How Does Pet Insurance Change as Pets Age?

How does pet insurance typically evolve as pets age?

Find out why pet insurance premiums change as your pet gets older, including the key factors that drive increases at each life stage. We’ll also explain how cover evolves over time and what it means for keeping your pet protected with lifetime insurance.

Pet insurance typically becomes more expensive as pets get older because their risk of illness and injury increases. Premiums may also change due to rising veterinary costs and insurer pricing updates at renewal.

This guide explains how and why cover evolves over time, and what it means for keeping your pet protected throughout their life.

Do pet insurance premiums increase with age?

Yes, pet insurance premiums often rise as your pet gets older because they're generally more likely to need veterinary treatment. As the chance of making a claim increases with age, insurers may charge more when you renew your policy. Older pets are also more likely to develop long-term health conditions or need more specialised treatment, both of which can increase vet bills.

Why does pet insurance go up every year?

Pet insurance often goes up every year, but not always. The two main factors that lead to increases include rising vet costs and increased health risks as pets age. These factors affect most policies, including lifetime cover, at each renewal.

Rising veterinary costs 

Veterinary treatment costs continue to rise due to things like more advanced diagnostics, specialist care, and complex treatments. These increases affect all policies, as insurers must reflect the real cost of veterinary care when setting their premiums.

Increased health risk as pets age

Older pets are more likely to develop conditions that require ongoing treatment or monitoring. Insurers use claims data and risk modelling to reflect this higher likelihood at renewal.

Does pet insurance go up if you claim? 

Making a claim doesn't automatically mean your premium will increase in the same way it often does with car insurance. Instead, insurers look at what the claim was for and whether it changes the likelihood of future treatment.

For example, a one-off accident or short-term illness may have little or no effect on your renewal price. But if your pet develops a long-term condition that’s likely to need ongoing treatment, your premium is more likely to increase to reflect the higher expected cost of future claims.

That said, claims are only one factor insurers consider. Your premium is also influenced by things like your pet's age, breed, where you live and rising veterinary costs. So, renewal prices can increase even if you haven't made a claim.

How does pet insurance typically change at each life stage?

Pet insurance generally changes as your pet gets older, with the level of risk increasing over time. Cover is often less expensive when pets are young and healthy, but premiums usually rise as they age and become more likely to need veterinary treatment.

Some insurers also use age bands when calculating premiums. This means the cost of cover may increase more noticeably when your pet reaches certain ages, rather than rising by the same amount every year.

What age can you insure a puppy or kitten?

Most insurers, including Agria, offer cover for puppies and kittens from around 8 weeks old. Taking out pet insurance early can be worthwhile, as illnesses or injuries that develop before your policy starts are usually treated as pre-existing conditions and won't be covered.

Young adult pets (1-4 years)

This is typically the most stable and affordable stage for pet insurance. Pets are generally healthy, and premiums tend to remain relatively steady compared to later life.

Middle-aged pets (5-7 years)

Premiums often start to rise more noticeably during this stage of your pet’s life. Conditions such as joint issues, weight-related problems, and dental disease become more common.

Senior pets

Senior pets usually see the largest premium increases because they’re more likely to develop age-related health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and heart disease. Dogs are often considered senior from around 7-10 years old (with larger breeds sometimes classed as senior earlier), while cats typically reach this stage at around 10-11 years, although this can vary by breed and size.

Some insurers may also introduce co-payments for older pets, meaning you’ll pay a percentage of each claim in addition to your policy excess. This depends on the insurer and the specific policy terms. Agria has no upper age limit for renewing cover.

Pre-existing conditions and switching insurers

A pre-existing condition is any illness, injury or symptom that began before your policy started. These conditions are typically excluded by insurers. This becomes more important as pets get older and build up a medical history, as switching insurers later in life can mean that existing conditions are usually excluded under a new policy. For this reason, many owners choose to keep a lifetime policy and renew it each year, as this can help ensure ongoing cover.

While pre-existing conditions aren't typically covered, other illnesses or injuries that first develop after your policy starts can usually be claimed for, provided they meet the terms and conditions of your policy.

Does lifetime pet insurance go up every year?

Yes, lifetime pet insurance premiums typically increase at each renewal. As long as the policy is renewed and kept active, it can continue to cover eligible conditions throughout your pet’s life. So, even though the cost may change over time, lifetime policies are designed to keep covering ongoing conditions year after year.

How much does pet insurance increase each year?

There’s no fixed percentage for annual increases in pet insurance. Costs vary depending on things such as your pet’s age, breed, location, and overall risk profile. This means increases can differ widely between policies and insurers each year. Your renewal documents will show the specific change for your policy.

Tips for managing rising pet insurance costs

Rising premiums can feel frustrating, but there are ways to keep costs manageable while still maintaining the right level of cover for your pet. The key is finding a balance between affordability now and protection in the long term.

• Insure your pet early - Taking out cover while your pet is young and healthy is usually more affordable. If you choose a lifetime policy early on, you’re also more likely to keep cover in place for any conditions that develop later in life, rather than them being excluded under a new policy.
• Plan ahead - It can help to budget for future increases while your pet is still young. Some owners choose to set aside a small amount each month into savings, so if premiums rise over time, there’s a buffer to help absorb the extra cost without putting pressure on household finances.
• Adjust your excess - If premiums start to feel high, it’s worth speaking to your insurer before making any decisions about cancelling. You may be able to adjust your excess to bring the cost down. Just keep in mind that increasing your excess means you’ll pay more towards any future claim.
• Keep up preventative care - Staying on top of vaccinations, parasite control and routine vet visits can help support your pet’s overall health. While it won’t prevent all conditions, good preventative care can reduce the risk of some illnesses developing or worsening over time.

Should you shop around at renewal?

There are pros and cons to shopping around at renewal. Switching insurers may reduce your premium, but it can also affect cover for any existing health conditions.

With older pets, who are more likely to have ongoing medical issues, a new insurer will usually class these conditions as pre-existing. As a result, they’re likely to be excluded from cover under a new policy.

This is why it’s important to look at the overall level of protection your policy provides, rather than focusing on price alone.

Understanding your excess and co-payment options

Your excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before your insurer contributes. Some insurers let you increase your excess by choosing a voluntary excess. This can reduce your monthly or annual premium, but you'll pay more towards any future claim.

Increasing your voluntary excess can help reduce your monthly or annual premiums. You just need to think about whether you could afford to pay this amount if you need to make a claim.

Some policies also include a co-payment option. A co-payment means you pay a percentage of each vet bill on top of your excess. For example, if the vet bill is £500 after the excess, and you’ve agreed to a 20% co-payment, you’d pay £100 and the insurer would cover the remaining £400.

Co-payments are often used for older pets because they help keep cover available and can help keep premiums lower than they would otherwise be. The trade-off is that you pay a bit more each time you claim.

Avoid letting cover lapse

Keeping continuous cover is essential, especially for older pets. If a policy lapses, conditions that were previously covered may be treated as pre-existing in future. This can significantly reduce future protection.

Is pet insurance still worth it for older pets?

Yes, pet insurance can become even more valuable as pets get older, even if premiums increase. Treatment for serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease or surgery after an accident can be expensive.

Lifetime cover can help with the cost of ongoing treatment for conditions that develop while your pet is insured, helping you avoid unexpected vet bills when your pet needs care most.

Conclusion

Pet insurance premiums usually increase over time because pets are more likely to need veterinary treatment as they get older. Rising veterinary costs can also contribute to higher renewal prices. Understanding why premiums increase, and the factors to consider when choosing or renewing your policy, can help you make informed decisions and plan for the cost of caring for your pet throughout their life.

Explore Agria lifetime pet insurance to keep your pet protected as they age.