Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Insurance Pet Insurance Pet Insurance for Golden Retrievers: Is It Worth It? Updated Jan 22, 2024   |   6-min read Written by Christy Rakoczy Written by Christy Rakoczy Expertise: Student loans, mortgages, insurance Christy Rakoczy has been a personal finance and legal writer since 2008. She has a Juris Doctor degree from UCLA School of Law and was a college instructor before she began writing for the web. Learn more about Christy Rakoczy Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds for Americans. These friendly dogs are good with children and other animals, easy to train, and typically live around ten to 12 years. While generally a healthy breed, golden retrievers can be at risk of serious and expensive health issues. Their inquisitive nature means foreign body ingestion is a common complaint necessitating a trip to the vet that could cost around $1,500 on average in vet bills, according to data from Trupanion. Long soft ears could also lead to ear infections, at an average cost of $200 per vet visit, while lameness and limping, vomiting and diarrhea, and masses are also top reasons for vet visits and run an average of $900, $600, and $1,100 respectively. You want to make sure your animal companion has the best care possible, so buying pet insurance for your golden retriever may well be worth it given that their common health problems can be so costly. Best pet insurance for Golden Retrievers When it comes to pet insurance for golden retrievers, there are a number of providers to choose from. Check out our list below for a few of our top pet insurance options for golden retrievers. Spot Check rates Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%Benefit limit: $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited Spot Pet Insurance focuses on providing golden retriever owners with the tools to keep their dogs healthy and happy. Spot Pet Insurance policies cover accidents, medications, diagnostics, exams for covered conditions, and treatments including alternative therapies. Spot also provides preventative plans for things like dental cleanings and vaccinations. Age limit: At least 8 weeks oldMedical exam: Not required to enrollDiscounts: 10% for each additional petWaiting period: 14 days for both accidents and illnessesPolicy options: Accident and illness, accident-only, and optional wellness coverageBenefits: Microchip implementation is covered, 30-day money-back guarantee, exam fees for covered conditions are reimbursed, distinguishes between incurable and curable pre-existing conditions ASPCA Check rates Deductible: $100, $250, or $500Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%Benefit limit: $3,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, or unlimited ASPCA covers the exam fees and costs of diagnostics and treatment for any accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, or behavioral issues your golden retriever may have. After you pay your vet bill, just submit a claim, and ASPCA will send cash back your way. Another benefit of ASPCA is that it’s easy to manage your account. Age limit: At least 8 weeks oldMedical exam: Not required to enrollDiscounts: 10% for each additional petWaiting period: 14 days for accidents and illnessesPolicy options: Accident and illness, accident-only, and optional wellness coverageBenefits: 30-day money-back guarantee and distinguishes between incurable and curable pre-existing conditions ManyPets Free quote Deductible: $0, $100, $250, $500, or $750Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%Benefit limit: Unlimited Note: ManyPets isn’t available in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, or Vermont. ManyPets offers flexibility in choosing your deductible and reimbursement rate so you can customize your coverage to better meet your golden retriever’s needs. All policies come without a cap on how much you can be reimbursed each year. Additional policy details: Age limit: 8 weeks – 14 years (only for new enrollments)Medical exam: Not requiredDiscounts: NoneWaiting period: 14 days for illnesses and accidentsPolicy options: Accident and illnessBenefits: Will cover curable pre-existing conditions, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 24/7 access to virtual vet consultations How much does pet insurance cost for golden retrievers? Costs of pet insurance can vary based on when you buy coverage for your animal. Premiums also differ from one insurer to another, and the type of policy you buy will also impact your costs. To help you estimate premiums, here’s what Trupanion charges per month to insure a golden retriever, depending upon the dog’s age when you purchase coverage and the deductible on your policy: Age You Buy Coverage$0 Deductible$200 Deductible$700 Deductible8 Weeks – 12 MonthsMale Pet: $120.46Female Pet: $122.75Male Pet: $71.71Female Pet: $73.01Male Pet: $41.44Female Pet: $42.144 Years OldMale Pet: $153.23Female Pet: $156.18Male Pet: $90.40Female Pet: $92.08Male Pet: $51.39Female Pet: $52.2910 Years OldMale Pet: $259.24Female Pet: $264.33Male Pet: $150.87Female Pet: $153.77Male Pet: $83.59Female Pet: $85.14 As you can see, premiums can go down dramatically with higher deductibles. But remember, you will have to pay this amount up front each year before the insurance kicks in and provides coverage for your pet. You may prefer to pay higher premiums to avoid having to come up with a lot of money at once. It’s also important to remember that insurers have different rules for deductibles and coverage limits. When comparing policy premiums, be sure to consider not just the monthly cost but also the total amount you’d have to pay out of pocket and the maximum amount of care the policy would pay for. You can learn a lot about deductibles, coverage limits and other details by reading pet insurance reviews. >> Read More: Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost? What does pet insurance cover? Pet insurance policies not only vary in premiums and deductibles, but the specifics of what your policy covers will also vary from one carrier to the next. Most insurance will cover both accidents and illnesses, although you can sometimes buy accident-only policies for less. Policies that pay for illnesses usually cover a wide array of conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. However, your pet will not be able to have any pre-existing conditions covered. This means it’s important to buy a policy before your golden retriever gets sick to make sure your dog can get the necessary care. An accident or illness policy pays only when something goes wrong and your pet needs treatment, such as lab testing, chemotherapy, or surgery. If you want routine veterinary care, such as annual checkups and dental cleanings covered, you may need to buy additional coverage. And, for add-ons such as chiropractic care, laser therapy, acupuncture, and similar alternative treatments, you may need an additional policy rider. Some pet insurance policies also exclude not only pre-existing conditions but also genetic conditions. Golden retrievers have a genetic tendency toward eye problems, joint problems such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, and certain types of cancer such as osteosarcoma. Find out if your policy will cover your dog’s genetic conditions and, if so, if there are any limitations on your dog insurance. Finding the right Golden Retriever pet insurance Finding the right pet insurance for your golden retriever is important, as providing high-quality veterinary pet health care is part of being a responsible dog owner. You’ll need to shop around for coverage from pet insurance companies to make sure you get a pet health insurance policy that’s affordable and covers your dog’s needs. Recap of pet insurance for Golden Retrievers ProviderLendEDU RatingReimbursementBenefit LimitManyPets4.7/570% – 100%UnlimitedSpot4.5/570% – 90%$2,500 – UnlimitedASPCA4.3/570% – 90%$5,000 – Unlimited >> Read More: Pet insurance rates by breed