Pet insurance can cost anywhere from around $10 to more than $100 per month, depending on your pet and the policy you choose.
For accident and illness coverage, recent 2026 data puts the average at about $62 per month for dogs and $32 per month for cats. Accident only coverage is considerably cheaper, averaging around $16 per month for dogs and $9 per month for cats.
Other 2026 research produces different averages because the policies being compared have different deductibles, reimbursement rates and annual coverage limits. For example, Forbes Advisor’s comparison using a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement found monthly averages of $61 for Healthy Paws unlimited coverage for dogs, $47 for Lemonade unlimited coverage for dogs, $38 for Healthy Paws unlimited coverage for cats, and $32 for Lemonade unlimited coverage for cats.
That is why there is no single price for pet insurance. Your quote depends on several details about your pet and the coverage you select.
Average Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs
Dogs generally cost more to insure than cats.
Current 2026 data puts accident and illness coverage for dogs at around $62 per month on average, although individual quotes can be substantially higher or lower.
The price can change considerably based on the dog’s age and breed. Older dogs generally cost more to insure, while breeds with higher risks of certain medical conditions can also have higher premiums.
The coverage you choose makes a major difference as well. A policy with a higher annual limit, lower deductible and higher reimbursement percentage can cost more each month.
Average Cost of Pet Insurance for Cats
Cat insurance is generally less expensive than dog insurance.
The current average for accident and illness coverage is around $32 per month, according to ValuePenguin’s 2026 analysis. Accident only coverage averages about $9 per month.
Forbes Advisor’s comparison found Lemonade averaging $22 per month for cats with $5,000 in annual coverage and $32 for unlimited annual coverage. Healthy Paws averaged $38 per month for unlimited coverage under the comparison’s specified policy structure.
These figures are useful for comparison, but your actual quote can be different.
What Determines the Cost of Pet Insurance?
Several factors can change your monthly premium.
Your Pet’s Age
Age is one of the biggest factors affecting pet insurance prices.
Younger pets generally cost less to insure. Premiums can increase as a pet gets older because the likelihood of needing veterinary treatment increases.
For example, Pawlicy Advisor’s 2026 data shows Lemonade prices ranging from approximately $36 to $71 per month for younger Golden Retrievers, while older dogs in its sample ranged from about $69 to $107 per month. The same analysis showed prices increasing for older cats as well.
Your Pet’s Breed
Breed can also affect your premium.
Some breeds have higher risks of hereditary or breed related medical conditions. Insurers account for these risks when calculating premiums.
A Labrador Retriever, French Bulldog, German Shepherd and mixed breed can therefore receive very different quotes even when they are the same age.
Where You Live
Pet insurance prices vary by location.
Veterinary costs differ between states and cities, and insurers take local costs into account when calculating premiums.
A pet owner in an area with higher veterinary costs can therefore receive a higher quote than someone with a similar pet living somewhere else.
Your Deductible
The deductible is the amount you pay toward eligible veterinary expenses before your insurance starts reimbursing covered costs.
A higher deductible generally means a lower monthly premium.
For example, Lemonade explains that increasing the deductible can reduce the premium, while also increasing the amount you pay yourself when your pet needs covered treatment.
Choosing the deductible is therefore a tradeoff between your monthly premium and your potential out of pocket costs.
Your Reimbursement Rate
Pet insurance policies commonly allow you to select a reimbursement percentage.
An 80% reimbursement rate means the insurer reimburses 80% of eligible costs after the applicable deductible, according to the policy terms.
A higher reimbursement percentage can increase the monthly premium.
This is one of the reasons two pet owners with similar animals can receive different prices.
Your Annual Coverage Limit
Your annual limit determines how much the insurer can pay toward eligible covered expenses during a policy year.
Higher limits generally cost more.
Lemonade, for example, currently offers annual coverage limits ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on the policy and availability.
Other insurers have their own limits and plan structures, so this is an important feature to compare when looking at quotes.
Accident Only vs. Accident and Illness Pet Insurance
The type of policy you choose has a major effect on price.
Accident only insurance focuses on injuries resulting from accidents. It can cover situations such as broken bones, swallowed objects and other eligible accident related veterinary treatment.
Accident and illness insurance provides broader protection by covering eligible illnesses as well as accidents.
Because accident and illness policies provide broader coverage, they generally cost more.
Current 2026 data puts accident only coverage at around $16 per month for dogs and $9 per month for cats, compared with approximately $62 and $32 respectively for accident and illness coverage.
How Much Does Lemonade Pet Insurance Cost?
Lemonade is one of the pet insurance providers worth comparing when looking at prices.
Pawlicy Advisor’s 2026 customer data shows average Lemonade premiums of about $55 per month for dogs and $33 per month for cats, although prices vary based on the pet, location and coverage selected.
Forbes Advisor’s standardized comparison produced lower averages because it used a specific coverage configuration. Under that comparison, Lemonade averaged $32 per month for dogs with $5,000 in annual coverage and $47 for unlimited annual coverage. For cats, the figures were $22 and $32 respectively.
These differences demonstrate why comparing personalized quotes is more useful than relying on one national average.
How Much Does Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Cost?
Healthy Paws is another pet insurance provider that can be included when comparing coverage and pricing.
Forbes Advisor’s 2026 comparison found an average monthly cost of $61 for unlimited dog coverage and $38 for unlimited cat coverage, using a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.
Other current analyses show different averages because the sample pets and coverage configurations vary. ValuePenguin, for example, found Healthy Paws among the lower priced options for dogs in its comparison.
The important point is that a Healthy Paws quote for your pet can differ significantly from an average published online.
Does Cheap Pet Insurance Provide Enough Coverage?
The cheapest monthly premium is not automatically the best value.
A lower price may come with a higher deductible, lower reimbursement rate or lower annual coverage limit.
Imagine two policies cost $25 and $45 per month.
The $25 policy may look better initially, but the $45 policy could provide a higher reimbursement percentage and a larger annual limit.
The better choice depends on how much you can comfortably pay each month and how much veterinary expense you would be able to handle yourself.
How Can You Lower Your Pet Insurance Cost?
There are several ways to reduce your premium.
Choosing a higher deductible can lower your monthly cost. Selecting a lower reimbursement percentage can also reduce the premium. Some insurers allow you to adjust annual coverage limits to find a price that fits your budget.
Lemonade specifically notes that changing deductible and reimbursement settings can reduce premiums, although doing so also changes the amount you would pay when making a claim.
Comparing several insurers is another important step because different companies can produce very different quotes for the same pet.
Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
Whether pet insurance is worth the cost depends on your financial situation and how you want to handle veterinary expenses.
A major veterinary emergency can cost thousands of dollars. Insurance can help transfer some of that financial risk to the insurer in exchange for a monthly premium and the other costs specified in the policy.
For someone who has enough savings to comfortably handle large veterinary bills, insurance may have a different value.
For someone who would struggle with a large unexpected veterinary bill, predictable monthly premiums may make financial planning easier.
The decision comes down to the coverage you want, the price you receive and the amount you could comfortably pay yourself.
Get Quotes Before Choosing a Policy
Published averages are useful for understanding the market, but your own quote is more important.
Before choosing a policy, compare the monthly premium, deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual limit, covered conditions, waiting periods and exclusions.
A young mixed breed dog in one state can receive a completely different quote from an older purebred dog in another state.
The same applies to cats.
Getting personalized quotes allows you to compare what you would actually pay rather than relying entirely on national averages.
The Bottom Line
Pet insurance costs around $62 per month for dogs and $32 per month for cats on average for accident and illness coverage, according to recent 2026 data. Accident only coverage costs considerably less.
Your actual price can change based on your pet’s age, breed, location, coverage type, deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit.
Lemonade and Healthy Paws are two providers worth comparing, but published averages should only be used as a starting point. The most useful comparison is based on quotes for your specific pet and the coverage you actually want.
Before buying a policy, look beyond the monthly premium. Check what the policy covers, how the deductible works, how much the insurer reimburses and how much the policy can pay each year.
That gives you a much clearer picture of what your pet insurance will actually cost and what you will receive in return.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is pet insurance per month?
In 2026, accident and illness pet insurance averages around $62 per month for dogs and $32 per month for cats. Accident only coverage averages around $16 for dogs and $9 for cats. Individual prices vary considerably.
Is pet insurance expensive?
Pet insurance can be relatively affordable for some pets and considerably more expensive for others. Age, breed, location and coverage choices can have a significant effect on the premium.
How much does dog insurance cost?
Current 2026 data puts accident and illness dog insurance at approximately $62 per month on average, although individual quotes can be much lower or higher.
How much does cat insurance cost?
Accident and illness cat insurance averages approximately $32 per month in current 2026 data. Accident only coverage averages around $9 per month.
Does a higher deductible make pet insurance cheaper?
Yes. A higher deductible generally lowers the monthly premium, but it also increases the amount you pay yourself before reimbursement begins.
Are Lemonade and Healthy Paws expensive?
Their prices vary according to the pet and policy. In Forbes Advisor’s 2026 comparison, Lemonade averaged $47 per month for unlimited dog coverage and $32 for unlimited cat coverage, while Healthy Paws averaged $61 for dogs and $38 for cats under the specified comparison conditions.
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