Pet Insurance Cost by Coverage Level: 70%, 80%, 90% Reimbursement Compared
- Higher reimbursement usually means a higher monthly premium, but a lower out-of-pocket share when your pet needs care.
- For U.S. accident-and-illness plans in 2024 data, average premiums were about $62.44/month for dogs and $32.21/month for cats, while accident-only plans averaged about $16.11/month for dogs and $9.17/month for cats.
- In real-world shopping, moving from 70% to 80% reimbursement often raises premiums modestly, while 90% usually costs the most but reduces your share of large claims.
- Reimbursement percentage is only one part of the policy. Deductible, annual limit, waiting periods, exclusions, and whether exam fees are covered can change the value more than the percentage alone.
- For many pet parents, 80% reimbursement is a practical middle ground. It often balances monthly cost and claim help well, but 70% or 90% may fit better depending on your emergency fund and risk tolerance.
How Pet Insurance Works
Pet insurance usually works on a reimbursement model. You pay your veterinary invoice first, submit a claim, and the insurer pays back a percentage of covered costs after your deductible is met. Most companies let you choose a reimbursement level such as 70%, 80%, or 90%, along with a deductible and annual payout limit.
Here is the practical difference. If your pet has a covered $2,000 claim after your deductible is already met, a 70% plan may reimburse about $1,400, an 80% plan about $1,600, and a 90% plan about $1,800. Your actual payout can still vary if the policy excludes exam fees, has a benefit schedule, or applies an annual limit.
Coverage level does not change what your vet recommends for your pet. It changes how the bill is shared between you and the insurer. That is why it helps to look at reimbursement percentage together with deductible, annual limit, waiting periods, and exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
Most pet parents use insurance to make unexpected care more manageable, not to cover every routine expense. Accident-only plans are the leanest option. Accident-and-illness plans are the most common. Some companies also offer wellness add-ons for vaccines, screening tests, and preventive care, but these usually increase the monthly cost rather than lowering total yearly spending.
What to Look For in a Policy
Start with the policy structure, not the marketing headline. Two plans can both say 80% reimbursement and still feel very different at claim time. Check whether the deductible is annual or per-condition, whether exam fees are covered, what the annual limit is, and how long the waiting periods are for accidents, illnesses, and orthopedic conditions.
Next, read the exclusions carefully. Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered, and some plans handle bilateral or ligament problems differently. If your dog or cat is from a breed with common hereditary concerns, look for clear language on hereditary and congenital conditions. Also confirm whether prescription food, rehab, dental illness, behavioral care, or alternative therapies are included if those matter to your household.
It also helps to think about your own cash flow. A 90% reimbursement plan can be appealing, but if the monthly premium strains your budget, a 70% or 80% plan may be more sustainable. A policy only helps if you can keep it active over time. Many pet parents do best with a plan they can comfortably renew year after year.
Before enrolling, ask for a sample policy and review how claims are calculated. You can also ask your vet team whether they commonly see delays around exam-fee coverage, medical record requests, or orthopedic waiting periods. That conversation can help you choose a policy that fits both your pet and your budget.
Provider Comparison
| Typical coverage setup | Reimbursement options | Deductible options | Annual limit options | Often best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70% reimbursement | Usually available on accident-only and many accident-and-illness plans | 70% of covered costs after deductible | Often paired with lower monthly premiums; common annual deductibles range from $100-$1,000 | Varies by insurer, commonly $5,000 to unlimited | Pet parents prioritizing lower monthly cost and willing to keep a larger emergency cushion |
| 80% reimbursement | Common on accident-and-illness plans and some customizable plans | 80% of covered costs after deductible | Common annual deductibles range from $100-$1,000 | Varies by insurer, commonly $5,000 to unlimited | Pet parents who want balanced monthly cost and meaningful help with moderate to large claims |
| 90% reimbursement | Common on higher-coverage accident-and-illness plans; some insurers cap at 90% | 90% of covered costs after deductible | Common annual deductibles range from $100-$1,000 | Varies by insurer, commonly $5,000 to unlimited | Pet parents who want lower out-of-pocket costs on large claims and can accept a higher monthly premium |
As of March 2026, many major U.S. insurers offer 70%, 80%, and 90% reimbursement choices, but exact options vary by state, pet age, species, and provider. Pets Best and Embrace publicly list 70%, 80%, and 90% reimbursement options; some Nationwide offerings list 70% plans, while other plan designs may use different percentages.
Cost Breakdown
National market data gives a useful starting point. NAPHIA reported that in the U.S. for 2024, the average annual premium for accident-and-illness coverage was $749.29 for dogs and $386.47 for cats, which works out to about $62.44/month for dogs and $32.21/month for cats. Average accident-only premiums were much lower at $193.29/year for dogs and $110.03/year for cats, or about $16.11/month and $9.17/month.
Those averages include many deductible and reimbursement combinations, so your quote may land above or below them. In general, a 70% reimbursement plan tends to sit at the lower end of the monthly cost range, 80% in the middle, and 90% at the higher end. For many mixed-breed pets in 2025-2026, a practical shopping range is about $45-$70/month for dogs and $25-$35/month for cats at 70%, $55-$80/month for dogs and $28-$40/month for cats at 80%, and $65-$90+ /month for dogs and $32-$45/month for cats at 90%, assuming accident-and-illness coverage with a mid-range deductible.
Breed, age, and ZIP code can move those numbers a lot. Older pets usually cost more to insure. Dogs usually cost more than cats. Large breeds, brachycephalic breeds, and pets in higher-cost metro areas often have higher premiums too. Adding wellness coverage can raise the monthly total substantially, sometimes pushing dog plans above $100/month.
The most important math is not the monthly premium alone. It is the combination of premium + deductible + your share of claims. A lower-premium 70% plan may cost less month to month, but a 90% plan may save more during a year with surgery, hospitalization, or chronic illness treatment. Running one or two claim scenarios before you enroll can make the best fit much clearer.
Coverage Tiers
Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.
Accident-Only Coverage
- Unexpected injuries such as fractures, lacerations, bite wounds, swallowed objects, and toxin exposure if covered by the policy
- Usually reimbursement choices are lower-cost configurations, often with annual deductibles and annual payout caps
- May help with emergency exams, imaging, hospitalization, surgery, and medications related to covered accidents
- Some plans exclude illness care entirely and may not include wellness or routine dental care
Accident & Illness
- Accidents plus illnesses such as vomiting, skin disease, infections, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and many chronic conditions if not pre-existing
- Customizable reimbursement, commonly 70%, 80%, or 90%, with annual deductibles and annual limits
- Diagnostics, hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, and specialist care for covered conditions
- May include hereditary and congenital conditions depending on policy language
Comprehensive / Wellness
- Accident-and-illness coverage with richer plan settings such as 90% reimbursement, lower deductible, and higher or unlimited annual limits
- Optional preventive or wellness benefits for exams, vaccines, parasite prevention, screening tests, and sometimes dental cleanings depending on the insurer
- May include broader benefits such as rehab, behavioral care, alternative therapies, or dental illness depending on the policy
- Useful for households that want more predictable budgeting and fewer large surprise bills
Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.
How to Save on Pet Insurance
The best way to save is to buy thoughtfully, not to chase the lowest monthly premium alone. Start by comparing the same deductible and annual limit across quotes, then change only the reimbursement level. That lets you see the real cost difference between 70%, 80%, and 90% without mixing in other variables.
If the premium feels high, consider a higher deductible before dropping to the lowest reimbursement level. That approach can keep your monthly cost more manageable while still preserving stronger help on big claims. For many households, an 80% reimbursement plan with a moderate deductible is easier to sustain than a 90% plan with a very low deductible.
Enroll while your pet is young and healthy if you can. Coverage bought earlier is less likely to run into pre-existing condition exclusions later. Also ask about multi-pet discounts, military discounts, employer benefits, and annual-pay discounts. Some insurers publicly advertise multi-pet discounts around 5% to 10%.
Finally, keep a separate pet emergency fund even if you carry insurance. Most policies reimburse after you pay your vet, so you still need cash flow for the invoice, deductible, and non-covered items. Insurance and savings work best together, not as replacements for each other.