Pet Insurance Calculator
Estimate your dog or cat's monthly premium from coverage type, age, reimbursement rate, and deductible.
Your pet
Estimated Monthly Premium
≈ $744/year
- CCopy result
- DDownload PDF
- SSave this calculation
- HToggle history
- ?Show this panel
- EscClose open panel
Disabled while typing in a field.
Why Dog and Cat Premiums Differ So Much
Pet insurance prices off two things above all else: species and coverage breadth. Dogs file more frequent and more expensive claims than cats — more breed-linked orthopedic and genetic conditions, more injuries from being generally more active — so base rates for dogs run 2-3x higher than for cats before any other factor is applied. Coverage breadth is the second lever: accident-and-illness plans cost roughly 3-4x more than accident-only plans because illness claims (cancer, chronic disease, infections) are both more common and more expensive than injury claims.
Base Monthly Rates
| Pet & coverage | Typical base rate |
|---|---|
| Dog — Accident & Illness | $62/mo |
| Dog — Accident-only | $16/mo |
| Cat — Accident & Illness | $32/mo |
| Cat — Accident-only | $9/mo |
These base rates assume a 1-3 year old pet, 80% reimbursement, and a $250 deductible. Older pets, higher reimbursement, and lower deductibles all push the price up from there.
Worked Example
A 5-year-old dog with accident-and-illness coverage, 80% reimbursement, and a $250 deductible: $62 base × 1.35 (age 4-7) × 1.00 (80% reimbursement) × 1.00 ($250 deductible) = ≈ $84/month, or about $1,004/year.
What raises your premium
- Older pet age band
- Higher reimbursement rate (90% vs 70%)
- Lower annual deductible
- Accident-and-illness vs. accident-only
What lowers it
- Younger pet, enrolled early
- Lower reimbursement rate
- Higher annual deductible
- Accident-only coverage
Worth knowing: Enrolling a pet while young locks in lower age-based pricing for years and avoids pre-existing-condition exclusions that show up once a health issue has already been diagnosed — the same "enroll early" logic that applies to our Long-Term Care Insurance Calculator for humans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does pet insurance cost per month?
Accident-and-illness coverage for a dog commonly runs $35-$70/month and for a cat $15-$35/month, though age, breed, location, and the plan's reimbursement rate and deductible all move the price meaningfully in either direction.
Why is dog insurance more expensive than cat insurance?
Dogs, on average, file more and larger claims than cats — more breed-linked conditions, higher injury rates, and larger average vet bills for bigger breeds — so insurers price dog policies higher across the board.
What's the difference between accident-only and accident-and-illness coverage?
Accident-only covers injuries like fractures or swallowed objects; accident-and-illness adds coverage for diseases, infections, cancer, and chronic conditions. Accident-and-illness costs roughly 3-4x more but covers far more of what pets actually get treated for.
How does the reimbursement rate affect my premium?
A higher reimbursement rate (the percentage of each vet bill the insurer pays back) means more coverage per claim, so it raises the premium; a 90% reimbursement plan costs more than a 70% plan with the same deductible.
Does my pet's age affect the cost?
Yes — premiums rise with age because older pets are statistically more likely to develop illnesses and file claims, similar to how human health insurance and long-term care costs scale with age.
Is this an actual insurance quote?
No — this is an estimate based on typical industry pricing patterns by pet type, age, and plan structure, not a quote from any specific insurer. Get a real quote to see exact pricing for your pet's breed and location.
Related calculators
Home Insurance Calculator
Many home policies offer bundling discounts worth comparing.
Calculate → Final ExpenseFinal Expense Insurance Calculator
Another small, predictable monthly-premium policy type.
Calculate → Debt PayoffDebt Payoff Calculator
Budget for a new recurring pet insurance premium alongside debt.
Calculate →