Is pet insurance worth it? This is the honest math owners should know.
Summary
Pet insurance can help protect owners from large, unexpected veterinary bills, but premiums add up and coverage has limits. Whether it makes financial sense depends on a pet’s health risks, the owner’s savings, and the policy’s cost and terms.Key Facts
- Veterinary care costs rose faster than inflation last year and in every year since 2019, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
- In 2025, average accident-only premiums were $112 a year for cats and $190 for dogs, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.
- Average accident-plus-illness premiums were $435 a year for cats and $836 for dogs.
- The article’s example policy has a $100 deductible and reimburses 80% of eligible costs after the deductible.
- With that policy, a $1,615 CT scan would cost the owner $403, compared with the full bill without insurance.
- Colon tumor surgery with chemotherapy averages $8,733; under the example policy, the owner’s share would be $1,826.60.
- Insurance may suit owners who could struggle to pay an unexpected vet bill, while owners with enough savings may choose to pay out of pocket or buy accident-only coverage.
- Accident-only plans do not cover routine care, pre-existing conditions, or necessarily the full cost of covered care.
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