Compare Pet Insurance Quotes & Company Plans (2024) | Insurify (2024)

Life with a pet can be unpredictable. You never know when your furry friend will experience an illness or injury. But you can do your best to prepare with pet insurance. Pet insurance is a product — similar to other insurance products — that steps in to help pay for certain pet illnesses, injuries, and other emergencies.

Purchasing pet insurance can give you confidence you can pay for vet bills if your pet breaks a bone, swallows a toxic substance, or is diagnosed with a chronic condition. To find the right plan for you, compare pet insurance companies before making a decision.

How to compare pet insurance quotes

When shopping for pet insurance, comparing multiple companies can help you find the right coverage and save money.

1. Choose the type of coverage

Before you compare the best pet insurance companies, consider how much coverage is right for your pet. Here are the three main types of pet insurance plans:

• Accident-only: This type of pet insurance covers injuries, diagnostic services, and treatments related to incidents like bite wounds and broken bones. It doesn’t cover any illnesses or preventative care.

• Accident and illness: This plan covers care related to accidents and illnesses, from allergies to cancer. Most insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions or hereditary illnesses.

• Wellness: This plan covers preventative care, like routine checkups, vaccinations, blood tests, and microchipping.

2. Consider the cost

In addition to the type of insurance you want, another important factor is cost. You’ll have to make decisions about the following variables:

• 

  Reimbursem*nt limit

  This is the maximum amount your pet insurer will pay for a covered claim. For instance, you might have a plan with a $5,000 or $15,000 limit. You may also find plans without reimbursem*nt limits.

• 

  Deductible

  This is the amount you have to pay before your insurance kicks in and covers the rest. A higher deductible often results in a lower premium. Common deductibles range from $100 to $1,000 per year.

• 

  Reimbursem*nt percentage

  This is the percentage the pet insurance company will pay after you pay your deductible. For instance, if you choose an 80% reimbursem*nt percentage, your insurer will pay 80% of your claim after you pay your deductible. You’re responsible for paying the other 20%. Common reimbursem*nt levels range from 70% to 90%. And some companies offer 100% reimbursem*nts.

3. Compare pet insurance quotes

You’re already thinking about coverage and average costs, so here’s more information to look for to find the right pet insurance company for your needs and budget.

• Read pet insurance reviews to assess things like a company’s customer service and claims process.

• Evaluate the monthly premium versus the deductible or reimbursem*nt rate to ensure you choose a plan with out-of-pocket expenses you can afford.

• Consider your pet’s age, breed, and size since premiums can vary based on these details.

• Look for discounts. Your employer may offer a discounted rate, and some insurers offer discounts for multi-pet policies to help you save.

• Weigh coverage details and waiting periods. Insuring your pet early will get you better rates and more coverage; waiting periods can last 10–30 days.

Using a quote-comparison site is the best way for pet parents to compare multiple insurers and find the best and most affordable pet insurance.

How pet insurance works

Pet insurance can provide pet owners with the peace of mind that they can cover their pet’s healthcare costs in case of an unexpected injury or illness.

You can usually choose to pay your pet insurance premium monthly or on a yearly basis. Often, companies will offer a discount if you pay annually.

With pet insurance, when your pet is sick or injured, you can take it to the vet to get treatment for a covered condition. Typically, you pay the vet bill and then submit your claim to the insurance company for reimbursem*nt. The amount your pet insurance plan reimburses you depends on your reimbursem*nt percentage, annual coverage limit, and deductible.

Types of pet insurance coverage

Before you purchase pet insurance, think about the type of coverage you want for your pet. Consider your pet’s age, if it has a pre-existing health condition, or if it’s prone to hereditary conditions.

Accident and illness plan

Accident and illness coverage is one of the most popular types of pet insurance plans. This type of policy helps you pay for many of the injuries your pet could sustain, including:

• Bite wounds

• Broken bones

• Cuts and lacerations

• Car impacts

• Ingested toxins

• Swallowed objects

• Torn ligaments

Many plans also cover diagnostic services and treatments, including:

• Blood work

• Hospitalization

• Prescription medications

• MRIs

• Surgery

• Sutures

• Ultrasounds

• X-rays

Illness insurance provides coverage for a variety of major and minor illnesses, which could include:

• Allergies

• Arthritis

• Cancer

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• Ear infections

• Epilepsy

• Skin infections

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Insurance companies can vary on what they consider an accident or illness, so it’s important to carefully compare quotes and coverages on pet insurance policies.

Accident-only plan

An accident-only plan covers the same injuries, diagnostic services, and treatments as an accident and illness plan but doesn’t cover your pet if it gets a minor or major illness.

This type of plan usually won’t cover any pre-existing conditions, hereditary conditions, preventive care, or dental illnesses. Accident-only insurance is often a good choice if you’re on a tighter budget and want some protection but can’t afford a more comprehensive plan.

Wellness plan

Most accident and illness insurance plans don’t cover preventative care. This is where a wellness plan comes in. Some pet insurance companies offer a wellness plan as an add-on to a pet insurance policy. A wellness plan can cover the following:

• Blood tests

• Fecal tests

• Microchipping

• Routine checkups

• Urinalysis

• Vaccinations

Compare the best pet insurance companies

Embrace: Best for discounts

• Average monthly quote for dogs: $43

• Average monthly quote for cats: $34

Embrace pet insurance offers various pet plans for dogs and cats, including full coverage, dental illness, and preventative wellness plans. You can take advantage of a 10% multi-pet discount and a 5% military discount.

With Embrace, you can visit any vet or use its Paw Support telehealth line, which is available to customers 24/7. Embrace also offers overall exam fee coverage, which isn’t always included with other pet insurance companies.

Plans available:

• Illness and conditions

• Accidents and injuries

• Dental

• Prescriptions

• Wellness

Pets Best: Best for low deductible

• Average monthly quote for dogs: $30

• Average monthly quote for cats: $20

Pets Best offers several ways to customize your pet’s coverage options. Insurance is available for dogs and cats older than 7 weeks, with no upper age limits. Pets Best allows you to use your own veterinarian with insurance accepted at any licensed vet office in the U.S. and Canada.

With a range of deductibles starting as low as $50, you can find an option that fits your budget. If you have multiple pets to insure, you may qualify for a 5% multi-pet discount.

Plans available:

• Dog and puppy insurance

• Cat and kitten insurance

• Pet wellness plans

• Optional accident and illness exam fee coverage

Nationwide: Best for exotic pet coverage

• Average monthly quote for dogs: $33

• Average monthly quote for cats: $15

Nationwide offers pet insurance for dogs, cats, and exotic animals. Exotic animal coverage includes birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Some exotic pets are not eligible for coverage, including venomous or poisonous species, endangered or threatened species, and others. Monthly premiums for exotic pets start at less than $21 per month.

With Nationwide, you can use your coverage at any licensed vet in the U.S. If you have multiple pets, you may qualify for a 5% discount.

Plans available:

• Accident

• Illness

• Wellness

Figo: Best for full reimbursem*nt coverage

• Average monthly quote for dogs: $32

• Average monthly quote for cats: $16

Figo offers pet insurance for dogs and cats that are at least 8 weeks old, with no upper age limits. With Figo, you can visit any licensed vet office worldwide. Figo offers various customizable plans to best fit your needs. Some plans even offer 100% reimbursem*nt coverage.

Like most pet insurance companies, Figo doesn’t offer pre-existing condition coverage. You can still insure your pet with Figo if it has a pre-existing condition, but coverage won’t include the condition.

Plans available:

• Accident and illness

• Wellness coverage

• Veterinary exam fees

AKC: Best for pre-existing condition coverage

• Average monthly quote for dogs: $33

• Average monthly quote for cats: $22

AKC Pet Insurance has provided pet insurance since 2003. It’s the exclusive pet insurance partner of the American Kennel Club, which is the world’s largest dog registry.

With AKC insurance, you can visit any licensed vet, specialist, or emergency clinic in the U.S. or Canada. AKC offers 24/7 veterinary support and is one of the few pet insurance companies that offer pre-existing condition coverage after 365 days of continuous coverage in eligible states. AKC also offers coverage for eligible hereditary conditions, provided you added HereditaryPlus to your policy.

Plans available:

• Accident and illness

• Accident only

• Wellness options

• Exam coverage

• Hereditary conditions coverage

• Breeding coverage

• Final respects coverage

ManyPets: Best for low monthly rates

• Average monthly quote for dogs: $21

• Average monthly quote for cats: $13

ManyPets got its start in 2012 in the United Kingdom. Since this time, the company has expanded into Sweden and the U.S.

With ManyPets coverage, you can visit any licensed veterinarian, specialist, or emergency clinic in the U.S. ManyPets provides new insurance policies for kittens, puppies, and older dogs and cats up to age 14 with no additional fees. If your pet was insured before age 14, there’s no age limit as long as you’ve maintained your insurance and routine care.

Plans available:

• Accident and Illness

• Wellness

How insurers calculate pet insurance costs

The cost of pet insurance can vary widely among companies based on a number of factors, including:

• Type of animal

• Age

• Breed

• Hereditary conditions

• Pre-existing medical conditions

• Location

• Annual deductible

• Add-ons

Cat insurance is typically cheaper than dog insurance. The most recent statistics from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) reveal the average annual insurance premiums for accident and illness insurance are $387 for cats and $640 for dogs.^[1]

Older pets are usually more expensive to insure than younger pets because, like in humans, the risk of illness increases with age. Insurance for mixed-breed pets is also typically cheaper than for purebreds, as mixed-breeds tend to suffer from fewer inherited conditions. Larger breeds often have higher premiums because it costs more to treat them than smaller breeds.

Where you live can also affect the cost of your premiums. Pet owners in urban areas can expect to pay higher costs because running vet practices in urban areas is generally more expensive than in rural areas.^[2]

To find the best coverage and price possible compare multiple pet insurance quotes before buying a policy.

Pet insurance FAQs

Methodology

Quoted rates reflect the average cost for a 2-year-old, male, medium, mixed-breed dog and a 2-year-old, female American shorthair cat.

Insurify collected quote data for the following policy details:

• Type: Accident and Illness

• Reimbursem*nt limit: $15,000

• Deductible: $500

• Reimbursem*nt percentage: 80%

1. North American Pet Health Insurance Association. "State of the Industry Report: 2023 Highlights."
2. North American Pet Health Insurance Association. "NAPHIA’s Pet Insurance Buying Guide."