2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST PET INSURANCE FOR DOGS
Does Your Dog Insurance Cover Your Vet Costs?
Protecting your pooch doesn’t have to be as difficult as it used to be. You can find some of the best pet insurance for dogs without ever having to leave your home. For concerned humans who want the very best treatment for their canine companions, it will be important to look for the best dog insurance quotes.
Award Emblem: Best Dog Insurance
When you compare dog insurance, you have to look at a number of factors that make it a worthwhile investment of your time and resources. Not only should you be looking for a cheap dog insurance that won’t break the bank on a monthly basis, but you want to find good protection as well. What do dog insurance reviews recommend you take a look at before you sign up?
- Policy exclusions
- Benefits schedule
- Pet-incident limits
- Cost
Just to name a few, those are the top considerations when you are attempting to compare dog insurance for your furry friend. A dog insurance comparison can help you to put the quotes and companies into perspective.
AdvisoryHQ has noticed the trend for consumer spending on beloved pets and their medical care. In the United States alone, veterinary care accounts for approximately $15 billion in spending. Save yourself some money by taking a look at the potential options for the best dog insurance plans available.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Pet Insurances for Dogs
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the insurance names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that top dog insurance):
- 24PetWatch
- AKC Pet Insurance
- Embrace Pet Insurance
- Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation
- Nationwide
- Petplan Pet Insurance
Top 6 Best Pet Insurances for Dogs | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Top Dog Insurance | Coverage | Pricing |
| 24PetWatch | Multiple coverage options ranging from $1,500 to $20,000 in illnesses and accidents | Wellness plans starting at $10 per month with purchase of policy |
| AKC Pet Insurance | Varies depending on your selections | Starts at $10 per month |
| Embrace Pet Insurance | Fully customizable | Starts around $30 per month |
| Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation | 70% to 90% reimbursement with $100, $250, or $500 deductibles | Starts around $30 per month |
| Nationwide | $250 deductibles with unlimited annual maximums on some plans | Starts at $17 per month |
| Petplan Pet Insurance | $2,500 to unlimited maximums with deductibles ranging from $100 to $1,000 | Starts around $20 per month |
Table: Top 6 Best Dog Insurance | Above list is sorted alphabetically
What Should You Look for in the Best Dog Insurance?
Purchasing dog health insurance for your pooch can be just as challenging as finding a plan for yourself. You have numerous companies and plans to consider before you can accurately compare dog insurance. How will you know if you stumble upon the best dog insurance to give your dog all that he deserves?
Image Source: Pixabay
First, you will want to look at the benefit schedule of any plan claiming to be a top dog insurance provider. Similar to the way our own insurance works, you want to know what your dog health insurance will cover and what percentage of the bills the insurance will reimburse you for. Be sure to see if genetic conditions inherent to your dog’s specific breed will be covered by any potential plans.
You’ll also want to consider per-incident limits when you compare dog insurance. If your beloved canine swallows a teddy bear or is hit by a car, there may be multiple follow-up appointments made with your veterinarian. Depending on the recovery time, the cost of these visits can add up and may not be covered by your health insurance for dogs.
A per-incident limit puts a cap on how much your top dog insurance will pay out for any one particular situation. Limits are common, even on the best pet insurance for dogs, but you should know exactly where your cap is in advance.
You should also be aware that there can be many exclusions when you are trying to compare dog insurance, including:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Congenital conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Breed-specific conditions
- Cancer
While this is by no means an exhaustive list of potential exclusions when it comes to health insurance for dogs, it does give you a starting point for considering what is most important to you.
Know what you need and expect before you start to compare dog insurance. This can make the shopping process easier and allow you to find the top dog insurance companies and plans significantly faster.
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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Detailed Review—Top Ranking Best Pet Insurances for Dogs
Below, please find the detailed review of each company on our list of best dog insurance. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these health insurances for dogs to score so high in our selection ranking.
24PetWatch Review
24PetWatch offers a handful of options that could be considered some of the best pet insurance for dogs. With a variety of options available for dogs between the ages of eight months and ten years, this top dog insurance allows you to compare plans quickly and easily.
At their most basic level, the Essential plan covers $1,500 in illnesses and accidents per policy term with a $100 deductible. In the middle of the options when you compare dog insurance is the Classic plan, covering up to $5,000 in illnesses and accidents per policy term with a $100, $250, or $500 deductible.
The premier option for the best dog insurance is better known as their Champion plan. Covering up to $20,000 in illnesses and accidents each policy term, this form of the top dog insurance has the maximum coverage for your canine. Deductibles will range from $100 to $1,000.
The co-pay comes in at 80% coverage for all of the plans when you compare dog insurance with 24PetWatch.
Wellness Coverage
If you are interested in a separate plan to take care of routine wellness visits, you can take a closer look at their optional wellness coverage. Routine wellness helps to cover basic care and pricing starts at just $10 per month.
For more advanced wellness care, their upgraded plan comes in at $25 per month, but it also offers more benefits. It includes dental cleaning and some medications as well for that price tag.
Pricing
Pricing is relatively reasonable when you compare dog insurance plans with 24PetWatch. When we submitted information to get a dog insurance quote, we found that the cost of coverage for a medium-sized dog began at just $34.65 per month for the Essential plan.
Consumers who are interested in the extra coverage offered by their best dog insurance will find the cost of Champion significantly higher. This plan comes in at $86.63 per month for a medium-sized dog.
AKC Pet Insurance Review
The AKC Pet Insurance offered by the American Kennel Club gives you some of the best pet insurance for dogs to give you a greater peace of mind. With two major plans to choose from, this top dog insurance makes it easy to find what you need and compare dog insurance.
Image Source: AKC Pet Insurance
With two different plans to choose from when you compare dog insurance options, the AKC allows you to adjust each according to your budget and your specific needs. Known as CompanionPlus and CompanionSelect, these two plans will allow you to find a basic and advanced option for your beloved dog.
- CompanionPlus: This best dog insurance allows owners to seek basic care for their pets in the event of accidents, injuries, or illnesses. Coverage includes laboratory tests, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication, chemotherapy, and dental extractions.
- CompanionSelect: The less involved of the two top dog insurance plans, CompanionSelect covers accidents and injuries for your dog. This covers laboratory tests, surgeries, hospitalization, prescription medication, and dental extractions.
Pets can only be enrolled up until the date of their ninth birthday. The AKC Pet Insurance does not offer this pet insurance for older dogs.
Wellness Coverage
You can also find additional coverage with this best pet insurance for dogs from the AKC with their additional wellness plans. An optional upgrade to your pre-existing dog insurance quotes, wellness coverage will allow you to help cover:
- Vaccinations or titers
- Wellness prevention for heartworms, fleas, and ticks
- Annual dental cleanings
- Spays or neuters
- Annual testing
Pricing
Pricing will vary on this best pet insurance for dogs. Premiums begin at just $10 per month but can go up from there depending on the type of coverage you select. The other largest factor in determining if this will be cheap dog insurance is your dog’s age and your location.
For more specific information on what the AKC Pet Insurance will cost you, you can request dog insurance quotes directly from the company.
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Embrace Pet Insurance Review
Concerned owners who want pet insurance for older dogs will love the plans available through Embrace Pet Insurance. They feature an easy way to make a dog insurance comparison by allowing you to adjust all of the parameters of your pet’s coverage before you pay.
Each policy from Embrace Pet Insurance is going to be personalized to fit your budget and your preferences. From the reimbursement rate to the deductible amount to the annual maximum, you can change the settings quickly and easily to find what’s right for your dog health insurance.
Coverage is the same for each of their dog health insurance options. Some of the benefits to this best pet insurance for dogs are:
- Breed-specific conditions
- Cancer treatments
- Diagnostic testing
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Alternative therapies
- Prescription medication
- Behavioral therapy
Dog insurance reviews should point out that your canine can be enrolled through Embrace Pet Insurance until they reach the age of 14. This is much older than some of the other choices available, making it great for pet insurance for older dogs.
Wellness rewards are also available as add-ons to dog insurance quotes. This is not a form of dog insurance, but it can help to offset the costs of routine appointments and annual expenses.
Pricing
Because pricing is highly subjective to the personalized plan and location you select, it can be difficult to compare. Some dog insurance reviews list the prices of Embrace Pet Insurance starting at just $30 per month for small-breed dogs in some areas.
You can adjust the deductible and annual maximum in order to fit Embrace Pet Insurance within your current monthly budget. A higher deductible typically means a lower monthly premium, even among the best pet insurance for dogs on the market. You can pay as much or as little as you like depending on what type of coverage you were hoping for.
Discounts are offered for:
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation Review
You’re likely to be surprised by what the best dog insurance from Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation can offer. They are the only company that provides unlimited lifetime benefits with an annual deductible. Consumer-rated as the top dog insurance for three years running, Healthy Paws has a number of features that are drawing concerned pet owners.
When you compare dog insurance, one of the top things you have to take a close look at is the coverage. The Healthy Paws Pet Insurance option is one of the best dog insurance programs because of the comprehensive benefits available for accidents and injuries. As long as it is not caused by a pre-existing condition, your dog insurance quotes will include coverage of:
- Illnesses
- Accidents
- Diagnostic treatment, x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Prescription medications
- Emergency and specialty care
- Congenital or hereditary conditions
Excluded from the plans, you will want to note that pre-exisitng conditions, preventative care, spay or neuter procedures, and office visit or veterinary exam fees are not covered when you compare dog insurance.
Pricing
The Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation allows you to select varying amounts of coverage for your pet. Pricing is going to be dependent on your dog’s age, your location, and the specific type of dog health insurance you select.
Their top dog insurance is their 80% reimbursement level with a $250 deductible. However, you can also choose from reimbursement for 70% or 90% with $100, $250, or $500 deductibles. Their best dog insurance gives you plenty of options for coverage that you can be satisfied with.
The most popular top dog insurance offered by Healthy Paws for a medium-sized dog under the age of five comes in at $41.18 per month in Charleston, South Carolina. With the lowest reimbursement level and highest deductible, you can save approximately $10 off per month. Your grand total would come to $32.63 per month with this best pet insurance for dogs.
Nationwide Review
If you were hoping to have the backing of a well-known household name for your best pet insurance for dogs, Nationwide might be able to help. They have three distinct plans that are aimed at a variety of consumers with low monthly pricing and some flexibility in how you structure your plans.
Image Source: Nationwide
Unlike some of the other best pet insurances for dogs, you can purchase a wellness plan exclusively through Nationwide. With no other plan necessary in order to get the benefits of annual coverage, their Pet WellnessSM plan helps to cover flea and heartworm prevention and vaccinations from any vet.
Their other health insurance for dogs focuses more on major medical expenses, aptly named Major MedicalSM. It covers accidents and illnesses, certain hereditary conditions after a waiting period, and chronic conditions. This best dog insurance will not end because of your number of claims or the age of your pet.
The Whole PetSM with Wellness offers 90% back on your veterinary bills and combines the two other plans for a more comprehensive look at health insurance for dogs. You can use any veterinarian at any location and still receive coverage for your canine.
Pricing
While pricing will vary some depending on your location, the age and size of your dog, and the ultimate amount of coverage you are seeking, this could be the cheap dog insurance you’ve been looking for. See the starting rates below:
- Pet WellnessSM: Starting at $17 per month
- Major MedicalSM: Starting at $34 per month
- Whole PetSM with Wellness: Starting at $64 per month
While the wellness plan is slightly higher than some of the other cheap dog insurance, keep in mind that an accident and injury plan is not necessary for coverage with Nationwide. You can opt for the Pet WellnessSM plan with no additional coverage or cost.
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Petplan Pet Insurance Review
If you need to compare pet insurance for dogs, Petplan Pet Insurance should be a top consideration. In a dog insurance comparison, you’ll find that Petplan covers a significant amount of scenarios at the vet’s office and offers you one of the top dog insurance options.
While your plan is fully personalized based on your preferences for deductibles, maximums, and more, you’ll find that many of the features included in their best dog insurance are standard. You’ll want to know that these are standard features when you are preparing to compare pet insurance for dogs:
- Accidents, injuries, and illnesses
- Veterinary exam fees
- Imaging
- Diagnostics
- Prescription medications
- Cancer treatments
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Alternative therapies
- Specialist treatments
When you opt for some of the higher coverages available in their dog insurance comparison, you’ll find additional benefits. These can include behavioral therapies, boarding kennel fees, loss due to theft or straying, and advertising and rewards.
What else makes Petplan Pet Insurance one of the best dog insurance plans? There are no age restrictions on it at all, making it great pet insurance for older dogs. Puppies as young as six weeks can be enrolled and there are no maximum ages at all.
Pricing
Price is one of the most important considerations when you are trying to compare pet insurance for dogs. In order to help you compare dog insurance pricing, we have to take a look at the different options available for coverage.
You can choose to have coverage ranging from $2,500 all the way to an unlimited amount with an annual deductible of $100 to $1,000. Reimbursement can be scheduled for 70%, 80%, or 90% of your total bills.
When we tested Petplan Pet Insurance for ourselves, we found that pricing was very reasonable when you compare dog insurance plans from other companies. For a medium-sized dog in Charleston, South Carolina, the basic plan came in at just $26.95 per month. However, you are also welcome to customize the plans for additional costs.
Image Source: Petplan
If you choose to do your dog insurance comparison online, dog insurance reviews should point out that it qualifies you for a 5% discount through Petplan.
Conclusion—Top 6 Best Pet Insurances for Dogs
When you brought your dog home for the first time, you committed to providing them with excellent care and love. However, those veterinary bills can really add up over time. Finding the right health insurance for dogs can help to offset the long-term and unexpected costs that arise from caring for your canine.
Image Source: Flickr
The best pet insurance for dogs isn’t difficult to find. The question really remains of how much coverage you desire to have with your top dog insurance. The best dog insurance is about more than just the bottom line when you’re looking at a dog insurance comparison.
Take our suggestions from these detailed dog insurance reviews to find the right fit for your dog. The best pet insurance for dogs isn’t more than a few clicks away with these online dog insurance quotes readily available.
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Reasonable efforts have been made by AdvisoryHQ to present accurate information, however all info is presented without warranty. Review AdvisoryHQ’s Terms for details. Also review each firm’s site for the most updated data, rates and info.
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