If your puppy gets sick or injured, pet insurance can help cover unexpected vet bills. Most plans accept puppies that are just 8 weeks old and cover your dog throughout its entire life. From puppy shots to spaying and neutering, vet costs can add up quickly — especially if your puppy has an accident or illness.[1]
Here’s a closer look at why puppy insurance may be a good idea to help protect your new dog and your finances.
If your puppy gets sick or needs emergency care, you can quickly rack up hundreds or even thousands of dollars in medical costs. Basic pet insurance coverage typically includes accidents and illness, but most companies offer the option to add wellness protection, which covers things like routine vet visits, spaying and neutering, microchipping, vaccinations, and other types of preventive care.[1]
Pet health insurance plans and vet costs typically get more expensive as your dog ages due to the likelihood of increased health issues, so it’s a good idea to enroll your puppy in a policy as soon as it’s eligible. Most pet insurance companies accept puppies as young as 8 weeks old, making it easy to start coverage early.
Pet health insurance plans and vet costs typically get more expensive as your dog ages, so it’s a good idea to enroll your puppy in a policy as soon as it’s eligible. Most pet insurance companies accept puppies as young as 8 weeks old, making it easy to start coverage early.
Most pet insurance policies work similarly, though there may be some variation between insurers. The following elements are present in most policies and are something to consider before deciding on a plan for your puppy:
Waiting period: You’ll usually have to wait a certain amount of time before your pup is eligible for coverage. Typical waiting periods are 36 or 48 hours for accidents and anywhere from 14 to 21 days for illnesses.3 Your plan may also have longer waiting periods for specific conditions, like orthopedic issues.
Policy limits: You may have limits on your coverage, depending on your plan. These can be overall annual limits or limits for specific types of injuries, illnesses, or treatments.3
Deductible: You’ll need to meet your deductible before your insurer will pay toward your claim.
Claim filing: You’ll typically have to pay the vet at the time of treatment, and then your insurer will reimburse you for some or all of the cost. Once you submit your claim and it’s been reviewed, you’ll be sent a reimbursement via direct deposit or check, minus any deductible amount you owe.2
Be sure to read your puppy insurance documents carefully to understand exactly what your plan covers, your reimbursement limit, reimbursement percentage, and deductible. And if you’re not sure, check with your insurance company for more information.
Puppy insurance isn’t something you’re required to have as a pet parent. But if your puppy gets sick or has an accident, pet insurance can help ensure your pet gets the veterinarian care it needs. If you don’t have an emergency fund saved, pet insurance can also help protect you from the financial burden of expensive surgery or medical care.
Ultimately, the decision to get puppy insurance is a personal choice. It’s a good idea to check with your veterinarian, who can help you understand what you can expect to pay for treatments over the life of your dog and how pet insurance may be beneficial.
Your pet’s health insurance doesn’t need to be expensive. Insuring your puppy costs $44 on average per month, with Nationwide, Lemonade, and Healthy Paws offering the cheapest rates for accident and illness plans.
Your puppy’s breed, size, age, and location can affect your monthly premium. Insuring a puppy is often cheaper than insuring an adult dog because puppies are less likely to have medical issues or chronic conditions.4 For example, labs are more likely to develop hip dysplasia as they grow older.5 Insuring them as puppies helps cut the cost of vet bills in the long run.
Your ZIP code can also affect your rates due to state regulations, the general cost of living in your area, and access to veterinary care.4
Accident and illness plans are the most comprehensive and often include unexpected accidents and emergency care, exam and diagnostic test fees, disease treatment, X-rays, and prescriptions. They don’t generally include routine care or pre-existing conditions.
Below are average rates from popular pet insurers for young dogs.
To determine the average rate for puppy insurance, Insurify completed the quote process for all the listed insurers using consistent parameters. Our puppy was a 5-month-old male of medium size (31-50 pounds), mixed-breed, and neutered with no prior medical history living in Hartford, Connecticut.
We specified the policy as an accident and illness plan with a reimbursement limit of $15,000 (if the insurer only offered unlimited, we selected unlimited), a deductible of $500, and a reimbursement percentage of 80%.
What puppy insurance will cover depends on the type of coverage you pick and can vary a bit from company to company. But most insurers offer three types of insurance for pet owners to choose from.
Puppy insurance can help you cover many vet expenses related to accidents, illnesses, and emergency treatment, but plans typically won’t cover a few things, including:
If your puppy was sick or injured or had a chronic illness before you signed up for pet insurance, the cost of treatment for that specific illness or injury likely won’t be covered — even if you switch companies. Many pet insurance companies also have their own list of exclusions, so make sure you understand what’s considered a pre-existing condition and what’s a covered condition when comparing plans.[1]
Most plans don’t consider anything related to pregnancy or birth as a covered condition. This means you’ll have to pay any veterinary costs out of pocket if you breed your dog or if it accidentally gets pregnant.[6]
It’s a good idea to shop around to find the best pet insurance for you and your puppy. Since getting an online quote is usually quick and easy, you should get at least three quotes. You can also check with your employer to see if it offers pet insurance benefits.
Here are a few important things you’ll want to consider when comparing quotes:
Coverage options: Most insurers offer coverage for accidents and illnesses, as well as wellness coverage and other special coverages.
Plan premiums: Your monthly premium can vary depending on the insurance company and type of plan you choose. Look for any discounts that may be available, such as multi-pet and bundling discounts.
Claim submission: Research each insurer you’re considering to see how simple the claims process is and what typical turnaround times are for reimbursement.
Your dog’s age: Since you’re signing up a puppy, you likely won’t run into any issues with age limits unless it’s younger than 8 weeks old. But if you’re planning on signing up a senior pet on the same plan, you’ll want to ensure it’s eligible.
Pet species: Dogs are always covered by pet insurance, but if you have another pet that you want to include on your policy, such as a rabbit, you’ll want to make sure it’s covered.
Pet breed: Your pet’s breed can affect the price you pay for pet insurance. Some plans charge more for purebred pets due to their higher likelihood of developing hereditary conditions.[1]
Getting the best care for your pup can be expensive. It’s important to research the companies you’re considering when comparing dog insurance plans. You can check out third-party review sites, such as Trustpilot and ConsumerAffairs, for real customer reviews and rankings.
Getting a puppy can be overwhelming and confusing. Here are some quick answers about puppy insurance to get you started.
A puppy insurance deductible is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. For example, if you have a $100 annual deductible but are eligible for a $1,000 reimbursement on a claim, you’d only receive $900 from your insurance company.[2]
No, puppy insurance can’t be backdated. You’ll also likely have a waiting period after purchasing your plan. Waiting periods can vary from just a few days for accidents to a few weeks or longer for illnesses.3
Yes. Puppies as young as 8 weeks old are typically eligible for pet insurance. Your dog will stay covered on the same plan unless you switch plans or insurance companies. However, as your pet ages, your policy and vet expenses may increase.1
The average cost of puppy insurance is $44 per month. The cheapest pet insurance companies are Nationwide, Lemonade, and Healthy Paws. Monthly premiums start at $31, $31, and $33, respectively.
Yes, the breed of your puppy matters when buying dog insurance. Mixed breeds are typically cheaper to cover than pedigree dogs, which are more likely to be born with genetic conditions and have increased health problems, such as hip dysplasia and congenital conditions.[1]
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
)
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
Featured in
){kind=small}
)
)
)