Pet insurance can be a great way to protect your four-legged loved ones against accidents and illness. This coverage doesn’t come cheap, though. In 2020, U.S. dog owners paid an average annual premium of $594, while cat owners paid about $342 for an accident and illness policy.
Thankfully, resourceful owners can often find discounts on pet insurance, which can be effective in helping them take out and maintain an affordable pet insurance policy. Here’s a look at some of the most common pet insurance discounts available and how much they might be able to save you.
Pet insurance discounts
Pet insurance discounts are a way to reduce the monthly premium of your policy. These discounts are awarded for enrolling multiple pets, bundling policies, certain memberships and affiliations, and more.
Before enrolling your pet(s), make sure you’ve checked to see if you’re eligible for the discounts listed below. Note: the list is sorted in order of our perceived popularity.
- Multi-pet discount
- Bundle discount
- Military discount
- Employee benefit discount
- Online policy discount
- Animal care employee discount
- Medical services animal discount
- Organization affiliation/membership discount
- Exam day discount
Multi-pet discount
You may receive a discount when you purchase pet insurance coverage for more than one animal. This may be a flat “family plan” for a maximum number of pets or simply a discount on subsequent policies.
Here are some companies offering discounts for multiple pets:
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Embrace | 10% | Insure two or more pets |
Spot | 10% | Insure two or more pets |
ASPCA | 10% | Insure two or more pets |
Prudent Pet | 10% | Insure two or more pets |
Pumpkin | 10% | Insure two or more pets |
FIGO | 5% – 10% | Insure two or more pets |
Lemonade | 5% | Insure two or more pets |
Pets Best | 5% | Insure two or more pets |
To learn more, check out our guide on discounts for multiple pets.
Bundle discount
It’s common for an insurance carrier to offer a discount when buying more than one policy type. A bundle discount may apply to your pet insurance policy if the company in question offers other insurance products that you also purchase.
Here are some companies offering discounts for bundled coverage:
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Lemonade | 10% | Bundle renters and pet |
Military discount
Active duty military members and veterans may get discounted pet insurance policies through select carriers. Proof of military service may be required to qualify.
Here are some companies offering discounts for military pet owners:
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Fetch | Up to 10% | Active or former military |
Embrace | 5% | Active and former military |
Prudent Pet | Not published | Active and former military |
Employee benefit discount
Your company or corporation may offer pet insurance discounts to employees. These typically range from 5% to 10% and may sometimes be combined with other discounts.
Here are some companies offering discounts for eligible employees:
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Embrace | 10% | Offered by participating employers |
Spot | 10% | Offered by participating employers |
ASPCA | 10% | Offered by participating employers and groups |
FIGO | 5% – 10% | Offered by participating employers and groups |
Online policy discount
A handful of pet insurance carriers will offer discounts in exchange for you buying your new policy online. This discount isn’t very common — probably because most policies are purchased online these days — but there are two carriers to consider.
Here are some companies offering discounts for buying a policy online:
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Fetch | 10% | AARP members save when purchasing a plan online |
Animal care employee discount
If you’re an employee of a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, shelter, or other eligible animal care facility, you may qualify for a discounted pet insurance policy. In some cases, your workplace will need to enroll with a provider to unlock the discount; other carriers require you to prove that you’re an animal care employee.
Here are some companies offering discounts for animal care employees:
Company | Discount | Requirements |
ASPCA | 10% | Employees of participating veterinary practices |
FIGO | 5% – 10% | Employees of participating veterinary practices |
Pets Best | 5% | Adopters, volunteers, and veterinary staff of participating organizations |
Prudent Pet | Not disclosed | Contact the company to see if you qualify |
Medical services animal discount
If you have a pet that is a licensed therapy, support, or even comfort animal, you may be able to get a discount on an insurance plan. Fetch is one company that offers a discount for eligible medical service dogs.
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Fetch | Not disclosed | Have a licensed support, comfort, or therapy pet |
Organization affiliation/membership discount
Members of certain organizations can be eligible for a discount. Two companies that offer this type of discount include Embrace and Fetch.
Exam day discount
If you purchase coverage the same day your pet gets a veterinary exam (usually within 24 hours), you may be eligible for a discount. For example, Trupanion offers an Exam Day Offer Program that discounts premiums for your first 12 months for Florida residents.
Company | Discount | Requirements |
Trupanion | Not disclosed | Enroll in a policy within 24 hours of a veterinary exam |
Other pet insurance savings
Beyond the discounts mentioned above, some pet insurance companies offer additional savings on their policies. Here are a few other pet insurance discounts that you may encounter when shopping for a policy.
Reduced deductible for healthy pets
If your pet is healthy and goes claim-free for a year, you may be eligible for a lower deductible in the future. This benefit — offered by carriers like Embrace and PetFirst — is typically called a diminishing deductible.
The way it works is simple: if your pet doesn’t suffer an accident or illness in a given year, your provider will reduce your deductible the following year. This reduction will continue down to $0.
However, once you file a claim, your deductible will reset back to the original value.
Should you choose a policy based on available discounts?
Pet insurance discounts can be a great way to buy the coverage you want at a lower rate. But while these discounts can save you money, you shouldn’t necessarily buy a policy based on discounts alone.
Your priority as a pet owner should be finding the most comprehensive coverage you can for your furry friend(s). Consider factors like the policy’s coverage limits, waiting periods, deductibles, and more to ensure it’ll be there when you need it.
To do this, you can check out our picks for the best pet insurance policies available.
When are pet insurance discounts applied?
Once you’ve narrowed down your pet insurance policy options, you can start finding out which discounts (if any) apply to you. All discounts are applied to your premium, whether monthly or annual.
Some carriers allow you to combine discounts, amplifying your savings even further. Others only let you discount your premiums once, or may have overall discount limits.