financial load.
According to a survey by MoneyGeek, the average yearly price of pet insurance is $299.32 for cats and $607.71 for dogs. Yet, some of your pet’s medical bills will add to the total costs.
In addition, your pet’s breed, age, gender, and weight, its health insurance costs depend on the type of insurance policy you opt for. For example, you can choose basic protection or complete health care.
Also, there are pet insurance premium plans as well. Yet, starting them as soon as possible regarding your pet’s age might also yield added benefits. So, you could take full advantage of promotions and trim the total insurance costs.
Nowadays, a few providers offer the level of medical care and preventive care you look for in a pet insurance plan. Thus, here’s how to spot the best pet insurance in relation to how much pet insurance companies charge for routine care.
Average Pet Insurance Costs
Most pet owners may estimate paying between $30 and $50 per month for a policy with excellent coverage. However, the monthly rates can vary from as little as $10 to more than $100.
On that note, your insurance premiums are affected by your pet’s age, size, and breed. Other factors include your residence and the protection you select.
For injury and sickness coverage, dog insurance costs are 74 percent higher than cats’. In general, older pets and larger animals also have costlier pet insurance premiums.
While the average price of cat insurance varies, it has been rising for dogs. Based on the kind of coverage, the rates fluctuated a lot. In these past five years, they dropped by 11% before climbing to a hefty 30%.
Average Increase In Pet Insurance Rates Over The Past Five Years
| Pet | Accident and Illness Insurance | Only Accident Insurance |
| Dogs | 16% | 31% |
| Cats | 7% | -12% |
Average Cost Of Pet Insurance For Dogs
Even for the same area, breed, and insurance plans, the companies’ averages for their policies were over $60. Hence, you should estimate your monthly payment to be around the $85 mark. Also, note that this is only an average. So, the expenses will climb if your dog is vulnerable to diseases or prone to accidents.
Likewise, your monthly premium will go up if you choose broader coverage, a lower limit, or a higher payment rate.
| Rank | Insurer | The monthly premium for dogs |
| 1 | PetsBest | $24 |
| 2 | AKC/PetPartners (30% reimbursement) | $29 |
| 3 | Figo | $30.50 |
| 4 | PetFirst | $31 |
| 5 | ASPCA | $42 |
| 6 | Healthy Paws (no annual max) | $47 |
| 7 | Nationwide ($250 deductible, $10,000 max, 70% reimbursement) | $49 |
| 8 | Petplan | $53 |
| 9 | 24PetWatch ($100 deductible) | $53 |
| 10 | Embrace | 56 |
| 11 | Trupanion | $86.07 |
Average Costs By The Pet’s Breed
The price of monthly insurance also varies according to the breed of your dog. Dogs of mixed breeds and mutts typically have lower pet insurance premiums than purebreds.
| Rank | Dog Breed | Median Monthly Premium |
| 1 | Retriever (Labrador | $57 |
| 2 | French Bulldog | $84 |
| 3 | German Shepherd | $55 |
| 4 | Golden Retriever | $57 |
| 5 | Bulldog | $86 |
Average Pet Insurance Cost For Cats
We discovered that the major pet insurance providers’ monthly average premium for cats was $19. Thus, compared to insuring a dog, cats are far less expensive to cover. However, the cost of cat insurance varied between providers just as much as it did for dogs.
Secondly, one of the cheapest pet insurance plans would charge between $9 and $14 per month for a four-year-old medium-risk cat. So, you’ll probably pay closer to $30 or $40 if your cat breed is more prone to injuries or if you want greater health care coverage.
| Rank | Insurer | The monthly premium for cats |
| 1 | PetsBest | $8.70 |
| 2 | Figo ($10k annual max) | $10 |
| 3 | Healthy Paws (no annual max) | $13 |
| 4 | AKC/ PetPartners (30% reimbursement) | $13.80 |
| 5 | Embrace | $17 |
| 6 | ASPCA | $16 |
| 7 | PetFirst | $18 |
| 8 | Petplan | $20 |
| 9 | Trupanion (no annual max, 90% reimbursement) | $28 |
| 10 | 24PetWatch ($100 deductible) | $29.56 |
| 11 | Nationwide ($250 deductible, $10,000 max, 70% reimbursement) | $30 |
Insurance Costs By Cat Breed
Like with dogs, different breeds have different insurance rates. Therefore, we aimed to provide a summary. To that end, we glanced at the five most popular cat breeds. Then, we determined the pet insurance cost for various breeds and discovered the price fluctuation. For example, domestic shorthair and longhair are mixed breeds that frequently have the lowest pet insurance costs.
| Rank | Breed | Average Monthly Premium |
| 1 | Ragdoll | $26 |
| 2 | Maine coon | $32 |
| 3 | Exotic | $30 |
| 4 | Persian | $30 |
| 5 | Devon Rex | $27 |
Average Cost Of Medical Treatment For Pets
Naturally, you should consider the price of therapies without insurance in the first place. In that way, you’ll find out whether the total sum is worth it. So, evaluate the expenses of treating the top five conditions that affect dogs and cats. Then, compare their values and the total sum to have a clearer picture of what you can expect.
On this note, the most frequent dog treatments cost $253 on average. In contrast, the most frequent cat treatments cost $267, according to statistics based on average claims from PetFirst customers.
Moreover, the average claim is over $900 for several widespread issues. For example, treating parvo in pups may be fairly expensive.
Additionally, while major disorders like cancer are less common, their treatment is also more expensive. In this category, chemotherapy alone can cost between $5,000 and $10,000.
| Rank | Common dog conditions | Costs per vet visit |
| 1 | Ear infection | $150 |
| 2 | Allergies | $235 |
| 3 | Skin infection | $176 |
| 4 | Upset stomach | $385 |
| 5 | Diarrhea | $203 |
Thus, for one of the most common illnesses affecting dogs and cats, spending cash on therapies is generally less expensive than the annual premium for insurance.
However, it’s essential to remember that insurance is supposed to decrease the financial burden of more costly and rare illnesses and conditions. In other words, it comes in place when dealing with a broken bone or your pet developing a disease.
In certain situations, insurance will lessen the financial strain of expensive surgery.
| Rank | Common cat conditions | Costs per vet visit |
| 1 | Urinary tract condition (UTI) | $295.18 |
| 2 | Upset stomach | $385.46 |
| 3 | Kidney failure | $485.38 |
| 4 | Diarrhea | $203.14 |
| 5 | Allergies | $234.84 |
Methodology
Pet insurance providers often cover only dogs and cats. In comparison, Nationwide and Bivvy provide policies for parrots, reptiles, bunnies, etc. Similarly, the ASPCA also offers horse coverage.
Furthermore, some insurance companies only accept young dogs up to a specific age. So, according to the many insurance plans, puppies and kittens must typically be six to ten weeks old.
Also, although some policies have no upper age restriction, others do not cover older dogs or allow first-time registration for pets aged eight to 14. However, once you sign up, most policies will provide pet insurance coverage as long as you keep paying the monthly cost.
Lastly, an insurance company may demand that your pet pass a form of screening. For example, they might send it to several vet visits, depending on the dog’s breed.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Nowadays, the most popular pet insurance policies cover diseases and disasters. Therefore, at the maximum allowed by your pet insurance plan, your dog’s care would be covered in the event of a vehicle accident or a urinary tract infection.
Additionally, some pet insurance providers offer accident-only coverage, which is often less expensive. For instance, suppose your cat ingests a toy and requires surgery. In that case, accident-only coverage can assist. However, it won’t cover anything if your cat becomes ill.
Thus, most accident and health insurance policies should cover:
- Operations
- Ultrasounds, X-rays, and similar procedures
- Emergency treatment
- Hospital stays
- Treatment for infections or diseases
- Medicines on request
Other than these mains, coverage might differ significantly amongst plans. In general, your pet’s insurance may provide for
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Alternative Medicine And Rehabilitation
Reflexology and pain control are just two examples of the many alternative therapies that some insurance covers in addition to physical treatment. In comparison, others restrict coverage to the costliest plans, cover them only partially, or don’t pay them.
So, since there is no universally accepted definition of alternative medicines and care, it is important to examine the specifics. Next, determine which therapies are best for your cat.
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Psychological Treatments
Some pet insurance plans will pay the cost of treatment if your vet recommends it. For example, when dealing with aggressiveness or obsessive behavior. However, such scenarios are limited. Generally, companies will charge you more for a bundle that offers such coverage.
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Genetic Or Inherited Diseases
An imperfection your pet has at birth that might cause issues later on, is known as a congenital ailment. In other words, it’s when an animal inherits a genetic ailment from its ancestors. For example, various hip problems or partial dislocation. In such conditions, CBD oil helps relax the pet and allow them have a quality sleep.
However, as your pet didn’t exhibit any signs while buying the insurance, many policies will cover such ailments. Also, other policies may not cover such conditions at all.
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Examination Costs
Some insurance plans will pay for the operations and meds when your pet is ill or hurt. Still, they won’t pay for the exam costs. On that note, others could charge more if you want them to cover these costs.
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Vitamins And Meals On Prescription
Some insurance plans will cover a specific food or supplement your doctor recommends for treating your pet’s health condition.
On the other hand, some insurance providers won’t cover these costs or charge you extra for it.
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Final Expenses
Unexpected vet bills mean your pet is in trouble. However, aside from worrying about your buddy, you should consider how it affects your pocket.
Also, as heartbreaking as it is, the final expenses may include euthanasia, cremation, or burial. On this subject, most pet insurance companies will come forth in the end, but there might be exceptions.
What’s Not Covered In The Insurance Policies
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Pre-Existing Issues
A pre-existing illness is a health issue that existed in your pet when you purchased the insurance. However, it might also have developed during the waiting period before your coverage started. As such, most pet insurance providers won’t cover these issues.
On the bright side, some insurance plans will pay for previous ailments that have been in remission for several months. So, it’s wise to read the insurance policy’s fine print.
Next, suppose you want to add more coverage to your current policy. In that case, certain insurance providers may interpret this as though you were purchasing an entirely new policy.
As a result, your waiting periods might restart, and moving forward, ailments that were covered by the plan will be regarded as pre-existing.
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Optional Or Cosmetic Operations
Unless they have been considered clinically urgent, operations like declawing, tail docking, or ear clipping are typically not covered by pet insurance.
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Routine Healthcare And Wellbeing
Most plans don’t include necessities like yearly vaccines, neutering, and teeth cleaning. Nevertheless, you may often purchase this insurance later on.In addition, if you wanted to buy some significant stuff for your dog including smart dog doors or a comfy pet bed then most plans will also not cover the cost to buy such stuff.
Another usual exemption is expenses related to mating or pregnancy. However, you might be able to add a waiver to cover these expenses.
What Are Waiting Periods?
There are often waiting periods before coverage kicks in after registering for pet insurance. For example, accidental injury coverage might start as soon as a few days. On the other hand, illness coverage has a longer waiting period, such as 14 or 15 days.
Moreover, holding periods of many months to a year may be necessary for orthopedic conditions like cruciate ligament difficulties or hip dysplasia.
So, note that the insurance will not pay anything if your pet requires care during these waiting periods. Also, any new developments will be regarded as pre-existing conditions.
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
You shouldn’t need to bother about whether a certain clinic is “in-network” because most pet insurance policies enable you to take your furry friend to any licensed veterinarian for good treatment.
Most of the time, you’ll cover the vet cost in full and then send your certificate for the refund to the insurance provider. Also, to help you save some cash, certain pet insurance companies might be able to pay your veterinarian directly.
The following factors may influence the percentage of your vet bill that your insurance will cover.
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Payout Caps
Although some plans have no maximum payments for eligible procedures, most companies do. At this point, you must thoroughly analyze the policy text.
For example, there can be a payment cap for the calendar year, your pet’s lifespan, or a specific incidence or condition. Also, note that there might be several caps instead of one.
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Deductibles
The money you must pay in cash before your insurance provider begins to pay is a deductible.
On this note, a lot of pet insurance policies apply a yearly deductible. Later, the plan begins paying you once you’ve cleared the deductible for the approved therapy. Thus, the deductible is adjusted every year when you extend the coverage.
Similarly, keep in mind that the deductible is charged per event under certain other policies. So, even in succeeding plan years, the plan repays you up to the coverage limits once you pay the insurance for a specific injury or sickness.
Hence, this might help you save money if your companion has a severe, permanent ailment. However, if your pet experiences many medical issues in a year, you will be responsible for each deductible.
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Reimbursement Levels
Policies for pet insurance typically compensate you for some care costs. For example, when purchasing coverage, you can select the payout percentage, such as 70%, 80%, or 90%.
To do so, go through the specifics of how compensation operates. Also, note that many insurance policies pay you back a portion of the vet’s charge.
In comparison, others pay you back according to a benefit plan they’ve created for each ailment. So, if the vet bills you more than what’s shown on the advantage plan, you’re accountable for the gap.
How To Get Pet Insurance
Get pet insurance estimates from different providers after determining the type and extent of coverage you require. For this aspect, almost all of the big pet insurers offer online estimates with customizable policy choices.
Next, verify that the policies have comparable reimbursement amounts, deductibles, and yearly payment limitations to ensure you’re receiving a fair comparison. Again, read the small print before making a purchase to be sure you didn’t overlook any limits or exclusions.
Moving on, sample plans are available on the websites of several pet insurance companies. At all times, remember that you are probably purchasing insurance for your pet that will last a lifetime. Also, shopping around for a new policy each year for various forms of insurance might result in cost savings.
However, as your pet ages, the more pre-existing conditions they are going to have. Yet, none of these illnesses will be insured if you purchase a new pet insurance policy. Therefore, choose a provider and level of protection you will be pleased with over the long run, if possible.
Things To Know While Buying Pet Insurance
Veterinary care is highly expensive worldwide. Either way, you would have to come up with a large sum of money to treat your pet if it contracts any kind of life-threatening illness.
Furthermore, you risk losing your pet if you don’t provide quality treatment and therapy in time. At the very least, you shouldn’t waste time looking for the best pet insurance plan you can afford.
Nevertheless, you may ensure that these adorable animals, who are an essential part of your life, survive for another few years so they can continue to show you love and attention.
So, if you are looking to buy pet insurance, here are some things you should keep in mind:
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There Are Different Types Of Pet Insurance
The majority of pet insurance policies may be purchased in addition to injury and sickness plans. As a result, this insurance plan protects your pet against serious illnesses like cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Plus, it covers prescription medications for accidental injuries and poisoning.
Yet, the conditions of the insurance you have purchased for your pet add to the monthly premiums. For example, preventive dental care and other wellness benefits are sometimes included in combo plans.
Additionally, some plans are Accident-only insurance, while others provide the option to increase coverage by paying an extra fee.
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No Insurance Company Covers Pre-Existing Conditions
You should also be aware that pet health insurers do not include pre-existing conditions like regular health insurance policies.
Therefore, if your pet already has a health issue due to an accident or a sickness, you will not be eligible for pet insurance coverage from any insurer. Thus, examine the total pet insurance costs while keeping in mind what they account for.
Even yet, the additional expenses and yearly exams that are included in a pet health coverage help you save a significant amount of money. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay those sums during your pet’s routine clinic appointments.
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The Word “Cheap” Does Not Fit in “Pet Health Insurance”
It’s important to keep in mind that you should carefully evaluate the terms of service of the insurance before deciding on a plan. This is due to the possibility that you could be interested in purchasing a less expensive plan.
Still, you should know that these affordable plans might not have the best rate for diseases and other issues you intend to cover.
Therefore, it is preferable to consider a complete pet health insurance coverage plan rather than choosing the cheapest options. For example, choose a plan that covers sickness, mishaps, routine veterinary visits, etc.
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There Isn’t A Fixed Premium
You probably know that the amount of the premium alters depending on your pets’ age. In short, pet health insurance for older pets costs more. Another important aspect is the species or kind of pet you wish to insure.
Compared to insurance for dogs, insurance for cats is less expensive. Additionally, coverage for some species is more costly than others due to their propensity for disease. Therefore, bear these things in mind when buying pet insurance. On top of that, pet insurance may be more costly in some cities or regions than in others.
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Not All Comparison Sites Are Reliable
Several sites on the internet compare pet insurances and their costs and mislead the readers. As a result, consider certain key factors before buying a pet insurance policy. At the very least, consider the pet’s age, size, and breed.
Secondly, every pet insurance company has different terms and conditions and works on various coverages. So, comparing insurance companies isn’t easy, and you should also not believe any comparison site before cross-checking their claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I choose my vet with an insurance company?
Depending on the service and kind of coverage you select, you may or may not be able to select your veterinarian.
For example, some top pet insurance companies offer you the freedom of choosing a vet. On the other hand, lesser-tier policies won’t. Instead, such companies have permanent vets, one of which can be the doctor of your furry friend.
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Do I need pet insurance?
If you’re unsure whether pet insurance is worthwhile, think about how you would handle an emergency expense.
So, based on the procedure and your location, costs might range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Hence, you must weigh this against the price of your payments and the possibility that you may file a claim. In other words, do a thorough summary to save yourself from extra fees later on.
On that note, remember that older animals may be more expensive to insure. Also, they are more likely to require medical treatment. On the other hand, pedigree dogs and cats may be more prone to genetic disorders and congenital ailments. In addition, they are often the target of thefts.
Similarly, some breeds are more prone to certain issues, such as bigger dogs often face joint problems. So, if you own a problematic breed, consider buying pet insurance.
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Does my indoor pet need pet insurance?
If your indoor pet sleeps on your couch for 18 hours a day, you might not believe it needs pet insurance. Yes, an indoor cat is significantly less likely to suffer an injury than an outdoor cat or a reactive working dog.
However, it doesn’t follow that they will never get sick or require urgent veterinary treatment. Therefore, getting pet insurance is wise, especially for indoor dogs.
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Does pet insurance cover elderly pets?
Once more, this is based on the plans and service provider you select. However, most pet insurance companies won’t take new plans for pets older than a certain age. For example, the age limit for dogs is as low as six years for certain companies. Yet, on average, it’s 10 years for dogs and 15 years for cats.
Luckily, most insurance companies won’t stop covering your pet after it reaches a particular age. Normally, these limitations only apply to newly adopted policies. However, you and your pet would gain more if you registered for coverage as soon as possible.
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Are there any challenges I would have to face with pet insurance?
There are several common issues with pet insurance. The list includes long wait periods for the billing process, upfront payments, and a lack of understanding of deductibles. Also, troubles arise regarding coinsurance and policy restrictions.
Moreover, many pet insurance companies promptly, often within 24 hours, cover qualified vet costs. However, it can take up to 60 days for certain claims to be processed and accepted. As a result, paying veterinary fees up front might be challenging for pet owners who are struggling financially or don’t have a pet savings account.
Hence, pet owners should review the tiny print before purchasing a policy to understand how deductibles and premiums operate.
Conclusion: Buying Pet Insurance Is Worthwhile?
You might be prepared to pay as you go for certain pet health conditions because they don’t necessarily cost a fortune. However, if your pet has a serious problem, treatment can cost thousands of dollars.
On that note, various pet insurance companies may provide you with a way to cut treatment costs. As a result, you’ll have the means to provide your pet with the necessary care if an unforeseen, serious problem arises.
Pet insurance might not seem to be too important for many pet owners. Yet, that goes up until their pet falls ill or faces an injury. So, it’s better to stay prepared for all unforeseen developments.
