Last updated: October 2026

How much does pet insurance cost?

Pet insurance pricing is personal: breed, age, ZIP code, deductible, and reimbursement level all move the number. Use the estimator for a rough range, then run real quotes for exact pricing.

Estimates only. This tool gives a rough range based on national averages - it is not a quote. Real premiums also depend on breed, ZIP code, deductible, reimbursement rate, and insurer. Insurers will ask for your ZIP during quoting because vet costs (and therefore premiums) vary enormously by location.

National averages (NAPHIA 2024)

• Dogs: roughly $62/month for accident-and-illness coverage
• Cats: roughly $32/month for accident-and-illness coverage

Those are midpoints - young mixed-breed cats in cheap ZIP codes can cost under $20/month, while senior purebred dogs in expensive cities can exceed $150/month.

What moves your price

Breed

The biggest lever. Insurers price expected vet costs, and a French Bulldog's expected costs dwarf a mixed-breed dog's. High-risk breeds routinely cost 50-100% more to insure. See our breed guides for breed-level detail.

Age

Premiums rise with age - steeply after about 7. Enrolling young locks in lower base pricing (though insurers still raise rates as the pet ages).

Location

Vet costs in Manhattan vs. rural Kansas differ wildly, and premiums follow. Always quote with your real ZIP.

Deductible and reimbursement

A $1,000 deductible with 70% reimbursement can cost roughly half the premium of a $250 deductible with 90% reimbursement. You're trading monthly cost against how much of a big bill you'd absorb.

Annual limit

$5,000 limits are cheapest; unlimited costs most. Given that single surgeries routinely exceed $5,000, this is a bad place to economize for high-risk breeds.

Is it worth it? The break-even math

At $60/month ($720/year), insurance "pays for itself" if your pet has one $3,000-$4,000 incident every few years on an 80% plan - which, for accident-prone or predisposed breeds, is a normal lifetime. Insurance isn't an investment; it's protection against the $8,000 bill you'd otherwise put on a credit card. Run the claim math with your own numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How much is pet insurance per month?

National averages (NAPHIA 2024) are roughly $62/month for dogs and $32/month for cats, but breed, age, and ZIP code move the number a lot. Use the estimator above for a rough range for your pet.

Why did my pet insurance premium go up?

Premiums rise as pets age and as veterinary costs rise overall. Insurers adjust rates by state and risk pool - rate increases are normal, though large jumps are worth shopping around over.

Is a wellness plan worth adding?

Do the math: add up the plan's yearly cost vs. the routine care you'd buy anyway (vaccines, checkup, dental cleaning). Wellness add-ons are budgeting tools, not insurance - they rarely 'beat' paying out of pocket unless you'd max out every covered service.

Can I get pet insurance for an old dog?

Yes, but expect high premiums and possible enrollment age caps (some insurers cap new enrollments around 14). Pre-existing conditions won't be covered, so the value proposition narrows with age - compare carefully.