Does pet insurance go up with age?
Yes, and every insurer we could check says so. What each one says, and an estimate of how much prices rise.
Updated October 2, 2026. Plan facts come from each insurer's published documents; each insurer's policy documents control.
The short answer
Yes. All seven insurers we could check say age is a pricing factor and that premiums can rise at renewal as your dog gets older.
Several also say that filing claims does not by itself raise your premium: Healthy Paws, Lemonade, Odie, Pets Best and Spot.
What will it cost for your dog?
Pick your breed, age and ZIP code to see the estimated monthly price from the insurers we compare.
Premium and age, by insurer
| Insurer | Premium and age | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Embrace | Yes, increases with age[1] | Premiums are based on current age and may increase at renewal due to age. |
| Fetch | Yes, age is a pricing factor[2] | Fetch says puppies and kittens cost less to insure than older dogs and cats. |
| Healthy Paws | Yes, age is a rating factor[3] | Premiums reflect breed, gender, age, vet cost trends and regional program claims; not your individual claims. |
| Lemonade | Yes, may rise with age[4] | Premiums may increase at renewal as pets age; claims history does not affect premiums. |
| Odie | Yes, renewals reflect age, breed, inflation[5] | Premium not changed for claim history; annual increases driven by age, breed details and inflation. |
| Pets Best | Yes, may change with age[6] | Disclosure: premiums may increase or decrease with pet age; premium not changed by individual claims. |
| Spot | Yes, may increase with age[7] | Premiums based on current age; may rise at renewal due to age, not due to filing claims. |
| Trupanion | Not verified yet | Trupanion's website blocks automated requests, so we could not check this against its policy yet. Ask Trupanion directly. |
From each insurer's own sample policy, terms or FAQ, checked October 2, 2026. Terms vary by state and plan, and the policy you buy controls.
Check how this applies to your breed
What this means for your dog
How much prices rise is up to each insurer, and none publishes a full age table. As an estimate, the BreedSure model scales a 2-year-old's price like this:
| Age | Versus age 2 (estimate) |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 years | Base |
| 4 to 6 years | +20% |
| 7 to 9 years | +60% |
| 10 to 12 years | +120% |
| 13 years and older | +180% |
A BreedSure model estimate, not an insurer's figure. How we estimate.
Rising premiums are a reason to start early, not to wait: a young dog has no pre-existing conditions, so more of its life stays covered. Breed matters too: in our estimates, a Great Dane or Bernese Mountain Dog starts from a higher price than most breeds, so each step up costs more in dollars. Price by age, in detail.
To keep an older dog's premium manageable, compare a higher deductible or a lower reimbursement rate rather than cancelling. How deductibles change the price.
Before you buy
- Ask the insurer how it prices age at renewal, and whether it offers lower-cost options for older dogs.
- Check whether your own claims affect your premium.
- Compare a higher deductible before considering cancelling.
- Keep the policy continuous: a new policy later treats past conditions as pre-existing.
Questions owners ask
Does pet insurance go up every year?
It can. All seven insurers we could check say age is a pricing factor and premiums may rise at renewal as your dog ages. Vet cost trends can also raise prices.
Will filing a claim raise my premium?
Healthy Paws, Lemonade, Odie, Pets Best and Spot say your own claims do not change your premium; age, breed, location and overall costs do.
How much more does an older dog cost to insure?
Each insurer sets its own prices. In the BreedSure estimate model, a dog aged 7 to 9 costs about 60% more than a 2-year-old, and one 13 or older about 180% more.
How can I lower the premium for an older dog?
Choose a higher deductible, a lower reimbursement percentage or a lower annual limit. Cancelling and re-enrolling later usually means any conditions found in between become pre-existing.
Sources
- Embrace Pet Insurance Sample Policy Terms & Conditions (v6, most states). Embrace Pet Insurance.
- View a Sample Pet Insurance Policy | Fetch. Fetch.
- Frequently Asked Questions | Healthy Paws. Healthy Paws.
- The Ultimate Lemonade Pet FAQ. Lemonade, 2026.
- Help Center - Odie Pet Insurance. Odie Pet Insurance.
- Frequently Asked Questions | Pets Best. Pets Best Insurance Services.
- Commonly Asked Questions | Spot Pet Insurance. Spot Pet Insurance.
How we choose and check sources: Sources we use.
Get an email if prices for your breed change
We update our estimates monthly. We will email you when the estimate for your dog changes, and nothing else.