Almost 50% of dogs over age 10 will develop cancer during their lifetime, and treatment costs average $4,341, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. These numbers make pet insurance a crucial option to think about if you have a senior dog.Almost 50% of dogs over age 10 will develop cancer
Getting the right coverage for older pets brings its own set of challenges. A 12-year-old dog’s insurance typically runs between $200 to $500 monthly, and many providers set age limits or restrict coverage options. Our research of 11 different insurance plans shows .the average senior pet insurance costs $327 monthly
Let’s explore what you need to know about protecting your aging companion. We’ll help you understand when your dog becomes a senior and find affordable coverage that gives real protection during your pet’s golden years.
When is a dog considered a senior?
Your dog’s senior status is vital to finding the right pet insurance coverage. Dogs don’t have fixed retirement ages like humans do. They reach their golden years at different ages based on several factors.
Age ranges by breed and size
A dog’s size is the biggest factor that determines when they become seniors. Dogs are called seniors when they reach the last 25% of their expected lifespan[1]. This means smaller dogs stay young longer than bigger ones.
Small breed dogs (under 20 pounds) don’t become seniors until they’re 10-12 years old [2]. Breeds like Chihuahuas, Yorkshire Terriers, and Maltese keep their puppy-like energy well into their double digits.
Medium-sized dogs (21-50 pounds) get older a bit faster and become seniors around 8-9 years old [2]. Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and Bulldogs fall into this group.
Large breed dogs (51-90 pounds) age much quicker and become seniors by 6-7 years [2]. This group has popular breeds like Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds.
Giant breed dogs (over 90 pounds) age the fastest and reach senior status by 5-6 years [3]. Great Danes and other massive breeds live nowhere near as long as smaller dogs.
Note that dogs don’t just wake up one day as seniors. Many start showing small signs of aging before they’re officially “seniors”. That’s why you should keep an eye on your pet’s health and behavior [3].
Why age matters for insurance eligibility
Your dog’s age has a big effect on your pet insurance choices, costs, and coverage limits. Here’s what you need to know:
- Age limitations: Most pet insurance companies won’t take dogs older than 10 years [4]. Large-breed dogs become seniors at 7, so waiting too long might mean missing your chance to get coverage.
- Premium increases: Older dogs cost more to insure because they need more vet visits and face higher health risks [5]. Even companies that take dogs of any age charge more based on age-related risks.
- Coverage restrictions: Senior dog policies often have less coverage and higher deductibles than younger dog policies [1]. Some companies might not cover health issues that older dogs tend to get.
- Pre-existing condition concerns: Health issues show up more often as dogs age. Insurance won’t cover any problems that started before you bought the policy [6]. The earlier you get insurance, the more conditions they’ll cover throughout your dog’s life.
Some insurance companies are more flexible with senior pets than others. Many stop taking new dogs at age 10, but others accept them until age 14 [7]. A few rare companies take dogs of any age [5], but you’ll pay more for the increased risk.
The best part about some lifetime plans is that your dog stays covered no matter how old they get, as long as you keep paying [6]. That’s why getting insurance early makes so much sense.
Can you still get pet insurance after age 10?
Getting pet insurance for your senior dog might seem tough, but you still have options even after your furry friend hits the double digits. Many dog parents believe insurance isn’t available after their pet turns 10. That’s not quite right.
Which companies allow late enrollment
Several pet insurance companies welcome older dogs, though age limits vary. Some providers set their for new policies maximum age limits between 10 to 12 years old[8]. Healthy Paws and Trupanion let dogs enroll until they’re 14 [7].
The news gets better. A few companies don’t care how old your dog is. Pets Best accepts any dog over 7 weeks with no age cap [7]. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance stands out because it has no upper-age limits [9]. MetLife Pet Insurance, Spot, and AKC Pet Insurance also accept dogs of any age [10][10][11].
Your wallet might feel the pinch though. Pet insurance costs jump by a lot around age nine[7]. This makes sense since older dogs need more trips to the vet.
What coverage is typically excluded
Insurance plans for senior dogs come with more restrictions than those for younger pets [10].
Basic wellness and preventive care aren’t included unless you buy extra coverage [12]. Senior dog policies also limit or exclude:
- Hereditary and congenital conditions
- Dental procedures
- Common age-related diseases like Cushing’s Disease or diabetes
- End-of-life care (euthanasia coverage only kicks in when vets recommend it) [11][12]
Some companies restrict older dogs to accident-only plans. To name just one example, Embrace only gives accident-only coverage to dogs 14 and up [13].
How pre-existing conditions are handled
Pre-existing conditions create the biggest hurdle for senior dog insurance. No insurance company covers incurable pre-existing conditions [14]. These include:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Heart disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Kidney disease [14]
Symptoms alone can flag a pre-existing condition, even without a diagnosis [14]. If your vet noted symptoms before coverage started that link to an incurable condition, treatment likely won’t be covered.
Some companies split pre-existing conditions into curable and incurable categories. Embrace won’t label a condition as pre-existing if your dog stays symptom-free without treatment for a year [13]. Spot takes a similar path but cuts the waiting time to 180 days for most issues (except knee and ligament problems) [2].
AKC Pet Insurance offers something special – they cover both curable and incurable pre-existing conditions after 365 days of continuous coverage [15]. This makes them unique in the industry.
Insurance providers also watch out for bilateral conditions – health issues affecting both sides of your dog’s body. A problem on one side (like a torn cruciate ligament) means the same issue on the other side probably won’t be covered [14][2].
Senior dog insurance still holds value though. It helps protect against new health issues that might pop up as your pet ages.
Types of pet insurance plans for older dogs
Pet insurance for senior dogs comes in three main types of coverage options. You’ll make better choices about protecting your aging companion if you understand these plans.
Accident-only plans
The simple form of pet insurance for older dogs is accident-only coverage. These plans cover injuries from unexpected accidents like broken bones, cuts, foreign object ingestion, poisoning, and bite wounds.
comes from Embrace. Dogs this age can’t qualify for complete policies anymore Accident-only coverage specifically designed for dogs aged 15 years and older[16]. The plan typically gives back 90% of costs up to $5,000 each year after a $100 deductible [17].
These plans cost less because they don’t include illness coverage. They work well for:
- Pet owners with tight budgets who need simple protection
- Dogs that have many pre-existing conditions that make illness coverage too expensive
- Senior dogs who stay playful and active
All the same, these plans come with big limitations. The coverage excludes illnesses, breed-specific conditions, congenital conditions, chronic conditions, and cancer [17].
Accident and illness plans
Accident and illness coverage gives you much more protection and remains the most popular pet insurance type. These plans include accident coverage plus protection for many health issues.
Your accident and illness plan typically covers:
- Cancer and diabetes
- Hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia or glaucoma
- Chronic illnesses including allergies, arthritis, and digestive problems
- Prescription medications
- Diagnostic services like X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work [11]
We designed these plans to protect against unexpected injuries and diseases that show up more often in aging dogs. Companies like Figo, Spot Pet Insurance, and AKC Pet Insurance offer these complete policies [11].
Many companies let senior dogs join these plans at first. Now some providers only give older dogs accident coverage. To cite an instance, instead of full illness coverage Embrace restricts dogs 14 years and older to their accident-only option[17].
Wellness add-ons and what they cover
Wellness plans work differently from regular insurance. They act as preventative care packages that you can add to your existing policy for an extra monthly fee.
These wellness add-ons usually cover routine care costs like:
- Annual physical exams and vaccinations
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
- Dental cleanings
- Health screenings and blood work
- Microchipping
- Spaying/neutering procedures [3]
Wellness plans use a scheduled benefit system, unlike accident and illness coverage. Embrace’s Wellness Rewards program pays pet parents back for routine screenings and preventative treatments but works more like a savings tool than insurance [18].
You’ll pay between $10 to $25 monthly for wellness add-ons, based on coverage level [13]. Most wellness plans pay you back without deductibles or copayments, which makes them easy to use [19].
These wellness add-ons are a great way to get care for senior dogs that need frequent preventative visits. Major providers like AKC Pet Insurance, Spot, and Embrace offer optional packages that work alongside your main insurance plan [3].
How to choose the best pet insurance for your senior dog
You need to evaluate several things to pick the right pet insurance for your senior dog. The right coverage at a reasonable price depends on multiple factors.
Assessing your dog’s current health
Document your dog’s complete medical history first. Insurance companies won’t cover pre-existing conditions, so you should know what might be excluded [20]. Most policies don’t cover hereditary disorders present from birth, chronic conditions, or behavioral problems [20]. Getting coverage before your dog develops age-related problems will protect you better in the long run.
Comparing premiums, deductibles, and limits
The way pet insurance policies are structured financially affects your monthly costs and what you pay out-of-pocket:
- Premium rates – Monthly or annual policy costs go up as your dog gets older[21]
- Deductibles – You pay this amount before insurance helps (ranges from $0 to $1,000+) [21]
- Reimbursement rate – Insurance usually pays 80% of costs after deductible (you pay 20%) [21]
- Maximum payouts – Limits on coverage per year or lifetime [20]
Lower deductibles mean higher premiums. Higher deductibles reduce monthly costs but you’ll pay more when you file claims [6]. Pet insurance cost analysis shows that a 10-year-old dog’s average premium is about $162 monthly[7].
Evaluating breed-specific risks
Each breed faces unique health challenges that affect insurance decisions. Talk to your vet about breed-specific conditions. To name just one example, large breeds like Great Danes and German Shepherds often get hip dysplasia [4]. Some policies don’t cover breed-specific conditions [5], which could add $30 to your monthly costs [5].
Using vet input to guide your decision
Your vet’s advice is a great way to get help when picking insurance. They can spot potential health issues your senior dog might face based on breed, size, and current health [13]. Vets can estimate treatment costs for common conditions and help you pick the right coverage limits and deductibles [22]. Many vets also offer payment plans if you worry about upfront costs [22].
Ways to save on senior dog insurance
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Pet insurance costs for older dogs might surprise you – they’re actually manageable if you know the right tricks. Your premiums will go up as your dog ages, but you can still cut down monthly payments without losing the coverage you need.
Adjusting coverage levels
You can lower your premium costs by tweaking your policy settings. A higher annual deductible means you’ll pay more upfront before insurance kicks in [10]. This might seem counterintuitive, but it leads to much lower monthly premiums.
You could also play with your annual coverage limits. Your premiums drop when you pick a lower yearly limit (like $5,000 instead of unlimited coverage) [23]. Just make sure you’ve got enough coverage for any health issues your senior dog might face.
Your policy renewal time is perfect to look at what coverage your aging dog really needs [1]. You might want to change some add-ons or drop coverage that doesn’t fit your pet’s health situation anymore.
Looking for multi-pet or military discounts
Insurance companies love giving discounts to homes with multiple pets. Most companies give . The savings jump to 10% if you’ve got four or more insured pets 5% off when you insure two to three pets[24]. These discounts work for each pet, which could save you hundreds every year.
Military members and veterans should check out special discounts. Fetch Pet Insurance gives a sweet 10% military discount that stays with your policy month after month [25]. Embrace offers a 5% military discount [26], and USAA members can save up to 25% through partner providers [26].
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Choosing the right reimbursement rate
The reimbursement percentage you pick really changes both your premiums and what you pay out of pocket. Most providers let you choose between 70% and 90% reimbursement [27].
A lower reimbursement rate (70% instead of 90%) means cheaper monthly premiums but more money from your pocket when you make claims [28]. Let’s say you’ve got a $1,000 vet bill with 80% reimbursement – you’ll get $800 back after hitting your deductible [29].
The best strategy finds the sweet spot between affordable premiums and good coverage for your older dog’s health needs. Playing with these three elements helps you find that balance between protecting your pet and your wallet.
Conclusion
Senior dogs can still get pet insurance, though finding good coverage comes with its own set of challenges. Many providers like Pets Best and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance welcome older dogs at any age, but your premiums will go up by a lot after age 10.
Smart choices about deductibles, reimbursement rates, and coverage limits will give a good balance between protection and cost. Military discounts and multi-pet policies are a great way to get monthly savings without cutting back on needed coverage.
Pre-existing conditions and age-related exclusions might limit your coverage options. Notwithstanding that, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your senior dog has protection against new health issues and accidents. The right insurance plan protects your pet’s health and your wallet during their golden years.
You should look into coverage options before health issues pop up. Early sign-up will give a better range of choices and stops future conditions from becoming pre-existing. Our senior dogs deserve the best care as they age, and proper insurance makes that care available to more people.
