Pet insurance can be an effective way to offset the cost of large and unexpected vet bills, like cancer treatment or a broken bone. But with all of the options available, it can be hard to find the perfect match for your best buddy. The best way to do it is to compare several pet insurance quotes and plan options to find a policy that’s within your budget.
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Key Takeaways: The Cheapest Car Insurance in Arkansas
- The average cost of a pet insurance policy that covers accidents and illnesses is $46 per month for a dog. That includes $5,000 annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. A similar plan for a cat costs about $23 per month.
- You can get pet insurance with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level for about $66 per month for a dog and $34 per month for a cat.
- You can get free pet insurance online or by contacting a pet insurance company or an independent insurance agent.
How to Get Free Pet Insurance Quotes
We recommend comparing quotes to find the best pet insurance policy. You can find free pet insurance quotes:
- Online: You can visit a pet insurer’s website to get a quote online. You’ll need to answer a few questions about your pet. You can gather quotes from individual pet insurance sites or use a price comparison site to review several options.
- Phone, email or in-person: If you’d prefer to speak with someone about your options, most pet insurers will connect you with an agent. You can also speak with an independent insurance agent.
Pet Insurance Type by Coverage and Monthly Costs
| Type of pet insurance plan | Examples of problems covered by policy | Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level |
|---|---|---|
| Accident and illness plan | Accidents such as broken bones, bite wounds and swallowed objects; illnesses such as allergies, infection, cancer and diabetes | $66 |
| Accident-only plan | Accidents such as bite wounds, getting struck by a vehicle and torn ligaments | N/A |
| Routine wellness plan | Annual wellness exams, vaccinations and flea, tick and heartworm prevention | $24 in addition to your accident and illness plan costs |
Benefits of Comparing Pet Insurance Quotes
Don’t just pick a random pet insurer based on a commercial or ad. You could miss out on better coverage benefits or cheaper prices elsewhere. Here are key benefits to comparing pet insurance quotes:
- Savings: The best way to find a good price on pet insurance is by comparing quotes among multiple pet insurers. Try to compare plans with similar coverage levels so you’re comparing them in an apples-to-apples way.
- Finding coverage levels you want: Not all insurers offer the same policy choices like annual limits, deductible amounts and reimbursement levels. For example, some insurers offer unlimited annual coverage, while other insurers only offer up to $10,000 in annual coverage.
- Examine coverage details: Some insurers offer robust coverage benefits, a 24/7 pet telehealth line, the option to add a wellness plan. Others require you to pay extra for add-ons to get ample benefits.
- Discounts: The types and amount of discounts vary by insurer, but usually a multi-pet insurance discount is between 5% to 10%, and not all insurers offer this discount. You can sometimes find other types of discounts, such as a military discount or a pay-in-full discount if you pay your premium annually.
How to Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
To get a fair comparison of pet insurance quotes, you’ll want to compare plans with similar coverage options as much as possible. This can get tricky because policy details can vary considerably. Here’s what you’ll need to watch for:
- Decide on annual coverage level: Some pet insurers limit their annual coverage, such as $10,000 per year, while others offer unlimited annual coverage. Most plans provide a choice. For example, Embrace pet insurance offers annual maximum choices of $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000 or unlimited. We recommend comparing prices for various levels of coverage. In some cases, like Pets Best, it costs only a few dollars more per month to go up to unlimited coverage.
- Choose a deductible: Most insurers offer a choice of pet insurance deductibles. Common amounts are $50 to $500 per year, but you can lower your monthly bill by going with a higher deductible.
- Choose a reimbursement percentage: This is the portion of the veterinary expenses your pet insurer will pay once your deductible is met. Common reimbursement percentages are 70%, 80% or 90%.
- Check the coverage waiting periods: The pet insurance waiting period is the specified amount of time before your coverage begins. Accident waiting periods generally range from one to 14 days and the illness waiting periods are usually 14 days. Some pet insurers have extended waiting periods for orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament issues that can range from six to 12 months.
- Verify access to a vet helpline: Many pet insurers include access to a 24/7 vet telehealth line, which can be useful for late night pet illnesses.
- See whether exam fees are covered: Some pet insurers include coverage for vet exam fees for accidents and illnesses in their base plans, while others offer this benefit at an additional cost. Some insurers don’t cover vet exam fees at all.
- Consider adding a routine wellness plan: Many insurers offer pet wellness plans for routine care for an additional cost. These can be useful for helping to cover expenses like annual exams, bloodwork, dental cleaning and vaccinations.
What Factors Affect Pet Insurance Quotes?
Your pet insurance quotes will vary depending on the policy you select and factors such as:
- Type and breed of your pet. Cats are generally cheaper to insure than dogs. And certain pet breeds are more susceptible to specific health issues (such as French bulldogs), which will affect pet insurance quotes.
- Age of the pet. You can typically buy a policy when a pet is eight weeks old. Younger pets have lower premiums because they are less likely to require veterinary care compared to senior pets.
- Gender. Male pets are more likely to require veterinary care and can cost more to insure than female pets.
- Your location. The veterinary costs where you live will affect pet insurance quotes.
- Policy details. Higher annual coverage limits are more expensive than lower limits, and a lower deductible and higher reimbursement level is more expensive since your insurer will pay out more if you file a pet insurance claim.
What To Look For in Pet Insurance
Jason Metz
Insurance Lead Editor
Michelle Megna
Insurance Lead Editor
Ashlee Valentine
Insurance Editor
Les Masterson
Insurance Editor
Coverage For a Wide Range of Problems
If you want coverage for problems like broken bones, cancer and allergies, then I recommend going with an accident and illness plan. It’s the most common type of plan and covers the most problems.
Insurance Lead Editor
Coverage for Routine Vet Expenses
You’re bound to spend money each year on vet expenses like wellness exams, vaccinations and flea/tick prevention. If you want coverage for these expenses, I suggest choosing an insurer that offers a wellness plan.
Insurance Lead Editor
Pet Insurers That Pay the Vet Directly
Pet insurance is usually reimbursement based, meaning you pay up front for your pet’s bills and wait for a claims check. If you want to cut down on out-of-pocket expenses and waiting around for reimbursement, I suggest going with a pet insurance company that pays the vet directly.
Insurance Editor
Pet Insurance for Senior Pets
A senior pet is more likely to develop health problems and need more healthcare. I would recommend taking a look at pet insurance for senior dogs to find competitive prices along with perks like a 24/7 pet telehealth line and the option to buy a wellness plan.
Insurance Editor
Types of Pet Insurance Plans
- Accident and illness plan: This is the most common type of pet insurance policy sold. It covers accidents like broken bones, bite wounds and ingested foreign objects, and illnesses such as allergies, cancer, diabetes and infections.
- Accident-only plan: As the name implies, this only covers accidents like broken bones, lacerations and bite wounds. This is the cheapest type of pet insurance plan because it covers fewer problems.
- Wellness plan: This covers routine vet expenses like wellness exams and vaccinations. It’s typically sold as an add-on to an accident and illness plan, but you can find standalone wellness plans at companies such as Wagmo.
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Pet Insurance Terminology
Here’s a glossary of terms you’ll run into while shopping for pet insurance:
- Annual limit or annual maximum: This is the amount a pet insurer will reimburse you in a policy year. Annual maximums range from $2,500 to unlimited annual coverage.
- Claim: A request to your pet insurer to reimburse you for veterinary expenses for problems that are covered by the policy.
- Comprehensive coverage: This typically refers to an accident and illness plan with an optional wellness plan added on. This is sometimes called “nose-to-tail” coverage.
- Deductible: This is the amount you’ll pay towards vet bills before your coverage kicks in. Common pet insurance deductibles range from $50 to $1,000.
- Policy term or policy year: This is the period your coverage is active, typically one year from the effective date.
- Pre-existing condition: This is a health problem that occurred before your policy’s effective date or during the waiting period.
- Reimbursement level or coinsurance: This is the amount your pet insurer will reimburse you for vet bills covered by your policy. For example, if your reimbursement level is 80%, you’ll pay 20% of vet bills.
- Waiting period: This is the amount of time after purchase before coverage kicks in. Typical accident waiting periods range from one to 14 days and illness waiting periods are usually 14 days. Some pet insurers have extended waiting periods for orthopedic conditions (like hip dysplasia) that range from six to 12 months.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance Quotes
What is the average cost of pet insurance per month?
Pet insurance costs an average of $51 per month for a dog and $27 for a cat, according to a our analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. A similar policy with unlimited annual coverage costs an average of $77 per month for a dog and $37 per month for a cat.
How quickly will I receive a pet insurance quote after requesting one?
Pet insurance quotes online are available instantly. You’ll answer a few basic questions about the pet and where you live. You can also call a pet insurance company or an independent agent to get a quote.
Are there any fees associated with getting a pet insurance quote?
You should not pay a fee to get a pet insurance quote. You can find free quotes online through pet insurers’ websites, a comparison site or by contacting an independent insurance agent.
Are there requirements to get a pet insurance policy?
The most common requirement to get a pet insurance policy is the pet’s age. You can typically buy a policy for a dog or cat at age eight weeks. Some pet insurers have an upper age limit of 14 to buy a new accident and illness plan. For example, you’ll need to buy a plan from Embrace before the pet’s 14th birthday, but then you’ll have lifelong coverage.
A pet insurer might require the pet to have a veterinary exam before it’s eligible for coverage. For example, Lemonade pet insurance requires a vet exam within 12 months prior or up to 14 days after the policy’s effective date.
