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Pet insurance: the facts

Pet insurance pays you back for some of the vet bills when your dog, cat or other pet gets hurt or sick. You usually pay the vet first, then file a claim. It is regulated by your state insurance department, like other insurance. Here are the facts from the NAIC, state regulators and the industry's own year-end 2024 numbers — with sources and dates. We don't sell insurance or give quotes.

Checked October 13, 2026

Next step: write down what you could afford for one big emergency vet bill. Then use the What would I pay? check below with a sample bill, deductible and reimbursement percent. To buy, ask an agent or company licensed in your state; California's insurance department publishes a list of pet insurers doing business there.

On this page: Key facts · What would I pay? · Plan types · Covered & not covered · Waiting periods · Industry averages (not quotes) · Questions to ask · Downsides · Sources

Key facts at a glance

Pay the vet, then get paid back

Most plans reimburse you after you pay; Texas's regulator says plans usually cover 70–90% of covered bills (Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022))

Preexisting conditions rarely covered

Buy before your pet gets sick or hurt; California DOI says treatment for a condition you already knew about usually isn't paid (Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022) · California Dept. of Insurance: Questions to Consider When Purchasing Pet Insurance)

Waiting periods are common

NAIC Model Act #633: no waiting period for accidents; illness/orthopedic waits capped at 30 days in adopting states, and a vet exam can waive them (NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633))

$62.44/mo dogs · $32.21/mo cats

U.S. average accident-and-illness premium, YE 2024 (NAPHIA). Industry average, not a quote (NAPHIA: 2025 State of the Industry news release (April 22, 2025; YE 2024 data))

6,405,541 U.S. pets insured

YE 2024; about 75.6% dogs and 23.5% cats (NAPHIA: 2025 State of the Industry news release (April 22, 2025; YE 2024 data))

Top states: California (18.3%), New York (7.2%), Florida (6.3%), Texas (5.5%)

Share of U.S. insured pets, YE 2024 (NAPHIA: 2025 State of the Industry news release (April 22, 2025; YE 2024 data))

What would I pay on a vet bill?

Type a covered vet bill, your deductible and the percent the plan pays after the deductible. We do simple arithmetic the way Texas's regulator describes reimbursement: you pay the deductible, then the plan pays its share of what's left. This is not a real claim. It only counts an annual limit if you type one, and it ignores exclusions, per-condition limits and "usual and customary" schedules.

Vet bill ($) Annual deductible left ($) Plan pays after deductible (%) Annual limit left ($, optional)

Try a sample:

Types of pet coverage

Pet health insurance

Reimburses specified veterinary care: accidents, illnesses, surgeries, X-rays, prescriptions, hospital stays, emergencies or cancer treatments (NAIC; Mass.gov).
Some plans are accident-only; others are accident and illness. Wellness (shots, checkups) is often separate or not included (NAIC Insurance Topics, updated April 16, 2025).
Cost usually depends on species, breed, age, location, deductible and coverage level (NAIC; Texas TDI).

Other options people confuse with it

Pet life insurance may cover burial or cremation and sometimes bereavement counseling (NAIC; Mass.gov).
Pet injury on an auto policy may pay if your pet is hurt in a car crash, up to a set limit — ask your auto insurer (NAIC; Mass.gov).
Vet wellness plans and discount plans are not the same as insurance; they usually cover routine care or offer network discounts (NAIC; Mass.gov).

Sources: NAIC: Pet Insurance (consumer tip, published Feb. 1, 2018; page dateModified Jan. 16, 2024) · NAIC Insurance Topics: Pet Insurance (last updated April 16, 2025) · Mass.gov Division of Insurance: Pet Insurance · Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022), checked October 13, 2026.

What is usually covered, and what isn't

Often covered (if the plan says so)

Accidents and illnesses, surgeries, imaging, prescriptions, hospitalization, emergencies, cancer treatment (NAIC; Mass.gov).
Most policies let you use any vet; some require a network (NAIC; Texas TDI says most allow any vet).
You usually pay the full bill at the clinic, then get reimbursed (NAIC; Mass.gov; Texas TDI).

Often NOT covered

Preexisting conditions — California DOI: treatment for a condition you already got advice or care for before enrolling usually isn't paid. Texas TDI: preexisting conditions are rarely covered.
Hereditary disorders (for example hip dysplasia) and congenital (present from birth) conditions may be excluded (California DOI; NAIC).
Preventive care, dental care not from an accident, behavioral treatment, elective procedures, spay/neuter — often excluded unless you buy a wellness add-on (NAIC; Mass.gov).
Renewal trap: some companies treat a condition treated during the policy year as preexisting at renewal and drop coverage for it (NAIC; Mass.gov).

Sources: NAIC: Pet Insurance (consumer tip, published Feb. 1, 2018; page dateModified Jan. 16, 2024) · Mass.gov Division of Insurance: Pet Insurance · California Dept. of Insurance: Questions to Consider When Purchasing Pet Insurance · Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022).

Waiting periods (NAIC Model Act #633)

Many states have adopted the NAIC's Pet Insurance Model Act. Where it applies, the rules include:

No waiting period for accidents. Waiting periods for accidents are prohibited (NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633)).
Illness and orthopedic waits: may not exceed 30 days after the policy starts.
A vet exam can waive the wait. The insurer must let you skip the waiting period by completing a medical exam (you usually pay for the exam unless the policy says otherwise).
No waiting period on renewals of existing coverage.
The insurer must clearly disclose waiting periods before you buy, and it has the burden of proving a preexisting-condition exclusion applies to a claim.
Insurers must disclose if the policy excludes preexisting, hereditary, congenital or chronic conditions, and any deductible, coinsurance, or annual or lifetime limits.

Source: NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633). Your state may have adopted the model in full, in part, or not at all — check with your state insurance department. California's consumer Q&A defines waiting/affiliation periods and preexisting, hereditary and congenital terms in plain language (California Dept. of Insurance: Questions to Consider When Purchasing Pet Insurance).

Industry averages (year-end 2024) — not quotes

The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) published its 2025 State of the Industry report on April 22, 2025, covering YE 2024. NAPHIA says the report covers about 99% of North American written pet health premium. These are industry averages and totals, not a price for your pet.

$4.74 billion

U.S. written premium, YE 2024 (up 21.4% year over year)

6,405,541 pets

Insured in the U.S. (up 20.7%); dogs 75.6%, cats 23.5%

5.46% dogs · 2.04% cats

U.S. penetration rates (share of dogs/cats with pet insurance)

$749.29/year

Average U.S. accident-and-illness premium for dogs ($62.44/month)

$386.47/year

Average U.S. accident-and-illness premium for cats ($32.21/month)

$5.2 billion NA

North America written premium (up 20.8%); 7.03 million pets insured

More than a third of U.S. insured pets were in California (18.3%), New York (7.2%), Florida (6.3%), Texas (5.5%) (NAPHIA: 2025 State of the Industry news release (April 22, 2025; YE 2024 data)).

Texas's insurance department (updated June 23, 2022) said plans can range from less than $10 a month to as much as $100 a month — a dated range, not today's quote (Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022)).

Sources: NAPHIA: 2025 State of the Industry news release (April 22, 2025; YE 2024 data) · NAPHIA SOI 2025 Report Highlights (public PDF, April 22, 2025) · Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022). Averages hide big differences by breed, age and ZIP code.

Questions regulators say to ask

Can I choose any veterinarian? (NAIC; Texas TDI)
What is the deductible and coinsurance / reimbursement percent? (NAIC; California DOI)
Is there a waiting period, and can a vet exam waive it? (NAIC Model #633; California DOI)
How are preexisting, hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions handled? (California DOI; NAIC)
Is there an annual or lifetime limit? (California DOI; NAIC)
Does the premium rise after a claim, or as the pet ages? (California DOI; NAIC Model disclosure)
Is reimbursement based on the billed amount, or on a schedule / "usual and customary" rates? (California DOI)
Does my breed cost more or get limits? (Texas TDI)
Are the marketing name and the actual insurance company both named? (Mass.gov requires both)

Sources: NAIC: Pet Insurance (consumer tip, published Feb. 1, 2018; page dateModified Jan. 16, 2024) · California Dept. of Insurance: Questions to Consider When Purchasing Pet Insurance · Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022) · Mass.gov Division of Insurance: Pet Insurance · NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633).

Downsides, and what we don't cover

Pet insurance usually does not cover preexisting conditions. Waiting for a diagnosis before you buy often means that condition is never covered.
You often pay the full bill up front and wait for reimbursement.
Hereditary and congenital exclusions, annual caps and "usual and customary" schedules can leave a big gap between the vet's bill and what you get back.
Some renewals reclassify a treated condition as preexisting and drop coverage for it.
We don't sell insurance, give quotes or rank pet insurers. We haven't found a free, republishable complaint-index data set just for pet insurers, so we don't score them. Check an underwriting company's record with your state insurance department or the NAIC Consumer Insurance Search.
The "what would I pay" check is arithmetic only. It can't tell you whether a claim is covered.

Sources & as-of dates

NAIC: Pet Insurance (consumer tip, published Feb. 1, 2018; page dateModified Jan. 16, 2024), checked October 13, 2026
NAIC Insurance Topics: Pet Insurance (last updated April 16, 2025), checked October 13, 2026
NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633), checked October 13, 2026
NAPHIA: 2025 State of the Industry news release (April 22, 2025; YE 2024 data), checked October 13, 2026
NAPHIA SOI 2025 Report Highlights (public PDF, April 22, 2025), checked October 13, 2026
Texas Dept. of Insurance: 5 questions to ask when buying pet insurance (last updated June 23, 2022), checked October 13, 2026
Mass.gov Division of Insurance: Pet Insurance, checked October 13, 2026
California Dept. of Insurance: Questions to Consider When Purchasing Pet Insurance, checked October 13, 2026
California Dept. of Insurance: Buying Pet Insurance, checked October 13, 2026

FAQ

What is pet insurance?

A policy that reimburses you for specified veterinary care after you pay the vet. The NAIC says plans list covered treatments, deductibles and lifetime or per-illness maximums.

Do pet insurance plans cover preexisting conditions?

Rarely. Texas's insurance department says preexisting conditions are rarely covered. California's DOI says treatment for a condition you already got advice or care for before enrolling usually isn't paid.

How long is the waiting period?

It depends on the policy and your state. The NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633) bans waiting periods for accidents, caps illness and orthopedic waits at 30 days, lets a vet exam waive them, and bans waiting periods on renewals — in states that adopt the model.

How much does pet insurance cost?

NAPHIA's YE 2024 U.S. averages for accident-and-illness coverage were $749.29/year for dogs and $386.47/year for cats. Those are industry averages, not a quote. Texas TDI (2022) said plans can range from under $10 to about $100 a month.

Do I have to use a network vet?

Most policies allow any vet (Texas TDI). Some require a network (NAIC; Mass.gov).

Is this insurance advice or a quote?

No. VaultRubric republishes facts from the NAIC, NAPHIA and state insurance departments with dates. We don't sell insurance or give quotes.

Facts, not insurance advice. We don't sell insurance or provide quotes; confirm coverage and requirements with the insurer, an agent or your state insurance department.