Best Pet Insurance For Older Dogs Of 2024

You can buy pet insurance for an older dog, but you should typically expect to pay more for pet insurance than you would for a younger dog. That’s because older dogs are more likely to develop health issues and require veterinary care.

The best pet insurance companies offer coverage benefits and perks that are well-suited for senior dogs, such as generous coverage limits, short waiting periods, access to a 24/7 vet telehealth line and the option to add a wellness plan. It’s also worth looking for a pet insurance policy that covers vet exam fees.

Some pet insurance companies set an upper age limit to buy a new policy. For example, the maximum age at which you can buy a new policy for a dog from Healthy Paws or Trupanion is age 14. But if you buy a pet insurance policy before they reach age 14 and keep it, your dog can have lifetime coverage.

Pet insurance policies can generally be broken down into three types, all available for senior dogs.

Accident and Illness Plans

This is the most common type of plan sold, and it covers a wide range of problems. While coverage will vary depending on the pet insurance company, accident and illness plans generally cover:

• Broken bones
• Cancer
• Chronic illnesses like allergies, arthritis, digestive problems and skin conditions
• Common illnesses like diarrhea, ear infections and vomiting
• CT scans or MRIs
• Diabetes
• Emergency care
• Heart disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Hospitalization
• Ingesting objects
• Lab tests
• Prescription medications
• Procedures like chemotherapy, nursing care and surgeries
• Ultrasounds
• Urinary tract infections
• X-rays

Accident-Only Plans

This type of plan only covers accident-related problems, such as broken bones and lacerations. It won’t cover illnesses like cancer or ear infections. Since an accident-only pet insurance policy is designed for emergencies and excludes illnesses, the costs are lower.

Here are some examples of accidents typically covered by an accident-only plan:

• ACL ruptures
• Bite wounds
• Broken bones
• Cuts
• Swallowed objects
• Toxic ingestions

Pet Insurance Wellness Plans

Wellness plans are not standalone policies. They can typically be purchased only as an add-on to an accident and illness policy, but not an accident-only policy. Wellness plans help cover costs such as:

• Flea, tick and heartworm prevention
• Neutering and spaying
• Routine wellness exams
• Vaccinations

A dog is considered senior when they have reached the last 25% of their estimated life span for their breed, according to the American Animal Hospital Association.

For example, a Chihuahua’s estimated lifespan is 15 to 17 years and would be considered senior around age 11. A golden retriever’s estimated lifespan is 11 to 13 years and would be considered a senior around age 7.

Here are some estimates of lifespans for various dog breeds from the American Kennel Club (AKC):

Small and Toy Dog Breeds

Small and toy breeds are less than 20 pounds and have a general lifespan of 10 to 15 years, such as:

• Chihuahua (15 to 17 years)
• English toy spaniel (13 to 15 years)
• Pomeranian (14 to 16 years)
• Russell terrier (12 to 14 years)
• Yorkshire terrier (12 to 15 years)

Medium-Sized Dog Breeds

Medium-sized breeds weigh between 20 to 50 pounds and have a general lifespan of 10 to 13 years, such as:

• Bulldog (10 to 12 years)
• Chow Chow (11 to 13 years)
• Cocker spaniel (13 to 15 years)
• Poodle (12 to 15 years)
• Welsh springer spaniel (13 to 15 years)

Large and Giant Dog Breeds

Large breeds weigh between 50 to 90 pounds and have a general lifespan of eight to 12 years. Giant breeds weigh more than 90 pounds and have a general lifespan of six to seven years.

• Bernese mountain dog (7 to 10 years)
• German shepherd (7 to 10 years)
• Great Dane (8 to 10 years)
• Golden retriever (10 to 12 years)
• Labrador retriever (11 to 13 years)

What Are the Signs of an Aging Dog?

These signs can indicate that your dog is getting old, according to the AKC:

• Bad breath
• Change in activity level
• Changes in sleeping cycle
• Change in weight
• Cloudy eyes
• Compulsive and repetitive behaviors
• Confusion and disorientation
• Difficulty moving around
• Difficulty seeing
• Fear of familiar people and objects
• House soiling
• Incontinence
• Increased anxiety
• Increased barking

Pet insurance for senior dogs works the same as it does for puppies, but the main difference is the cost. The best prices for pet insurance for dogs are after a dog’s first birthday until around age 6, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of pet insurance costs and age-related increases.

Pet insurers use age rating factors to account for the increased likelihood that your dog will need to go to the vet at certain ages, such as puppies and senior dogs. By a dog’s ninth birthday, you can generally expect the age rating factor to double.

Age Rating Factors for Pet Insurance Costs

Age of dog	Base rate % + age rating factor
0 – 11 months	Base rate + 77%
1 year	Base rate
2 years	Base rate
3 years	Base rate + 9%
4 years	Base rate + 23%
5 years	Base rate + 38%
6 years	Base rate + 55%
7 years	Base rate + 71%
8 years	Base rate + 90%
9 years	Base rate + 115%
10 years	Base rate + 143%
11 years	Base rate + 173%
12 years	Base rate + 205%
13 years	Base rate + 229%
14 years	Base rate + 253%
15 years	Base rate + 281%
16 years	Base rate + 312%
17 years	Base rate + 347%
18 years	Base rate + 388%
19 years	Base rate + 435%
20+ years	Base rate + 450%

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Source: State insurance filings from Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.

If you have an old dog, pet insurance can be beneficial, but that doesn’t mean you want to overpay. Here are some ways you can find the best cheap pet insurance for your dog.

Adjust Coverage Levels to Meet Your Budget

When you’re buying a pet insurance policy, you’ll typically have the option to select an annual maximum, deductible and reimbursement level. You can reduce your pet insurance costs by choosing a:

• Lower annual coverage limit. For example, an annual limit of $5,000 is cheaper than unlimited coverage. But make sure you select a coverage amount that is adequate for your senior dog’s needs. If you don’t have enough coverage, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any vet expenses that exceed your coverage limit.
• Higher deductible. The amount of money you need to pay toward vet bills before your coverage kicks in is the insurance deductible. A higher deductible means your insurer will pay less when you file a pet insurance claim, which results in cheaper pet insurance premiums.
• Lower reimbursement level. The reimbursement amount for problems covered by your policy is the reimbursement level. A lower reimbursement level, such as 70%, means you’ll get less back from your insurer when you file a claim. With a 70% reimbursement level, you’ll pay 30% of the vet bill.

Compare Pet Insurance Quotes

The best way to find a good price on pet insurance for older dogs is to compare pet insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies. Not all insurers price their policies the same way, and benefits within policies also vary.

You can get free pet insurance quotes:

• Online: Most pet insurance companies offer free quotes on their websites. You’ll need to answer a few basic questions about your dog. You can use a pet insurance comparison site to look at quotes from several different insurers at once.
• Email, in-person or phone: You can contact a representative from a pet insurance company or an independent insurance agent who sells pet insurance.

Pet Insurance Discounts

Here are some common pet insurance discounts to look for:

• Annual pay discount. You may be able get a price break if you pay your annual pet insurance bill in one lump sum.
• Group discount at work. Your employer may offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit, which could land you a 5% to 10% discount.
• Military discount. Some pet insurance companies offer discounts for military members and veterans.
• Multipet discount. You can typically get a discount if you insure more than one pet.
• Spay/neuter discount. Your pet insurance company may offer a discount if your pet is spayed or neutered.

Since older dogs are more likely to need veterinary care than younger pups, pet insurance can be a good bet for offsetting your dog’s medical expenses. What you pay in pet insurance premiums could be far less than what you would pay out of pocket for a senior dog’s treatment if you don’t have pet insurance.

Here’s a scenario to consider:

• Premiums: Suppose you have unlimited annual pet insurance for your senior dog at about $1,152 per year—which is the estimated average for a dog age 7, based on our analysis—and have paid for one year of coverage so far.
• A major vet bill: Your senior dog is diagnosed with cancer. The average cost of treatment for dogs with cancer is $4,100, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of pet insurance claims. If you have a pet insurance plan with a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement level, your out-of-pocket cost for the treatment would be $860 ($500 deductible + 10% of $3,600 = $860).
• The result: Your premiums for the year and what you paid for cancer treatment add up to $2,012. You avoided paying $2,088 by having pet insurance.

Some owners of senior dogs might decide to skip pet insurance and set aside money in a savings account for the dog’s medical expenses. But if you can’t afford an unexpected vet bill that could be thousands of dollars, pet insurance can be a good way to avoid putting your dog’s vet care on a credit card.

Related: Is pet insurance worth it?

To find the best pet insurance for senior dogs we used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following:

Pet insurance rates for senior dogs: 40% of score. We calculated average rates for dogs for plans with unlimited coverage, a $500 deductible and a 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.

Multipet discount: 5% of score. Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.