Best Pet Insurance Rates for 3 to 5 Year Old Dogs

If you have a dog between the ages of 3 and 5 years old and have been searching for pet insurance, you’ve probably learned there are several factors that affect the rates.

For example, your dog’s size, breed, and the plan’s deductible are all important variables that determine the price.

But no variable is more important than your dog’s age.

The problem?

It’s hard to find sample pet insurance quotes for a 3, 4, or 5-year-old dog without having to submit your personal information!

We aim to correct that in this article.  We’ve done the research.  So whether you own a German Sheperd or a Beagle, have a purebred or a mixed, male or female, we’ve got sample pet insurance rates to help you and your pooch make a good decision.

Factors That Affect Pet Insurance Rates at Any Age

There are several factors that affect your rates besides your dog’s age:

1. Mixed vs Purebred – Did you know that pet insurance rates are generally lower for mixed breeds than purebreds?  That’s because they tend to live longer and have fewer health issues along the way.
2. Type of Breed – Some dog breeds have more known health conditions than others.
3. Weight – Bigger dogs tend to be a bit riskier and visit the vet more, so they cost a bit more.
4. Gender – Rates on male dogs tend to be slightly higher than on females.  That gives you another reason to say “good girl” and “bad boy!”
5. City and State – States that tend to be more spacious like Montana and North Dakota have some of the lowest pet insurance rates for dogs.  Even within your state, though, pricing varies.  If your zip code correlates with a more heavily populated, urban area, your rates may be higher than if you live in a more rural area.
6. Deductible – The deductible is the amount you must spend out of pocket before the insurance kicks in.  Typical deductible choices with most plans are $250, $500, $750, and $1,000.  The higher deductible you choose, you’ll have to come out of pocket more for pet care which reduces your insurance premium.
7. Reimbursement Amount – Once you meet your deductible, pet insurance typically reimburses 70%, 80% or 90% of medical expenses.  A higher percentage like 90% means the insurance company is on the hook for a higher payout, so higher reimbursement percentage equals higher premiums.
8. Coverage Plan Options – Most plans cover medical care due to accident and illnesses like diabetes or cancer, but plans can vary quite a bit when it comes to covering hereditary and congenital conditions, behavioral conditions, and prescription medication.  Be sure to read the fine print when comparing plans.

Last but not least, age affects your rates more than any of the above.  Let’s see some sample quotes below.

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Best Pet Insurance Rates for Mixed Breeds (Ages 3, 4, and 5 Years Old)

As we discussed in the previous section, mixed breeds tend to cost a bit less than purebred dogs, so if you own a purebred such as a Bulldog, Poodle, or Golden Retreiver, please refer to our section on purebred pricing further down in the article.

Read more: Pet Insurance for Purebred Dogs

Sample quotes below are for a small sized (11-30 lbs) mixed breed, male dog in San Diego, CA with a $250 deductible, and assumes no pre-existing conditions like allergies, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, or epilepsy.

Note that many locations in the U.S. cost less than in San Diego. This is for illustration purposes only.

Best pet insurance quotes for Mixed Breed dogs (11-30 lbs) 3, 4, and 5 years old

Age of Dog	70% Reimbursement	80% Reimbursement
3 Years Old	$33.20	$37.14
4 Years Old	$35.39	$39.59
5 Years Old	$39.54	$44.24

*Rates updated for 2020.  Pet insurance rates may vary based on your dog’s gender, weight, breed, pre-existing conditions, coverage, where you live, and more.  Rates above were supplied by Healthy Paws, are for illustration purposes only, and may change often.  

Pet insurance rates for mixed dogs are cheaper in general than for purebreds, but remember they still vary a lot based on your dog’s size and gender.

The quotes in our chart above were for a small dog.  Your rates may be higher if your have a bigger dog or if you’d like a quote for 90% reimbursement which is not presented above.

The only way to get an accurate quote is to run a free quote. It’s quick and easy to do at Healthy Paw’s website.

Every Doggy Birthday is Critical for Pet Insurance Rates

When it comes to getting pet insurance, every birthday your dog celebrates matters.

… a lot!

For example, using the standard 7-year human-equivalency calculation, think of the price difference in terms of a human buying life insurance.  A 47-year-old man is going to pay a lot more for the same coverage as a 40 year old.

The same holds for just a ONE year difference in dogs.

Pet insurance rates jump about 25% to 50% every birthday they have.  Therefore, it’s critical to lock in your dog’s pet insurance at their current age, especially if they have an upcoming birthday.

Read more: How To Calculate A Dog’s Age in Human Years

Sample Pet Insurance Rates for Purebred Breeds

Pet insurance rates for purebreds tend to be a bit higher than for mixed breeds.

This is due to purebreds’ propesity for developing health ailments that require medical care.  If your dog is a purebred, he or she is more likely to have an inherent hereditary or congenital condition that is prevalent to that breed.

For example, hip dysplasia and anterior cruciate ligament injuries are common in larger breeds, especially Rottweilers, Great Danes, and Mastiffs.

Other breeds have relatively fewer issues and live longer, as we’ll see below.

Here are sample quotes for a medium sized Labrador Retriever (31-59 lbs), male, with a $250 deductible.  Again, the quotes are from San Diego, CA.  San Diego is a bit on the high side and the sample rates are for illustrative purposes only. 

Rates in your city and state may be cheaper.

Pet Insurance Quotes for Medium, Purebred Dogs: Ages 3 to 5 Years Old

Age of Dog	70% Reimbursement	80% Reimbursement
3 Years Old	$71.69	$80.31
4 Years Old	$76.38	$85.51
5 Years Old	$92.59	$103.74

 

*Pet insurance rates may vary based on your dog’s gender, pre-existing conditions, plan details, your location, and more.  Rates above were supplied by Healthy Paws, are for illustration purposes only, and may change often.  

Note that labrador retreivers are one of the longer-living purebred dogs with fewer health concerns relative to other purebreds.  

A handful of other long-living breeds with relatively fewer health conditions include:

• Yorkshire Terrier – 14 to 16 year life expectancy
• Poodle – Toy sized live 14 to 16 years.  Larger poodles live 11 to 13 years
• Maltese – Elegant breed lives 14 to 16 years
• Miniature Schnauzer – 12 to 14 years
• Boston Terrier – 14 years
• Shih Tzu – 11 to 14 years
• Dachshund – 12 to 14 years

*All year estimates are averages.  Source

On the other hand, some breeds require a lot more health care.

As you can see, life expectancy and health care requirements can differ substantially by breed, so the only way to get an accurate quote for your purebred is to request one using your exact breed.

The good news?

Healthy Paws allows you to select your exact breed and get a custom quote for your pooch!You can also adjust your premium by changing the reimbursement amount and deductible.

Read more: Pet Insurance and Age: How Your Dog\’s Age Affects Your Premiums

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Important Savings Tip for 3-Year-Old Dogs

When it comes to pet insurance rates, most insurance companies charge by the age of the dog in years, not months.  

That’s good news for you if your dog is almost 3 or almost 4.

For example, a 3.5-year-old dog doesn’t cost more than a dog who just had its third birthday.  If you think about it, that’s a pretty sweet deal because in “dog years” a 3.5 year old is a lot older than a 3 year old.  

Savings tip:

If your dog is almost 3, get an application in right away to lock in the 2-year-old pet insurance rates which will save you about 50% on pet insurance! 

In the same breath, if your dog is closer to 4 years old, then this little trick works in your favor.  Get a quote right away and lock in your coverage!

Important Note for 4 and 5 Year Olds

Note that as your dog gets older, fewer companies offer pet insurance at good rates. 

If your dog is 4 or 5 years old, be sure to check rates from multiple companies. You can check for the best rates in your area below:

Why We Like Healthy Paws

Here’s what we like about Healthy Paws for your 3, 4, or 5-year-old dog.  Healthy Paws is the only pet insurance company that provides unlimited lifetime benefits with an annual deductible. This means that there is no limit on the number of claims you can file, and no cap on reimbursements. Your pet is also covered for any accident or illness for life.

Some policies at other companies have restrictions for hereditary or congenital conditions, including cancer, but not Healthy Paws.  They automatically reimburse congenital and hereditary condition diagnosis and treatment with no hassle.

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