How much does pet insurance cost?
The U.S. average cost of accident and illness pet insurance is $53 per month for dogs and $32 per month for cats, according to data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).[1] Your own costs can vary depending on the type of pet you’re insuring — as well as its age, health, and breed — where you live, and the amount of coverage you buy.
To find the best price for pet insurance that meets your pet care needs, you’ll want to shop around and compare multiple policies from different pet insurance companies. Here’s a look at each of the factors that determine pet insurance costs and how you can find the best price on your next policy.
Your pet’s details
As with health insurance for humans, pet insurance premiums depend on the specifics of the pet you want to insure. This means that you may pay more or less for coverage depending on the following factors:
Pet species
Dogs often cost more to insure than cats for a few reasons that increase costs at the vet. For example, dogs are typically larger than cats and require higher medication doses.
Pet breed
Your pet’s breed can increase the cost of pet insurance due to its size or if it’s prone to certain genetic conditions or injuries.
Gender
Pet owners typically file fewer claims for female pets than male pets.
Location
Where your pet lives also matters, as average veterinary costs can vary by city and state.[2]
The coverage you want
As you probably expect, your pet insurance rates will also depend on how much coverage you want to buy and what type of insurance you need. Accident-only coverage provides less coverage than accident and illness policies, so it costs less. The average cost of an accident-only policy is $17 per month for dogs and $10 for cats.
Good to Know
Your policy’s deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual maximum reimbursement all affect your insurance costs. You can adjust your policy costs by choosing a higher (or lower) annual deductible for claims.
Your pet’s health
If your pet already has a history of certain medical conditions or injuries, you’ll likely pay more for coverage than if your pet has a clean bill of health. Your coverage will likely exclude any of these pre-existing conditions.
Average pet insurance cost for dogs
Average quotes for a 5-year-old dog range between $33 and $209 per month.
While the average pet insurance cost for dogs will vary from one pet owner to the next, here are some quotes from the top pet insurance companies for a 5-year-old dog with at least $5,000 in annual coverage. We also chose an 80% reimbursement rate and a $500 pet insurance deductible for these quotes.
*Trupanion policies, by default, have unlimited annual coverage.
Average pet insurance cost for cats
Pet insurance for cats, according to Insurify’s analysis, costs between $14 and $55 each month.
As with dogs, the average monthly premium for cats also depends on the animal’s location, breed, age, health, and gender. You can adjust your premiums according to the amount of coverage you want to buy.
Here are some quotes Insurify received for a 3-year-old female cat. Policy specifics include an 80% reimbursement, a $500 deductible, and $5,000 or more in annual coverage.
Compare the average quotes below.
*Trupanion policies, by default, have unlimited annual coverage.
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