If you are sad, get a pet. Yes, you read that right. Pets are great for providing unconditional love, joy, and companionship.
But let’s not forget about the most important part of pet ownership: responsibility.
Bitter, but yeah, it’s true that pets get old, just like us. And dogs are no exception.
And as our beloved pets age, they become more prone to health issues. Of course, no one would like to see their pup suffer.
So what should one do? Pretty simple; get dog insurance.
If you have pet insurance, there’s no reason to worry about anything. But with so many companies out there, how do you know which is the best for your senior pup?
Fear not, as I did a lot of research and compiled a list of the industry’s leading companies that offer pet insurance for older dogs.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet Insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides financial assistance for medical care and treatments for your pet.
It works the same way as human health insurance, with the policyholder paying a monthly or yearly premium, making claims for eligible treatments and services, and being reimbursed.
Now let’s move over to the main topic.
Best Pet Insurance For Older Dogs 2023
Whenever we type “pet insurance for older dogs” on google, hundreds of companies pop up in the search results.
But which one is best?
As a newbie, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
That’s why I did the hard work for you and picked out some of the best pet insurance companies that offer state of the art coverage for senior dogs.
Here goes:
1. Spot Pet Insurance
One of the most popular and trusted pet insurance companies, Spot Pet Insurance offers various plans that cover accidents and illness.
Among them, the two most popular plans include Gold Platinum Care and Platinum Care, which provide coverage for routine check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive care.
The spot insurance also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, meaning you can cancel your policy within 30 days of signing up and receive a full refund if you are not satisfied with the policy.
Plus, they also offer discounts if you enroll multiple pets in their plan.
Pros
- 1.Flexible plans: Spot offers two different plans allowing you to choose the coverage that best suits your pet's needs and budget.
- 2.Excellent customer service: Spot's customer service team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide support.
- 3.30-day money-back guarantee: Spot offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try out their services risk-free.
- 4.Discounts: If you insure multiple pets, Spot offers discounts that can save you a lot of bucks.
Cons
- 1.Pre-existing conditions: Like most pet insurance plans, Spot does not cover pre-existing conditions.
- 2.Limited to cats and dogs: Unlike most insurance companies, Spot's insurance plans are only available for cats and dogs.
Pricing:
Price is always a concern for insurance buyers. Spot’s plans are competitively pricier, starting at $37/month for dog insurance.
2.Lemonade
Another popular name in the insurance world that takes the second spot is Lemonade.
Lemonade is known for its affordability and its ability to provide coverage for a wide range of pet breeds, including senior dogs.
Their policy also offers coverage for a wide range of accidents and illnesses. Plus, some coverages such as behavioral conditions, dental illness, physical therapy, and vet visits are also available as add-ons.
Pros
- 1.Affordable: Lemonade's plans are quite affordable and start from just $20/month for dog insurance.
- 2.2 day waiting period for accident coverage: Lemonade has a very short 2-day waiting period for all accidents, which works in your favor.
- 3.Wide range of coverage: Lemonade offers a wide range of coverage for both accidents and illnesses.
Cons
- 1.Pre-existing conditions: Lemonade does not cover pre-existing conditions, just like most other pet insurance companies.
- 2.Limited Availability: Lemonade's pet insurance plans are only available in certain states; from my research, they are only available in 37 states.
Pricing:
As mentioned earlier, Lemonade’s plans are quite affordable and start from just $20/month for dog insurance.
3.Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion Pet Insurance is another top pet insurance option for older dogs. The company offers comprehensive coverage for accidents, illnesses, and hereditary conditions, with no payout limits.
It also covers breed specific conditions.
Trupanion has flexible deductible options, allowing you to customize the plan according to your needs. Deductible ranges from $0 to $1,000.
Yes, $0 is correct but the lower the deductible, the higher the cost of your premiums.
Pros
- 1.Flexible deductible options: Trupanion allows you to choose a deductible between $0 and $1,000.
- 2.Covers breed-specific conditions: Trupanion covers most inherited conditions that affect senior dogs.
- 3.No payout limits: Trupanion offers insurance plans with no payout limits, meaning they'll cover whatever costs you incur up to your policy limit. Yes, this is true. Sounds great, doesn't it?
Cons
- 1.High premiums: The only downside to this insurance is that the premiums can be quite high, depending on the deductible you choose and other factors.
- 2.Exclusions: Trupanion also has a few exclusions; for example, it does not cover exam fees or offers a wellness plan.
Pricing:
Trupanion’s plans are pricier than most pet insurance companies, starting from $70/month. That being said, if you have a senior pet who needs extensive care, the cost of Trupanion’s plan may be truly worth it.
4.Embrace Pet Insurance
If you still have not chosen a pet insurance plan for your senior dog, Embrace Pet Insurance is another choice.
Embrace offers a wide range of coverage options for senior dogs, and the most common plan will cover accidents, and illnesses, just like any other insurance company in the market.
A plus point about embrace insurance is the two day waiting period for accident coverage, which is shorter than most pet insurance companies. As far as illness coverage is concerned, their waiting period is around 14 days.
It does not cover routine care, such as vaccination and other preventive treatments.
Pros
- 1.Short waiting period for accident coverage: Embrace offers a 2-day waiting period for accident coverage, which sets it apart from the other pet insurance companies.
- 2.Mobile app based claims: With embrace insurance, you don't have to stress about paperwork. You can easily file a claim through their mobile app.
- 3.Decreased deductible for not filing frequent claims: If you don't file a single claim in a year, your deductible will decrease by $50. Yes, this is true.
Cons
- 1.Does not cover routine care: Embrace's plans do not cover routine care, such as vaccinations and preventive treatments.
- 2.Long waiting period for orthopedic injuries: Embrace's waiting period for orthopedic injuries is around six months, which is too long.
Pricing:
If you decide to go with embrace insurance, you can expect to pay around $30/month for your senior dog.
5.ASPCA Pet Insurance
Last but not least, we have ASPCA Pet Insurance. Like any other insurance company, they offer a variety of plans for senior dogs, including accident and illness coverage. They also cover chronic, congenital, and breed-specific conditions.
A strong insurance group (The Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group) backs ASPCA pet insurance which means you can go for it with your eyes closed.
They also offer horse insurance, which differentiates them from most insurance companies.
The only downside of ASPCA insurance is their 30 days long claim processing time. Other than that, there’s no reason why you should not be buying ASPCA pet insurance for your senior friend.
Pros
- 1. Multi-Pet Discount: Yes, ASPCA offers a 10% discount if you insure multiple pets with them.
- 2.24/7 customer support: ASPCA has 24/7 customer support that is always there to help you out with any queries you may have.
- 3.Offers horse insurance: ASPCA is one of the few pet insurance companies that offer horse insurance, so yes, you can insure your horses with them as well.
Cons
- 1.Long Claim Processing Time: ASPCA takes around 30 days for their claim processing time, which is longer than the other pet insurance companies.
Price
ASPCA pet insurance plans start at $35/month.
Note: All the prices I have mentioned are merely an estimate and are, to the best of my knowledge. The exact prices may vary.
So this was it. The top 5 pet insurance companies for your senior dog. Now all you have to do is make a choice and go ahead with it.
Wrapping Up
So, lemme conclude this article by saying that every single insurance company I mentioned is the best in its own way.
It all comes down to your preference and budget. Go through each plan’s details carefully and pick the best one that suits your needs.
With this guide, I believe you will make a wise decision, and your senior dog will be happy, healthy, and safe with the help of an appropriate pet insurance plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, pet insurance for senior dogs can be more expensive than for younger ones because they are more likely to suffer from health problems. However, considering its benefits, it is still worth the cost.
Without any second thought, yes. Insurance can come in handy in case of unexpected medical expenses or if your senior dog develops any serious health issues. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Well, it depends on the plan you choose and, most importantly, the company you are insuring with. While some companies may cover pre-existing conditions, others may not. The best you can do is ask the company before buying a plan.