Average Cost of Pet Insurance in 2025
The national average cost of pet insurance is $44 per month for dogs and $24 per month for cats.
Excellent
)
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
Pet insurance is a type of coverage that can provide financial reimbursement for your pet’s healthcare, including illness, injury, and routine visits. You’ll pay a monthly premium for the plan and then file a claim if your pet has an accident, illness, or other diagnosed medical condition. On average, accident and illness coverage costs $56 per month for dogs and $32 for cats across the U.S.
The cost of your premium will depend on your pet and where you live. Older animals and breeds with common hereditary issues will likely cost more to insure. While having coverage can ease the financial burden of unexpected veterinary costs, it won’t cover all types of medical care.
Here’s what you need to know about pet insurance, including what it covers and how much you might pay for a policy.
How much pet insurance costs
The U.S. average cost of accident and illness pet insurance is $56 per month for dogs and $32 per month for cats, according to data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).1 Your costs can vary depending on the type of pet you’re insuring — as well as its age, health, and breed — where you live, and the amount of coverage you buy.
To find the best price for pet insurance that meets your pet care needs, you’ll want to shop around and compare multiple policies from different pet insurance companies. Here’s a look at each of the factors that determine pet insurance costs and how you can find the best price on your next policy.
Average pet insurance cost for dogs
Average quotes for a 5-year-old dog range between $33 and $209 per month.
While the average pet insurance cost for dogs will vary from one pet owner to the next, here are some monthly quotes from the top pet insurance companies.
Average pet insurance cost for cats
Pet insurance for cats costs between $14 and $55 per month, according to Insurify’s research.
As with dogs, the average monthly premium for cats also depends on the animal’s location, breed, age, health, and gender. You can adjust your premiums according to the amount of coverage you want to buy.
The table below highlights the average monthly cost for cats from various insurance companies.
Factors that affect the cost of pet insurance
Several factors affect how much you’ll pay for a pet insurance policy, including your pet’s breed, its age, and where you live.
Your pet’s details
As with health insurance for humans, pet insurance premiums depend on the specifics of the pet you want to insure. This means that you may pay more or less for coverage depending on the following factors:
The coverage you want
Your pet insurance rates will also depend on how much coverage you want to buy and what type of insurance you need. Accident-only coverage provides less coverage than accident and illness policies, so it costs less. The average cost of an accident-only policy is $17 per month for dogs and $10 for cats.
Good to Know
Your policy’s deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual maximum reimbursement all affect your insurance costs. You can adjust your policy costs by choosing a higher (or lower) annual deductible for claims.
Your pet’s age
Older pets are more likely to experience health concerns, so your monthly premiums will likely be higher than if you’re insuring a new puppy or kitten.
Your pet’s health
If your pet already has a history of certain medical conditions or injuries, you’ll likely pay more for coverage than if your pet has a clean bill of health. Your coverage will likely exclude any of these pre-existing conditions.
Types of pet insurance
You can choose from a few different types of pet insurance coverage, depending on what sort of expenses you want covered and how much you’re willing to spend.
Accident-only coverage: This type of coverage only reimburses you for eligible expenses related to a pet injury incurred from a fall, collision with a car, or another incident. This policy type is less expensive, but it doesn’t cover illnesses or other health conditions.
Accident and illness coverage: This coverage is more comprehensive and will kick in for your pet’s injuries and illnesses. It can reimburse you for expenses related to injuries, as well as cancer, arthritis, and other non-acute diagnoses.
Wellness coverage: Not all pet insurance companies offer wellness coverage, but you can sometimes add it to an existing pet insurance policy. This coverage can provide coverage or reimbursement for routine vet expenses related to your pet’s annual wellness, including teeth cleanings, routine blood work and exams, and flea or tick preventatives.3
How to find cheap pet insurance
Finding cheap pet insurance will depend on factors not in your control (like your pet’s age and gender), as well as factors you can control, like how much coverage you purchase and other policy details.
Here are some ways to lower your pet insurance costs:
Do you need pet insurance?
Whether you actually need pet insurance depends on your financial situation and factors like your pet’s health, age, and breed.
It’s impossible to know exactly what injuries or illnesses your pet will experience in its lifetime. Certain breeds are more susceptible to conditions, though, so if your pet’s breed is notorious for having medical issues, it might be worth buying coverage to protect your finances. You may also want to buy coverage if an unexpected injury or illness would cause serious financial stress.
Keep in Mind
Non-routine expenses can add up quickly — especially if the injury or illness is serious. For example, chemotherapy for a dog or cat can cost between $3,000 and $10,000 or more.4 And surgically repairing a dog’s torn cruciate ligament will cost between $2,000 and $4,000 at minimum.5 Buying a low-cost pet insurance policy could alleviate some of that financial stress.
Pet insurance cost FAQs
Before purchasing a pet insurance policy, you should always shop around and compare quotes to find the best coverage for your pet’s needs. The following information should answer your remaining questions.
What is the average cost of pet insurance in the U.S.?
Pet insurance for dogs costs $17 per month for an accident-only policy and $56 per month for an accident and illness policy, according to data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. For cats, pet insurance costs $10 per month for an accident-only policy and $32 per month for an accident and illness policy.
How much of your vet bills does pet insurance cover?
The amount of your vet bills that pet insurance covers depends on the reimbursement percentage you select when you buy a policy. Common reimbursement amounts are 80%, 90%, and even 100% of eligible claims in some cases. You’ll generally pay more for a policy with a higher reimbursement amount.
Do dogs cost more to insure than cats?
Yes. Dogs cost more to insure than cats because they typically go to the vet more often and are more likely to get injured.
Can you get a discount on pet insurance?
Sometimes. Many pet insurance companies offer a multi-pet discount if you enroll more than one pet. It never hurts to ask the pet insurance companies you’re considering whether they offer any other discounts that could help you save.
Is pet insurance worth the cost?
If your pet has an unexpected injury or accident, pet insurance is generally worth it. If you’re deciding whether you should buy pet insurance, you should consider your budget for coverage and concerns about your pet’s health. If you can’t afford to pay for a large and unexpected medical bill out of pocket for your pet, you should consider buying coverage.
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)