Average Pet Insurance Cost

The national averages

NAPHIA's State of the Industry 2026 report gives the clearest national picture (2025 data year). For accident-and-illness coverage — the most common plan type — the average annual premium was $836 for dogs and $435 for cats. For accident-only coverage, which covers injuries like broken bones and toxic ingestion but not illnesses, averages were $190 for dogs and $112 for cats. Plans with embedded wellness (insurance plus routine care bundled in) averaged $1,414 for dogs and $859 for cats.

Context: 6.98 million US pets were insured at the end of 2025 — 5.23 million dogs and 1.75 million cats — representing just 4.27% of US pets. Dogs make up 74.9% of insured pets (5.99% penetration) versus cats at 25.1% (2.29% penetration). Pet insurance is still a young market, which is one reason prices are rising as veterinary costs climb.

Accident-only vs accident-and-illness vs wellness

The plan type is the single biggest cost lever. Accident-only coverage handles sudden injuries — broken bones, cuts, toxic ingestion — and is typically the most budget-friendly option (averaging $190/year for dogs). Accident-and-illness adds infections, digestive issues, cancer, allergies, and chronic conditions — the most common plan type, and roughly four times the price of accident-only for dogs. Preventive or wellness add-ons reimburse routine care like vaccinations, annual exams, dental cleanings, and parasite prevention — but the NAIC model act requires insurers to clearly differentiate wellness programs from insurance, because routine care isn't risk, it's a schedule.

Rule of thumb: if your main fear is a catastrophic emergency, accident-and-illness is the product. If your pet is young, healthy, and your budget is tight, accident-only buys real protection against the scariest single events at a fraction of the price.

What moves your premium up or down

Species. Dogs cost nearly twice as much as cats to insure on average ($836 vs $435) — bigger animals, more expensive treatments, more hereditary conditions.

Age. NAPHIA's guidance is direct: enroll when your pet is young and healthy. Early enrollment reduces the chance of pre-existing-condition exclusions and often results in lower premiums. Senior pets can still be insured, but coverage may be more limited and premiums higher.

Location. Veterinary costs vary by region, and the NAIC model act requires insurers to disclose whether geographic location can affect coverage or premiums — ask, because it usually can.

Your plan choices. A higher deductible, a lower reimbursement percentage (70% vs 90%), and a lower annual limit all reduce the premium — the same dials as any insurance product. Turn them deliberately, not just to hit a monthly number.

Claim history. The model act also requires disclosure of whether claim history can affect premiums — another reason to read the policy terms, not just the quote.

The premium trend

Premiums are rising faster than general inflation: dog premiums up 11.5% and cat premiums up 12.6% in the latest NAPHIA data year. Two forces drive this — veterinary costs climbing, and more owners filing claims as the insured population grows. If a quote feels high compared to what a friend paid two years ago, the trend explains most of it. It also strengthens the enroll-young case: locking in coverage earlier means fewer pre-existing-condition exclusions and a longer runway before age-driven pricing kicks in.

How to use these averages when shopping

Use the NAPHIA figures as a sanity check, not a target. If you're quoted $1,200/year for accident-and-illness on a young mixed-breed dog, you're above the $836 average — that might reflect your ZIP code, a low deductible, or 90% reimbursement with unlimited payouts. Ask the insurer which dial is driving it. If you're quoted $500, check what's missing: a $3,000 annual limit, a high deductible, or accident-only coverage could explain it. The average tells you where the market sits; the plan details tell you what you're actually buying.

Key costs, at a glance

Averages mask wide state-by-state variation. Your premium depends on your profile, location, and coverage choices.

Who it's best for — and who can skip it

How to compare

• Compare your quote to the right average: accident-and-illness ($836 dogs / $435 cats), not accident-only ($190 / $112)
• Ask which dial drives a high quote: location, deductible, reimbursement rate, or annual limit
• Check whether the quote is for a young pet — senior-pet pricing runs higher with more limited coverage
• Remember premiums are rising ~11-13% a year; last year's quote is not this year's price

Your next step

If the averages fit your budget, move to comparing the major companies — then read whether pet insurance is worth it for your situation before you buy, since the math depends on your pet's age and your savings cushion.

Keep unpacking

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• /insurance/how-pet-insurance-works/
• /insurance/is-pet-insurance-worth-it/
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