5 Best Affordable Pet Insurance Providers for Dogs & Cats in 2024
Simplify your search for budget-friendly pet health coverage with our top 5 best-value pet insurance providers of the year
Updated November 30, 2023.
Every pet owner yearns for their dogs and cats to thrive, sharing joy and companionship throughout their lives. But, along with the licks, wags, and purrs comes significant financial responsibility. Studies suggest that pet owners could spend as much as $55,000 on a dog or $45,000 on a cat over their lifetime. Food alone can rack up as much as $7,000 if you choose quality options. These expenses can range from feeding nutritious diets to managing health complications.
One effective strategy to manage these costs is investing in inexpensive pet insurance. With options ranging from accident and illness coverage to comprehensive wellness plans, there's a perfect balance of protection and budget. However, navigating through a sea of policies to find the best cheap pet insurance can seem daunting.
Top 5 Best Affordable Pet Insurance Providers in 2024
- Best affordable pet insurance for multiple pets - Lemonade
- Best affordable pet insurance for senior pets - Pumpkin
- Best cheap pet insurance for unexpected incidents - Fetch
- Best affordable pet insurance for congenital conditions - MetLife
- Best cheap pet insurance for puppies and kittens - Embrace
To simplify your search for the perfect blend of affordability and comprehensive coverage, we've compiled reviews of 2024's top 5 best-value pet insurance providers.
Lemonade Pet Insurance
Affordability & comprehensive care
Read the review
Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Senior pet health champions
Fetch Pet Insurance
Covering the unexpected
Show more
Pawsitive Protection: Finding the Right Pet Insurance for Your Budget
Whether you're a multi-pet household or a parent to a bouncy new pet (or even a bouncy senior one), there's a reasonable pet insurance policy out there to help you handle the financial side of pet parenting with ease. Knowing that a sudden illness or an unexpected accident won’t cause financial stress will allow you to focus on what matters—helping your pet get better.
Pet insurance doesn’t have to cost a fortune, either. You can protect your furry family members while still being kind to your wallet.
1
Lemonade Pet Insurance
Affordability and comprehensive care
Read the reviewWaiting Period
2 days for accidents; 14 days for illnesses
Age restrictions
Minimum 2 months old; Maximum age limits vary by breed
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000 to $100,000
Plans available
Accident and illness; Wellness
Brief overview
Housing multiple pets translates to multiplied joy but also amplified expenses. This is where Lemonade Pet Insurance stands out.
Costs like check-up fees, emergency vet visits, and vaccinations mount quickly when more than one furry friend shares your home. Finding budget-friendly pet insurance for multiple pets like Lemonade becomes crucial to ensure they receive top-notch care while shielding your bank balance.
Why we chose Lemonade
Lemonade shines as an economical yet comprehensive pet insurance provider. Their basic policy covers both accidents and illnesses, coupled with three wellness plan choices. This allows you to tailor coverage to each pet's unique needs. Lemonade appreciates the individuality of every family, offering plentiful policy customizations for your multi-pet household.
Pros and cons
Affordable rates for multiple pets
Best insurance for preventive care
Donates a portion of premiums to nonprofit organizations
Not available in all states
2
Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Senior pet health champions
Waiting Period
14 days for accidents and illnesses
Age restrictions
Minimum 8 weeks old; No upper age limit
Maximum annual coverage
$7,000 to unlimited
Plans available
Accident and illness
Brief overview
We recommend Pumpkin as the best insurance provider for senior pets. Even healthy pets can benefit from insurance as they age due to increased risk of breed-specific conditions and severe health issues.
Because older pets are at an increased risk of health issues, getting pet insurance for them can be expensive. This doesn’t mean you can’t find cheap cat insurance for your aging feline friends—with some research, you can find the cheapest pet insurance for cats in the market without sacrificing quality.
Why we chose Pumpkin
Pumpkin's policy generously covers hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions with 90% reimbursement—essential for aging pets. They also support you during your pet's final journey, covering end-of-life services like euthanasia, cremation, and burial.
Pros and cons
No lifetime limits
90% reimbursement rate for all plans
10% discount for each additional pet
No coverage for most pre-existing conditions
3
Fetch Pet Insurance
Covering the unexpected
Waiting period
15 days for accidents and illnesses; 6 months for hip and knee injuries, waivable with a vet exam within first 30 days of policy
Age restrictions
Minimum 6 weeks old; No upper age limit
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000 to unlimited
Plans available
Accident and illness
Brief overview
Fetch is an excellent choice when considering costs—it offers wide-ranging coverage at a surprisingly affordable rate. Unique features include up to $1000 each for lost pet recovery and boarding fees if hospitalization prevents you from caring for your pet.
Why we chose Fetch
When it comes to covering those unexpected incidents, Fetch is the ideal insurance provider. Pet insurance is more than just great coverage for regular check-ups and medical conditions—the right policy can also cover unexpected incidents such as a broken leg or an emergency visit to the vet because Fido decided to swallow something he shouldn’t have. The real value of a cheap but good pet insurance plan really comes into play when dealing with unexpected illnesses, accidents, and other unforeseen scenarios.
Pros and cons
Coverage for unexpected incidents
Includes holistic treatment options and sick exam fees
Discounts available for rescued or adopted pets from a shelter
No accident-only plans or wellness coverage
4
MetLife Pet Insurance
Comprehensive congenital condition care
Waiting period
Midnight EST for accidents; 14 days for illness coverage
Age restrictions
None
Maximum annual coverage
$1,000 to $25,000
Plans available
Accident and illness; Wellness
Brief overview
While many pet insurance companies offer coverage for congenital conditions, we think MetLife goes way beyond the basics by offering comprehensive protection for congenital, chronic, and hereditary conditions. Conditions such as patella luxation, pancreatitis, cancer, and abscesses—all of which can require expensive treatments—are usually covered by MetLife.
Why we chose MetLife
Although it's possible for some congenital conditions not to cause serious issues or to resolve on their own, you can't rely on it. Whether hereditary or the result of action or exposures during pregnancy or birth, these conditions often require long-term, expensive medical treatment.
Pros and cons
Coverage for a range of congenital conditions
No waiting period; accident coverage starts immediately
Coverage for holistic and alternative care included
No sample policies on the website
5
Embrace Pet Insurance
Securing puppy and kitten health
Waiting period
14-day waiting period for illnesses; 48 hrs waiting period for accidents; 180-day for orthopedic injuries, reducible to 14 days with a vet exam
Age restrictions
Minimum 6 weeks old; Up to age 14, accident and illness coverage; Age 15+, only accident coverage
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000 to unlimited
Plans available
Accident and illness; Accident-only; Wellness
Brief overview
We think Embrace Pet Insurance deserves a gold star when it comes to coverage for the youngest four-legged members of your family. While other companies out there also offer wellness coverage, Embrace’s Wellness Rewards program has some unique perks perfect for kittens and puppies. From the first vaccinations to preventives and microchipping, Embrace's got your back (and your wallet's).
Why we chose Embrace
It’s hard not to get excited when new playful purrs and wagging tails join the family. But while bringing a new puppy or kitten into your home is a lot of fun, the expenses that tag along with your new furball aren’t quite as exciting. This is where Embrace will set your mind at ease.
Depending on the breed of your new furry friend, they might require frequent visits to the beauty salon (grooming), as well as boarding during family trips, a healthy diet, and regular vet check-ups. Even essential vet expenses like puppy vaccinations to protect against life-threatening diseases can quickly add up to a small fortune.
Pros and cons
Offers a special policy called the Wellness Plan for young puppies and kittens
Accident-only plan for pets 15+
Customizable plans
No coverage for prescription food or supplements
DailyTails: Your Gateway to Pet Health & Insurance Wisdom
Discovering the best affordable pet insurance for your beloved dogs and cats involves careful consideration and comparison. Exploring sites like DailyTails offers invaluable insights into pet health and insurance, guiding you through the process of securing coverage tailored to your pet's needs.
FAQs
At what age is pet insurance the cheapest?
It costs less to insure a young pet. Most of the time, it’s more expensive to insure an older dog. That's why many experts typically recommend that you start insuring your pet when they're still a puppy or a kitten. There are, however, excellent coverage options for senior pets that will fit within your budget.
What is the least expensive pet insurance?
Lemonade is considered one of the cheapest pet insurance providers in the US. They offer competitive monthly premiums starting at $31.01 for dogs and $16.63 for cats, making their policies affordable for pet owners. However, it's important to note that the actual cost may vary depending on factors such as the pet's age, breed, location, and the specific coverage options chosen.
How do you pick the best pet insurance?
To pick the best pet insurance, consider coverage options, cost, exclusions, claim process, customer reviews, waiting periods, additional benefits, and provider stability. Review the policy terms and consult with your veterinarian for recommendations.