Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Pet insurance is most valuable and most affordable when you get it while your pet is young and healthy, before any diagnoses or conditions are on record.
- Most pet insurance policies won't cover preexisting conditions, so the timing of when you enroll matters more than most people realize.
- The best pet insurance policy is the one you actually have. Don't let the number of options delay you from getting covered.
Pet insurance is still relatively new compared to other kinds of coverage, and a lot of pet owners either don't have it or put off getting it until something goes wrong. That's usually when they wish they had signed up sooner.
Our vets have seen firsthand what a difference it makes. When a pet faces an unexpected illness, an accident, or an emergency, the owners who are insured are simply better equipped to say yes to the care their pet needs.
Why Do Vets Recommend Pet Insurance?
Veterinary medicine has advanced enormously, and with that comes the ability to treat conditions that would have been untreatable not long ago. That's genuinely good news, but it also means that the cost of care for serious illnesses, emergencies, and accidents can be significant.
Pet insurance exists to help with exactly those situations: the bills you weren't prepared for. Our vets recommend it not because routine care is unmanageable, but because the unexpected is. An emergency surgery, a cancer diagnosis, a sudden illness. These are the moments where having insurance changes what's possible for your pet.
When Should I Get Pet Insurance?
The short answer: as soon as you get your pet.
Most pet insurance companies won't cover preexisting conditions, meaning anything your pet is diagnosed with before the policy goes into effect is typically excluded from coverage. The younger and healthier your pet is when you enroll, the broader your coverage is likely to be and the lower your premiums.
This is especially relevant for certain breeds. French Bulldogs, for example, are known to be prone to a range of health issues. For breeds like these, getting insurance early — before any of those issues surface — is particularly important.
What About Pre-existing Conditions?
Preexisting conditions are one of the most important things to understand before choosing a plan. If your pet has been diagnosed with a condition before your policy starts, most insurers won't cover treatment related to that condition going forward.
This is why waiting until your pet is older or already dealing with health issues tends to limit your options significantly. The window for the most comprehensive, affordable coverage is when your pet is young and their health record is clean.
How Do I Choose the Right Plan?
There are a lot of pet insurance products out there, and it can feel overwhelming. Our vets' advice: don't let the number of choices become a reason to delay. Having some coverage is almost always better than having none.
When researching options, consider factors like annual limits, deductibles, reimbursement percentages, and what's excluded from coverage. Talking to other pet owners about their experiences with specific providers is also a genuinely useful way to cut through the noise and find something that works in practice.
What Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Pet insurance premiums vary widely depending on your pet's species, breed, age, and where you live, as well as the level of coverage you choose. Generally, monthly premiums are lower when you enroll a young, healthy pet and increase as pets age or develop health conditions.
Most providers offer online quote tools that let you compare plans side by side. It's worth getting a few quotes before committing, paying close attention to what each plan actually covers and what the reimbursement process looks like.
Start Before You Need It
The best time to get pet insurance is before anything goes wrong. If your pet is new to your family or you've been putting off enrollment, now is a good time to start looking.
If you have questions about what kinds of conditions or situations tend to come up for your specific pet's breed or age, our team is happy to talk it through. Modern Animal All Access and Essential members can connect with our vets anytime through 24/7 Virtual Care.
