Pet insurance provider, Pawlicy Advisor, releases pet ownership data
From July 2019 through May 2020, Pawlicy Advisor generated personalized pet insurance recommendations for tens of thousands of dogs and cats. Each recommendation is personalized to the pet based on the pet’s unique attributes, and only after analyzing hundreds of policies across top pet insurance provider companies.
The algorithm scans and prioritizes recommendations based on breed-specific risk factors, age, location, and the fine print in each provider’s policy. This enables us to rank insurance policies across top providers by lifetime cost and coverage value for each unique pet.
How 20,000+ Pet Parents Would Handle A $5K Vet Bill Without Pet Insurance
The rising cost of veterinary care is one of the key reasons pet parents search for pet insurance in the first place.
Although a regular checkup isn’t usually that expensive, there’s always the possibility that the veterinarian will find something wrong with the pet. The pet could then require additional diagnostics and potential treatment, leading to unexpected costs.
When a pet parent compares top pet insurance companies on Pawlicy Advisor they are first asked, “How would you handle a vet bill of $5,000?”
This high unexpected cost represents a common worst-case scenario in which the pet needs lifesaving care or expensive diagnostics and treatment. According to Joshua Louis Lachowicz, a veterinary oncologist at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in New York City, treatments for some illnesses could cost between $4,000 to $14,000.
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Only 19.44% of pet parents surveyed would be able to cover a $5,000 expense out-of-pocket.
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30.86% would seek financing options such as a loan, a credit card, or a payment plan offered by the veterinarian.
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49.7% of this dataset of pet parents surveyed say they would not be able to cover a $5,000 expense out-of-pocket.
49.7% of pet parents surveyed who are interested in pet insurance say they would not be able to cover a $5,000 expense out-of-pocket.
This is a critical factor in what makes pet insurance worth it for both pet parents and veterinarians. Furthermore, with the recent onset of COVID-19 across the US, this statistic is likely to grow as households struggle with financial insecurity.
Millennials may be especially vulnerable to financial insecurities caused by the coronavirus pandemic as median earnings are 20% lower for those aged 18 to 34 than they were in the 1980s. That wage gap, paired with many millennials’ shift in viewing their pets as family, should highlight the importance of pet insurance for millennial pet parents.
With veterinary costs on the rise, pet lifespans increasing, and the US economy shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic - pet parents must be educated about pet insurance options and the overall costs associated with owning a pet.
Pet Type and Gender
Pet type (species) and gender also factor into pet insurance rates, and they’re an important input in Pawlicy Advisor’s pet insurance recommendation algorithm.
From the tens of thousands of pet parents we surveyed, we analyzed pet insurance options from top providers for an even greater number of pets (as many parents are looking to insure multiple pets.
Dogs account for 81.62% of pets whose parents are interested in pet insurance.
Not surprisingly, most pet parents who shopped for pet health insurance on Pawlicy Advisor in the last 9 months were looking for insurance for their dog. Dogs tend to be more expensive to treat than cats due to their size, but also because of the history of dog breeding.
Some dog breeds are more prone to illnesses and injuries than others. For example, large and giant dog breeds are more susceptible to bloat and hip dysplasia. Dog breeds with short snouts are more prone to breathing problems.
Cats, meanwhile, don’t suffer from as many breed-specific illnesses because their breeding history has allowed for more genetic diversity. According to the ASPCA, cat veterinary costs are lower than those of dogs on average. Some studies even indicate that cats get sick less often than dogs.
As a result, it usually costs less to buy insurance for a cat than it does for a dog. This is another important input in the Pawlicy Advisor algorithm for finding affordable pet insurance policies that suit the pet’s attributes.
Pet gender does affect spaying and neutering costs. Spaying a female pet requires a more complicated surgery, so it generally costs a bit more. Un-spayed and un-neutered pets have increased risk for additional medical complications later in life, such as infections and cancer, which could be costly to treat. Furthermore, breeders who wish to insure their animals may need to buy specific insurance plans that cover breeding risks.
Dog and Cat Breeds
Pawlicy Advisor users submitted queries for over 225 different dog breeds over the past year.
Certain breeds are prone to specific health conditions, and certain variations of mixed-breeds reveal different premiums. This info is often tucked away in the fine print of any given policy, Pawlicy Advisor was built to scan hundreds of policy variations to help determine which insurance plan (and provider) is best for each unique pet.
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7.95% of the dogs were of an unknown breed, and 6.20% were of an unknown mix of breeds.
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However, Poodles (5.45%) and Labrador Retrievers (4.74%) were also popular.
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Meanwhile, 3.78% of users had Chihuahuas (and another 3.34% had a Chihuahua mix).
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3.49% had a German Shepherd.
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3.34% had a Terrier Mix.
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And 34.8% was made up of 215 other breeds, each with less than 1% each
Other popular breeds were French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, and American Pit Bull Terriers. According to the American Kennel Club Registry List, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog breed in the U.S. for the past 29 years.
What’s interesting is that so many pet parents with Chihuahuas are interested in pet insurance. Poodles make up a large segment, and this is to be expected as it’s a breed with common health issues and the 6th most popular dog among US households. Similar story with Labrador Retrievers. Chihuahuas are a generally more affordable breed to adopt, but perhaps the driving factor is that the tiny breed often struggleswith luxating patellas (slipped kneecaps), dental issues, and hypoglycemia (burning more energy than they consume).
Top 50 Dog Breeds Whose Parents Are Interested In Pet Insurance
BreedRankPoodle Mix1Chihuahua2German Shepherd3Chihuahua Mix4Terrier Mix5Mixed (Breed Unknown)6Yorkshire Terrier7Golden Retriever8Shih Tzu9French Bulldog10American Pit Bull Terrier11Labrador Retriever - Black12Shih Tzu Mix13Boxer14Labrador Retriever - Yellow15Pit Bull16Hound Mix17Yorkie Mix18Border Collie Mix19Beagle Mix20Pomeranian21Maltese22Boxer Mix23Siberian Husky24English Bulldog25Jack Russell Terrier26Australian Shepherd27Labrador Retriever28Rottweiler29Labrador Retriever - Chocolate30Dachshund Mix31Pug32Bichon Mix33Miniature Schnauzer34Beagle35Great Dane36Cavalier King Charles Spaniel37Boston Terrier38American Bulldog39American Staffordshire Terrier40Pomeranian Mix41Dachshund miniature - smooth coat42Poodle - Toy43Poodle - Standard44Bichon Frise45Border Collie46Australian Shepherd - miniature47Havanese48Doberman Pinscher49Dachshund50
The Most Popular Cat Breeds of Parents Interested In Pet Insurance
Pawlicy Advisor users were less specific in how they designated their cat breeds, although the breed is often less of a consideration when insuring domestic cats. Most cats are considered Shorthair, Mediumhair, or Longhair.
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33.89% of the cats we analyzed for pet insurance quotes were identified as Domestic Shorthair.
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10.58% were Domestic Mediumhair.
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6.47% were Domestic Longhair.
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And 35.42% were an Unknown Mixed-Breed.
According to our data, a plurality of pet parents interested in pet insurance had Domestic Shorthair cats, at 33.89%. Meanwhile, 10.58% had Domestic Mediumhair cats and 6.47% had Domestic Longhair cats. Among specific cat breeds, Maine Coons, Siamese, Ragdolls, and Bengals are among the most popular.
NOTE: Domestic Shorthair, Mediumhair, and Longhair are all technically generalized categories of “mutts” (mixed-breed cats).
Top 50 Cat Breeds Whose Parents Are Interested In Pet Insurance
BreedRankUnknown Mixed-Breed1Domestic Shorthair2Domestic Mediumhair3Domestic Longhair4Maine Coon5Siamese6Ragdoll7Bengal8Russian Blue9Persian10American Shorthair (purebred)11Siberian12British Shorthair13Sphynx14Bombay15Snowshoe16Himalayan17Tonkinese18Egyptian Mau19Scotish Fold20Himalayan Seal Point21Turkish Van22Balinese23RagaMuffin24Norwegian Forest Cat25Cornish Rex26Burmese27Munchkin28Manx29Feral30Abyssinian31Oriental Shorthair32Exotic Shorthair33American Wirehair34American Bobtail35Turkish Angora36Himalayan Flame Point37Himalayan Blue Point38Chartreux39Somali40Scottish Fold Longhair41Savannah42Ocicat43Nebelung44Manx Longhair45Havana Brown46Exotic47European Shorthair48Cameo Longhair49Birman50
Pre-Existing Conditions
There are no pet insurance providers that cover pre-existing conditions (though some plans do cover curable conditions after a certain waiting period with no recurring symptoms), which is why it’s so important to enroll in pet insurance while your pet is still young and healthy. If you enroll before any conditions arise, those conditions will be covered by your plan. Wait too long, and you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket to treat your pet.
Percent Of Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions Whose Parents Are Interested In Pet Insurance
A clear majority of dog parents understand the importance of signing up for insurance early - before their pup is diagnosed with any health conditions. But, thousands of pet parents are looking for pet insurance for a pet with a pre-existing condition.
9.8% of dog owners are shopping for pet insurance for a dog with a pre-existing condition.
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After surveying tens of thousands of dog owners, 9.8% of the dogs who needed insurance already had an existing condition.
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90.2% of the dogs we generated a pet insurance comparison for did so before their dog developed a condition that could be considered “pre-existing.”
The importance of comparing pet insurance sooner than later becomes even more evident when looking at the age breakdown of those with pre-existing conditions below.
Puppies vs Adult Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions Whose Parents Are Interested in Pet Insurance
Puppies are far less likely to develop health conditions than their older counterparts. It’s best not to wait until a condition arises. Most pet insurance plans include a waiting period, and if your vet discovers an illness before your insurance kicks in, it is usually considered “pre-existing” by the insurance company.
87.97% of the dogs that did have pre-existing conditions were adults.
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87.97% of the dogs that did have pre-existing conditions were adults.
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Only 12.03% were puppies less than one year old.
That data should encourage new puppy parents to look into pet insurance, ASAP. Out-of-pocket costs can be greatly reduced for both vet bills and pet insurance premiums by finding the right coverage sooner rather than later (and the same is true for insuring rescue puppies).
Percent Of Cats with Pre-Existing Conditions Whose Parents Are Interested In Pet Insurance
Similarly, while most of the cat parents that searched for insurance did so before their pets developed any pre-existing conditions - more than 1 in 10 were shopping for a cat with a pre-existing health condition.
12.27% of cat owners are shopping for pet insurance for a cat with a pre-existing condition.
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12.27% of the cats we analyzed had a pre-existing condition.
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87.73% of cats had a clean bill of health.
Although vet care is generally less expensive for cats, treating major illnesses can still leave a serious dent in your wallet without insurance.
NOTE: If your pet has a pre-existing condition, pet insurance is still worth the investment. For one, if the condition is curable it can be covered by some plans. You can find out which plans fit your best best by generating a new search on Pawlicy Advisor. If the condition is not curable, other conditions may arise and having to pay fully out-of-pocket for multiple medical expenses is a nightmare. If the cost of pet insurance is an issue for you, use Pawlicy Advisor’s recommendation engine to find the best plan at the best price.
Kittens vs Adult Cats with Pre-Existing Conditions Whose Parents Are Interested In Pet Insurance
Kittens, like puppies, are less likely to develop health conditions than adult cats. Again, do not wait until a condition arises to research pet insurance.
91.9% of the cats that did have pre-existing conditions were adults.
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8.1% of the cats with pre-existing conditions were less and one year old.
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Meanwhile, 91.9% of cats with an existing condition were adults.
Just like puppies, kittens are less likely to be diagnosed with a pre-existing condition than their adult counterparts. Insuring your kitten can save you thousands of dollars in veterinary costs as they grow older.
According to one analysis, the costs of treating cancer in a cat can cost over $2,800+ without pet insurance. With pet insurance, it costs less than $600 on average.
More importantly, pet insurance also ensures that the cat gets the care they need. The same analysis indicated that the cost of care for cancer in cats based on insurance claims can reach almost $15,000. Pet parents who must pay expenses out of pocket may not be able to afford important treatment options.
The Most Common Breeds of Dogs with Pre-Existing Conditions Whose Parents Are Interested in Pet Insurance
Humans have been breeding dogs for almost 4,000 years. Due to limits in genetic diversity, some purebred dog breeds are more prone to pre-existing conditions than others.
Based on the analysis of our data, many pet parents with smaller dog breeds and purebred dogs reported pre-existing conditions in their pets.
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Chihuahuas (4.4%), and Chihuahua Mixes (3.95%) represented many of the dogs with pre-existing conditions.
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As well as Terrier Mixes (3.45%), and Yorkshire Terriers (3.12%).
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Additionally, 3.95% of dogs with pre-existing conditions were Poodles
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3.78% were Labrador Retrievers
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3.01% were Shih Tzus.
Now, this shouldn’t deter anyone from adopting/rescuing a purebred dog. If you adopt a purebred puppy, you can enroll in pet insurance early to ensure any conditions that might emerge are covered by your policy.
Top 10 Dog Breeds That Developed Health Conditions Before Enrolling In Pet Insurance
BreedRankUnknown Breed1Chihuahua & Chihuahua Mix2Poodle Mix3Terrier Mix4Yorkshire Terrier5Shih Tzu6Mixed (Breed Unknown)7German Shepherd8Golden Retriever9American Pit Bull Terrier10
The Most Common Breeds of Cats with Pre-Existing Conditions Whose Parents Are Interested in Pet Insurance
The most common cat breeds with pre-existing conditions mirror the results of the most popular cat breeds from the previous question.
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27.73% the cats with existing health conditions that we analyzed were Domestic Shorthairs.
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8.50% were Domestic Mediumhair cats.
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And 6.88% of cats represented with pre-existing conditions were Domestic Longhairs.
Among the top pure-bred cats that had existing conditions were Siamese cats (1.42%), Russian Blues (1.21%), Maine Coons (1.21%), Persians (1.01%), and 18 other breeds each making up less than 1% of the total.
Top 10 Cat Breeds That Developed Health Conditions Before Enrolling In Pet Insurance
BreedRankMixed Breed1Domestic Shorthair2Domestic Mediumhair3Domestic Longhair4Siamese5Russian Blue6Maine Coon7Persian8Ragdoll9American Shorthair (purebred)10
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