Having a senior dog can be a truly special experience. However, as our canine companions age, the expenses associated with their care often increase. While pet insurance is designed to ease the financial burden of veterinary bills, some providers either won’t enroll older dogs or have limitations on what illnesses they cover.
To assist pet parents, CNBC Select has reviewed pet insurance providers to determine the best options for older dogs. Our choices are based on key factors, including each insurer’s age limits, the cost of their policies, customer satisfaction ratings, and the breadth of coverage they offer.
Top Pet Insurance Picks for Older Dogs
Here are our top picks, each excelling in a specific area:
- Best for Affordability: Pets Best
- Best for Speedy Claims Processing: MetLife
- Best for Pre-existing Conditions: AKC Pet Insurance
- Best for Direct Payment: Figo
- Best for Wellness Plans: Spot
- Best for Low Deductibles: Embrace
Best for Affordability: Pets Best
Pets Best offers several pet insurance plans, including accident-only and accident and illness coverage, with a wellness add-on option.
Policy Highlights:
- Spot Pet Insurance offers accident-only, accident and illness and wellness plans
- Age limits: Cats and dogs as young as seven weeks old can enroll and there is no upper age limit.
- Coverage limit: $5,000 or unlimited
- Annual deductible: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting period: The waiting periods are 3 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries.
- Discounts: 5% multi-pet discount
- Direct vet pay: Yes
Pros:
- Deductibles as low as $50
- No maximum age limit
- Offers direct-payment option
Cons:
- Exam fees not included with basic plan
- Multi-pet discount is lower than other providers
- Only top-tier plan covers alternative therapies
Who’s this for? Pets Best’s rates are among the lowest for senior dogs, and its basic plan provides coverage for common issues in older dogs, such as UTIs, periodontal disease, chronic illnesses, and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia and glaucoma.
Standout benefits: Pets Best’s top-tier Elite plan includes coverage for acupuncture, chiropractic care, and physical rehabilitation.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for Speedy Claims Processing: MetLife
MetLife provides both accident and illness plans as well as a wellness add-on. Claims are typically processed swiftly.
Policy highlights:
- Age limits: No age restrictions for enrollment
- Coverage limit: $500 to unlimited
- Annual deductible: $0 to $2,500
- Reimbursement rate: 50% to 90%
- Waiting period: 14 days for illnesses, 12 months for knee injuries
- Discounts: Discounts for buying online and enrolling multiple pets, as well as for animal care staff, military members and health care workers. Deductibles drop up to $50 each year you don’t file a claim.
- Direct vet pay: No
Pros:
- Covers birds, lizards, small mammals and other exotic pets
- Reimbursement for lost pet rewards
- Most claims processed within 10 days
- Covers burial/cremation
Cons:
- Doesn’t cover microchipping
- No accident-only policy
- Coverage, waiting periods and discounts vary based on the underwriter
Who’s this for? MetLife is known for its easy online claim filing via its mobile app, with reimbursements often processed within 10 days.
Standout benefits: All of MetLife’s policies offer coverage for exam fees and holistic/alternative therapies, benefits that are often only included in more expensive plans from other providers.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for Pre-existing Conditions: AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance stands out for its coverage of pre-existing conditions, although it doesn’t cover dental procedures or some common illnesses like Cushing’s Disease, FIV/FELV or diabetes.
Policy highlights:
- Age limits: Pets 9 and older are only eligible for accident-only policies
- Coverage limit: $2,500 to $10,000
- Annual deductible: $100, $250, $300, $400, $500, $600, $750 or $1,000
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting period: 14 days for illnesses, 3 days for accidents, 30 days for hereditary and congenital conditions, 80 days for cruciate ligaments
- Discounts: 5% multi-pet discount
- Direct vet pay: No
Pros:
- Pre-existing conditions covered after a year
- Offers breeding insurance
- Unlimited coverage available
Cons:
- $3 monthly service fee if paying monthly
- Pets over 9 are restricted to accident-only policies
- Hereditary and congenital conditions cost extra
- No coverage for dental illnesses
Who’s this for? While most insurers exclude pre-existing conditions, AKC Pet Insurance provides coverage for these after one year of continuous coverage.
Standout benefits: AKC claims that most claims are processed within three days.
Age limit: Dogs 9 and older are only eligible for accident-only coverage
Best for Direct Payment: Figo
If you prefer to avoid the reimbursement process, Figo offers direct payments to your veterinarian.
Policy highlights:
- Age limits: No upper age limit
- Coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
- Annual deductible: $100 to $1,500
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%
- Waiting period: 1 day for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and 6 months for orthopedic injuries to dogs (may be waived by having vet examine your dog)
- Discounts: 5% multi-pet discount, 15% discount for Costco members and 5% military discount (in most states). Your deductible drops by $50 each year you don’t file a claim.
- Direct vet pay: Yes
Pros:
- Costco members can save 15%
- No upper age limit for enrollment
- 100% reimbursement option available
- Claims close on average in under 3 business days
- Covers curable conditions that have been healed for 12 months
Cons:
- Vet exam fee not covered by basic plan
- Doesn’t offer an accident-only plan
- Multiple-pet discount lower than many competitors
Who’s this for? Figo offers the convenience of direct payments to your vet, removing the need to wait for reimbursement. (You’ll need to make arrangements with your vet beforehand.)
Standout benefits: Your deductible is reduced by $50 each year you don’t file a claim.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for Wellness Coverage: Spot
Spot offers comprehensive coverage for preventative care, including wellness plans.
Policy highlights:
- Age limits: No upper age limit
- Coverage limit: $2,500 to unlimited
- Annual deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting period: 14 days for accidents and injuries
- Discounts: 10% multi-pet discount
- Direct vet pay: No
Pros:
- No upper age limits for enrollment
- Exam fees covered
- 10% discounts for additional pets
Cons:
- 14-day waiting period for accidents
- 30-day money-back guarantee not available in New York or Maine
- Average rate for cats is higher than competition
Who’s this for? Spot’s wellness plans are excellent, with a gold plan including teeth cleaning, screenings, deworming, and annual wellness exams and a platinum plan that adds spaying/neutering and higher coverage for vaccinations and other care.
Standout benefits: Accident and illness policies from Spot cover exam fees, microchipping, prescriptions and alternative therapies.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for Low Deductibles: Embrace
For those seeking lower out-of-pocket costs, Embrace provides options with low deductibles, making it easier to manage the expenses of pet care, especially as dogs age.
Policy highlights:
- Age limits: 6 weeks to 14 years
- Coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
- Annual deductible: $100, $250 or $500
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting period: 2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Discount: Healthy Pet discount reduces your deductible by $50 every year you don’t find a claim.
- Direct vet pay: Yes
Pros:
- Unlimited annual coverage is available
- Two-day waiting period for accidents
- Available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Cons:
- Coverage limited to pets 14 and younger
- $25 policy activation fee
Who’s this for: In addition to a 10% multi-pet discount, Embrace offers a healthy pet discount, which automatically reduces your monthly premium by 5% after a year of being claims-free and 10% for a second year.
Standout benefits: Embrace provides extra office visits for senior pets.
Age limits: Dogs can enroll in accident and illness plans until age 15 and accident-only policies afterward.
More on Pet Insurance Companies for Older Dogs
Pets Best
Veterinarian Jack Stephens founded Pets Best in 2005 to provide affordable pet care for families. It offers accident-only and accident and illness plans with a wellness add-on. Policies are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company and Independence American Insurance Company.
- Coverage limit: $5,000 or unlimited
- Annual deductible: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
MetLife
Though it’s been around since the 1860s, Metlife started insuring pets in 2020, when it acquired PetFirst. It offers an accident and illness policy and an optional wellness add-on. Policies cover birds, lizards, small mammals, and other exotic pets. Accidents are covered from the effective date of the policy, although illnesses have a 14-day waiting period.
- Coverage limit: $500 to unlimited
- Annual deductible: $0 to $2,500
- Reimbursement rate: 50% to 90%
AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance is notable for covering pre-existing conditions, though dental procedures or some common illnesses like Cushing’s Disease, FIV/FELV, or diabetes are not covered. Registered purebreds might be eligible for their first 30 days of coverage free without a waiting period.
Figo
Figo is the largest independent pet insurance provider in the U.S., with generous reimbursement rates that can cover up to 100% of eligible veterinary expenses. Costco members receive a 15% discount on Figo premiums, and Costco Executive members get the $15 enrollment fee waived.
- Coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
- Annual deductible: $100 to $1,500
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%
Spot
Spot’s accident and illness plans cover vet exam fees, microchipping, and end-of-life expenses and have no per-incident or lifetime cap. Policies are underwritten by the Independence American Insurance Company and United States Fire Insurance Company.
- Coverage limit: $2,500 to unlimited
- Annual deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
Embrace
Embrace offers various plans, including accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness policies, available in all 50 states. Clients can receive a 5% discount for their first year and 10% the following year if their claim reimbursements from Embrace are less than $300 per pet annually.
- Coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
- Annual deductible: $100, $250 or $500
- Reimbursement rate: 70%, 80% or 90%
What Pet Insurance Covers
While specific details vary depending on the provider you choose, plans generally fall into one of three categories.
Providers rarely cover pre-existing conditions, although some will cover conditions that have been cured for a certain amount of time, such as broken bones or respiratory infections. Notably, AKC Pet Insurance is a standout for covering incurable pre-existing conditions after a year of continuous enrollment.
Elective procedures, grooming and costs relating to breeding, pregnancy or birth are generally excluded from most policies. Additionally, some plans don’t include hereditary disorders, alternative treatments, or end-of-life expenses.
How Much is Pet Insurance for Older Dogs?
The cost of a pet insurance policy will vary widely based on various factors, including the type of animal, breed, size, gender and age. Furthermore, the specific type of coverage and your geographic location also play a significant role in determining the premium.
In 2023, the average cost for an accident and illness pet insurance policy in the U.S. for dogs was around $56 a month. However, for a 10-year-old dog this average rises to roughly $114 a month.
How to Choose the Right Pet Insurance Company
To find the right pet insurance, you’ll need to determine the type of policy that best fits your needs: accident-only, accident and illness, or a wellness plan. From there, evaluate potential companies based on these factors:
- Availability: Is the plan offered in your state? Does the provider have an age limit that excludes your pet? Does preventative care have to be attached to accident and illness coverage?
- Coverage limits: Many providers have annual, lifetime or per-incident limits. Once you reach these, you will bear the costs yourself. Be sure to understand these limits.
- Deductibles: You will have to decide how much you are willing to pay out-of-pocket before your provider begins paying. Are deductibles per condition or aggregate? Can you customize your deductible to reduce monthly premiums?
- Exclusions: Pre-existing conditions are typically not covered, but some providers don’t cover hereditary or behavioral treatment. Make sure the company has the coverage you need.
- Waiting Periods: Coverage usually begins after specific waiting periods, which are different for injuries, illnesses, and other circumstances. Some providers use year-long qualifying periods for certain conditions.
- Claims Process: Many insurers require you to pay at the point of service and submit for reimbursement. An increasing number, however, offer direct payments to your vet. If this is a must-have, confirm it is available.
- Customer satisfaction: Check out customer reviews on sites such as TrustPilot or the Better Business Bureau website. Major insurers often have ratings from J.D. Power, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners might have data on complaint volumes.
Senior Dog FAQs
When is a dog considered a senior?
The American Animal Hospital Association considers a dog a senior when it’s in the last 25% of its estimated lifespan. Small breeds are usually seniors at 10 to 12. Medium-sized breeds are seniors at 8 or 9 years old, and large breeds fall into the category at 6 or 7 years old.
Can you get pet insurance for a senior dog?
While many companies have no upper limit for enrollment, some providers do limit coverage for older pets, usually at 14 or 15 years old.
Is pet insurance worth it for an older dog?
Pet insurance can be a worthwhile investment for older dogs, as illnesses are more likely to arise as a pet ages. Additionally, a wellness plan can help ensure your dog has more active and healthy years. A policy can also provide end-of-life care by including things like pain management, euthanasia, and burial, should the worst happen.
What’s the best pet insurance company for older dogs?
The right pet insurance company depends on your individual pet’s age, health, breed and other factors. However, we found that Pets Best, MetLife, AKC Pet Insurance, Figo, Spot and Embrace all offer policies for senior dogs with reasonable rates and generous coverage of age-related illnesses.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the CNBC Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
