Saint Bernard insurance cost
A 3-year-old Saint Bernard typically costs $70 a month to insure, with a likely range of $39–$102. Expect about $68 for a puppy and $121 at age 7. That is 96% more than the median dog breed.
Estimates only, not a quote. Not financial or veterinary advice. Full disclaimer.
Estimate for your Saint Bernard
$70 /month typical
Likely range $39–$102 a month ($464–$1,222 a year)
- Average dog premium at the reference age$52.83/mo
- Age 3 years×0.68
- Saint Bernard×1.96
- National average (no state selected)×1.00
- Accident & illness plan×1.00
Estimates only, not a quote. Not financial or veterinary advice. Based on a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and $5,000 annual limit. Actual prices depend on the insurer, ZIP code and your pet's history.
Monthly cost by age
| Age | Typical | Likely range | All-breed median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (6 months) | $68 | $37–$98 | $35 |
| Young adult (3 years) | $70 | $39–$102 | $36 |
| Middle-aged (6 years) | $104 | $57–$150 | $53 |
| Senior (7 years) | $121 | $67–$176 | $64 |
Saint Bernards rank 149 of 154 dog breeds by price in the quote data (1 = cheapest), in the most expensive quarter. Between age 3 and 7 the typical premium rises 1.7-fold. AAHA guidelines treat dogs as seniors in the last 25% of their expected lifespan, which for a Saint Bernard (AKC life expectancy 8–10 years) starts around age 6.8. Add your state in the calculator above: state prices range from about 31% below to 18% above the national average.
Why a Saint Bernard costs more to insure
Saint Bernards had one of the shortest median ages at death among giant breeds in UK records, 6.76 years. Their documented risks are eyelid disorders, where they rank near the top of all breeds, and cruciate ligament rupture in young dogs. With a short expected lifespan the senior bracket starts early, so the age you enroll has an outsized effect on lifetime cost.
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Entropion and ectropion (eyelid disorders) Higher risk
Saint Bernards had 31.56 times the odds of entropion compared with crossbred dogs, and the second-highest prevalence of ectropion of any breed (1.72%). [source]
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Cruciate ligament tear (ACL/CCL) Higher risk
A US study of young dogs found a breed predisposition to cranial cruciate ligament rupture in Saint Bernards. [source]
Typical US treatment cost: $5,459–$12,738. On a $9,099 bill, a $500 deductible / 80% / $5,000 policy would pay $5,000 (capped by the annual limit). Read the guide
No treatment cost shown for entropion and ectropion (eyelid disorders): we have not found a reliable published US cost range yet, and we do not estimate one ourselves. Ask your vet for a written estimate.
Lifetime cost: insurance vs paying the vet yourself
Insuring a Saint Bernard from puppyhood to an expected lifespan of about 9 years adds up to roughly $10,329 in typical premiums at today's prices (national average, accident and illness, no inflation). Compare that with what a single episode of this breed's documented conditions can cost:
| Condition | Cost range | Policy pays at midpoint* | Years of premiums |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruciate ligament tear (ACL/CCL) | $5,459–$12,738 | $5,000 | 10.8 |
*$500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, $5,000 annual limit, first claim of the year. "Years of premiums" = midpoint cost divided by the typical annual premium at age 3. Insurance is a hedge: most years you pay more in premiums than you claim, and a policy pays off in the years with a large bill. If you could pay the bills in this table from savings without hardship, self-insuring can make sense; see is pet insurance worth it?
Which coverage fits a Saint Bernard
- Accident and illness, not accident-only. NAPHIA lists ligament tears among the benefits of accident-only plans, so a cruciate tear may be covered by one; check the wording. The other conditions documented for Saint Bernards are illnesses or degenerative problems, which accident-only plans do not cover. Accident-only costs about 31% as much in the quote data.
- An annual limit above $5,000. The published cost range for cruciate ligament tear (acl/ccl) goes up to $12,738. A limit of $15,000 or unlimited would cover the top of that range in a single year.
- Orthopedic waiting period. Cruciate ligament tear (ACL/CCL) counts as orthopedic under the NAIC Model Act, which allows waiting periods of up to 30 days for orthopedic conditions not caused by an accident in states that adopted it. Elsewhere, each insurer sets its own orthopedic waiting period, so compare them.
- Enroll early. Anything noted in your dog's records before coverage starts can be excluded as pre-existing. Premiums for a Saint Bernard are $70 a month at age 3 versus $121 at 7 in the quote data.
Similar breeds
- Bullmastiff $73/mo
- Great Dane $67/mo
- Bernese Mountain Dog $73/mo
- Dogue de Bordeaux $74/mo
- Newfoundland $62/mo
Related guides
- TPLO and ACL surgery cost for dogs
- How to choose a pet insurance annual limit
- Pet insurance for senior dogs
- Pre-existing conditions and pet insurance
- Accident-only vs accident and illness pet insurance
Frequently asked questions
How much is pet insurance for a Saint Bernard?
About $70 a month for a 3-year-old Saint Bernard (likely $39–$102), $68 for a puppy and $121 at age 7, for an accident and illness policy with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and $5,000 limit, before any state adjustment.
Is a Saint Bernard expensive to insure?
At the reference age of 6, a Saint Bernard costs 96% more than the median dog breed in our data, and ranks 149 of 154 breeds from cheapest to most expensive. The main driver in the research is entropion and ectropion (eyelid disorders).
Does pet insurance cover entropion and ectropion in Saint Bernards?
Accident and illness policies generally cover it if it was not present, treated or showing signs before the policy started or during the waiting period; that is the NAIC Model Act definition of a pre-existing condition. Policies that exclude hereditary or congenital conditions must say so in their disclosures.
At what age is a Saint Bernard a senior, and what happens to the price?
AAHA guidelines define a senior dog as one in the last 25% of its expected lifespan. With an AKC life expectancy of 8–10 years, that is about age 6.8 for a Saint Bernard. In the quote data its premium at 7 is 1.7 times the price at age 3.
How much does it cost to insure a Saint Bernard for life?
If you insure from puppyhood to an expected lifespan of about 9 years, typical premiums add up to roughly $10,329 at today's prices (no inflation, no state adjustment). Premiums usually rise over time, so the real figure is likely higher.
Breed facts: AKC Saint Bernard page (Working Group; weight 140-180 pounds (male), 120-140 pounds (female); life expectancy 8-10 years).
Sources
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- American Kennel Club (AKC). Dog breed pages (weight, life expectancy, group). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- Duval JM et al., Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (1999). Breed, sex, and body weight as risk factors for rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament in young dogs. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. Best Dog Insurance. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (10/14/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. Pet Insurance Methodology (04/24/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Pet Insurance Model Act (MO-633) (08/13/2022). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- O'Neill DG et al., Companion Animal Health and Genetics (2026). Giant dog breeds under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, common disorders and mortality. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- O'Neill DG et al., PLoS One (2025). Conformational eyelid disorders in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK - Epidemiology and clinical management. Accessed 11/06/2026.
Full list, limitations and how each figure is used: methodology.
Data last reviewed: · How we estimate