Best Pet Insurance for Allergies

Certain breeds like Golden Retrievers, Bulldogs, German Shepherds and Boxers commonly develop environmental allergies due to compromised skin barriers that allow allergens to penetrate more easily, while flat-faced breeds like Bulldogs and Persians have higher rates of food allergies from their altered digestive anatomy. It’s best to consult your veterinarian about breed-specific allergy risks and review your pet's medical history for symptoms like excessive paw licking, ear infections or skin irritation.

Understanding allergy-related expenses helps you select appropriate coverage limits and avoid underinsuring your pet. Based on CareCredit’s 2024 data, allergy testing costs $243 for cats and $281 for dogs, while allergy shots average $78 for dogs. 

Ongoing medications represent the largest expense, with Apoquel costing $80 to $120 monthly, which totals around $1,000 annually for chronic conditions, and Cytopoint injections running $100 to $150 per dose, according to MetLife Pet Insurance, administered every four to eight weeks.

Choose annual limits based on whether your pet needs basic management or extensive specialist care, as chronic allergies require lifetime treatment rather than one-time expenses. A $5,000 annual limit covers routine allergy management with medications and occasional vet visits, while $10,000 to unlimited coverage suits pets requiring immunotherapy, frequent dermatology consultations or emergency treatments for severe reactions. 

Consider a 90% reimbursement rate and $250 deductible to minimize out-of-pocket costs for ongoing allergy medications and treatments that accumulate throughout the year.

Get quotes from at least three pet insurance providers using identical policy parameters including deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit to ensure accurate price comparisons. Check for multi-pet discounts (usually 5% to 10% off), annual payment discounts (up to 10% savings) or bundling discounts to reduce premiums. Remember to compare not just premiums but also what's included in base coverage, as some insurers charge extra for exam fees or alternative treatments like acupuncture that can help manage allergies.

Review waiting periods carefully, as the standard 14-day illness waiting period applies to allergies and any symptoms appearing during this timeframe will be considered pre-existing and permanently excluded. Also, confirm the policy covers prescription allergy medications (Apoquel, Cytopoint), diagnostic testing (skin and blood tests), specialist dermatology visits and alternative treatments without requiring additional riders or hitting per-condition limits.

Read customer reviews on Trustpilot and Reddit focusing specifically on experiences with chronic condition claims like allergies, since these ongoing treatments have higher scrutiny than one-time accident claims. Look for patterns in feedback about claim processing speeds (should be under two weeks), denial rates for recurring allergy treatments and whether the insurer questions the medical necessity of allergy medications or specialist visits.

Get pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy, ideally between eight weeks and two years old before any allergy symptoms appear, since most pets develop allergies between six months and three years of age. Enrolling before symptoms ensures coverage when allergies emerge, as most policies exclude pre-existing conditions permanently and any signs of allergies before the waiting period ends will disqualify future allergy claims.