What To Know About Pet Insurance If You Have More Than One Pet

We all have seen insurance commercials about how much you can save by bundling insurance. But did you know you can bundle your pet insurance, especially if you have multiple pets?

If you’re part of the one-third of American households sharing a home with multiple furry, scaled or feathered companions, bundling your pet insurance is the smartest way to protect your entire pack and your wallet.

While having a multiple-pet insurance policy is similar to bundling your auto and home insurance, there are a few differences. For example, several pet insurers allow you to have a separate policy for each pet, say a senior dog and a puppy, and still receive a discount.

Can you get pet insurance for multiple pets?

You can get pet insurance for multiple pets, and bundling their coverage can make life easier. With a multi-pet insurance plan, you can cover your second, third or even fourth pet under the same provider — many of whom already offer bundles for home and car insurance. Not only can multiple-pet insurance help streamline managing your pets’ healthcare needs, but it also helps reduce the cost of pet insurance premiums.

Many pet insurers let you combine coverage under one plan for easier billing and claims or customize separate policies to fit each pet’s unique needs. No matter which plan you choose, bundling helps keep things simple while ensuring all your pets get the protection they deserve.

Can you customize the policies for each pet?

Customization is one of the main advantages of multi-pet insurance plans. Each pet is unique, with different health needs and risks. This is where multiple-pet insurance policies under the same company offer the most benefit and flexible coverage options to suit each pet.

You can choose different annual limits, deductibles and reimbursement rates when customizing policies to help reduce your monthly premium. However, having separate policies for each pet in your household may be necessary, especially if you have pets of different ages and breeds.

For instance, a senior pet might require a policy with extensive coverage for chronic conditions and routine care. At the same time, a younger, more adventurous puppy might benefit from an accident-only plan. This level of customization ensures you are not paying for unnecessary coverage while still providing comprehensive care based on each pet’s health requirements.

What are the benefits of multi-pet insurance?

Bundling insurance plans for multiple pets can help you save money each month. But that’s not the only advantage of purchasing pet insurance for multiple pets. Multi-pet plans offer several significant benefits, making them an attractive option for pet owners.

Administration benefits

• Cost savings: Many of the best pet insurance companies offer 5-10 percent discounts on additional pets. These discounts can reduce the overall cost of insuring your pets.
• Simplified management: In the age of distractions, handling multiple insurance policies can be overwhelming. Multi-pet plans help consolidate coverage, so it’s easier to make payments, track claims and renew benefits.
• Unified billing: A single billing cycle for all your pets simplifies budgeting. It’ll also help you make sure you pay on time.

Care benefits

• Comprehensive care: With multi-pet insurance, all your animals can qualify for comprehensive healthcare without compromising quality.
• Emergency preparedness: Pet emergencies can be a budget-breaker. Having pet insurance for multiple pets means you are better prepared to handle emergencies that could affect one pet and not the other. For example, house plants can be toxic to cats but not dogs. Plus, you can save money if unexpected health issues coincide.
• Early coverage for congenital and heritable disorders: Adding a pet right after adoption or rescue means your new family member is covered for congenital and heritable issues that have yet to be diagnosed.
• Streamlined maintenance care: With a multiple-pet insurance plan and wellness plan add-ons, you can streamline routine treatments like dental cleanings, vaccines and seasonal flea and tick prevention to avoid cross-infection.

What type of pet insurance policy is best for multiple pets?

Finding the best pet insurance plan for multiple pets really comes down to a few key things: your pets’ ages, breeds and current health conditions. Of course, your budget also plays a big role. The best choice is the one that keeps your pets protected without stretching your wallet too thin.

Accident-only vs. comprehensive plans

Most pet insurers offer two main plans: accidentally-only and comprehensive plans. Accident-only plans are typically more affordable and can be a good option if you are primarily concerned about unexpected injuries like broken bones, swallowed objects and toxic exposure.

While they also protect against emergencies and accidents, comprehensive plans cover a wider range of health issues, including illnesses and immune issues (like allergies), which can benefit pets with more complex health conditions.

For pet owners with limited funds, an accident-only plan offers peace of mind without breaking the bank. A comprehensive plan tends to cost more, and the premiums can increase as your pet ages.

Breed considerations

While a purebred animal can be a beautiful addition to your home, these pets often have health issues based on their breed. Blending rescue mutts and purebreds, you want to be covered for all costs and possibilities. Or if you have a specific love for one breed, like a basset hound, you can be confident your many long-eared, short-legged hounds will be covered for breed-specific issues that may arise, such as dermatitis, bloat or epilepsy.

Stage of life

The age of a pet will impact your pet insurance coverage. Senior pets may have exclusions, limitations to coverage, higher premiums and age-limit restrictions from insurers. Meanwhile, puppies and kittens must wait until a certain age (usually eight weeks) before they qualify for a multiple-pet insurance plan.

Customizable add-ons

Look for policies that allow you to tailor specific coverage options, such as dental care, wellness exams or elective procedures like spaying and neutering. Some pet insurance policies even offer coverage for alternative therapies like acupuncture. This customization ensures that each pet gets the coverage they need.

Lifetime vs. annual policies

Lifetime policies provide continuous coverage for chronic conditions, which can benefit pets with long-term health issues. Annual policies may be sufficient for younger, healthier pets and typically have lower premiums.

How do multi-pet insurance discounts work?

Caring for an ever-expanding family can bring financial challenges. Multiple-pet insurance discounts are a major incentive to cover all your pets, whether you enroll all your animals in one policy or purchase customized policies. Here’s how these discounts typically work:

• Bundling discounts: A “bundle” refers to a group of policies, such as homeowners, auto, pet or life insurance, purchased from the same provider. Some insurers (Lemonade and Nationwide, for instance) even offer bundling discounts on top of multiple-pet insurance discounts if you combine pet insurance with other insurance policies, such as home or auto insurance.
• Flat-rate discounts: Some insurers offer a flat-rate discount. This fixed amount is deducted from your premium when you insure multiple pets.
• Percentage-based discounts: This is the most common discount for multiple-pet insurance. Insurers discount a percentage of the monthly premium for each additional pet insured under the same policy.
• Promotional offers: Insurers often offer special deals that can provide additional savings when enrolling multiple pets.

Which insurance companies offer multi-pet discounts?

With so many pet insurance providers and potential bundles available, knowing how much you can save with a multi-pet discount helps you choose the best option for your pet and budget. Here are a few notable ones:

• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: This company offers a 10 percent discount for each additional pet insured and offers flexible plans that cover accidents, illnesses and preventive care.
• Embrace: Pet owners with multiple pets receive a discount of up to 10 percent for two or more pets, along with customizable plans that include wellness rewards and coverage for exam fees. This discount can also be combined with other discounts like a military discount.
• Figo: Figo allows you to tailor your pet’s policies to suit their needs. When you enroll a second pet, Figo adds a 5 percent multi-pet discount on your pet insurance plan.
• Lemonade: For multi-pet families, Lemonade offers a discount of up to 5 percent per policy for enrolling more than one pet. You can also receive a 10 percent discount on pet insurance premiums when bundling home or auto with pet insurance.
• MetLife: While not a percentage discount, MetLife’s family plan allows you to enroll up to three pets on a single plan. The advantage here is a shared deductible, which helps you reach your full pet insurance coverage faster. The family plan also includes a shared annual limit, so you can allocate more of your limit toward one pet that has a particularly accident-prone year.
• Nationwide: Offers a multi-pet discount of 5 percent per pet for two or three pets or 10 percent per pet for four pets or more. Each pet must have its own policy, but you’ll receive a discount on each one. If your pet family includes exotics, Nationwide provides coverage for rabbits, birds, reptiles and small mammals.
• Pets Best: As a partner of Progressive Insurance, Pets Best pet owners enroll each pet in a separate plan and receive a 5 percent discount on the combined monthly premium. Policyholders can add their new pet online, and each pet can have its own customized annual plan limit, deductible and reimbursement percentage.

The bottom line

It’s no secret that having a companion animal can improve your general health — the more the merrier. But paying for vet visits for multiple pets can leave your wallet a little lighter. Enrolling in a multi-pet insurance plan is a smart way to protect all your furry family members.

With bundled discounts, streamlined billing and a single provider for claims and support, it’s easier to manage the health of every furbaby in your home. Whether you have two pets or a whole pack, investing in the multiple-pet insurance plan means peace of mind for you and a healthier life for your pet.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I get a multi-pet discount if I already have insurance for one pet?
  

  Yes. Depending on the insurer, you can add additional pets to your current policy or purchase separate policies and still receive a multi-pet discount. Contact your insurance provider to find out how to update your policy to include more pets.

• Is it cheaper to insure multiple pets under one policy or separate policies?
  

  Generally, it is cheaper to insure multiple pets under one policy due to the multi-pet discount most insurers offer. However, separate policies might be more beneficial if your pets have vastly different health needs that require highly customized coverage.

• Does multi-pet insurance cover exotic pets like birds or reptiles?v
  

  Coverage for exotic pets varies by insurer. Some companies do offer insurance plans for birds, reptiles and other exotic pets, but you’ll need to check with individual providers to see if they offer multi-pet discounts for these types of animals.

• How do I file a claim with multi-pet insurance?
  

  Filing a claim with multi-pet insurance is typically straightforward. Most insurers allow you to file claims online or through a mobile app. You’ll need to provide details about the treatment and costs incurred for each pet. Check with your insurance provider for specific instructions and requirements. Depending on your policy, claims for one pet may go toward the deductible for coverage of all pets.

• Do policies cost the same when I insure multiple pets?
  

  Pet insurance policies typically do not cost the same when insuring multiple pets. Several factors can influence the cost of each pet’s insurance policy, including the type of pet, breed, age and health history.