How would you pay for emergency medical care for your pet if he or she was gravely injured? Recent research shows that 46% of pet owners had trouble paying their bills because of an emergency bill of $500 or less. If an unexpected veterinary bill might put you in financial jeopardy, pet insurance can be a lifeline. There are a lot of cheap pet insurance companies out there, but we chose the best cheap pet insurance companies for dogs based on their coverage and reimbursement levels. Leading providers give you a choice of benefits, deductibles, and add-ons that you can use to make your coverage fit your needs.
Cheap Pet Insurance For Dogs That Covers Everything
If you want to provide your pet with economical and high-quality security, read our assessment of the best cheap pet insurance for dogs that covers everything below. We go over each company’s programs and prices, as well as how to acquire a free quote.
Emergency treatments for your pet can cost $1,000-$5,000, with exam fees of $100-$150 and X-rays or other diagnostic tests of $150-$250. These expenses can quickly build up, resulting in exorbitant out-of-pocket spending when your beloved pet becomes ill or injured. The best cheap pet insurance coverage for dogs can help you save money while also giving you peace of mind that your pet will be cared for.
The team investigated the best pet insurance companies for dogs, examining their reputations, customer service, plan options, pricing, and coverage. We discovered that many of the best pet insurance providers offered cheap yet high-quality policies.
Best Cheap Pet Insurance For Dogs
The breed, gender, and age of your pet are all factors that influence pet insurance costs. Because dogs are often larger and require more veterinarian services, even cheap-cost pet insurance for dogs can be around twice as expensive as comparable coverage for cats. Here is our recommendation for the best cheap pet insurance for dogs that covers everything:
Lemonade: Best Overall
Lemonade received the best overall rating from us, with a score of 96 out of 100. The company’s inexpensive costs, high coverage limits, and wellness and extra coverage add-ons impressed us. Lemonade also provides an easy-to-use mobile app with AI technology that allows you to get a quote, sign up for a policy, and process claims.
Lemonade was penalized for having a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of C, which is worse than that of several competitors. Although it obtained this grade due to a large number of recorded complaints, we noticed that the majority of complaints were about Lemonade’s other insurance products, such as homeowners and renters insurance, rather than pet insurance.
Lemonade Pros & Cons
Pros
- Customers can save money by paying annually.
- Customers’ unused premiums are donated to charities.
- Has a short waiting period of 48 hours for accidents
Cons
- Before enrollment, a medical report from the previous 12 months is required.
- Price increases for pets with a medical history
Lemonade Pet Insurance Plans
Lemonade offers an accident and illness plan as well as three add-ons for wellness and extra coverage. Its policies, like those of many competitors, exclude elective procedures, behavioral treatments, and preexisting conditions. Before beginning coverage, it also requires a recent medical report from the previous 12 months.
Accident-and-illness plan: This plan covers injections, prescription prescriptions, outpatient care, specialist care, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, blood tests, urinalysis, X-rays, MRIs, labwork, CT scans, and ultrasounds for accidents and injuries.
Spot: Most Customizable Plans
Spot’s coverage can be changed in any way you want. You can choose from six different coverage limits, three different reimbursement options, and five different annual deductibles. These solutions let you keep your rates far lower than your competition. The spot received 91 points out of 100 because it offered a variety of plan alternatives and was reasonably priced, but it lost points since it did not provide as much wellness and preventive care as other plans.
Spot Pros & Cons
Pros
- There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Exam fees are covered under a regular plan.
- Microchip implantation is included.
Cons
- Has greater prices for plans with an annual limit of infinity.
- Both accidents and illnesses have a 14-day waiting period.
Spot Pet Insurance Plans
Spot provides two types of coverage: one for accidents only and one for accidents and diseases. The accident-only plan is the cheapest, but it doesn’t cover as much and could leave your pet vulnerable to health problems. Each plan is summarized below:
Plan for accidents only: This plan only covers procedures related to accidents, such as injuries, swallowed objects, and poisonous ingestions.
Healthy Paws: Best Coverage Limit
Healthy Paws stands out from its competitors because it offers unlimited coverage at reasonable rates, with no limits on payouts per incident, per year, or for the rest of the pet’s life. It will always pay the required amount. If your offered premium is higher than usual, it also suggests different pet insurance providers. As a result, we evaluated the provider at 93.5 out of 100.
Healthy Paws Pros & Cons
Pros
- There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Has a smartphone app for policy and claim administration.
- Is the best buy for mixed breed dogs?
Cons
- There is no wellness or preventative care plan in place.
- There is only one coverage limit choice available.
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Plans
Healthy Paws is a single plan that covers illnesses, accidents, hereditary conditions, chronic ailments, congenital conditions, and cancer operations. Diagnostic treatments, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, surgery, hospitalization, prescription drugs, specialty care, and alternative treatments are examples of procedures.
Embrace: Best Deductibles
Embrace provides a variety of deductibles to let you tailor your premium. It also has a feature called “Healthy Pet Deductible,” which gives you $50 toward your deductible for every year you don’t file a claim. Embrace got 93.5 out of a possible 100 points for how affordable it is and how many plans it has.
Embrace Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides a 10% multi-pet discount as well as a 5% military discount.
- 100% reimbursement for wellness plan costs up to the selected amount
- Provides a free review of your medical history.
Cons
- There is no maximum coverage option.
- Only covers up to $650 per year for a wellness plan, which is less than what other providers offer.
Embrace Pet Insurance Plans
Embrace offers a single regular plan for accident and illness coverage, as well as a wellness add-on that provides annual incentive amounts for some routine vet expenditures. Here’s a breakdown of what each coverage choice includes.
Plan for accidents and illnesses: This plan covers procedures such as lab testing, CT scans, surgery, and hospitalizations for cancer, chronic conditions, congenital conditions, oral trauma, genetic conditions, and emergency accidents or illnesses.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Best for New Pet Owners
The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is one of the best cheap pet insurance companies for dogs, with customized base plans and wellness add-ons. It received an 89 out of 100 in our review as the best provider for new pet parents.
New pet owners may have many questions about how to care for their dog or cat. The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program tries to answer your questions by giving you access to online resources with information about each pet breed and common health problems. It also has a mobile app that has a unique “local vet finder” function.
ASPCA Pros & Cons
Pros
- Covers vet visits and exam fees, which are sometimes overlooked by competitors.
- Coverage for microchip implantation is included in its regular insurance.
- Provides an accident-only plan option for low-cost pet insurance coverage.
Cons
- Does not provide coverage yearly limits over $10,000 per year.
- Accidents have a 14-day waiting period.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, like Spot, provides a cheap accident-only plan for people who simply need coverage for accidents or injuries and do not want to pay for a more comprehensive choice. Preexisting ailments, elective surgeries, cosmetic procedures, or issues connected to breeding or pregnancy are not covered by any of its policies.
Fetch by The Dodo: Best Holistic Coverage
Fetch offers low-cost pet insurance policies that cover accidents and illnesses as well as holistic care like homeotherapy, hydrotherapy, stem cell therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and behavioral therapies for up to $1,000. We received a score of 91.5 out of 100.
Fetch Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides a 15% discount on policy renewals after a year of not filing a claim.
- Has three coverage limitations, deductibles, and reimbursement rates that can be customized.
- There is an online chat available.
Cons
- Does not provide wellness or preventative care regimens.
- There is no multi-pet discount.
Fetch Plans
Fetch covers coverage for procedures and treatments associated with covered accidents and illnesses. It also covers a few things that other providers don’t, like incentive money for finding a lost pet, exam expenses, sick visit fees, and boarding payments if you’re hospitalized for more than four days. Preexisting conditions, elective procedures, or preventive care are not covered by Fetch.
Pawp: Best for Multiple Pets
Pawp is a digital veterinary clinic that offers subscribers unlimited access to live vet chat and video chats for queries or advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each membership also gets $3,000 in emergency coverage.
Pawp scored 90 out of 100, with points deducted for a lack of preventative care coverage and a low coverage maximum.
Pawp Pros & Cons
Pros
- Provides online veterinary services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- There are no deductibles or copays.
- Veterinarians are paid directly.
Cons
- It does not provide wellness or preventative care.
- There is no BBB rating.
Pawp Plans
Each Pawp membership includes the Emergency Plan, which covers accidents and illnesses up to $3,000 per year. Common illnesses, genetic problems, injuries, obstructions, and choking are examples of emergencies. Covered operations or vet visits must qualify as an emergency, and your pet’s eligibility will be verified by an official Pawp vet before you can access the cash.
How to Get the Best Cheap Pet Insurance for Dogs
The examples above show the best cheap pet insurance for dogs, but there are more ways to reduce costs even further. Among these are modifying your policy’s inclusions and changing your payment methods. Taking the steps outlined below can assist you in lowering your pet insurance prices and finding reasonable coverage.
#1. Insure your pet while they’re young.
Younger pets have reduced insurance rates. They are more prone to become ill or wounded as they age, making them more difficult to insure.
#2. Take on a higher deductible.
A deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket each time you file a claim before your insurance policy kicks in. The greater it is, the lower your monthly premium will be.
#3. Get a lower coverage limit.
Determine how much coverage you require. Although it is wise to be prepared for anything, a smaller coverage level lowers your rate.
#4. Pay annually rather than monthly.
Most insurers allow you to pay monthly or annually. Although covering a complete year’s worth of premiums can be intimidating, it is usually less expensive than a monthly payment plan.
#5. Spay or neuter your pet.
Spayed or neutered pets are less prone to stray. There is also a lesser likelihood of a health problem. Both of these things contribute to lower rates.
#6. Microchip your pet.
If a pet has a microchip, it is easier to find if it is lost or stolen. It encourages insurers to provide more cheap pet insurance.
#7. Inquire about multi-pet discounts.
You can get insurance for all of your pets from the same company. Many insurance companies offer a multi-pet discount, which can save you up to 10% on your rate.
The younger your pets are when you insure them, the lower the premiums will be. If you can locate insurance that has a deductible that decreases each year you don’t submit a claim, you can save a lot of money. In addition to age, insurers consider the breed of your pet. Mixed breeds cost less to insure since they are less prone to genetic or inherited illnesses. They will be less likely to require more expensive veterinarian treatment in the long run.
Conclusion
Lemonade, Embrace, Healthy Paws, Spot, Pawp, and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance provide the most affordable coverage among cheap pet insurance for dogs that covers everything we researched. If you’re seeking the best overall supplier, consider getting a free quotation from Lemonade. If you prefer high coverage limits or personalized insurance, get a free quotation from Healthy Paws or Spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age is pet insurance the cheapest?
Our research discovered that the best costs were after a pet’s first birthday until around the age of six. Pet insurance premiums might rise as your pet ages and you renew your policy. Your current location. Because veterinary costs vary by location, pet insurance premiums reflect this.
How much should I pay for dog insurance UK?
The average cost of dog insurance per month is about £34.47*, but the price of dog insurance can vary a lot. This is primarily because different dog breeds have highly distinct health requirements.
Is it worth shopping around for pet insurance?
If you keep the policy for the life of your pet, you’ll likely end up paying thousands of dollars in insurance. Remember that these are example numbers for a single pet insurance company in a single ZIP code. Because your individual price will differ, it is worthwhile to shop around.
Are small dogs cheaper to insure?
A small, female dog from a healthy breed, such as a Jack Russel, will be the cheapest to insure. Keep these considerations in mind if you plan to get a new dog in the future.
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