CostByBreedAccident only is the simplest and cheapest shape of pet insurance: it pays for injuries and emergencies, and nothing for illness. It is also the most searched door into this market, because the price is a fraction of full cover.
The national average premium
| Coverage | National average |
|---|---|
| Accident and illness, average for a dog | $836 a year |
| The same average as a monthly figure | $836 divided by 12 is $69.67 a month |
| Accident only, average for a dog | $190 a year |
These are averages across every breed and age in the country, from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. They are printed for scale. No source publishes an average premium for one breed, and this site does not present this figure as a price for any single dog.
For a cat, the accident only average is $112 a year, against $435 for accident and illness cover. Averages from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data.
What accident only covers, and what it does not
Broken bones, swallowed objects, bite wounds, road accidents, and emergency surgery sit on the covered side. Cancer, allergies, ear infections, and every other illness sit outside it. The condition pages show what those illnesses cost, which is the honest way to judge whether the saving is worth it.
The kind of bill it exists for
A worked example
- The bill for cruciate ligament surgery after a park injury comes to $5,500.
- The yearly deductible takes off $500, leaving $5,000.
- The policy reimburses 80 percent of $5,000, which is $4,000.00.
The policy pays $4,000.00 and you pay $1,500.00.
Example terms only: a $500 yearly deductible and 80 percent reimbursement, with the deductible not yet met this year. Your own policy terms decide a real claim.
The accident waiting period rule
In the states that have adopted the model pet insurance law, the law itself sets the accident waiting period. In California, for example, the rule is: No waiting period for accidents. Your state page carries your own rule.
How this site is paid: this page will carry affiliate links, and if you buy through one, the insurer may pay CostByBreed a fee. None are live yet, so every button currently routes to the quote page, which says which partners are open. Read the affiliate disclosure for the full picture.