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Best Pet Insurance for Puppies
Updated: September 17, 2026
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Best Pet Insurance Companies for Puppies
Owners of puppies under 1 year old can get the best pet insurance from these companies:
- Choose if you want the best value with direct vet pay: Pets Best
- Choose if you want excellent claims service and expedited reimbursements: Pumpkin
- Choose if you want comprehensive coverage without relying on add-ons: ASPCA
I determined my top picks by analyzing major puppy insurers based on their policy terms, particularly waiting periods, pre-existing condition definitions and coverage for veterinary exams, hereditary conditions, prescription medications and routine expenses like vaccines and spaying/neutering. I also compared their average rates against the national benchmark and evaluated their customer service.
For our best puppy insurance ratings, we evaluated affordability, customer experience and coverage across 18 major pet insurers using over 67,000 dog profiles representing mixed breeds and purebreds in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Our analysis used a base profile of a Labrador Retriever under 1 year old with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate to ensure consistent comparisons across providers.
We analyzed pricing competitiveness across different breeds and locations, measured customer experience throughout the policy lifecycle from enrollment to claims and assessed coverage quality for puppy-specific health risks. Each insurer received a composite score based on affordability (50% of overall score), customer experience (30% of overall score) and coverage options and terms (20% of overall score).
For a detailed breakdown of the metrics, scoring methodology and analysis approach, see our full methodology.
Pets Best: Best Pet Insurance for Puppies Overall
pros
Lowest cost option for puppies
Short waiting period for accidents
Option to pay vets directly on request
cons
Less competitive for customer experience
Requires add-ons for exam fees physical therapy
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Pets Best is my pick for the best puppy insurance overall, offering the best coverage at the lowest average rate of $19 monthly, which is 58% lower than the national average. It covers hereditary conditions without requiring you to purchase an add-on like some insurers do, with coverage starting between zero and three days for accidents and 30 days to six months for orthopedic conditions, based on state. This makes Pets Best well suited to puppies that are highly energetic, frequently explore outdoors or tend to jump, chew and get into things they shouldn't, as well as breeds predisposed to orthopedic issues, such as Labrador Retrievers and Great Danes.
Pets Best also offers to pay licensed vets directly through Vet Direct Pay, which helps reduce your out-of-pocket expenses for your puppy’s covered conditions. However, the company's claims service tend to encounter issues when additional documents are required, which can create extra administrative work and prolong the claims process for puppy owners dealing with unexpected veterinary care.
Read our review: Pets Best Pet Insurance Review
Pumpkin: Best Puppy Insurance Customer Experience
pros
Reliable and efficient customer service
Expedites claim reviews and reimbursements
Short 14-day waiting period for orthopedic issues
cons
Few options for adjusting coverage levels
Long waiting period for accident coverage
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Pumpkin is another top recommendation for puppy insurance. It offers excellent customer service at every stage of the policyholder experience, helping puppy owners understand their coverage before enrolling, manage their policy as their puppy grows and navigate the claims process when seeking reimbursement for eligible vet care. Pumpkin also has an urgent pay service, Pumpkin Now, that expedites approvals for claims submitted at the vet, depositing reimbursements to eligible bank accounts within 20 minutes and making it easier to manage unexpected treatment costs at checkout.
That said, Pumpkin only offers two reimbursement rates, four deductibles and four annual limits, so you don’t have as much flexibility in tailoring your policy to your puppy’s specific health risks, expected veterinary costs and budget. It also imposes a 14-day waiting period for accident coverage, so highly active or accident-prone puppies have a longer period without coverage for injuries that can occur shortly after enrollment.
Read our review: Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review
ASPCA: Best Puppy Insurance for Coverage Inclusions
pros
Second-lowest rates for puppies
Comprehensive base coverage inclusions
cons
Accident coverage starts after 14 days
Less streamlined service for claims and policy management
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
ASPCA rounds out my best puppy insurance picks, with the second-lowest average rate of $27 per month. Puppy owners can save about 40% against the national benchmark without having to give up comprehensive coverage. ASPCA’s base plan covers hereditary conditions, exam fees, physical rehabilitation and alternative therapies that some insurers exclude or require add-ons for, giving puppies broader financial protection for breed-related health risks while helping cover the diagnostic, rehabilitative and supportive treatments they may need as they grow.
However, ASPCA falters in customer experience, with a service that isn’t as fast or efficient as other competitors, particularly around mobile experience, billing and renewals, as well as claim submission ease. This can make it harder for owners to manage their policy conveniently, submit and track claims efficiently, or get timely support when their puppy needs veterinary care.
Read our review: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review
Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies for Puppies
The cheapest pet health companies for puppies are:
- Pets Best: Pets Best is the most affordable insurer for puppies, with an average rate of $19 monthly that saves owners 58% compared to the national average. It’s the lowest-cost option for most breeds, offering the biggest savings for Australian Terriers, Miniature Fox Terriers, Affenpinschers and Chihuahuas.
- ASPCA: ASPCA costs an average of $27 per month for puppies and provides 40% in savings compared to the national benchmark. The company has the cheapest rates for Welsh Springer Spaniels, Tibetan Mastiffs and Cavapoos.
- Pumpkin: As the third-cheapest puppy insurer, Pumpkin offers policies at an average cost of $28 per month, providing 37% savings compared to the national average. Its rates are also competitive for specific breeds, such as Morkies, Great Danes and English Mastiffs.
Pets Best | $19 | $231 | 58% |
ASPCA | $27 | $327 | 40% |
Pumpkin | $28 | $342 | 37% |
How Much Does Puppy Insurance Cost?
On average, the cost of pet insurance for puppies is $46 monthly ($552 annually) for a standard policy with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate. Note that puppy insurance premiums vary based on your pet's breed, age, location and coverage selection. You can use MoneyGeek’s pet insurance calculator for puppies below for you to get a cost estimate.
Puppy Insurance Cost Estimate Calculator
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Is Puppy Insurance Worth It?
Puppy insurance is worth it when you can enroll before your puppy develops a condition that could be excluded as pre-existing and the policy offers coverage that fits your budget and expected needs. Enrolling early while your puppy is young and healthy can help financially protect against the costs of accidents, illnesses and emergency care while giving you an opportunity to secure coverage before health issues arise.
MoneyGeek’s vet cost data shows the potential costs for some of the most common health issues for puppies:
- Foreign body ingestion: $2,547 to $15,923
- Fall injury: $859 to $6,875
- Parvovirus: $2,274 to $15,165
- Kennel Cough (Bordetella): $70 to $566
- Heartworm disease: $708 to $4,246
If you’ve determined that puppy insurance is worth it for your pet, figure out how much coverage you need by using the tool below to get a baseline recommendation for an annual limit, deductible and reimbursement rate.
Puppy Insurance Coverage Needs Calculator
Use this calculator to get pet insurance coverage recommendations by entering your pet's species, breed, state and age.
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Best Puppy Insurance Buying Checklist
I've prepared a checklist you can use while getting puppy insurance quotes or speaking with insurers, with an accompanying downloadable PDF to guide you throughout the whole process. Work through each step in order to identify your puppy's likely health needs, determine the coverage that fits your budget, research providers and compare quotes using the same policy terms.
Download: Best Puppy Insurance Buying Checklist
Identify your puppy's specific health risksSchedule a veterinary visit and ask your veterinarian which health conditions your puppy may be more likely to develop based on its breed, age, expected adult size, lifestyle and family history. Also ask which treatments, procedures and preventive care your puppy is likely to need, including recommended vaccines such as DHPP and rabies, microchipping, deworming and spaying or neutering. Having this information can help you identify coverage terms worth prioritizing, such as hereditary and congenital conditions, orthopedic care, prescription medications and wellness benefits.
- Determine how much coverage you need
Decide whether your puppy's needs and your budget are better suited to an accident-only plan, an accident-and-illness policy or an accident-and-illness policy with an optional wellness plan for routine expenses such as vaccinations and spaying or neutering. Then choose an annual limit that could cover the costly treatments your puppy may need, a reimbursement rate based on how much of each eligible veterinary bill you want the insurer to pay after you meet your deductible, and a deductible that reflects how much you can comfortably pay out of pocket each policy year before coverage kicks in.
- Research pet insurance providers
Create a shortlist of insurers that offer pet insurance for puppies and review each company's online sample policy. Check specifically for puppy-relevant coverage terms such as:
- Pre-existing condition rules: Make sure the providers have a narrow definition that distinguishes a previous condition from unrelated future illnesses or injuries.
- Curable condition terms: Confirm that curable pre-existing conditions can become eligible for coverage after 180 days without symptoms or treatment.
- Waiting periods: Prioritize puppy insurers with waiting periods of zero to three days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and less than six months for orthopedic conditions.
- Hereditary conditions: Verify that hereditary and congenital conditions are included in the base plan without breed-specific exclusions or expensive optional add-ons.
- Prescription medications: See whether prescription medications used to treat eligible conditions are covered in the base plan.
- Vaccinations: Confirm that providers offer an optional wellness plan that covers core puppy vaccines such as DHPP (distemper, hepatitis/adenovirus, parainfluenza and parvovirus), rabies and bordetella, with a high annual limit.
- Spaying/neutering: Look out for insurers that cover spaying/neutering through an optional wellness plan.
- Read customer reviews
Read recent customer reviews with particular attention to how insurers handle claims, explain coverage decisions and support policyholders when a puppy needs unexpected or ongoing veterinary care. Compare feedback across sources such as Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau and Reddit, looking for recurring patterns rather than relying on a few individual reviews. Use these reviews to identify potential problems with claim approvals, reimbursement delays and communication or record reviews for each insurer you're considering.
- Get quotes
Get quotes from every provider in your shortlist using the same deductible, annual limit and reimbursement rate so you can make a fair price comparison. Check whether each provider includes important puppy coverage in its base plan or charges extra for benefits that another insurer includes automatically, such as exam fees, prescription medications, hereditary conditions or other relevant treatments. Record each quote and its coverage terms so you can compare the total cost and financial protection side by side before deciding on a provider.
Best Puppy Insurance: Bottom Line
Pets Best, Pumpkin and ASPCA are my top picks for the best puppy insurance. The best choice for your puppy depends on its breed, health risks and coverage needs, as well as how much you're comfortable spending out of pocket. Before enrolling, compare each provider's puppy-specific coverage terms, including waiting periods, hereditary condition coverage and exclusions, along with affordability, customer experience and overall coverage to determine the best option for your pet and your budget.
Best Pet Insurance for Puppies: FAQ
The top pet insurance companies for puppies are:
- Pets Best: Best Puppy Insurance Overall
- Pumpkin: Best Puppy Insurance Customer Experience
- ASPCA: Best Puppy Insurance for Coverage Inclusions
Pets Best offers the most affordable puppy insurance, costing an average of $19 monthly and providing 58% savings compared to the national benchmark.
The cost of puppy insurance averages $36 monthly ($430 annually). This rate applies to a plan with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement. Your actual premium depends on your puppy's breed, where you live and your coverage options.
Pet insurance is worth it for your puppy if you want coverage for unexpected accidents or illnesses. Depending on the provider, it reimburses 50% to 100% of covered vet costs after you pay upfront, helping you recover expenses from issues like ingesting foreign objects, congenital conditions or accidental injuries. Whether you need puppy insurance depends on your pet's breed, your lifestyle and your budget.
To get puppy insurance, identify your pet’s specific health risks with your vet and determine how much coverage you need. Then, research puppy insurance companies, read customer reviews and collect multiple quotes to identify the best option for your situation.
Puppy insurance covers eligible veterinary care resulting from covered accidents and illnesses. Depending on the plan, this can include veterinary exams, medications and treatment for hereditary conditions. Note, however, that standard accident and illness policies usually don't pay for routine puppy care, such as vaccinations or wellness exams, unless you add an optional wellness plan.
It's best to insure your puppy as soon as you're able to do so, ideally before any symptoms or diagnoses appear. Enrolling early gives you a better chance of having future eligible conditions covered rather than having them classified as pre-existing.
Most standard puppy insurance plans don't cover routine expenses, including vaccines, wellness exams, deworming or parasite prevention. These services may be reimbursed through an optional wellness plan, depending on the insurer. If your puppy has several routine appointments coming up, compare the add-on's annual benefits with the cost of the plan to determine whether it makes financial sense.
Get Puppy Insurance Quotes
Use MoneyGeek’s tool to find the top providers that suit your puppy's specific health needs and your budget.
About Ritchel Mendiola
Ritchel Mendiola is a Pet Insurance Content Writer at MoneyGeek. She produces coverage guides, provider comparisons and cost analyses so pet owners can understand their options and avoid overpaying.
Ritchel spent over four years as a News and Feature Writer at Asian Journal Publications, where she reported for the Asian Journal newspaper and Balikbayan Magazine, conducted interviews and covered media events. At MoneyGeek, she covers policy terms, exclusions, waiting periods and reimbursement structures the way she treated news facts. They're sourced, verified and reported accurately rather than summarized from marketing copy.
She joined MoneyGeek in late 2021 in the loans vertical and moved to pet insurance content, which she now leads. Her published work includes provider comparisons, breed-specific cost guides, age-specific coverage analyses and state-level pricing studies, all from the vertical's 5 million pet insurance profiles across 18 major providers and all U.S. states.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rianmendi/
Contact Email: ritchel.mendiola@moneygeek.com