Pet Insurance for Senior Dogs & Cats

Pet insurance is a great way to cover the rising costs of veterinary care without turning to emergency savings, high-interest credit cards, or personal loans. But as our dogs and cats age, it can be more challenging for them to qualify for policies. 

If you’ve recently rescued an older pet or are just now considering pet insurance later in their life, check out the list below. We’ve rounded up some of the best pet insurance for senior dogs and cats—in most cases, no age restrictions apply.

Compare pet insurance for older dogs and cats

You have several options for senior pet insurance. Use the table below to get an idea of how much a quote for a senior pet would be from four companies we recommend. These four pet insurance companies have excellent customer reviews and offer coverage for accidents and illnesses.

Company	Age limit	Dog quote	Cat quote
Fetch	None	$324.36	$143.46
Spot	None	$238.51	$105.59
Embrace	14 yrs.	$236.93	$86.89
ASPCA	None	$183.69	$81.32

Our sample dog quote is for an 11-year-old female Labrador Retriever from New Jersey. Policy terms includes an unlimited annual benefit limit ($30,000 for Embrace and $10,000 for ASPCA), a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $500 deductible.

Our sample cat quote is for a 12-year-old male Domestic Longhair from New Jersey. Policy terms include an unlimited annual benefit limit ($30,000 for Embrace and $10,000 for ASPCA), a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $500 deductible.

Note that pets are considered seniors at different ages depending on the species, breed, and size. It’s important to keep in mind as you’re evaluating companies. In general:

• Cats are considered seniors at age 10.
• Small and toy dog breeds (under 20 pounds) are considered seniors, starting between eight and 11 years old.
• Medium-sized dog breeds (20 to 50 pounds) are considered seniors starting between eight and 10 years old.
• Large dog breeds (50 to 90 pounds) are considered seniors starting between eight and nine years old.
• Extra large dog breeds (more than 90 pounds) are considered seniors starting between six and seven years old.

Fetch Pet – Best coverage

Free quote

LendEDU rating: 4.9 out of 5

• Deductible: $300, $500, or $700
• Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
• Benefit limit: $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000

Fetch Pet offers one plan option for senior pets. It covers accidents, illness, injury, non-routine vet exams, diagnostics, prescription medication, and surgery. Other notable coverage features include 24/7 veterinary assistance, boarding and kennel fees, behavioral therapy, and specialist treatment.

The plan has no age limit. It doesn’t offer wellness add-ons or coverage for preventive care, but dogs on a Fetch policy must undergo regular wellness checks. Pre-existing conditions are also not covered.

Spot – Best variety of terms

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LendEDU rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000
• Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
• Benefit limit: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited

Spot’s most comprehensive policy covers unexpected accidents and illnesses, hereditary and chronic conditions, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication, treatment for behavioral issues, and more.

The company’s pricing is middle-of-the-road compared to the other companies. Still, it has no age limit and offers the widest range of benefit limits and the maximum amount you can be reimbursed annually. Choosing a lower benefit limit will lower your premium.

Spot does provide pet insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions if the condition is curable and your pet has been free of treatment and symptoms for 180 days. Coverage is not available for incurable pre-existing conditions.

Embrace – Best for quick coverage

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LendEDU rating: 4.7 out of 5

• Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000
• Reimbursement: 65%, 70%, 80%, or 90%
• Benefit limit: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, or unlimited

Embrace’s senior pet health insurance plan covers chronic conditions, dental trauma, exam fees, genetic conditions, imaging, surgery, emergency care, allergy testing, alternative therapies, and specialty care. The plan’s age limit is 14, and a medical exam is required to qualify.

It does not cover pre-existing conditions but makes exceptions for “curable” conditions if your pet has been symptom- and treatment-free for at least a year. It also offers an optional wellness plan add-on.

ASPCA – Best for reliability

Free quote

LendEDU rating: 4.3 out of 5

• Deductible: $100, $250, or $500
• Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
• Benefit limit: $2,500, $5,000, $7,000, or $10,000

ASPCA offers its Complete Coverage package to senior animals. The plan has no age limit and doesn’t require a medical exam. 

The plan covers accidents, illness, dental disease, behavioral issues, and hereditary conditions. It does not cover preventive care, cosmetic procedures, or breeding costs. ASPCA offers an accident-only plan if you just want emergency coverage.

This plan has no age limit and does not require a medical exam. It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, but it does have other notable coverage features, including behavioral issues such as anxiety, licking, and digging.

What is the best pet insurance for older cats and dogs?

While we recommend any of the pet insurance companies above for senior pets, we especially suggest considering Spot and Embrace since each insurer has options for pre-existing conditions.

Senior dogs and cats are more likely to have developed some kind of illness over their lifetime; knowing that those illnesses could possibly be covered (assuming they meet each company’s criteria) can provide some relief when the major vet bills come in.

If you’re worried about expensive care costs, particularly if your pet develops cancer during their senior years, choosing a policy with an option for no benefit limits can also be smart. 

Again, both Spot and Embrace are our top picks because they offer unlimited coverage options, but be warned: Such policies can be expensive, especially for senior dogs and cats.

Is pet insurance for senior animals worth it?

Pet insurance for older cats and dogs is sometimes worth the cost. As they age, animals are often more likely to gain weight, get sick, and be unable to fight infection. 

If you’re worried about surprise vet bills as your dog or cat gets older, senior pet insurance can help. Pet insurance can also help offset the cost of euthanasia and cremation services, should those be necessary.

However, the cost of pet insurance is significantly higher for senior pets. Based on the quotes we received as part of our analysis, the monthly out-of-pocket cost is $246 for a senior dog and $104 for a senior cat. If you’re caring for a pet in its final years, adding money to an emergency fund in a high-yield savings account may make more sense.

Here are a few scenarios to consider when trying to determine if pet insurance is worth the cost for a senior dog or cat.

Consider senior pet insurance if …	Reconsider senior pet insurance if …
Your pet is on the lower end of the senior scale	You have a healthy emergency fund
You lack savings or disposable income	Your pet has pre-existing conditions
Your pet is prone to injury or illness	Your pet is nearing the end of its life

When senior pet insurance makes sense

• Your pet is older—but not too old. If your pet is on the lower end of the “senior” scale (say, eight or nine), getting insurance can be smart. They may not have developed any pre-existing conditions that would be precluded from coverage, and you’ll likely get ahead of any major health issues or costs.
• You’re short on savings or disposable income. If you don’t have the extra cash to handle a sudden medical cost, then pet insurance can be a smart choice regardless of your animal’s age. Paying $100 to $200 per month is likely a lot easier than covering a $10,000 surgery out of pocket all at once.
• You have an animal that’s prone to injury or illness. Some breeds (or even specific animals) are just more apt to get injured or sick than others. If your animal falls into this camp, then pet insurance is probably a smart move to consider.

When senior pet insurance isn’t worth it

• You have enough socked away for an emergency. Pet insurance isn’t as important if you have a flush emergency fund. It may even cost you more in the long run.
• Your pet has many pre-existing conditions that won’t be covered. If this is the case, you’ll likely have high vet bills for your pet, whether insured or not. Adding insurance will only increase your costs as a pet owner.
• Your pet is nearing the end of its life. If only our pets could live forever—unfortunately, dogs and cats have shorter lifespans. Pet insurance may not be worth the cost if you only have another year or so with your best friend.

Ask the expert

Rand Millwood

CFP®

Whether to purchase pet insurance for a senior dog or cat comes down to: Are you willing to spend meaningful sums of money to ensure your pet gets the care to live for as long as possible, even with cancer and other serious diseases/illnesses? Assuming your cash flow can support it, it may be worth it. Typically, though, the best tact is to reduce the likelihood of these issues with exercise, quality food, supplements, etc., as the cost of these items, even over many years, could be far less than the medical care in the future. 

How to reduce the cost of pet insurance for older pets

If the above pet insurance costs are too steep for your budget, you may have several options to lower your monthly premium and make insuring your animal more affordable.

Consider the following strategies:

• Enroll as early as possible. The younger your pet is, the cheaper it will be to insure them. Consider signing up your animal as soon as possible to reduce your costs.
• Choose a basic policy instead of comprehensive coverage. Opting for an accident-only policy or removing coverages can also help reduce the price of your policy.
• Choose a policy with lower limits. The higher the annual limit is on a plan, the more it will cost you. Consider lowering your policy’s limits, and you’ll lower your insurance premiums, too.
• Increase your deductible. Low-deductible plans cost more than policies with higher deductibles. Opt for a policy with a higher annual deductible, and you’ll lower your costs in step.

Some insurers offer discounts for claim-free periods, so keeping your pet healthy could lower costs.

Additional pet insurance resources

Finding the right pet insurance is important to your furry friend’s health and well-being. Need more help finding the best pet insurance for older dogs and cats? Try these resources next:

• Best pet insurance companies
• What does pet insurance cover?
• Is pet insurance worth it?
• Pet insurance and pre-existing conditions

Recap of pet insurance for senior dogs and cats

Company	Age limit	Dog quote*	Cat quote**
Fetch	None	$324.36	$143.46
Spot	None	$238.51	$105.59
Embrace	14 yrs.	$236.93	$86.89
ASPCA	None	$183.69	$81.32