US pet insurance enrollment increased 9% in 2025, but more than 95% of cats and dogs remain uninsured

The number of insured pets in the United States rose 9% year over year in 2025, yet more than 95% of the country's dogs and cats still have no coverage, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association's (NAPHIA) 2026 State of the Industry Report.¹

The report, which reflects the 2025 calendar year and is estimated to cover about 99% of written pet health insurance premium in the US and Canada, found that 6.98 million pets were insured in the US in 2025.¹ Even so, with an estimated 163.6 million pets in the US, more than 95% of these dogs and cats still have no insurance coverage.¹ Cats lag behind dogs, with only about 2% insured compared with roughly 6% of dogs.¹

An insurance gap remains even as veterinary care is getting more expensive. A 2025 report from Rover, a pet-care marketplace, estimated lifetime care at roughly $34,000 for a dog reaching age 10 and $32,000 for a cat reaching age 16.² Meanwhile, the ASPCA, in a 2021 estimate, put first-year costs at about $3200 for a dog and $1900 for a cat, with recurring annual costs of roughly $1400 and $1150 thereafter.³ Preventive medication for heartworm, fleas and ticks alone runs about $185 a year for a dog and $140 for a cat, and routine vaccinations and wellness visits add roughly $225 and $160, respectively.³

Unexpected emergencies can drive costs much higher. EmergencyVetsUSA, a veterinary information site, estimates emergency surgery for conditions such as bloat, foreign-body ingestion, or being hit by a car at $1500 to $5000, depending on the animal's size. A 3- to 5-day hospitalization for conditions such as kidney failure or parvovirus can cost another $1500 to $3500.⁴

For the more than 95% of pets without insurance, those costs fall entirely on the owner.

Individual claims run much higher. The largest single US dog claim in the NAPHIA report totaled $66,600, for a 3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, treated for a chronic undiagnosed illness.¹ The largest feline claim was $51,600, for a 4-year-old American Shorthair in Los Angeles treated for cancer.¹

Premium growth is outpacing growth in the insured pet population, suggesting policies are becoming more expensive even as more owners enroll. US gross written premium reached about $5.68 billion at the end of 2025, a 19.7% increase over 2024, while the number of insured pets rose 9%.¹

In a statement accompanying the report, NAPHIA said the findings underscore how many pet owners remain without financial protection for veterinary care. "Our industry's growth is a highly positive sign, but it also highlights the vast number of pet families who are still vulnerable to difficult medical and financial decisions," said Sammi-Jo Nevin, president of NAPHIA.⁵ "While headline-making emergencies occur, our data shows it's the common issues like ear infections and skin conditions that make coverage so essential. Our collective mandate is to continue educating the public on both the accessibility and the necessity of this protection in modern, conscientious pet ownership."

References

1. North American Pet Health Insurance Association. 2026 State of the Industry Report. NAPHIA. June 21, 2026. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://naphia.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/NAPHIA_SOI2026_Report_HIGHLIGHTS_26-06-24.pdf
2. Marquit M. Is pet insurance worth it? WSJ Buy Side. April 27, 2026. Accessed June 24, 2026. https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/pet-insurance/is-pet-insurance-worth-it
3. Cutting pet care costs. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 2021. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/cutting-pet-care-costs
4. EmergencyVetsUSA. Average cost of emergency vet visits. EmergencyVetsUSA. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://emergencyvetsusa.com/average-cost-of-emergency-vet-visits/
5. North American pet insurance adoption continues to grow as 7.6 million pet parents seek peace of mind. News release. North American Pet Health Insurance Association. June 24, 2026. Accessed July 28, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-american-pet-insurance-adoption-continues-to-grow-as-7-6-million-pet-parents-seek-peace-of-mind-870925508.html