Last updated: August 2026 · 39 breeds analyzed · See methodology
Pet insurance does not cost the same for every pet. Premiums are driven mostly by breed — because breed predicts the expensive conditions an insurer expects to pay for. The ComparePetCover Cost Index ranks popular U.S. dog and cat breeds by their typical monthly accident-and-illness premium, so owners (and reporters) can see where the money actually goes.
- Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds cost the most. French and English Bulldogs top the index at roughly 2× the premium of a comparable mixed-breed dog, driven by airway surgery (BOAS) and skin/spine issues.
- Giant breeds are the priciest large dogs — Great Danes, Mastiffs and Bernese Mountain Dogs run high because of bloat (GDV), joint disease and cancer.
- Mixed breeds are consistently the cheapest to insure in both dogs and cats — a real, quantifiable hybrid-vigor discount.
- Cats are cheaper than dogs, but pedigree cats (Maine Coon, Persian, Sphynx) carry a clear premium for inherited heart and kidney disease.
The 2026 Pet Insurance Cost Index
Illustrative monthly premiums for a healthy adult pet on a mid-tier accident-and-illness plan. The Cost Index is relative to a large mixed-breed dog (=100). Actual quotes vary by age, ZIP code, provider and coverage level.
| Breed | Type | Avg premium | Cost index | Main cost drivers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Bulldog | Dog | $65–$110/mo | 190 | BOAS airway surgery, IVDD, skin allergies |
| English Bulldog | Dog | $70–$115/mo | 200 | Brachycephalic airway, hip dysplasia, skin & eye |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | Dog | $60–$100/mo | 175 | Heart disease, hip dysplasia, short lifespan |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Dog | $60–$100/mo | 175 | Cancer, hip/elbow dysplasia |
| Great Dane | Dog | $58–$98/mo | 170 | Bloat (GDV), heart disease, joints |
| Mastiff | Dog | $55–$95/mo | 165 | Joints, bloat, heart |
| Rottweiler | Dog | $52–$88/mo | 155 | ACL/cruciate, hip dysplasia, cancer |
| Cane Corso | Dog | $50–$85/mo | 150 | Hip dysplasia, eyelid issues, bloat |
| Saint Bernard | Dog | $50–$85/mo | 150 | Bloat, joints, heart |
| Newfoundland | Dog | $48–$82/mo | 148 | Heart (SAS), hip dysplasia |
| Doberman Pinscher | Dog | $48–$80/mo | 145 | Cardiomyopathy, von Willebrand |
| Boxer | Dog | $45–$78/mo | 140 | Cancer, heart, brachycephalic |
| German Shepherd | Dog | $45–$75/mo | 138 | Hip/elbow dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy |
| Golden Retriever | Dog | $42–$72/mo | 130 | Cancer, hip dysplasia, ear infections |
| Labrador Retriever | Dog | $40–$68/mo | 125 | ACL, hip/elbow dysplasia, obesity |
| Siberian Husky | Dog | $38–$62/mo | 118 | Eye conditions, hips |
| Cavalier King Charles | Dog | $38–$64/mo | 120 | Mitral valve disease, syringomyelia |
| Australian Shepherd | Dog | $35–$58/mo | 110 | Eyes, hips, epilepsy |
| Pug | Dog | $35–$58/mo | 110 | Brachycephalic airway, eyes, spine |
| Cocker Spaniel | Dog | $34–$55/mo | 105 | Ear & eye conditions, luxating patella |
| Dachshund | Dog | $34–$56/mo | 108 | IVDD (back), dental |
| Poodle (Standard) | Dog | $34–$55/mo | 105 | Bloat, Addison's, hips |
| Border Collie | Dog | $32–$52/mo | 100 | Hips, eyes, epilepsy |
| Boston Terrier | Dog | $32–$52/mo | 100 | Brachycephalic, eyes, patella |
| Corgi | Dog | $30–$48/mo | 95 | IVDD, hips, obesity |
| Beagle | Dog | $30–$48/mo | 95 | IVDD, ear infections, epilepsy |
| Shih Tzu | Dog | $30–$48/mo | 95 | Eyes, brachycephalic, dental |
| Mixed Breed (large) | Dog | $30–$50/mo | 100 | Varies — generally hardier |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Dog | $28–$45/mo | 90 | Dental, luxating patella, collapsing trachea |
| Pomeranian | Dog | $27–$44/mo | 88 | Collapsing trachea, dental, patella |
| Maltese | Dog | $26–$43/mo | 86 | Dental, patella, eyes |
| Chihuahua | Dog | $25–$42/mo | 85 | Dental, heart, patella |
| Mixed Breed (small) | Dog | $24–$40/mo | 82 | Varies — generally hardier |
| Maine Coon | Cat | $22–$38/mo | 150 | HCM (heart), hip dysplasia |
| Sphynx | Cat | $22–$38/mo | 150 | Heart (HCM), skin |
| Persian | Cat | $20–$36/mo | 140 | PKD (kidney), brachycephalic, eyes |
| Ragdoll | Cat | $18–$32/mo | 128 | HCM, bladder stones |
| Siamese | Cat | $16–$30/mo | 120 | Respiratory, dental, amyloidosis |
| Domestic Shorthair (mixed) | Cat | $14–$26/mo | 100 | Varies — generally hardier |
How we built the index
What this index is, and is not. No public dataset publishes average pet insurance premiums by breed. NAPHIA, the industry body whose data we use elsewhere on this site, reports national averages rather than breed splits, and no insurer publishes its rating tables. The dollar figures below are therefore modelled estimates, not quotes and not measured prices.
What is defensible here is the ranking, not the price. It rests on documented breed predisposition to expensive conditions, published by veterinary specialty colleges and checkable by anyone: airway surgery in flat-faced dogs, hip dysplasia and cruciate disease in large breeds, intervertebral disc disease in Dachshunds, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in several cat breeds. Those sources are listed at the foot of this page.
The dollar anchor is NAPHIA's published 2025 US average accident-and-illness premium, $836 a year for a dog and $435 for a cat, scaled by relative breed risk. Treat the spread between breeds as meaningful and any single figure as indicative. One thing here is measured: our own calculation from BLS series CUUR0000SEMD01 puts the rise in US veterinary prices at 19.4% between 2021 and 2025, so older breed cost guides read low. Always get a live quote before deciding — estimate yours with our cost calculator, or see typical ranges in your state in our cost-by-state study.
For journalists & media
This data is free to cite. If you reference the ComparePetCover Cost Index, we just ask for a link back to this page so readers can see the full methodology. For a custom data pull (by state, condition or provider) or an expert quote, contact Yassine Dekkak, Founder, at hello@comparepetcover.com.
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Which breeds should you insure?
If your pet is a high-index breed, coverage is usually the strongest financial decision — that is where a single claim can dwarf years of premiums. Compare honest, side-by-side options in our reviews of the top providers, read the breed guide for the French Bulldog, or check what a policy costs in Texas, Florida or your own state.
ComparePetCover provides general information only, not insurance, financial or veterinary advice. All figures are illustrative estimates and not quotes; confirm coverage, pricing and terms directly with each provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which dog breed is the most expensive to insure?
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like French and English Bulldogs top the index — roughly twice the premium of a comparable mixed-breed dog — because insurers expect to pay for airway (BOAS) surgery, spinal issues, and chronic skin problems.
Why is pet insurance cheaper for mixed-breed pets?
Mixed breeds don't concentrate the hereditary conditions that purebreds do, so insurers expect fewer expensive claims. It is a real, quantifiable “hybrid vigor” discount in both dogs and cats.
Does breed or age affect the premium more?
Both matter. Breed sets the baseline — it predicts the costly conditions an insurer expects — while age pushes the premium up steadily over time. Enrolling while your pet is young locks in the lowest rate.