When is the best time to buy dog insurance?

The best time to buy insurance for your dog is before you need it. If you purchase insurance as soon as you bring your furry friend home, you typically get the most comprehensive coverage. That’s because your dog could develop pre-existing conditions over time that won’t be covered by insurance if you buy it later.

Does dog insurance cover vaccinations?

Some policies cover preventative care, including vaccinations, while others don’t or only cover certain vaccinations. Read the benefits information for your pet’s plan to understand what is covered. For a more detailed guide on the cost of dog vaccinations and what vaccines your dog will need, read our article: How Much Do Dog Vaccinations Cost?

Does dog insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Most insurance for dogs does not cover pre-existing conditions. Always read the benefits information for a plan to understand what is covered for your pet and whether there are any exclusions.

Is prescription dog food covered by insurance?

Some policies will cover prescription dog food that is deemed medically necessary by a vet. Look at the details of your pet’s plan to see if food is ever covered.

Does dog insurance cover service dogs?

Yes, you can buy pet insurance to cover your service dog. In fact, since a service dog provides a valuable service and has a unique relationship with its owner, it can be important to invest in its health and wellness. Insurance can help you do that.

Can I use any veterinarian?

In most cases, you can use any vet you want. You don’t use insurance at the vet like you would at your own doctor’s appointment. Instead, you typically pay for the vet care costs yourself and file for reimbursement with your pet insurance. On the other hand, some providers offer pet insurance that pays the vet directly . This type of coverage may require your vet to have specific software (as is the case with Trupanion), so be sure to check on this before purchasing a plan.

Top 3 Best Dog Insurance Plans | Compare Pet Insurance for Dogs & Puppies

Maximum annual coverage

$1,000-$10,000

Reimbursement choices

70%, 80%, 90%

Deductible choices

$50, $100, $250, $500

Maximum annual coverage

$5,000 - $100,000

Reimbursement choices

70%, 80%, 90%

Deductible choices

$100, $250, $500

Maximum annual coverage

Unlimited

Reimbursement choices

70%, 80%

Deductible choices

$250, $500, $1000

$1,000-$10,000

70%, 80%, 90%

$50, $100, $250, $500

We like that MetLife offers dog parents same-day accident coverage, which goes into effect at midnight on the day you buy a policy, a far shorter wait than many pet insurance companies require.

We also think it’s cool how they offer a variety of discounts, like multi-pet discounts, employer benefit discounts, first-responder discounts, health care worker discounts, and more. On top of that, your deductible has the potential to decrease each year you don’t file a claim!

MetLife is available in all 50 states for dog insurance. Their plans can be customized based on what coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement levels you’d like.

With MetLife, you don’t need an initial exam to enroll your pup, there is no upper age limit, and many accidents and illnesses are covered as part of your insurance plan. Although traditional MetLife accident and illness policies don’t include wellness exams and dental cleanings, you can opt into their preventative care add-on to get coverage for these things and more.

Read our full MetLife review

Deductible as low as $50
Coverage for exotic animals
No initial exam required for enrollment
Super short waiting period of accident coverage

No unlimited coverage option
No vet-direct pay
Max 3 pets for multipet/family policy

$5,000 - $100,000

70%, 80%, 90%

$100, $250, $500

Lemonade Pet Insurance is well known for providing affordable accident and illness coverage for dogs. They’re among the few providers that include an option for dental coverage, a valuable feature in pet insurance, and they’ve recently started covering recurring conditions.

As an added benefit, you can manage your pup’s policy and file claims through the easy-to-use mobile app. Some users see instant approval and reimbursement for their claims, while others see it within a few days to a week. Many users also find Lemonade’s customer service to be top-tier, with kind and personalized service.

In addition to basic coverage, Lemonade also offers add-ons for preventative care, vet visit fees, dental illness, physical therapy, behavioral conditions, and end-of-life care and remembrance.

You can customize your coverage limits, but for the most comprehensive coverage for your pup, we recommend opting for the $100,000 limit with a 90% reimbursement and a dental & vet fee add-on.

With Lemonade, there is no waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. A 30-day waiting period applies for orthopedic conditions. Waiting periods vary by state, so check your policy details before purchasing.

Although Lemonade offers excellent coverage at an affordable price, they don’t offer telemedicine, don’t cover spay/neuter costs for pets over 2 years old, and exam fees are extra unless you purchase the add-on. You may also face certain age restrictions for certain dog breeds at enrollment.

Read our full Lemonade review

Comprehensive coverage
Discount for bundling with other policies from Lemonade
Various add-ons available

Age restrictions
Not available in certain states
No unlimited coverage option

Unlimited

70%, 80%

$250, $500, $1000

With ManyPets dog insurance, your dog is protected with unlimited coverage, ensuring you never have to worry about exceeding an annual limit or handling unexpected vet bills on your own. What’s surprising is that this comprehensive coverage doesn’t raise the cost, making ManyPets an affordable choice for dog owners. ManyPets sets itself apart by not charging any sign-up fees, which helps make starting a policy more budget-friendly, especially compared to other companies that often have upfront costs. The policy they offer is an accident and illness plan. While there isn’t an accident-only option, you can add a wellness package to cover important preventative care like vaccinations, keeping your dog healthy year-round. For accidents and illnesses, there’s a standard 15-day waiting period, but if you’re switching from another pet insurance provider, this can be shortened to just 1 day, offering quicker coverage for your dog without long delays.

Unlimited coverage on all plans
No sign-up fee
Affordable accident & illness plan

Less customizable than other plans
No accident-only option
Longer waiting periods for new policy holders

$5,000 - Unlimited

70%, 80%, 90%

$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000

We like Pets Best as it offers competitively priced plans with a wide range of deductible options. This is great for dog owners on a budget as it allows you to tailor your plan to what you can afford. There is also no age limit for sign-ups, meaning you can purchase coverage for your pet later in life, and accident coverage kicks in 3 days from sign-up. You’ll also get unlimited access to a 24/7 emergency vet hotline for quick consultations at all hours of the day. Pets Best offers multiple plans including an Accident-only plan, as well as 3 tiers called Essential, Plus, and Elite. You can also opt for an add-on for wellness / routine care plans for an extra fee which offers good coverage versus other plans on the market.

Last, but not least, Pets Best is one of the few providers who can pay the vet directly for you. Simply download the reimbursement release form from their website and have your vet’s office sign and agree to receive payment directly from the provider and Pet’s Best will handle the rest.

Read our full Pets Best review

Unlimited coverage option
Many deductible options
No age limit for enrollment
Vet-direct pay option

Doesn’t cover alternative therapies
Doesn’t cover breed-specific issues

$5,000 - Unlimited

70%, 80%, 90%

$100, $250, $500

Paw Protect is a relatively new provider but has taken the market by storm. One of its main draws is that it offers customers a $2,000 interest-free charge card that can be used to pay the vet directly, so you have no out-of-pocket expenses when your dog sees the vet for a covered reason. Most other providers require you to pay upfront and be reimbursed later.

Paw Protect offers an accident & illness plan for dogs, as well as an optional Wellness plan available as an add-on. Like some other providers, it comes with 24/7 telemedicine coverage which allows you to speak to a vet in case your pup has an emergency and you aren’t sure whether to take him in for a visit. It also offers considerable discounts if you have multiple pets (10% off) or are a military member (5% off).

We recommend opting for the unlimited plan with 90% reimbursement. However, if you are tight on cash, there are several other plan limits ($5,000, $10,000 & Unlimited) that offer great coverage at an affordable price.

Read our full Paw Protect review

Unlimited coverage option
Wellness plan add-on available
Pays vet directly

Max age for full coverage
Doesn’t cover boarding

Unlimited

50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%

$50, $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000

Healthy Paws has excellent customer reviews and is one of the few providers on the market that can pay the vet for you directly. This is a huge draw for many dog owners as it means next to no out-of-pocket costs to you. The only caveat is that you must call and request a simple authorization before the vet treats your dog. Otherwise, you can pay and be reimbursed.

Healthy Paws also offers lots of choices for coverage levels and deductibles, which is great for those wanting to tailor a plan to fit their budget. Healthy Paw offers only an accident & illness plan with unlimited coverage and no wellness options. As long as you don’t mind handling your dog’s wellness needs (like vaccines) on your own, you’ll get the highest level of inclusions and peace of mind that all vet bills for covered illnesses will be reimbursed regardless of the cost.

Read our full review

Unlimited coverage
Affordable plans
Five reimbursement levels to choose from

Max age limit for enrollment
Doesn’t cover dental disease
No wellness add-on available

There are three main types of dog insurance policies:

Accident & Illness Plans

Average monthly cost: $45 to $70

Accident-Only Plans

Average monthly cost: As low as $15

Wellness Plans

Average monthly cost: $20 to $60

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Check whether your dog is eligible.

Not all pet insurance companies cover all types of dogs. Some may also have an upper age limit, so your senior dog may not be eligible for any of those plans.

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Decide on a type of pet health insurance and how much coverage you want.

Think about how much you are likely to spend on vet bills for your dog throughout the year. You may need less coverage for a puppy or a healthy younger dog than for a senior dog with age-related health conditions.

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Ensure you understand how reimbursements and deductibles work with the plan.

For example, if a plan has a reimbursement rate of 80%, you will get $80 back for every $100 you spend on eligible claims. If you have a deductible of $1,000, however, you have to pay $1,000 in eligible claims and file them before you receive any reimbursement.

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Read the fine print for exclusions and waiting periods.

Ensure you understand if any pre-existing conditions are excluded. Hip dysplasia is a common example, as it may be an excluded condition if your dog already has it or if the breed is known for developing it.

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Consider any extra costs.

It’s important to take a big-picture approach to pet insurance costs. Consider normal pet expenses you pay each year and add them up, considering what the insurance may cover, how much deductibles are and what you’re left paying for out-of-pocket.

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Compare quotes for pet insurance.

Using the information you gathered in the previous step, compare the total expected costs with various policies to find one that seems right for your budget.

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Routinely review your policy.

Never set and forget any type of insurance, even pet insurance plans. Review your situation and your policy at least annually and decide if you can make any changes to get cheaper pet insurance. You may also want to get periodic quotes to see if a competitor now offers a better deal.

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