Pet insurance in the United States: what it costs
What a typical dog and cat policy costs in the United States, how the size of the breed changes it, and what to check before you buy.
Checked 8 November 2026
Typical price
Dog
$62.44 a month, about $749.28 a year
NAPHIA State of the Industry 2025 (data year-end 2024): average accident & illness premium for dogs 749.29 USD/yr = 62.44/month. Varies strongly by breed, age and state. source
Cat
$32.21 a month, about $386.52 a year
NAPHIA 2024: average accident & illness premium for cats 386.47 USD/yr = 32.21/month. source
By size
| Size | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Toy | $41.21 | $494.52 |
| Small | $48.70 | $584.44 |
| Medium | $54.32 | $651.87 |
| Large | $69.31 | $831.70 |
| Giant | $93.66 | $1,123.92 |
Our estimate: the typical price scaled by the size of the dog. Real quotes depend on the breed, its age, the cover and the excess.
Check your breed
Estimates for popular breeds
| Breed | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | $61.82 | $742 |
| French Bulldog | $89.29 | $1,071 |
| German Shepherd Dog | $67.44 | $809 |
| Golden Retriever | $58.69 | $704 |
| Dachshund (Standard) | $50.58 | $607 |
| English Cocker Spaniel | $51.83 | $622 |
| Chihuahua | $39.34 | $472 |
| Border Collie | $50.58 | $607 |
| Mixed breed (dog) | $46.83 | $562 |
| Mixed breed (cat) | $27.38 | $329 |
| Maine Coon | $31.89 | $383 |
| British Shorthair | $30.28 | $363 |
| Ragdoll | $28.67 | $344 |
Before you buy
- New policies often have an age limit, so insuring young is cheaper and easier.
- There is usually a waiting period before illness cover starts.
- Conditions the animal already has are not covered.
- Check whether hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia are covered. Each breed page lists the ones to ask about.
- A higher excess or co-payment lowers the price but raises what you pay at the vet.
- Look at the yearly limit. One operation can cost more than a cheap policy pays out.
Rules and costs for dogs in the United States → Pet insurance by country
Prices are typical published prices, not a quote. Pet Wiki is not an insurer or a broker.