Understanding Your
Dog Insurance
Policy
Dog insurance helps us keep our pets safe when they need us the most. But it can be tricky to find the right policy that's the perfect mix of being there for us when we need it and not breaking the bank.
We make it easy to understand your dog insurance policy, with a thorough walkthrough of everything you need to know before signing up–or how to look at your existing policy with a fresh perspective.
Want an even easier review? Check out our free policy review option: send us your dog insurance policy and we'll let you know if you have the best one for your budget. Plus, we'll give you a heads-up if there are any potentially dangerous gaps in coverage.
What Is Dog Insurance?
Dog insurance is a type of pet health insurance policy. In exchange for paying a fee every month (called a "premium"), your dog gets access to a health benefit package. These health benefits change depending on your insurance carrier and your plan, but they all provide a financial safety net in case your dog has a medical emergency.
You might also see some pet insurance carriers advertising "puppy insurance." It's the same thing as dog insurance! Their marketing team is just being clever.
Who Needs Dog Insurance?
We recommend dog insurance for two reasons:
Financial support
No one wants to be in the position of choosing between their savings account and their dog's emergency surgery or cancer treatment. If your pet experiences a major accident or illness, dog insurance can help make sure there's enough money to pay for critical vet care.
Peace of mind
We all know dogs stay healthy for most of their lives and maybe your dog does essential grooming, spends time outdoors and is at risk of catching worms or getting into a dog fight, or has the chance of developing a life-long condition later in life. Signing up for pet insurance when our dogs are young and healthy means we can get financial help if they end up needing a lot of vet care later.
Even if you're building up a "pet emergency fund" for your dog, we still recommend taking a look at signing up for dog insurance. Depending on what plan you get and how often you take your dog to the vet, you might end up saving money for services you already purchase! (See "When Is Dog Insurance Worth It?" for more!)
Who Shouldn't Get Dog Insurance?
Signing up for dog insurance means weighing the total costs of having that plan versus how much you'll benefit from that plan, and not just for that first year but for over the lifetime of your pet.
Here are two reasons why dog insurance might not be the right answer for you:
- •
Your dog has a pre-existing condition (or several).
Dog insurance (usually) doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, so even with a policy, you'll have to pay for those treatments on your own. Look for policies that allow for "curable pre-existing conditions," or give your pet coverage for anything new that might crop up.
- •
Your dog is elderly.
Dog insurance policies get more expensive as your pet gets older (because they're more likely to need expensive vet care). Double check if the higher premium is worth it to your peace of mind or to the risk of developing a serious disease, or look at accident-only plans (versus accident & illness).
Both of these reasons are why we recommend signing up for dog insurance while you have a young and healthy pet. Waiting until your dog already has a condition means that your insurance policy becomes less effective. That said, it will still help pay for anything new that happens to your pet, so we still recommend taking a look.
How Dog Insurance Works
Choose Your Plan
Dog insurance companies offer three types of plans:
Accident-Only
which only provides coverage for diagnosis and treatment of accidents, like bite wounds, broken bones, and eating something they shouldn't.
Accident & Illness
has coverage for accidents as well as treatments for major and minor illnesses, like diabetes, cancer, hyperthyroidism, and arthritis.
Wellness Coverage
are add-ons packages that provide coverage for preventative healthcare like annual exams, vaccinations, and parasite prevention.
Why are there accident-only plans?
Accident-only plans are the lowest level of coverage, meant to step in only if your pet has been in an unexpected accident. They're an excellent stop-gap tool: if your pet has an emergency, you'll at least have some help at the emergency vet clinic instead of being totally out-of-pocket for care. Plus, because they don't have coverage for illnesses, the monthly fee is less expensive than higher-tier plans.
Tailor Your Policy
Once you've chosen your plan type, you'll be asked three questions to figure out your monthly premium (i.e. how much you'll pay the dog insurance company every month to have coverage):
- •
A deductible:
how much you'll have to pay out-of-pocket before the dog insurance starts kicking in. A higher deductible (e.g. $2,000 versus $500) means a cheaper premium.
- •
The reimbursement rate:
what percent of the vet bill gets paid by the pet insurance company. A higher reimbursement rate (e.g. 90% versus 60%) means a more expensive premium.
- •
The maximum annual benefit:
the total amount the pet insurance company will pay out each year. A higher benefit (e.g. $100,000 versus $5,000) means a more expensive premium.
Although it's a lot to consider, this customization is one of the reasons we love dog insurance–you truly get to customize your coverage based on what you think is important and what your budget is.
Discounts and Benefits
Most dog insurance companies offer multi-pet discounts, so if you're insuring multiple dogs (or a combination of dogs and other dogs), make sure you see what kind of discount you get.
Some companies also have special perks, whether having a special feature in what services they cover or partnering with other dog brands to get you discounts on food, toys, and more!
Dog Insurance In Action
Once you've signed up for a dog insurance plan, it works like this:
- •
Visit any licensed veterinarian or vet clinic.
Most dog insurance companies don't have a network.
- •
Pay the vet bill.
There are a couple of dog insurance companies who pay the vet directly, but most of them work on reimbursement: you'll pay the vet yourself and get reimbursed later.
- •
Submit a claim.
Send in a copy of the vet bill to your dog insurance carrier, usually through an online portal, an app, or via fax.
- •
Get reimbursed.
Once they review the bill and calculate what they owe you, you'll receive money back, by direct deposit or check.
What Does Dog Insurance Cover?
What kind of coverage you can get from your dog insurance plan depends on the type of plan you choose and the specific policies of each pet insurance carrier.
Generally speaking, accident-only plans offer coverage for tests, diagnostics, and treatments for injuries caused by accidents, but don't provide coverage for veterinary bills due to illnesses and disease. Accident and illness plans offer coverage for both, but if you want coverage for preventative healthcare, you'll need a wellness plan add-on.
Each dog insurance company is different, but here are a few examples of what services are usually covered under each plan type:
Coverage examples*
Accident-Only
Treatments for:
- Bite Wounds
- Cuts
- Broken bones
- Fractured teeth
- Toxic ingestions (grapes, chocolate, etc.)
- Swallowed objects (string, small toys, etc.)
Emergency diagnostic and treatments for accidents, such as:
- Blood work
- X-rays, MRIs, and Ultrasounds
- Sutures
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Medication
Accident & Illness
— Everything in Accident-Only, plus:
Treatments for major and minor illnesses, such as:
- Cancer
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Digestive Problems
- Eye, Ear & Skin Infections
- Hip Dysplasia
- Hyperthyroidism
- Kennel Cough
- Respiratory Infections
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Wellness Coverage
- Annual Exam
- Dental Cleanings
- Deworming
- Heartworm tests
- Fecal tests
- Microchipping
- Vaccinations
- Spaying & Neutering
*These examples are commonly covered by these policies, but every plan and pet insurance carrier is different; check the specifics of any policy before signing up.
What Dog Insurance Doesn't Cover
Although dog insurance can help pay for a lot of different vet bills, there are still some services that won't be covered by an insurance policy.
Here are some common examples of what dog insurance doesn't cover:
- •Wellness exams aren't covered unless it's included in your purchased wellness package add-on.
- •Pre-existing conditions—any injury, illness, or condition your dog has before you sign up for dog insurance— usually aren't covered.
- •Bilateral conditions, where your dog has a pre-existing condition in an eye or leg on one half of the body, and later develops a related problem on the other side.
- •Costs related to breeding or pregnancy, boarding and grooming, and elective cosmetic procedures (like ear cropping or tail docking) aren't covered.
Keep in mind that dog insurance companies consider anything that happens to your dog during the waiting period as a pre- existing condition. They know that one of the most common places people think about signing up for dog insurance is at the emergency vet clinic, so all dog insurance policies have a waiting period before coverage begins.
Make sure to check when:
- •Accident coverage begins, which can be within a couple days or a couple weeks after you sign up;
- •Illness coverage begins, which is usually about a month;
- •Wellness coverage begins, which can be immediately; and
- •Any specific-condition waiting period. Most dog insurers wait at least six months before they will offer coverage for new hip dysplasia and other orthopedic problems.
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Health Future Today!
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How Much Does Dog Insurance Cost?
The final price of a dog insurance policy depends on several factors:
- •Plan type: whether you're opting for accident-only or accident and illness coverage; whether you've chosen to add a wellness plan package, or have attached an insurance rider.
- •Plan customization: your policy's deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit.
- •Your pet: their age and breed can impact pricing.
- •Your location: the average cost of veterinary care in your area will impact the cost of your insurance policy.
We've seen dog insurance policies as low as $10/month (for a high deductible, accident-only, low reimbursement rate, and low annual limit plan) and nearly $600/month (for a tiny deductible, accident & illness, high reimbursement rate, and an unlimited annual plan).
The best way to see what dog insurance plans cost for your area, pet, and preferences is to take a look and do some comparison shopping. Check our Calculator here.
When Is Dog Insurance Worth It?
We've talked a lot about what goes into dog insurance; now let's put it all together. What does it look like to actually have dog insurance? When is it worth it?
Here's the deal: for a young, healthy dog, you probably aren't going to the vet all that often. And, when you are, it's for things that only get covered in wellness packages, like the annual exam, a dental cleaning, vaccinations, and parasite testing and prevention.
For a young, healthy dog, dog insurance is worth it when:
- •You want peace of mind. If tragedy happens and your pet is hit by a car, suddenly develops cancer, or emergently swallows a foreign object, dog insurance can be a financial safety net in an emergency.
- •You want to protect against the future. Joining a dog insurance plan when your pet is healthy means that they won't be denied coverage for a "pre-existing condition" when you try to sign up later.
- •Access to the wellness package is worth it. If you're already spending money on preventative care for your dog, you might benefit from a wellness plan.
On average, dog insurance tends to be more expensive than cat insurance. We compared quotes at one insurance company to find that the cost of insuring a 5-year-old, medium-sized dog was $23 versus $12 for insuring a 5-year-old, domestic medium-hair cat.
Dog insurance is worth it as a financial safety net against emergencies and also to make sure your pet has coverage if they develop a chronic condition or illness as they get older.
When Is Dog Insurance Worth It?
We've talked a lot about what goes into dog insurance–and it is a lot. But what does it look like in practice? Why do people sign up for dog insurance at all?
Most people who feel unlucky with their dog insurance policy feel that way because either a) they've got the wrong policy and don't have adequate coverage or b) their premium and/or deductible are too high for what benefits they're getting.
Let's compare two dog insurance plans and see what happens over the course of one unlucky year for one unlucky pup.
We'll start by laying out the details for two plans, both for an accident & illness plan for a mixed breed, male, 5-year-old, medium-sized dog (named Mickey) based in Spokane, WA. He has no pre-existing conditions.
Plan A – Low Reimbursement
- Deductible: $500
- Reimbursement Rate: 70%
- Annual Coverage Limit: $2,500
- Premium: $12/month
Plan B – Better Reimbursement
- Deductible: $250
- Reimbursement Rate: 80%
- Annual Coverage Limit: $5,000
- Premium: $23/month
| Plan A | Plan B | |
|---|---|---|
February Ear Infection ($150-$300) $200 total | Deductible: $200/$500 used What you pay: $200/$200 | Deductible: $200/$250 used What you pay: $200/$200 |
April Pancreatitis ($500-$2,000) $900 total | Deductible: $500/$500 used Insurance reimburses you for $420 ($600 * 70%) What you pay: $480 | Deductible: $250/$250 used Insurance reimburses you for $680 ($850 * 80%) What you pay: $220 |
September Tooth Abscess ($800-$5,000) $2,500 total | Deductible fully used Insurance reimburses you for $1,750 ($2,500 * 70%) What you pay: $750 | Insurance reimburses you for $2,000 ($2,500 * 80%) What you pay: $500 |
Cancer Treatment ($3k-$10k) $6,000 | Plan costs: $144 Deductible: $500 Your share of the balance: $120 Insurance pays: $280 Total cost to you: $764 | Plan costs: $276 Deductible: $250 Your share of the balance: $130 Insurance pays: $620 Total cost to you: $656 |
| Total Cost of Treatment | $3,600 | |
| What you paid for treatment | $1,430 | $920 |
| Annual Premium Costs | $276 | $552 |
| Your total costs | $1,706 | $1,472 |
Please note: each of these conditions were calculated separately; we didn't make Mickey so unlucky as to have them all happen in the same year.
Key Takeaways:
- In each case, dog insurance saves money for the pet parent.
- It only takes one condition to use up these deductibles. That means that while we only calculated Mickey as having one condition each year, if anything else happened to Mickey, his insurance would be more effective, at least up until the annual limit.
- The annual limit makes a big difference for extreme circumstances. In the case of cancer treatment, both of our policies met the plan's maximum annual limit, which left the Plan A pet parent paying more than the Plan B parent.
Test Out Our Calculator
Want to see what it looks like to have a good year versus a bad year with your pet insurance plan?
Our calculator is simple (it can't know what your pet insurance company does/does not cover), but can estimate your out-of-pocket costs for a year by adding up your premium fees and your portion of the vet bills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Addressing your top concerns about PetCoverage.ai
Don't Wait Until It's
Too Late
The average emergency vet bill ranges from $2,000 to $10,000+
