Dog Insurance

What dog insurance covers

Policies come in two main types, accident and illness coverage and accident-only coverage, plus optional wellness add-ons for routine care. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association report lists the conditions that affect dogs most often, including:

• Stomach and gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea
• Ear infections and disorders affecting the eye or vision
• Conditions affecting the skin, allergies, and urinary tract infections.
• Growths and masses, plus musculoskeletal problems.
• Anxiety and behavioral problems

Hereditary conditions are also covered by many accident and illness plans. Each company handles veterinary exam fees in its own way. Take Healthy Paws as an example: it covers hereditary conditions, though exam fees are not covered. In contrast, Banfield covers office exam fees through its wellness plan. Review the policy rules to learn whether exam fees are included, excluded, or offered as an add-on.

How much dog insurance costs by age

The older your pet gets, the higher the monthly premium, because older animals require more medical care. Another factor is reimbursement: the insurer pays a percentage of each covered bill after you meet your deductible. An annual limit is another choice you make: the largest dollar amount the policy will pay in one year.

One MoneyGeek analysis modeled more than 67,000 pet profiles from 18 insurers, using 80% reimbursement, a $500 deductible, and a $5,000 annual limit:

• The average monthly premium for puppies under 1 year old is $46.
• At 3 years old, young dogs average $47 a month.
• At 6 years old, middle-aged dogs average $64 a month.
• Senior dogs average $99 a month at ages 8 to 13.

Pick an unlimited payout over a capped limit, and your monthly rate goes up no matter how old your dog is. One Forbes Advisor rate study covered 478,670 rates from 21 policies, using 80% reimbursement and a $250 deductible. The average monthly cost for plans with a $5,000 limit was $56:

• 3 months old: $43 a month on a $5,000 limit; unlimited coverage costs $64 a month.
• 3 years old: $41 a month on a $5,000 limit; unlimited coverage costs $64 a month.
• 5 years old: $52 a month on a $5,000 limit; unlimited coverage costs $82 a month.
• 7 years old: $74 a month on a $5,000 limit; unlimited coverage costs $114 a month.

Good dog insurance: what to look for

Begin with the waiting period, meaning the days or months that pass before coverage starts. Most insurers set separate waiting periods for accidents, for general illnesses, and for orthopedic issues. Pumpkin is one case, with a 14-day waiting period covering accidents, illnesses, and orthopedic conditions. In comparison, Nationwide has a 14-day wait for accident and illness coverage, plus a 12-month orthopedic and cruciate waiting period.

Before signing up, find out how a policy handles hereditary conditions and routine exam fees. Nationwide covers exam fees in its plans, but it limits coverage for hereditary conditions.

A price comparison by NerdWallet checked 13 insurers by pricing coverage for a mixed-breed dog that was 2 years old in Katy, Texas. Quotes ran from $30 to $53 each month, and the median was $39, which shows why comparing quotes matters.

Dog insurance quotes: what you need

You can get an online quote in a few minutes, and no vet checkup is needed upfront. To set a base rate, insurers ask about your ZIP code and the species, age, and breed of your pet. Quotes usually cost more for purebred pets and for animals living where veterinary care is more expensive.

Three coverage settings can be adjusted to change what you pay each month:

• Deductible: A higher deductible reduces what you pay each month. Pawp has the lowest option at $0, Fetch goes up to $2,500, and Chubb reaches $5,000 on plans.
• How much you get back: a smaller percentage means a smaller premium. Chubb offers reimbursement options of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90%, while Costco Pet Insurance offers reimbursement of 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.
• Annual limit: Picking a capped annual payout lowers the monthly cost compared with an unlimited plan.

Canine insurance companies compared

Putting policy rules next to each other helps you spot where waiting periods, deductibles, and reimbursement choices differ:

• Lemonade: deductibles run from $100 to $750, reimbursement options are 70%, 80%, or 90%, and the accident wait is 0 days.
• Spot: you get exam fees, hereditary conditions, and dental illness covered once the 14-day waiting period ends for accidents, illnesses, and orthopedic problems.
• Deductibles range from $100 to $500 at ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, which offers reimbursement of 70%, 80%, or 90%.
• Embrace: puppies can join from 6 weeks old, and the waits are 0 days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.
• Figo: the accident waiting period is 1 day, and you can choose reimbursement of 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%.
• Pets Best: exam fees and hereditary conditions are included, and the waits are 3 days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.
• MetLife Pet Insurance: dental illness and exam fees are covered, with reimbursement of 50%, 70%, 80%, or 90%.

Puppy insurance and senior dog insurance

Insurers set a minimum age for young puppies and an upper age for older pets. Most insurers accept a puppy at 8 weeks old, though Progressive begins coverage at 7 weeks old. Trupanion lets you enroll from birth (0 to 7 weeks old).

While shopping for pet insurance for older dogs, find out if the company sets an age cap on new enrollments. Trupanion requires that you enroll before the 14th birthday, and pets covered by State Farm must be under 14 years old. Pets enrolled earlier keep coverage, and ManyPets writes new policies only until a pet turns 14. Some insurers set no upper age limit; Chewy CarePlus is one of them, and it covers new health conditions for pets of any age.

Dog insurance that covers dental illness and cleaning

For dental care, coverage separates into sudden illnesses or injuries and routine cleanings of the teeth. The base policy of many accident and illness plans includes dental illness. Petco is one, and dental illness is covered after a 14-day wait. Under standard plans, dental illness payouts are limited by companies such as GEICO and Prudent Pet, which both provide limited dental illness coverage.

Standard accident and illness policies don't cover routine cleanings. Preventive cleanings and annual checkups need an optional wellness add-on. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association report puts the average for a policy with wellness coverage at $118 a month, or $1,414 for the year.

Common questions

Is animal insurance for dogs just another name for pet insurance?

Yes, both terms refer to health coverage that pays back part of the cost of veterinary care covered by the policy. Across the United States, 5.99% of dogs have insurance, and North America has 7.6 million insured pets in all.

Which dog insurance coverage is recommended?

Your choice comes down to accident-only coverage versus a plan that covers both accidents and illness. Look through the sample policy for extra riders. At USAA, exam fees come as an optional add-on you can choose.

Can you find pet insurance for dogs that has no waiting period?

Yes. Policies from Aflac carry a 0-day waiting period for accidents and for illnesses. Day 0 is when several other insurers start accident coverage; illness coverage, by contrast, usually begins after 14 to 30 days.

Do insurers offer a discount on dog insurance when you have two or multiple dogs?

Published policy summaries show no standard multi-pet discount that spans insurers, so check the quote tool as you add pets. You still benefit from comparing separate quotes, because base rates vary from one company to another.

Is hip dysplasia covered by pet insurance?

Hip and joint problems are usually paid for by plans that cover hereditary conditions, once the orthopedic waiting period ends. The waiting period may be 14 days with Wagmo, 6 months with Odie, or 180 days with AKC Pet Insurance.

Is pet insurance for a dog worth the money?

It comes down to whether you'd rather pay a steady monthly bill than cover a big emergency bill out of pocket. A higher deductible or an accident-only plan brings your monthly cost down.

Is there any pet insurance for dogs that covers everything?

Every policy leaves some veterinary expenses uncovered, because all plans carry waiting periods, deductibles, and exclusions of their own. Even with an accident and illness policy from PetSmart at 90% reimbursement, you still pay your share plus any excluded services.

Can rescue dogs get pet insurance?

Yes. Adopted and mixed-breed pets can sign up as long as they fit the age limits the company sets, both a minimum and a maximum. A new policy covers future injuries and new illnesses, plus covered hereditary conditions that show up after the waiting period ends.

Can service dogs and therapy dogs get pet insurance?

When insurers price and write policies, they rely on breed, age, and ZIP code rather than service or therapy work. Read the policy exclusions before you enroll, to confirm working activities are covered.

Would you be able to add wellness coverage to dog insurance?

Adding a routine wellness plan is an option at most companies, with an added charge every month. A handful of accident and illness insurers have no wellness add-on available, so check your options before you sign up.