Is Pet Insurance Worth It in 2025? Side by side comparison of pet insurance
Pet insurance comparison- what to know before you sign up
With vet costs skyrocketing, unexpected emergencies can wipe out savings fast. Pet insurance provides a safety net, helping you handle everything from injuries to illnesses—while also offering optional wellness and preventive add‑ons. For many, it’s less about routine check-ups and more about peace of mind.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
At its core, pet insurance is designed to help cover unexpected veterinary expenses — things you can’t plan for, like:
- Accidents (broken bones, swallowed toys)
- Illnesses (cancer, infections, chronic conditions)
- Surgeries and hospitalizations
- Alternative treatments like acupuncture and laser (on some plans)
- Medications and sometimes rehab
Most policies don’t cover routine care like vaccines, spay/neuter, or dental cleanings unless you add a separate wellness plan. Wellness add-ons can make routine costs more predictable, but for many people, insurance is really about big, sudden bills — not annual checkups.
While the blog post is focused on dogs, cats get hurt and sick as well and cat insurance is generally cheaper than for dogs.
When Pet Insurance Is Worth It
Pet insurance can feel like “just another monthly bill” — until you need it. It’s especially valuable if:
- You’d struggle to pay for a big, unexpected vet bill out of pocket.
- You want peace of mind for breed-specific health risks.
- Your pet is adventurous (and accident-prone!).
- You want to protect savings from surprise emergencies.
If you’re super disciplined and can keep an emergency fund of $5K–10K just for pet care, you might skip insurance. But most people find that paying $30–$70/month feels easier than coming up with thousands in a crisis. And the reality is every day I see people asking for help and setting up gofundmes to help pay for a surgery or procedure their pet needs; meanwhile if had an insurance policy this wouldn’t be an issue.
Even a routine vet visit can cost $100–$300, while emergency visits, tests, or surgeries can easily run into the thousands — sometimes $5,000 to $15,000 for more serious conditions.
Routine Wellness Plans — Are They Worth It?
When you’re shopping for pet insurance, you’ll often see “wellness plans” or “preventive care add-ons.” These are not the same as accident & illness insurance — they’re more like a budgeting tool for expected, routine care.
What Do Wellness Plans Cover?
A typical wellness plan can help pay for predictable things like:
- Annual checkups and wellness exams
- Vaccines and boosters
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
- Fecal tests, deworming
- Spay/neuter (sometimes)
- Routine dental cleanings (sometimes)
You’ll usually pay an extra monthly fee (often $15–$50) on top of your base insurance premium for these benefits.
Why Wellness Plans Often Aren’t Worth It (I don’t pay for one)
Here’s the catch:
You’re basically pre-paying for care you already expect to pay for.
Most wellness add-ons reimburse you up to a set limit, which often doesn’t save you money compared to paying your vet directly:
- If your wellness plan costs $30/month, that’s $360/year.
- A typical annual exam, vaccines, and basic parasite prevention might cost about the same — sometimes less.
- If you skip a vaccine (cause of titer testing) or get a better price at your local vet, you’re still paying the same premium.
In other words: you could just put that money aside in your own “pet care” savings account instead. Routine wellness plans aren’t true insurance — they’re more like spreading out your vet budget in small payments. They can be handy for new pet parents with a lot of upfront puppy/kitten costs, but long-term, many people find they don’t actually come out ahead.
How Pet Insurance Works in Real Life
Pet insurance is a reimbursement model in most cases:
- Your pet gets treatment.
- You pay the vet up front.
- You file a claim.
- The insurance reimburses you for the covered portion (minus your deductible).
A few companies (like Trupanion) offer direct vet pay, which means they settle the bill directly with your vet if the clinic agrees — saving you from paying the whole amount up front.
Pre-Existing Conditions — The Big Catch
This is where many pet parents get tripped up: Pet insurance won’t cover pre-existing conditions.
A pre-existing condition means any illness, injury, or symptom that showed up before your policy started or during the waiting period.
- Example: If your dog limped once last year, that knee may be excluded if it needs surgery later.
- Some companies will cover curable conditions if your pet goes a certain period (like 12 months) symptom-free.
Why this matters: It’s best to get insurance when your pet is young and healthy, before health issues pop up.
Understanding Deductibles, Reimbursement & Limits
1. What’s a Deductible?
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. There are two types of deductibles out there:
- Annual deductible: Pay once per year. After that, insurance cover future claims (until annual caps). Resets every year, no matter how many claims you file.
- Per-condition (incident) deductible: Pay for each new condition or illness; resets per issue — good if your pet develops something long-term like allergies or arthritis and doesn’t have many new conditions per year.
Example: If your deductible is $250 and your pet needs a $2,000 surgery, you pay the first $250 + your share of the remaining cost based on your reimbursement percentage (usually 70–90%).
2. Reimbursement Rates & Copays
Most plans reimburse 70–90% of covered costs after the deductible is met.
Example: if your deductible is $250 and you have a $1,000 vet bill with an 80% reimbursement rate, you’d pay the first $250 (your deductible) plus 20% of the remaining $750 — so your insurance would reimburse you $600, and you’d pay $400 total.
3. Annual & Lifetime Limits
*this one was really important to me when shopping for pet insurance
Plans set caps on total payout—some offer unlimited lifetime benefits (e.g., Figo, Trupanion & Healthy Paws), while others cap per year or per incident. Which means once you hit that amount, nothing else will be paid out until your year resets.
Savings Account vs. Pet Insurance — Which Makes More Sense?
Some pet parents wonder: “Why not just skip insurance and put that money into a savings account for vet bills?”
It’s a fair question — and for some people, it can work. But here’s what to think about before you choose the “self-insure” route.
How the Math Looks
Say your pet insurance premium is about $60/month. That’s $720/year.
Over 5 years, you’d save $3,600 if you never filed a claim.
If your pet only needs routine care and suffers minor issues, you might be ahead just paying out of pocket — especially if you keep that money in a separate emergency savings account that maybe is even earning a small interest amount.
But Here’s the Reality of Vet Costs
Pet care can get expensive fast — especially in an emergency.
- Emergency surgery: Removing a swallowed toy? $3,000–$7,000
- Orthopedic surgeries: Torn ACL repairs, hip surgery? $5,000–$15,000
- Cancer treatment: Diagnostics, chemo, and surgery can run $5,000–$15,000+
- Intensive care: Overnight stays, specialists, and diagnostics can push bills into five figures easily. Yes, within a week.
- And then we aren’t even including after care; acupuncture, physical therapy, water therapy, laser therapy…. it goes on and on.
One serious accident or diagnosis can wipe out years of savings overnight — or worse, force you to make heartbreaking decisions because you can’t afford care even after spending that savings.
A true story
When a Simple Surgery Turned Into a $20K Emergency
My dog Maggie once had what should have been a simple procedure — just a routine cyst removal on her tail. But at her post-surgery checkup, a major hospital in LA put her bandage on too tightly.
Because of that one mistake, Maggie needed a second surgery and extensive, round-the-clock care. If it weren’t for her hyperbaric oxygen treatments, I truly believe she wouldn’t be here today.
What started as a minor procedure ended up costing over $20,000 — including multiple surgeries, daily bandage changes, two weeks of hyperbaric treatments, ozone therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, and more.
Thanks to her insurance, every penny was covered. She wouldn’t be alive without the incredible vets who stepped up to save her — and I’m endlessly grateful that I didn’t have to think twice about the cost while fighting to save her life.
The Risk Factor
A dedicated savings fund is smart no matter what — but insurance spreads the cost.
Without insurance, you’re betting your pet stays healthy and nothing catastrophic happens before you’ve saved enough.
With insurance, you trade predictable small payments for help with big, unpredictable costs. And if your pet never gets hurt, I honestly think you win too.
But with my dogs, they go to the vet every month for acupuncture, laser, and more and guess what… it’s all covered. Maggie is 17.5 years old dog and is still thriving and doing well.
When Saving May Work
- You have a healthy, low-risk pet with no breed-specific issues.
- You’re disciplined about saving — putting aside hundreds or thousands per year just for vet emergencies.
- You have access to emergency credit or other backup funds if needed.
- You own multiple pets, five+, and having insurance for each of them is simply not feasible; though a plan like Spot may be a good option.
When Insurance May Be Smarter
- You’d struggle to pay an unexpected $5K–$15K bill today (this would be me, hi).
- You have a breed known for costly health issues (Frenchies, Labs, Goldens).
- You want to avoid choosing between your pet’s care and your savings.
- You don’t want to ever have to make a decision based on cost but instead can focus on quality of care.
Bottom Line
A savings account is smart — insurance is extra protection. Many pet parents use both:
- A small pet emergency fund for routine or small surprise costs.
- Insurance for the big stuff you can’t plan for — surgeries, broken bones, cancer treatment.
Think of it like car insurance: you hope you won’t need it, but when you do, you’re so glad it’s there.
Comparing Top Pet Insurance Companies (2025)
Here’s a breakdown of top pet insurance providers. It’s also worth noting that many popular pet insurance brands — including Nationwide, Figo, ASPCA, and others — are now owned or backed by the same parent company, JAB Holding, which owns a large share of the North American pet insurance market. Terrifying, yes.
(Want the cliff notes? My favorites are Figo and Trupanion)
ASPCA
Reimbursement: 70%–90% reimbursement. Annual coverage limits can be customized — not always unlimited by default but is an option. Psst – I was told if you call there is a 100% option available.
Why people love it:
- Big, trusted name with a long history.
- Plans can include exam fees (depending on your options).
- Covers alternative treatments, acupuncture, water therapy, etc
- Typically covers exam fees for accidents & illnesses, depending on the plan tier.
What people don’t like:
- Not the cheapest option compared to newer tech-driven insurance companies.
- Claims can take longer than faster competitors — some say 2–4 weeks for payout.
- Annual payout limits can be lower if you don’t pay for a higher cap.
- Some customers report stricter pre-existing condition denials.
- Some plans have condition-specific caps buried in the fine print, like limits on dental illnesses or certain hereditary conditions
AKC American Kennel Club Pet Insurance
AKC is unique in that it is the only company that does cover some pre-existing conditions coverage (after you’ve been with them for a year). Many features (hereditary conditions, exam fee coverage, wellness care) require “riders” or add‑ons; they’re not always included in the base plan so be sure to go through your options when signing up.
Reimbursement: 70 %, 80 % or 90 % reimbursement, deductible ranges from $100-1,000.
Annual payout / coverage limits: Plans are customizable. Some offer “unlimited incident limit” for certain options, but the standard annual limit can range (for wellness add‑ons or certain riders) around $2,500–$20,000
Why people love it:
- The ONLY company to offer pre‑existing condition coverage (in some states) after continuous coverage for 365 days — unique feature. Confirm that your dogs pre-existing will be covered still.
- Exam‑fee coverage is not included by default but can be added
- Highly customizable — you can build the plan to match your budget and your pet’s needs.
- Multi‑pet discounts and add‑on options let you tailor further.
What people don’t like:
- Some users report significant premium increases over time
- Premiums may be higher compared to more basic plans because of the customization and extra perks.
- Standard plan may have exclusions or lifetime limitations for certain conditions without specific ad on’s.
Embrace
Reimbursement: You pick: 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement.
Annual payout limit options from $5,000 up to $30,000 per year (no unlimited option by default).
Why people love it:
- Covers alternative therapies: acupuncture, chiropractic, rehab.
- Dental illness coverage included.
- “Diminishing deductible” — your deductible drops each year you don’t claim.
- Holistic and alternative care coverage is broad and included; not hidden in an expensive rider.
- Dental illness coverage up to $1,000/year (covers things like fractured teeth or periodontal disease).
- Includes the vet exam fee for covered accidents & illnesses in its base policy.
- Wellness Rewards add-on available for routine care — reimburses you for check-ups, vaccines, microchips, etc.
- “Diminishing deductible” — your deductible goes down $50 each year you don’t file a claim.
What people don’t like:
- They may also have restrictions on genetic conditions if not enrolled early enough
- Annual limits apply; no unlimited option.
- Claims processing can take longer than fast tech-forward competitors — some people report 2–4 weeks.
- Some reports of slower claims processing for big surgeries.
- While Embrace is broad overall, they do cap alternative/holistic therapies at a certain annual dollar amount — for example, $650/year for rehab or alternative treatments (depending on the plan).
- Does not cover exam fees for accidents or illnesses — only the treatment portion.
Fetch by The Dodo (formerly Petplan)
Accident & illness plan only — covers injuries, illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer, chronic conditions, dental illnesses, and behavioral therapy.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement. Annual payout limits up to $15,000 or unlimited, depending on your choices.
Why people love it:
- Covers a wide range of conditions — including dental disease and behavioral issues (not just accidents).
- Alternative and complementary care included — no extra rider needed.
- Flexible deductible and reimbursement options.
- Good reputation for paying big, complicated claims (when paperwork is clear).
- Covers alternative and complementary therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic if prescribed by a licensed vet for a covered condition.
What people don’t like:
- Premiums can be on the higher side, especially for older pets.
- Claims process is very detailed — you must provide full medical records or they might delay or deny.
- Some people say the app and portal feel dated compared to brands like Lemonade or Figo.
- No wellness coverage — good if you don’t want it, but some people wish it was an option (I personally wouldn’t care).
- Some longtime users feel their premiums went up sharply over the years (like many older pet plans).
Figo
What I use with my own dogs
Personally, I use Figo for my own pets — and it’s been a great fit for us. Most of my claims have been closed and reimbursed in just 1–2 days, which is incredibly fast and stress-free when you’re facing a vet bill. Their customer support is easy to reach anytime I have a question, and they’re always helpful and clear.
One big perk that sets Figo apart is that they’re one of the few pet insurance companies that will cover the exam fee (if you opt in)— something many plans make you pay out of pocket. They also cover most holistic and alternative treatments, which gives me more freedom to choose the best care for my pets, whether that’s acupuncture, chiropractic, or rehab therapy.
What I don’t love is that some of my supplements and my dogs CBD are not covered at all, but I do feel like everything else makes up for this.
I do spend more on my senior dog’s insurance each year, but I more than make it back between her extra tests, acupuncture, and other care she needs at her age. For us, having that support in place means she gets everything she needs without the stress of huge surprise bills. While their pet rates go up as they age I have not found my increases that insane compared to other companies.
If you’re looking for fast claims, easy support, and broad coverage that includes alternative care, Figo is definitely worth checking out.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% (yes, some plans let you choose up to 100%). Annual payout limit options from about $5,000 up to unlimited per year. Be aware once you set this you may not be able to change it.
Why people love it:
- Add on option for the vet visit cost to be covered (this is not wellness, but the visit fee you get when you go in for an emergency – 1000% worth it!)
- Covers alternative and complementary therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic if prescribed by a licensed vet for a covered condition.
- Unlimited annual payout option. Annual payout limits can range from $5,000 to unlimited — very flexible.
- Dental illness coverage is included for conditions like periodontal disease — a big plus.
- 24/7 virtual vet chat access
- Reimbursement of 70-100%
- Fast claims processing — many people get paid in just a few days.
- Covers alternative treatments and holistic care.
- Strong customer support, good add-ons
- Does not cap claim payments based on specific conditions
- Do not raise rates based on your personal claims – they adjust rates yearly based on age and vet cost trends.
- No age limit to enroll
What people don’t like:
- 6 months for orthopedic conditions. (Based on their sample policy, contact Figo to confirm)
- Natural supplements and non FDA approved medicines or procedures are not covered (such as CBD). N
- Premiums can jump significantly as pets age
- Some customers say the customer service is great for simple claims but more challenging for complex ones. (I personally have not experienced this).
- 6 month waiting period for conditions involving cruciates and patellas
Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws has long been one of the top-rated pet insurance companies — known for its unlimited lifetime coverage, simple policies, fast claims, and strong customer service. For years, it’s been a favorite for people who want straightforward accident & illness protection with no payout caps. And it was one I previously referred people to.
But over the past few years — and especially recently — many pet parents have reported significant premium hikes, sometimes doubling or tripling their monthly cost. This happened to many friends of mine. One reddit users even mentioned their rates going from $172 to $1,454 per month. Rates so high that people have no choice but to leave, and now their pets that have pre-existing conditions are left hopeless.
Reimbursement: 70–90%, No annual or lifetime limit.
Why people love it:
- Unlimited lifetime coverage — no annual or per-condition caps.
- Super-fast claim turnaround — many get paid in under 2 days.
- Simple, straightforward plan — no confusing add-ons.
- Covers certain types of holistic or alternative care.
- Unlimited lifetime benefits with no per-condition caps
- Do not raise rates based on your personal claims – they adjust rates yearly based on age and vet cost trends.
What people don’t like:
- Exam fee not covered
- No wellness plan — doesn’t cover routine care like vaccines or dental cleanings.
- Rate increases – absolutely insane rate increases, leaving many with senior dogs in a bad spot. Will increase every year as your pet ages.
- Age limit of 14 for enrollment
- Lots of fine print; have to be enrolled by the time your dog is 6 to be covered for hip dysplasia and additional waiting periods for certain conditions.
- Dental not covered (except for injury)
Lemonade
Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement
What people love:
- Some plans can cover things like acupuncture or physical therapy, but only if you add the “Extended Accident & Illness” package or other upgrades — it’s not always included by default.
- Very affordable for young, healthy pets.
- B-Corp with a social good mission — some love that their unused premium helps charities.
- One of the lowest starting prices for young pets.
- Fast, fully digital claims process — lots of people get paid out in days.
What people don’t like:
- Annual payout caps apply — usually $5,000–$100,000 depending on what you choose. No “unlimited” option.
- Doesn’t cover dental illnesses unless you add extra dental illness coverage.
- Claims can be denied for small “pre-existing” technicalities if you don’t read the fine print.
- Alternative care is not always included unless you choose higher-tier coverage.
- Complicated claims can be a bit hard to manage
Metlife
Reimbursement: 70%–90% reimbursement. Annual payout limits range from lower budget tiers up to unlimited, depending on your choices.
Why people love it:
- Large, reputable company with 24/7 customer service.
- Offers multi-pet discounts and employee benefit perks.
- Wellness add-ons for routine care if you want them.
- Often includes coverage for holistic treatments like acupuncture if prescribed.
- Flexible plans to fit different budgets.
What people don’t like:
- Mixed reviews for covering rare procedures.
- Website and claims experience can feel outdated compared to newer insurance companies.
- Claims processing can be slower than newer tech-based companies.
- Some reports of stricter pre-existing exclusions than more transparent competitors.
- Dental illness or certain treatments may have lower caps, depending on plan details.
Nationwide
At one point, Nationwide was THE best option; with the broadest pet insurance plans on the market. Unfortunately, the company has changed a lot in recent years — they discontinued that popular plan, and many long-time policyholders were moved off it or lost access altogether and were dropped from Nationwide (yes, like actually kicked off), leaving some pet parents frustrated and searching for new options.
Reimbursement:
Whole Pet with Wellness: Typically 90% reimbursement. Annual limit — varies by policy but generally in the $10,000–$15,000 range
Major Medical: Not a true % reimbursement — uses a benefit schedule instead (fixed amount per condition). Works off a per-condition payout schedule — no typical annual limit but strict caps per diagnosis
- Offers a few plan types:
- Whole Pet with Wellness: one of the more comprehensive plans — covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary/congenital conditions, plus routine care if you choose wellness.
- Major Medical: older plans that use a benefit schedule — they only pay a set amount per condition, which surprises many pet parents.
- Exotic pet coverage — one of the few big insurance companies that covers birds, reptiles, rabbits, etc.
Why people love it:
- Covers exotics! Reptiles, birds, rabbits — rare to find.
- Offers wellness plans, so you can bundle preventive care with illness/injury.
- Multi-pet discounts.
- The “Whole Pet with Wellness” plan usually includes exam fees for accidents & illnesses – but double check this.
- No age restrictions
What people don’t like:
- Annual caps vary — Whole Pet is usually broader than Major Medical.
- Claims process can be old-school — paperwork heavy.
- They have per-condition payout caps for certain hereditary or congenital conditions. For example, some orthopedic conditions, hip dysplasia, or cruciate ligament issues may have lower payout maximums especially for certain breeds.
- Complaints about high claim denials if paperwork isn’t perfect.
- Some say customer service can be hit-or-miss.
- Some longtime customers were dropped or moved off old, great plans (true — this frustrated many people and honestly scares me).
- Alternative care coverage varies by plan — Whole Pet is broad, Major Medical often isn’t.
Pets Best
Reimbursement: 70%–90% reimbursement. Annual payout limits can range from $5,000 to unlimited, depending on the plan you pick.
Why people love it:
- Very customizable — lots of deductible and limit options.
- Good customer service reputation.
- One of the more affordable accident & illness plans overall.
- Offers routine wellness add-ons if you want them.
- Alternative care is included under their accident & illness plans — you don’t need a separate rider.
- Pets Best pet insurance does cover vet exam fees, but it depends on the specific plan and whether it includes an optional “Preventive Care” or “EssentialWellness” plan. If you have one of the higher-tier accident and illness plans, like the Plus or Elite plans, exam fees are typically covered. However, the Essential plan may not cover them
What people don’t like:
- Claims processing can be slower than the fastest competitors — expect 5–15 days instead of 1–3, while some users report weeks to get paid.
- Some people find the portal and paperwork clunky.
Pumpkin
Reimbursement: Up to 90%. Yearly limits typically range from $10,000–$20,000 for cats, and $10,000–$30,000 for dogs (varies by state).
Why people love it:
- Good for older pets — no upper age limit.
- Covers dental illnesses and hereditary conditions.
- Generous preventive care add-ons that include wellness exams and vaccines.
What people don’t like:
- Monthly premiums can be higher, especially for seniors.
- Claims processing can be slower than Figo, Healthy Paws or Lemonade.
- Fewer customization options on deductible/reimbursement than some plans.
- Some gripe about high premiums for older dogs.
Spot
Spot is known for their budget friendly, affordable, accident-only policy for big emergencies.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%. Adjustable annual limits (from $2,500 to unlimited) and various deductible choices.
Why people love it:
- Accident only policy makes this a plausible plan when others may not be able to offer some of the other options out there.
- Very customizable — you can choose low annual limits or unlimited.
- Covers exam fees for accidents & illnesses if you choose that plan option.
- No upper age limits — good for older pets too.
- Offers wellness plan add-ons for routine care like vaccines, dental cleanings, or wellness exams.
What people don’t like:
- Accident-only plans don’t cover illnesses, so you have to read the plan details carefully.
- Claims can take longer than top competitors — many reviews say 2–4 weeks is typical.
- Some people feel the plan design and customer service are more basic compared to tech-forward brands like Figo or Lemonade.
Trupanion
If I didn’t go with Figo this would be my next pick personally.
Reimbursement: Fixed 90% reimbursement rate, no choice. No annual or lifetime limit — unlimited forever, per condition (one of the biggest reasons people choose Trupanion).
Why people love it:
- One-time per-condition deductible and lifetime coverage per condition – This is a big difference vs other companies. You only pay your deductible once for that condition for life.
- Benefit: Offers vet direct pay (they pay vet directly – if vet is in their system). They pay the vet directly — you don’t need to pay the full bill upfront if your vet participates.
- Covers some alternative therapies like acupuncture, rehab and even CBD.
- Unlimited lifetime benefits with no per-condition caps
- Do not raise rates based on your personal claims – they adjust rates yearly based on age and vet cost trends.
- Very robust accident & illness plan that automatically includes hereditary & congenital conditions, chronic conditions, and breed-specific issues.
- No annual or lifetime payout limits — one of Trupanion’s biggest selling points.
What people don’t like:
- Doesn’t cover the exam fee.
- Age limit of 14 for enrolling new dogs
- Higher monthly premiums than some competitors. Premiums are among the highest on the market — and can increase a lot as pets age.
- Some people find the per-condition deductible confusing — it can be great for chronic conditions but less ideal if you have multiple unrelated issues in one year.
- Less flexible — only one reimbursement option (90%) and fixed deductible style.
- Dental illness coverage is limited.
- No routine care coverage — strictly for big, unexpected medical issues.
- Some alternative treatments like Ozone are not covered.
What I look for in pet insurance(Step-by-Step)
- No per-condition caps: Make sure the plan doesn’t have low payout limits for costly conditions like hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament injuries.
- Hereditary & congenital coverage: Confirm it covers breed-specific, genetic, or congenital conditions (especially for purebreds).
- Holistic & alternative treatments: If you like options like acupuncture, rehab, or chiropractic, check that these are included and if there is a yearly cap.
- Exam fees covered: Some plans make you pay the vet visit exam fee out of pocket — I personally prefer plans that include it (like Figo).
- Fast, easy claims: Read reviews — quick reimbursements and good customer support make a huge difference when you actually need to use it.
- No annual or lifetime payout limits (if possible): Unlimited coverage means peace of mind for major accidents or chronic illnesses. I prefer to pick a plan that has unlimited coverage, $20k may seem like a lot (it is to me) but one major surgery can be more than this. My friend’s dog broke a leg; after surgery and follow up appointments she hit her limit and all her rehab costs had to be paid out of pocket.
When and why does pet insurance increase?
One thing that surprises many pet parents is that pet insurance premiums almost always increase over time — even if you never file a claim. It’s normal, but knowing why helps you plan ahead.
- Your pet is aging
Just like people, pets are more likely to need vet care as they get older — and those treatments get more expensive. Insurance companies raise premiums each year to account for that higher risk. I pay a LOT more for my 17 year old dog than my 7 year old dog… but, I actually get all that money back. - Rising vet costs
Veterinary care keeps advancing — think better diagnostics, specialist care, advanced surgeries — but all of that costs more every year. Pet insurance companies adjust premiums to keep up with the rising cost of care in your area. - Your location can change things
If you move to a city or state with higher average vet fees, your premium may jump too. Veterinary costs vary a lot by region. I pay more in Los Angeles, CA than a pet owner in Idaho does. - Claims history might be taken into account, albeit rarely
Most companies don’t directly raise your premium because you filed a claim — but if your pet develops a chronic condition that raises their overall risk profile, you may see higher increases at renewal. The companies that do not raise rates due to claims are: Trupanion, healthy paws, and figo. - Company-wide adjustments
Sometimes, big rate hikes come from changes in how a company manages risk overall. If an insurance company has more payouts than expected, they might increase rates across the board (Healthy Paws’ recent large hikes are a good example).
How to keep your pet insurance cost lower
Besides moving to a less expensive area for vet care (which obviously isn’t realistic for most of us!), here are a few smart ways to help keep your pet insurance premiums manageable:
- Choose a higher deductible – Picking a higher annual deductible lowers your monthly payment — just be sure you’re comfortable covering that amount if you need to file a claim. Often you can not change this.
- Adjust your reimbursement percentage – A lower reimbursement rate (like 70% instead of 90%) means you’ll pay a bit more out of pocket per claim, but your monthly premium will be cheaper.
- Enroll early – Getting insurance while your pet is young and healthy can lock in better rates and avoid expensive pre-existing condition exclusions later.
- Skip the wellness add-on if you don’t need it. Wellness plans can be convenient, but they often don’t save money long-term. Pay routine costs out of pocket if you can budget for them instead.
- Ask about multi-pet discounts – Some companies (like MetLife and Nationwide) offer discounts if you insure more than one pet on the same policy.
- Pay annually if possible – Some insurance companies offer a small discount if you pay for the full year up front instead of monthly.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to pet insurance. It’s about finding the balance that fits your budget, your pet’s health needs, and your peace of mind. Whether you choose a comprehensive plan, skip wellness add-ons, or build your own rainy-day fund, the goal is the same: to make sure you can say yes to the best care possible — without unexpected vet bills adding extra stress when your best friend needs you most.
Always read the policy! The biggest surprise for pet parents is discovering a “maximum benefit schedule” or “per-condition limit” tucked into the fine print — especially for high-cost problems like cruciate ligament tears, hip dysplasia, or hereditary conditions in purebred dogs. Things may have changed since I wrote this blog post, so please please please do your research as well but I hope this helps get you started.
