The Smart Choice: Why Pet Insurance for Dogs Matters
It can feel like a chore to research pet insurance. However, securing a pet insurance plan for your canine friend is an easy task, and it’s one of the most important things you can do for your dog. Pet insurance is an investment that helps keep your dog healthy and happy. Beyond that, pet insurance also helps to keep your wallet healthy!
When you have insurance, you can concentrate on your dog’s care instead of stressing over vet bills that often run into the thousands. Paying a small monthly premium for pet insurance is worth it when considering the alternative: unexpected vet bills that could lead to financial instability. Unexpected vet bills are a frequent occurrence that can lead to significant financial strain. So, protect your bank account while providing your dog with the best chance of overcoming unexpected health issues by choosing a pet insurance plan today!
Top Pet Insurance Companies: A Quick Comparison
Here’s a look at some of the top pet insurance companies on the market:
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Company Highlights
Here’s a more detailed look at some of our top picks:
Lemonade Pet Insurance
- Best Value
- Maximum Annual Coverage: Up to $100,000
- Reimbursement Options: 90%, 80% or 70%
- Annual Deductible Options: $100, $250, or $500
- Wellness Plan Option: Yes
- Multi-Pet Discount: Yes
Lemonade stands out as one of the best pet insurance choices, offering a seamless and modern insurance experience. A sample rate for a one-year-old male mixed breed dog using the zip code 75001 (Texas) is $20.00 per month. Click the link to get the best possible price.
Embrace Pet Insurance
- Best for Superior Benefits
- Maximum Annual Coverage: $5,000 – $30,000
- Reimbursement Options: 90%, 80%, or 70%
- Annual Deductible Options: $200, $300, $500, $750, or $1,000
- Wellness Plan Option: Yes
- Multi-Pet Discount: Yes
Embrace offers flexibility in choosing your annual coverage maximums, starting from $5,000 and going up to $30,000. For example, in the 75001 zip code (Texas), the monthly rate for a one-year-old male mixed-breed dog is $42.35.
Many Pets
- Covers Curable Pre-Existing Conditions
- Maximum Annual Coverage: Unlimited
- Reimbursement Options: 90%, 80%, or 70%
- Annual Deductible Options: $100, $250, or $500
- Wellness Plan Option: Yes
- Multi-Pet Discount: No
Many Pets allows you to visit any licensed veterinarian. There are no limits on payouts. For a one-year-old male mixed breed dog in the 75001 zip code (Texas), the estimated monthly rate is $30.00 per month.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It? What Dog Owners Say
We asked dog owners what they thought of pet insurance, and here’s what they shared:
- “Pet insurance is “worth it” if you can afford the cost of the insurance, but could not afford an emergency vet bill. However, the best plan is to only get a pet if you can afford vet care, & to have a special savings account set aside for pet emergency care.” – Louise
- “Very much worth it. I have Nationwide. It used to be VPI. It doesn’t cover things in full, but it very much helps. More then paid for itself with my first two dogs. Haven’t needed it much with the two I have now but if something happens, I won’t hesitate to get the best treatment I can. It really helps.” – Beth
- “Yes it is worth it. But you need to shop wisely for it. I have care credit that is used when needed. With no excluded treatments because it’s up to me! Great rates and options to pay back. Saved my bank account a number of times.” – Jennifer
- “Always worth it with my previous pet dog, Louie (French bulldog) and current pet dog, Lucy (dachshund). It’s more than paid for itself each time. Unless you can cough up $10,000 for an emergency surgery I suggest you get pet insurance. Healthy Paws I highly recommend!!!” – Leo
- “My vet one time said…my a “Dogs are Expensive” account. Whatever the going rate for pet insurance is…say $100…put that monthly in the “D A E” account. If you are ahead at the end of the year roll that money over….then, if you do need a big sum you have it, and if you don’t the $ is in your pocket and not the insurance company’s… whatever you decide..good luck!” – Peggy
- “With my last dog no. I paid 17 years and never made a claim. With the two I have now definitely. My JR managed to get a dog toy piece stuck in her intestine – hugh, expensive op so worth it. I don’t like the fact that even though my dogs are both young, the premium has gone way up however. 3&2 are not senior dogs.” – Kit
- “Before just checking quotes check with your vet or ones in your area. The one problem with many pet insurances it actually may affect the cost a vet or clinic may charge for a service based on what they may have to pay or what they need to do get paid. For example a base xray charge may be $100 if you pay yourself but say you use insurance A that may cost the clinic so much a year to be a member or requires so much documentation or takes so long for payment may increase the charge to $130-150 .Then if you have a deductible you will be paying more. Your vet will also know which ones are more reliable for your area and for the needs for your breed.” – Candi
- “I would never have a pet without insurance. Way too risky for those sudden and age related injuries/health issues . Everyday check- ups and vaccines are incidental costs compared to many things that can go wrong w ur furry family member” – Holly
- “I’m furious that insurance companies have now made owning pets incredibly expensive. Once insurance companies enter into the equation, the price for everything goes “through the roof.” I wish these monsters would be regulated and insurance, health care was NON PROFIT!!!!!!” – Rhonda
- “Yes Healthy Paws has been great. My Boston is on constant eye meds for about 6 years and 2 surgeries. I have 80 percent and they pay right away.” – Lynda
- “Worth it if you plan ahead. One of my dogs I adopted and got insurance a year or so later and insurance has denied EVERYTHING…even an ear infection at 10 years old, as a preexisting condition because she had one when she was 3years old. My other dog I got insurance right away (lesson learned!) and it has been a huge benefit because ten years later he had significant medical expenses that were covered at 90% I could not be more thankful to have the insurance” – Shannon
- “Definitely worth every penny! Our Shitz tore her ACL, swallowed my husband’s hearing aid, puts everything in her mouth!!! We have Healthy Paws. Very pleased. Just wish we went with 90% coverage instead of 80%. Get it BEFORE they have an issue!!” – Jan
- “Nope not worth it. I love my babies but, it’s like human insurance, Hardly worth getting. More n likely whatever your pet has insurance won’t cover it so your still gonna pay out the ying yang. So here we are paying out the ying yang for insurance and still paying high dollar to a vet.” – Nancy
- “Yes. My sweet hound developed allergies. The insurance covers are $73. Apoquel prescription plus everything else that goes wrong. She had a cough with meds the bill was over $400. Very happy we have insurance.” – Pamela
- “Yes! For 10 years I never had to use it. Then my dog got very sick and needed to go to the animal hospital. She was diagnosed with diabetes and cushings disease and the costs for all the medications and testing she undergoes until we get her regulated is exorbitant. With the insurance I’ve been getting most of it back.” – Erica
- “Worth it! Preventative/wellness services usually aren’t included with accident/injury plans, but most insurances offer that separately (for more money). Get coverage asap when you get a pet… preexisting conditions are almost never covered and the older a dog gets, the higher the cost gets. I had Nationwide through my previous employer. The plans were supposed to follow my pets for life, after I left the job, but (long story short) the plans were cancelled. So now I’m getting new insurance through ManyPets for a dog who was 9 when I got the Nationwide plan, but is now 13 – with preexisting conditions. For all three of my dogs, it’s about $235/month (that’s with the optional wellness plans added for each). But if anything happens to any of my “kids”, I pay a $250 annual deductible, then ManyPets covers 80% – with no lifetime limit.” – Andrea
- “Yes. It’s worth it. You never know what might happen. I see so many go fund me’s to help animals when insurance would have covered it. Fyi, Trupanion is slightly more expensive but can pay the Vet directly if the Vet is signed up on their system. I have my 2 dogs and 2 cats covered.” – Blythe
Making the Right Choice
Choosing the best insurance company for your dog depends on what your dog and your budget require. After reviewing the quotes, use our tool to determine the cost of pet insurance for your dog!
