The Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies for Dogs & Cats in 2024


Updated: October 3, 2024

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Several factors affect pet insurance rates, such as your pet’s breed, gender and age. Even cheap pet insurance for dogs can be roughly twice as expensive as similar coverage for cats because dogs are generally larger, and their veterinary services cost more.

Key Takeaways

You can purchase cheap pet insurance for dogs from Figo. It costs an average of $41.28 per month.

Your unique circumstance determines the cheapest pet insurance company for you. Factors like your pet's location, species, breed and age affect rates.

Though cost is always a significant consideration, a higher premium can be worth the additional coverage.

The Cheapest Pet Insurance Overall

There are several companies offering health insurance for pets across the country. Figo offers the cheapest pet insurance for dogs at $41.28 per month on average. If you want the most affordable pet insurance policy for your cat, you can purchase it from Embrace for an average monthly premium of $19.81.

MoneyGeek gathered premiums for cats and dogs from many insurers to get these rates. All policies considered had a $10,000 coverage limit with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies Overall for Dogs
Company
Monthly Premium

1.

Figo

$41.28

2.

Embrace

$42.75

3.

GEICO

$42.75

4.

Spot

$49.18

5.

ASPCA

$49.27

6.

Hartville

$49.27

7.

24 Pet Watch

$51.95

8.

Pumpkin

$57.61

9.

Nationwide

$71.73

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Cheapest for Dogs: Figo
Figo

Figo offers three customizable plans — Essential, Preferred and Ultimate — so you can meet your coverage needs without exceeding your budget. It has no network limitations, which means you can bring your pet to any licensed veterinarian in the country and have coverage. You can also download an app called Pet Cloud that gives you 24/7 access to a live vet and helps you keep your appointments and other schedules in order.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies Overall for Cats
Company
Monthly Premium

1.

Embrace

$19.81

2.

GEICO

$19.81

3.

Figo

$20.94

4.

Nationwide

$25.15

5.

ASPCA

$25.89

6.

24 Pet Watch

$25.92

7.

Spot

$26.31

8.

Hartville

$26.61

9.

Pumpkin

$34.05

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Cheapest for Cats: Embrace
Embrace

Embrace offers a comprehensive pet insurance policy for cats that covers all accidents and illnesses, save for pre-existing conditions. You can get a discount if you insure multiple pets with them or if you’re in the military. All policies come with the Healthy Pet Deductible, wherein your annual deductible lessens by $50 for each year you don’t file a claim.

MoneyGeek's analysis shows Figo to be the best pet insurance company for both dogs and cats. It’s also the cheapest pet insurance company for dogs, but not for cats.

Insurers consider several factors when setting premiums. Rates change based on your unique circumstances, such as location or your pet’s age, breed and gender.

There’s nothing wrong with choosing the cheapest option available. But sometimes, a higher premium is worth it if it means increased coverage for your pet.

Cheapest Pet Insurance by State

When comparing pet insurance rates, you’ll notice that they vary between states. For instance, veterinary care may be more expensive in urban areas, causing premiums to be higher in states with more urban areas.

MoneyGeek compared pet insurance companies and found Figo offering the lowest rates most frequently. Out of all states and the District of Columbia, it’s the cheapest pet insurance option for dogs in 28 jurisdictions. Embrace follows, having the lowest rates in 18 states.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies by State for Dogs
State
Company
Monthly Premium

Alabama

Figo

$35

Alaska

Embrace

$34

Arizona

Figo

$45

Arkansas

Figo

$27

California

Embrace

$40

Colorado

24 Pet Watch

$51

Connecticut

24 Pet Watch

$55

Delaware

Figo

$39

When it comes to cheap pet insurance for cats, Embrace has the lowest rate in 27 states. You can purchase the most affordable policy for cats from Figo for the other 23 states.

These two insurers provide low-cost cat insurance to all states.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies by State for Cats
State
Company
Monthly Premium

Alabama

Embrace

$16

Alaska

Embrace

$16

Arizona

Figo

$22

Arkansas

Figo

$13

California

Embrace

$18

Colorado

Figo

$25

Connecticut

Embrace

$28

Delaware

Figo

$19

It’s ideal if you can purchase cheap pet insurance for both your dog and cat from a single company. Based on MoneyGeek’s study, it’s possible for most states.

You can find the cheapest pet insurance for dogs and cats from the same company in the following states:

States

  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Maine
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • Nevada
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Rhode Island
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

If your state isn’t on this list, you may have to find multiple providers or compromise a little when choosing the best insurance policies for your pets.

Cheapest Pet Insurance by City

The cost of pet insurance doesn't just vary between states — it’s also different between cities. Although the relationship between population density and insurance cost isn’t strong, premiums are still usually higher in more populated cities. Your pet is more likely to get into an accident in an area with more people.

MoneyGeek looked at 267 cities and found that in 45% of these (120 cities), you can find the cheapest health insurance for your pet dog from Figo. Next is Embrace, which offers the lowest rates in 94 cities.

In comparison, we found 24 Pet Watch offering the most affordable pet insurance for dogs in only 12 cities.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies by City for Dogs
City
Company
Monthly Premium

1.

AK-Anchorage

Embrace

$34.32

2.

AK-Anchorage

GEICO

$34.32

3.

AK-Fairbanks

Embrace

$34.32

4.

AK-Juneau

Embrace

$34.32

5.

AL-Birmingham

Embrace

$32.97

6.

AL-Huntsville

Figo

$34.62

7.

AL-Mobile

Embrace

$32.97

8.

AL-Montgomery

Figo

$34.62

Embrace is the cheapest insurer for cats in about 49% of the cities included in this study. Next is Figo, which offers the lowest insurance rates in 41% or 102 cities.

Our data also show ties between Embrace and GEICO in many cities, which means they offer the same monthly premiums.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies by City for Cats
City
Company
Monthly Premium

AK-Anchorage

Embrace

$15.80

AK-Fairbanks

Embrace

$15.81

AK-Juneau

Embrace

$15.81

AL-Birmingham

Embrace

$15.19

AL-Huntsville

Embrace

$16.24

AL-Mobile

Embrace

$15.19

AL-Montgomery

Figo

$17.26

AR-Fayetteville

Embrace

$13.16

Cheapest Pet Insurance by Pet Age

Age is a factor that could significantly affect pet insurance rates. The older your pet becomes, the more likely it is that they’ll get sick or injured. As a result, policy prices for aging pets tend to be higher.

For example, if you have a six-year-old dog, you can purchase a policy for $40.19 per month on average, with Healthy Paws having the lowest rate. You’ll have to pay more monthly for pet insurance as your dog ages.

Pet insurance for a nine-year-old dog costs an average of $57.67 per month, while a policy for a 12-year-old has an average monthly premium of $93.67. Embrace offers the cheapest rates for pet insurance for older dogs.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies by Age for Dogs
Dog Age
Cheapest Company
Average Monthly Premium

6

Healthy Paws

$40.19

9

Embrace

$57.67

12

Embrace

$93.67

You’ll spend an average of $22.07 per month on a six-year-old cat. It increases by more than $11 per month when your cat turns nine. You can purchase the cheapest cat pet insurance from Healthy Paws if you have pets within this age range.

When your cat turns 12, premiums increase by roughly $12 again — a policy has an average monthly premium of $45.43. At this point, Embrace becomes your best option for low-cost cat insurance.

Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies by Age for Cats
Cat Age
Company
Average Monthly Premium

6

Healthy Paws

$22.07

9

Healthy Paws

$33.61

12

Embrace

$45.43

How to Get Cheaper Pet Insurance

The tables above already show low-cost pet insurance, but there are more ways to lower rates further. A few of these include adjusting the inclusions in your policy and changing your payment methods. Taking the following actions can help you lower your pet insurance premiums and find affordable coverage.

1
Insure your pet while they're young.

Insurers offer lower rates for younger pets. They’re more likely to get sick or injured as they get older, making them riskier to insure.

2
Take on a higher deductible.

A deductible is an amount you pay out of pocket each time you file a claim before your policy kicks in. The higher it is, the lower your monthly premium becomes.

3
Get a lower coverage limit.

Evaluate how much coverage you need. Although it’s good to be ready for anything, a lower coverage limit makes your premium less expensive.

4
Pay annually instead of monthly.

Most insurers give you the option to pay monthly or annually. Although opting to cover an entire year’s worth of premiums can be a little daunting, it usually comes out cheaper than a monthly payment plan.

5
Spay or neuter your pet.

Pets that are spayed or neutered are less likely to stray. There’s also a lower probability of a health complication. Both these factors result in cheaper rates.

6
Microchip your pet.

A pet with a microchip is easier to find if lost or stolen. It makes insurers offer more affordable pet insurance.

7
Ask about multi-pet discounts.

You can insure all your pets with the same company. You can get around 10% off your premium from many insurance companies offering a multi-pet discount.

The younger your pets are when you insure them, the less expensive premiums are. If you find an insurer that offers a deductible that lessens each year you don’t file a claim, it can lead to a lot of savings.

In addition to age, insurers also look at your pet’s breed. Mixed breeds are less expensive to insure because they’re less susceptible to genetic or hereditary disorders. They’ll be less likely to need costlier veterinary care in the long term.

A pet is as much a part of your family as a sibling or a spouse, but how financially prepared are we when they need medical attention? Although it’s another item on our list of expenses, there are several ways to ensure that you find the best cheap pet insurance that fits your needs. It’s best to compare quotes from multiple pet insurance companies to ensure you get the best deal possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pet insurance doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. To help you understand your options, take a look at the answers to some common questions about insurance for cats and dogs.

Which company provides the cheapest pet insurance for dogs?
Which company provides the cheapest pet insurance for cats?
How do you get cheaper pet insurance?
Is pet insurance cheaper for neutered pets?
Is pet insurance cheaper for mixed-breed pets?
Is pet insurance cheaper for emotional support animals?

Methodology

To obtain cost data, MoneyGeek collected quotes from 13 companies across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., average pet insurance premiums were calculated based on rates for $10,000 coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement. Cost data for cats was obtained through extrapolation.

About Mark Fitzpatrick


Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


sources
  • Figo. "Pet Cloud." Accessed December 13, 2021.