About 6.98 million pets in the US have insurance in 2025, a 9% jump in one year. Owners pay about $5.7 billion in premiums. Yet only 4.27% of the 163.6 million dogs and cats in the country have a policy.
Where a pet lives shapes all of this. California alone holds 18.1% of all insured US pets. A dog policy costs $32 a month in Alabama and $66 in Alaska. And only 17 states have a full pet insurance law on the books.
I went through the latest industry report, state insurance laws, quote data from over 250,000 pet insurance quotes and the cost of pet care in every state. Below you get the numbers by state, my own calculations and the forecasts that shape the next few years.
Contents
- TL;DR
- Most-Important Pet Insurance Adoption Statistics
- How Many Pets Are Insured in the US?
- States With the Most Insured Pets
- Pet Insurance Premiums by State
- Most and Least Expensive States to Own a Pet
- Which States Have Pet Insurance Laws?
- Dog and Cat Insurance Gap
- Who Buys Pet Insurance
- Top Pet Insurance Companies by Market Share
- Pet Insurance in Canada and Abroad
- Pet Insurance Forecasts for 2030 and Beyond
- What These State Numbers Mean
- Pet Insurance by State FAQs
TL;DR
- 6.98 million US pets have insurance, 4.27% of all dogs and cats.
- California, New York, Florida, Texas and New Jersey hold 42.5% of insured pets.
- The top 10 states hold 60.5% of all insured pets.
- Median dog premiums range from $32 a month (Alabama, Mississippi) to $66 (Alaska).
- 17 states have a full pet insurance law, and New Jersey joins in 2027.
- Cat premiums grow 33.1% in a year, almost twice the 17.6% rise for dogs.
Most-Important Pet Insurance Adoption Statistics
- California has about 1.26 million insured pets and pays about $1.13 billion in premiums a year.
- The average insured pet costs about $814 a year in premium across the US.
- An insured pet in Massachusetts costs about $957 a year, against about $747 in Texas.
- California pays about $895 per insured pet, 10% above the US average.
- Alaska dog owners pay 2.1 times what Alabama dog owners pay each month ($66 against $32).
- DC cat owners pay 3.1 times the Mississippi rate ($34 against $11).
- A Massachusetts dog policy costs $403 more a year than one in Arkansas ($833 against $430).
- Outside the top 10, the other 40 states and DC share only 39.5% of insured pets.
- 95.7% of US pets still have zero insurance.
- The dog insurance rate is 2.6 times the cat rate (5.99% against 2.29%).
- A wellness add on nearly doubles a cat policy, from $435 to $859 a year.
- About one in three states now has a full pet insurance law.
How Many Pets Are Insured in the US?
- 6.98 million US pets have insurance in 2025, up 9% in a year.
- Insured pets grow about 76% over five years.
- US premiums reach about $5.7 billion, up 19.7% in a year.
- Premiums grow an average 21.7% a year over the last five years.
- 4.27% of US pets have insurance: 5.99% of dogs and 2.29% of cats.
- The US has 163.6 million pets: 87.3 million dogs and 76.3 million cats.
- Across North America, 7.6 million pets have insurance and premiums top $6.15 billion.
- Dogs make up 74.9% of insured pets and cats 25.1%.
States With the Most Insured Pets
Top 10 States by Share of Insured US Pets
| Rank | State | Share of Insured Pets | Share of Premium | Insured Pets | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 18.1% | 19.9% | About 1.26M | About $1.13B |
| 2 | New York | 7.4% | 8.1% | About 517K | About $460M |
| 3 | Florida | 6.2% | 6.5% | About 433K | About $369M |
| 4 | Texas | 6.1% | 5.6% | About 426K | About $318M |
| 5 | New Jersey | 4.7% | 5.1% | About 328K | About $290M |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4.5% | 4.6% | About 314K | About $261M |
| 7 | Washington | 3.8% | 3.8% | About 265K | About $216M |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 3.4% | 4.0% | About 237K | About $227M |
| 9 | Illinois | 3.3% | 3.5% | About 230K | About $199M |
| 10 | Colorado | 3.0% | 3.2% | About 209K | About $182M |
- California holds more insured pets than New York and Florida combined, at 18.1% against 13.6%.
- Texas grows from 5.5% to 6.1% of insured pets in one year, the biggest rise among states with prior year data.
- New York rises from 7.2% to 7.4%, while California dips from 18.3% to 18.1%.
- California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Colorado pay a larger share of premium than their share of pets, a sign of higher prices per policy.
- Texas pays 5.6% of premium for 6.1% of pets, so Texas policies cost less than the national mix.
Pet Insurance Premiums by State
These are median monthly quotes for accident and illness plans in each state. The US median is $43 for dogs and $23 for cats.
Median Monthly Pet Insurance Premium by State, 2026
| State | Dog (Monthly) | Cat (Monthly) | Dog (Yearly) | Cat (Yearly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $32 | $15 | $384 | $180 |
| Alaska | $66 | $30 | $792 | $360 |
| Arizona | $49 | $25 | $588 | $300 |
| Arkansas | $34 | $20 | $408 | $240 |
| California | $49 | $25 | $588 | $300 |
| Colorado | $53 | $29 | $636 | $348 |
| Connecticut | $54 | $28 | $648 | $336 |
| Delaware | $57 | $32 | $684 | $384 |
| District of Columbia | $60 | $34 | $720 | $408 |
| Florida | $47 | $24 | $564 | $288 |
| Georgia | $38 | $23 | $456 | $276 |
| Hawaii | $50 | $27 | $600 | $324 |
| Idaho | $50 | $25 | $600 | $300 |
| Illinois | $48 | $23 | $576 | $276 |
| Indiana | $38 | $18 | $456 | $216 |
| Iowa | $43 | $18 | $516 | $216 |
| Kansas | $49 | $22 | $588 | $264 |
| Kentucky | $45 | $22 | $540 | $264 |
| Louisiana | $40 | $20 | $480 | $240 |
| Maine | $51 | $26 | $612 | $312 |
| Maryland | $50 | $25 | $600 | $300 |
| Massachusetts | $64 | $31 | $768 | $372 |
| Michigan | $43 | $18 | $516 | $216 |
| Minnesota | $42 | $20 | $504 | $240 |
| Mississippi | $32 | $11 | $384 | $132 |
| Missouri | $39 | $17 | $468 | $204 |
| Montana | $46 | $18 | $552 | $216 |
| Nebraska | $45 | $21 | $540 | $252 |
| Nevada | $39 | $18 | $468 | $216 |
| New Hampshire | $55 | $26 | $660 | $312 |
| New Jersey | $46 | $30 | $552 | $360 |
| New Mexico | $38 | $16 | $456 | $192 |
| New York | $56 | $28 | $672 | $336 |
| North Carolina | $38 | $20 | $456 | $240 |
| North Dakota | $45 | $20 | $540 | $240 |
| Ohio | $35 | $18 | $420 | $216 |
| Oklahoma | $33 | $15 | $396 | $180 |
| Oregon | $49 | $25 | $588 | $300 |
| Pennsylvania | $45 | $21 | $540 | $252 |
| Rhode Island | $37 | $16 | $444 | $192 |
| South Carolina | $36 | $17 | $432 | $204 |
| South Dakota | $48 | $24 | $576 | $288 |
| Tennessee | $42 | $18 | $504 | $216 |
| Texas | $38 | $20 | $456 | $240 |
| Utah | $45 | $22 | $540 | $264 |
| Vermont | $52 | $22 | $624 | $264 |
| Virginia | $43 | $21 | $516 | $252 |
| Washington | $43 | $26 | $516 | $312 |
| West Virginia | $41 | $17 | $492 | $204 |
| Wisconsin | $47 | $24 | $564 | $288 |
| Wyoming | $47 | $25 | $564 | $300 |
- Alaska has the highest dog premium at $66 a month, followed by Massachusetts at $64 and DC at $60.
- Alabama and Mississippi have the lowest dog premium at $32 a month.
- Mississippi has the lowest cat premium at $11 a month, and DC the highest at $34.
- Annual accident and illness premiums run from $430 for dogs in Arkansas to $833 in Massachusetts.
- For cats, yearly premiums run from $235 in Arkansas to $449 in Massachusetts.
- Florida approves 12 pet insurance rate rises in late 2025, averaging 9.25%, with one carrier up 26%.
Most and Least Expensive States to Own a Pet
Insurance is one part of the bill. The yearly cost of owning a dog and a cat, with food, vet care and insurance, averages $2,752 across the US.
Yearly Cost of Pet Ownership by State
| Most Expensive | Yearly Cost | Least Expensive | Yearly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $3,143 | Oklahoma | $2,462 |
| Massachusetts | $3,080 | North Dakota | $2,467 |
| District of Columbia | $3,067 | Montana | $2,491 |
| New Jersey | $3,065 | Alabama | $2,505 |
| Vermont | $3,019 | Iowa | $2,509 |
- Pet costs take 5.0% of income in Mississippi, the highest share in the US, followed by Louisiana at 4.7% and Arkansas at 4.3%.
- Utah has the lowest share at 2.5% of income.
- A routine dog exam costs $61 in Alabama and $146 in California.
- The average yearly vet bill is $677 for dogs and $479 for cats.
Which States Have Pet Insurance Laws?
Most states base their rules on a model pet insurance law. It sets clear rules on waiting periods, pre existing conditions, wellness add ons and what insurers must tell buyers.
State Pet Insurance Laws
| State | Year in Force |
|---|---|
| California | 2025 (first law 2014) |
| Maine | 2023 |
| Delaware | 2023 |
| Mississippi | 2023 |
| Louisiana | 2024 |
| Nebraska | 2024 |
| New Hampshire | 2024 |
| Washington | 2024 |
| Pennsylvania | 2025 |
| Maryland | 2025 |
| Vermont | 2025 |
| Ohio | 2025 |
| Montana | 2025 |
| Florida | 2026 |
| Hawaii | 2026 |
| Rhode Island | 2026 |
| New Jersey | 2027 |
- 17 states have a full pet insurance law.
- Six states, Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, have narrower rules.
- New York passes a pet insurance bill in the Senate 61 to 0 in June 2026, with the Assembly vote still open.
- Five of the top 10 insured states, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, have full laws.
- New York, Massachusetts, Illinois and Colorado still lack a full law, and Texas has narrower rules.
Dog and Cat Insurance Gap
- Accident and illness plans cost $836 a year for dogs and $435 for cats.
- Dog premiums rise 11.5% and cat premiums rise 12.6% in a year.
- Accident only plans cost $190 a year for dogs and $112 for cats.
- Plans with a wellness add on cost $1,414 for dogs and $859 for cats.
- Dogs bring in 84.5% of premium, about $4.8 billion.
- Cats bring in 15.5% of premium, about $880 million, with a record 33.1% rise.
- The largest dog claim of the year is $66,600, for a Bernese Mountain Dog in Philadelphia.
- The largest cat claim is $51,600, for cancer care in Los Angeles.
- Stomach and gut problems top the claims list for both dogs and cats.
Who Buys Pet Insurance
- 24% of dog and cat owners say they have pet insurance in a national survey, far above the 4.27% in insurer data.
- 57% of insured owners name peace of mind as the main reason they buy.
- In a study of 47,444 dogs, 21% have insurance.
- Insured dog owners skew aged 25 to 44, urban and higher income, while rural owners insure less.
- Insured dogs visit the vet 4.2 times a year, against 2.4 times for uninsured dogs.
- Vets earn 92% more per insured dog.
- 42% of employers offer pet insurance to at least some staff.
- 39% of vets say pet insurance is poor value, and 42% say plans carry too many exclusions.
Top Pet Insurance Companies by Market Share
- Trupanion leads with $1.22 billion in 2025 premiums, about 22% of the market.
- Nationwide writes $956.3 million, down 6.4%.
- Lemonade writes $441.2 million, up 54.7%.
- Lemonade pet premiums pass $500 million in early 2026, up 55%, against 17% for the market.
- US pet insurers write a record $1.53 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up 16.8%.
- The industry loss ratio falls to 74.2% in 2025 and 66.8% in early 2026.
- Trupanion has 1.65 million enrolled pets and books its first full year profit of $19.4 million.
Pet Insurance in Canada and Abroad
- Canada has CA$660.5 million in pet insurance premiums, up 13.1%.
- 3.72% of Canadian pets have insurance: 5.64% of dogs and 1.91% of cats.
- Ontario holds 36.2% of insured Canadian pets, British Columbia 23.1% and Alberta 18.7%.
- The UK has 4.6 million pet insurance policyholders and pays £1.23 billion in claims a year.
- The average UK pet insurance claim is £685, and the average premium is £389.
- The UK insures about 25% to 33% of pets, five to eight times the US rate.
Pet Insurance Forecasts for 2030 and Beyond
- The US pet insurance market grows about 17.5% a year to about $10 billion by 2030.
- The global pet insurance market reaches $29.8 billion to $32 billion by 2030.
- Another forecast puts the global market at $38.3 billion by 2033, growing 14.5% a year.
- North America holds about 32% of the global pet insurance market.
- New Jersey adds a full pet insurance law in 2027, and New York has a bill in progress.
- US pet spending reaches about $165 billion in 2026, across 95 million pet owning households.
- If US premiums keep their five year pace of 21.7%, they pass $10 billion around 2028.
What These State Numbers Mean
- For pet owners: where you live sets your premium, with up to a 2x gap, so compare quotes from several insurers.
- For insurers: Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania show room to grow, with large pet counts and modest shares.
- For lawmakers: states with clear laws give buyers plain terms on waiting periods and pre existing conditions.
- For vets: insured dogs visit almost twice as much, so insurance support pays off.
Pet Insurance by State FAQs
Which State Has the Most Insured Pets?
California has the most insured pets, with 18.1% of all insured US pets, about 1.26 million.
Which State Has the Cheapest Pet Insurance?
Alabama and Mississippi have the cheapest dog premiums at $32 a month, and Mississippi has the cheapest cat premium at $11.
Which State Has the Most Expensive Pet Insurance?
Alaska has the highest dog premium at $66 a month, and DC has the highest cat premium at $34.
What Percent of Pets Are Insured in the US?
4.27% of US pets have insurance: 5.99% of dogs and 2.29% of cats.
How Many States Have Pet Insurance Laws?
17 states have a full pet insurance law, with New Jersey joining in 2027.
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