Pet insurance statistics have significantly risen in 2025, and veterinary expenses rose by 6.2% last year, prompting more pet owners to consider insurance options.
Currently, 2% of pets in the U.S. are insured, with dog insurance averaging $676 per year and cat insurance at $383 annually.
While the global pet insurance market is rapidly growing, reaching a value of $8.2 billion in 2021, many pet owners still struggle to cover expensive medical treatments.
Let us take a look at additional data and details.
(Source: BLS)
Pet Insurance Cost And Coverage: Top Picks
- Dog insurance averaged $676/year ($56/month).
Meanwhile, cat insurance averaged $383/year ($32/month), per recent numbers recorded in the 2023-24 study. (Insurance Information Institute, iii) - The global pet insurance market was valued at $8.2 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $31.6 billion by 2030.
- The market is currently growing at an average rate of 22.1% annually. (Pawlicy)
- US pet insurance reached $3.9 billion as per latest data (NAPHIA)
What Percentage Of Pets Are Insured?
- 78.6% of insured pets in US are dogs, 21.4% are cats (NAPHIA)
- 75.5% of insured pets in Canada are dogs, 24.5% are cats (NAPHIA)
- Only 3.1 million pets (2% of all pets) are insured in the USA.
- 4.8 million pets are insured in the UK, including 2.8 million dogs and 1.3 million cats, covering 25% of pets.
- 90% of Swedish dogs are insured, one of the highest rates globally. (Pawlicy)
- 33% of uninsured pet owners avoid vet visits due to potential costs, risking their pets’ health. (Market Watch)
- A significant number of the 111.6 million cats and dogs in the U.S. remain uninsured.
- 25% of pet owners have refused veterinary treatment because of high costs. (Catster)
How Much Is Animal Insurance Cost?
- Treatments typically cost around $150 for cats and $210 for large dogs per six-month supply. Here is the cost breakdown:
| Treatment Type | Animal | Duration | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flea & Tick Prevention | Cats | 6 months | $75-$100 |
| Flea & Tick Prevention | Dogs | 6 months | $100-$150 |
| Heartworm Prevention | Cats | 6 months | $50-$75 |
| Heartworm Prevention | Dogs | 6 months | $60-$110 |
| Fecal Testing | Both | Per test | $35-$75 |
| Heartworm Testing | Dogs | Annual | $35-$75 |
- Cataract Surgery for dogs costs $2,500-$4,500 per eye, making it one of the pricier procedures for vision restoration.
Standard pet surgery costs:
| Surgery Type | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Spay/Neuter | $150-$700 |
| Dental Cleaning | $300-$1,200 |
| Mass Removal | $200-$1,500 |
| Cruciate Ligament Repair | $3,000-$7,000 |
| Bladder Stone Removal | $1,500-$3,000 |
| Foreign Body Removal | $1,500-$4,000 |
| Cataract Surgery | $2,500-$4,500 |
| Hip Dysplasia Surgery | $3,500-$7,000 |
| Emergency C-Section | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Tumor Removal | $1,500-$6,000 |
(NAPHIA, Market Watch)
USA Pet Insurance Market
- The Northeast region consistently shows higher veterinary costs, with 4 of its states appearing in the top ten most expensive list.
The top 10 states In USA with the highest veterinary visit costs are:
| Rank | State | Average Veterinary Visit Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $93.44 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $87.11 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $85.06 |
| 4 | New York | $84.72 |
| 5 | Maine | $81.08 |
| 6 | Maryland | $80.65 |
| 7 | Alaska | $80.06 |
| 8 | Washington | $79.74 |
| 9 | Arizona | $79.28 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $79.17 |
- Conversely, Michigan has the lowest average veterinary visit cost at $52.78. The 10 least expensive states for vet visits are:
Here’s the updated table for the states with lower veterinary visit costs:
| Rank | State | Average Veterinary Visit Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $52.78 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | $53.44 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $55.00 |
| 4 | Montana | $55.72 |
| 5 | Kansas | $56.09 |
| 6 | Ohio | $58.43 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $60.58 |
| 8 | Florida | $60.41 |
| 9 | Iowa | $60.74 |
| 10 | Alabama | $61.26 |
- Connecticut’s average of $93.44 nearly doubles Michigan’s $52.78, creating a $40.66 gap that indicates significant regional variation in veterinary care costs across the U.S. (Market Watch)
- Pet insurance companies usually have loss ratios of 50%-60%. For every $1 in premium, $0.50-$0.60 typically goes toward claims. (Pet Insurance Quotes)
Dog Insurance Cost
- 2.57 million dogs have insurance, making up 82.9% of all insured pets in the USA.
- Rottweilers average $88.76/month for insurance, while Chihuahuas average only $38.45/month, making them the cheapest dogs to insure. (Pawlicy)
- First-year vaccination costs range from $70-$235, with annual boosters costing less.
| Vaccine Type | Schedule | Cost | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHPP/DAPP | 3 puppy doses + 1yr booster, then every 3yrs | $20-$60 | Protects against distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis |
| Rabies | Single dose | $20-$30* | Required by law in most areas |
| Bordetella | Every 6-12 months | $30 | Prevents kennel cough |
| Leptospirosis | 2 initial doses, then yearly | $30 | For dogs exposed to wildlife/standing water |
| Lyme Disease | 2 initial doses, then yearly | $45 | For tick-prone areas |
| Canine Influenza | 2 initial doses, then yearly | $50 | For highly social dogs |
(Pet MD)
How Much Is Pet Insurance For Dogs By Region
- The pet insurance market in the USA is growing at 22.1% annually, valued at $1.56 billion.
- In North America, there are 3.45 million insured pets, with Canada experiencing strong growth.
- Sweden introduced pet insurance in 1924, with average premiums of $536.
- Spending increased in Australia by 56% over three years amidst a total pet population of 29 million.
Here’s a country-wise table summarizing the information provided:
| Country | Total Insured Pets | Dogs Insured | Percentage of Dogs Insured |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3.1 million | 2,571,521 | 2% (of 87.9M dogs) |
| Canada | 352,631 | 265,179 | 75.2% |
| United Kingdom | 4.8 million | 2.8 million | ~25% |
| Sweden | ~1 million (dogs) | ~900,000 | 90% |
| Australia | Data not available | ~383,400 | 7.1% |
(Pawlicy)
Average Pet Insurance Cost For Cat
- Only 20% of insured pets are cats, as most policies cater to dogs.
- Cat insurance costs an average of $32.25 per month for adults.
- More than 40% of pet owners cannot cover emergency vet bills, highlighting the need for cat insurance.
- Initial kitten vaccinations require multiple doses, with annual or triennial boosters for adults. Costs typically range from $15-$40 per vaccine.
| Vaccine Type | Schedule | Cost Range | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| FVRCP | 6-16 weeks (3 doses), 1yr booster, then every 1-3yrs | $15-$40 | Protects against rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia |
| Rabies | At 14-16 weeks, then annually/triennially | $15-$40 | Required by law, prevents fatal rabies infection |
| FeLV | Two initial doses, then annual if needed | $15-$40 | Protects against feline leukemia virus |
| Bordetella | As needed for high-risk cats | $15-$40 | Prevents respiratory infections |
| Chlamydia | As needed for multi-cat environments | $15-$40 | Prevents respiratory infections |
(Pet MD)
Pet Ownership & Insurance Trends
Pet insurance can reduce stress and anxiety for pet owners and their veterinarians here are other benefits of pet insurance:
- 15% of US employers, including many Fortune 500 companies, offer pet insurance as a benefit.
- UK claim payouts have risen 75% over the last decade, totaling 2.2 million GBP daily. (Pawlicy)
- Millennials comprise 32% of pet owners, followed by Baby Boomers at 27% and Gen X at 24%.
- Dogs account for 38.4% of pet ownership, followed by cats at 25.4% and birds at 2.8%. (Media Market)
