The average monthly cost of pet insurance ranges from about $20 to $49 for a dog and $11 to $29 for a cat, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). But many factors influence pet insurance costs. We’ll cover how much pet insurance costs, how you can save money, which common exclusions you can expect, and other questions about pet insurance costs.
Average Cost of Pet Insurance
According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, the average monthly premiums for dogs and cats in the U.S. are as follows.
Types of Coverage | Average Premium Dog | Average Premium Cat |
---|---|---|
Accident and Illness Coverage | $48.66 | $28.57 |
Accident-Only Coverage | $19.93 | $10.85 |
Accident-only coverage for pets is significantly cheaper because it doesn’t cover illnesses like cancer or diabetes. But not all pet insurance companies offer accident-only coverage, and accident-only plans can leave pet owners vulnerable to high care costs.
When selecting a pet insurance plan, it’s important to compare pet insurance quotes, since every company will evaluate your pet a little differently, and not all pet insurance policies are created equal. Some include benefits, such as coverage for vet exam fees and dental illnesses, that others don’t. Below are sample premiums for a three-year-old dog and cat at some of the best pet insurance companies.
Sample monthly premium for accident and illness coverage for a cat | Sample monthly premium for accident and illness coverage for a dog | |
---|---|---|
Nationwide | $23.46 | $59.33 |
ASPCA | $25.86 | $50.89 |
Figo | $13.68 | $34.02 |
Embrace | $38.94 | $60.09 |
MetLife | $30.44 | $49.00 |
Pets Best | $15.86 | $31.47 |
Lemonade | $14.60 | $30.39 |
To get our quotes, we used the following criteria:
- A three-year-old male mixed-breed 45-lb dog and a three-year-old female domestic shorthair cat located in Denver (80014 ZIP code)
- Plans with 70% reimbursement, a $250 deductible, and a $10,000 annual limit
If those exact limits weren’t available, we chose the most similar option (the quotes for Pets Best are for unlimited annual coverage).
There are variations in what each plan covers and how each company deals with pre-existing conditions. And while cost is an important consideration, you should also evaluate companies for financial strength and customer service and determine what features and digital tools are important to you.