Pet Insurance Estimator
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Methodology

Every estimate on this site comes from the formula below and the public sources listed at the end of this page. We show ranges, never a single "price", because only an insurer can quote you.

Dataset version 2026.1 · data year 2026 · last reviewed 11/06/2026 · next review due 07/15/2027

1. The formula

typical annual premium = breed premium at your pet's age × state factor × plan factor (+ wellness add-on)

  • Breed premium at age. MoneyGeek publishes average annual premiums for 154 dog breeds and 29 cat breeds in four age bands, from quotes by 18 insurers. We use those figures directly. Between bands we interpolate on a log scale between representative ages: dogs 0.5 (puppy), 3 (young), 6 (middle), 10.5 (senior); cats 0.5 (kitten), 4 (young), 7 (middle), 12.5 (senior). Above the last band (dogs older than 13, cats older than 14) we keep the senior value and warn that it is probably low.
  • Breed not listed / mixed breed. We use the median of all breeds in each age band.
  • State factor. NAPHIA reports each state's share of US insured pets and of US pet insurance premium. Premium share ÷ pet share = the average premium per insured pet relative to the national average.
  • Plan factor. Accident-only = 0.311 for dogs and 0.344 for cats (MoneyGeek average accident-only dog premium ($19/month) divided by its average accident and illness dog premium ($61/month).). NAPHIA's 2025 averages give a lower ratio across all in-force policies: $190 / $836 for dogs (0.23) and $112 / $435 for cats (0.26).
  • Wellness add-on. A flat $31 a month for dogs and $29 for cats: the difference between MoneyGeek's average premiums with and without a wellness plan.

2. The policy we price

All estimates are for an accident and illness policy with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and a $5,000 annual limit, the reference profile behind the breed-level quotes. We do not adjust for other deductibles, reimbursement rates or limits: No public dataset isolates how the deductible, reimbursement rate or annual limit change the premium for the same pet. Estimates therefore use the reference profile ($500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, $5,000 annual limit). The claim payout calculator lets visitors test other options against a vet bill.

3. The range (low – high)

Low = the typical estimate reduced by the breed's published gap between the cheapest insurer and the average quote (MoneyGeek 'Cheapest insurer' tables). High = the typical estimate increased by the same percentage. The high end is a symmetric assumption: no public source reports the most expensive quote for the same profile. When a breed has no published figure we use the median gap: 42% for dogs and 44% for cats.

4. State factors in detail

NAPHIA rounds each share to one decimal place. For a state with 18.1% of insured pets that hardly matters; for a state with 0.1% it makes a ratio meaningless. So:

  • States with at least 1.0% of US insured pets get their own ratio.
  • States below 1.0% share the pooled ratio of the smaller states in their Census division:
    • New England: NH, ME, RI, VT → 2.1% of premium / 2.2% of pets = 0.95
    • West North Central: IA, KS, NE, ND, SD → 1.1% of premium / 1.4% of pets = 0.79
    • South Atlantic: DC, DE, WV → 0.9% of premium / 1% of pets = 0.9
    • East South Central: AL, KY, MS → 1% of premium / 1.4% of pets = 0.71
    • West South Central: LA, OK, AR → 0.9% of premium / 1.3% of pets = 0.69
    • Mountain: UT, ID, NM, MT, WY → 1.7% of premium / 2.1% of pets = 0.81
    • Pacific: HI, AK → 0.8% of premium / 0.8% of pets = 1

Limitations: the factor reflects the mix of dogs and cats and of plan types in each state, not only local vet prices, and NAPHIA's state distribution uses member data only. Each state page shows the rounding bounds for its factor.

5. Breed pages and health data

A breed gets its own page only when we have at least two pieces of breed-specific health evidence from published research (mostly peer-reviewed studies), plus registry or life-table data on lifespan. Breeds without enough evidence stay available in the calculator but have no page yet. Currently without a page: dogs — German Shorthaired Pointer, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Australian Shepherd, Cane Corso, Siberian Husky, Boston Terrier, Havanese, Shetland Sheepdog, Cocker Spaniel, Maltese, Mastiff, Shiba Inu, Belgian Malinois, Weimaraner, American Staffordshire Terrier, Vizsla; cats — British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, Exotic Shorthair, Abyssinian, Birman, Burmese.

  • Health evidence. Most comes from VetCompass studies of UK primary-care veterinary records (Royal Veterinary College), which compare a breed with crossbred dogs or cats. UK figures are the largest breed-level datasets available; US prevalence may differ.
  • Treatment costs. US cost ranges from MoneyGeek, MetLife Pet Insurance and a US specialty practice, where available. Where we found no reliable published US range, we say so instead of estimating one.
  • Lifespan and life stages. Dogs: AKC life expectancy ranges; senior = last 25% of expected lifespan (AAHA). Cats: UK life tables (Teng et al., 2024); senior = older than 10 (AAHA/AAFP).
  • Lifetime premiums. Sum of typical annual premiums from birth to the expected lifespan, at today's prices, with no inflation or state adjustment.
  • Breed size and similar breeds. Our classification from AKC weights: toy up to 12 lb, small up to 32 lb, medium up to 70 lb, large above 70 lb; giant = breeds included in the VetCompass giant-breed study. "Similar breeds" are matched on size, AKC group and price level.

6. State regulation

Model Act status and statute citations come from Compare Pet Coverage's 50-state review, which cites the NAIC's Summer 2026 tracker. Summaries of what the law requires come from the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act itself. Enacted laws can differ from the model in detail; each state page links to the official regulator.

7. What we do not do

  • We do not invent numbers. If a figure has no reliable source it is marked internally as missing and not shown.
  • We do not sell insurance, take commissions or accept payment from insurers. The site is funded by display advertising.
  • We do not adjust for ZIP code, your pet's medical history, multi-pet discounts or insurer-specific rules. Those can move a real quote well outside our range.

8. Annual update

We refresh the dataset once a year after NAPHIA publishes its State of the Industry report (usually in June): new national averages and state shares, a new pull of the breed premium tables, a review of state laws, and a check of every study and cost range. The changelog below lists each update.

  • : First dataset: NAPHIA State of the Industry 2026 (2025 data), MoneyGeek breed premiums (October 2026), VetCompass and other peer-reviewed breed health studies, NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act.

All sources

  1. Abadie J et al., Journal of Heredity (2009). Epidemiology, pathology, and genetics of histiocytic sarcoma in the Bernese mountain dog breed. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  2. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Data: 2023 guideline. Accessed 11/06/2026. States that the 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines define senior as 'the last 25% of estimated lifespan through end of life' and that the 2021 AAHA/AAFP feline guidelines define senior cats as older than 10 years.
  3. American Kennel Club (AKC). Dog breed pages (weight, life expectancy, group). Accessed 11/06/2026. Each breed record links to its own AKC page. Limitations: Life expectancy is the registry's stated range, not a measured median.
  4. Casamian-Sorrosal D et al., Journal of Small Animal Practice (2014). Prevalence and demographics of the MYBPC3-mutations in ragdolls and Maine coons in the British Isles. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Genetic test submissions, British Isles. Carrying the mutation is not the same as having heart disease.
  5. Charlesworth TM, Sturgess CP, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2012). Increased incidence of thoracic wall deformities in related Bengal kittens. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Kittens from related litters seen at vaccination; not a breed-wide prevalence.
  6. Chetboul V et al., Journal of Veterinary Cardiology (2012). Prospective echocardiographic and tissue Doppler screening of a large Sphynx cat population. Data: 114 Sphynx cats screened (France). Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Small screening population.
  7. Compare Pet Coverage. The State of Pet Insurance Regulation in America: A 50-State Review. Published 10/21/2026. Accessed 11/06/2026. Lists 17 states with NAIC Model Act adoptions and statute citations; cites the NAIC Summer 2026 tracker. Limitations: Secondary source. We list the statute citation it reports for each state; we did not read every enacted statute.
  8. Dale F et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2024). Demography, common disorders and mortality of Shih Tzu dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Data: 2,423 Shih Tzus reviewed, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  9. 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. Data: US veterinary teaching hospital records. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  10. Glickman LT et al., Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2000). Incidence of and breed-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs. Data: Prospective study of large and giant breed dogs recruited at US dog shows. Accessed 11/07/2026.
  11. Glickman LT et al., Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2000). Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs. Accessed 11/07/2026.
  12. Kent MS et al., PLoS One (2018). Association of cancer-related mortality, age and gonadectomy in golden retriever dogs at a veterinary academic center (1989-2016). Data: Necropsies 1989-2016, US veterinary academic center. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Referral-hospital necropsy population, not the general Golden Retriever population.
  13. Lyons LA et al., Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2004). Feline polycystic kidney disease mutation identified in PKD1. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  14. Mary J et al., Journal of Veterinary Cardiology (2010). Prevalence of the MYBPC3-A31P mutation in a large European feline population and association with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Maine Coon breed. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: European screening population.
  15. Mattin MJ et al., Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2015). Prevalence of and risk factors for degenerative mitral valve disease in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Data: 111,967 dogs, VetCompass (England). Accessed 11/06/2026.
  16. Meek K et al., Genes (2022). Identification of a Hypomorphic FANCG Variant in Bernese Mountain Dogs. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  17. MetLife Pet Insurance. Bloat in Dogs: Warning Signs, Causes, & Surgery Cost. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Insurer content; range depends on location and severity.
  18. MoneyGeek. How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?. Published 10/14/2026. Accessed 11/06/2026. Tables of average monthly and annual premiums by dog and cat breed for four age bands; averages by plan type. Limitations: Quotes from 18 insurers, extrapolated across profiles with AI assistance according to MoneyGeek. Reference profile: $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement. Exact age used in the middle-aged dog table is not stated on the page (methodology uses age 6 for dogs, 7 for cats).
  19. MoneyGeek. Pet Insurance Methodology. Published 04/24/2026. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Describes the reference profiles (6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll; $5,000 limit, $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement) and the provider set.
  20. MoneyGeek. Best Dog Insurance. Accessed 11/06/2026. Table 'Cheapest Dog Insurer' by breed with % savings on the breed average; table of average vet cost ranges for common dog conditions. Limitations: Cost ranges are MoneyGeek's published ranges; the page does not detail how each range was compiled.
  21. MoneyGeek. Best Cat Insurance. Accessed 11/06/2026. Table 'Cheapest Cat Insurer' by breed with % savings on the breed average; table of average vet cost ranges for common cat conditions. Limitations: Cost ranges are MoneyGeek's published ranges; the page does not detail how each range was compiled.
  22. MoneyGeek. Pet insurance deductible, reimbursement and annual limit guides. Accessed 11/06/2026. Provider-by-provider tables of deductible options, reimbursement rates (https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/pet/coverage/reimbursement/) and annual limits (https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/pet/coverage/annual-limits/). Limitations: Lists options offered, not prices for each option.
  23. MoneyGeek. Best Pet Insurance for Senior Cats. Accessed 11/07/2026. Coverage feature comparison table (exam fees, curable conditions, chronic illnesses) for five insurers.
  24. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Pet Insurance Model Act (MO-633). Published 08/13/2022. Data: Adopted Summer 2022. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: A model law. It only has legal force in states that enact it; enacted versions can differ.
  25. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Insurance Department Directory. Accessed 11/06/2026. Official websites of state insurance regulators. Five regulators (VA, WA, WV, WI, WY) were confirmed directly on their own official sites.
  26. North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), compiled by Willis Towers Watson. State of the Industry Report 2026 (Highlights). Published 06/21/2026. Data: Calendar year 2025 (in-force data as at 12/31/2025). Accessed 11/06/2026. Public highlights PDF. Average annual premiums: Section 4, p. 22. State distribution of insured pets and premium: Section 5, p. 26. Limitations: Averages are across all in-force policies, so they mix ages, breeds, deductibles and limits. State distribution uses NAPHIA member data only and is rounded to one decimal place.
  27. O'Neill DG et al., BMC Veterinary Research (2020). Demography and commonly recorded clinical conditions of Chihuahuas under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2016. Data: VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  28. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (2016). The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. Data: 210,824 dogs, VetCompass (England), 2009-2014. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  29. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (2017). Corneal ulcerative disease in dogs under primary veterinary care in England: epidemiology and clinical management. Data: 104,233 dogs, VetCompass (England), 2013. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  30. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (2017). Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Data: VetCompass (UK). Accessed 11/06/2026.
  31. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (2017). Rottweilers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Data: 5,321 Rottweilers, VetCompass (UK). Accessed 11/06/2026.
  32. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2020). Epidemiology and clinical management of elbow joint disease in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Data: 455,069 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2013. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  33. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2021). Frequency and predisposing factors for canine otitis externa in the UK - a primary veterinary care epidemiological view. Data: 22,333 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  34. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2021). French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study. Data: 2,781 French Bulldogs vs 21,850 other dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  35. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2022). Frequency, breed predispositions and other demographic risk factors for diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Data: 905,553 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  36. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2022). Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections. Data: 4,308 Pugs vs 21,835 other dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  37. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2022). English Bulldogs in the UK: a VetCompass study of their disorder predispositions and protections. Data: 2,662 English Bulldogs vs 22,039 other dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  38. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2023). Dog breeds and conformations predisposed to osteosarcoma in the UK: a VetCompass study. Data: 905,552 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  39. O'Neill DG et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics (2023). Demography, common disorders and mortality of Boxer dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Data: 3,219 Boxers, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  40. O'Neill DG et al., Companion Animal Health and Genetics (2025). Yorkshire Terriers under primary veterinary care in the UK - demography and disorders. Data: 3,308 Yorkshire Terriers reviewed, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  41. O'Neill DG et al., Companion Animal Health and Genetics (2025). Beagles kept as companion animals in the UK - demography, disorders and mortality. Data: 3,729 Beagles reviewed, VetCompass (UK), 2019. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  42. 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. Data: 28,345 giant-breed dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2019. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  43. O'Neill DG et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2023). Periodontal disease in cats under primary veterinary care in the UK: frequency and risk factors. Data: VetCompass (UK), 2019. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  44. O'Neill DG et al., Journal of Small Animal Practice (2021). Epidemiology of periodontal disease in dogs in the UK primary-care veterinary setting. Data: 22,333 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  45. O'Neill DG et al., PLoS One (2025). Conformational eyelid disorders in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK - Epidemiology and clinical management. Data: 2,250,417 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2019. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  46. O'Neill DG et al., Scientific Reports (2019). Persian cats under first opinion veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. Data: 3,235 Persians, VetCompass (UK), 2013. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  47. Packer RMA et al., Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (2016). DachsLife 2015: an investigation of lifestyle associations with the risk of intervertebral disc disease in Dachshunds. Data: Owner survey of 2,031 Dachshunds, 2015 (UK). Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Owner-reported survey.
  48. Packer RMA et al., PLoS One (2013). How long and low can you go? Effect of conformation on the risk of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion in domestic dogs. Data: 700 dogs at a UK referral hospital. Accessed 11/07/2026. Limitations: Referral-hospital population.
  49. Pegram C et al., Scientific Reports (2021). Disorder predispositions and protections of Labrador Retrievers in the UK. Data: 1,462 Labradors vs 20,786 other dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  50. Schofield I et al., Journal of Small Animal Practice (2021). Hypoadrenocorticism in dogs under UK primary veterinary care: frequency, clinical approaches and risk factors. Data: 905,543 dogs, VetCompass (UK), 2016. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  51. Southeast Veterinary Neurology. How Much Does IVDD Surgery Cost for Dogs?. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: All-in estimate from one US specialty neurology practice (Florida), including imaging, surgery and hospitalization.
  52. Stephens MJ et al., Veterinary Record (2014). Feline hyperthyroidism reported in primary-care veterinary practices in England: prevalence, associated factors and spatial distribution. Data: 95,629 cats, VetCompass (England), 2009-2011. Accessed 11/06/2026.
  53. Teng KT et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2024). Life tables of annual life expectancy and risk factors for mortality in cats in the UK. Published 05/08/2024. Data: VetCompass UK, 2019. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: UK primary-care population; breed estimates for some breeds rest on fewer than 100 deaths.
  54. Ward MP, Patronek GJ, Glickman LT, Preventive Veterinary Medicine (2003). Benefits of prophylactic gastropexy for dogs at risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus. Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: Lifetime risk modeled from published US incidence and longevity data.
  55. Wess G et al., Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2010). Prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers in various age groups. Data: 412 Doberman Pinschers, prospective cohort (Germany). Accessed 11/06/2026. Limitations: European screening cohort.
  56. Witsberger TH et al., Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2008). Prevalence of and risk factors for hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament deficiency in dogs. Data: 1,243,681 dogs, Veterinary Medical Database (US), 1964-2003. Accessed 11/06/2026.

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