Pet Insurance: Cost, Factors, Plans, Coverage, Add-Ons, Claims, Discounts

Pet insurance plans from Insurance Navy

Pet insurance is a health insurance policy for dogs and cats that reimburses 70-90% of covered vet bills after your deductible. Dog coverage typically costs $20-$50 a month, and cat coverage costs $10-$30 a month. Insurance Navy partners with Prudent Pet to offer dog and cat insurance in Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, California, and Nevada.

Insurance Navy offers different pet insurance plans to cater to various types of people and their pets. Our policies cover accidents, illnesses, exams, and other vet bills.

Insurance Navy provides cat and dog insurance policies with annual limits ranging from $10,000 to unlimited reimbursement rates, depending on the chosen plan.

Customers can also select optional wellness coverage add-ons or veterinary exam fee coverage to tailor-fit their policy according to their pet’s specific needs and budget.

How does pet insurance work?

Pet insurance works on a reimbursement model: you pay the vet up front, file a claim, and get paid back. A Prudent Pet policy through Insurance Navy works in 3 steps:

1. Visit any licensed vet in the US. Prudent Pet has no provider network and accepts any licensed veterinarian.

2. Pay the bill and file the claim through the app or the online portal. Prudent Pet responds to claims within 24 hours.

3. Get reimbursed by direct deposit in 2-3 business days. Prudent Pet pays back 70-90% of the covered bill at the reimbursement rate you chose, after your annual deductible of $100 to $500.

Coverage is not instant. You can file your first claim 14 days after the policy starts. Cruciate ligament conditions and hip dysplasia have a 6-month waiting period.

How much does Pet insurance cost?

Dog insurance usually costs $20-$50 a month for accident and illness coverage. Cat insurance costs a little less, at around $10-$30 a month.

The more high-risk breeds like French Bulldogs & German Shepherds can increase that amount to $70 a month because of the likelihood of hip dysplasia and respiratory issues.

If your dog is a puppy under a year, or a senior over 10, you're looking at 20-40% higher premiums overall.

6 factors set your premium: the type of pet, the breed, the age, your location, the type of coverage, and the deductible and reimbursement level.

• The type of pet: Generally, insurance for dogs is more expensive than for cats, and insurance for exotic pets can be even more costly.

• The breed: Some breeds have specific health issues that can make insurance more expensive.

• The age: Younger pets are typically cheaper to insure than older ones.

• Your location: Illinois and Texas run mid-range for the US, while California runs 15-20% higher because of higher vet costs.

• The type of coverage: Comprehensive plans that cover accidents and illnesses are more expensive than accident-only plans or wellness plans that cover routine care.

• The deductible and reimbursement level: A lower or higher reimbursement level will increase the premium.

Pet insurance discounts: Prudent Pet discounts your premium when you insure multiple pets under one policy.

What types of Pet insurance plans can you choose from?

Accident only Pet insurance

Coverage for when your pet is hurt

Prudent Pet's accident-only plans cover things like a broken bone, a laceration, or a dog eating something it shouldn't have.

The policy includes things like X-rays, surgery, hospital time, and emergency vet visits. Keep in mind, you've got to wait 14 days from the start of the policy before you can start filing claims.

Any prior ailments before the policy started is excluded from coverage, and there's no upper age limit to sign up at all. The per-incident cap is there, but it's on a case by case basis rather than an annual limit.

Essential Pet insurance

Accident and illness coverage with 70-90% reimbursement

The Essential policy steps it up a notch by adding in illness coverage on top of the accident protection. Covered illnesses include cancer, infections, digestive issues, diabetes, allergies and UTIs. The waiting period is still 14 days for accidents, and 14 days for illness.

But, the waiting period is 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions & hip dysplasia. You get to choose from 70-90% reimbursement rates, and deductible options range from $100 to $500 a year.

Ultimate Pet insurance

Unlimited annual coverage, including dental illness and therapy

The Ultimate plan really takes things up a notch with its unlimited annual coverage - no per-incident caps here. This includes things like dental illness coverage (which is different from routine cleanings).

It also covers physical therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care and specialist consultations. On top of that, you also get behavioral therapy coverage for anxiety, aggression and compulsive disorders.

You can opt for 90% reimbursement, too. Emergency & specialty clinic visits are covered, no matter where in the US you are.

What are some Pet insurance coverages you can buy?

Pet insurance policies vary in what kinds of things they cover and have different payout limits.

When getting a pet insurance policy, remember that there may be age limits and maximum age limits on enrollment.

Some insurers have waiting periods before covering certain health conditions or routine care services like preventative care. And some policies have annual or lifetime limits on benefits paid out.

Optional coverage

Exam Fee Coverage

Exam fee coverage helps out with the bill when your pet needs to see the vet for a covered accident or illness. With Prudent Pet's exam fee add on, you can also get the consultation fee covered for sick or injury visits.

Exams fees are usually around $50-$75 per visit. Keep in mind this isn't included in wellness check ups. Standard exclusions still apply if it's a pre-existing condition or the visit is just for a routine checkup that isn't part of a covered claim.

Wellness Coverage Add-Ons

Alternative therapy is a great way to add on to traditional veterinary care for pets. Wellness Coverage Add-Ons can cover costs for acupuncture, chiropractic care, and other alternative therapies.

These can help your pet manage pain or recover from an injury. This coverage benefits pets with chronic medical conditions like hip dysplasia or heart disease.

Congenital issues are common in many dog and cat breeds. These include genetic disorders that affect the heart, joints, eyes, or other organs.

Wellness Coverage Add-Ons can provide coverage for these conditions if they are diagnosed after you enroll in the policy. With this add-on, you wont be paying out-of-pocket expenses for expensive treatments like surgery or medication.

Behavioral therapy is another type of treatment that Wellness Coverage Add-Ons cover. Pets sometimes have anxiety or behavioral issues like aggression towards people or other animals.

This coverage pays for sessions with a certified animal behaviorist. They will work with you and your pet to address problem behaviors.

In addition to covering congenital issues and alternative therapy treatments, Prudent Pet's Wellness Coverage Add-Ons also cover dental cleanings up to $60; annual wellness exams; bite wounds; hospitalization due to accidents; law enforcement injuries (for working animals); and even installment fee reimbursements!

What does pet insurance not cover?

Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions on any plan. A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury your pet showed signs of before the policy started or during the waiting period. A Prudent Pet policy also does not pay for:

• Conditions during waiting periods. Prudent Pet does not cover claims filed in the first 14 days of the policy. Prudent Pet does not cover cruciate ligament conditions and hip dysplasia for the first 6 months.

• Routine and preventive care. Accident and illness plans do not cover wellness check-ups, vaccinations, or routine dental cleanings unless you add Wellness Coverage Add-Ons.

• Vet exam fees. Exam fees for sick and injury visits usually run $50-$75 per visit. Prudent Pet does not cover exam fees unless you add Exam Fee Coverage.

Some insurers cover a curable condition again if the pet stays symptom-free. Ask Prudent Pet how the policy treats cured conditions before you rule out coverage for a past issue.

How do Pet insurance claims work?

Prudent Pet gets back to you on claims within 24 hours. You always get reimbursed in 2-3 business days via direct deposit.

Fill out a claim through the app or the online portal, and don't worry about which vet you go to. Prudent Pet accepts any licensed vet in the US.

Is pet insurance worth it?

Pet insurance is worth it when a surprise vet bill of $1,000 or more would strain your budget. Emergency surgery, cancer treatment, and hip dysplasia care can each cost thousands of dollars out of pocket. Accident and illness coverage costs $20-$50 a month for dogs and $10-$30 a month for cats. Over a year, you trade a few hundred dollars in premiums for protection against bills that can cost 10 times that amount. U.S. insurers covered approximately 6.4 million pets in 2024, according to NAPHIA.

Pet insurance is least worth it for pets with significant pre-existing conditions and for owners who can pay a large vet bill from savings. Pre-existing conditions stay excluded on every plan. An accident-only plan is the cheapest option for owners between those two groups. Prudent Pet's accident-only plan has no upper age limit, so senior pets can enroll.

Need help deciding if Pet insurance is right for your pet?

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Get a Pet insurance quote online or Call Insurance Navy™ Today at 773-697-6249