Investing in a pet insurance policy is a beneficial option for your pet's health. It provides financial protection for your dog's healthcare expenses. However, many dog owners wonder if it will provide good value for their pet insurance, given its cost. Therefore, we're going to provide complete information about how much pet insurance costs, specifically for dogs.
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| Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs |
In This article "Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs: Complete Price Guide" includes the following topics:
- Which factors affect the cost of pet insurance? And what are the ways to reduce the cost?
- Average cost of pet insurance for dogs
- The insurance cost varies for small puppies compared to older dogs.
- Is pet insurance worth the cost?
Factors That Affect the Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs
The cost of pet insurance for dogs depends on several factors, which determine whether your premiums will be affordable or expensive. As we all know, insurance costs vary from small puppies to dogs of various age groups. There are also other factors that affect the cost of pet insurance for dogs, which we will discuss next.
Some Factors Affecting Dog Insurance Cost
Dog Breed and Age
We have different breeds of dogs; for example, some have German Shepherds, and some have Bulldogs. Among these dog breeds, some are at a higher risk of diseases or other health problems. Other breeds are healthier and fall into the low-risk category. The higher the risk, the higher the premium cost.
Similarly, the dog's age also affects pet insurance costs. Insurance costs for small, healthy puppies are lower than for other dogs, while insurance for older and senior dogs can become more expensive as they age. Age plays a role in risk, as health issues increase with age, making pet insurance costs more expensive for dogs.
Policy Coverage Type and Location
Your premium costs will depend on the type of pet insurance you choose for your dog. If you opt for accident-only insurance for basic protection, its plans will be cheaper. Comprehensive and lifetime insurance plans are more expensive than other plans because they cover almost everything from surgery to medications.
Insurance costs vary depending on location. In cities or countries where medical expenses for dog health treatments are costly, pet insurance costs are higher. In metro cities and larger cities, insurance is also more expensive due to the high cost of veterinary expenses. Insurance costs may be lower where treatment is cheaper. Pet insurance costs for dogs also depend on location so that insurance policies can provide good value to customers for medical expenses.
Claim Limit and Deductible
Pet insurance policies have a coverage limit. You need to set this limit based on your budget. If you choose a low- or mid-range coverage limit, your premiums will be more pocket-friendly. A higher coverage limit will increase the cost. Additionally, you need to set a deductible when purchasing a pet insurance policy for your dog. The lower the amount, the higher the premium. A higher deductible and lower reimbursement will lower the premiums.
Add-ons Included in the Policy
Some insurance companies offer the option of wellness add-ons as part of the policy, if needed. These add-ons require additional payment. For example, if you purchase an illness coverage policy but dental care isn't covered in that policy, you can add on dental care for an additional fee. In this case, the cost of pet insurance for your dog may be higher. Therefore, add-ons also affect the insurance cost.
Dog's Previous Medical History and Health
Pet insurance costs are also determined based on the dog's health. If you have previously filed an insurance claim for any illnesses or health issues, your insurance cost may increase. Most companies don't cover pre-existing conditions that existed before you purchased the policy. If your dog is healthy and falls into the low-risk category, pet insurance is cheaper.
Dog Size
Pet insurance costs are also determined by the dog's size. The size of the dog can help you determine whether the policy will be affordable or expensive. Pet insurance is cheaper for small-breed dogs with smaller bodies. The premiums for medium-sized dog breeds are in the medium range, and the insurance for large-sized dog breeds is expensive.
Average Cost of Pet Insurance for a Dog
To understand the average cost of a pet insurance plan for dogs, you can refer to the table given below.
Table for average cost of pet insurance for dog
Cost of Pet Insurance for Older Dogs
As we mentioned, pet insurance premiums become more expensive due to the increasing health issues of older dogs as they age. Senior dogs require more care. According to Age, dogs often require medication and expensive treatments for illnesses. They often require surgery, which increases pet insurance costs. Below are some of the average pet insurance costs for senior dogs and the conditions under which these costs increase.
Reasons for the Rise in Insurance Premium Costs for Older Dogs
🔵 Rising Veterinary Expenses and Treatments
The main reason for the increase in pet insurance costs for older dogs is veterinary inflation and advanced treatments. They require more frequent veterinary visits. The high fees of specialist doctors and the cost of expensive medicines for treating older dogs are the reasons for increasing the cost of pet insurance. The rates for CT scans, MRIs, and other common veterinary tests also increase as a dog ages.
🔵 Increasing Health Issues
As humans age, their health problems increase. Dogs face the same fate. As they grow older, their risk of developing diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and other chronic illnesses increases. Older dogs require long-term care. This dogs require expensive tests to diagnose diseases and, if necessary, the cost of operations and surgeries is higher. The more an older dog's health issues increase, the higher the cost of health insurance.
🔵 Policy Coverage Levels and Conditions
Some pet insurance providers offer condition-based plans, such as a dog's age of 8 to 10 years. These insurance costs are higher. Pet insurance for older dogs is generally expensive, but if you opt for a lifetime insurance plan, the premiums are even more costly. These plans also tend to have lower deductibles and higher reimbursements, which also increase insurance costs.
🔵 Insurance Claim History
Whenever you take out an insurance policy and have previously incurred significant expenses treating your dog's illnesses, insurance companies may increase your premium costs. They consider your dog's risk profile to have increased. As we mentioned earlier, premiums are more likely to increase with age.
🔵 Policy Limitations or Age Caps
Pet insurance for dogs provides coverage based on the dog's age. Most pet insurance policies have age requirements. Pet insurance companies do not offer new policies after a certain age. Beyond the age limit, it becomes difficult to obtain insurance for older dogs. If you already have a policy for your dog, premiums increase as it ages. For example, in the UK, pet insurance costs are very high for dogs aged 10 to 12 years.
Some Examples of Pet Insurance Costs for Older Dogs
Example 1 - America (Cost per Month)
- Accident Only Plan—$25-$35/month (8+ years old)
- Accident + Illness Plan—$60-$90/month
- Lifetime Plan - $80-$120/month
- For a 7-year-old Labrador—$55-$80 (Lifetime Cover)
- For a 10-year-old Shih Tzu—$40-$60 (Maximum Benefit)
In short, pet insurance costs for older dogs in the United States can range from $25 to $120.
Example 2: United Kingdom
- For a 7-year-old dog—£24.60/month
- For an 8-9-year-old dog—£20-£32.80/month
In the general UK, insurance costs for senior dogs aged 7 to 10 years plus range from £25 to £35/month.
Example 3 - Australia
Average Cost -
- 6-7 Year Old Dog - AUD 135-140/month
- Medium and Large Dogs—AUD 130-150/month
Annual Cost of Accident + Illness Cover (6-7 Years Old)
- Small Dog - AUD 1619/year
- Medium Dog - AUD 1602/year
- Large Dog - AUD 1660/year
Cost of Pet Insurance for Small Dog Breeds
Due to the longer lifespan of small dog breeds and lower medical expenses due to low risk, their pet insurance costs are lower than those of larger dog breeds. These small dog breeds include dogs like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Pugs, and others. Pugs and Bulldogs are at risk of respiratory problems, allergies, or eye infections, so their insurance costs are higher.
Small dogs have a longer lifespan compared to larger dog breeds. They live longer. Small dogs fall into the low-risk category and are less susceptible to serious illnesses. Large dog breeds tend to have higher medical costs, such as surgery or medication, while smaller dogs tend to have lower treatment costs due to their lower risk. We'll explain the general pet insurance cost for small dog breeds with an example below.
Pet insurance costs for small dog breeds are as follows:
Insurance plan cost (in general)
- Accident + Illness - $25-$45/month
- Accident Only - $10-$20/month
- Lifetime Plan—$40-$70/month
Example:
1) Maximum Benefit Plan - 3-year-old French Bulldog - $35-$55/month
2) Lifetime Plan Cost - 2-year-old Chihuahua - $25-$40/month
3) Accident + Illness Plan Cost - 5-year-old Chihuahua - $30-$40/month (US)
Cost of Pet Insurance for Medium Dog Breeds
In "Pet Insurance for Dogs," we explained that pet insurance costs vary and depend on various factors. Pet insurance providers include the size of the dog. Insurance costs are also determined based on the size of the dog. Pet insurance costs for medium dog breeds are in the mid-range, neither too cheap nor too expensive.
Medium dog breeds tend to have a longer lifespan than large breeds, and their risk of disease is neither low nor high. Health risks and medical costs are in the mid-range, so pet insurance rates for dogs will be moderate or balanced. Below, we've provided some examples of the cost of insurance for medium breeds.
Insurance costs for medium dog breeds are as follows:
- Accident + Illness - $30-$55/month
- Accident Only - $15-$25/month
- Lifetime Plan—$50-$80/month
Example: For a 6-year-old Beagle - £40/month (UK)
Cost of Pet Insurance for Large Dog Breeds
Premiums for large breed dogs are slightly more expensive when it comes to pet insurance. The higher risk of large breeds increases insurance costs. Large breed dogs have shorter lifespans and develop health issues early. Large breeds are at higher risk for health problems like heart disease, joint pain, and hip dysplasia. This is why pet insurance for large dog breeds is more expensive.
Additionally, due to the large size of the dog, the cost of surgery, treatment, medications, hospitalization, and treatment doses is higher. Keeping these factors in mind, insurance companies keep premiums high.
Large breeds include dogs like Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Labradors, etc. So, let's see how much pet insurance costs for large dog breeds.
Pet Insurance Cost for Large Breed Dogs (Roughly)
- Accident + Illness - $40-$70/month
- Accident Only - $20-$35/month
- Lifetime Plan - $60-$100/month
Example - Accident + Illness Plan - For a 5-year-old Labrador - $55-$65/month (US)
Note: The above pet insurance costs for dogs are approximate. Analyze the cost of all types of plans by contacting popular and trustworthy pet insurance companies in the country you belong to or by consulting the company's insurance price manual.
Pet Insurance Cost Comparison by Dog Size
The insurance cost for small, medium, and large dog breeds is explained in the table below.
Table for pet insurance cost by dog size
Ways to Reduce the Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs
So far, we've learned how much pet insurance costs for dogs. Now, we'll learn how to reduce the cost of even the most expensive insurance plans.
Some Important Ways to Reduce Pet Insurance Costs
🔵 Choosing Coverage According to Needs
You should choose a pet insurance plan based on your dog's health risks. For example, if all your dog's requirements are met with accident and illness coverage, there's no need to always opt for a lifetime coverage plan. If your dog is healthy, even a basic plan will provide good value. Choosing an important pet insurance policy coverage based on your dog's needs and your budget will reduce insurance costs.
🔵 Keep the co-payment and deductible high.
Sometimes, in an attempt to reduce premiums, we tend to lower the deductible, which increases the actual cost. Therefore, increasing the co-payment and deductible before filing a policy claim will reduce your insurance costs and lower monthly premiums.
🔵 Starting an insurance policy early.
As dogs grow older or get older, it becomes more difficult to obtain a new policy. Pet insurance for senior dogs is very expensive. Therefore, the younger you are when you purchase pet insurance, the cheaper it will be. Therefore, it's best to purchase a pet insurance policy for young puppies before their health risks increase as they grow.
🔵 Cover Wellness and Preventive Care
Ensuring a wellness and preventive care plan from a young age can protect your dog from serious illnesses in the future. Even if they do develop an illness, early detection can help treat them quickly. Regular checkups, a healthy diet, and vaccinations will not only reduce your dog's risk of illness but also reduce your claims, keeping your insurance premiums under control in the long run.
🔵 Look for discounts on multiple pet insurance plans and minimize additional add-ons.
Some pet insurance companies offer discounts for pet insurance with multiple dogs. This allows you to insure your dog simultaneously with the same company at a substantial discount. Along with this, reduce the add-ons that are not required so that the insurance cost can also be maintained.
🔵 Compare different pet insurance companies.
Companies that provide pet insurance for dogs vary in insurance costs, so it's important to conduct a cost analysis. There may be another company offering the same coverage at a lower cost than the company you're buying insurance from. Therefore, compare the premium and coverage before purchasing a pet insurance policy for your dog.
Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
Whether pet insurance is worth it or not depends on the situation and whether your pet is high-risk or low-risk. Most dog owners believe that buying pet insurance only increases costs and offers no significant benefits. Therefore, we'll discuss some points below to clarify when pet insurance may be worth it and when it may not be.
Reasons why pet insurance is worth it:
- Provides protection against unexpected expenses.
- Provides long-term security for your pet's health.
- Covers expensive and cost-effective treatments.
- Pet insurance's third-party liability coverage provides legal protection.
- Beneficial for high-risk pets.
- Provides mental peace to owners.
Reasons why pet insurance isn't worth it:
- Policy premiums are too expensive or beyond your budget.
- Your pet is healthy and rarely falls ill.
- Deductibles and co-payments require you to pay a portion of the claim.
- Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Insurance can be expensive.
- Your pet's breed is low-risk.
- If you have only taken a single cover policy, such as accident-only.
- When you invest as much in premiums, you can save the same amount yourself.
Conclusion
Pet insurance costs for dogs vary by country, location, and other factors. High-limit coverage and add-ons increase the insurance cost. Insurance costs also vary depending on the dog's risk profile and age. There are several factors that influence the cost of pet insurance. In this article, we've provided complete price guidelines for dog pet insurance. These guidelines will help you estimate the cost and choose the best policy when you plan to buy pet insurance for your pet. Always purchase a plan that's appropriate for your dog's health and risk profile to reduce your insurance costs.
FAQs – Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs
Q1. Does the cost of pet insurance vary by dog breed?
Answer: Pet insurance for dogs has breed-specific restrictions. However, providers who offer policies for such restricted dogs can make the insurance more expensive. In short, pet insurance costs vary depending on the dog breed. Insurance for small dogs is cheaper, while insurance for large-breed dogs is more expensive. Pet insurance costs for medium-sized dog breeds are neither particularly expensive nor affordable. High-risk dogs that require more care and treatment have higher pet insurance premiums. Therefore, insurance costs vary by dog breed.
Q2. Does the cost increase every year?
Answer: Yes, pet insurance costs for dogs can increase every year as they age. As dogs grow older, their risk of illness increases. As this risk increases, they require more care. The cost of therapy, medications, and other treatments also increases. Therefore, pet insurance costs increase every year. If your dog is constantly sick and you frequently make insurance claims, companies may consider your dog high-risk and increase the premium.
Q3. Is the cost of pet insurance for older dogs too high?
Answer: Yes, you are correct in saying that pet insurance costs for older dogs are higher than for dogs of other ages. But it's less than the cost of veterinary bills. There are many factors that affect the higher insurance costs for older dogs. However, if you choose pet insurance correctly, this cost can be reduced to some extent.
Q4. Are small dogs always cheaper to insure?
Answer: No, that's not the case at all. Insurance costs for small dogs aren't always cheaper. However, insurance costs for small dogs are generally cheaper than those for medium or large dogs. Small dogs are less prone to diseases, which leads to lower treatment costs. There are several other reasons why pet insurance for small dogs can be a beneficial option. However, even among small dog breeds, some are more prone to health issues, and some are at risk for serious and genetic diseases. Consequently, pet insurance premiums can become more expensive.
Q5. What's included in the average cost of pet insurance for a dog?
Answer: The average cost of pet insurance for dogs includes illness cover, accident cover, hospitalization, preventive care, medication, and more. The specifics of what's included in a policy depend entirely on your policy choice and the insurance provider. Some providers offer maximum benefits at a low cost. Therefore, it's important to choose a good policy to ensure you get the best value for your average cost.