How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
When shopping for the best price for pet insurance it is important to know how cat and dog health insurance costs are determined. Pets Best strives to be as transparent as possible to our customers in sharing how premiums are calculated and to help you choose a plan that is best suited to your pet's needs for the life of your pet. Premiums for pet health insurance are based primarily on the following four factors:
- Your dog or cat's age
- Your dog or cat's breed
- Your location
- Your plan's annual limit, annual deductible, and reimbursement level
When shopping for pet insurance, it's important to remember how cat and dog insurance costs can potentially change based on the age when you first sign up. Pets Best offers a wide variety of coverage choices, plus two optional routine care plans, so pet owners can select a plan that is perfect for their pets and their budget. Get a customized quote to see pet insurance pricing for your pet!
How Much is Pet Insurance for a Dog
Pet insurance plans for dogs start at $9 per month* for our accident only plan, and average between $35 and $58 per month** for comprehensive accident and illness coverage.
* $10/mo. for dogs in WA.
** Based on Pets Best Sales Data 1/2018 - 12/2018
How Much is Pet Insurance for a Cat
Cat health insurance premiums start at $6 per month* for our accident only coverage, and average between $22 and $46 per month** for plans with coverage for accidents and illnesses.
* $7/mo. for cats in WA.
** Based on Pets Best Sales Data 1/2018 - 12/2018
Understanding Your Premiums
When purchasing coverage for your dog or cat, it’s important to understand how your plan is priced when you initially purchase and what to expect at your annual renewal as your pet ages. Pet health insurance costs are not based on your individual claims filing history, but on a collective assessment of risk across all claims, just like insurance for human health care.
While the number of clams you submit will not impact the price of your insurance premium over time, your pets age, breed, and location will. Below are a few frequently asked questions about premium increases, and how we help you manage your premiums and coverage.
No, we will never increase your pet premium based on your personal claims filing history.
As your pets get older, the inherent health risks your pet faces also increases. Pet insurance is similar to human health insurance in that insurance premiums increase as people age. Pets age about 7 times faster than humans, so health issues can present themselves much quicker in pets than they do in human health care.
While it's difficult to approximate the price changes you may see over time, you are likely to see changes in your premium at each renewal period based on the increased risk of pets needing more medical care as they age. However, plans from Pets Best allow for greater flexibility than other pet insurance companies to choose an annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage to fit your budget.
Periodically, pet insurance costs can also increase based on the overall cost of veterinary care as new technologies are utilized by veterinarians to treat dogs and cats. Because cat and dog insurance prices are based on the risk associated with a pet needing a medical procedure, new and advanced treatment options can cause premiums to rise over time.
How Costs Change As Pets Age
Being in business since 2005, and paying over $500 million in claims has helped Pets Best better understand changes in veterinary treatment costs over time. In the graphs below, you can see the break down of costs as a dog or cat gets older. While the cost of food, toy, and treats stays fairly constant throughout a pet's life, the cost of unexpected medical care can rise sharply as your pet ages.
Source: Unexpected and Routine Vet Care costs from Pets Best claims data 7/1/2016-6/20/2017. Toys, treats, and food data from petfinder.com.
Managing Your Pets Best Premium
Pets Best understands the need for offering comprehensive and affordable pet insurance plans that protect your pet in the case of accidents and illnesses, and help you budget for routine veterinary expenses as well. By offering plans with customizable options, there are over 100 possible plans that you could choose when you first sign up, and throughout your pet’s life.
We strive to help you find the best coverage for your pet for all phases of their life and understand that your pet’s coverage needs and your budget may change over time. If these changes occur, you can make changes to your plan at any time using your Customer Account, or by calling one of our Pet Insurance Experts to review and discuss your coverage options. We will help you to find a plan that meets your needs as well as your budget.