12 Most Affordable Pet Insurance Brands for Low-Income Dog Owners (2024)

With vet bills reaching an all-time high and bank accounts hitting all-time lows, more and more people are turning to pet insurance to help pay for both routine and unexpected medical expenses for their dogs.

The problem? For many Americans, even that relatively low monthly premium is out of their price range. Unfortunately, you won’t find any free pet insurance for low-income dog owners, even if you’re on SNAP. Take heart, though; that doesn’t mean it’s not possible to find one that fits into your budget.

Below, we will cover 12 affordable pet insurance companies, including pros and cons, age restrictions, deductible amounts, money-back guarantees, monthly premium amounts, multi-pet discounts and waiting periods.

Most Affordable Pet Insurance for Low Income Dog Owners

One thing to keep in mind as you scroll through this list: the “plans start at” price depends on a ton of different factors, including your dog’s breed, size, age, current health, and even your zip code. It also depends on which deductible and reimbursem*nt limits/percentage you choose. If you’re going for the lowest deductible and the highest reimbursem*nt, your monthly premium could end up being significantly higher than that starting price.

I suggest playing around with the quote generator for each company until you can find a plan that works with your budget. Just make sure you don’t sacrifice too much in terms of deductibles and reimbursem*nt rates to save a few bucks upfront. It doesn’t really make sense to save $3 a month now only to end up paying $1,000 on a deductible later.

Last, before we start, let’s quickly go over a few of the key terms you’ll need to know while you explore your options. Then, we’ll just jump right in, starting with the cheapest option of all.

Pet Insurance Key Terms to Know

• Age Restrictions– the minimum and the maximum age (if any) required.
• Deductible– the amount you are responsible for paying before any insurance benefits are available to you and the amount will depend on the plan that you choose.
• Money-Back Guarantee– you will get a full refund for premiums you cancel your policy within the allotted time.
• Pre-existing conditions-medical conditions that your dog already has.
• Reimbursem*nt limits:the total maximum amount that they’ll pay per year.
• Reimbursem*nt percentage: how much of your total bill that they’ll cover. Typically ranges from 70-90%.
• Waiting Period– the amount of time that needs to pass, from the time you enroll, before coverage for accidents and illnesses kicks in.

You may also want to check out:Should You Buy Dog Health Insurance?

1. ASPCA Pet Insurance

As one of the oldest pet insurance providers in the United States, the ASPCA– (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has been offering pet insurance since 1997. They are headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start as low as $8 a month depending on which options you choose in terms of deductibles, coverage, and so on.

Pros

• All pets are eligible regardless of health conditions. See con, though.
• It Covers behavioral therapies and dental issues.
• Coverage includes prescription medications.

Cons

• Claims are processed in 30 days or less.
• A waiting period of 14 days for accidents.
• While all pets are eligible, ASPCA insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. In other words, your diabetic dog qualifies for insurance, but not for care related to diabetes itself if the condition began prior to starting your insurance.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 8 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $100, $250 or $500.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 10%
• Waiting Periods– 14 days for both accident and illness coverage.

Check out the video below for a quick overview and review of ASPCA pet insurance:

2. Embrace

Embrace Pet Insurance came about in 2003 after winning the Wharton Business Plan Competition, a comprehensive, 7-month competition to help entrepreneurs and their teams launch their new business ideas. They were rated the #1 Pet Insurance Provider in America for 2022 by Forbes. Embrace is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Basic coverage starts at $14 per month for insurance on dogs.

Pros

• Includes hospitalization.
• Vet exam fees are covered.
• Deductible goes down by $50 when you go 12 months without filing a claim.

Cons

• Charges a $25 enrollment fee.
• Does not provide reimbursem*nt for prescription food and supplements.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– 6 weeks to 14 years of age.
• Deductible Amounts– $200, $300, $500, $750 or $1,000.
• Money Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 10%
• Waiting Periods– 2 days for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage.

Embrace does a great job of explaining the ins and outs of their dog insurance in the video below:

3. Fetch (AKA PetPlan)

Quick history lesson: Fetch used to be called PetPlan. The Dodo bought PetPlan in 2020. Regardless of what you want to call it, this pet insurance company is nearly 20 years old. It was founded in 2003, as PetPlan, by husband and wife entrepreneurs- Chris and Natasha Ashton- after they were tired of experiencing high vet bills. They are the only pet insurance recommended by The Dodo, the #1 animal brand in the world (which I guess makes sense since they own it, but I also imagine they wouldn’t have bought it if they didn’t love it). They are headquartered in New York City, New York.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans average about $35 a month for dog insurance.

Pros

• Pays your vet directly, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of dealing with reimbursem*nts.
• Provides discounts for paying premiums quarterly (10%) or annually (20%) instead of monthly.
• Reduces your premiums by up to 30% if you don’t file a claim for at least 12 months.

Cons

• Dogs must have annual health and dental check-ups for coverage to apply.
• A rather long claim processing time compared to other plans (15 days).

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 6 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $250 to $1,000.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– None
• Waiting Periods– 15 days for both accident and illness coverage.

4. Figo

Figohas been providing pet insurance since 2012. They are part of Google’s Tech Hub Network, so they offer their pet owner customers several interactive and intuitive tools utilizing the most up-to-date apps, software and tech avenues. Figo Pet Insurance is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start as low as $20 per month.

Pros

• Covers behavioral therapies.
• Pet cloud app helps you find suitable local services.
• Visit any licensed vet in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Cons

• Charges a $2 monthly service fee unless you pay annually.
• Vet exam fees are not covered.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 8 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000.
• Money Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 5%
• Waiting Periods– 1 day for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage.

Learn more about cloud-based FIGO pet insurance in the video below:

5. Hartville

Hartville Pet Insurance launched in 1997 and is one of the original pet insurance providers. In 2006, they became the only partner of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in the pet insurance industry. Hartville Pet Insurance is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans average from $8 to $80 a month.

Pros

• Accident and illness coverage for pets of any age.
• Conditions that are free of symptoms and treatments for 180 days prior to enrollment are not considered pre-existing.
• Visit any licensed vet in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cons

• A $2 monthly service fee is charged unless you pay annually.
• Claims may take up to 30 days to be processed.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 8 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $100, $250 or $500.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 10%
• Waiting Periods– 14 days for both accident and illness coverage.

6. Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws is an independently-owned pet insurance company and was founded in 2009 by Rob Jackson and Steve Siadek, who met through a local no-kill animal shelter. They are headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start at $20 per month for insurance on dogs.

Pros

• Claims only take up to 2 days to be processed.
• Covers alternative therapies (acupuncture, chiropractic care, and hydrotherapy).
• Pays your vet directly.

Cons

• Charges a $25 enrollment fee.
• Exam fees are not covered.
• Other things you need to know

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– 8 weeks to 14 years of age.
• Deductible Amounts– $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000.
• Money Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– None
• Waiting Periods– 15 days for both accident and illness coverage.

Learn more about the enrollment process for Healthy Paws:

7. Lemonade

Lemonade is fairly new to the pet insurance industry, launching in July of 2020. However, they started offering car, homeowners, renters, and life insurance since 2015. They are headquartered in New York City, New York.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start as low as $10 a month.

Pros

• Donates up to 40% of customers’ leftover premiums to the charity of your choosing. (Note: In 2021, $2,303,381.24 was donated to 65 different charities)
• Provides a preventative care plan specifically designed for puppies.
• Will give you a 10% discount when you bundle your pet insurance with homeowners or renter insurance.

Cons

• Does not cover behavioral issue treatments.
• Only available in 36 states- (Not available in Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming).

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– 8 weeks to 14 years of age.
• Deductible Amounts– $100, $250 or $500.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 14 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 5%
• Waiting Periods– 2 days for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage.

8. MetLife

MetLife (AKA- PetFirst- PetFirst was acquired by MetLife in 2020) was founded in 2004 as PetFirst, a fast-growing pet health insurance administrator. They are headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start at $15 per month for dog insurance.

Pros

• 80% of claims are processed within 10 days.
• Offers grief counseling after the death of your pet.
• Visit any licensed vet nationwide.

Cons

• 6-month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues and intervertebral disc disease.
• Does not cover services, supplies or treatments provided outside the United States.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 8 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $50, $100, $250 or $500.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 14 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 10%
• Waiting Periods– Midnight (EST) as of the date of enrollment for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage.

Check out the video below to learn more about MetLife pet insurance and their new MyPets Rewards Program:

9. Nationwide Pet Insurance

Nationwideformerly known as Veterinary Pet Insurance, offered the first pet health insurance policy in 1982. Today, they insure over 1.1 million pets. Nationwide Pet Insurance is headquartered in Brea, California.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start at $22 a month.

Pros

• Covers vet exam fees.
• Provides a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
• Provides pet insurance for not only cats and dogs, but also for birds and exotic animals as well.

Cons

• A $2 monthly service fee is charged unless you pay annually.
• No coverage available for end-of-life expenses.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– 8 weeks to 10 years of age.
• Deductible Amounts– $100 or $250.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 10 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 5% for 2^nd and 3^rd pets and 10% for 4+ pets.
• Waiting Periods– 14 days for both accident and illness coverage.

Learn more about how it works below:

10. Pets Best

Pets Best has been supplying pet owners with affordable pet insurance policies since 2005. They are headquartered in Boise, Idaho.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans average from $19 to $62 per month.

Pros

• Coverage provided for prosthetics and wheelchairs.
• Pays your vet directly.
• Visit any licensed vet in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Cons

• No coverage available for end-of-life expenses.
• Policies cannot be adjusted until your next renewal date.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 7 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000.
• Money Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 5%
• Waiting Periods– 3 days for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage.

Check out the video below to learn a bit more about this dog insurance brand:

11. Spot Pet Insurance

Spot offers digital pet insurance on dogs as well as cats. Insurance plans from Spot are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. Established in 1822, the United States Fire Insurance Company began underwriting pet insurance policies in 2006. Spot Pet Insurance is headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Standard plan starts at $29 a month.

Pros

• 24/7 telehealth helpline available.
• Claim processing times average 10 to 14 days.
• Includes coverage for microchip implantation and vet exam fees.

Cons

• Does not have customer service available on weekends.
• Does not cover prescription pet food.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– Minimum of 8 weeks old with no upper age limits.
• Deductible Amounts– $100 to $500.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– 10%
• Waiting Periods– 14 days for both accident and illness coverage.

12. Trupanion Pet Insurance

Trupanion was first founded in 2000 as a company known as Vet Insurance. By 2004, Trupanion had become the first profitable pet insurer in North America. You’ll find their headquarters in Seattle, Washington.

Monthly Premium Amounts

Plans start at $59 per month for insurance on dogs. While that’s on the higher end, the pros make it worthwhile, especially if you have older dogs.

Pros

• No age restriction for hip dysplasia. Considering the cost of medicine alone for treating the condition, that makes the higher premium worth it.
• Offers enrollment from the day your pet is born.
• Pays your vet directly.

Cons

• Charges a $25 enrollment fee.
• Does not cover vet exam fees.

Other things you need to know

• Age Restrictions– From birth to 14 years of age.
• Deductible Amounts– $0 to $1,000.
• Money-Back Guarantees– 30 days.
• Multi-Pet Discounts– None
• Waiting Periods– 5 days for accident coverage and 30 days for illness coverage.

Watch the video below to learn more about what Trupanion covers:

More Ways to Save Money on Veterinarian Bills

While the above dog insurance companies are affordable and will help save you some money, the tips below will help you save even more money on your dog’s veterinarian bills.

Maintain an exercise routine for your dog

Did you know that nearly 30% of all dogs in the United States are obese? Make sure you walk your pooch on a regular basis, about 30 minutes every day. Keeping your dog in good shape helps reduce the frequency of future vet visits.

Keep up with your dog’s annual physical exam

By taking your dog in for their standard annual physical exam, you’ll help with early detection of conditions or diseases your dog may have. This, in turn, can help save you hundreds- and even thousands- of dollars on future vet visits. Remember, it’s significantly cheaper to prevent a condition than it is to treat it.

Take your dog for their vaccinations

Keeping your dog vaccinated helps prevent an array of diseases and illnesses. Vaccinations can also help you avoid costly treatments for diseases and illnesses that may have been prevented. There are 4 core vaccines that are vital for your dog to have- canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus, distemper, and rabies. Check out our vaccination schedule for puppies and dogs to learn more.

Prevent parasites from invading your dog

You can help prevent fleas, ticks and other parasites from getting on your dog with a prevention program, which helps keep fleas, lice, ticks, and worms at bay. These normally come in the form of a monthly pill and most of them provide your dog with protection against several invaders at once. Along with helping you save money on future vet visits, these treatments will keep your dog comfortable, happy and healthy.

When you’re struggling to pay your bills, pet insurance can feel like a waste of money. Believe me, I empathize. Even if you can only swing the absolute bare minimum, though, it’s worth it. No, a high deductible and low reimbursem*nt may not help you out much when it comes to minor illnesses and routine visits. However, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that if tragedy strikes and your dog needs an expensive surgery, you won’t have to make a devastating choice between your dog or your rent. That peace of mind alone is worth $8 a month.

Do you have pet insurance for your dog? What company do you use? How do you save money on the premium? Share below!