Unlimited
70%, 80%, 90%
$100 - $1,000
Broad coverage, including microchip implantation.
Pros
- Covers things some insurers don’t, such as prescription food and behavioral modification.
- Covers some pre-existing conditions if they have been cured and treatment-free for 180 days.
- Unlimited annual coverage option available.
Cons
- Doesn't offer the option to pay your vet directly.
✓ Covers some pre-existing conditions if they have been cured and treatment-free for 180 days.
✓ Unlimited annual coverage option available.
Unlimited
70%, 80%, 90%
$50 to $1,000
May be able to pay your vet directly.
Pros
- Lots of options for customizing accident and illness plans.
- Covers hereditary and breed-specific conditions.
- Vet direct pay option available.
Cons
- No option to customize accident-only plan.
- Doesn’t cover vitamins or supplements.
✓ Lots of options for customizing accident and illness plans.
✓ Covers hereditary and breed-specific conditions.
✓ Vet direct pay option available.
Unlimited
70%, 80%, 90%
$100, $250, $500
Broader coverage than most other plans.
Pros
- Covers horses in addition to cats and dogs.
- Standard plans cover alternative therapies, behavioral issues and congenital conditions.
- Shorter waiting period than most plans for cruciate injuries (14 days).
Cons
- You must call, rather than get an online quote, if you’re interested in unlimited annual coverage.
✓ Standard plans cover alternative therapies, behavioral issues and congenital conditions.
✓ Shorter waiting period than most plans for cruciate injuries (14 days).
$100,000
70%, 80%, 90%
$100 - $750
Pays some claims almost immediately.
Pros
- Quick claims processing.
- Multipolicy and pay-in-full discounts available.
- Donates a portion of premiums to nonprofit organizations.
Cons
- Not available in all states.
- Coverage for physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care costs extra.
✓ Multipolicy and pay-in-full discounts available.
✓ Donates a portion of premiums to nonprofit organizations.
Like human health insurance, pet insurance covers the cost of medical care. Pet insurance is designed to cover unexpected costs, so it may not pay for routine care or conditions your pet had before you bought the policy.
There are three main types of pet insurance plans:
Accident and illness: The most common type of pet insurance, these plans cover treatment for illnesses and accidental injuries.
Accident-only: These plans tend to be more affordable. They’ll pay if your pet swallows a toy or is hit by a car, but not for any illnesses such as diabetes or arthritis.
Wellness or preventive care: This type of coverage is usually an add-on to one of the policies above. It’ll pay for well visits, vaccines and other routine care.
The average cost of an accident and illness policy in the U.S. is $640 per year for dogs and $387 for cats, according to 2022 data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. That translates to about $53 a month for dogs and $32 a month for cats.
For an accident-only policy, the average cost is $201 per year for dogs (about $17 per month) and $122 per year for cats (about $10 per month).