Having a senior dog is a uniquely rewarding experience, but the expenses can add up. While pet insurance normally helps soften the financial blow, some providers won't enroll older dogs or don't cover illnesses common among older pets.
To help pet parents out, CNBC Select has picked the best pet insurance companies for older dogs, based on cost, coverage, age restrictions and more. (See our methodology for more on how we made our picks.)
Best for affordability: Pets Best
- Deductibles as low as $50
- No maximum age limit
- Offers direct-payment option
- Exam fees not included with basic plan
- Multi-pet discount is lower than other providers
- Only top-tier plan covers alternative therapies
Policies are issued by MS Transverse Insurance Company (MST). New business issued by MST effective September 2, 2025. In California, existing Pets Best policies will transfer to MST beginning November 1, 2025.
Premiums are based on and may increase or decrease due to the age of your pet, the species or breed of your pet, and your home address. For terms and conditions visit: https://www.petsbest.com/policy. Products are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company (NAIC #12190), or Independence American Insurance Company (NAIC #26581), or MS Transverse Insurance Company (NAIC #21075) and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC, (NPN #8889658, CA agency #0F37530).
Who's this for? Pets Best's rates are among the lowest for senior dogs and its basic plan covers UTIs, periodontal disease, chronic illnesses and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia and glaucoma.
Standout benefits: Pets Best's top-tier Elite plan covers acupuncture, chiropractic care and physical rehab. Policies are underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company and Independence American Insurance Company.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for speedy claims processing: MetLife
MetLife Pet Insurance
Policy highlights
MetLife offers an accident and illness plan and a wellness add-on. Policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company and Metropolitan General (MetGen) Insurance Company
Age limits
No age restrictions for enrollment
Coverage limit
$500 to unlimited
Annual deductible
$0 to $2,500
Reimbursement rate
50% to 90%
Waiting period
14 days for illnesses, 12 months for knee injuries
Discounts
Discounts for buying online and enrolling multiple pets, as well as for animal care staff, military members and health care workers. Deductibles drop up to $50 each year you don't file a claim.
Direct vet pay
No
Pros
- Covers birds, lizards, small mammals and other exotic pet
- Reimbursement for lost pet rewards
- Most claims processed within 10 days
- Covers burial/cremation
Cons
- Doesn't cover microchipping
- No accident-only policy
- Coverage, waiting periods and discounts vary based on the underwriter
Who's this for? MetLife offers easy online claim filing on its mobile app and reimbursement is available within 10 days.
Standout benefits: All MetLife pet insurance policies cover exam fees and holistic and alternative therapies, which many providers relegate to pricier plans. Accidents are covered the day the policy goes into effect, although illnesses have a 14-day waiting period. In addition to dogs and cats, MetLife covers birds, lizards, small mammals and other exotic pets.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for pre-existing conditions: AKC Pet Insurance
- Pre-existing conditions covered after a year
- Offers breeding insurance
- Unlimited coverage available
- $3 monthly service fee if paying monthly
- Pets over 9 are restricted to accident-only policies
- Hereditary and congenital conditions cost extra
- No coverage for dental illnesses
Who's this for? Most insurers won't cover any conditions your pet was diagnosed with prior to enrolling, but AKC Pet Insurance will cover many chronic illnesses after one year of continuous coverage.
Standout benefits: Most claims are processed within three days, according to AKC. Registered purebreds may be eligible for their first 30 days of coverage for free without a waiting period.
Age limit: Dogs 9 and older are just eligible for accident-only coverage
Best for direct payment: Figo
- Costco members can save 15%
- No upper age limit for enrollment
- 100% reimbursement option available
- Claims close on average in under 3 business days
- Covers curable conditions that have been healed for 12 months
- Vet exam fee not covered by basic plan
- Doesn’t offer an accident-only plan
- Multiple-pet discount lower than many competitors
Who's this for? If you don't want the hassle of waiting to be reimbursed, Figo can pay your veterinarian directly.
Standout benefits: Your deductible drops by $50 each year you don't file a claim. Figo's generous reimbursement rates can cover up to 100% of eligible veterinary expenses. Costco members can get 15% off their Figo premiums and Costco Executive members get the $15 enrollment fee waived.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for wellness coverage: Spot
- no upper age limits for enrollment
- Exam fees covered
- 10% discounts for additional pets
- 14-day waiting period for accidents
- 30-day money-back guarantee not available in New York or Maine
- Average rate for cats is higher than competition
Who's this for? Spot has two preventative care packages: A gold plan that includes teeth cleaning, screenings, deworming and an annual wellness exam, and a platinum plan that adds spaying/neutering and higher coverage limits for vaccinations and other care.
Standout benefits: Accident and illness policies have no per-incident or lifetime cap and cover exam fees, microchipping, prescriptions, alternative therapies and end-of-life expenses.
Age limit: No upper age limit
Best for low deductibles: Embrace
- Covers dental illnesses for up to $1,000 per year
- Two-day waiting period for accidents
- Available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
- Coverage limited to pets 14 and younger
- $25 policy activation fee
Who's this for: In addition to a 10% multi-pet discount, Embrace offers a healthy pet discount, which automatically reduces your monthly premium by 5% after a year of being claims-free and 10% for a second year.
Standout benefits: Available nationwide, Embrace plans provide extra office visits for senior pets. If your claim reimbursements are less than $300 per pet annually, you can receive a 5% discount for the first year and 10% the following year.
Age limits: Dogs can enroll in accident and illness plans until age 15 and accident-only policies afterward.
What pet insurance covers
While specifics vary by provider, pet insurance plans generally fall into one of three categories.
| Policy | Covers |
| Accident-only | Basic plan covering expenses related to emergencies like broken bones, swallowed objects and traumatic dental fractures. |
| Accident and illness | Covers everything in an accident-only policy, as well as illnesses like cancer and diabetes, hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia or glaucoma, and prescription medication. |
| Wellness plans: | Covers checkups, vaccinations, microchipping, teeth cleaning and spaying/neutering |
Providers rarely cover pre-existing conditions, although some will cover conditions that have been cured for a certain amount of time, such as broken bones or respiratory infections. AKC Pet Insurance is a standout for covering incurable pre-existing conditions after a year of continuous coverage.
Elective procedures, grooming and costs relating to breeding, pregnancy or birth are generally excluded. Some plans also don't cover hereditary disorders, alternative treatments or end-of-life expenses.
How much is pet insurance?
In 2024, accident-only pet insurance for dogs averaged $16.10 a month, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, down from about $17 a month in 2023.
Accident and illness policies for dogs rose to $62.44 a month in 2024, up from a little more than $56 a month in 2023.
Getting a policy for an older dog will typically be more expensive, however, and premiums are also based on the breed, size and gender.
All the insurance companies on this list provide a discount of up to 10% for insuring more than one animal.
How to choose pet insurance
To shop for pet insurance, you’ll need to decide what type of policy you want, Accident-only, accident and illness or a wellness plan. (Not all providers offer all three kinds of policies.) From there, you can review companies for:
Availability: Is this plan offered in your state? Is your pet too old for coverage? Is preventative care attached to accident and illness coverage? These questions should be a part of your calculations.
Coverage limits: Pet insurance companies cap how much of your veterinary bills they'll pay. Some have annual limits, while others have lifetime or per-incident limits. Make sure you understand how much coverage is available.
Deductibles: Your deductible is the amount you need to spend out of pocket before your provider pays anything. A policy may have an annual deductible that resets after each policy renewal, or a per-condition deductible. Raising your deductible can lower your premiums, but make sure you can afford the expense if you have to pay out of pocket.
Exclusions: Pre-existing conditions are typically not covered by pet insurance providers and some won't cover hereditary conditions or behavioral treatments.
Waiting period: Coverage typically begins after a waiting period that can be different for an injury, an illness or something else. Some providers have yearlong qualifying periods for certain conditions.
Claims process: While you may have to pay at the point of service and get reimbursed, a growing number of providers will pay your vet directly. If that's a must, make sure it's available.
Customer satisfaction: You can look up a pet insurance company on TrustPilot or the Better Business Bureau website. A major insurer with different lines may be ranked by J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners might have data on the volume of complaints it receives.
Senior dog FAQs
When is a dog considered a senior?
The American Animal Hospital Association considers a dog a senior when it's in the last 25% of its estimated lifespan. Small breeds, like Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, are usually considered seniors at 10 to 12. Medium-sized breeds are seniors at 8 or 9, however, and large breeds fall under the category at 6 or 7 years old.
Can you get pet insurance for a senior dog?
While most of the companies on our list have no upper limit for enrollment, some pet insurance providers limit coverage for older pets, usually at 14 or 15 years old.
Is pet insurance worth it for an older dog?
Pet insurance can be worth it for an older dog, since illnesses are more likely to emerge as a pet ages. In addition, a wellness plan for routine care can help ensure your dog has more active and healthy years. Should the worst happen, a policy can provide end-of-life care, including pain management, euthanasia and burial.
What's the best pet insurance company for older dogs?
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every pet insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of pet insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Our methodology
To find the best pet insurance for older dogs, CNBC Select reviewed top providers based on a variety of factors, including:
- Available terms: We reviewed providers' annual coverage limits, deductibles and reimbursement rates
- Age limits or restrictions: Some pet insurance companies won't cover dogs over a certain age or limit them to accident-only policies.
- Cost: We compared premiums for a 9-year-old beagle mix living in Manhattan ZIP code 10017. Rates were based on a $5,000 annual coverage limit, a $500 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate.
- Discounts: All the insurance companies on this list provide a discount of up to 10% for insuring more than one animal.
- Covered treatments: We considered whether a provider covered pre-existing conditions, dental care, congenital and hereditary illnesses, behavioral therapies, alternative treatments and end-of-life care.
- Wellness plans: We gave more weight to providers with thorough wellness policies for routine care
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Based on that criteria, our picks for the best pet insurance for older dogs are:
Best for affordability: Pets Best
Best for speedy claims processing: MetLife
Best for pre-existing conditions: AKC Pet Insurance
Best for direct payment: Figo
Best for wellness plans: Spot
Best for low deductibles: Embrace
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