How much is pet insurance?
The average monthly premium for pet insurance is $127. Find out how much it might cost you to insure your furry friend.
Key takeaways
- The average monthly premium for pet insurance across 24 Australian insurers is $127.
- Your pet’s age, breed, size, and gender all affect the cost of pet insurance.
- Finding and comparing policies is a great way to snag a deal and save money on pet insurance.
Pet insurance cost breakdown
Like other types of insurance, pet insurance costs depend on how likely you are to make a claim. For pets, this means how often they might need treatment or care. Insurers will typically take into account your pet’s age, breed, size, and gender, along with your chosen level of cover, to set your premium.
To give you an idea of pet insurance costs in 2024, we calculated the average monthly premiums from 24 top Australian insurers. Our prices were based on 140 total quotes for a mix of dogs and cats aged 2 and 6.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
- The difference between the most and least expensive average policy was $92.
- Budget Direct was the cheapest provider, with an average monthly premium of $42.
- Medibank was the most expensive, with an average monthly premium of $134.
- Just over 1 third of pet insurance policies had an average monthly cost of under $100.
What influences the cost of pet insurance?
There are several factors that impact the cost of pet insurance, these can include:
- Age: Older pets are generally more costly to insure because they’re more likely to have health issues, such as arthritis or diabetes.
- Breed: Some breeds, especially purebreds, are more likely to have certain health problems, making them more expensive to cover. Flat-nosed breeds like Pugs and English Bulldogs, for example, have a higher chance of having seizures.
- Policy type: More cover generally means higher premiums. Basic policies only cover accidents, while more comprehensive plans cover a range of illnesses, preventative care, and sometimes even dental work.
- Size: Larger pets may have higher premiums because they require more medication and larger doses, and their treatment may be more complex.
- Location: Vet costs can be quite different from region to region. If you live in an area with a higher cost of living or fewer vets, your bills may be more expensive, which can prompt insurers to increase your premiums.
- Gender: Sometimes gender affects costs due to higher health risks and their unique anatomy. For instance, male dogs can be more prone to aggression and reproductive health issues. Vet prices can also be quite different for reproductive health treatments like desexing.
- Cover limits and excess: Policies with higher annual payout limits offer greater protection as a pet owner, but this does come with a cost. Opting for a lower excess – what you pay out of pocket to claim a benefit – will usually result in higher premiums because the insurer assumes more risk.
What does pet insurance cover?
Depending on the type of pet insurance you choose, you’ll get a range of different inclusions in your policy. Most basic level policies will only cover accidental injuries and illness, while generally, you’ll see the following things included in comprehensive pet insurance:
- Specified accidental injury cover: Things like broken bones, poisonings and ACL ruptures.
- Behavioural therapy: Issues like aggression or excessive barking.
- Chronic illnesses: Like arthritis or diabetes. Coverage for chronic illnesses typically only applies if they develop after your pet is insured.
- Common illness: Ear infections, skin irritations, and urinary tract infections.
- Prescription medication: For example, regular ear worm medication or more complex treatments like antibiotics.
- Serious illness: Such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes.
- Testing and diagnostics: Like X-rays, MRIs and more.
While comprehensive pet insurance won’t cover every possible illness and injury, there are a number of optional extras on offer if you’d like to extend your cover. These include:
- Dental care: Such as teeth cleaning and dental illnesses including gingivitis, abscesses, and tooth extractions.
- Routine care cover: Preventative care such as vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, and health checkups. Insurers will have a limit of up to around $150 to $2,000 you can claim per year.
- Emergency pet boarding: Pays for the accommodation fees if your pet is hospitalised or needs emergency boarding.
- Travel insurance: Covers vet expenses if your pet gets sick or injured while travelling with you.
Keep in mind these inclusions are just a guide. What is and isn’t covered by your pet insurance will depend on the individual policy you choose. It’s important to carefully review and understand the product disclosure statement (PDS) provided by your insurer to know the exact cover details and exclusions
How to save money on your pet insurance policy
Pet insurance doesn’t always come cheap, and it can get even more expensive as the years go on. This is especially true for Australians, as according to major pet insurance underwriter PetSure, pet insurance premiums grow around 20% per year.
If you’re looking to save money on your pet insurance, here are 6 ways you can lower the cost of your policy.
- Shop around: It seems obvious, but one of the best ways to save on pet insurance is to compare policies. Pet insurance is a competitive industry, and researching thoroughly can help you find a policy that offers the best value for you and your pet’s needs.
- Switch to annual payments: If it fits your budget, paying premiums as an annual lump sum can often make things cheaper overall. Some insurers will charge extra to make monthly payments or offer discounts if you pay annually.
- Start from young: Taking out pet insurance will be cheaper to start, but will naturally increase as your pet gets older. This strategy can help keep your pet’s health over time, potentially reducing future claims. By doing so, more conditions may be covered later on, as they won’t be classified as ‘pre-existing’ by your insurer.
- Adjust your cover: If your pet is healthy and in good shape, it can be worth reducing your cover or choosing another policy that better aligns with their needs. Opting for a basic policy over a comprehensive one can significantly lower your premiums.
- Increase your excess: Agreeing to a higher excess will generally reduce your premiums, as you take on more of the upfront costs when making a claim. You’ll need to have funds set aside to pay for this if an emergency or something unexpected happens.
- Sign up discounts: Certain providers will offer discounts on pet insurance if you’re a new customer, if you buy your policy online, or if you’re an existing member through another insurance policy. This can save you a significant amount of money on the cost of your pet insurance.
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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