Author: heathermorris2

Your pet insurance costs will depend on factors like the type of pet, deductible and reimbursement percentage. To help you get an idea of how much you can expect to pay for pet insurance, we crunched more than 478,000 pet insurance rates.

How Much Is Pet Insurance?

The table below shows the average monthly cost of pet insurance for cats and dogs, Based on our analysis for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level. 

How Much Is Pet Insurance for Dogs?

Pet insurance costs an average of $56 per month for a dog for $5,000 of annual coverage, based on our analysis. The average pet insurance cost for a dog is $87 per month for a policy with unlimited annual coverage. Dog owners can expect to pay anywhere from about $24 to $286 per month for pet insurance, depending on the dog’s age, the amount of coverage and the insurance company. 

Compare Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs by Age

Pet insurance costs for dogs increase with age. That’s because older dogs are more likely to develop health problems and need vet care as they get older. The table below shows the average monthly pet insurance cost for dogs depending on their age. 

Source: Forbes Advisor research based on plans with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

Compare Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs by Company

The table below shows the average monthly cost of pet insurance for dogs by the top pet insurance companies. 

Source: Forbes Advisor research. Costs are based on plans with $5,000 annual coverage ($10,000 for Prudent Pet) and unlimited annual coverage ($100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. Chewy Essential Plus, Pumpkin and Trupanion do not offer an 80% reimbursement level, rates are based on a 90% reimbursement level.

Compare Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs by Breed 

Breed plays a major role in your dog insurance costs. Small mixed breed dogs are the cheapest to insure while Rottweilers are the most expensive. 

The table below shows the average monthly cost of pet insurance for dogs by breed. 

Source: Forbes Advisor research based on plans with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level for dogs age 3.

Average Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs by State 

The table below shows the average monthly cost of pet insurance for dogs by state. 

Source: Forbes Advisor research

How Much Is Pet Insurance for Cats?

Pet insurance costs an average of $24 per month for a cat for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level. A policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level costs $37 per month.

The insurer and age of the cat affects how much you will pay. Cat owners can expect to pay anywhere from about $18 to $87 per month for pet insurance, depending on the cat’s age, the amount of coverage and the insurance company. 

Pet Insurance Cost by Cat Age

The table below shows the average monthly pet insurance cost for cats depending on their age. The policies used to calculated the rates below include a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement level.

Source: Forbes Advisor research

Cost of Cat Insurance by Company 

The table below shows the average monthly pet insurance cost for cats by the top pet insurance companies. 

Source: Forbes Advisor research. Costs are based on plans with $5,000 annual coverage ($10,000 for Prudent Pet) and unlimited annual coverage ($100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. Chewy Essential Plus, Pumpkin and Trupanion do not offer a 80% reimbursement level, rates are based on a 90% reimbursement level.

Cost of Cat Insurance by Breed 

The table below shows the average monthly pet insurance cost for cats by breed 

Source: Forbes Advisor research based on plans with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level for cat age 3.

Average Cat Insurance Cost by State 

The table below shows the average monthly pet insurance cost for cats by state. 

Source: Forbes Advisor research

Average Cost of Veterinary Care and Medical Treatments for Cats and Dogs 

The average vet visit cost is $70, according to an Advisor analysis of veterinarian costs. But your vet bills could quickly add up depending on the types of services your pet needs, including vaccinations or treatments for accidents and illnesses. Here’s a look at the average cost of a veterinary visit in different states. 

Cost of Veterinary Care by State 

The table below shows the average cost for veterinary care in each state. 

Source: Banfield Pet Hospital

Average Cost of Medical Treatments for Cats and Dogs 

The table below shows the average cost of medical treatments for different medical conditions that are common for cats and dogs. 

Source: Pets Best, based on claims data from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023

7 Factors That Impact Pet Insurance Prices

Pet insurance companies use multiple factors when setting rates. 

1. Coverage Type

One of the biggest factors determining pet insurance cost is the coverage. For example, a comprehensive policy that covers a range of treatments and also routine care will cost more than an accident-only policy. 

Your coverage choices depend on the pet insurance company. Here are the common types of pet insurance plans: 

• Comprehensive pet insurance plan. A comprehensive pet insurance plan will combine an accident and illness policy with a routine care plan. This is the most expensive type of plan because it covers the most problems.
• Accident and illness coverage. This type of policy helps pay for vet bills for unexpected incidents, such as sprains from accidents, poisonings and common illnesses, such as ear infections. This might also cover lab tests, surgeries, hospitalization, prescription medications and emergency care.
• Accident-only coverage. This type of policy covers certain medical expenses if your pet suffers an accident, such as a broken bone. Coverage might include diagnostic tests, surgeries, X-rays, hospitalization, prescription medications and emergency care. This is the cheapest type of plan because it covers the fewest problems.
• Routine wellness plans. This type of policy covers medical expenses for wellness exams, flea and heartworm prevention, vaccinations and other routine annual care. You can typically add this to your accident and illness plan. The average cost for a wellness plan for dogs is $24 per month and $22 per month for cats (that’s on top of the monthly cost for your pet insurance plan).

2. Deductibles

A deductible is the amount of money you pay out of pocket every year to a veterinarian before coverage starts. You can typically choose a pet insurance deductible that ranges from $0 to $1,000.

The higher your deductible amount, the less you pay in pet insurance costs.

3. Reimbursement Levels

Pet insurance policies are reimbursement-based, meaning you usually have to pay up front for your pet’s medical bills and submit a claim to the pet insurance company.

Once you meet the deductible for your plan by paying out-of-pocket, coverage kicks in at the level outlined in the plan. You can typically choose reimbursement options of 70%, 80% or 90% of the pet medical expenses that are covered by the plan. 

Pet insurance costs are higher for better levels of reimbursement. 

For example, say you have a pet insurance plan with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement level:

• If the pet has a medical procedure that costs $1,500 and it’s your first claim of the policy period, you would first pay $1,500 to the vet.
• The first $500 of that is your deductible.
• Then you’d be reimbursed 80% of the remaining $1,000, for a reimbursement of $800.

4. Pet’s Breed

Your pet’s breed is a factor in determining pet insurance costs. That’s because some breeds are predisposed to illnesses, which typically translates to more veterinary visits and higher medical bills. For example, some larger breeds of dogs are more susceptible to heart and hip issues.

In our analysis of filings by pet insurers to state regulators, we found many pricing levels based on dog breeds but little variation for cats.

Cats are cheaper to insure than dogs. And birds, reptiles, rabbits and ferrets cost less to insure than cats.

5. Age of Pet

A pet’s age is another piece of the pet insurance cost puzzle. As your pet gets older, the chances of illness and injury increase, which results in higher pet insurance costs. We analyzed age rating factors for a Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. policy and found that the best prices were after a pet’s first birthday until around age six. By the pet’s ninth birthday, you can expect its age rating factor to more than double.

Source: State insurance filings from Veterinary Pet Insurance Co.

6. Location

Where you live and the local cost of veterinary care will affect pet insurance costs. For instance, pet owners in urban areas may pay more for pet insurance due to higher average vet costs.

7. Discounts

• Pet insurance companies sometimes offer discounts such as:
• Multi-pet discount
• Bundling multiple policies like pet and home insurance
• Membership in organizations such as AARP
• Military member
• Annual pay discount

The table below shows pet insurance discounts available by company.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in California?

The average cost of pet insurance in California is $81 per month for a dog and $42 per month for a cat, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for a policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

A policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level costs an average of $57 per month for a dog and $30 per month for a cat.

Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs in California

Average Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs in California

Average Cost of Pet Insurance for Cats in California

How To Find the Best Pet Insurance in California

When you’re examining your choices for the best pet insurance, you may be searching for the cheapest pet insurance policy. Although price is an important factor, you should also make sure the policy has these features.

Choose a Plan With a 24/7 Vet Helpline

Many pet insurers offer complimentary access to a 24/7 vet helpline to assist with pet health-related questions. So, if your pet has an accident in the early morning hours, you can call the vet helpline for guidance.

Find Out If There Are Direct Vet Payments

Some pet insurers offer direct vet payments, so you don’t have to wait for reimbursements. Look for policies like those offered by Trupanion and Pets Best if you’d like to decrease your out-of-pocket cost.

Check for a Multi-Pet Discount

If you have more than one four-legged companion, look for a multi-pet discount when you get pet insurance quotes. Pet insurers may also offer other discounts, such as a military discount or an annual pay discount.

Add Wellness or Routine Care Coverage

Annual vet checkups can decrease your chances of large health bills later. If you want help paying for preventive care costs, consider searching for a provider that offers a pet insurance wellness plan.

Find Out the Waiting Periods

Every provider applies pet insurance waiting periods. That’s the length of time you must wait after signing up until your pet insurance starts.

Check Whether Vet Exam Fees Are Covered

Although it may seem counterintuitive, not every company pays for vet expenses for a visit for an accident or illness. If you want to avoid the cost of an exam, consider companies that will cover this cost.

Pet Wellness Plans in California

A standard pet insurance plan won’t cover routine vet bills like annual exams, heartworm prevention, vaccinations and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) testing.

Many insurers offer wellness for routine care to cover these types of expenses. You’ll have to pay extra to add a wellness plan. It usually costs about $38 to $75 per month for a dog and $23 to $46 per month for a cat.

The average vet visit cost in California is $57 for dogs, according to the analysis. If your pet has additional health care needs, like surgery and an X-ray, costs will be higher.

Veterinary Costs in California

Here’s a look at vet visit costs in different cities in California.

Source: Banfield Pet Hospital

Cost of Veterinary Services in California

Here’s a look at the average cost of common vet services in California.

Methodology

To find the best California pet insurance, companies were scored based on the following:

• Pet insurance rates for mixed breed dogs (20% of score): Average rates were calculated for medium-sized mixed breed dogs ages 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
• Pet insurance rates for purebred dogs (20% of score): Average rates were calculated for French bulldogs, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and poodles ages 3 months and 3 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
• Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points. In order to receive points, this feature must be stated on the pet insurer’s website.
• Special waiting period (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that have no special waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher. In certain states, waiting periods are dictated by state law and may vary.
• 24/7 vet telehealth line (5% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet telehealth line earned points.
• Routine wellness plans (5% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
• 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.
• Digital experience (5% of score): Pet insurers were evaluated on mobile app ratings for both Android and Apple, whether there’s a useful website search function and whether there’s a live chat that provides helpful information.
• Behavioral therapy (2% of score): Insurers that cover behavioral therapy in their base policies earned points.
• Alternative therapy (2% of score): Insurers that include alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and hydrotherapy in their base policies earned points.
• Dental illness (2% of score): Insurers that include coverage for dental illnesses, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, earned points.
• Pays veterinary exam fees (1% of score): Policies that cover the vet exam fee received points. Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit that’s covered by insurance.
• Stem cell therapy (1% of score): Insurers with coverage for stem cell therapy in their base policies earned points.
• Coverage for prescription food and supplements (1% of score): Insurers that reimburse for food and supplements prescribed by a veterinarian earned points.
• Euthanasia or end-of-life expenses (1% of score): Insurers that cover end-of-life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, received points.
• Forbes Advisor customer satisfaction survey (15% of score): Two surveys of current pet insurance customers were conducted.
  1. 1,300 American pet owners with insurance who had purchased a new policy within the last 12 months were surveyed, with 100 per company. The online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11–29, 2024. The margin of error is ±1.5 points with 95% confidence.
  2. 1,300 American pet owners who had filed a pet insurance claim within the past 12 months were surveyed. The online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from October 11 to November 4, 2024. The margin of error is ±1.9 points.

The surveys were overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR). (Forbes)

Best California Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a good amount for pet insurance?

It’s a good idea to buy enough pet insurance to cover large and unexpected vet bills. For example, problems like torn ligaments, diabetes or cancer treatment can cost thousands of dollars at the vet.

Some pet insurers offer unlimited annual coverage, but if you want lower annual coverage for a cheaper price, you can find plans that range as low as $2,500 to $5,000 per year. But if your vet bills exceed your annual limit, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for any vet bills that go over that amount during the policy year.

What company is best for pet insurance in California?

Embrace and Spot scored 4.5 in the analysis of the best pet insurance companies in California.

Embrace is recommended for its Healthy Pet Discount program, which can save you up to 10% if your claim reimbursements are low during your policy year.

Spot stands out for the amount of coverage included in its base policy, such as coverage for dental illness, alternative therapy, vet exam fees, prescription food and more.

Is pet insurance worth it in California?

The best way to determine if pet insurance is worth it is to examine how an unexpected vet bill could cause a major money issue.

For example, if you’ve been paying about $57 per month for pet insurance for three years, you’ve paid $2,054 in pet insurance bills.

Let’s say your dog swallows a tennis ball and treatment costs $3,500. If you have a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level, your out-of-pocket cost for the surgery would be $900:

$250 deductible + 20% of $3,250 = $900

Adding up the premium for three years and what you’ve paid toward treatment, you’ve paid $2,954 and avoided paying $546 by having pet insurance.

What is the most cost-effective pet insurance in California?

Embrace is the most cost-effective pet insurance in California due to its below-average prices and solid coverage options.

Its base policy includes a 24/7 pet telehealth line, as well as coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illnesses and stem cell treatment.

Embrace’s Healthy Pet Discount program also offers pet owners a way to save if their claim reimbursements are less than $300 in a policy year.