What Is The Average Cost For Pet Insurance in 2024?

If you’re thinking about getting pet insurance for your fur baby, your biggest focus is no doubt cost. Many pet parents wonder, “What is the average cost for pet insurance?” 

In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the average costs for a dog and cat policy, as well as factors that influence price and commonly asked questions about pet insurance. Let’s dive in!

What is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats?

Doing a bit of digging, we found that pet insurance costs range from $28 to $90 a month for dogs and $15 to $46 a month for cats. Translated, you’re looking at paying an average of about $600 a year for a dog and $300 for a cat. 

What Impacts Price?

Now that we know the average price for insuring dogs and cats, let’s take a look at some of the common factors that impact price:

Breed

Certain breeds of dogs and cats are more prone to specific health conditions and will therefore cost more to cover. Purebred pets are generally at higher risk of illnesses that tend to make veterinary care more expensive. An English Bulldog, for instance, that is prone to developing Brachycephalic Syndrome (a breathing issue), hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (kneecap dislocation), heart disease, skin issues and more, will be more expensive to insure than a mixed breed.

 

Age

In the same way that certain breeds are more prone to expensive health conditions, older pets are more prone to health conditions than younger pets. For this reason, it will always be more expensive to insure an older pet than a younger one.

This begs the question, “When is the best time to enroll your pet in a pet insurance plan?” The sooner the better is what we always say. Not only will you be able to lock in the best rate, but most insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions. So by enrolling your fur baby when they are young and healthy, you are also guaranteeing that they will be FULLY covered.

Location

Location is another factor that impacts the price of a pet insurance policy. Different states have different laws and regulations that dictate insurance pricing and what benefits providers must include with coverage. Different states can also dictate what data providers can collect. As an example, most states allow insurance companies to collect credit score information to help determine rates for home and auto insurance. But Hawaii and California do NOT allow this information to be collected and used to help determine price. Because there is so much variation in state laws and regulations, insurance companies will take on different levels of risk depending on where the policyholder’s residence. 

Pet insurance works the same way. And because of this, someone in another state with the exact same age and breed of dog may only be required to pay $41 a  month for an accident and illness plan by Company A, while you may be required to pay $68 a month for that exact same plan from the exact same provider.

Coverage Options

Most pet insurance companies allow you to customize your plan to help fit your needs and budget. This means YOU decide your annual limit, deductible and reimbursement rate. Generally speaking you’ll pay the lowest monthly premium if you also choose a low annual limit, low reimbursement rate and high deductible. You’ll also pay more out of pocket when your pet visits the vet.

Discounts

More and more pet insurance providers are offering discounts to entice people to enroll. There are discounts for enrolling multiple pets, paying for annual coverage upfront, military members or animal care workers. It’s always a good idea to call and ask the company if they offer any type of discounts.

Pet Insurance FAQs

Q: Do All Veterinarians Accept Pet Insurance?

A: Yes, pet insurance is accepted by all licensed veterinarians and emergency vet hospitals/clinics. Having said that, there are some providers that pay the vet directly instead of asking customers to pay the bill upfront and filing a claim and waiting for reimbursement. At the time of this writing, Trupanion and Pets Best will pay the vet directly. To offer this kind of coverage, these providers must partner with vets to automatically process your reimbursement. This can oftentimes limit which vets you can go to. So before enrolling you must determine what is more important to you, keeping a veterinarian you really love or having your bill paid up front.

Q: How do I Choose the Right Policy?

A: We get it, there are a LOT of providers in the market, which makes it a bit overwhelming choosing just one. We have a blog post we recommend you read giving you tips on what to look for when buying pet insurance. 

You can also use our handy comparison tool or read over 150,000 real reviews from pet parents just like you to help you make your decision.

Q: Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

We understand that most people are feeling a money crunch these days, so before committing to a new monthly bill, it’s important to understand if you’ll get your money’s worth. We have a whole page that answers is pet insurance worth it. 

Q: Which Pet Insurance Providers are the Best?

A: We can’t give you our own opinion. In fact, that’s what sets Pet Insurance Review apart from other companies out there. Usually these outlets get paid by insurance companies to rank them high. We are completely honest and neutral and never take a dime from anyone to rank them.

What we do is collect reviews from real pet parents and use those reviews as an honest way to rank pet insurance companies. Here are the top pet insurance providers in order based on over 150,000 authentic reviews from pet parents just like you:

 

Top Pet Insurance Providers of 2024

Rating	Provider	Total Review
4.9	Embrace	10,254
4.9	Healthy Paws	7,461
4.9	Fetch	171
4.9	Lemonade	774
4.8	Trupanion	55,007
4.8	Nationwide	21,391
4.8	Prudent Pet	124
4.7	ASPCA	5,692
4.7	Hartville	164
4.7	MetLife	408
4.7	PetPartners	98
4.7	Spot	159
4.5	Pets Best	7,187
4.4	AKC	889
4.4	Figo	587
4.3	Pet Assure	12
4.3	Pumpkin	54
3.4	ManyPets	10

 

We hope this blog post has given you the tools and information you need to get your precious fur baby signed up for a pet insurance plan you can comfortably afford that will give you peace of mind!

References:

1. https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/pet-insurance/pet-insurance-cost/
2. https://beyondpets.com/pet_health/dog-breeds-with-health-problems/

 

Disclaimer

The information contained on this blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian before making any changes to your pet's health care or treatment plan.

The authors of this blog are not veterinarians and do not claim to be experts in pet health. The information provided here is based on our own experiences and research, as well as information from reputable sources. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information.

We encourage you to do your own research and consult with your veterinarian before making any decisions about your pet's health.