Factors That Impact The Cost Of Your Pet Insurance Policy In Jacksonville
There isn’t one set pricing model that can predict how much you’ll pay monthly for pet insurance. Instead, pet health insurance companies utilize several factors to determine your pet’s premium rate. The actual weight of each factor will vary from company to company, but the elements tend to stay the same.
Most pet insurance organizations look at the following categories when writing a policy:
- Age
- Animal Type
- Breed
- Insurance Type
- Location
Age
When assessing an application, age is often one of the first places underwriters will look. Generally, the younger a pet is, the less likely they are to experience illnesses and, as such are cheaper to insure. On the other hand, older pets are susceptible to injuries and illnesses, making their premium more costly.
Animal Type
Even though cats and dogs are incredible pets, pet insurance companies don’t view them the same way. Generally, cat owners will pay less for coverage than dog owners because there is a greater risk of injury for dogs. The increase in risk is normally associated with being outside more and engaging in more physical activities.
Breed
Whether it’s a dog or a cat, your pet’s breed will ultimately play a significant role in what you pay for coverage. Many breeds on both sides are notorious for having health issues, like boxers and Persian cats. If you have a high-risk breed, you may pay more for their insurance policy.
Insurance Type
While not directly correlated to the pet insurance company itself, the type of insurance you purchase will also affect your premium. For example, accident-only coverage policies will be more affordable than those with accident and illness coverage.
Location
For most insurance providers, location is one of the last factors they consider. While the disparity in cost between different regions of a city can vary by a few dollars, it’s usually not a substantial amount. Location may become a significant factor if a zip code has a high number of pet insurance claims compared to other areas.