Pet insurance can be an excellent way for older dog owners to help offset the cost of their furry friends’ healthcare. Unfortunately, as pets age, it becomes more challenging to qualify for insurance.
Because aging pets are more prone to injury and illness, many pet insurers have strict age limits.
Fortunately, not all pet insurance companies do this. If you’re looking for pet insurance for senior cats or dogs, this guide can help you find it.
Many pet parents take out pet insurance plans to control costs and prepare for unexpected veterinary emergencies.
These policies typically have a low monthly cost but can cover up to tens of thousands of dollars in unforeseen vet bills — coverage that could be equivalent to life-saving surgery on your pet.
Those who own senior dogs and cats sometimes wonder if getting pet insurance is a good option or if they even have insurance.
It can be confusing to know at what age an insurance company will consider your four-legged friend an “older pet,” especially when they’re as vigorous as ever and young at heart.
While it’s best to enroll your pet in a policy when they are young, you can still get pet insurance for older dogs and cats – and it could help you save a significant amount of money if they develop health problems later in life.
Table of contents
- Is Pet Insurance More Expensive For Older Pets?
- ASPCA
- Figo
- Pet plan
- Healthy Paws
- Embrace
- When Does Older Pet Insurance Make Sense?
- When older pet insurance isn’t worth it
- How to reduce pet insurance costs for older pets
- Why is it difficult to find cheap pet insurance for older dogs?
- Is pet insurance worth it for older animals? (Conclusion)
- References
- Editor’s Recommendations
Is Pet Insurance More Expensive For Older Pets?
Pet insurance for older pets is generally more expensive than for younger puppies and kittens. This is because older pets are more prone to health problems and pose a higher risk to the insurer.
Remember that some breeds are prone to breed-specific health conditions that can affect the cost of your pet insurance coverage. Still, you can find many affordable plans for your older pet.
Even if your monthly deductible is higher than insurance plans for younger pets, coverage can be a lifesaver in the face of expensive veterinary care.
Here’s what you need to know when considering pet insurance for older pets. There are a handful of options when it comes to senior pet insurance.
ASPCA
ASPCA offers older animals its Complete Coverage package. This includes accidents, illness, dental disease, behavioral problems, and hereditary diseases.
It does not cover preventive care, cosmetic procedures, or breeding costs. There’s also an accident-only plan if you only want emergency coverage.
- Age limit: No limit
- Medical Examination Required: No
- Pre-existing conditions covered: no
- Other notable coverage traits: behavioral issues, including things like fear, licking, digging, etc.
Figo
Figo has three plans for older animals: Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate. These plans cover injury and illness, chronic and hereditary conditions, hip dysplasia, hospitalization, imaging, and more.
Various “powerups” also help you cover exam fees and rehab costs.
- Age limit: No limit
- Medical Examination Required: No
- Pre-existing conditions covered: no
- Other notable features: Knee Disorder and Hip Dysplasia, Imaging, Behavioral Issues, Euthanasia, Cremation
Pet plan
Petplan offered a plan option when we deployed our older animal. It covers accidents, illnesses, injuries, non-routine veterinary exams, diagnostics, prescription drugs, and surgery.
There are no wellness add-ons or preventive care coverage, although dogs with a Petplan policy must have regular wellness checks.
- Age Limit: None
- Pre-existing conditions covered: no
- Other notable features of coverage: 24-hour veterinary care, food/kennel fees, behavioral therapy, specialist treatment
Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws offered a single plan for our quoted animals. The policy covers illness, accidents, hereditary and chronic diseases, diagnostic tests, surgery, hospitalization, and prescription drugs.
It does not cover pre-existing medical conditions, health screenings, exam fees, or spaying or neutering.
Although the company’s prices were mid-range compared to the other insurers, the reimbursement rate was lower and the deductible higher than average.
As such, our Healthy Paws offering came with a warning from the company: “Unfortunately, our offering may not be the best value for your pet.
To find the best rates and coverage for you, we encourage you to use the links below and check what other providers offer.”
- Age limit: 14 years (This upper age limit only applies to new registrations)
- Pre-existing conditions covered: no
- Other notable coverage features: Special care
Embrace
Embrace Senior Health Insurance offers coverage for chronic conditions, dental trauma, exam fees, genetic conditions, imaging, surgery, emergency care, and even allergy testing and alternative therapies.
It doesn’t cover pre-existing coverage, but Embrace can make exceptions for “curable” conditions if your pet has been symptom-free and treatment-free for at least a year. There is also an optional wellness plan add-on.
- Age limit: 14 years
- Medical Examination Required: Yes
- Pre-existing conditions covered: no
- Other notable features of coverage: allergy testing, alternative therapies, physical therapy, specialty treatment
When Does Older Pet Insurance Make Sense?
- Your pet is older – but not too old. If your pet is on the lower end of the “senior” scale (e.g., eight or nine), it may make sense to get insurance.
You may not have developed pre-existing medical conditions that would be excluded from coverage, and you are likely to forestall any significant health problems or expenses. - You lack savings or disposable income. If you don’t have the extra money to pay for sudden medical expenses, pet insurance can be a wise choice, regardless of your pet’s age.
It’s easier to pay $20-$70 monthly than cover a $10,000 surgery out of pocket. - You have an animal that is prone to injury or illness. Some breeds (or even certain animals) are more prone to getting injured or sick than others. If your animal falls into this camp, pet insurance is probably a smart move.
When older pet insurance isn’t worth it
- You have enough socks for emergencies. If you have an emergency fund, pet insurance isn’t that important. It may even cost you more in the long run.
- Your pet has many pre-existing medical conditions that are not covered. If this is the case, chances are you’ll have hefty vet bills for your pet, whether insured or not. Adding insurance will only increase your costs as a pet owner.
How to reduce pet insurance costs for older pets
If the above pet insurance costs seem too high for your budget, there are several ways you can lower your monthly premium and make insuring your pet more affordable.
Here are just a few strategies you can try:
- Register as early as possible. The younger your pet is, the cheaper it is to insure them. Consider registering your animal as soon as possible to reduce your costs.
- Choose basic insurance instead of fully comprehensive insurance. Opting for an accident-only policy or removing coverage can also help lower the price of your policy.
- Choose a policy with lower limits. The higher the annual limit in a plan, the more it will cost you. Consider lowering your policy limits, and you will lower your insurance premiums as well.
- Increase your deductible. Low-deductible plans cost more than policies with higher deductibles. Opt for a policy with a higher annual deductible and reduce your costs at the same pace.
Some insurers offer discounts for claim-free periods, so keeping your pet’s health can reduce your costs, too.
Why is it difficult to find cheap pet insurance for older dogs?
As dogs age, insurance premiums increase because pets are more likely to suffer from illnesses and injuries.
A source of frustration for many senior dog owners is that insurance costs increase with each renewal.
Many people feel that pet insurance companies are trying to take advantage of them – especially if they have already claimed their insurance and it will be difficult to switch to another pet insurer.
However, to be fair to pet insurance companies, cost increase for senior dogs can be attributed to statistics showing that the likelihood of seeking veterinary care increases exponentially each year a dog ages from the age of 2.
That means if you have a 12 or 13-year-old dog insured, you are more likely to file a claim than if you have a younger dog.
Is pet insurance worth it for older animals? (Conclusion)
Pet insurance can be a worthwhile investment for your older pet, even if they don’t show signs of severe health problems.
If this treatment is prohibitively expensive, it is worth getting health insurance, which can cover part of the cost.
Meanwhile, older animals are more likely to gain weight, become ill, and are unable to fight off disease and infection. So, pet insurance can help cover some or all of the costs associated with these issues.
It can also help cover the cost of euthanasia and cremation services should they arise.
Of course, insurance means another monthly cost; if your pet doesn’t get sick, that could be money wasted. As a pet owner, you should consider your budget and your pet’s needs when deciding on pet insurance.
If your dog’s breed is prone to certain hereditary diseases as it ages, you should contact a pet insurance provider who will offer the coverage you may need later.
You can also prioritize plans based on the cost to ensure you find the option that works best for your financial circumstances.
References
- investopedia.com – Best Pet Insurance Companies
- lendedu.com – Pet Insurance For Senior Dogs & Cats
- forbes.com – Pet Insurance For Older Dogs
- progressive.com – Senior Pet Insurance
Editor’s Recommendations
