Cherry eye, breathing problems and autoimmune skin disorders are just a few of the problems that are common to French bulldogs. But as a French bulldog owner, you may also have to contend with other problems, such as major illnesses like cancer and heart disease, and accidents such as ingested foreign objects and torn ligaments.
Pet insurance is a good way to help offset unexpected veterinary expenses. We evaluated 13 plans to help you find the best pet insurance for French bulldogs.
- Best Pet Insurance For French Bulldogs 2024
- Summary: Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs
- Cost Comparison: French Bulldog Insurance
- What Is French Bulldog Pet Insurance?
- What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
- What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?
- How Does Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs Work?
- What Are Common Medical Problems for French Bulldogs?
- How Much Does Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs Cost?
- How to Find the Best Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs
- Methodology
Best Pet Insurance For French Bulldogs 2024
Summary: Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Reimbursement choices | Deductible choices | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lemonade | 5.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500 | |||
ManyPets | 5.0 | 70% or 80% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $500 | |||
Pets Best | 5.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | |||
Embrace | 4.5 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500 | |||
Paw Protect | 4.5 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500 | |||
Pumpkin | 4.0 | 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500 | |||
Spot | 4.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | |||
Figo | 3.5 | 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500, $750 | |||
Healthy Paws | 3.5 | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $50, $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | |||
MetLife | 3.5 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $50, $100, $250, $500 | |||
ASPCA | 3.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $100, $250, $500 | |||
Trupanion | 1.5 | 50% to 100% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | No deductible | |||
Fetch | 1.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | Compare Plans | Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website | $300, $500, $700 |
Reimbursement and deductible choices may vary by state.
Cost Comparison: French Bulldog Insurance
The best pet insurance companies combine a good price with ample coverage benefits. As you’ll see below, the cost of pet insurance for a French bulldog varies by company.
But you don’t want to choose a pet insurance plan based on price alone. Make sure the policy has coverage options and benefits that fit your needs. For example, an optional wellness plan and access to a 24/7 vet helpline may be important to you.
Average Costs for Unlimited Annual Coverage
Company | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
---|---|---|
Metlife
|
$5
|
$61
|
Lemonade
|
$6
|
$69
|
Pets Best
|
$6
|
$75
|
ManyPets
|
$7
|
$87
|
Healthy Paws
|
$7
|
$87
|
ASPCA
|
$7
|
$88
|
Figo
|
$8
|
$93
|
Embrace
|
$9
|
$111
|
Paw Protect
|
$9
|
$111
|
Pumpkin
|
$10
|
$121
|
Spot
|
$10
|
$123
|
Fetch by The Dodo
|
$12
|
$143
|
Trupanion
|
$13
|
$158
|
Average
|
$8
|
$101
|
Source: Forbes Advisor analysis of data from PetInsurer.com. Average rates are based on unlimited annual coverage, a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement level, or the closest match available from each insurer.
What Is French Bulldog Pet Insurance?
French bulldog insurance is a pet insurance plan for a French bulldog that helps pay for veterinary expenses and sometimes other costs, like wellness-related expenses, if you buy an optional wellness plan. Pet insurance is usually reimbursement-based, which means you’ll pay up front for your French bulldog’s vet bills and then file a claim with your insurer and wait for reimbursement.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
The types of problems covered by pet insurance depend on the type of plan you buy. There are generally three types of plans: accident and illness plans, accident-only plans and optional wellness plans.
An accident and illness plan covers vet expenses such as:
- Accidents such as poisonings, sprains and broken bones.
- Diagnostics such as X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.
- Illnesses such as cancer, infections, diarrhea and vomiting.
- Hospitalizations.
- Prescription medications.
- Procedures such as chemotherapy and surgeries.
Accident-only plans cover vet bills for accidents, like getting struck by a vehicle or bite wounds. They won’t cover illness-related vet expenses such as diabetes or heart disease.
The best wellness plans for routine care cover expenses such as annual veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, dental cleaning, spaying and neutering, and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. You can typically add a wellness plan only to an accident and illness plan, but not all pet insurers offer wellness plans.
What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?
Common exclusions found in pet insurance plans include:
- Boarding and kennel fees.
- Breeding, whelping and pregnancy costs.
- Grooming. This also includes nail trims and shampoos.
- Expenses not related to veterinary care. Taxes or administrative fees charged by your vet aren’t usually covered.
- Food and supplements. These can include your pet’s regular dietary needs and vitamins. Prescription food is covered by some pet insurance plans.
- Lost or stolen pets. Most plans won’t cover lost or stolen pets, but some insurers such as Figo pet insurance cover advertising and rewards if you purchase the Extra Care Pack.
- Pre-existing conditions. Illnesses and injuries that began before your plan begins are not covered. Some pet insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions that are considered curable if your French bulldog remains free of symptoms and treatment for a period, such as 180 days.
- Preventative and elective procedures. This may include declawing, ear cropping and tail docking.
- Routine wellness exams. You’ll need to add an optional wellness plan to your accident and illness plan if you want coverage for routine wellness exams and other wellness-related expenses.
- Vaccines. A standard pet insurance plan does not cover the cost of dog vaccinations, but many wellness plans do cover vaccines.
How Does Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs Work?
Pet insurance for French bulldogs is like a health insurance policy that covers mainly veterinary expenses. The major difference is pet insurance is usually reimbursement-based, meaning you’ll pay up front for your French bulldog’s vet bills and submit a claim for reimbursement. Your insurer will reimburse you for problems covered by the policy.
The portion reimbursed by pet insurance will depend on your annual limit, deductible and reimbursement percentage. There’s also a “waiting period” before your coverage kicks in after you buy the initial policy.
To get a better understanding of how pet insurance works, here’s what each of those terms mean.
Waiting Period
Pet insurance companies have waiting periods after purchase, which is the specific amount of time before coverage begins:
- Accident waiting period (typically one to 14 days).
- Illness waiting period (typically 14 days).
- Extended waiting period (typically six to 12 months, but not all insurers have this waiting period).
The length of the waiting period will depend on the pet insurance company. For example, Lemonade pet insurance has a two-day waiting period for accidents, which is one of the shortest waiting periods you’ll find. But it also has a six-month extended waiting period for cruciate ligament issues. Not all insurers have an extended waiting period for cruciate ligament issues.
If you visit the vet before the waiting period ends, you won’t be reimbursed for the vet costs.
You can find pet insurance with no waiting period. For example, ManyPets does not have an extended waiting period for problems like cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia, and the company will reduce the accident and illness waiting period to 24 hours if you switch over from another pet insurance company.
Maximum Annual Limit
The amount your pet insurance company will reimburse you in a policy year is the annual coverage limit. Common annual limits are $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited coverage.
Choosing a lower annual limit will result in cheaper pet insurance costs, but you’ll have to pay for any vet bills that exceed your annual limit.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount of money you need to pay out of pocket for vet bills before your coverage begins. Common deductible choices are $100, $250, $500 or $1,000.
Choosing a higher deductible will result in cheaper pet insurance since your insurer will pay out less if you file a pet insurance claim.
Reimbursement Percentage
The amount your insurer reimburses you for problems covered by your plan is the reimbursement percentage. Common reimbursement percentages are 70%, 80% and 90%.
A lower reimbursement percentage will result in cheaper pet insurance costs because your insurer will pay less if you file a pet insurance claim.
What Are Common Medical Problems for French Bulldogs?
While French bulldogs are known for being playful, smart and adaptable, they’re also known for having certain medical problems related to their flat faces and skin folds. These characteristics make them much more susceptible to various health problems, such as:
- Autoimmune skin disorders
- Brain tumors
- Breathing problems including sensitivity to anesthesia, heat and humidity
- Congenital spine malformation
- Eye conditions such as cherry eye and juvenile cataracts
- Entropion
- Intervertebral disc disease
- Obesity
- Skin allergies and skin fold dermatitis
How Much Does Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs Cost?
The average cost of pet insurance for a French bulldog is about $8 per month, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis. That’s for a policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement level.
Your French bulldog pet insurance costs will depend on factors such as:
- The bulldog’s age
- Your dog’s gender
- Where you live
- Your plan’s annual maximum, deductible and reimbursement level
How to Find the Best Pet Insurance for French Bulldogs
When you’re shopping for the best pet insurance for French bulldogs, you’ll want to consider important benefits like an optional wellness plan and vet helplines. Here are some things to consider to help you find a good plan for your Frenchie:
- Policies that offer an optional wellness plan: A wellness plan helps cover the cost of routine wellness exams, vaccinations, and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. Many insurers offer a wellness plan that you can add to an accident and illness plan.
- 24/7 vet healthlines: If your Frenchie is sick at 3 a.m. on a Sunday morning, chances are your vet is not open. Access to a 24/7 vet helpline could save you a trip to the emergency room.
- Plans with a multi-pet discount: If your Frenchie has a pal like another dog or cat, it’s worth looking for multi-pet insurance. Some insurers offer a discount of 5% or 10% if you insure more than one dog or cat.
- Plans that pay your vet directly: Some insurers will pay your vet directly, which means you won’t have to pay up front and wait for reimbursement. For example, Trupanion pet insurance pays your vet directly if they have Trupanion’s software.
- Get quotes from several insurers: The best way to find a good price for a good plan is to compare pet insurance quotes among multiple insurance companies. Not all pet insurers price their policies for French bulldogs the same, so don’t skip this important step.
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance for French bulldogs, we used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following.
Pet insurance rates: 40% of score. We calculated average rates for a French bulldog at three ages in California, Pennsylvania and Texas with unlimited coverage, a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
Special waiting period: 10% of score. Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.
Direct payment to vet: 10% of score. Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.
24/7 vet health line: 10% of score. Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line scored in this category.
Routine wellness plans: 10% of score. Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
Pays veterinary exam fees: 10% of score. Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit. Plans that cover the vet exam fee scored in this category.
Euthanasia or end of life expenses: 5% of score. Insurers that cover end of life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, scored in this category.
Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multi-pet discount earned points.
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