Best Pet Insurance for Dogs, Cats, and More in 2025
Pumpkin, Nationwide, and Lemonade provide the best pet insurance for cats, dogs, and exotic animals, from puppies and kittens to senior pets.
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Written byCassie Sheets
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9 years writing data-driven content
Lifestyle contributor to 30+ local news sites
Cassie Sheets has a background in home and garden and real estate content. At Insurify, she translates industry jargon into insights that empower insurance buyers.
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Edited byKatie Powers
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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Table of contents
If you want the best care for your pet but have concerns about rising veterinary costs, pet insurance can help you avoid unexpected expenses and keep your pet healthy.
The best pet insurance for you depends on your budget and your pet’s health history, age, breed, medical needs, and other factors. Compare multiple pet insurance companies below to find the best dog, cat, and exotic animal policies.
Quick Facts
The average monthly cost of pet insurance is $43 for dogs and $23 for cats.
Most pet insurance companies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, including conditions that occur during the waiting period before coverage kicks in.[1]
Some pet insurers have an upper age limit for enrollment, but other companies, like Pumpkin, provide coverage for senior dogs.
Best pet insurance companies in 2025
Having the right policy and company on your side can make all the difference in keeping your pet healthy for an affordable price. When it’s time to choose a pet insurance company to help protect your furry friend, you need to look for a plan that works with your budget.
Beyond searching for cheap rates, you should prioritize choosing a pet insurance company that offers the right coverage and features.
Here are some of the best plans that can help you protect your finances. Compare the average costs to insure cats and dogs with each insurer below.
Pet Insurance Company  | Average Monthly Premium: Dog | Average Monthly Premium: Cat |
|---|---|---|
| Fetch | $70 | $24 |
| Pumpkin | $98 | $41 |
| Healthy Paws | $41 | $21 |
| Nationwide | N/A | N/A |
| Lemonade | $30 | $17 |
Fetch: Best for wellness coverage
Fetch offers accident and illness coverage with an optional deductible-free wellness add-on. Fetch Wellness has three tiers that cover routine care, like annual exams, spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and blood tests, without a copay. Reimbursement rates for accident and illness coverage range from 70% to 90%, depending on your policy.
Pros
Coverage for dental cleanings
Highly customizable wellness benefits
Easy claims processing through the mobile app
Cons
Six-month waiting period for hip and knee injury coverage
No accident-only coverage option
No coverage for prescription food
Pumpkin: Best for older pets
Pumpkin offers accident and illness coverage for pets at all life stages, with no upper age restrictions on enrollment. Owners can add a wellness package for preventative care coverage. Pumpkin’s standard pet insurance policy covers many common illnesses and injuries that affect older pets, including hip dysplasia, cancer, hereditary conditions, and dental disease, making the insurer a strong choice for senior dogs and cats.
Pros
No breed restrictions or upper age limit
Urgent pay service for critical care reimbursement in minutes
Prescription food and supplement coverage
Cons
Preventive care only available as add-on plan
Higher premiums than some competitors
Some customers report claim issues
Healthy Paws: Best for budget-conscious pet owners
Healthy Paws, a Chubb company, offers a single accident and illness pet insurance policy for dogs and cats. The plan covers common pet health issues, including soft tissue injury, foreign body ingestion, cancer, and arthritis. Policyholders can submit claims via Healthy Paws’ mobile app for up to 90% reimbursement within two days.
Pros
Lower-than-average premiums
No maximum on claim payouts
No restrictions on hereditary and congenital conditions
Cons
No wellness or preventative care coverage
One-year waiting period for hip dysplasia
Upper age limit of 14 years for enrollment
Nationwide: Best for exotic pets
Nationwide offers multiple pet insurance policies for accident-only coverage, accident and illness coverage, and preventive care. Nationwide is one of a few pet insurers that offer coverage for exotic pets, including birds, rabbits, reptiles, mini pigs and goats, guinea pigs, and ferrets. The insurer also has a 24/7 veterinarian helpline app for virtual support.
Pros
Covers a wide range of exotic pets
Offers two levels of wellness coverage
Bundling and multi-pet discounts
Cons
14-day waiting period for accident and illness coverage
No option for unlimited reimbursement
No coverage for prescription food
Lemonade: Best for puppies and kittens
Lemonade has low pet insurance premiums compared to competitors, and owners can save more on their premiums by bundling with home insurance. The insurer offers accident and illness coverage with add-on plans for routine care. Lemonade also has a preventative care package designed for puppies and kittens that covers spaying and neutering, microchipping, and up to six vaccines or boosters.
Pros
Flexible add-on coverage for wellness visits
User-friendly mobile app
Bundling and multi-pet discounts
Cons
Not available in every state
Six-month waiting period for knee injuries
Limited coverage for pre-existing conditions
Insurify analyzed more than 250,000 pet insurance quotes, sourced by Fletch, from its proprietary database. Quotes come from Insurify’s network of 10+ partner pet insurance companies, operating across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan
Choosing a pet insurance policy that suits your pet’s needs and your budget depends on several factors that are unique to each animal and owner.
Your pet’s breed, age, pre-existing conditions, and lifestyle all factor into the type of coverage you need and the cost of your premium. Your financial situation and monthly budget are also important factors you should consider.
Follow these steps to find the best pet health insurance for your situation:
Determine your pet’s needs. Every pet has a unique medical history. If you have a puppy or kitten, consider insurers that offer coverage for spay and neuter surgery, vaccinations, and foreign object ingestion. Senior pets may need an insurer without an upper age limit and coverage for hereditary conditions, cancer, or arthritis.
Understand coverage options. Pet insurers offer different types of coverage, including accident-only plans, accident and illness policies, and wellness or preventive care.[2] Select a policy that fits your pet’s needs.
Read policyholder reviews. Read reviews from real policyholders on Trustpilot or other online forums to determine how satisfied customers are with their coverage. Online testimonials can help you gauge how quickly insurers resolve claims and how likely they may be to deny coverage for certain conditions.
Compare quotes. Once you know the type of coverage you need and a few companies that provide it, obtain quotes from multiple pet insurers and compare deductibles, coverage limits, and exclusions to find the most cost-effective pet insurance policy for you.
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What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance policies generally fall under one of three main types of coverage: accident only, accident and illness, and wellness and preventative care.
Accident-only coverage
Accident-only plans cover accident-related medical care, including treatment for foreign body ingestion, ligament tears, motor vehicle accidents, poisoning, bite wounds, and broken bones. Accident-only policies often have a brief waiting period before coverage begins.
Accident and illness coverage
Accident and illness plans cover accident-related medical care and common pet illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, allergies, ear infections, and skin issues. Some insurers also cover hereditary conditions, dental illnesses, and prescription food.
Wellness coverage
These optional plans can pay for preventive care, such as annual tests, vaccinations, and spaying and neutering. Wellness plans are often available as add-ons rather than as part of a standard policy.[3]
Most pet insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions, regardless of policy type. Pet insurers may also exclude alternative treatments like acupuncture, hereditary conditions, behavioral issues, and breeding- or pregnancy-related issues. Read your policy closely to understand which exclusions apply to your pet.
Pet insurance policies typically begin coverage after a 14-day waiting period. Some conditions, like knee injuries, have a waiting period of six months or longer, depending on the insurer. Typical reimbursement rates range from 70% to 90% and apply to covered medical conditions after you pay your deductible.
What pet insurance doesn’t cover
Just like human health insurance, pet insurance doesn’t cover everything. It typically excludes:
Pre-existing conditions: Health issues discovered during the waiting period or that existed before purchasing the insurance policy
Routine and preventive care, such as vaccinations, flea control, and dental cleanings. In some cases, you can pay for a wellness add-on (at an additional cost) that covers routine and preventive care and possibly behavioral therapy or alternative treatments.
Cosmetic procedures
Breeding, training, or experimental treatments
Some hereditary conditions specific breeds are prone to
Before you sign up for a pet insurance policy, you’ll want to pay just as close attention to what the policy doesn’t cover as to what it does cover.
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Best pet insurance quotes in your state
Pet insurance premiums vary by state because the cost of veterinary care differs by location. Insurify’s data science team analyzed the average cost of pet insurance across the U.S. Find out how much pet owners pay in your state by exploring the map below.
Average Monthly Cost by State
State | Average Monthly Premium: Dog |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $56 |
| Alabama | $39 |
| Arkansas | $34 |
| Arizona | $62 |
| California | $58 |
| Colorado | $64 |
| Connecticut | $69 |
| Delaware | $58 |
| Florida | $54 |
| Georgia | $45 |
| Hawaii | $66 |
| Iowa | $38 |
| Idaho | $68 |
| Illinois | $55 |
| Indiana | $54 |
| Kansas | $57 |
| Kentucky | $46 |
| Louisiana | $43 |
| Massachusetts | $65 |
| Maryland | $58 |
| Maine | $61 |
| Michigan | $55 |
| Minnesota | $48 |
| Missouri | $45 |
| Mississippi | $41 |
| Montana | $55 |
| North Carolina | $45 |
| North Dakota | $51 |
| Nebraska | $49 |
| New Hampshire | $60 |
| New Jersey | $60 |
| New Mexico | $50 |
| Nevada | $53 |
| New York | $71 |
| Ohio | $47 |
| Oklahoma | $48 |
| Oregon | $62 |
| Pennsylvania | $49 |
| Rhode Island | $51 |
| South Carolina | $44 |
| South Dakota | $56 |
| Tennessee | $51 |
| Texas | $42 |
| Utah | $52 |
| Virginia | $51 |
| Vermont | $59 |
| Washington | $50 |
| District of Columbia | $52 |
| Wisconsin | $51 |
| West Virginia | $44 |
| Wyoming | $48 |
Average Monthly Cost by State
State | Average Monthly Premium: Cat |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $60 |
| Alabama | $22 |
| Arkansas | $19 |
| Arizona | $28 |
| California | $30 |
| Colorado | $33 |
| Connecticut | $37 |
| Delaware | $29 |
| Florida | $28 |
| Georgia | $23 |
| Hawaii | $33 |
| Iowa | $20 |
| Idaho | $26 |
| Illinois | $32 |
| Indiana | $35 |
| Kansas | $27 |
| Kentucky | $21 |
| Louisiana | $19 |
| Massachusetts | $41 |
| Maryland | $34 |
| Maine | $34 |
| Michigan | $28 |
| Minnesota | $26 |
| Missouri | $22 |
| Mississippi | $19 |
| Montana | $26 |
| North Carolina | $23 |
| North Dakota | $34 |
| Nebraska | $33 |
| New Hampshire | $49 |
| New Jersey | $33 |
| New Mexico | $31 |
| Nevada | $26 |
| New York | $39 |
| Ohio | $27 |
| Oklahoma | $21 |
| Oregon | $34 |
| Pennsylvania | $30 |
| Rhode Island | $32 |
| South Carolina | $23 |
| South Dakota | $28 |
| Tennessee | $22 |
| Texas | $20 |
| Utah | $30 |
| Virginia | $30 |
| Vermont | $40 |
| Washington | $26 |
| District of Columbia | $44 |
| Wisconsin | $33 |
| West Virginia | $23 |
| Wyoming | $20 |
Best pet insurance FAQs
The following information can help you find the best pet insurance coverage for your pet.
Do most pet owners have insurance?
No. The majority of pet owners don’t have policies for their dogs or cats and pay for all their pets’ medical care out of pocket. About 91 million U.S. families have a pet, but only 4.8 million pets had pet insurance coverage in 2022.
What are the best pet insurance companies?
Fetch, Pumpkin, Lemonade, and Healthy Paws are the best pet insurance companies for dogs and cats. Each insurer offers different coverage, like Lemonade’s special package for puppies and kittens or Pumpkin’s coverage for prescription food and supplements. Nationwide is the best pet insurer for exotic animals, covering a variety of small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Which is the cheapest pet insurance for dogs?
On average, Lemonade offers the cheapest dog insurance premiums. Dog insurance policies with Lemonade cost an average of $30 per month.
Which is the cheapest pet insurance for cats?
Lemonade provides the cheapest pet insurance policies for cats, on average. Coverage for a cat through Lemonade costs an average of $17 monthly.
What is the best type of pet insurance to get?
The best pet insurance depends on your pet’s age, breed, health, and lifestyle. Some pet insurance companies have restrictions on senior pets or certain breeds, but other insurers, like Pumpkin, cover pets of all breeds and life stages.
To find the best pet insurance for you, consider how you plan to use your policy. Choose a coverage level that fits your budget and needs, from an accident-only plan to a comprehensive accident and illness policy with a wellness add-on.
What is the most cost-effective pet insurance?
The most cost-effective pet insurance for you will depend on your pet’s overall health, age, and lifestyle. If you have a healthy, active dog with a high risk of injury on outdoor adventures but would rather use personal savings for any future illness, an accident-only plan might make the most sense for your budget.
An accident and illness policy covers more health conditions, but its premiums are typically higher. Likewise, adding on wellness coverage will increase your premium, but it could be the right policy if you want reimbursement for preventive care.
What is the typical monthly cost of pet insurance?
Pet owners pay an average of $43 monthly for dog insurance and $23 for cat insurance. Pet insurance premiums vary by coverage level, pet age, location, breed, and other factors.
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance allows owners to choose the best treatment options for their pets without worrying as much about finances. As you compare pet insurance policies, consider which pet health conditions you would want to pursue treatment for, the average cost, whether the policy covers what you need, and the average monthly premium to determine if it’s worth it for your pet.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250,000 pet insurance quotes from our proprietary database — sourced by Fletch Insurance Services LLC (“Fletch”) — to determine the premium prices displayed on this page. These quotes come directly from Insurify’s 10+ partner insurance companies across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., reflecting monthly pet insurance costs for both dogs and cats.
Unless otherwise specified, premium prices represent one-year rolling medians to account for market volatility driven by factors such as rising veterinary care costs and increased pet ownership.
Breed-level prices incorporate both mixed and purebred pets. To ensure reliability, a minimum of 8 quotes is required for dogs and 4 quotes for cats. Breeds with significant price deviations from the average are noted explicitly; other breeds are estimated based on average costs for all purebred pets.
Pets are grouped into three age brackets:
Young: under 12 months
Adult: 12 months to 7 years
Senior: over 7 years
Coverage Limits
Dog premium averages reflect policies with annual coverage limits of $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited.
Cat premium averages reflect policies with annual coverage limits of $2,500, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited.
For both dogs and cats, monthly premiums are segmented by:
Deductible options: $250, $500, $1,000
Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
For a comprehensive look at historical trends, visit Insurify’s Pet Insurance Data Center, which houses data dating back to 2021 and provides median monthly cost information for both dogs and cats.
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Sources
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Pet Insurance."
- Insurance Information Institute. "Facts about pet insurance."
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "A Regulator's Guide to Pet Insurance."
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Cassie SheetsData Journalist
Cassie Sheets has more than nine years of experience creating compelling content for clients, brands, and local news sites. She started her career at Movoto Real Estate, where she transformed dry data into interesting insights for potential homebuyers. She’s since covered a wide range of topics, from pop culture news to home and garden trends.
Before joining Insurify, Cassie wrote engaging landing pages and blog posts for medical practices at MyAdvice. Now, she uses her knack for diving into the latest data and pulling out key details to empower insurance buyers.
Cassie holds a BFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago. In her free time, you can find her exploring the city with her dog, trying not to fall over in yoga classes, and petting cats at the shelter.
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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