Set your pet, age and plan options above to see a realistic monthly range. The default (a 1–4-year-old medium dog, accident & illness, $250 deductible, 80% back) lands close to the national average of about $62 a month.
Average Pet Insurance Cost in 2026
The most reliable national figures come from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), whose members cover nearly the whole US market. Its 2025 State of the Industry report, covering policies in force at the end of 2024, gives these US averages:
| Plan type | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Accident & illness | $62.44/month ($749/year) | $32.21/month ($386/year) |
| Accident-only | $16.10/month ($193/year) | $9.17/month ($110/year) |
About 6.4 million US pets were insured at the end of 2024, up about 21% in a year, and US written premium reached $4.74 billion. Dog premiums rose from about $56 a month in 2023, while cat premiums stayed roughly flat.
Quote-comparison sites report somewhat lower “shopping” averages because they look at new quotes rather than policies in force. Insurify’s analysis of more than 250,000 quotes (updated May 2026) puts the average at about $43 a month for dogs and $23 for cats, and Forbes Advisor’s 2026 study found about $56 for dogs and $24 for cats on a $5,000-limit plan.
Pet Insurance Cost by Pet Size and Breed
Dogs cost roughly twice as much to insure as cats, and bigger dogs cost more than small ones because their surgeries, anesthesia and medications cost more. These are typical accident & illness ranges for a young adult pet with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement:
| Pet | Typical monthly premium | Typical yearly premium |
|---|---|---|
| Cat | $20–$45 | $240–$540 |
| Small dog (under 20 lb) | $35–$70 | $420–$840 |
| Medium dog (20–50 lb) | $45–$85 | $540–$1,020 |
| Large dog (50–90 lb) | $55–$105 | $660–$1,260 |
| Giant dog (90+ lb) | $65–$130 | $780–$1,560 |
Breed matters as much as size. Breeds with known inherited conditions are priced higher. Insurify’s 2026 data shows these averages:
| Breed | $5,000 annual limit | Unlimited annual limit |
|---|---|---|
| French Bulldog | $69/month | $134/month |
| Golden Retriever | $59/month | $115/month |
| Maine Coon | $30/month | $58/month |
| Ragdoll | $26/month | $58/month |
In a separate set of sample quotes reported by CNBC Select (medium dog in New York City), French Bulldogs averaged about $99 a month versus about $65 for mixed breeds. If you are budgeting for a new puppy, see our French Bulldog price guide and Golden Retriever price guide for the full first-year picture.
Pet Insurance Cost by Age
Premiums are based on your pet’s current age and usually go up at each renewal. The jump is modest through middle age, then steep for seniors.
| Age group | Dogs (avg/month) | Cats (avg/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy / kitten | $40 | $21 |
| Adult | $46 | $22 |
| Senior | $116 | $62 |
Source: Insurify quote data, updated May 2026. Forbes Advisor’s 2026 sample shows a similar curve for dogs on a $5,000-limit plan: about $41 a month at 3 years, $52 at 5 years and $74 at 7 years.
How Much Is Pet Insurance by Plan Type?
| Plan type | What it pays for | Typical dog cost | Typical cat cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident-only | Injuries: swallowed objects, fractures, bite wounds, toxin ingestion, being hit by a car | About $16/month | About $9/month |
| Accident & illness | Injuries plus illnesses: infections, cancer, allergies, diabetes, often hereditary conditions | About $62/month | About $32/month |
| Wellness add-on | Fixed allowances for exams, vaccines, parasite prevention and sometimes dental cleaning | Roughly $10–$40/month extra | Roughly $10–$40/month extra |
Accident & illness is the plan most people buy. An accident-only plan costs about a quarter as much but won’t pay for illness, which drives many of the largest bills. Read our accident-only pet insurance guide to see when it can make sense. Wellness add-ons are budgeting tools rather than insurance: they only pay off if you would use each benefit anyway.
Pet Insurance Cost by State and Region
Where you live changes the price because vet fees differ a lot between regions. Big-city and Northeast premiums run highest; the South and parts of the Midwest are cheapest.
| State | Dogs (avg/month) | Cats (avg/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $66 | $30 |
| Massachusetts | $64 | $31 |
| Washington, D.C. | $60 | $34 |
| Oklahoma | $33 | $15 |
| Alabama | $32 | $15 |
| Mississippi | $32 | $11 |
Source: Insurify, most and least expensive states, 2026. Forbes Advisor’s 2026 study found a similar spread for dogs on a $5,000-limit plan, from about $30 a month in Oklahoma to $63 in Connecticut. The regional selector in our estimator reflects this gap.
What Affects the Cost of Pet Insurance
Species, breed and size
Dogs cost more than cats, large and giant breeds cost more than small ones, and breeds prone to joint, breathing, eye or heart problems carry a surcharge.
Age
Premiums climb every year, and most steeply after about age 7 for dogs. Some insurers limit new enrollments for older pets; others have no upper age limit.
Location
Your ZIP code matters because insurers price on local vet fees. Urban areas and the Northeast and West Coast usually cost more.
Deductible
This is what you pay each policy year before reimbursement starts. Raising it from $250 to $500 or $1,000 lowers the monthly premium, in exchange for paying more yourself before the policy kicks in.
Reimbursement rate
Most plans offer 70%, 80% or 90% back after the deductible, and a few offer 100%. Each step up raises the premium.
Annual limit
A $5,000 limit is much cheaper than unlimited coverage. In Insurify’s breed data, unlimited plans cost roughly twice as much as $5,000 plans.
Could pet insurance cover a bill like this?
Accident & illness plans typically reimburse 70–90% of eligible vet costs after the deductible, if the condition is not pre-existing and the waiting period has passed. Premiums for dogs average about $62/month and for cats about $32/month (NAPHIA, 2025).
Coverage is subject to each policy’s terms, exclusions and state availability.What Does a Pet Insurance Premium Pay For?
A policy is a hedge against large, unexpected bills. For context, an emergency visit without surgery often runs $500 to $1,500 (see our emergency vet cost guide), and a TPLO knee surgery on a large dog is typically around $4,500 (see dog ACL surgery cost). An accident & illness plan would normally reimburse a share of such bills after the deductible, if the condition is covered and not pre-existing.
Keep these standard rules in mind:
- Waiting periods: coverage usually starts after a short wait for accidents (from one day to about 14 days depending on the insurer and state) and about 14 days for illnesses. Many insurers use a longer orthopedic waiting period, often six months, for problems like cruciate ligament tears.
- Pre-existing conditions: generally excluded. A few insurers may cover curable conditions after a symptom-free period.
- Routine care: not covered by the base policy. It needs a wellness add-on.
- Reimbursement model: most US policies pay you back after you pay the vet.
Coverage is subject to each policy’s terms, exclusions and state availability. Whether a policy is worth it for your budget is a separate question, covered in our guide Is pet insurance worth it?
How to Lower Your Pet Insurance Premium
- Enroll early. Young pets get lower starting rates and fewer exclusions.
- Raise the deductible. A $500 deductible is a common balance between monthly cost and out-of-pocket risk.
- Choose 80% instead of 90%. The difference in premium can be meaningful over a pet’s lifetime.
- Pick a realistic annual limit. A $5,000–$10,000 limit covers many single surgeries for much less than unlimited coverage.
- Ask about discounts. Many insurers offer multi-pet discounts (often 5–10%), and some offer military, employer or membership discounts.
- Skip add-ons you won’t use. Compare a wellness add-on’s cost with what you already spend on routine care.
- Compare the same settings. Quote identical deductible, reimbursement and limit across several insurers before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is pet insurance per month?
NAPHIA’s 2025 report puts the US average at $62.44 a month for dogs and $32.21 for cats on accident & illness plans. Accident-only plans average $16.10 for dogs and $9.17 for cats. Quotes for young, small or mixed-breed pets are often lower, while seniors and higher-risk breeds pay more.
How much is cat pet insurance?
An accident & illness policy for a cat averages about $32 a month ($386 a year), and accident-only plans about $9 a month. Quote data from Insurify shows kittens and adult cats around $21–$22 a month, rising to about $62 for seniors.
Why does dog insurance cost more than cat insurance?
Dogs file more claims on average, and larger dogs need more anesthesia, medication and surgical time, so their vet bills are higher. Breeds prone to orthopedic, breathing or heart problems also carry higher premiums.
Does pet insurance go up every year?
Usually yes. Premiums are based on your pet’s current age, so they typically rise at renewal, and they can also rise with local vet costs. Increases tend to be steeper for senior pets.
What deductible should I choose?
It depends on how much you could comfortably pay out of pocket each year. A higher deductible lowers the monthly premium; a lower one means the policy starts reimbursing sooner. Many owners compare $250 and $500 options side by side.
Is pet insurance cheaper if I have more than one pet?
Often. Many insurers offer a multi-pet discount, commonly 5–10% on additional pets. Check whether the discount applies to every pet or only the second and later ones.
Not veterinary advice. Prices are estimates for budgeting, not quotes. Ask your veterinarian for a written, itemized estimate. If your pet is injured, in pain or acting unwell, contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital right away.
