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What you need to know
Comprehensive pet insurance costs between $81 and $120 a month, according to our research.
Some breeds tend to cost much more because of hereditary conditions.
Pet insurance costs tend to increase as your pet gets older.
How much does pet insurance cost for dogs?
To help you find a cheap pet insurance policy, we calculated the average yearly cost of 23 pet insurance policies. Prices are based on 87 quotes using multiple different dog profiles, varying from small young male dogs to large older female dogs. All policies cover accidents and illnesses but the cheaper policies tend to come with lower annual benefits and reimbursement rates.
Here's a breakdown of some cheap pet insurance policies for cats. We calculated the average yearly cost of 23 accident and illness pet insurance policies. 78 quotes were collected in October 2022 based on multiple different cat profiles, varying from small young female cats to large older male cats. All policies cover accidents and illnesses but the cheaper policies tend to come with lower annual benefits and reimbursement rates.
Costs for procedures can vary significantly. Comprehensive pet insurance typically covers between 80% and 100% of vet bills and lets you claim between $12,000 and $30,000 per year, depending on the policy you choose.
Accident or illness
Average Claim Amount FY 2019
Multiple fractures
$2,066.31
Cancer
$3,503.74
Gastroenteritis
$1,319.65
Tick paralysis
$1,156.87
Snake bite
$2,133.31
Pneumonia
$1,610.57
Arthritis
$688
Diabetes
$1,952.39
Ear infection
$883.38
Cataracts
$1,755.15
Dermatitis
$832.71
Urinary tract infection
$814.49
PetSure claims data (June 2018-July 2019), from RSPCA
You pay the same price as buying directly from the pet insurer.
We're not owned by an insurer (unlike other comparison sites).
We don't ask for your phone or email.
We've reviewed over 35 policies on the market, so you don't have to.
What impacts pet insurance costs?
Both the pet and the policy determine the cost of insurance. Generally, the more health risks your pet has, and the more extras you have, the higher your premiums. Some factors to bear in mind include the following:
Species. Dogs typically cost more than cats.
Breed. Breeds with an increased likelihood of congenital illnesses, or other risk factors, will generally cost more to insure. Purebreds are generally more expensive to insure, and some providers may not offer cover for certain breeds.
Sex. Male and female pets have different health risks.
Size. Larger animals cost more to house, feed and care for. As a result, they have commensurately higher insurance costs.
Veterinary history. Your pet’s medical history makes a significant difference. If your pet has already been vaccinated, for example, then you might get lower prices. Conversely, pre-existing conditions and signs of future medical problems can raise the cost and affect your cover.
What to look for when reviewing pet insurance costs
Types of cover available
You can often choose between 3 types of policies:accident-only cover, accident and illness cover or a comprehensive policy. The latter covers accidents and illnesses but comes with higher limits and some extra features.
Rebates
Most pet insurance policies will only cover a maximum of 80% of your eligible vet bills, meaning you will have to pay the rest. As some policies will only cover 75% or even just 50% of your bills, you could still have to pay a whole lot of money to treat your pet.
Limits and sub-limits
Your policy may come with a $15,000 claim limit for each year, but come with a $1,000 sub-limit for the treatment of tick paralysis. Only a handful of insurers don't do sub-limits.
Why you can trust Finder's pet insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the pet insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of pet insurance experts have researched and rated 25+ policies as part of the Finder Awards. We've produced guides on everything from the best policies to jargon-free explainers.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of pet insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2016, we've helped 110,000+ people find pet insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, The Telegraph, Explore Travel and Escape. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Kaplan Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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Kindly check out this page to start comparing your insurance options for your pet Labradoodle. You may compare insurers by looking at the features column of the table. I suggest that you select the ones that say no maximum age limit for illness cover.
According to our pet insurance review page, insurance for younger dogs and cats is easy enough to find. Due to the high likelihood of illness, you’ll find that most funds won’t cover older pets in their comprehensive plans. However, many funds cover senior pets under their more “basic” levels of cover.
Currently, we only have one pet insurer in our panel, Woolworths Pet Insurance. The good news is, they do provide cover for Tibetan Spaniels. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
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finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
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What is the best cover for an 8 year old Labradoodle Desexed?
Hi Judy,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Kindly check out this page to start comparing your insurance options for your pet Labradoodle. You may compare insurers by looking at the features column of the table. I suggest that you select the ones that say no maximum age limit for illness cover.
According to our pet insurance review page, insurance for younger dogs and cats is easy enough to find. Due to the high likelihood of illness, you’ll find that most funds won’t cover older pets in their comprehensive plans. However, many funds cover senior pets under their more “basic” levels of cover.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
What is the best policy for a small Tibetan Spaniel. 6 months old.
Hi Mary,
Thanks for your question.
Currently, we only have one pet insurer in our panel, Woolworths Pet Insurance. The good news is, they do provide cover for Tibetan Spaniels. Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
What is the annual health insurance cost for a small pomeranian dog.
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your question. If you would like to receive a quote for pet insurance, please refer to our Woolworths Pet insurance comparison table.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard