Pet Insurance Calculator
Calculate if pet insurance is worth the cost. Compare premiums vs expected vet bills. Free calculator.
When Pet Insurance Pays Off
Pet insurance makes financial sense when: your pet is young (lower premiums), your breed has known health risks (hip dysplasia in large dogs, heart disease in certain cats), or you cannot afford a surprise $3,000-10,000 vet bill. The average claim: dogs $800-1,200, cats $500-800. A single ACL surgery ($3,500-5,000) pays for years of premiums.
What Pet Insurance Covers
Covered: Accidents (fractures, poisoning, foreign body ingestion), illnesses (cancer, diabetes, infections), surgery, hospitalization, prescriptions. Not covered: Pre-existing conditions (the #1 exclusion), routine wellness (some plans offer wellness riders), breeding costs, cosmetic procedures. Choose a plan with 80-90% reimbursement, $250-500 annual deductible, and unlimited or high annual maximum.
The average dog owner spends $1,533/year on vet care. One emergency surgery costs $3,000-10,000. Pet insurance premiums average $500-700/year — the math favors insurance for accident-prone or purebred pets.
