Best Pet Insurance for Dogs And Puppies | 2022 – MarketWatch

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Whether your puppy likes to roam around in your backyard or go on regular walks, there are lots of dangers that could unexpectedly leave your dog injured or sick.
Buying pet insurance for your dog is the best way to keep it happy, healthy and cared for without having to worry about paying for expensive vet bills. Most pet insurance providers also offer wellness or preventative care benefits to encourage the overall health and routine care of your animal.
We at the Home Media reviews team compared a variety of pet insurance providers on important factors such as customer care, policy coverage and plan options and identified the best pet insurance companies on the market for dogs.
Keep reading to learn more about each company’s plans, coverage and prices.
Here are the top 9 providers of the best pet insurance for dogs and puppies on the market today:
Note: The sample quotes included in this article are for various canine breeds located in Columbia, S.C.
 
Lemonade is one of the most affordable pet insurance providers for dogs on the market.
They offer customizable pricing options with a high coverage limit option of $100,000. It also features a mobile app for policyholders to manage their pet’s health, keep track of policy documents, manage billing and file claims.
Keep in mind that the company’s pet insurance coverage is currently unavailable in 15 states, including Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
While Lemonade is the defendant in a class-action lawsuit regarding its alleged biometric data collection, we still consider it to be a legitimate and reputable provider due to its charitable giveback program, affordability and quality of coverage. You can learn more in our Lemonade review linked below.
Lemonade offers one standard pet insurance plan for coverage on accidents and illnesses such as broken bones, toxic ingestions, infections, cancer and hip dysplasia. It also pays for necessary treatments and procedures, such as diagnostic tests, emergency care, hospitalization and prescription medications, that are related to covered accidents and illnesses. Lemonade doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, elective procedures and behavioral treatments.
Lemonade also offers an add-on for preventive care that covers 70%, 80% or 90% of routine vet bills, depending on your policy’s chosen reimbursement rate. Treatments include a wellness exam, bloodwork, a heartworm test, three vaccines and a fecal test. Customers can also purchase an add-on for vet visit fees and an add-on for physical therapy treatments, which are both excluded under Lemonade’s standard policy.
Review Lemonade’s sample policy for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
The following sample monthly premiums are for a Lemonade policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $250 deductible:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$30.33
$33.67
$48.58
$85.83
Medium Mixed Dog
$19.17
$21.33
$30.50
$53.58
Miniature Poodle
$20.42
$20.42
$26.58
$42.00
Border Collie
$23.75
$26.33
$37.92
$66.75
To Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Compare Quotes: Use Lemonade’s easy online tool to get a free quote based on your dog’s breed, age and location.
 
We recommend Spot Pet Insurance for pet parents who are looking for an affordable and comprehensive accident-only plan for their dog or puppy.
This provider offers highly customizable plans, with annual coverage limits ranging between $2,500 and unlimited, so you can get the exact coverage you need for your dog’s accidents.
Spot’s accident-only plan covers injuries, swallowed objects and toxic ingestions that result in necessary treatments like hospitalization or surgery. Its accident and illness plan covers everything in the accident-only plan plus treatments for illnesses and other conditions, including gingivitis, cancer, respiratory infection, diabetes, hip dysplasia and heart disease.
Spot has two preventive care options that can be added to your policy. The Gold Plan covers dental cleanings, vaccines and wellness exams for up to $250 of annual reimbursements, and the Platinum Plan covers everything in the Gold Plan plus a few extras like urinalysis and blood tests for up to $450 per year.
Spot’s accident-only plan comes at a flat rate for each selected customization option, regardless of your dog’s breed and age.
The table below shows the monthly pricing for a Spot policy with $2,500 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
Medium Mixed Dog
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
Miniature Poodle
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
Border Collie
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
$18.45
To Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review
Compare Quotes: Enter you and your dog’s information into this online form to get a free quote on a Spot Pet Insurance policy.
 
Embrace is a great choice for dog owners, since it offers a range of discounts and benefits to help policyholders save money.
For instance, the Healthy Pet Deductible benefit credits your policy with $50 toward your deductible each year your dog stays healthy. With this benefit, you could owe as little as $0 during a claim after multiple years without filing one.
Additionally, Embrace provides 10% off each additional pet’s policy, 5% off for military service members and 10% off for employees of companies that offer Embrace pet insurance policies.
Embrace offers one accident and illness plan that reimburses you for treatments such as allergy testing, acupuncture, hospitalization, surgeries, lab tests, physical therapy, prescription drugs, cancer treatments and more. It doesn’t cover any pre-existing conditions that arise before or during the two-day waiting period for accidents or the 14-day waiting period of illnesses.
Embrace’s Wellness Rewards Plan provides a 100% reimbursement on routine care treatments like vet visits, microchipping, grooming, fecal tests, teeth cleanings, anal gland expression and more. It can be purchased with $250, $450 or $650 of annual coverage.
Review Embrace’s sample policy for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
Below are monthly sample quotes for Embrace’s accident and illness plan with a $5,000 annual limit, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $300 deductible:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$46.16
$50.63
$58.07
$77.93
Medium Mixed Dog
$30.77
$33.75
$38.72
$51.95
Miniature Poodle
$30.77
$33.75
$38.72
$51.95
Border Collie
$33.43
$36.66
$42.05
$56.43
To Learn More: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
Compare Quotes: Visit the Embrace website to get a free quote on a policy.
 
Healthy Paws offers an unlimited annual and lifetime coverage cap with its accident and illness plan, which means you’ll never reach a maximum limit for how much money in vet bills the provider pays.
Although Spot Pet Insurance and Prudent Pet also offer unlimited coverage options, we found that Healthy Paws’ monthly premiums are considerably lower than the premiums for those companies’ unlimited coverage plans.
Healthy Paws offers only one plan with unlimited coverage for treatments related to your dog’s accidents and illnesses, including hereditary conditions, cancer, congenital conditions, chronic conditions, injuries and hip dysplasia (after 12 months of the policy’s start date).
Healthy Paws doesn’t offer coverage for wellness, preventative or routine care, and its policies exclude pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, breeding, office visit fees, exam fees and more.
Dogs that are six years or older are locked in at a 50% or 70% reimbursement rate and a $500 or $1,000 deductible, but you’ll have the following customization options to choose from if your dog is under six years old:
Review Healthy Paws’ sample policy for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
Here are some monthly sample quotes for a Healthy Paws plan with an 80% reimbursement rate, a $250 deductible and unlimited coverage limits:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$45.02
$56.08
$57.44*
$88.03*
Medium Mixed Dog
$30.47
$37.95
$38.87*
$59.60*
Miniature Poodle
$30.47
$37.95
$38.87*
$59.60*
Border Collie
$24.35
$30.33
$31.07*
$47.63*
*Policies that insure pets over 6 years old come with lower reimbursement rates (50%–70%) and higher annual deductibles ($500–$1,000).
To Learn More: Healthy Paws Review
Compare Quotes: Use Healthy Paws’ online quote tool to get a free quote for your dog’s policy.
 
Figo is another top pick for dog owners based on its extensive coverage options and flexible reimbursements. Whether you’re looking to lower premiums with a 70% reimbursement or want to be fully reimbursed for claims, Figo has you covered. Ideal for pet parents with high vet bills, this provider doesn’t have annual coverage caps.
*First application. See quote for terms and conditions.
Figo has three levels of accident and illness coverage. The Essential plan gives policyholders $5,000 of annual coverage. The Preferred plan increases this amount to $10,000, while the Unlimited plan comes has annual coverage limitless, so your covered claims never exceed your policy’s protection. Each Figo plan covers costs related to emergency visits, diagnostic testing, operations, and additional treatments for injuries such as broken bones and illnesses like allergies or diabetes.
Figo provides an add-on for wellness care in some states. This add-on covers routine care costs such as exam fees or dental care. You can opt for $135 of annual wellness benefits or chose $250 of benefits.
Figo offers the following customization options:
To learn about what Figo covers and excludes, read Figo’s sample policy for a dog.
The sample quotes below are for Figo’s Essential Plan with a $250 deductible, a $5,000 annual limit and an 80% reimbursement rate:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$36.00
$40.00
$54.00
$101.00
Medium Mixed Dog
$24.00
$26.00
$36.00
$67.00
Miniature Poodle
$22.00
$24.00
$34.00
$63.00
Border Collie
$30.00
$33.00
$45.00
$83.00
Get a quote: Visit Figo’s website to get a free quote.
 
Prudent Pet has a 24/7 vet chat and offers an unlimited coverage plan, but it stands out for the extra coverage that it includes in its Ultimate Plan.
The Ultimate Plan covers a reimbursement of up to $500 for advertising or reward money if you lose your dog and up to $1,000 for vacation cancelation fees you may accrue when canceling a trip due to your dog’s accident or illness.
Prudent Pet offers the Accident-Only Plan for $10,000 of annual coverage on accidents, such as bite wounds, broken bones or tooth injuries, and the Essential Plan for $10,000 of annual coverage on both accidents and illness, including hereditary conditions, behavioral disorders, hip dysplasia, cancer, urinary infections and more.
The Ultimate Plan includes unlimited coverage caps for everything covered in the Essential Plan plus reimbursement for advertising and reward fees for a lost pet, boarding kennel fees, replacement for your dog due to loss or theft, mortality costs and vacation cancelation fees.
Prudent Pet also provides wellness care for annual check-ups, vaccines, deworming and microchipping for an additional cost. The Low plan comes with $210 of annual coverage, the Medium plan comes with $315 of annual coverage and the High plan comes with $460 of annual coverage.
• Deductibles: $100, $250, $500 or $1,000
• Annual coverage limits: $10,000 or unlimited
• Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%
Review Prudent Pet’s sample policy for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
Here are some monthly sample quotes for Prudent Pet’s Essential Plan with a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$44.02
$53.69
$68.20
$97.22
Medium Mixed Dog
$30.01
$36.61
$46.50
$87.67
Miniature Poodle
$25.15
$30.68
$38.97
$55.56
Border Collie
$32.87
$40.09
$50.93
$96.02
To Learn More: Prudent Pet Insurance Review
Compare Quotes: Use Prudent Pet’s online tool to get a free quote.
 
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is one of the most popular and experienced providers in the pet insurance industry.
Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, which has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), developed the company over 15 years ago to offer high-quality policies to pets across the country, promoting their health and safety. Crum & Forster partners with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to sell ASPCA Pet Health Insurance policies.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers the Accident-Only Coverage Plan, which covers accidents, and the Complete Coverage Plan for accident and illness coverage in addition to microchipping and exam fees, which are often excluded by other pet insurance providers. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, breeding costs and a few other items.
For preventative care, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance provides the Basic Plan, which covers routine procedures such as dental cleanings, wellness exams and deworming for a total of $250 of annual coverage. It also offers the Prime Plan, which includes everything in the Basic Plan in addition to a few extra treatments like blood tests, urinalysis and flea and heartworm prevention for $450 of annual coverage.
• Deductibles: $100, $250 or $500
• Annual coverage limits: $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000 or $10,000
• Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%
Review ASPCA Pet Health Insurance sample policy for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
The following monthly sample quotes are for ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Complete Coverage Plan with a $250 deductible, a $5,000 annual limit and an 80% reimbursement rate:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$47.49
$54.28
$67.85
$108.56
Medium Mixed Dog
$34.17
$39.05
$48.81
$78.10
Miniature Poodle
$34.17
$39.05
$48.81
$78.10
Border Collie
$30.20
$34.51
$43.14
$69.02
To Learn More: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review
Compare Quotes: You can get a free quote from ASPCA Pet Health Insurance by filling out this easy form with your dog’s age, breed and ZIP code.
 
Petplan has established itself in the pet insurance industry, offering worthwhile accident and illness policies for dogs with the option for unlimited annual coverage caps.
It stands out among other top players for offering comprehensive coverage on therapies recommended by your vet that are often excluded by competitors in their standard plans, such as stem cell therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, homeotherapy, hydrotherapy and behavioral therapy.
Petplan offers one accident and illness plan for your dog that covers treatments, procedures, and sick visit fees related to cancer, injuries, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral disorders, illnesses and more. Petplan might not be a good fit if you’re looking for preventative care coverage for your dog, since it doesn’t offer an add-on routine care. It also doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, breeding, whelping, elective procedures and a few other things.
To add extra value for dog owners, Petplan also includes reimbursement with $1,000 per-item limits for boarding kennel fees if you’re hospitalized for more than four days and your dog needs to be kept somewhere until you’re discharged, vacation cancellation fees that you may be charged when your dog’s accident or illness causes you to change plans last-minute and lost-dog advertising and reward money to help you find your companion.
• Deductibles: $250, $300 or $500
• Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $15,000 or unlimited
• Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%
Review Petplan’s sample policy for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
To give you an idea of what pricing might look like for your dog, here are some sample monthly prices from quotes we received on policies with $250 annual deductibles, $5,000 annual coverage limits and 80% reimbursement:
Breed
1 Year Old
4 Years Old
6 Years Old
9 Years Old
Labrador Retriever
$33.14
$50.87
$76.03
$166.36
Medium Mixed Dog
$26.84
$38.33
$56.30
$122.60
Miniature Poodle
$23.43
$31.26
$45.15
$97.49
Border Collie
$27.80
$50.39
$58.47
$127.49
To Learn More: Petplan Pet Insurance Review
Compare Quotes: Visit Petplan’s website to get a quote within seconds after entering your dog’s age and breed.
 
Instead of offering traditional pet insurance policies, Pawp provides a membership for dog owners that includes unlimited access to a 24/7 telehealth and virtual veterinarian clinic with video call, chat and text message capabilities.
This membership also includes a $3,000 emergency fund that can be used for one of up to six different dogs in your household for one life-threatening emergency per year.
Pawp provides $3,000 of annual coverage for one qualifying emergency vet visit per year, which must be determined as life-threatening by an official Pawp veterinarian or representative within four hours of the incident. This fund can pay for treatments related to both accidents and illnesses, as long as they’re considered life-threatening emergencies.
Pawp doesn’t offer preventive care plans, but its virtual vets and pet professionals can help advise you on your dog’s overall health. It also doesn’t offer customizability options, since all memberships come with $3,000 of coverage with a 100% reimbursement, and it doesn’t require pet owners to pay any deductibles during a claim.
Unlike other pet insurance providers, Pawp’s monthly pricing doesn’t vary based on your dog’s breed, age or location. Memberships cost $24 per month.
Read the rules and regulations for a Pawp membership for a full list of coverage and exclusions.
To Learn More: Pawp Review
Compare Quotes: Sign up for a Pawp membership on the company’s website.
 
 
Pet insurance for dogs can be extremely valuable when something unexpected happens to your furry friend. The top pet insurance providers listed in this review can ensure your animal is cared for, regardless of how expensive their vet bills may be.
While we recommend Lemonade for its combination of extensive customization options, high maximum coverage limit and easy-to-use mobile app, other providers may be a better fit depending on your needs.
For example, Embrace has a variety of unique savings opportunities, Prudent Pet provides extra coverage in its Ultimate Plan, and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has a long-standing reputation and years of experience. If you need unlimited coverage with total reimbursement, Figo can meet your needs.
We recommend comparing quotes and coverage options from multiple providers before you choose an insurer.
 
Although pet insurance for dogs and puppies is similar to your own health insurance in that it pays for your dog’s medical bills during an emergency, it doesn’t pay the vets directly as your health insurance policy does with your doctor. Instead, it reimburses you for the invoiced amount up to a certain percentage that you decide on when signing up for a policy.
Additionally, your dog’s policy comes with annual coverage limits that keep your total reimbursement throughout the year from exceeding a certain amount. Going over this limit can result in out-of-pocket costs, but you can typically customize your policy based on exactly how much annual coverage you need.
Similar to health insurance, you’re expected to pay a certain deductible before your dog’s coverage kicks in. For example, if a vet bill for a covered procedure is $2,000 and your deductible is $250, you’ll only be reimbursed for $1,750 after the deductible is subtracted from the total amount.
 
Pet insurance plans are generally easy to understand, since they’re broken down into two options: accident-only and accident and illness plans.
Here’s a breakdown of the two plans and the wellness care add-on that most companies offer:
These affordable plans only cover accidents, which can include injuries, broken bones, sprains, toxic ingestions, swallowed objects, choking and more. An accident-only policy is ideal for pet parents who want to spend as little as possible for essential coverage on accident-related emergencies and aren’t worried about illnesses or other conditions.
These plans are the most comprehensive and typically cover accidents and illnesses, which can include everything listed above plus hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, behavioral disorders, genetic conditions, cancer, stomach illnesses, diarrhea, vomiting, diabetes, tooth illness and more. This plan is ideal for dogs that might be susceptible to certain illnesses, diseases or conditions.
These add-ons or additional coverage options are offered by most providers, including Lemonade, Embrace and Prudent Pet, and they typically help pay for the routine care of your pet. Routine care can include annual check-ups, vaccines, dental cleanings, blood tests and more.
 
The cost of pet insurance for dogs will depend on your companion’s breed and age. You can expect to pay anywhere from $20 a month for younger, healthier breeds to $180 a month for older, less healthy breeds.
Here are the factors that providers typically use to determine the price of your policy:
 
Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. We have scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements.
Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:
We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry.
Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.
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