Amanda Moore faced about $20,500 in veterinary costs after her dog Tasha was diagnosed with mammary cancer. Insurance reimbursed more than $14,300, allowing Moore to pursue surgery, chemotherapy and radiation while confronting an uncertain prognosis.
It allowed me to make decisions based on what was medically best for Tasha rather than what I could afford, Moore said.
Tasha was initially given about six months to live but was doing well more than a year after treatment. Her result is individual and does not predict how another dog will respond, but the size of her bills illustrates why more owners are considering insurance before a serious diagnosis.
Radiation alone had been quoted at roughly $3,000 to $10,000. For Moore, 45, of Norwalk, Ohio, insurance did not erase the cost, but it changed which treatment choices were financially possible.
More pets are insured as veterinary prices rise
About 7 million pets, or more than 4% of U.S. pets, were insured in 2025, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. That was a 9% increase from the previous year and a 76% increase over five years.
The association’s newer North American industry data counted 7.6 million insured pets across the United States and Canada at the end of 2025, up 8.5% from 2024. Even after years of growth, most pets remain uninsured.
Tim Zawacki of S&P Global Market Intelligence projected that pet-insurance premiums would increase 17% to $6.4 billion in 2026. U.S. veterinarian-service prices in September 2026 were 4.6% higher than a year earlier, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The American Veterinary Medical Association put average annual veterinary spending at about $560 in the year it cited. A major illness or injury can produce a far larger bill, however. Trupanion said its highest individual claim exceeded $150,000.
Arizona resident Maribeth Roufus encountered that gap when her dog Pepita developed a herniated disc. The bill reached $10,038.77, with insurance reimbursing $7,791.02 and leaving Roufus responsible for about $2,247.75.
Higher prices are only part of the change. Veterinarian Karen Hauer attributed increasing costs to labor, supplies, shipping and employee healthcare. At the same time, specialist care and newer capabilities have expanded the range of available options, including advanced diagnostics, chemotherapy, minimally invasive surgery, wearable monitors and medicines for chronic conditions.
That sophistication improves outcomes and helps pets live longer, but it also raises the cost, said Dr. Jen Quammen, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Coverage still requires an upfront policy comparison
Tasha’s reimbursement shows what insurance can contribute, not what every policy will pay. Owners need to examine when coverage begins and how bills are handled before an illness or injury occurs.
Pet-insurance policies commonly include waiting periods between the effective date and the start of coverage. Conditions that develop during that interval may be classified as preexisting and generally excluded. An analysis of pet-insurance waiting periods found that illness coverage commonly has a 14-day delay, while accident and orthopedic waiting periods vary by company and state.
Payment mechanics also affect how much cash an owner may need immediately. Under the traditional reimbursement model, the owner pays the veterinary bill and later submits a claim. Some policies offer direct payment, but the veterinarian must accept that arrangement, and the owner may still owe the full bill if a claim is denied. A consumer guide to direct payment advises confirming availability with both the veterinarian and insurer before treatment.
The central tradeoff is becoming clearer as veterinary medicine offers more ways to treat serious conditions. Insurance may make some options financially reachable, but owners still need to assess waiting periods, exclusions and payment arrangements before their dog needs care.
What would you do if your dog were in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
By Sarah Mitchell — 8 years as a local-news reporter covering animal welfare, shelters, neighborhood disputes, and public-safety pet stories.
