Best Pet Insurance For Labrador Retrievers 2023: Cost, Plans & FAQs
Canine Bible is reader-supported. We receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. This doesn’t affect rankings. Learn more.
This is the most comprehensive guide to finding the best pet insurance for Labrador Retrievers.
There’s no way to predict the future. You don’t know if your dog will get sick or hurt unexpectedly or how much it will cost. What if your Lab picks up a virus or tears its ACL at the dog park? Or worse, what if he develops a chronic health problem? Like us, dogs can catch serious diseases or get hurt in an accident that could end up costing thousands of dollars at the vet. For peace of mind and to reduce the risk of an expensive vet bill, you may want to invest in pet insurance.
Here are our top picks for the best pet insurance providers that offer coverage for adult and puppy Labrador Retrievers and breed-specific reasons you need to consider pet insurance. Let’s dive right in!
- Top Picks Insurance
- What Is Pet Insurance?
- How Much Will I Pay?
- Is Labrador Pet Insurance Worth It?
- Best Labrador Retriever Pet Insurance Reviews
- Healthy Vet Visits & Emergencies Cost
- Pet Insurance For Labrador Puppy
- Pet Insurance Types
- What Is Not Covered
- How to Pick Pet Insurance
- Should I Get Labrador Retriever Pet Insurance?
The Best Pet Insurance Companies For Labrador Retrievers
Here are Canine Bible’s top 4 picks for the best pet insurance for Labrador Retrievers.
You can click this link to go to the reviews, but we encourage you to keep reading to make a more educated decision about getting pet insurance for your Labrador Retriever.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Getting pet insurance for your Labrador Retriever dog is equivalent to getting health insurance for yourself. Pet Insurance is designed to reimburse dog owners for unexpected veterinary expenses and related fees, giving them peace of mind and protecting your savings.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost For Labrador Retrievers?
Labrador Retriever’s dog insurance prices will be based on your pet’s pre-existing health conditions, gender, age, location, and other factors.
Keep in mind rising vet costs due to technological advances and an increasing number of claims in your location, which can increase your monthly payment. For instance, if your Labrador Retriever is quoted at $45 per month today, that price is subject to change.
We compared quotes for plans for Labrador Retrievers with three popular pet insurance providers to help you find the best fit for you in terms of monthly premiums and coverage. We chose three Labrador Retrievers at different stages in their life.
Check out our Pet Insurance Comparison table for Labrador Retrievers below.
Pet Insurance Quotes For Labrador Retrievers
| Company | Deductible | Reimbursement | Annual Reimbursement Limit | Monthly Price | Location | Gender | Breed | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Paws | $500 | 70% | Unlimited | $70.30 | California (zip code: 94203) | Male | Labrador Retriever | 5 Year Old |
| Lemonade | $500 | 70% | $100,000 | $40.00 | California (zip code: 94203) | Male | Labrador Retriever | 5 Year Old |
| Spot Pet Insurance | $500 | 70% | Unlimited | $73.34 | California (zip code: 94203) | Male | Labrador Retriever | 5 Year Old |
| Healthy Paws | $500 | 80% | Unlimited | $36.52 | Kansas (zip code: 64030) | Female | Labrador Retriever | 1 Year Old |
| Lemonade | $500 | 80% | $100,000 | $20.67 | Kansas (zip code: 64030) | Female | Labrador Retriever | 1 Year Old |
| Spot Pet Insurance | $500 | 80% | Unlimited | $53.80 | Kansas (zip code: 64030) | Female | Labrador Retriever | 1 Year Old |
| Healthy Paws | $500 | 70% | Unlimited | $37.64 | North Carolina (zip code: 28105) | Female | Labrador Retriever | 3 Month Old |
| Lemonade | $500 | 70% | $100,000 | $29.13 | North Carolina (zip code: 28105) | Female | Labrador Retriever | 3 Month Old |
| Spot Pet Insurance | $500 | 70% | Unlimited | $83.12 | North Carolina (zip code: 28105) | Female | Labrador Retriever | 3 Month Old |
How Much Can You Expect to Pay For Labrador Retriever Canine Insurance?
If you get Pet Insurance for your Labrador Retriever, you can expect to pay between $20 to $83 per month. Depending on where you live, what deductible and the reimbursement percentage you choose, you may spend more or less.
NOTE: The quotes we ran were for dogs with no pre-existing conditions. All quotes are from November 2022
Is Pet insurance For Labrador Retriever Worth it?
Labrador Pet Insurance is worth it. If an unexpected accident or illness strikes, you’ll be reimbursed 70% to 90% of the vet bill (depending on your plan). Getting pet insurance ensures your Labrador will get the care they need at any stage of its life and save your finances.
Here are three main reasons you should consider getting pet insurance for your Labrador Retriever.
1. Avoid Deciding Between Your Wallet & Your Lab
Many dog owners have had to make the terrible decision to euthanize their pups because they didn’t have the money to pay for surgery or treatment.[1]
With pet insurance, you can seek out medical care for your sick or injured Lab without having to worry about financial difficulties.
On average, the most common dog treatments cost $252.75.[2], While a more severe and common condition in Labs, like elbow dysplasia, can cost $1,500 – $4,000 to diagnose and treat.
2. Pet Insurance For Lab Accidents
According to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, nearly 70% of households in the U.S. own a pet, and it’s estimated that 1 in 3 will need emergency veterinary treatment every year.[3]
So, how does that translate to Labrador numbers?
There are roughly 90 million dogs in the U.S., of which 1.9% are Labrador Retrievers.[4],[5] This gives 1.7 million Lababradors in the U.S. alone. So, at least 1 in every 3 Labrador Retriever dog parents will seek emergency veterinary this year for their dogs.
Accidents happen no matter how much we try to protect our Labrador Retriever! This could lead to huge vet bills. In fact, the average cost of unexpected veterinary care for dogs is between $250 to $8,000, says Healthy Paws in a recent report.[6] That’s a pretty big range.
Even scarier is that only 40% of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency, says the Federal Reserve.
Having a good pet insurance plan can cover the majority of the vet costs. Most pet insurance policies reimburse up to 80% of costs after deductibles.
3. Common Health Issues For Labrador Retrievers
Don’t you think your Labrador will get sick? Think again!
A study published in the Canine Genetics and Epidemiology Journal (where veterinary care data from 33,320 Labrador Retrievers) revealed that the most common disorders to affect Labradors are gastrointestinal disorders (22.7%), dermatological disorders (16.8%), musculoskeletal disorders (16.2%) neoplastic disorders (14.8%) and obesity (12.98%). Labrador retrievers have a high predisposition to otitis externa (23.4% in chocolate labs and 17.0% in yellow labs).
Degenerative joint disease (often also labeled osteoarthritis) among the breeds thought to be predisposed. 5.5% of Labs in the study showed this condition. Ear infections were also prevalent, with 23.4% for Chocolate Labradors, 17% for yellow Labradors, and 12.8% for black Labradors.
An interesting finding is that Chocolate Labrador Retrievers have a significantly shorter lifespan than non-chocolate dogs. The median lifespan for chocolate Labradors is 10.7 years, 1.4 years shorter than black or yellow Labradors.
A random sample of 2074 showed that of Labrador retrievers that participated in the study, 61.6% had at least one disorder recorded.
Unfortunately, the most common cause of death in Labs were musculoskeletal disorders (injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs) and cancer.[8],[9]
According to Embrace Pet Insurance, Labrador Retrievers are more susceptible to issues with their hips, elbows, knees, and entropion than other breeds. However, veterinarians can’t pinpoint why Labrador Retrievers are more prone to cancer than many other breeds. This data correlates with the data from the study above, further supporting the evidence of Labs’ predisposition to certain diseases.
Also, Labrador Retrievers don’t always know when to slow down, which can lead to accidents like injuries, exercise-induced collapses, or heatstroke.
These are some of the most common health problems Labrador Retriever dogs are prone to develop, risk, and cost to diagnose and treat.
| Condition | Risk | Cost to Diagnose & Treat |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer | High | $3,000-$8,000 |
| Hip Dysplasia | Medium | $1,500-$3,000 |
| Osteochondrosis of the Ankle/Knee | High | $2,000-$4,000 |
| Entropion | High | $300-$1,500 |
| Exercise Induced Collapse | High | $500-$1,000 |
| Osteochondrosis of the Elbow | High | $2,000-$4,000 |
| Cardiomyopathy | High | $500-$1,500 |
| Elbow Dysplasia | Medium | $1,500-$4,000 |
| Patellar Luxation | High | $1,500-$3,000 |
| Portosystemic Shunts | Medium | $2,000-$6,000 |
| Cataracts | High | $1,500-$5,000 |
| Arthiritis | High | $300 per year |
| Ear Infections | Medium | $100-250 per visit |
| Lipoma | High | $200-$500 per mass |
| Kennel Cough | HIgh | $275-$700 |
| Papilloma | Medium | up to $2,500 |
| Moist Dermatitis | Medium | $100-$200 |
| Dental Disease | Low | up to $3,000 plus maintenance |
Data Source: Embrace Pet claims data
Other Reasons To Get Dog Insurance For Your Labrador Retriever
Pro Tip: If you know your dog breed is prone to develop certain health issues, we highly recommend getting a pet insurance policy when your dog is still healthy. If your dog does develop chronic conditions down the road, you’re guaranteed reimbursement for these issues throughout your dog’s life.
Pet Insurance for your Labrador Retriever can spare you financial trouble. Chronic health conditions, emergencies, and vet visits can rack up costs throughout your Labrador Retriever’s life.
Best Pet Insurance For Labrador Retrievers
Here are Canine Bible’s top picks for the best pet insurance for Labrador Retrievers.
We’ve reviewed each company based on specific breed needs, customer reviews, affordability, and other factors to help you choose the right company and coverage for your Labrador Retriever.
Best Overall — Healthy Paws
We named Healthy Paws our best overall pet insurance for your Labrador Retriever for its comprehensive coverage, pricing, availability, and customer service. There are no caps on payouts when you file a claim under a Healthy Paws insurance plan. A Healthy Paws insurance plan may cover accidents, illnesses, cancer, emergency care, genetic conditions, and alternative care.
They have competitive premium prices. We ran a quote for a healthy Labrador Retriever at a $500 deductible, with 70% coverage. Depending on your location, pet’s age, and other factors, you can expect to pay between $36 and $70.
With Healthy Paws, you can start protecting your Labrador Retriever at just 8 weeks old. You can protect them from anything like a pesky bee sting to parvo.
Once you pay your deductible, there is no limit on the amount your policy can reimburse you. It also has fewer coverage exclusions compared to many competitors. Healthy Paws states that they pay 99% of claims in two days.
Pros
Cons
Best Value — Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade offers excellent pet insurance coverage for your Labrador Retriever at the most affordable price. While your monthly premium cost will vary by location, pet’s age, gender, and other factors, Lemonade premiums usually start at just $10 a month, the lowest in the industry.
To estimate your monthly premium, we ran a few quotes for a healthy Labrador Retriever at a $500 deductible and 70%, 80%, and 90% coverage. Based on our research, you can expect to pay between $20 and $40.
We love that Lemonade is tech-forward, making it easy to manage your policy and file claims through an app. Their plans cover accidents and illnesses, including injuries, poisonings, broken bones, sprains, infections, general sicknesses, cancer, heart disease, hip dysplasia, hernias, skin conditions and more.
They also offer several add-ons to help pet owners pay for exam fees, physical therapy, and preventive care costs.
Pros
Cons
Most Customizable Plans — Spot Insurance
Spot Pet Insurance is ideal for Labrador Retriever dog owners who want a variety of ways to customize their policy. Spot offers seven annual limit options, three reimbursement levels, and five annual deductibles. They offer the lowest deductible in the industry ($100), meaning that when your Labrador Retriever gets sick, you pay less upfront before your plan starts paying. With so many customization options, this company it’s our top pick for finding a plan for meeting your specific financial needs and those of your pet.
Spot’s policies also cover some items, such as exam fees and microchipping, that many other pet insurance providers don’t offer. They also have one of the cheapest plans for accident-only coverage, making it perfect for pet owners who only need minimal coverage.
If you sign up with Spot Pet Insurance, based on our research, you can expect to pay between $53 and $83, but prices may vary depending on your location, Labrador Retriever’s age, and other factors.
Spot covers you when your Labrador Retriever gets hurt unexpectedly from tooth extractions to torn ligaments. They can also cover Entropion treatment, which Labrador Retrievers are prone to, as long as they were diagnosed after coverage.
Pros
Cons
Great For Pre-Existing Conditions
If your Labrador Retriever suffers from a curable pre-existing condition Embrace Pet Insurance is your best choice! Most pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, but Embrace distinguishes between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions. They can cover curable conditions after 12 months of symptoms and are treatment-free.
Labrador Retriever Average Vet Bill Cost (Healthy Vet Visits vs Emergencies)
Whether you are taking your labrador to the vet for a routine check or to the emergency room for a serious condition, here is how much you can expect to pay out-of-pocket on average without pet insurance.
Healthy Vet Visits
Emergency Vet Visits
Sources: Emergency Vets USA & Rover
Pet Insurance For Labrador Puppy
Should you get pet insurance for your Labrador Retriever puppy?
Here are the top reasons you should consider Labrador Retriever puppy insurance.
Types of Pet Insurance Coverage
What does pet insurance cover? It depends on your plan. There are two main types of pet insurance plans.
You can sign up for 1 or 2 (or both), but this will mostly depend on your Labrador Retriever’s needs and finances. Most pet insurance companies nowadays offer a single plan that includes accidents and illness.
In addition to that, pet insurance providers also offer wellness plans, also known as “routine” or “preventative.” care plans. It covers most routine vet visits, such as vaccinations. A wellness plan is not pet insurance.
The Most Common Items Covered Per Type of Pet Insurance
| Accident Coverage | Illness Coverage | Wellness Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Broken bones | Obesity | Flea, tick and worm treatments |
| Torn ligaments | UTIs | Rabies |
| Bite wounds | Cancer | Microchip |
| Poisoning | Hypothyroidism | De-worming |
| Injuries | Digestive Issues | teeth cleaning |
| Emergencies | IVDD | Routine testing |
| Eye Injuries | Vomiting and diarrhea | Annual exams |
| Snake Bite | Arthritis | Spay and neuter |
| Toxin food ingestion | Parasites | Urinalysis (ERD) |
*i. Not all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans. ii. Coverage items will depend and vary depending on the company and plan you choose.
What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?
Pet insurance doesn’t cover it all!
When buying Pet Insurance for your Labrador Retriever, you’ll need to carefully review the different plans to see what isn’t covered.
Most pet insurance policies exclude the following:
This exclusion will vary depending on your pet insurance company and plan.
Tip: Please always read your policy! Request the complete list of exclusions before getting pet insurance. This will ensure your Labrador Retriever is fully covered by the plan you pick and help you avoid surprises down the road.
How Do I Pick The Right Dog Insurance For My Labrador Retriever?
Here are eight tips to help you choose the best pet insurance policy for your Labrador Retriever.
Should I Get Labrador Retriever Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance protects against unexpected veterinary bills. Many pet owners pay out-of-pocket for their pet’s medical expenses, but most Americans can’t afford a $1500 emergency vet bill. The right pet insurance can literally be a lifesaver.
Having coverage will give you the freedom to make medical decisions for your beloved Labrador Retriever based on the quality of life, not finances. If you decide to get pet insurance, read the policy carefully, and understand the terms and conditions before buying.
If you found this article useful, please share it on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe for more content like this!
Like It? Subscribe & Share!
Canine Bible authorship represents the unified voice of our entire editorial team rather than a single author. Each article, blog post, and review published under the Canine Bible name undergoes a rigorous review process, involving all team members to guarantee accuracy and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. This collaborative effort is an integral part of our editorial process and aligns with our four pillars of content creation. This approach ensures our content is backed by expert knowledge and factual information, offering our readers reliable, actionable, and trustworthy content.
