Vet Insurance For Dogs: Stay On Budget (With These 5 Plans)
Do you know what vet insurance for dogs is? When you have emergency care costs for your pet, dog vet insurance will help to offset the cost of this care. Every plan is different, but most plans cover a wide range of costs that can accumulate when your dog gets into an accident or catches a serious illness.
For all pet owners, whether they’ve considered pet insurance before or not, it can be a very confusing task to find an affordable policy that will work for them. Every company has different levels of coverage, reimbursement policies, and care options, so there’s a lot to think about. Realistically, you want to consider your budget first, then choose the options that you can afford.
I have a few pet insurance companies that I believe stand above others regarding care coverage and cost. My favorites give great value at affordable prices. Let’s walk through the basic details of each plan, so you can get an idea of some reliable companies that you should consider using to insure your pet.
Name | Type of Policy Coverage | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Accident Only/Accident + Illness/Routine Coverage | ||
3 levels of coverage + customization options | ||
Comprehensive Coverage | ||
AKC Pet Insurance | Accident Only/Accident + Illness/Routine Coverage | |
Comprehensive Coverage with Add-ons |
Vet Insurance Reviews
1. Pets Best
When it comes to dog vet insurance, you have a lot of option. One of the best options is insurance from Pets Best. This company offers accident only coverage or a broader plan which also covers illnesses that might unexpectedly affect your pet.
If you have a senior dog, this plan can still work for you, as there is no upper age limit to when you can enroll a pet. Your puppy must be more than 7 weeks old to be enrolled, but there are no enrollment restrictions after that.
Wellness plans and other useful add-ons to customize your plan can also be included at an additional cost for owners who need specific coverage or want to get assistance handling the cost of routine care.
2. Petplan
Another great veterinary pet insurance that will help to cover the cost of unexpected bills is available from Petplan. While there are different levels of policies from Petplan, every plan covers injuries, illnesses, hereditary, and chronic conditions. They also cover dental emergencies and alternative treatments.
There is no maximum age limit to enroll in Petplan. Puppies must be over 6 weeks old to be enrolled. You have three options for annual coverage limits: $10,000, $14,000 and $22,000. Similarly, you can choose a deductible between $50 and $200 when selecting the plan that is right for you. Reimbursement levels range from 80% to 100% depending on your specific policy.
3. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws is known best for their amazing customer service, but that’s not all they have. In addition to comprehensive, easy-to-understand coverage, they also offer plans with no annual or per incident caps. Many insurance companies write in frustrating limits that hit you when you need the money most.
You can enroll pets from 8 weeks old up to 14 years old with Healthy Pets, and they can remain covered for their entire lives if you keep up coverage continuously.
Many pet owners love Healthy Paws; here's one of them:
4. AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance is another solid insurance option that offers a wellness plan in addition to a pet insurance plan. On average, the two plans together will cost you around $50 a month and will get you complete coverage for both accidents and routine care, including dental cleanings.
Unlike some of the other insurance companies on this list, this AKC does have lifetime limits on specific injuries or illnesses which can be a problem if your dog has a lot of problems throughout their life.
Dogs of any age over 8 weeks can be insured for accident coverage. Dogs over 9 years old cannot be enrolled for illness coverage with AKC Pet Insurance. Despite what some owners think, dogs do not need to be purebred to be ensured with AKC Pet Insurance.
5. Trupanion Pet Insurance
The final, reliable pet insurance company I’d like to share with you today is Trupanion. Trupanion is a bit unique in that it offers coverage for working dogs (such as police or search and rescue dogs) and breeding dogs. For some pet owners, this kind of coverage is key and hard to find. While costly to insure, these pets are part of their owners livelihood and should be insured as such. Trupanion knows that.
In addition to offering coverage for working pets, coverage for burial costs, home damage from pets, lost pets, and more can be added to any plan from Trupanion. These are the kind of add-ons that many people assume are included in basic pet insurance but are not typically included.
When it comes to cost, Trupanion pays 90% of claim-eligible vet bills. Deductibles range between $0 and $1000 depending on the level you choose. Their plans also cover all hereditary and congenital conditions, including hip dysplasia, which is rare for an insurance company.
Get Vet Insurance For A Reliable Life
The average cost of vet insurance for dogs is around $41 per month, but that can differ greatly depending on the kind of dog you own, their age, and where you live. If you don’t have any veterinary pet insurance, you might end up paying a few thousand dollars a year in emergency care costs, depending on what kind of trouble your dog gets in.
While the cost of vet insurance might seem high, it’s all about balancing the investment and return. If you can create an emergency pet fund to cover any unexpected costs, you might not need to get an insurance policy. Other owners should consider the cost of an insurance policy an investment into your dog’s future health and the health of your bank account.
Don’t wait to invest in a solid, healthy future with your best friend!
