6 Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies Of 2024

For affordable dog insurance:

• ASPCA has cheap dog insurance at $25 monthly on average for $5,000 in annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level for dogs, based on our analysis.
• Pets Best has cheap pet insurance for dogs with an average monthly cost of $48 for unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

For affordable cat insurance:

• ASPCA has cheap cat insurance at $14 monthly on average for $5,000 in annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level for cats, based on our analysis.
• Healthy Paws has the cheapest cat insurance at $22 monthly on average for unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

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When you’re looking for an affordable pet insurance policy, make sure you understand how the pet insurance deductible works, says Dr. Alison Mason, a Forbes Advisor Advisory Board member.

“Does the plan have an annual deductible that is reset every year or is there a deductible per medical issue for life? Both have benefits, though I prefer the latter for my own pets. But most importantly, it’s best to have a plan that has unlimited illness and emergency coverage after your deductible is hit,” says Mason.

	Review the Pet Insurance Policy With Your Vet Discuss the breed’s potential health issues before you buy a policy. It’s a good idea to also discuss common pet emergencies and illnesses in which a pet insurance plan can be helpful.
	Compare Pet Insurance Plans The best way to find the most affordable pet insurance to compare pet insurance quotes among multiple insurers. Make sure you compare coverage details (such as annual maximum limit, and deductible type and amount) so you’re comparing plans in an apples-to-apples way.
	Adjust Your Deductible, Reimbursement and Coverage Levels The details of your policy will affect your cost. For example, unlimited annual coverage costs more than a plan that provides only $5,000 of annual coverage. You can also lower costs by choosing higher deductibles and lower reimbursement levels.
	Ask About Discounts The most common type of pet insurance discount is a multipet discount, which is generally between 5% to 10%. You can also find other types of pet insurance discounts such as annual pay discount, military discount and spay/neuter discount.

EXPERT TIPS

Ways to Save With Pet Insurance

Jason Metz

Insurance Lead Editor

Amy Danise

Insurance Managing Editor

Michelle Megna

Insurance Lead Editor

Buy When Pet Is Young

I recommend buying a pet insurance policy as soon as possible. If your pet develops a condition like arthritis or heart disease before you buy pet insurance, those conditions won’t be covered and you’ll have to foot the vet bill yourself.

Jason Metz

Insurance Lead Editor

Get Coverage for Vet Exam Fees

I would look for pet insurers that include coverage for vet exam fees in the base coverage. Not all insurers include this coverage. Without it, you’ll have to pay the vet exam fee for visits for accidents and illnesses.

Amy Danise

Insurance Managing Editor

Look for a 24/7 Helpline

I would consider choosing a pet insurer that offers a 24/7 vet telehealth line. If your pet gets sick in the middle of the night, the ability to talk with a vet could save you an expensive trip to the emergency room.

Michelle Megna

Insurance Lead Editor

Pet insurance for a dog costs an average of $51 per month for $5,000 of annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement, based on our analysis of pet insurance rates. Unlimited coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level costs an average of $76 per month.

The average pet insurance cost for cats is $27 per month for $5,000 of annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% deductible. Unlimited coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level costs an average of $37 per month.

Your own pet insurance cost will depend on the type of plan you select, the annual coverage limit, deductible amount, reimbursement level and other factors, such as your pet’s breed and age.

How Much Is Dog Insurance Per Month?

Dog’s age	Pet insurance cost per month for $5,000 annual coverage, $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement	Pet insurance cost per month cost for unlimited annual coverage, $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement
Puppy (3 months)	$42	$58
2 years	$40	$58
5 years	$52	$80
7 years	$71	$108
Average	$51	$76

Costs are based on a plan with $5,000 annual coverage and unlimited annual coverage ($100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible ($750 for dogs over age seven in several states for Healthy Paws) and 80% reimbursement level for mixed breed dogs.

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How Much Is Cat Insurance Per Month?

Cat’s age	Pet insurance cost per month cost for $5,000 coverage $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement	Pet insurance cost per month cost for unlimited coverage, $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement
Kitten (3 months)	$23	$30
2 years	$22	$30
5 years	$27	$38
7 years	$35	$50
Average	$27	$37

Costs are based on a plan with $5,000 annual coverage and unlimited annual coverage ($100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible ($750 for cats over age seven in several states for Healthy Paws) and 80% reimbursement level for mixed breed cats.

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Pet insurance companies use a variety of pricing factors when setting rates, such as the factors below.

	Type of pet: Dogs are generally more expensive to insure than cats.
	Pet breed: Certain breeds that are predisposed to hereditary problems (such as a French bulldog) will typically mean higher vet costs. Also, larger dogs are generally more expensive to insure.
	Age of pet: Older pets are more likely to require veterinary care than younger pets and are more expensive to insure.
	Your location: The cost of vet care where you live will impact your pet insurance costs.
	Your coverage selections, such as annual coverage limit, deductible amount and reimbursement level will affect your cost. For example, a lower deductible will result in a higher cost.

To find out if cheap pet insurance is worth it, we recommend looking at the pet insurance coverage benefits you want versus focusing solely on price. Our analysis found that the average price of a policy for dogs with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level is $76 per month. You can find several pet insurers that cost lower than the monthly average, but they don’t all offer the same benefits.

For example, Lemonade pet insurance has the third cheapest rates ($52 per month) among the insurers we looked at, but you won’t find coverage for vet exam fees, or behavioral or alternative therapy included in its base coverage. That means you’ll have to pay out of pocket for these expenses. You also won’t find a 24/7 vet telehealth line with Lemonade.

If these coverage benefits are important to you, we’d recommend going with a more expensive company like Embrace pet insurance ($76 per month) that includes these benefits in its base coverage. Embrace also has a 24/7 vet telehealth line which can be invaluable if your pet gets sick in the middle of the night on a weekend.

Ask an expert

We Answer Your Questions

Les Masterson

Insurance Editor

Michelle Megna

Insurance Lead Editor

Ashlee Valentine

Insurance Editor

Is there a pet age limit to buy pet insurance?

Georgina E., Reston, Virginia

Yes, some pet insurance companies have an upper age limit to buy new policies. For example, ManyPets and Healthy Paws have an upper age limit of 14 to buy a new plan, but if you buy a plan before your pet’s 14th birthday, you can have lifelong coverage. Some pet insurers, such as Pets Best, do not have upper age limits.

Les Masterson

Insurance Editor

Is the entire cost of services covered by a wellness plan or just a percentage?

Linda P., Salem, Oregon

Pet insurance wellness plans generally cover up to a certain amount for specific routine services, like annual exams, vaccinations and blood work. For example, Pets Best’s EssentialWellness plan covers up to $30 per year for flea/tick prevention. You will have to cover any costs that go above that amount.

Michelle Megna

Insurance Lead Editor

Does cheap pet insurance mean “bare-bones” coverage?

Caleb T., Asheville, North Carolina

No, buying cheap pet insurance does not mean you’re stuck with bare-bones coverage. In fact, you can find competitive prices for a “nose-to-tail” plan that covers major accidents and illnesses, including coverage for dental illnesses, behavioral therapy and end-of-life expenses. Some policies include a 24/7 vet telehealth line and optional wellness plans. Pets Best and Figo are examples of pet insurers that have comprehensive policies and competitive prices.

Ashlee Valentine

Insurance Editor

To find the best pet insurance, we collected data and scored each pet insurance company for several categories. Only pet insurers offering annual maximum coverage of $100,000 or Unlimited were scored, so that comparisons were fair among companies.

Average costs: 40% of score. We calculated average rates for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for policies with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.

Plan benefits: 60% of score. We scored policies based on the following important features: Annual coverage choices, whether the plan can pay a veterinarian directly, access to a 24/7 vet line, availability of routine wellness coverage, whether the plan pays the vet exam fee, dental illness coverage, end of life coverage and multipet discount.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Pet Insurance Companies