Hey everyone, I’m thinking about getting a male golden retriever soon, and I’m a bit confused about pet insurance. I’ve been looking into companies like Trupanion, Pets Best, and Lemonade, but I noticed many plans don’t cover things like vaccines, neutering, or heartworm prevention. This is my first dog, so I’m unsure whether I should get insurance right away or just pay out of pocket for the first couple of years and consider it later. Should I skip it entirely or just get it from the start? Any advice would be super helpful, thanks.
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Hello! I have a nearly 7-month-old Cavalier and got pet insurance for him before he even arrived home. I’ve also had insurance for my previous dogs since 2009, although they have since passed away.
Here’s why it’s important to get insurance as soon as possible: pet insurance companies typically have significant pre-existing condition exclusions. This means any ‘sign or symptom’ that a vet notes can lead to future coverage denials. For instance, if you delay getting insurance and your puppy develops an ear infection, any ear-related issues in the future likely won’t be covered. The same goes for cases of diarrhea; any related stomach or GI problems would be excluded.
Purchasing a policy early makes sense. You might not use it in the first few years for accidents or illnesses, but it helps protect you against future issues, especially when your dog is less expensive to insure.
As for whether pet insurance is worth it, that’s a common debate. It largely depends on your financial situation and how much you’re willing to invest to save your pet’s life in emergencies. Some suggest taking the premium and saving it for vet bills instead. However, if I set aside $60-$80 a month for two years instead of buying insurance, I could end up with $1,440-$1,920 plus some interest. But then, if your Golden retriever eats something they shouldn’t and requires surgery, that savings could be wiped out, and you might still owe extra on top.
Let’s say a few years later, your Golden faces hip problems, cancer (which affects 60% of Goldens), or allergies. Would you have enough saved for treatment? If you could handle such expenses, you might not need insurance. But if it would create a financial strain, it’s worth considering.
These are all factors to think about, so examine your budget carefully. Personally, I feel more at ease knowing I insured my puppy early. Yes, there are risks associated with pet insurance; the industry lacks regulation and has been quite unstable lately. Therefore, I recommend choosing a company with a solid history and significant market presence. One major issue for pet insurance companies is the rising cost of veterinary care, which has reportedly increased by 60% in the past decade. This surge has contributed to the rise in insurance costs, but it also highlights why insurance is crucial—few can afford to cover these expenses on their own, especially with surgeries and emergencies often costing thousands.
Regarding wellness plans, they aren’t true insurance. They function more like savings plans. The insurance company collects an extra monthly fee from you and sets reimbursement levels for various wellness or preventative services. For example, if your vet charges $75 for a wellness exam, but the insurance only reimburses $50, you’re still out of pocket. They may offer only $45 for flea and tick medications, while many products cost more. Plus, you must file a claim and wait for reimbursement. Most people don’t get good value from wellness plans and might just break even after all the claims.
It usually makes more sense to manage your own funds for wellness expenses since these are known costs that many companies won’t cover. Pet insurance is better suited for unexpected and costly events.
Wellness plans may work for those who can’t save on their own and need help managing their finances. It’s also worth checking with your vet for wellness plans; mine offered a flat fee for all first-year visits, vaccinations, and discounts on spaying/neutering. I calculated the costs and found that purchasing through my vet was much more cost-effective and convenient.
Keep in mind that pet insurance is classified as property insurance, unlike human health insurance. It’s designed to cover losses related to your property, while human insurance aims to restore health. Unfortunately, the law does not recognize pets as family, so insurance is treated as property. That’s why you’re expected to handle preventive care costs, similar to maintaining a car or home. Insurance typically doesn’t cover those expenses but will cover damages from accidents or severe weather.
I hope this information is helpful! It can be a lot to take in, and it really depends on your budget, so feel free to ask any questions. Congratulations on your new puppy; it’s such an exciting time.
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Hello! 
First of all, thank you so much for providing such detailed information about pet insurance! You’re incredible for taking the time to help me understand this topic better. I truly appreciate your efforts!
After reading your post and doing some of my own research, I completely agree and have decided to get pet insurance from the start. As you mentioned, nearly all the policies I’ve looked at clearly state that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered, and I’d rather avoid any complications in the future. I plan to call some potential vets I’ve been considering to inquire about their prices for wellness visits, neutering, vaccinations, prescriptions, and more.
Also, I just have to say how much I love Cavaliers! My soul dog, a ruby and white named Molly, was a Cavalier who passed away at the end of April. She was truly the best dog ever and made such a positive impact on my life. I definitely want to consider getting another Cavalier in the future! I was lucky to have 14 wonderful years with her, but I would have done anything to have her around longer. She had congestive heart failure, and I often say her heart was just too big because of all the love she gave me over the years. She was so incredibly special, and I can’t help but get emotional thinking about her 
🪽.
Anyway, before I get too teary, do you have any recommendations for specific companies or policies? I’ve been looking into Pets Best, Spot, and Trupanion as some options this morning. You’ve been incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, so I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have a moment to respond. Thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing day, week, year, and beyond. You’re truly the best!
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Cavaliers are the best! Before this current puppy (tricolor male) I had a Blenheim girl named Bailey (born on St Patrick’s Day, lol) and a Yorkie named Kiwi. Bailey passed shortly after turning twelve due to a stroke. She also had heart problems, as is common with the breed. She was my baby and did everything with me. I was so lost without her. Kiwi was my little spitfire and she made it to 16. 14 years for a Cavalier is amazing, any time we get with these love sponges is a gift. They are the best companions ever. So when I was ready, I got another Cavalier earlier this year, he’s my pride and joy. I suppose that’s why I am probably a bit overprotective and do all the things like insurance, I want as much time as I can possibly have with these babies and I don’t want something like money to come between me and the best treatment to keep him around.
I’m glad you found my post helpful, I know its long and wordy but insurance is very complicated. I used to work in human health insurance, so I am used to dealing with insurance in some ways. I’ve had pet insurance for a long time, since I insured my girls way before lots of people even knew about pet insurance. They both had polices with Embrace. My current puppy has a policy with Trupanion.
I would say the number one complaint most people have about pet insurance is the pre existing exclusion. That has been a stumbling block for so many people here and in real life when I talk to people. It is not widely understood and people don’t think that it would apply to their situation. And to be fair, insurance companies take it way too far imo. I have seen people get denied because as a puppy their ear was noted as ‘dirty’ so the company said they wouldn’t pay for allergies for their adult dog. I have seen a vet who noted on the exam that the owner said the dog ‘walked funny’ that led to all claims regarding epilepsy be denied. Imo, that is nuts but its allowed. The only way to really protect yourself is to get a policy before anything is diagnosed or noted in the chart and keep it as long as you possibly can.
Of course this can be a nightmare too if you buy a policy and use it and then the company tries to raise your premiums by outrageous amounts or adjusts your coverage or even drops you. Its a jungle out here!
I was quite happy with Embrace but towards the end of my Kiwi’s life, Embrace was bought by private equity. I didn’t really have time to evaluate the change but in general, I prefer not to do business with private equity when I can help it as their goals and mine are not aligned in general. So while I did consider them for my new puppy, in the end I decided to go with the company with the largest market share in the US, Trupanion.
I liked that they could pay my vet directly and I felt they had a very good chance of actually surviving the next few years unlike some of the newer companies that I believe will either fold or get bought out. Trupanion is usually more expensive and is considered the Cadillac of pet insurance companies, but it made me feel the most secure, so I went with it.
One thing to remember with Trupanion is that they still do a per lifetime deductible unlike basically every other company where the deductible resets annually. In my particular case I think that will work out, since Cavaliers tend to have the same health concerns over their lifetime. For example, toward the end of her life, Bailey was being seen for heart issues and stomach upset mostly. She had the most finicky stomach on the planet I swear. If I had had Trupanion, she would have hit the lifetime deductible for upset stomach probably as a puppy and I would have never had to pay it again. But if your pet ends up having a variety of illnesses or accidents, the lifetime deductible per issue would probably not be a good deal. It remains to be seen if this will work out for me or not.
Pets Best has been in the market for quite some time, since 2005, I believe. In 2019, they were acquired by Synchrony, the company behind Care Credit and other financial services. Then in 2023, Pets Best was sold to Independence Pet Holdings, a subsidiary of Jab Holdings, a private equity firm that owns over ten pet insurance companies. This transition has led to significant delays in claims processing for Pets Best as they change underwriters and work through the resulting challenges. If you search here, you’ll find many complaints about their claims handling recently. Personally, I wanted to steer clear of these issues, so I decided against them. They’ll likely resolve these problems soon, but I prefer to avoid private equity firms when possible.
Spot is a newer player in the pet insurance space, having launched in 2019. Because of their recent entry, I was a bit hesitant since I prefer to see a company with more stability before committing to a policy. However, they are gaining popularity due to their customizable plans and their affiliation with AAA, which has increased their market exposure. There aren’t many reviews available yet, likely because they are still relatively new and not very large.
Trupanion started operating in the U.S. in 2008, although they originated in Canada in the late 90s. They are publicly traded, which I generally prefer because it means they are accountable to shareholders and must periodically disclose their financials. They hold the largest market share in both Canada and the U.S., but they tend to be more expensive. I’m comfortable with this for now, as I believe they can handle the pressures of inflation and rising vet costs. They usually have good relationships with veterinarians; if your vet is part of their network, they offer direct payment at checkout, so you’re only responsible for your portion, which is convenient. Their customer service has been excellent for me; I called them four or five times before purchasing the policy, and they’re available during the week and on weekends, which isn’t the case with every company. They were always polite and answered all my questions, but yes, they are generally the priciest option.
Since I have a background in insurance, I’m likely less willing to take risks compared to the average consumer. Other people might not care as much about a company’s history, but having seen many clients regret choosing cheaper premiums without adequate coverage, I tend to be more cautious. People often assume all insurance companies are the same and choose based on the lowest premium. From my experience, the choice of insurance company is important; they can either simplify or complicate the claims process, and I prefer to pay a bit more for better service. Of course, priorities and budgets vary from person to person. I also tend to own higher-risk breeds like Cavaliers and Yorkies. My Yorkie needed an MRI and two surgeries before she turned four, while my Cavalier saw a cardiologist and an ophthalmologist yearly and dealt with stomach issues. If I had a dog with fewer breed-specific health problems, I might think differently, but I adore Cavaliers too much to consider switching breeds!
I hope this information helps, and I apologize for the lengthy response—I struggle to keep my posts short, haha!
Here are some links to sites I recommend for pet insurance reviews and information:
- Pet Insurance University – written by a vet, this site offers useful insights on different companies.
- Canine Journal – another helpful resource for comparing pet insurance options.
Hi there,
I just brought home my golden retriever a week ago, and he’s such a good boy! He’s 8 weeks old, and I decided to go with Pets Best for insurance. I chose the elite plan, which covers 90% with a $500 deductible and has unlimited coverage for $62 a month. I didn’t go for wellness coverage, but I did include prescription and vet exam fees.
I felt that wellness coverage wouldn’t really cover all my vet expenses since it has annual limits.
Overall, I’m very satisfied with my plan!
Make sure to get insurance as soon as you get your puppy, even before the first vet visit. From what I’ve read, like most insurers, they will look for any reason to deny claims. If your puppy has no vet history, that means there are no pre-existing conditions.
Golden retrievers are known for swallowing foreign objects, especially when they’re being their playful little t-Rex selves!
They’re also prone to issues like cancer, hip dysplasia, and heart disease.
Get the insurance you’ll be glad you did if anything comes up!
Thank you so much for your recommendations! I hope you’re absolutely loving life with your golden! They’re just the cutest, but you definitely have to keep an eye on them! My family has a golden, and when she was younger, she ate about eight of my scrunchies. Even now, at nine years old, she still loves to chew the stuffing out of her toys 
. I’m considering either Pets Best or Fetch! Both have similar pricing and services, but I’m doing some more research to see if one has better options than the other. I’ll definitely keep Pets Best in mind thanks to your recommendation! Plus, it’s currently a bit cheaper than Fetch.
When I was in a similar situation, I chose Spot pet insurance right from the start. It provided me with peace of mind knowing I was protected against unexpected health issues, even though some routine care like vaccinations wasn’t covered.
As a first-time dog owner, it’s important to think about the potential costs of emergencies or illnesses that can arise, especially with a young dog. Spot offers plans that focus on major medical concerns, and I found their claims process to be easy to navigate. After adopting my dog, I had some unexpected vet visits, and having insurance really helped lessen the financial stress.
Although paying for routine care out of pocket may seem manageable at first, unforeseen health issues can add up quickly. I suggest exploring plans that cover a wide range of situations and fit your budget. Ultimately, having pet insurance from the beginning can serve as a safety net, particularly during those initial years when a lot can happen. Best of luck with your new furry companion!
Golden Retrievers are such a fantastic breed, and I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time raising him. Regarding pet insurance, I personally use Spot Pet Insurance for my pets, and my experience with them has been excellent. They provide various plans, including accident-only and accident and illness coverage, and you can also add preventive care to cover things like vaccinations and routine checkups. You might want to check them out and get a quote to find the best option for your budget and your new pup’s needs.
From my experience, I highly recommend getting insurance early. It serves as a great safety net for unforeseen accidents or illnesses, and signing up sooner is beneficial since most companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions once they arise. It’s always wise to have coverage in place before anything happens, so you aren’t surprised by high vet bills later on.