Pet insurance can be a great way for pet owners to offset the costs of veterinary 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 several options when it comes to senior pet insurance. Use the table below to get an idea of how much a quote for a senior pet would be from each company. All five companies have excellent customer reviews and offer coverage for both accidents and illnesses.
| Company | Max. Enrollment Age | Dog Quote* | Cat Quote** |
| ManyPets | 14 years | $140.14 | $45.53 |
| ASPCA | No limit | $183.69 | $81.32 |
| Embrace | 14 years | $236.93 | $86.89 |
| Spot | No limit | $238.51 | $105.59 |
| Fetch Pet Insurance | No limit | $324.36 | $143.46 |
* Quote was for an 11-year-old female Labrador Retriever from New Jersey. Policy terms included an unlimited annual benefit limit ($30,000 for Embrace and $10,000 for ASPCA), a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $500 deductible.
** Quote was for a 12-year-old male Domestic Longhair from New Jersey. Policy terms included an unlimited annual benefit limit ($30,000 for Embrace and $10,000 for ASPCA), a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $500 deductible.
ManyPets
- Deductible: $0, $100, $250, $500, or $750
- Reimbursement: 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 a single, customizable accident and illness policy with optional wellness coverage. Of the five companies we received quotes from, ManyPets offered the most affordable premiums for senior pets.
Coverage includes unexpected accidents or illnesses, exams and tests, medications, treatments and surgeries, hospitalizations, vet visits, and more. There are no network restrictions, so you can take your pet to any veterinarian in the U.S.
If you have an older pet and want to enroll with ManyPets, make sure to do so before they turn 15 years old as the maximum enrollment age is 14. Once your pet is enrolled, it will remain covered for the rest of its life or until you cancel the policy.
- Age limit: 8 weeks to 14 years (for enrollment only)
- Medical exam required: No
- Pre-existing conditions covered: No, but curable pre-existing conditions are covered
- Other notable coverage features: 24/7 access to virtual vet consultations
ASPCA
- Deductible: $100, $250, or $500
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
- Benefit limit: $3,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, or 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.
Embrace
- Deductible: $200, $300, $500, $750, or $1,000
- Reimbursement: 65%, 70%, 80%, or 90%
- Benefit limit: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, or $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 does 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
Spot
- Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
- Benefit limit: $2,500, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited
Spot most comprehensive policy covers unexpected accidents and illnesses, hereditary and chronic conditions, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication, and more.
Though the company’s pricing was middle-of-the-road compared to the other companies, it does offer the widest range of benefit limits. The benefit limit is the maximum amount you can be reimbursed throughout a year. If you choose a lower benefit limit, your premium will be lowered signifcantly.
- Age limit: None
- Pre-existing conditions covered: No, but does cover curable pre-existing conditions
- Other notable coverage features: Behavioral issues are covered
Fetch Pet Insurance
- Deductible: $250 – $1,000
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
- Benefit limit: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, $25,000, or unlimited
Fetch Pet Insurance, previously known as Petplan, offered one plan option when we put in our senior pets. 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 Fetch 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
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: