Check out our complete guide to pet insurance. Don't let covering your pet's health needs be stressful, simplify it with our guide. Get the facts here.

What do you think Alexandra, a fellow dog lover, is talking about here?

“Twice she's needed unexpected surgery, and another time we had to rush to an emergency clinic. I had so much peace of mind knowing that cost wouldn't be a deciding factor in her treatment. I could do whatever was required.” 

Insurance companies have a tendency to get a bad rep, but that’s just because people don’t understand the 7 lessons of pet insurance!

Let us take you to school (minus the homework and constant stress) and teach you these 7 quick lessons in our Pet Insurance 101 class! 

Here is what we will cover in this article:

What Pet Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know…

Pet insurance can be the saving grace to your puppy, teenage dog, aging silver fox (see what I did there...?), and potentially your bank account!

This insurance helps cover the sometimes outrageous costs of veterinary bills if your dog becomes ill or faces any kind of injury. 

Much like the health insurance that you and I have and know, pet insurance companies follow a similar structure with deductibles, maximum payouts, premiums, waiting periods, and co-pays.

Depending on the type of plan that you pick with a pet insurance company they can offer extended plans that can include things like behavioral therapies, boarding kennel fees, dental work, and alternative therapies.

Before you go and fetch the first pet insurance plan you can lay your paws on let’s go over our pet insurance cheat sheet to help you know pet insurance terminology….

(If you’re familiar with human insurance then this part will be a breeze.)

This is how much you will have to pay out of your own wallet before the pet insurance company will start paying their end. Depending on the type of pet insurance plan you pick you can have your deductible be for every incident (pet gets injured you pay part of every injury) or annually (pay one lump sum or monthly payments). 

This is the maximum amount of money that the pet insurance company will reimburse you.

Depending on the plan and the company their maximum payout may be for a lifetime, per body system (ex. they will pay a certain amount for vets to work on the digestive system, nervous system, etc.), per year, or other unique ones a company has.

How much you have to pay per month or per year for your pet insurance plan. Check out the different factors that lower or raise your premium below!

Simply put, the waiting period is the time between when you initially sign up for your pet insurance and when the coverage actually starts. Be safe and don’t roughhouse too much during this time period ;)

After your deductible is met, you will still have to pay a certain percentage of the covered expenses. This payment is called your co-pay and for pet insurance, it typically ranges between 10% - 20% of the covered expense.

Just like how your furry BFF is unique, certain pet insurance plans can be customizable and unique to meet your dog’s need. 

The short answer? YES! But weigh your options.

Many dog breeds are genetically predisposed to having joint problems, heart problems, and other health issues that could make you a frequent visitor to your vet. 

Whether your dog is predisposed or if something unlucky happens to that furball it is still better to be prepared for the worse than scramble around when something bad happens... 

The biggest obstacle to obtaining pet insurance is the price so we can understand why you may be hesitant to take the next step. That’s why we outlined 4 simple benefits of having pet insurance.

Don’t decide between your wallet and your pet! Insurance helps you pick the best treatments for your pup every time.


Customizable plans to fit your dog and your bank account


Peace of mind - Whatever can help your dog’s health, you can provide


Check out our dog expert’s BEST pet insurance recommendation HERE! 

There are many different factors that come into play... for example:

How many years your dog has been pawing around

Where you live (depends on where the nearest treatment centers are)

Your selected deductible and reimbursement rate

These are the main factors that come into play when pet insurance companies are developing a quote for you that you will need to consider. Also one piece of advice...

If you don’t know a lot about insurance or what kind of package you are already looking for then some insurance companies could take advantage of you.

Depending on your pup, and the level of protection you want, prices can range from $35-$75 per month. 

We did the research into the BEST pet insurance companies so you can feel peace of mind picking the right one. Dog parents got to stick together, right? Jump down the page to see Pupford’s insurance company recommendation.

WHAT PET INSURANCE COMPANIES DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW...

It’s no secret that veterinary costs are on the rise and that more and more pet insurance companies are coming out of the woodworks. 

But you are about to discover something that every pet insurance company doesn’t want you to know…

Simple we know, but when signing up for pet insurance you need to remember that you are the one with the money. 

More often than not this is how signing up for pet insurance goes

Get overwhelmed by the amount of pet insurance companies there are

Pick one of the companies at the top of the page

Click “Get a Quote” and put in your doggy information

They email you an overpriced quote and you fork over the cash money $$$

If you do it this way… you’re doing it WRONG!

Don’t worry though there is an easy fix and this is what pet insurance companies don’t want you to know about.

When they give you your quote it is not binding. They will try to get you the highest amount possible and hope you just accept that price. 

Most companies after you get a quote still let you customize your plan so you can get your monthly premium down and not have to sacrifice all your chew toys to pay for it. 

After getting a quote ALWAYS look for options to customize your plan and get your rates lower to save you and your pup some cash!

With the many different kinds of plans with differing deductibles, premiums, and co-pay percentages we suggest you understand these 3 points to help you better know what plan to get.

1. AGE, BREED, AND PREDISPOSITION TO HEALTH ISSUES

There are three factors that may lead your puppy to become your vet’s most frequent visitor over their lifetime. Older dogs require more care as they turn in their luscious colorful coat into a white one.

Also many dog breeds like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Bulldogs, and many other ones more likely to catch an illness or have other health problems. Take this into account when deciding what stage of care you want to take out with your insurance company.

Insurance can be expensive, but paying more vet bills can be even more expensive. We highly suggest that if you are able to afford another higher payments on a plan to do so. This will help you down the road if you courageous canine takes a tumble.

3. THE COMPANY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PLAN

Before you even pick a plan make sure you read up on the pet insurance company you will be signing your checks to. Sadly, there are many companies out there that will slide hidden fees and not cover certain situations that they promised would.

Don’t worry about this one though, we got your back :)

We talk about our recommendation for pet insurance below, but we also want to give you some more options to consider as you look for the best pet insurance option for you. 

With ASPCA Pet Health Insurance you can visit any vet in the US and Canada, and you will get a 10% discount with additional pets. You are also able to customize your coverage and look at accident only plans as well as plans that cover accidents and illnesses, behavioral health issues, prescriptions, and more. 

Some cons include: unlimited coverage is not included, neither are pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, and preventative care.. 

Cost: Can be around $30-100 / month (for one dog).*

FIGO was rated best Pet Insurancce in 2017, 2018, and 2019 and Best Technology in 2020. There are three plans to choose from, all of which cover hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions. Each policy has annual limits starting at $5,000 up to "unlimited" and you can choose your deductible and reinburcements amount. 

Cons: no plan covers exam fees, but those can be added for an additional cost. It also doesn't include preventative dental care, spaying and neutering, pre-existing conditions and routine wellness. 

Cost: Can be around $13-76+ / month (for one dog).*

Pet Insurance 101 A Beginner's Guide UPDATED 2021 | Pupford