Evie Randall
30 January 2024
In today’s post, let’s explore the best senior dog insurance in the US in 2024 to ensure optimal care for your aging canine companion.
When it comes to best pet insurance for older dogs, this can sometimes be harder to find than when you first got your little fur baby. This is because senior pets are more likely to require treatment.
“Woof! I’m sadly not as young as I used to be!”
In fact, some insurers will only provide you with a new policy if your dog is under the age of eight or nine. It can be even younger for certain breeds!
Therefore, it’s important to carefully read through your individual policy to ensure your pet falls within the set age limit.
If you choose to stick with the same insurance company you are currently with, some will provide your pet with lifetime coverage. That said, you should expect an increase in fees.
To avoid the hassle of searching for senior dog insurance, you should search for coverage while they are young – this provides you with peace of mind or, at the very least, a decision on whether you’ll need to put money aside for future vet bills.
However, if you haven’t already purchased dog insurance or yours has recently expired, then don’t worry; we are here to help.
With this in mind, this article will explore everything you need to know about the best senior dog insurance in 2024. These include Trupanion, Embrace, Petplan, Healthy Paws, Figo, and Nationwide pet insurance.
As your dog ages, they are more prone to illness and injury. Therefore, choosing the right senior dog insurance is important. You’ll want to keep in mind things such as coverage, rates, and benefits.
Nationwide pet insurance is one of the best in the country – offering you excellent packages at an affordable price.
There are tons of incredible options to choose from!
Are you looking for senior dog insurance that will go the extra mile for you and your doggie companion or something that will keep the overall costs down, like an accident-only plan?
Well, you will then want to explore all the different types of plans available. For instance, just like insuring your car, the most expensive plan tends to be comprehensive pet insurance.
This covers a variety of health-related issues and is typically considered worth the price if you’re looking for complete coverage.
Below, we have broken down all of the different types of senior dog insurance plans you can choose from:
This policy generally covers vet bills for illnesses and accidents (such as ACL ruptures). This includes hereditary conditions, serious illnesses (like cancer), and common illnesses.
However, you should keep in mind that you won’t be covered for wellness exams, including heartworm and flea prevention, routine veterinary visits, or vaccinations.
Saying that, you can often add on a wellness plan to achieve comprehensive coverage which includes well-pet exams, vaccinations, and other types of routine care.
This is sometimes referred to as a “nose-to-tail” plan. These types of policies cover everything from accidents to injuries.
For instance, hereditary conditions, chronic illness, surgeries, diagnostic tests, general wellness, vaccinations, and routine veterinary checkups.
As its name suggests, this plan covers wellness-related medical bills. For instance, this could include vaccinations, routine veterinary checkups, and heartworm and flea prevention.
This policy only covers vet bills if your senior dog is injured during an accident. You won’t be covered for anything illness-related.
When it comes to choosing the best pet insurance for older dogs, there are a few things you’ll want to consider and be made aware of; this includes:
Not all insurance companies offer the same coverage for the same price. To get the best pet insurance for senior dogs, it’s advisable to get a few quotes and compare them.
Read more about the best senior dog insurance in the US in 2024 and find the policy that works best for you.
Choosing one of these senior dog insurance companies can help you care for your furry friend while protecting your finances. As with any type of insurance, you should shop around for the best pet insurance for elderly dogs, considering costs and features that make sense for your situation.
At Embrace, you’re offered two different policies: accident-and-illness and accident-only plans. However, dogs over the age of 14 are only eligible for the accident-only policy.
The accident-and-illness plan covers exam fees, alternative therapies, procedures related to injury, health condition, or disease, and treatments.
In addition to this, you’ll also receive up to $1,000 for dental illness coverage with no dental exam necessary.
There are even great opportunities to save money, too. For instance, for each pet added to your insurance, you receive a 10% discount.
Plus, you can receive a 10% employee discount if your employer offers the coverage and a 5% military discount.
Furthermore, you’re offered a vanishing deductible, as well.
“Woof! What does that mean?”
Well, pooch, this means pet owners can receive an annual deductible of $50 every year they don’t submit a claim.
Like some other insurers, Embrace makes a distinction between incurable and curable preexisting conditions. If your dog goes a year without its prior condition, then it is no longer seen as preexisting.
Trupanion pet insurance offers senior dog owners unlimited annual coverage, with flexible reimbursement opportunities and no deductibles to help a range of budgets.
In addition to this, it pays your fees directly to your vet (as long as they have implemented Trupanion’s software).
That said, the plan lacks some options other insurers provide, including a 24/7 pet health line and wellness coverage.
Owners are only offered one plan at Health Paws: an accident-and-illness plan. This covers treatments and procedures related to sickness, condition, or injury.
Thanks to its unlimited coverage, you don’t have to worry about exceeding any set amount annually or per incident.
According to its website, they process claims within 48 hours – making it one of the fastest providers available.
That said, senior dog owners should keep in mind that Healthy Paws doesn’t offer new enrollment for dogs over the age of 14.
Likewise, if you’re enrolling a dog over the age of 6, it removes the customization options for your policy.
To give you an idea of how much money you have to pay, we have gathered some sample quotes based on a medium-sized dog in Raleigh, N.C.
For instance, a 6-year-old dog has a 70% reimbursement and a $500 deductible. On the other hand, a 7-year-old dog has a 70% reimbursement and a $750 deductible.
Any dog over the age of 8 has a 50% reimbursement with a $1,000 deductible.
With over 40 years of experience, Petplan is one of the largest pet insurance companies – helping your pets through injury and illness.
The company offers plans for cats, horses, rabbits, and, of course, dogs. Allianz underwrites all their policies – therefore, you can trust you’re offered the best plan.
Regarding cats and dogs, they offer tons of lifetime policies – annual limits for vets fees – as well as time-limited cover, which pays for treatments up to 12 months.
In addition to this, they offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions that can be considered ‘resolved’ (such as no recent symptoms).
That said, this depends on your pet’s medical history and must be agreed upon by Petplan to be considered.
As one of the largest and oldest pet insurance providers in the United States, Nationwide pet insurance covers more than a million pets in the country and has some of the best pet insurance for older dogs.
Unlike some other pet insurers, Nationwide provides coverage for a wide range of pets, not just cats and dogs.
Therefore, owners of rabbits, parrots, and potbellied pigs can have peace of mind that their pets are covered.
They offer three different plans to cover pet injuries and accidents. Two of these plans are very similar to the ones you receive elsewhere. For instance, helping you pay for a vet bill.
Although the other plan pays a specific amount per condition – regardless of the amount you’re spending.
In addition to this, they also offer wellness coverage. However, this isn’t available to all the states in the US.
If you’re looking for an affordable senior dog insurance, a good place to try is Figo.
Figo pet insurance provides owners with excellent coverage at an affordable price – making it the perfect choice for a range of dog owners.
The best part? They will sometimes even offer you a reimbursement rate of up to 100% for your veterinary bills.
Plus, you’re in luck, pooch!
“Woof! Why?”
Because with Figo, there is no upper age limit, so owners can enrol their senior dogs for the long haul.
“That’s amazing!”
Another feature that makes Figo stand out is its helpful app known as The Pet Cloud.
Here, owners are able to organize and view all their important pet documents, as well as search for pet services in their region and engage with other dog owners, too.
The only downside to this insurer is that they don’t provide preventative care.
When it comes to determining the best senior dog insurance plan, there are two factors you want to consider. This includes:
As previously mentioned, the type of pet insurance you go for is only one factor that determines the overall costs.
For instance, the average cost for a cat is $30 per month, while it is $44 per month for a dog. These prices are based on a policy that has $5,000 annual coverage, with a reimbursement level of 80% and a $250 deductible.
Below, we have outlined some cinnamon factors that can influence the cost of your senior dog insurance.
Younger dogs tend to be cheaper to insure when compared to older pets. This is because older pets are more likely to develop illnesses and injuries, creating a higher vet bill.
Therefore, higher insurance claims are passed onto policyholders with higher pet insurance premiums.
Top Tip: The best pet insurance prices can be found after your pet’s first birthday and under the age of six.
The main three factors that determine how much reimbursement you’ll receive on a claim include the deductible amount, reimbursement percentage, and annual maximum.
If you choose to go for a lower deductible, a higher annual maximum, and/ or a higher reimbursement level, then you can expect to pay for fees.
Female pets tend to have fewer claims compared to their male counterparts. Therefore, you may find that some pet insurance companies will use pet gender to determine their pricing.
For instance, male dogs will generally cost about 5% more than female dogs, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Certain breeds of dogs are more likely to be predisposed to hereditary illnesses and problems. This would result in more visits to the vet and higher medical bills.
For instance, a small dog breed may only cost $33 per month to insure, while a French bulldog may cost $76 per month due to the known breathing issues of that breed.
The average cost for a visit to the veterinarian is $61. However, this cost can vary considerably depending on where you live – another factor insurers take into account.
“Woof! But what does this mean?”
Well, this refers to the cap amount your pet insurance will pay for the year. You’ll usually be offered a sum between $5,000 and an unlimited payout option.
That said, you should keep in mind that choosing an unlimited payout will increase your premium price. Although, you don’t have to worry about exceeding your annual maximum if your pet requires expensive treatment.
The best pet insurance for senior dogs will offer cost-effective premiums and sufficient coverage that addresses your pet’s specific health needs. Start by assessing your budget and the average costs of veterinary care in your area.
With this list of the best senior dog insurance in the US in 2024, you can confidently face the challenges of your dog’s golden years.
Evie Randall is a talented writer at KnowMyDog.com who specializes in creating content that provides senior dog owners with the knowledge they need to take care of their furry friends. Her passion for dogs and her exceptional writing skills have enabled her to create engaging and informative articles that cover a wide range of topics related to senior dog care, from the importance of regular veterinary checkups to tips on managing age-related health issues.
Through her writing, Evie has helped to build a community of dog owners who rely on KnowMyDog.com for guidance and support in caring for their aging pets. Her dedication to providing high-quality content that is both informative and easy to understand has earned her a loyal following among dog owners, who appreciate her expertise and her ability to make complex topics accessible. Overall, Evie’s work at KnowMyDog.com has made a significant impact in the pet industry, and her commitment to helping senior dogs and their owners is sure to continue benefiting countless pets and their human companions for years to come.
