Best Dog Insurance
- Get up to 90% back at any vet
- Comprehensive illness & accident coverage – no levels
- Optional wellness plan covers routine vet, grooming, & training costs
- Customizable annual deductible, annual limit, & reimbursement percentage
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee*
- Up to 90% reimbursement on eligible vet bills
- Multi-pet discount & access to 24/7 vet helpline
- Visit any U.S. licensed veterinarian or specialist
- Accident, illness, and optional preventive care coverage available
- Comprehensive coverage at affordable prices
- No upper age limit on enrollment
- Choose $5000 annual or unlimited benefits
- 24/7 veterinary support line for all customers
- Coverage options for less than $1 a day
- Reimbursement for up to 100% of vet costs
- Customizable deductible and reimbursement rates
- Take your pet to any licensed vet, emergency clinic, or specialist in the US
- Coverage for pets of any age and breed
- Family plans with a single deductible for the whole furry family
The expenses incurred by pet parents for veterinary care and treatment have skyrocketed in the United States in recent years. In search of peace of mind when it comes to their dogs, owners are signing them up for pet insurance coverage at equal rates. If you're currently in the market for a policy, read on to find out if one of our picks for best dog insurance is a right fit for you.
If these providers don't cover all of your pet's needs, check out our article on the best pet insurance companies, which has been curated and updated on a monthly basis since 2016.
Our Top Picks for Best Dog Insurance
- Pets Best – Best Dog Insurance for Early Enrollment Age for Puppies
- Figo – Best Dog Insurance for Cancer Treatments
- Embrace – Best Dog Insurance for Deductible and Maximum Payout Options
- Lemonade – Best Dog Insurance for Streamlined Claims
- Spot – Best Dog Insurance for Comprehensive Base Policies
Best Dog Pet Insurance Reviews
Best Dog Insurance for Early Enrollment Age for Puppies: Pets Best
- Annual deductibles
- $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1K
- Annual payout limits
- $5K or unlimited
- Coinsurance
- 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting periods
- 3 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Sample quotes
- $20.45 - $102.24
- Coverage for care from licensed veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada
- Minimum enrollment age of seven weeks
- Annual deductible options start at $50
- Add-on required for alternative therapies and treatments
- Slower claims processing times than competitors
With Pets Best, dogs may be enrolled in a pet insurance policy as soon as they reach seven weeks of age, which differs from most pet insurance providers' eight-week minimum age limit. Although Pets Best doesn't offer a wide range of annual coverage limits, it does offer an unlimited option and its deductibles start as low as $50. Coverage for accidents kicks off after three days, while illnesses are covered after fourteen days.
All three of Pets Best's accident and illness plans are completely customizable, allowing customers to choose annual limits and deductibles as well as the reimbursement level they prefer and can afford. Each policy comes with access to Pet's Best's online portal and mobile app, which they can use to file and manage claims. Dental cleanings, wellness exams, spaying and neutering, heartworm prevention and other wellness procedures are covered by the carrier's optional wellness coverage.
Best Dog Insurance for Cancer Treatments: Figo
- Annual deductibles
- $100, $250, $500 or $750
- Annual payout limits
- $5K, $10K or unlimited
- Coinsurance
- 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%
- Waiting periods
- 1 day for accidents, 14 days for illnesses (6 months for hip dysplasia and knee conditions)
- Sample quotes
- $21.18 - $133.44
- Coinsurance options of up to 100% available
- Customizable pet insurance plans
- International vet care covered
- Enrollment age limit for hereditary conditions coverage
- Deductibles under $500 not eligible for 100% reimbursement
Figo's coverage for cutting-edge cancer treatments is one of the main reasons the company made our top picks. Aside from cancer, basic coverage for innovative treatments extends to rehabilitation services and therapies such as underwater treadmill therapy, cryotherapy, therapeutic swimming, laser and heat therapy and more.
Another standout feature from Figo is its 100% coinsurance option. However, this reimbursement level requires pet owners to select an annual deductible of $500 or more. The company offers a one-day waiting period for accidents, the shortest in our list, and fourteen for illnesses that aren't orthopedic. For conditions like hip dysplasia and knee ligament issues, owners will need to wait six months. Figo's basic coverage includes imaging and diagnostic testing such as CAT scans, blood tests, and X-rays. However, vet exam fee coverage has an additional cost.
Best Dog Insurance for Deductible and Maximum Payout Options: Embrace
- Annual deductibles
- $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1K
- Annual payout limits
- $5K, $8K, $10K, $15K or unlimited
- Coinsurance
- 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting periods
- 2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Sample quotes
- $35.91 - $128.24
- Coverage for ambulance transportation costs
- Short 2-day accident waiting period
- Abroad vet care coverage included
- 10% multi-pet discount
- No coverage for prescription medications under base policy
- Low cap for dental illness coverage
With Embrace, pet owners may customize their own pet insurance policy and choose from its selection of annual maximum payouts and deductibles. Basic accident and illness policies from the company provide coverage for genetic, chronic, and congenital disorders, cancer treatments, dental trauma, etc. Embrace's waiting periods are two days for accidents and fourteen for illnesses.
Policies from Embrace Pet include a straightforward claims submission process via the MyEmbrace platform and round-the-clock veterinarian support. Embrace offers a wellness add-on with a customizable annual limit that features coverage for preventative care, training, grooming and more. Other riders policyholders can add to their policies include coverage for vet exam fees and prescription drugs.
Best Dog Insurance for Streamlined Claims: Lemonade
- Annual deductibles
- $100, $250, $500 or $750
- Annual payout limits
- $5K, $10K, $20K, $50K or $100K
- Coinsurance
- 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting periods
- 2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
- Sample quotes
- $25.73 - $141.62
- Claims processed in minutes through mobile app
- Proceeds can be donated to charities chosen by policyholders
- AI-powered claims processing
- Dental illnesses not covered under base policy
- No unlimited annual coverage option available
- Only available in 38 states
Lemonade offers policyholders a streamlined, AI-powered claims tool that can get them approved in minutes when they're submitted through the company's app. Lemonade's accident and illness policy covers costs associated with diagnosis, procedures and medications prescribed for treatment. Coverage for accidents has a brief 2-day waiting period, while illnesses are covered after fourteen days.
Owners can choose additional riders for their policies, which include a puppy preventive care package, vet exam fees and more. Unfortunately, Lemonade can only be found in 38 states. And although potential customers can use Lemonade's quote tool to gauge the cost of the policy they might be interested in, the tool reportedly requires more information than competitors to produce quotes.
Best Dog Insurance for Comprehensive Base Policies: Spot
- Annual deductibles
- $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1K
- Annual payout limits
- $2.5K, $3K, $5K, $7K, $10K or unlimited
- Coinsurance
- 70%, 80% or 90%
- Waiting periods
- 14 days for accidents and illnesses
- Sample quotes
- $20.42 - $246.21
- Base policy covers microchip implantation and virtual vet visits
- Vet exam fees covered at no extra cost
- Coverage includes alternative and behavioral therapy
- Non-annual payments require transaction fees
- High monthly premiums compared to competitors
Spot's basic accident and illness policy offers the most comprehensive coverage out of all of our top picks. Aside from covering costs for diagnostic tests and veterinary exams, Spot covers microchip implantations, acupuncture, online consultations with veterinarians and more. Furthermore, Spot gives policyholders a longer window of time (270 days) to submit their claims and remain eligible for payment.
The only downside to all the benefits offered by Spot's policies is their above-average monthly premium rates and the transaction fees that come with not making annual payments. Furthermore, Spot has a lengthier waiting period for accidents —14 days— than the other providers in our list.
Other Companies We Considered
Other companies that didn't make our list, but are worth looking into include the following:
Dog Insurance Guide
Before committing to a provider and enrolling your pet, you should be familiar with some of the basics of pet health insurance. Read on to get a refresher on what pet insurance covers and how it works as well as average costs for accident and illness policies.
What does dog insurance cover?
Depending on the type of policy (whether an accident and illness or accident-only plan), your dog insurance should cover part of your vet bills when your pet needs to be diagnosed and treated for an illness or injury resulting from an accident.
How does dog insurance work?
Dog insurance policies, just as cat insurance and even insurance for exotic pets, requires owners to pay monthly premiums as well as an annual deductible. When an insured pet requires veterinary care, you pay for your vet bill out of pocket and your pet insurance provider reimburses you for part or all the expenses you incurred. Your policy's fine print will specify for which services, procedures and medications you can get reimbursed.
Dog insurance costs
Pet insurance costs depend on a number of factors, starting with the type of pet you own and the state you reside in. Your pet's age, breed and health history will also be considered by your carrier. Policy details that go into the monthly premiums and overall cost you will pay for an accident and illness policy include your chosen annual deductible and payout limits, coinsurance rate and additional coverage.
Average cost of dog insurance
Gauging the average cost of dog healthcare policies entailed obtaining pet insurance quotes from each of the carriers we selected. We requested quotes for a one-year-old female dog residing in Florida. According to these estimates, pet parents can expect to pay approximately $24.74 – $150.35 in monthly premiums for an accident and illness policy. We strongly recommend getting personalized quotes from carriers to get more accurate estimates.
Best Dog Insurance FAQs
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How We Chose the Best Dog Insurance
In order to gauge which providers offered the best insurance and overall experience for policyholders, we delved into each of their accident and illness plans looking for the policy details we deemed most important. Among these factors are the following:
- Enrollment requirements and limits
- Exclusions (pre-existing conditions, routine care, vaccinations, etc.)
- Reimbursement rate options
- Annual limit options
- Deductible options
- Waiting periods
- Claims processing times and tools
- Optional coverage (wellness plans, preventive care packages, etc.)
- Discounts
