Pet Insurance for Older Dogs: What to Know

Older dogs have a higher risk of developing health issues that can lead to hefty payments at the vet. It can cost a lot to treat a dog with cancer, heart disease, or kidney disease.^[1] For example, the cost of chemotherapy for a dog ranges between $3,000 and $10,000, according to the American Kennel Club.^[2]

The good news is pet insurance can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for veterinary medicine and care. Here’s what you should know if you’re considering buying pet insurance for your senior dog.

The importance of pet insurance for older dogs

Pet owners want to provide the best care possible for their senior animals. But just like people, senior pets are more likely to develop health problems and need medical care as they age, which leads to expensive vet bills that can exceed your budget. Having pet insurance can make necessary care for your dog more affordable.

Here are a few ways having coverage can benefit you and your aging pup.

Can cover vet bills

The three types of pet insurance plans on the market are accident, accident and illness, and wellness policies.^[3] Depending on the policy type you have, your plan may help you pay for your dog’s injuries, illness, and preventative care.

A pet insurance policy can cover many services, including blood work, X-rays, MRIs, prescription medications, surgery, routine checkups, vaccines, and more.

Gives you peace of mind

Pet insurance offers dog owners peace of mind. Knowing you can cover your dog’s vet bills and avoid facing expensive out-of-pocket costs is important.

If your dog is sick or injured, the situation is stressful enough without worrying over how you can afford the necessary care. Pet insurance can make these costs more manageable for dog owners.

Encourages regular vet checkups

If you’ve ever hesitated to take your dog to the vet to avoid getting stuck with a vet bill you can’t afford, pet insurance can help.

Some plans cover wellness checks and other preventive care such as vaccines and health screenings. Knowing you have insurance to ease the financial burden of caring for your pet makes it easier to continue regular checkups.

What to look for in pet insurance for older dogs

You should understand a few key details before shopping around and comparing pet insurance policies for dogs. If you have pet insurance, you typically need to pay for your pet’s care up front and submit a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement. Reimbursement plans can vary by company. Most plans require policyholders to pay monthly premium payments.

Here are a few types of pet insurance plans that you may want to consider for your older dog.

Chronic condition coverage

As they get older, dogs have an increased likelihood of developing health conditions that need long-term treatment, like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, dry eyes, and hypothyroidism. Buying a pet insurance plan that covers these conditions can help minimize your out-of-pocket costs.

However, if your vet has already diagnosed your dog with one or more chronic conditions, insurance won’t typically cover it. Most plans exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions. Ideally, you should buy pet insurance for your dog before it develops a costly health condition.

Alternative therapies

Alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, and physiotherapy are available to treat and manage various medical issues, such as allergies, seizures, minor injuries, soft-tissue damage, arthritis, and more.

Many plans cover these types of therapies if your vet uses them to treat a covered injury or illness.

Hereditary and congenital conditions

Some dogs may develop congenital and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia, intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), and allergies.

Dogs can have these conditions from birth, but symptoms may take months or years to appear. If hereditary or congenital conditions are common in your dog’s breed, you may want to look for a plan that provides this type of coverage.

Wellness plans

Pet insurance companies often offer wellness plans as an add-on to accident-only or accident and illness insurance.

These plans cover routine care that can help keep your pet in good health longer. Depending on the insurer, wellness plans may cover annual checkups, teeth cleaning, routine health screenings, and more.

What pet insurance doesn’t cover

While pet insurance can help offset the cost of caring for your pet, it doesn’t cover everything. Here are some common services that pet insurance typically doesn’t cover:

• Injuries or illnesses that occur during the waiting period

• Pre-existing conditions

• Tail docking, ear cropping, and other cosmetic procedures that aren’t medically necessary

• Breeding costs

• Intentional injuries

• Injuries that result from fighting, neglect, or abuse

• Avian flu

How is pet insurance for senior dogs different from puppy insurance?

It’s typically only a difference in cost. Pet insurance works the same for senior dogs as it does for puppies. Your insurance plan will reimburse you for covered conditions regardless of your dog’s age. However, it typically costs more to insure old dogs than younger dogs because they’re more likely to need treatment.

Ways to reduce the cost of pet insurance

The price of pet insurance can increase as your dog ages. Here are three tips to help you keep costs down:

• 

  Shop around

  Get quotes from multiple pet insurance companies. Make sure you compare policies with the same amounts of coverage, reimbursement rates, deductibles, and policy limits so you can make an accurate comparison.

• 

  Increase your annual deductible

  Insurance plans with higher deductibles typically have lower premiums.^[4]

• 

  Decrease your reimbursement percentage

  Reducing the amount the insurer pays for covered services lowers your pet insurance premiums. Only do this if you can afford to pay for treatment out of pocket if your dog needs medical care.

Pet insurance for older dogs FAQs