How To Get Cheap Dog Insurance: Top 5 Tips (2024)

While it's true that pet insurance can potentially save you thousands of dollars throughout your pet's lifetime, many owners pass on the opportunity because they're unable to find affordable rates that fit their budget. In this post, we'll offer valuable advice to help you find cheap dog insurance, so you can sign up for a plan that provides incredible coverage at an inexpensive rate.

Click a link below for more information on how to get cheap dog insurance in 2023:

1. Adjust the plan to fit your budget
2. Shop around for pet insurance discounts
3. Enroll your dog at a young age
4. Compare projected policy costs
5. Keep your pet healthy to avoid price increases

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Key Takeaways

Adjust the plan to fit your budget

There are two general types of dog insurance you can choose from when it comes to protecting your pet’s health and your personal finances: and Accident-Only (AO) coverage.

AO plans offer significantly cheaper dog insurance rates. Many pet parents are unaware of this affordable option starting as low as $9 per month. However, the coverage in these plans is limited to vet costs for accidental injuries. Examples of eligible expenses might include the cost to diagnose and treat:

• Sprained and strained muscles
• Torn muscles and ligaments
• Broken and fractured bones
• Poisonous bugs and venemous snake bites
• Abrasions and burns
• Puncture wounds from animal attacks
• Blunt force trauma and internal bleeding
• Foreign object ingestion
• Accidental poisoning

You could save money by opting to enroll in basic accident protection, but it's important to be aware of all the potential costs you might have to cover out-of-pocket. AI plans are more expensive because they're much more comprehensive, covering for a wider range of health issues in dogs such as:

• Acute cases of diarrhea, vomiting, ear infections, etc.
• Common infections and transmissable disease, like kennel cough or giardia
• Chronic conditions such as allergies, diabetes, and cancer
• Hereditary disorders like hip dysplasia in certain breeds
• Diagnostics and imaging (i.e. ultrasounds, MRIs, X-rays, CT scans, and lab work)

The cost of pet insurance will also depend on your deductible amount, annual limit, and reimbursem*nt rate. Generally, the lower the reimbursem*nt and higher the deductible, the cheaper dog insurance will be. For instance, a dog insurance plan that pays out 100% of covered vet bills will be more expensive than a plan that reimburses 70% of the total bill.

Some pet insurance companies let you customize these policy terms, which allows you to get cheaper dog insurance by paying only for what you need.

Shop around for pet insurance discounts

Different insurers offer different types of discounts. Most of them (ASPCA, Hartville, PetFirst) offer multi-pet discounts that range from 5% to 10%.

Discount clubs like Costco also offer attractive discounts. Costco Business and Gold Star members, for instance, get a 15% discount on pet insurance rates, whereas Executive members get the same discount plus the $15 enrollment fee and the first month of premiums waived.

Dog owners may be able to find discounts by bundling multiple policies with the same insurance company. Lemonade, for instance, offers a 10% discount for bundling your pet health insurance policy with renters insurance.

Some providers, like USAA and Armed Forces, offer discounts to current and former members of the military and their families. If you have served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marines, you’re eligible for up to a 15% discount with these insurance companies.

Pet insurers may also have other ways to help dog owners save money. For example, Embrace offers an optional Wellness Rewards plan that allows you to create a fund for wellness expenses and gives you a $25 annual bonus for doing so.

Enroll your dog at a young age

Do some research about your dog’s breed to determine if there’s a risk for major health problems in the future. Some breeds are more expensive to insure due to known hereditary conditions, such as the Shiba Inu and Mastiff.

Pet insurance rates are typically lower for puppies and younger dogs because they are generally healthier and therefore present less risk to insurance providers. That's why the best time to enroll is while your pet is still young and healthy.

Although it might seem counterintuitive to pay premiums for a perfectly healthy dog within the first few years of its life, waiting to enroll could be very expensive if a pre-existing condition develops and your dog is shut out from insurance coverage throughout the remainder of its life.

However, this doesn't mean you can’t find cheap pet insurance for older dogs. Even if your canine companion has a pre-existing condition, it can still benefit from coverage for any unrelated illnesses or injury. Additionally, some pet insurance companies will cover curable pre-existing conditions.

Compare projected costs over the lifetime of the policy

When looking for cheap dog insurance, don't make the mistake of focusing exclusively on the premium rate at the time of enrollment. Monthly premiums can increase as your canine companion gets older or after your file a claim, so the plan that is most affordable today may not be the most affordable five years from now.

The rate at which rates increase varies significantly between plans and providers. Pawlicy Advisor calculates these variables to estimate a pet insurance plan’s price over the duration of your policy, known as the Lifetime Value Score, helping you save as much as 83% on your dog’s insurance throughout its lifetime!

Keep your dog healthy to avoid price increases

Since premium rates may increase after making a claim, keeping your dog as healthy as possible with preventive care can also be a way to save money on pet insurance.

Dental care, flea protection, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and routine vaccinations for dogs can all play an important part in your pet's overall health. Healthy pups have fewer chances of sick visits at the vet, which in turn reduces the likelihood of you having to file a claim and helps you enjoy cheaper dog insurance. Annual wellness exams for pets are also vital for screening and detecting health issues, enabling you to treat them promptly before they become too expensive treat.

Some providers offer diminishing deductibles to reward pet parents for keeping their furry family members in good health. Embrace’s Healthy Pet Deductible, for instance, automatically reduces your annual deductible by $50 each year that you don't receive a claim reimbursem*nt.