What drives the cost
Three of the inputs are yours to set. That's where the real comparison happens.
Pet insurance pricing is more transparent than most insurance, because much of it is driven by settings you choose on the quote screen.
That's also the problem — two quotes can look very different purely because the settings differ, and the cheaper one is often cheaper for a reason you'd rather know about.
What you don't control
- Species — dogs generally cost more to insure than cats
- Age at enrolment, and age at each renewal
- Breed, which affects expected claims through known predispositions
- Where you live, since veterinary costs vary by area
- Whether the pet is spayed or neutered, on some plans
What you do control
These three settings move the premium most, and they're where quotes become comparable or incomparable.
- Deductible — what you pay before reimbursement starts
- Reimbursement percentage — the share of the covered bill the plan pays, commonly offered at levels such as 70, 80 or 90 percent
- Annual limit — the cap on what the plan pays per year, with some plans offering no annual cap
Comparing quotes properly
Set every quote to the same deductible, the same reimbursement percentage and the same annual limit. Only then are the premiums comparable.
Without that, you're comparing a plan that pays most of a large bill against one that pays a fraction of a capped one, and picking on price alone gets it wrong.
The costs that don't show in the premium
- The exam or consultation fee, which many plans exclude even when the treatment is covered
- Anything ruled pre-existing, which is excluded on essentially every plan
- Care during a waiting period
- Routine and preventive care, unless you add a wellness plan
- Amounts above an annual, per-condition or lifetime limit
The renewal question to ask now
Premiums generally rise as a pet ages, and insurers can also re-rate a whole class of policies. A quote is a price for one year, not a commitment for the pet's life.
Ask how the insurer handles renewal pricing, and whether making claims affects it. You're buying a relationship that may run a decade or more.
Common questions
Usually because the deductible, reimbursement percentage or annual limit differs. Set every quote to identical settings before comparing premiums — otherwise you're comparing different products.
Generally yes, and insurers can also re-rate a whole class of policies. Ask how renewal pricing works before enrolling, since this is a relationship that may run a decade.
Exam fees on many plans, anything pre-existing, care during waiting periods, routine care without a wellness add-on, and anything above a plan limit.
Want this priced for your situation?
This page is general information, not advice about your specific circumstances. A licensed insurance professional can tell you what’s actually available to you.
General information only, not insurance advice. Coverage, availability, and terms vary by insurer and by state, and are subject to underwriting. Quote My Policy LLC is a licensed insurance producer. Nothing here binds coverage.