Average annual premium by plan type (2025)
| Plan type | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Accident only | $190 (about $16 a month) | $112 (about $9 a month) |
| Accident and illness | $836 (about $70 a month) | $435 (about $36 a month) |
| Insurance with embedded wellness | $1,414 (about $118 a month) | $859 (about $72 a month) |
These are U.S. averages across all insurers, breeds, ages and locations. Your own quote can be much lower or much higher, which is why they are a benchmark and not a price.
How prices changed, 2021 to 2025
Accident-and-illness premiums have been rising, especially for dogs:
| Accident and illness, average per year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dogs | $625 | $640 | $675 | $749 | $836 |
| Cats | $370 | $387 | $383 | $386 | $435 |
Over four years the average dog premium rose by about 34% and the average cat premium by about 18%. NAPHIA notes that premium growth has outpaced the growth in the number of insured pets, which points to higher average premiums across the market. Accident-only averages did not rise over the same period: for dogs $192 in 2021 and $190 in 2025, for cats $121 in 2021 and $112 in 2025.
What drives your price
- Species and breed: insurers price dogs and cats differently, and many price by breed.
- Age of the pet: premiums typically rise as pets get older.
- Where you live: veterinary costs and insurer pricing vary by state and by area.
- Deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit: the settings you choose. Lower deductibles, higher reimbursement rates and higher limits typically raise the premium.
- Plan type: accident-only, accident-and-illness or a plan with wellness included.
Ways to lower the cost without gutting the coverage
- Raise the deductible, and make sure you could pay it out of pocket at short notice.
- Choose a reimbursement rate you would still be comfortable with after a large bill.
- Look closely at wellness add-ons: compare what the rider pays with what those routine services would cost you directly.
- Compare quotes with identical settings so you are comparing prices, not plans.
A cheaper premium is not always a cheaper year
Take a $3,000 vet bill. The plans below are invented for illustration:
| Plan A | Plan B | |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | $360 a year | $780 a year |
| Deductible and reimbursement | $500, 70% | $250, 90% |
| Insurer pays on a $3,000 bill | $1,750 | $2,475 |
| You pay toward the bill | $1,250 | $525 |
| Total cost of the year (bill share plus premium) | $1,610 | $1,305 |
| Total cost in a year with no claims | $360 | $780 |
Plan A is cheaper in a healthy year and more expensive in a year with a big bill. The right choice depends on how much risk you want to carry yourself. Test different settings in the payout calculator.
What claims can cost
NAPHIA reports the largest single claims paid by its members in 2025: up to $66,600 for a dog (an undiagnosed chronic illness) and $51,600 for a cat (cancer). These are extreme cases. Still, insurance exists for the rare expensive event, not for the average year, and the comparison to make is between the premium and the size of a bill you could not comfortably pay.
How to compare quotes fairly
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of pet insurance?
For an accident-and-illness plan in 2025, about $836 a year for a dog and $435 for a cat in the United States, according to NAPHIA. Accident-only plans averaged $190 for dogs and $112 for cats.
Why is dog insurance more expensive than cat insurance?
On average dog plans cost about twice as much as cat plans: $836 against $435 a year in 2025. NAPHIA's report does not explain the gap. Insurers price by species and by other factors such as breed, age and location, using their own claims data.
Do pet insurance premiums go up every year?
They can. NAPHIA's data show average premiums rising over the past four years, and premiums typically rise with your pet's age and with insurer rate changes. Ask any insurer how it handles increases before you buy.
Is the cheapest plan the best value?
Not necessarily. A low premium can come with a high deductible, a low reimbursement rate or a low annual limit, which can leave you paying more in a year with a large bill.
Sources
Figures and statements on this page were checked against the following sources on 20 September 2026. Prices, rules and policies change, so always confirm details in the policy documents and with your state department of insurance.