How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

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On average, a pet insurance plan for dogs costs around $52 a month, while a pet insurance policy for cats lands around $15.50/mo. With that said, the cost of pet insurance ranges widely based on breed and age. For example, dog insurance can be as low as $12 a month for a young and healthy toy breed or over $120 a month for an older, larger dog prone to hereditary conditions. 

To help you narrow your focus, we gathered a variety of quotes from popular pet insurance companies, including our budget pick Lemonade

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Compare pet insurance premiums

To get these pet insurance quotes, we chose plans with 70% coverage, a $500 annual deductible, and a $10,000 annual payout limit whenever possible. We used 84020 as the zip code and declined optional add-ons. Species, breed, and age details are outlined in the chart.   

Provider
8-week-old male French Bulldog
2-year-old female Domestic Shorthair
5-year-old female Labrador Retriever
8-year-old male German Shepherd
Terms chosen for quote
Learn more
$34.39
/mo
$11.00
/mo
$30.03
/mo
$52.63
/mo
70% coverage, $10,000 annual payout, $500 deductible
$34.95
/mo
$9.35
/mo
$35.07
/mo
$62.99
/mo
70% coverage, unlimited payout, $500 deductible
$45.10
/mo
$20.50
/mo
$30.02
/mo
$60.50
/mo
70% coverage, $10,000 annual payout, $500 deductible
$65.31
/mo
$18.64
/mo
$83.74
/mo
$128.75
/mo
90% coverage, unlimited payout, $500 deductible
$75.82
/mo
$20.49
/mo
$54.36
/mo
$100.16
/mo
70% coverage, $10,000 annual payout, $500 deductible
$87.21
/mo
$14.52
/mo
$61.95
/mo
$79.00
/mo
70% coverage, $10,000 annual payout, $500 deductible

Data as of post date. Offers and availability subject to change.

How breed affects dog insurance quotes

For our next price comparison, we ran the numbers for a healthy 2-year-old female Chihuahua. Then, we changed her breed while keeping every other factor the same. As with the first comparison table, we chose a plan with a $10,000 annual limit, a $500 deductible, and 70% reimbursement (or, in the case of Trupanion and PetsBest, the most similar terms available).

Here's how the quotes landed.

Chihuahua

Yorkie

Beagle

Labrador

Golden Retriever

Great Dane

Lemonade Icon Tooltip  Dark

$12.14

$13.85

$20.72

$22.50

$23.26

$34.33

PetsBest Icon Tooltip  Dark

$12.06

$13.91

$21.36

$23.13

$20.69

$37.24

Metlife Icon Tooltip  Dark

$22.09

$27.72

$25.50

$38.06

$41.78

$64.94

Trupanion Icon Tooltip  Dark
$29.94
$36.11
$53.93
$55.45
$53.19
$90.16
ASPCA Icon Tooltip  Dark

$30.82

$34.56

$45.09

$54.36

$54.36

$66.36

Embrace Icon Tooltip  Dark

$26.12

$30.38

$49.82

$52.86

$52.86

$91.74

Data as of post date. Offers and availability subject to change.

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Getting a pet insurance quote is super easy

We didn't have to call anyone to get those sample quotes. Each website lets you plug in a few details about your pet and gives you an instant quote. 

Try it yourself to get a more accurate picture of your pet insurance costs.

What's the most affordable pet insurance?

Best for budgets
Lemonade Pet Insurance
pro Easy custom quotes
pro Affordable add-ons for preventative care, rehab, and more
con Not available in all states

Lemonade is usually the most affordable pet insurance option, but not always. Our research shows that PetsBest's quotes are sometimes lower than Lemonade's, even with PetsBest's unlimited payouts. 

On the other hand, Trupanion is usually the priciest option, but consider its prices with a grain of salt—all Trupanion plans come with 90% reimbursement and unlimited payouts, which is a better perk than the 70% reimbursement and $10,000 payout limit we used as a baseline for our cost research.

Take that into consideration along with Trupanion's rare coverage of supplements, herbs, prosthetics, and orthotics, and its premium quotes don't seem so outlandish. 

Read more in our full Lemonade review.

Why am I seeing a higher quote than what's in the chart?

Several factors affect pet insurance quotes:

  • Zip code: Pet insurance companies ask for your zip code because the average cost of veterinary care varies from one location to the next. Someone in LA will likely get a higher quote than someone in Indiana, for example.
  • Custom terms: You don't have to accept the initial quote that's presented to you. Look for a customization option. For example, once you get a Lemonade pet insurance quote, scroll past the benefits explanation until you reach a series of drop-downs that let you customize the co-insurance, deductible, and maximum payout.
  • Pet age and breed: Pet insurance costs more for older pets because they're more likely to get sick or injured. Likewise, it costs more to cover breeds with a history of congenital conditions like hip dysplasia.

Do I really need pet insurance? What if I just start a savings account?

We definitely recommend crunching the numbers to see how much money you'll spend on pet insurance over your pet's lifetime, keeping in mind that pet insurance premiums increase each year. 

Then, think about your pet's risk factors and your ability to pay for unforeseen emergencies, like if your dog swallows a rock (that was $2,000 back in 2010), your cat swallows yarn ($1,600), or your dog gets the zoomies in the snow and tears his ACL ($3,000). And then there's the cost of trying to diagnose a mystery illness at four different vets ($3,000) only to find out it's malignant cancer and will cost at least $15,000 to treat. I'm proud of my savings account, but it's not that big. 

Even the healthiest of pets usually need arthritis medication or a prescription diet to help them age comfortably, and it can get expensive.

On the one hand, you may never need to file a pet insurance claim, but on the other, it can be life-saving. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how to prepare for unforeseen emergencies. 

Learn more: Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

Are pet wellness plans a scam?

We wouldn't go so far as to call them a scam, but you definitely can lose money on pet wellness plans if you're not careful. 

These optional packages allow you to get some money back on preventative vet care, which isn't covered by insurance.

Let's take a look at an example plan for our hypothetical French Bulldog puppy. The highlighted plan on the right offers up to $650 cash-back per year, but there's a cap on each procedure. You'll pay an extra $48.33/mo. for this plan, which comes out to $579.96 per year. Your maximum savings would only be $70.04 per year, and that's assuming you do everything on the list.

Screenshot: SafeWise

Notice that two items—spaying/neutering and microchipping—can only be done once in your pet's lifetime. You'd instantly lose money if you didn't ditch this plan as soon as those procedures were complete. Switching to the plan on the left gives you a maximum benefit of $265 each year, but you'll pay about $211 for it. You'd save up to $54 per year. 

In short, pet wellness packages are a good option if you're super organized and willing to track each procedure and benefit to make sure you're not missing out.

Final word

Depending on your budget, adding another expense like pet insurance can feel intimidating. But with a little shopping around, you can find a policy that will fit your budget and keep your best friend around for a long time.

Pet insurance cost FAQs

Metlife takes the cake when it comes to pet insurance discounts. If you have two to three pets, choose Metlife's family plan to get anywhere from 29% to 37% off—way better than the 5%–10% multi-pet discount offered by other pet insurance companies. The only catch is that you can't add more than three pets.

Plus, anyone who purchases a plan online automatically gets $1 off their monthly premium.

Finally, these folks can get 10% off a Metlife pet insurance plan:

  • Active military members
  • Veterans
  • First responders
  • Animal care workers
  • Healthcare workers

Yes, companies like Geico, Progressive, Nationwide, and State Farm provide pet insurance. Ask your insurance agent about bundling pet insurance with your current policies to see if you can save money.

Other companies specialize in pet insurance. If your pet requires special care, these may be the better option.


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Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

Cathy Habas
Written by
Cathy Habas
With over eight years of experience as a content writer, Cathy has a knack for untangling complex information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize help Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She is a certified Safe Sleep Ambassador and has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Hunker, and Thumbtack. Cathy’s pride and joy is her Appaloosa “Chacos.” She also likes to crochet while watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix.

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