How much does dog insurance cost in Missouri for the 15 most popular breeds?

The price for Missouri dog insurance varies depending on where you live. To give you an idea we’ve collected costs for three cities shown below. The prices will also vary based on the age, health, and breed of your puppy.

All prices shown below are based on a 90% reimbursement rate with a $500 deductible and a $5,000 annual benefit from Figo pet insurance. Please note: these prices should only be treated as a rough guide as of January 2023 and are subject to change. If you’re looking for the most up-to-date cost of dog insurance in Missouri we suggest getting a quote directly with Figo or Lemonade.

1. Mixed Breed
   • Joplin – $36.90/ mo
   • St Louis – $21.63/ mo
   • Springfield – $21.63/ mo
2. Labrador Retriever
   • Joplin – $38.97/ mo
   • St Louis – $29.46/ mo
   • Springfield – $29.46/ mo
3. Golden Retriever
   • Joplin – $44.94/ mo
   • St Louis – $29.41/ mo
   • Springfield – $29.41/ mo
4. German Shepherd
   • Joplin – $42.13/ mo
   • St Louis – $31.78/ mo
   • Springfield – $31.78/ mo
5. Goldendoodle
   • Joplin – $40.51/ mo
   • St Louis – $25.59/ mo
   • Springfield – $25.59/ mo
6. Chihuahua
   • Joplin – $20.80/ mo
   • St Louis – $13.46/ mo
   • Springfield – $13.46/ mo
7. Siberian Husky
   • Joplin – $42.76/ mo
   • St Louis – $29.55/ mo
   • Springfield – $29.55/ mo
8. Yorkshire Terrier
   • Joplin – $30.89/ mo
   • St Louis – $18.58/ mo
   • Springfield – $18.58/ mo
9. American Pit Bull Terrier
   • Joplin – $43.01/ mo
   • St Louis – $32.71/ mo
   • Springfield – $32.71/ mo
10. Australian Shepherd
    • Joplin – $30.25/ mo
    • St Louis – $20.33/ mo
    • Springfield – $20.33/ mo
11. Dachshund
    • Joplin – $34.44/ mo
    • St Louis – $19.19/ mo
    • Springfield – $19.19/ mo
12. Shih Tzu
    • Joplin – $31.10/ mo
    • St Louis – $17.10/ mo
    • Springfield – $17.10/ mo
13. French Bulldog
    • Joplin – $43.78/ mo
    • St Louis – $40.45/ mo
    • Springfield – $40.45/ mo
14. Boxer
    • Joplin – $50.21/ mo
    • St Louis – $40.62/ mo
    • Springfield – $40.62/ mo
15. Labradoodle
    • Joplin – $40.51/ mo
    • St Louis – $25.59/ mo
    • Springfield – $25.59/ mo

Not finding your specific dog breed? Lemonade pet insurance is our #1 recommendation for Missouri and they’ll be able to give you a quick quote for your exact needs.

Missouri Dog Insurance FAQs

Missouri dog owners often ask me about purchasing a dog insurance plan in Missouri. Below are some FAQ’S

What is dog insurance, and why is it essential in Missouri?

Making sure your dog is fully protected by pet insurance takes signing up with a good pet insurance company and paying the monthly amount to keep your policy active. If your dog has an accident or becomes ill, you’ll typically need to pay the vet costs upfront. Then it’s just a matter of submitting a claim to your pet insurance company, and they’ll reimburse the cost. One company we found that does not require upfront payments in Missouri is Trupanion assuming your vet is in their network, they will pay the vet directly.

An important thing to know is that most insurance companies won’t cover veterinary bills for any pre-existing conditions that your dog has. Because of this, purchasing pet insurance for your dog while it’s still a puppy (as soon as it’s 8 weeks old) is a good idea.

Having your dog covered by pet insurance in Missouri can pay off. If your pup ever needed therapies like cancer treatment, the costs can get well over $10,000. It’s all too familiar for dog owners to have to make the saddest decision ever: that they don’t have the money to pay for their pup’s veterinary bill. Choosing to have your dog put down should never be because of this. Pet insurance is the way to make sure this never happens to you.

Why Is It Important To Get Dog Insurance in Missouri?

No one wants to imagine their dog getting sick or injured. It’s a topic that most people will avoid thinking about. But the fact is, at some point in your dog’s life there will be a time when you get faced with an expensive veterinary bill. Pet insurance is a sound financial decision for most people. Paying a small amount each month towards a policy can prevent getting hit with a major bill if your dog faces an emergency vet bill.

How old does my puppy have to be to get insured?

Most pet insurance companies require your puppy being 8 weeks or older before it can be covered by dog insurance. If your dog is older than that, the good thing is that most insurance companies don’t have an age limit for when you can sign your dog up. The best rule of thumb is to sign your puppy up for dog insurance before they turn 1 year old, because it’s generally cheaper to insure younger pets.

Is it worth getting dog insurance in Missouri?

At any point in your dog’s life, an unexpected injury or illness could create a mountain of vet bills to pile up. It’s not uncommon for Missouri dog owners to find themselves with more than $3,000 vet bills if they have to go to an emergency clinic. In the end, the decision is yours to make. Is paying a monthly amount worth avoiding the possibility of huge out-of-pocket veterinary expenses if something unfortunate happens to your pup? Veterinarians in Missouri tend to cost more than vets in other states, which is another reason why purchasing dog insurance’s a good idea.

What’s covered by dog insurance, and what’s excluded?

What’s covered by your dog insurance will vary by which insurance company you choose. As a general rule, any injury or illness that your dog has will be covered unless it’s expressly excluded. Typically any injury or disease that could be deemed “sudden and catastrophic” will be covered by pet insurance.

Some examples of things that would be covered are eye infections, broken bones, allergic reactions or swallowing foreign objects like rope or plastic. On the other hand, if your dog already has cancer when you sign up for pet insurance, the insurance company will deny any claims for that pre-existing condition.

A lot of pet insurance companies are now offering “wellness” packages. If you have this package, costs for routine care are covered – like vaccinations, annual check-ups, flea and tick prevention, and more.

How will I get reimbursed for my vet bills?

Let’s imagine you’ve purchased a pet insurance policy for your dog that has a reimbursement amount of 90%, a deductible amount of $250, and a $20,000 annual max benefit. Now imagine your pup has a major injury or illness and needs emergency surgery costing $10,000. In this situation, your pet insurance provider will reimburse you for $9,000 of the vet costs, after subtracting the $250 deductible amount. So instead of you having to pay a $10,000 vet bill out-of-pocket, your final cost would be just $1,250.

Trupanion is the one pet insurance company that differs from this rule. They pay their in-network veterinarians directly, meaning you don’t have any out-of-pocket expenses to pay at all.

Is it better to choose a pet insurance policy with a low deductible?

A lower deductible amount means that your monthly payments will likely be higher. So you’ll be spending more each month, but you won’t ever be faced with a shockingly high vet bill if your dog has an emergency.

My best advice is to do the math yourself, considering your unique financial situation. Many pet insurance providers offer a handy calculator that you can use to figure out what’s best for you. The majority of pet owners choose a deductible of either $250 or $500.

Are there dog breed restrictions for homeowners insurance in Missouri?

Most states have restrictions on certain breeds that are covered by homeowners insurance, depending on which insurance provider you choose. The breeds of dog that are excluded are those that potentially pose a higher risk. These breeds often include:

• Rottweilers
• Pit Bulls
• German Shepherds
• Staffordshire Terriers
• Doberman Pinschers
• Akitas
• Alaskan Malamutes
• Siberian huskies
• Certain wolf breeds

I recommend speaking with your homeowner’s insurance company and inquiring whether your policy covers your dog’s breed. You may need a special liability rider to ensure that your dog is covered.

5 Useful Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe and Healthy in Missouri

Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to your pup’s health. Taking these preventative measures will ensure that your dog isn’t at risk of getting injured or sick.

1. Keep Your Pup Warm in Winter

With Missouri’s harsh winters, dog owners must take extra measures to ensure their dogs stay warm. Put a jacket or sweater on your pup before going out for a walk in freezing weather. Keep your dog inside except for short walks, and be sure that you keep your dog with you in the heated areas of your home.

2. Keep Your Pup Cool in Summer

Summers can get blazing hot in Missouri, so make sure your pup stays nice and cool. You can do this by providing a constant water supply for your dog to drink, and keeping them inside in the air conditioning with you. If your air conditioner goes out, use a powerful fan.

3. Keep Your Pup’s Vaccinations Up To Date

Rabies vaccinations are a must, as rabies infections are almost always fatal. If your dog likes to chase wildlife, this is extra important. Parvovirus vaccinations are essential for young puppies because parvo is very contagious and almost always results in death.

4. Give Your Pup Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite that’s spread through mosquito bites, and it can result in lung problems, heart failure and death. Year-round heartworm prevention is recommended in the Show Me State, which comes in chewable tablets you can disguise as treats.

5. Give Your Pup Lots of Playtime and Exercise

Keeping your dog mentally and physically stimulated will give it a happier, healthier, longer life. Take your dog for a walk at least once a day, and play games with it like fetch or tug-of-war. You and your pup will have fun playing together, and it builds a stronger bond between you.

5 Amazing Dog Shelters in Missouri

Adopting a dog from a shelter can save its life if you’re looking for a furbaby to join your family. Rescued pups love their new families forever because they can tell. Check out these 5 unique Missouri dog shelters.

1. Stray Rescue of Saint Louis (St Louis, MO)

Stray Rescue of Saint Louis takes in those animals that other rescues would euthanize because they’re too expensive to help medically. They believe in giving every dog that enters their building a second chance at life. Starting as just a one-person effort in 1998, SRSL’s vision is to become the largest inner-city animal sanctuary in the country.

2. Chain of Hope (Kansas City, MO)

This organization helps abused and neglected animals within the urban core of Kansas City. Their ultimate goal is “to break the chain of ignorance, the chain of suffering, and the chain of unwanted litters”. To do this, they provide community outreach, spay and neuter programs and foster programs.

3. Castaway Animals Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) (Springfield, MO)

Since its grassroots beginnings in 1992, C.A.R.E has saved over 25,000 lives of neglected and abused animals. They’re now southwest Missouri’s largest no-kill shelter. In their own words, they “serve as a voice for those who cannot speak”. They have a sanctuary for those pets who can’t be adopted, giving them a place to feel loved and safe.

4. Haven of the Ozarks (Washburn, MO)

This no-kill animal shelter located on 11 acres just outside of Cassville is home to over 200 dogs and cats. They provide long-term care to dogs who have been abused or abandoned and give them large, comfortable spaces to live in until they meet their forever family. The pups even get to play in swimming pools in the summer.

5. Lucky Chance Rescue (Lake St. Louis, MO)

This foster-based animal rescue gives mistreated and abandoned dogs a lucky chance at finding their forever home. They focus their efforts on helping pups in rural areas that don’t have the resources to look after them. They educate pet owners on how to care for their animals responsibly.

Conclusion

Finding the best pet insurance for your dog in Missouri doesn’t have to be complicated. I strongly recommend getting your pup signed up for a good insurance plan before turning a year old if it makes sense for you financially. The sooner you can get your dog covered by pet insurance, the less likely it is that it will develop pre-existing conditions that will be excluded.

If your dog is older, don’t let that deter you from finding a pet insurance plan. If you plan in this way, you’ll be grateful you did if your pup suffers an injury or becomes sick. It can even help with the costs of preventative healthcare. In our extensive research, Lemonade pet insurance came out on top and offered the lowest monthly premiums.

SwiftScore Ranking Methodology for Missouri

We ranked the best pet insurance policies in Missouri based on a variety of important factors including the following:

• Average monthly price for a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever with a $500 deductible located in Missouri with a 63104 zip code
• Coverage and benefits
• Key policy details including accidents and illnesses, surgeries, annual check-ups, cancer treatment, lab tests, and more
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Reimbursement percentage
• Annual benefit amount
• Technology and user experience
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews

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