How much is pet insurance? For a typical accident and illness policy in the US, about $70 a month for a dog and $36 a month for a cat, based on the newest industry numbers. That’s the average, though, and your quote can land far from it.
I finally priced it this month for my two, a dog who eats socks and a cat who once cost me $600 in a single afternoon. I’d put it off for years because I assumed it was either a scam or a luxury. Turns out it’s a monthly bill that makes sense for some pets and some budgets, and not for others. Below are the real 2026 averages, why premiums keep going up, the break-even math I ran on my own kitchen table, and how to fit the cost into a budget without it eating your savings.
How much is pet insurance, on average, in 2026?
The best national source is the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, which publishes a yearly State of the Industry report compiled by the actuarial firm Willis Towers Watson. The 2026 edition, released in June, covers the full 2025 year. These are the average annual premiums in the US:
- Accident and illness, dog: $836 a year, or about $70 a month.
- Accident and illness, cat: $435 a year, or about $36 a month.
- Accident only, dog: $190 a year, close to $16 a month.
- Accident only, cat: $112 a year, a little over $9 a month.
- Plans with wellness built in: $1,414 a year for a dog and $859 for a cat.
Most people asking “how much is pet insurance” mean the middle option, accident and illness. That’s the one that covers the scary stuff, like a swallowed toy, an infection or cancer treatment. Accident only is cheap because it skips illness entirely, and illness is where most of the claims are.
I spent more time reading what a policy pays out than looking at its monthly price, and I’m glad I did.
How much is pet insurance for a dog vs. a cat?
Dogs cost roughly twice as much to insure as cats. In the NAPHIA data, a dog’s accident and illness premium ($836) is 1.9 times a cat’s ($435). Dogs are also most of the market: 74.9% of insured pets in the US are dogs.
That gap matched what I saw. My dog’s quotes came back a lot higher than my cat’s, which surprised me, because my cat is the one with the expensive history. But insurers price on averages, not on my particular cat.
Cats are catching up, though. The cat share of insured pets has climbed every year, from 18.3% in 2021 to 25.1% in 2025. And cat premiums jumped 12.6% last year after barely moving for four years. If you priced cat coverage in 2022 and decided it was cheap, it isn’t the same price anymore.
What gets claimed also differs. For dogs, the top claim categories are stomach and gut problems, ear infections and skin conditions. For cats it’s stomach issues, dental disease and urinary tract infections. That lines up with my own vet bills almost too well: my dog’s last surprise was a $214 ear infection.
What changes your quote
The average is a starting point. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, price depends on species, breed, gender, age, location, and the coverage and deductible you choose. When I played with the quote sliders, each of these moved the price:
- Age. Enrolling a young pet is cheaper, and older pets cost more each year they’re on the policy.
- Breed. Breeds prone to hip, heart or breathing problems cost more to cover.
- Zip code. Vet prices vary by city, so premiums do too. California alone holds 18.1% of all insured pets in the US.
- Deductible. Moving my dog’s deductible from $250 to $500 lowered the quote noticeably. You pay less monthly and more when you claim.
- Reimbursement rate. 90% back costs more than 70% back. This was the slider that moved the price the most for me.
One thing that doesn’t move with any slider: pre-existing conditions. The NAIC notes that most pet insurers exclude them. So if your pet already has an ear problem on record, the next ear problem probably isn’t covered. That’s the strongest argument for deciding early, while your pet’s chart is still clean.
Why pet insurance keeps getting more expensive
Premiums follow vet prices, and vet prices have been running hot. The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks a separate price index for veterinarian services, and it rose 4.6% from August 2025 to August 2026, faster than prices overall. I broke that down in my post on the average vet visit cost, if you want the clinic side of the story.
The insurance side shows it even more clearly. The average dog accident and illness premium went from $625 in 2021 to $836 in 2025. That’s about 34% in four years, with an 11.5% jump in 2025 alone. Total pet insurance premiums in North America hit $6.2 billion last year, up 19.4%.
So budget for the price to rise at renewal. I’d assume 10% a year until your own renewal notice tells you otherwise.
How much is pet insurance worth? The break-even math I ran
The question I cared about was simpler. I already keep an $80 a month pet line in my sinking funds, and it has paid every vet bill this year without touching a credit card. So would insurance beat that?
It depends on what kind of year you get. In a quiet year, insurance loses. You pay the premium and claim nothing. In a terrible year, insurance wins by thousands. The math works out to a break-even point, and once I saw it, the decision got a lot easier.
For an average dog policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement, insurance comes out ahead once covered vet bills in a single year pass about $1,180. Below that, saving on your own wins. Above it, the policy wins, and the gap gets wide fast.
The top claim NAPHIA reported for a dog in 2025 was $66,600, for a Bernese mountain dog. No sinking fund I know of is built for that. My $80 a month would take almost 70 years to get there.
How to budget for pet insurance without stretching
If you decide to buy it, the premium becomes a fixed bill like rent or your phone. My setup, if you buy it:
- Get three quotes with the same settings. Same deductible, same reimbursement rate, same annual limit. Otherwise you’re comparing different products.
- Pick the deductible you could pay tomorrow. If $500 would go on a card, choose $250 and pay the higher premium.
- Add the premium to your fixed bills. Put it next to your other insurance, like the line I explained in my post on the average home insurance cost.
- Keep a smaller pet fund for the deductible and the gaps. Routine exams, vaccines and anything pre-existing still come out of pocket.
- Read the waiting period before you need it. Many policies don’t pay for anything that happens in the first days or weeks.
- Set a renewal reminder. Check the new price every year and compare it with your actual claims.
I ended up somewhere in the middle. I signed my dog up for accident-only coverage at about $16 a month, because her sock habit is a real surgery risk and that’s the risk accident plans cover. I’m keeping the $80 pet fund for everything else, including the cat. If she ever develops a chronic illness, I’ll wish I’d gone bigger. I know that. It’s a trade I made with my eyes open.
Cozy tip: Before you get a single quote, write down what you spent at the vet in the last 12 months. If it’s well under $1,000, a fund might serve you better. If one bad day would wipe you out, price a policy this week. Either way, give your pet its own row on the free budget printable below so the cost has a home.
If you skip insurance, build the backup first
Going without insurance is fine if you’ve planned for it. About 94% of US dogs and almost 98% of cats are uninsured, according to NAPHIA’s penetration rates (5.99% of dogs and 2.29% of cats have coverage). Most of us are self-insuring whether we planned to or not.
If that’s you, the fund has to be real. Mine is $80 a month for two animals, and it felt like a lot when I set it up. The order I’d go in is a starter emergency fund first, then a pet line on top, so a vet visit doesn’t drain the money meant for your rent. For more numbers on how households handle surprise costs, my budgeting statistics roundup has the broader picture.
Pet insurance vs. saving on your own: a worked example
This table uses one example dog with an accident and illness policy at the NAPHIA average of $836 a year, a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The deductible and reimbursement are assumptions for the example, not a quote. Routine care isn’t included because these policies usually don’t cover it.
| Covered vet bills in the year | Insurance pays | You pay (premium + your share) | Saving on your own | Better option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 (quiet year) | $0 | $836 | $0 | Saving |
| $600 (one emergency visit) | $315 | $1,121 | $600 | Saving |
| $1,180 (break-even) | $837 | $1,179 | $1,180 | About even |
| $4,000 (surgery) | $3,375 | $1,461 | $4,000 | Insurance |
| $10,000 (serious illness) | $8,775 | $2,061 | $10,000 | Insurance |
Common mistakes when pricing pet insurance
- Waiting until your pet is sick. Once a condition is in the vet records, it’s usually excluded as pre-existing, so the policy won’t cover the thing you were worried about.
- Comparing quotes with different settings. A $30 plan with a $1,000 deductible and a $55 plan with a $250 deductible aren’t the same product. Line up the deductible, reimbursement and annual limit first.
- Treating the premium as your whole pet budget. You’ll still pay the deductible, your share of each bill, and routine care, so keep a small fund running alongside the policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is pet insurance per month for a dog?
The US average for accident and illness coverage was $836 a year in 2025, or about $70 a month, according to NAPHIA. Accident-only plans averaged $190 a year, about $16 a month. Breed, age and zip code can push your quote well above or below those numbers.
How much is pet insurance for a cat?
Accident and illness coverage for a cat averaged $435 a year in 2025, about $36 a month. Accident-only coverage averaged $112 a year. Cat premiums rose 12.6% in 2025, so older quotes are likely out of date.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners notes that most pet insurers exclude pre-existing conditions. That’s why enrolling while your pet is young and healthy tends to get you the most coverage for the money.
Does pet insurance cover routine vet visits?
Standard accident and illness plans generally don’t cover checkups and vaccines. Some insurers sell plans with wellness built in, and those averaged $1,414 a year for dogs and $859 for cats in 2025. Do the math on what you’d use before paying for wellness.
Is pet insurance worth it or should I just save?
It depends on the year you get. In a quiet year, saving wins because you pay no premium. In the worked example above, an average dog policy came out ahead once covered bills passed about $1,180 in a year. If one large bill would go on a credit card, insurance is worth pricing.
Grab my free Monthly Budget Template
The same cozy spreadsheet I use to track every dollar — sinking funds, bills, and savings, all in one place. Join the newsletter and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime. — Nora
Keep reading — more on Budgeting Methods