Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

Brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs, Pugs and English Bulldogs can develop more health problems because their short noses and narrow airways can make breathing and cooling themselves harder. They’re also prone to heatstroke because they can’t cool themselves as efficiently through panting, and skin problems because their folds can trap moisture, heat and bacteria, which can lead to irritation and infections. 

These risks can result in anything from ongoing allergy treatment to emergency care or surgery, making the potential veterinary costs worth considering when deciding whether pet insurance makes sense for you

Breeds such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are more likely to develop orthopedic problems involving the hips, knees and joints. Larger, heavier dogs can put more stress on their joints, while smaller breeds such as Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers are more commonly affected by luxating patella, when the kneecap slips out of its normal position. 

These conditions can range from manageable joint problems to injuries requiring surgery and rehabilitation, so the potential costs can make pet insurance worth considering.

Some breeds are more likely to inherit conditions that can affect them throughout their lives. Dachshunds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers and Cocker Spaniels, for example, can be predisposed to problems affecting the spine, heart or thyroid, which may require ongoing medication, monitoring or more intensive treatment. Because these conditions can lead to recurring vet expenses, understanding the potential costs can help you determine how much financial protection you may want.

Getting pet insurance is worth it for puppies because they often experience accidents and illnesses that lead to costly vet treatments early in life. Their curiosity and high activity can lead to accidents such as foreign object ingestion and falls, while their developing immune systems can leave them vulnerable to illnesses like parvovirus and kennel cough. Puppy insurance can then help reimburse a portion of vet costs for eligible treatments, which costs an average of $46 per month for a standard policy with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement costs.

The premium can quickly pay for itself when your puppy needs expensive treatment. For example, a $5,000 fall injury claim would have $4,500 remaining after the $500 deductible, and an 80% reimbursement rate would cover $3,600, leaving you with $1,400 out of pocket. That reimbursement is equivalent to about 6.5 years of $46 monthly premiums, although the policy's $5,000 annual limit caps the amount of eligible expenses considered for reimbursement.

Note that fall injuries are just one potential expense, and some puppy illnesses and accidents can result in much higher or recurring veterinary costs:

• Fall injury: $859 to $6,875
• Foreign body ingestion: $2,547 to $15,923
• Parvovirus: $2,274 to $15,165
• Kennel cough (Bordetella): $70 to $566
• Heartworm disease: $708 to $4,246

Pet insurance is only worth it for senior dogs if they’re still relatively healthy and have few or no diagnosed conditions during enrollment. Insurers generally exclude pre-existing conditions, so getting coverage after your dog has already developed arthritis, heart disease or another age-related condition may leave some of their biggest potential vet expenses entirely yours to cover out of pocket. A standard policy for a senior dog costs an average of $99 per month, or $1,188 per year, with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement rate, making the timing of enrollment especially important.  

The value of that premium depends heavily on whether your senior dog develops a condition that the policy covers. For example, a $4,000 liver disease treatment bill would have $3,500 remaining after the deductible, and 80% reimbursement would cover $2,800, bringing your out-of-pocket cost to $1,200. That reimbursement is equivalent to about 28 months of $99 premiums, so one substantial claim could offset more than two years of premiums.  

Aside from liver disease, several other conditions also become important cost considerations as dogs age, including:

• Liver disease: $566 to $4,246
• Arthritis: $363 to $2,426
• Periodontal disease: $394 to $2,628
• Cancer (lymphoma): $3,639 to $18,198
• Cataracts: $1,971 to $6,571

Certain cat breeds have a higher risk of inherited conditions that can require ongoing care. Ragdolls and Maine Coons, for example, are predisposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), potentially leading to repeated testing, medication or specialized treatment. Because hereditary conditions can result in vet costs that add up over time, pet insurance may be worth considering if you want to be reimbursed a portion of your out-of-pocket expenses.

Cats with certain physical features can be more susceptible to health problems that stem from their facial structure. These include Persians, Himalayans and Exotic Shorthairs, with shortened faces that can contribute to breathing difficulties, crowded teeth and eye problems such as corneal ulcers. These conditions may require anything from dental treatment to surgery and emergency care, making pet insurance worth considering.

Urinary problems can develop quickly in cats, with some more prone to issues affecting the bladder and urinary tract. Siamese and domestic cats, for example, may experience conditions such as feline lower urinary tract disease or urinary blockages that require testing, medication or emergency intervention. Because treatment can become expensive when a blockage requires hospitalization or surgery, pet insurance can help cover eligible vet expenses.

Pet insurance is worth it for kittens because their developing immune systems and exposure to new environments can leave them more vulnerable to illnesses and accidents that result in vet expenses that may cost thousands of dollars. Kitten insurance can provide financial protection for these eligible treatments, costing an average of $23 per month for a standard policy with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.

The policy’s value depends on whether your kitten develops a condition that generates enough eligible veterinary costs to outweigh the premiums. Consider a UTI, which costs an average of $106 to $708 to treat. At the high end of that range, a $708 UTI bill would leave $208 after the $500 deductible, and the 80% reimbursement rate would return $166, leaving you with $542 out of pocket. That reimbursement equals about seven months of $23 premiums, so one high-cost UTI claim would recover more than half of a year's premiums, although it would not fully offset them.

Beyond UTIs, some kitten accidents and illnesses can produce much higher vet bills:  

• Allergic reaction: $141 to $1,415
• Fall injury: $859 to $6,875
• Toxin or poison ingestion: $1,213 to $7,582
• Foreign body ingestion: $2,547 to $15,923

Pet insurance is worth considering for senior cats only if they have few or no diagnosed conditions. Cats become more susceptible to conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and cancer as they age, but diagnoses made before enrollment are generally considered pre-existing and won’t qualify for reimbursement. 

For a senior cat, a standard policy with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate costs an average of $62 monthly. Suppose your cat develops chronic kidney disease and receives a $3,000 vet bill. After the $500 deductible, the remaining $2,500 would be subject to the 80% reimbursement rate, returning $2,000 to you and leaving your total out-of-pocket expense at $1,000. That reimbursement equals about 32 months of $62 premiums, so a single expensive claim could return more than two and a half years of premiums.

The potential costs can be even higher for some conditions that become more common as cats age:  

• Diabetes: $354 to $2,831
• Hyperthyroidism: $515 to $5,156
• Cancer (lymphoma): $3,639 to $18,198