2021 – Compare Pet Insurance Companies Costs And Coverages
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Written by
Mathew B. Sims
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Reviewed by
Melanie Musson
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UPDATED: Jun 10, 2021
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Table of Contents
2021 Updated Pet Insurance Costs Compared:
We have reached out to the top 10 pet insurance companies and have gotten 2021 pet insurance quotes for the most popular dogs insured each year.
You will not believe what we found out!
In almost every major category you have some very competitive prices and some companies that charge twice as much for the same coverages!
Find out who has the cheapest rates in our sample pet insurance quotes for all of the top pet insurance companies of 2021 in the pet insurance costs section of this article below.
Most insurance policies are confusing. Unfortunately, pet insurance policies are no exception.
Luckily, most of the terms and logic behind the pricing are probably is similar and we give some good explanations of coverage terms.
But we don’t stop there!
We have done the hard work for you and include multiple charts with the best pet insurance prices for some of the most popular dogs farther down this article.
Get Started with Free Comparisons: You can easily compare pet insurance plans from several top companies by age if you you visit our sample pet insurance quote page for 1 to 2 year old dogs or click here if you have a 3 to 5 year old dog.
We’ve simplified each policy’s fine print and included vet-verified tips and warnings to help you choose.
We’ve also defined important terms you should know so you can compare pet insurance with confidence.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap pet insurance rates.
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Why Does Pet Insurance Cost Vary So Much?
When you start to compare pet insurance plans, you’ll see a wide range of price quotes.
Pet insurances base their price on factors like:
- breed
- age
- zip code
- coverage type
- deductible
- reimbursement % (i.e. 70%, 80%, 90%, etc.)
Each pet insurance weighs these factors differently which affects the cost. Also, prices vary by coverage.
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FACT: Pet insurance pays up to 90% of vet bills when your pet is sick or injured!
Pet Insurance Comparison Chart: Important Definitions
Annual Limits
A maximum amount of money you can be reimbursed every year. Some pet insurance policies have them; others don’t.
Benefit Schedule
A rundown on the amount of reimbursement you’ll get for specific conditions or treatments. Some pet insurance companies reimburse you according to a set benefit schedule instead of covering a percentage of the actual vet bill.
Co-Pay
Percentage of the vet bill you pay out-of-pocket. If you have a 90 percent reimbursement level, your co-pay is 10 percent of the vet bill.
Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients
Luna
PetFirst saved his parents
$6,712
A happy energetic Luna one morning couldn’t hold her food down. After months of multiple costly vet visits to specialists and an endoscopy, the problem was discovered and fixed. Luna put 22 pounds back on in no time and her parents were grateful for having PetFirst by their side to pay the bills.
Congenital Conditions
Health conditions your pet is born with. They can be hereditary or passed down genetically. They can also result from abnormal development before birth.
Not all pet insurance plans cover congenital conditions. Not all congenital conditions are immediately apparent and may show signs sometime after birth.
Deductible
Amount of money you pay out-of-pocket before your pet insurance coverage kicks in.
Exclusions
List of conditions or limitations on your coverage. Read them carefully, as they vary widely from policy to policy.
Hereditary Conditions
Disorders or diseases your pet inherits genetically, often referred to as breed-specific conditions since they tend to affect certain breeds of dogs and cats.
Not all pet insurance plans cover hereditary conditions.
Incidents
“Incident” refers to the specific condition for which your pet is being treated. “Per incident” and “per condition” mean the same thing.
Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance
Lifetime Limits
A maximum amount of money you can be reimbursed over the lifetime of your pet insurance policy.
Reimbursement Level
Percentage of the vet bill the pet insurance company reimburses you after you pay your deductible.
The reimbursement level determines your co-pay. If you have a 70 percent reimbursement level, your co-pay is 30 percent of the vet bill.
Rider
Also called “endorsements,” riders are add-ons to an insurance policy that provide additional coverage at an additional cost.
Different companies may offer different riders, such as a prescription medication rider, complementary care rider, or breeding rider for pregnancy care.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Health issues that your pet has already been diagnosed with or shown signs of before your pet insurance plan becomes active.
Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet insurance plan.
Waiting Period
Set amount of time you’re required to wait after enrollment before your pet insurance policy becomes active.
Pet insurance policies may have different waiting times for different conditions and coverage options.
The waiting period for injuries and accidents may be as short as a day or two while other conditions may have a waiting period of several months.
2021 Pet Insurance Company Costs Compared
Frankly, I was surprised by the results of our 2021 sample pet insurance quotes results.
Generally, Healthy Paws has the best prices for younger dogs but it appears that many other companies now have gotten their act together and offer even better rates in multiple categories.
All of these quotes when possible used the following factors in calculating the estimated pet insurance premium cost for your dog in 2021.
When possible the data we entered for these prices was as follows; a female, puppy under the age of 12 months, with unlimited coverage (or max offered when unlimited not an option), a $500 deductible, and 70% reimbursement. We did not include the wellness checkup add-on when available.
Keep in mind that insurance rates are ever-changing and what seems like minor changes such as, your zip code or breed can actually make a major impact on the cost of pet insurance.
These Pet Insurance Company Price charts are a good tool, not a guarantee of rates, do your own research before you buy.
2021 Best Pet Insurance Prices For A Small Mixed Breed Dog
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Healthy Paws | $20.37 |
| Pets Best | $20.75 |
| Figo | $25.23 |
| Embrace | $29.58 |
| Pet Plan | $29.76 |
| *PetFirst | $31.05 |
| PetPremium | $45.01 |
| Nationwide | $52.73 |
| **Trupanion | $57.02 |
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
Medium Mixed Breed Dog Top Pet Insurance Costs In 2021
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Pets Best | $28.07 |
| Figo | $28.20 |
| Healthy Paws | $29.71 |
| *PetFirst | $34.17 |
| Embrace | $34.31 |
| Pet Plan | $39.83 |
| PetPremium | $45.01 |
| Nationwide | $52.73 |
| **Trupanion | $67.53 |
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
2021 Large Mixed Breed Dog Best Pet Insurance Prices Compared
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Figo | $31.17 |
| Healthy Paws | $36.05 |
| Pets Best | $37.36 |
| Embrace | $40.23 |
| *PetFirst | $40.40 |
| PetPremium | $45.01 |
| Pet Plan | $53.70 |
| Nationwide | $66.71 |
| **Trupanion | $87.58 |
CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE QUOTE FROM FIGO
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
Pet Insurance Costs For A Labrador Retriever In 2021
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Figo | $39.88 |
| *PetFirst | $41.36 |
| Healthy Paws | $43.89 |
| Pet Plan | $47.96 |
| Pets Best | $51.33 |
| Embrace | $51.47 |
| PetPremium | $52.77 |
| Nationwide | $77.47 |
| **Trupanion | $98.50 |
CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE QUOTE FROM FIGO
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
2021 Companies Costs For German Shepherd Pet Insurance
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| *PetFirst | $37.22 |
| Healthy Paws | $43.89 |
| Figo | $45.47 |
| Pets Best | $50.52 |
| Embrace | $51.47 |
| PetPremium | $52.12 |
| Pet Plan | $55.77 |
| Nationwide | $77.47 |
| **Trupanion | $99.97 |
CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE QUOTE FROM PETFIRST
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
Best Prices For Poodle Pet Insurance In 2021
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| *PetFirst | $34.79 |
| Healthy Paws | $36.05 |
| Figo | $38.85 |
| Pet Plan | $42.88 |
| Pets Best | $44.49 |
| PetPremium | $46.51 |
| Embrace | $59.75 |
| Nationwide | $77.47 |
| **Trupanion | $88.62 |
CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE QUOTE FROM PETFIRST
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
2021 Beagle Pet Insurance Costs Compared
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Healthy Paws | $32.63 |
| Figo | $38.76 |
| *PetFirst | $42.55 |
| Pet Plan | $44.51 |
| Pets Best | $47.41 |
| Embrace | $48.51 |
| PetPremium | $49.04 |
| Nationwide | $77.47 |
| **Trupanion | $91.51 |
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
Pet Insurance Costs Compared For A Dachshund In 2021
| Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Figo | $27.63 |
| Healthy Paws | $32.63 |
| *PetFirst | $36.28 |
| Pet Plan | $36.99 |
| Pets Best | $38.56 |
| Embrace | $41.71 |
| PetPremium | $46.78 |
| Nationwide | $72.54 |
| **Trupanion | $77.47 |
CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE QUOTE FROM FIGO
*PetFirst first monthly payment has an additional $10-$15 startup fee, the number in this chart is the monthly cost after the first month
**Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, all other sample quotes are based on 70% reimbursement which is why Trupanion appears so much higher
Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients
Gidget
PetFirst saved his parents
$2,194
Artemis was a beautiful and friendly cat to all who were willing to pet him. Unfortunately, he developed feline diabetes which required regular vet visits and medications that his Mother could not otherwise afford on her fixed income. Having PetFirst insurance, she called and discussed the problem with a friendly PetFirst agent. To her surprise, she found out that Artemis’ ongoing required vet visits and medication would be covered by his PetFirst insurance. Artemis was able to live out the rest of his life with proper medical care and medicines thanks to PetFirst insurance.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap pet insurance rates.
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Read More Pet Insurance Company Comparisons
- Figo vs Nationwide
- Healthy Paws vs Embrace
- Healthy Paws vs PetPlan
- Healthy Paws vs Nationwide
- Healthy Paws vs Trupanion
- Trupanion vs Nationwide
- Embrace vs Petplan
- Healthy Paws vs Pets Best
- Nationwide vs Embrace
- Healthy Paws vs PetFirst
- Healthy Paws vs Figo
- Nationwide vs PetPremium
- PetPlan vs Trupanion
- Figo vs Trupanion
- Trupanion vs Embrace
Thank you for this comparison. I have always had Nationwide–covered 6 different dogs with it over about 20yrs and have never had any issues with them. They actually refunded my payments (I pay monthly) when my pets have passed away. Wonder why they have such low reviews on your site. I like Healthy Paws, but they don’t cover wellness and I now have a puppy.
Almost made a huge mistake by assuming that coverage would automatically cover my working dogs for a line-of-duty injury. Since my dogs are disaster search and rescue dogs, injury coverage is crucial. I asked the question about LOD injuries and illnesses almost as an afterthought when speaking with the Healthy Paws rep, and she informed me that injuries sustained during work were NOT covered through them. Healthy Paws also required a vet exam within the two week waiting period, even though the dogs all had their annual exams in February. To have new exams to enroll would have cost me over $500. After comparison shopping, Pets Best did not require a new exam to enroll, and had a very short waiting period for coverage. They also had no limitations whatsoever for working dogs or injuries sustained during line of duty events. So glad I thought to ask about the coverage limitations!