How Much Does Dog Insurance Cost—and What Should It Cover?

Dogs are family. Unfortunately, veterinary bills can sometimes look a lot like family medical bills too.

Pet insurance is designed to make an unexpected accident or illness easier to handle financially. But plans vary considerably in price, deductibles, reimbursement percentages, annual limits and exclusions.

So how much should you actually pay for dog insurance—and what should you look for before buying a policy?

How Much Does Dog Insurance Cost Per Month?

For 2026, a reasonable starting point for accident-and-illness coverage is roughly $40–$50 per month for a dog, although your actual premium can be substantially higher or lower.

Recent quote data puts the national median around $43 per month for dogs. Location alone can make a significant difference: Insurify

These aren’t prices every dog owner will receive. Insurers consider factors including your dog’s age, breed and location, as well as the deductible, reimbursement rate and coverage limits you select. NAIC Content

An older dog can cost considerably more to insure than a puppy or young adult, so comparing policies while your dog is young can be worthwhile. NerdWallet

What Should a Good Pet Insurance Plan Cover?

Start by looking for accident-and-illness coverage, rather than comparing policies solely by monthly premium.

Depending on the policy, that can provide coverage for things such as injuries, emergency treatment, diagnostic tests, hospitalization, surgery and treatment for illnesses.

Then look carefully at:

Annual coverage limit. A cheap policy isn’t much help if its benefit ceiling is exhausted during one serious medical event.

Reimbursement percentage. Many policies reimburse a percentage of eligible expenses after the deductible.

Deductible. Understand both how much it is and whether it’s calculated annually or another way.

Hereditary and congenital conditions. Read this particularly carefully if your dog’s breed is predisposed to particular medical problems.

Prescription medications and diagnostic testing. Don’t assume they’re included simply because an illness itself is covered.

Specialty and emergency care. One of the major reasons to carry insurance is protection from an unexpectedly large veterinary bill.

Waiting periods. Coverage generally doesn’t begin the moment you purchase a policy.

And read the exclusions. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners notes that pet policies can have exclusions, payment limits and waiting periods, and pre-existing conditions are commonly excluded. NAIC Content

Pet Insurance Companies Worth Comparing

There isn’t one insurer that’s right for every dog, because prices can change dramatically based on the animal and ZIP code. Get several quotes using identical coverage assumptions before comparing prices.

Some established providers worth including in your comparison are Figo, Pets Best, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, MetLife, Spot, Pumpkin, Embrace and Lemonade. Current price comparisons illustrate why shopping around matters: sample premiums for the same young mixed-breed dog ranged from about $30/month at Figo and Lemonade to $53 at MetLife. NerdWallet

Costco Members: Check Figo

This one is particularly worth knowing about.

Costco currently offers members a 15% discount on Figo pet insurance where available. Gold Star and Business members receive the discount, while Executive members also receive a lost-pet recovery benefit where available. Costco notes that the insurance offer isn’t currently available for new policies in Washington. Costco Wholesale

Figo offers different deductible and reimbursement choices, with eligible veterinary expenses potentially reimbursed up to 100%, depending on the plan selected. Costco Wholesale

So if you’re already paying for a Costco membership, get the Costco/Figo quote before choosing another insurer.

Accident-Only vs. Accident-and-Illness vs. Wellness Plans

These aren’t interchangeable.

Accident-only coverage is generally the least expensive and is designed for unexpected injuries.

Accident-and-illness coverage adds eligible illnesses and is the category most people mean when discussing comprehensive pet insurance.

Wellness coverage is intended for more predictable routine expenses and may include things such as vaccinations or preventive care, depending on the plan.

The NAIC identifies those as the three primary categories of pet insurance products. NAIC Content

Don’t automatically buy the wellness add-on. Compare its annual premium with what it actually reimburses for routine care. Insurance is particularly valuable for expenses you couldn’t comfortably absorb yourself.

The Cheapest Policy Isn’t Necessarily the Cheapest Dog

A $25 monthly premium sounds great until you discover a low annual limit, high deductible or exclusion affecting the condition your dog eventually develops.

When comparing quotes, hold the variables constant. For example, request approximately the same:

annual limit + deductible + reimbursement percentage + accident-and-illness coverage

from every company.

Then compare premiums and exclusions.

That’s a much more meaningful comparison than simply asking, “Who has the cheapest pet insurance?”

Protecting a Lifetime of Adventures

Insurance can’t keep a dog healthy. Good nutrition, appropriate exercise, preventive veterinary care and paying attention when something changes remain important throughout a dog’s life.

Insurance simply provides another tool: financial protection against the veterinary bill you didn’t expect.

And that’s really the goal—having more freedom to make a healthcare decision based on what your companion needs rather than what an unexpected bill costs.