Embrace has the best pet insurance for older dogs in 2024. This is because it offers affordable premiums for senior dogs, is customizable to fit most budgets and coverage needs, has a 24/7 pet health line and includes coverage for euthanasia and alternative and behavioral therapies.
Best pet insurance for older dogs in 2024
- Embrace: Best pet insurance for older dogs.
- ManyPets: Best pet insurance for vet exam coverage.
- Pets Best: Best cheap pet insurance for older dogs.
- Figo: Best pet insurance for maximum reimbursement.
- Healthy Paws: Best pet insurance for large claims.
Why trust our pet insurance experts
Our team of pet insurance experts evaluates hundreds of pet insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 12 pet insurance companies reviewed.
- 500+ coverage details evaluated.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Top-rated pet insurance for older dogs
Best pet insurance for older dogs
Best pet insurance for vet exam coverage
Best cheap pet insurance for older dogs
Best pet insurance for maximum reimbursement
Best pet insurance for large claims
Compare the best pet insurance for older dogs
What types of policies are available for senior dogs?
Pet parents can choose from these types of pet insurance policies for senior dogs.
Accident and illness plans
The most common type of pet insurance offers coverage for both accidents and illnesses. Though coverage varies by pet insurance company, accident and illness policies typically cover:
- Breed-specific conditions.
- Broken bones.
- Cancer treatment.
- Chronic health conditions such as digestive issues, skin conditions and allergies.
- Dental illnesses.
- Diabetes.
- Emergency vet care.
- Heart disease.
- Hereditary and congenital conditions.
- Hospital stays.
- Ingesting objects.
- Lab work.
- MRIs and CT scans.
- Prescription medications.
- Surgery.
- Ultrasounds.
- Veterinary specialists.
- X-rays.
Accident-only plans
An accident-only plan only covers accidents. So if your senior dog develops a respiratory infection, cancer, diabetes or hip dysplasia, there isn’t coverage. However, since accident-only pet insurance policies exclude treatment for sickness, premiums are cheaper.
Here are a few examples of what an accident-only plan generally covers:
- Bite wounds.
- Broken bones or toes.
- Ingesting toxins.
- Lacerations.
- Swallowing an object.
- Torn ligaments.
Wellness plans
A wellness plan is an optional add-on most pet insurance companies offer to supplement accident and illness coverage. Pet insurance doesn’t cover preventive care, but an optional wellness plan will. It covers routine care costs like:
- Dental cleaning.
- Deworming.
- Flea, heartworm and tick prevention.
- Microchipping.
- Spaying or neutering.
- Vaccinations.
- Wellness checkups.
How much does pet insurance for senior dogs cost?
The average cost of pet insurance for a 10-year-old dog is $164 per month, according to our rate analysis. These rates are based on a pet insurance plan with unlimited annual coverage, a $500 annual deductible and a 90% reimbursement rate.
How much you’ll pay for pet insurance for a senior dog will depend on several factors:
- Its breed and gender.
- Your pet’s age.
- Your ZIP code.
- The pet insurance company.
- The type of pet insurance policy you choose.
- The level of coverage.
Tips for reducing the cost of pet insurance for a senior dog
Pet insurance can be pricey for a senior dog, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find affordable coverage. Here are a few ways to get the best cheap pet insurance for your senior dog.
Consider your coverage choices
You usually get to choose your pet insurance policy’s annual coverage maximum, deductible and reimbursement percentage. You can lower your pet insurance costs with a:
- Lower reimbursement rate. The reimbursement level is the amount the pet insurer pays toward your older dog’s covered veterinary expenses. If you choose a 90% reimbursement rate, you’ll pay 10% of the costs. But if, for instance, you select 70% reimbursement and take on 30% of the vet bills, your insurer will charge you less in premiums.
- Lower annual coverage maximum. You’ll pay less for pet insurance if you choose a $5,000 or $10,000 yearly limit instead of unlimited coverage. But while you’ll save on the cost of the policy, you could pay more out of pocket if your pet has vet bills that exceed the annual coverage limit.
- Higher deductible. A pet insurance deductible is the amount you pay toward covered vet costs before the insurer starts paying. The higher the deductible, the less the insurer pays, so you’ll get cheaper pet insurance premiums.
Compare pet insurance quotes
Comparing pet insurance quotes from multiple companies can help you get the best deal on the coverage you need for your senior dog’s health expenses. Although pet insurance companies use the same factors, pricing varies, as do the conditions, procedures and benefits each company’s plans cover.
Pet insurance providers offer free quotes on their websites, or you can use a pet insurance comparison site to compare multiple quotes at once.
Take advantage of pet insurance discounts
Many pet insurance companies offer discounts to help you get affordable coverage for your older pet. While discounts vary by company and state, you may be eligible for the following discounts:
- Annual pay discount.
- Multi-pet discount.
- Military discount.
- Spay or neuter discount.
- Group insurance discount through your employer.
Buy accident-only coverage
Accident-only pet insurance costs about half as much as an accident and illness plan, making it the most affordable pet insurance option. You’ll also have more companies to choose from if you need to enroll a senior pet that is 14 or older. But your older dog is more likely to get sick than hurt, and with an accident-only plan, you’d be responsible for all your dog’s vet costs if it falls ill.
To find the best pet insurance for older dogs, we analyzed 12 pet insurance companies. Each pet insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:
- Cost: 50 points. We calculated average rates for accident and illness pet insurance plans for 10-year-old dogs with the highest annual coverage limit available, a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement percentage.
- Annual coverage limits: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer an annual reimbursement level of $100,000, or unlimited annual coverage scored in this category.
- 24/7 vet line: 10 points. Insurance companies that offer access to a 24/7 vet line earned points. Being able to call for medical advice might save you money on vet visits.
- Routine wellness plan: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer an optional wellness plan scored full points. Wellness plans can reimburse you for preventative care for your pet.
- Pays vet exam fees: 10 points. If a pet insurance plan includes pet exam fees, the insurer received 10 points. If this is offered as a coverage add-on, the insurer received 5 points.
- Multipet discount: 5 points. Pet insurance companies that offer a discount for insuring more than one pet received full points.
- Euthanasia or end-of-life expenses included: 5 points. If euthanasia or other end-of-life expenses are covered in pet insurance plans, we gave the company points in this category.
Best pet insurance for older dogs FAQs
Is pet insurance for older dogs worth it?
The older your dog gets, the more likely it is to get hurt or sick. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, close to 50% of dogs 10 and older will get cancer, and 20%, or one in five, will develop joint problems — the number increases for breeds prone to joint issues.
Treatment can cost thousands of dollars and may continue for the rest of your dog’s life. You might not need pet insurance if you can afford to pay for your senior dog’s veterinary expenses. But if you can’t, pet insurance can prevent you from having to choose between costly veterinary bills and your faithful companion’s life.
Pet insurance can help pay for most, if not all, of your senior dog’s healthcare. Most pet insurance companies won’t cancel your pet’s coverage because of its age or paid claims — as long as you continue to pay the premiums — so you won’t have to worry about no longer having coverage while your dog has ongoing health needs.
How does senior dog pet insurance work?
Senior dog pet insurance works the same as it does for puppies and young dogs. Pet insurers use age when determining how much a policy will cost, so the biggest difference is the plan price.
Older dogs are more likely than younger dogs to need veterinary care, which increases their pet insurance costs. If you’re insuring an older dog for the first time, any condition it has shown symptoms of or has been seen by a vet for can be considered a pre-existing condition, which pet insurance companies typically won’t cover.
Do I need medical records from my vet for an older dog?
Though you might not need medical records from your vet to insure your older dog for the first time, you will need to submit them when you file your first pet insurance claim. Providing their medical records helps the pet insurer confirm the condition isn’t pre-existing, your pet is up-to-date on preventive care and you have coverage under your pet insurance policy.
