Pet Insurance for Older Pets (2025 Q2): What to Know Before You Buy

Amir Katz
4 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

If you’ve got a gray-muzzled dog or a cat that’s slowing down, you already know senior pets come with senior bills. What might surprise you is just how quickly those bills climb once your pet hits double digits — and how many insurers quietly shut their doors to older animals.

Here’s what the data show, plus practical options to help you pick the right plan for your older pet.

Why Older Pet Insurance Gets Complicated

The numbers aren’t subtle. A dog that costs $52–78 a month to insure at age 2 can cost $142–198 a month at age 10. Cats follow the same curve. By 13, premiums often climb another 30–40% per year.

And when you go shopping? Only two-thirds of insurers even accept pets over 10. By age 14, fewer than a quarter still do — usually for accident-only plans.

📌 In plain English: You’ll pay a lot more, for fewer options, with more exclusions. But that doesn’t mean insurance is off the table. It just means you need to choose carefully.

Your Options, by Situation

🟦 If your pet is already 10 or older

Go with a provider that never caps age:

Pets Best, ASPCA, MetLife: These companies still accept new enrollments when others won’t. Pets Best stands out for predictable renewal increases (12–15% a year versus the 28% industry average).

💡 Best fit if: You’re coming in late and want coverage to last.

🟩 If your pet is 11–13 and you’re racing the clock

A handful of insurers allow new sign-ups until age 14:

Healthy Paws, Embrace, Spot: Enroll before your pet’s birthday passes the cutoff. Embrace is especially strong for ongoing conditions like kidney disease or diabetes, with generous prescription coverage.

💡 Best fit if: You’re right on the edge and need chronic condition protection.

🟨 If your pet is 7–9 and still healthy

Premiums jump sharply here — think 18–25% a year — but nearly all providers still accept enrollment. This is the sweet spot to get in before exclusions pile up.

💡 Best fit if: You want to lock in coverage before your pet turns 10.

🟧 If breed quirks or emergency care are top of mind

Some companies handle emergencies better:

Trupanion: pays vets directly, so you don’t need to float thousands for surgery (average orthopedic claim: $3,200–8,500). But beware: its renewal hikes can run 25–40% a year.

💡 Best fit if: You care most about cash flow during emergencies and are willing to pay more long-term.

🟥 If budget is tight but you want some protection

Two tactics help seniors on a budget:

Pick a higher deductible ($500–$1,000) to lower premiums.
Consider accident-only coverage, still offered up to age 14.

💡 Best fit if: You’d rather cover daily care yourself but still want help with the big emergencies.

Providers to Approach — and to Avoid

Best overall for seniors: Pets Best (no age limit, steady renewals, 24/7 vet helpline).
Best for late enrollment: ASPCA (accepts at any age, covers some curable pre-existing conditions).
Best for chronic conditions: Embrace (excellent for prescriptions, diminishing deductible).
Best for premium stability: Pets Best (again — most predictable renewals).
Best for emergency payouts: Trupanion (VetDirect Pay, fast processing).
Avoid for seniors: Lemonade and Fetch (strict age cutoffs, aggressive 30–40% renewal hikes).