How Much Does Dog Insurance Cost?

Looking to get an idea of how much it will cost to hold insurance your favorite pooch? Maybe it’s a matter of determining if pet insurance will fit within your budget, or perhaps you’re just looking to get an idea of what to expect so you can have a gauge on the deals that pet insurance companies will present to you. Regardless of your situation, if you’re wondering how much dog insurance will cost you then this article will serve as a quick and brief orientation so that you can continue your research with some numbers in mind.

Dog Pet Insurance Cost

Now to the main question – how much does dog insurance really cost?

We sampled seven of the best dog insurance companies today and found that plans ranged from $6.50 – $260 per month at the time of writing. This calculates to an average cost of about $90/month, though keep in mind that the price can vary dramatically.

The actual price you’ll pay for insurance will depend on a number of factors like your dog’s age, breed, and gender as well as your physical location in the United States that we’ll discuss in detail below to help you as you set out to find the best insurance plan for your pet.

Factors That Affect Your Pet Insurance Premium

There are quite a few factors that will have an impact on the premium that a pet health insurance company will quote you for, and ultimately the price that you pay for the insurance per month. It’s not a bad idea to take a quick tally of these factors in your head before you go searching for insurance quotes so that you know where you stand and you aren’t confronted with any surprises. Some of the most important factors to consider will be the following:

Age

The age of your pet is definitely going to be a significant factor in how much your pet insurance policy is likely to cost per month. It makes a lot of sense if you think about it, both from your perspective and from the perspective of the insurance company. Younger dogs are far more likely to have lower unexpected vet costs per month than their more senior counterparts. This is because young dogs are generally healthy, and frankly, the pet insurance company will be collecting your monthly premium for months or even years before you’re likely to file a claim. On the other hand, an older pup is more likely to run into unexpected vet bills, and if you are just signing up then the cost of pet insurance is likely to be higher because the insurance company hasn’t been collecting for all of the past years.

Breed

You might be somewhat surprised to hear that the breed of your dog can have an impact on how much pet health insurance plans cost. This is because certain breeds are more prone to accident and illness than others. For example, dachshunds are more likely to have back problems as they age due to the unusually long spine that is native to the breed [1]. Boxers, unfortunately, have a higher probability of contracting cancer throughout their lifetime that may need expensive treatment and veterinary care down the road that insurance policies will have to cover. You’re probably familiar with your dog’s breed and the tendencies they have, so take this into consideration when doing the rough math in your head.

Gender

Another less recognized factor that can impact the cost of pet insurance plans is your pooch’s gender. As with your pet’s breed, males are more prone to some diseases while females are more prone to others. Not to mention that males may be more prone to getting into accidents, as they can be more energetic and aggressive in their play. For this reason, pet insurance plans will often as about your pet’s gender when they are generating a quote for your monthly insurance cost.

Location

How much does your physical location impact your dog’s insurance cost? It might be more than you think. Depending on your zip code, the price of vet bills can change fairly dramatically, so it goes without saying that insurance premiums will follow. Think about it—a high-cost area like New York City or Los Angeles is very likely to charge more for a particular procedure than you would find in a city or town a bit more removed from the hustle and bustle. This is why you’re fairly likely going to be asked to share your zip code when getting an estimate for your pet insurance cost.

Limits

Another one of the factors that you’re likely to come across when you’re searching through pet insurance plans is the annual limit that your coverage includes. Sometimes this is a fixed limit and other times it’s offered in tiers all the way up to unlimited. Different pet insurance companies are going to have different structures. That said, it makes sense that the higher the amount of reimbursement coverage that an insurance policy offers, the higher the cost of pet insurance will be.

Deductible

The kind of insurance pet owners generally have the most luck with tends to include the use of a deductible that needs to be paid before your insurance claim becomes eligible for reimbursement. You will likely find that an insurance coverage plan allows you to choose your deductible as you sign up. Insurance companies are almost always going to charge a higher monthly fee if you opt for a lower or no deductible because this lowers the bar to how many bills can be submitted for reimbursement from your insurance provider. A great way to bring the cost of insurance coverage down is to opt for a higher deductible so that you’ll only be relying on your insurance company for help in extreme cases when the bills are exceptionally large—and hopefully that is a bridge you’ll never have to cross.

Coverage

Last but certainly not least, the extent of the coverage that you select is one of the factors that will affect your monthly insurance bill—this is how pet insurance works. Most pet insurance policies are intended to cover the unexpected events in your pup’s life, however you will probably find that some insurance providers give you the option for additional coverages like health and wellness, proactive treatments, and more. These types of additional coverages are almost certainly going to lead to higher insurance costs, because they are going to be covering more of the veterinary bills incurred over the course of your pup’s life.