Pet Insurance for Senior Dogs & Cats

Pet insurance can be a great way for pet owners to offset the costs of providing their furry friends health care. Unfortunately, as pets get older, qualifying for insurance gets more difficult. Because aging pets are more prone to injury and illness, many pet insurers have strict age caps in place.

Luckily, not all pet insurance companies do this. If you’re looking for pet insurance for senior cats or dogs, this guide can help you find it.

On this page:

• Compare senior pet insurance
• Is pet insurance for senior animals worth it?
• How to reduce the cost of pet insurance policies for older pets

Compare senior pet insurance

There are a handful of options when it comes to senior pet insurance. To see what these look like in terms of price, check the below quotes. Each one uses an 11-year-old female mixed-breed dog weighing 50 pounds and a 12-year-old male domestic longhair cat.

*This upper-age limit is only enforced for new enrollments. If your pet was enrolled before turning 15, it will remain eligible.

A quick note here: The ASPCA, Figo, and Embrace quotes are for plans with a $5,000 annual limit, 80% reimbursement rate, and $500 deductible. Petplan only offered a $15,000 annual limit, 70% reimbursement rate, and $750 deductible, while Healthy Paws only had an unlimited plan with a reimbursement rate of 50% and an annual deductible of $1,000.

ASPCA

View Rates

Deductible

$100 – $500

Reimbursement

70% – 90%

Benefit Limit

$5,000 – Unlimited

ASPCA offers its Complete Coverage package to senior animals. This covers things like accidents, illness, dental disease, behavioral issues, and hereditary conditions. It does not cover preventative care, cosmetic procedures, or breeding costs. There is also an accident-only plan if you only want emergency coverage.

• Age limit: No limit
• Medical exam required: No
• Pre-existing conditions covered: No
• Other notable coverage features: Behavioral issues, including things like anxiety, licking, digging, etc.

Figo

View Rates

Deductible

$100 – $1,500

Reimbursement

60% – 100%

Benefit Limit

$5,000 – Unlimited

Figo has three plans for senior animals: essential, preferred, and ultimate. These plans cover injury and illness, chronic and hereditary conditions, hip dysplasia, hospitalization, imaging, and more. There are also various “powerups” to help you cover exam fees and rehab costs.

• Age limit: No limit
• Medical exam required: No
• Pre-existing conditions covered: No
• Other notable coverage features: Knee conditions and hip dysplasia, imaging, behavioral issues, euthanasia, cremation

Petplan

View Rates

Deductible

$250 – $1,000

Reimbursement

Up to 90%

Benefit Limit

$2,500 – Unlimited

Petplan offered one plan option when we put in our senior animal. It covers accidents, illness, and injury, as well as non-routine vet exams, diagnostics, prescription medication, and surgery. There are no wellness add-ons, and no coverage for preventative care, though dogs on a Petplan policy are required to undergo regular wellness checks.

• Age limit: None
• Pre-existing conditions covered: No
• Other notable coverage features: 24/7 veterinary assistance, boarding/kennel fees, behavioral therapy, specialist treatment

Healthy Paws

View Rates

Deductible

$100 – $1,000

Reimbursement

50% – 90%

Benefit Limit

Unlimited

Healthy Paws offered a single plan for our quoted animals. The policy covers illness, accidents, hereditary and chronic conditions, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, and prescription medication. It does not cover pre-existing conditions, preventative care, exam fees, or spaying or neutering.

Though the company’s pricing was middle-of-the-road compared to the other insurers, its reimbursement rate was lower and its deductible higher than average. As such, our Healthy Paws quote came with a warning from the company: “Unfortunately, our quote might not be the best value for your pet. To find the best rates and coverage for you, we encourage you to use the links below and review quotes from other providers.”

• Age limit: 14 years (This upper-age limit is only enforced for new enrollments)
• Pre-existing conditions covered: No
• Other notable coverage features: Specialty care

Embrace

View Rates

Deductible

$200 – $1,000

Reimbursement

70% – 90%

Benefit Limit

$5,000 – $30,000

Embrace’s senior pet health insurance plan offers coverage for chronic conditions, dental trauma, exam fees, genetic conditions, imaging, surgery, emergency care, and even allergy testing and alternative therapies.

It does not cover pre-existing coverage, but Embrace may make exceptions for “curable” conditions if your pet is symptom- and treatment-free for at least a year. There’s also an optional wellness plan add-on.

• Age limit: 15 years
• Medical exam required: Yes
• Pre-existing conditions covered: No
• Other notable coverage features: Allergy testing, alternative therapies, physical therapy, specialty care

Is pet insurance for senior animals worth it?

Older animals are more likely to gain weight, get sick, and be unable to fight off disease and infection. Pet insurance can help cover some or all of the costs associated with these issues. It may also help offset the costs of euthanasia and cremation services should it come to that.

Of course, insurance does mean another monthly cost, and unless your pet gets sick, that could be money wasted. Not sure if pet insurance is worth it in your animal’s case? Here are a few scenarios to consider.

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), then 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 $20 to $70 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. If you have a flush emergency fund, then pet insurance isn’t as important. In fact, it actually may just cost you more in the long run.
• Your pet has a lot of pre-existing conditions that won’t be covered. If this is the case, you’ll likely have high vet bills for your pet, whether it’s insured or not. Adding insurance to the mix will only increase your costs as a pet owner.

How to reduce the cost of pet insurance policies for older pets

If the above pet insurance costs are looking too steep for your budget, there are several ways you can lower your monthly premium and make insuring your animal more affordable.

Here are just a few strategies you can try:

• 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 accidents-only policy or removing coverages can help reduce the price of your policy, too.
• 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.
• Up 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 your costs as well.

Other pet insurance resources

Finding the right pet insurance is important to your furry friend’s health and well-being. Need more help in 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