Pet Insurance Rates by Provider and Pet Type
| Provider | Young Dog | Older Dog | Young Cat | Older Cat | Coverage Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | $17/mo | $55/mo | $12/mo | $28/mo | Accident + Illness |
| Embrace | $25/mo | $80/mo | $18/mo | $40/mo | Accident + Illness |
| Figo | $20/mo | $65/mo | $15/mo | $32/mo | Accident + Illness |
| Nationwide | $35/mo | $90/mo | $22/mo | $48/mo | Whole Pet + Wellness |
| Trupanion | $30/mo | $95/mo | $20/mo | $45/mo | Accident + Illness |
What to Look for When Comparing Pet Insurance
Reimbursement Percentage
Most pet insurers offer reimbursement options of 70%, 80%, or 90% after your deductible is met. Choosing 90% reimbursement means you pay only 10% of covered vet bills above your deductible. Higher reimbursement means higher premiums — choose based on your financial capacity to absorb out-of-pocket costs after a major claim.
Annual Deductible vs. Per-Incident Deductible
Most insurers use an annual deductible — you pay a set amount once per year before coverage kicks in for any claims. Trupanion uses a per-condition deductible — you pay the deductible once per condition, and all future treatment for that condition is covered. Per-condition deductibles are better for pets with ongoing chronic conditions.
Annual Benefit Limit
Some policies cap payouts at $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000 per year. Others offer unlimited annual benefits. For pets at risk for expensive conditions — cancer, orthopedic issues — an unlimited benefit plan provides the strongest protection. Figo and Trupanion both offer unlimited benefit options.
Waiting Periods
All pet insurers have waiting periods before coverage begins. Accidents typically have 1–3 day waiting periods. Illnesses usually require 14 days. Orthopedic conditions may have waiting periods of 6–12 months. Enrolling your pet before they develop any conditions is critical to avoiding pre-existing condition exclusions.
Hereditary and Congenital Condition Coverage
If you have a purebred dog or cat, hereditary condition coverage is essential. Breeds like Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and Maine Coons are prone to expensive hereditary conditions. Embrace, Figo, and Trupanion all cover hereditary conditions as long as they weren't present before enrollment.
Ways to Lower Your Pet Insurance Premium
- Enroll young: Premiums are significantly lower for young, healthy pets. Every year you wait increases your cost.
- Choose a higher deductible: Increasing your annual deductible from $250 to $500 or $1,000 can substantially reduce your monthly premium.
- Select 80% instead of 90% reimbursement: Dropping from 90% to 80% reimbursement reduces premiums while still covering the majority of large bills.
- Consider accident-only coverage: If budget is very tight, an accident-only plan costing $10–$18/month still provides crucial protection against the most expensive unexpected events.
- Look for multi-pet discounts: Several insurers offer 5–10% discounts when you insure multiple pets under the same policy or with the same company.
- Annual payment discount: Paying your annual premium in full rather than monthly typically saves 5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lemonade consistently offers the lowest monthly premiums for accident and illness coverage, starting around $12/month for cats and $17/month for young dogs. Accident-only plans from various providers start even lower at $8–$12/month, but provide significantly less coverage.
Yes, significantly. Breeds associated with higher health risks carry higher premiums. For dogs, breeds like Bulldogs, Great Danes, and Bernese Mountain Dogs cost more to insure. For cats, breeds like Maine Coons and Persians face higher premiums. Mixed-breed pets typically have lower premiums than purebreds.
Yes, most insurers cover pets of all ages, though premiums increase significantly with age and any existing conditions will be excluded. Some insurers have upper age limits for new enrollments — typically 10–14 years for dogs and 10–15 years for cats. The key question for older pets is whether the premium cost is justified given the pre-existing condition exclusions that will apply.