Puppies are adorable, but they can also be mini-terrors. As they explore their new homes, they can manage to get into all kinds of trouble, like chewing on wires, swallowing small objects and tasting dangerous plants. And then there’s the outside world, full of cars, people and adult dogs that are ready to put a rambunctious puppy in its place.
Accidents are bound to happen. If your puppy gets injured or sick, pet insurance can cover the medical expenses. And a policy may be more affordable than you think.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is a health insurance policy for a pet (usually a dog or cat) that helps pay for veterinarian bills and sometimes other costs. Pet insurance policies are typically reimbursement-based, meaning you pay up-front for the vet bills and then submit a claim to the insurance company. A few companies can pay the vet directly, which helps keep your out-of-pocket payments low.
There’s usually a deductible before coverage starts. For example, you might pay the first $500 in vet bills before the pet insurance starts to pay.
Even after you pay the deductible, the pet insurance may not pay 100% of vet bills. You can typically choose your reimbursement level. Common reimbursement options are 70%, 80% or 90% of vet bills.
What Does Puppy Insurance Cover?
What’s covered by puppy insurance will depend on the type of plan you buy. Pet insurance plans are generally available in three varieties:
- Accident and illness plans (the most common)
- Accident-only plans
- Wellness plans for routine care such as vaccinations, usually available as an add-on
Accident and illness plans generally cover injury or sickness such as broken bones, cancer, hereditary conditions and congenital conditions, and more. Accident-only plans cover only accident-related problems, like a broken bone.
You can add a routine wellness plan to many pet insurance policies. This will offset the cost of the annual vet wellness visit, vaccinations, heartworm treatment and other routine care costs that help keep your pet healthy.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost for a Puppy?
The average cost of pet insurance for a puppy is $44 per month, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level. The cost of a policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement level is $57 per month.
Average Cost of Puppy Insurance for $5,000 in Annual Coverage
Source: Forbes Advisor analysis of pet insurance costs based on data provided by PetInsurer.com. Based on policies with a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level.
Average Cost of Puppy Insurance for Unlimited Annual Coverage
Source: Forbes Advisor analysis of pet insurance costs based on data provided by PetInsurer.com. Based on policies with a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement level
Average Cost of Medical Treatment for Dogs
The average cost of a pet medical treatment can be thousands of dollars, depending on the problem, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of vet visit costs. Without pet insurance, you would have to cover the entire cost of your puppy’s treatment out of your own pocket.
| Condition | Average cost of treatment for dogs |
|---|---|
|
Cancer
|
$4,100
|
|
Ingested foreign objects
|
$3,500
|
|
Diabetes
|
$2,700
|
|
Broken bone
|
$2,700
|
|
Heart murmur
|
$1,200
|
|
Dental disease
|
$600
|
|
Bladder infection/urinary tract infection
|
$400
|
|
Eye conditions
|
$300
|
Source: Pets Best, based on claims costs from 2017 to 2021.
Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover Pre-Existing Conditions
It’s a good idea to buy pet insurance when your dog is a puppy, before it develops any health problems. That’s because pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. Pet insurance companies usually consider a pre-existing condition to be an illness or injury that started prior to coverage beginning, including any waiting period.
For example, if your puppy was limping before your waiting period and coverage started, treatment for the leg wouldn’t be covered by the plan.
Some insurers extend coverage to “curable” pet pre-existing conditions, like an ear infection. For example, ASPCA pet insurance will cover curable conditions if your puppy is free of symptoms and treatment for 180 days. Conditions that recur after 180 days are treated as a new problem and are covered.
How to Buy Pet Insurance for a Puppy
The best way to find a policy within your budget is to compare pet insurance quotes from several insurers.
You can find free pet insurance quotes:
- Online: Pet insurance companies typically offer free quotes online. You’ll usually answer a few basic questions about your puppy. You can also use a pet insurance comparison site to look at several options at once.
- Phone, email or in-person: If you prefer, you can contact a representative from a pet insurance company or work with an independent insurance agent who sells pet insurance.
Is Pet Insurance for a Puppy Worth It?
A good way to determine if pet insurance is worth it is to consider how a major veterinary bill could impact your personal finances versus the monthly cost of pet insurance. A vet bill for unexpected accidents and illnesses can easily set you back thousands of dollars.
For example, if your puppy ingests a foreign object, the average cost of treatment is $3,500, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis. Without pet insurance, you would have to pay this amount yourself.
Some pet owners might decide to forego pet insurance and instead set aside money in a savings account to pay for unexpected veterinary expenses. But not every pet owner can afford to set aside thousands of dollars for problems like cancer treatment or a broken bone. If you’re on the fence when trying to decide if pet insurance is worth it, ask yourself:
- How much are you willing to pay out-of-pocket for unexpected vet bills?
- How would you pay for a major unexpected vet bill for accidents and illnesses?
Puppy insurance can be a smart financial safeguard for the unexpected medical problems that are usually bound to happen. Check the details of the puppy insurance policies you’re considering. Some offer reimbursement for non-medical costs, too, such as microchipping and behavioral therapy.
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