Floridians spend the most on their vet bills. These are cheapest pet insurances in Florida

Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·3 min read

Man’s best friend may actually be a Florida man’s best friend above all else, a recent survey from Forbes Advisor revealed.

And the survey found that Florida has the most pampered and spoiled dogs overall, including the highest percentage of dog owners that spend more on their dog’s vet bills than they spend on their own visits to the doctor.

If you’re one of the Floridians who are paying exorbitant amounts of money to keep your pup healthy, you’re not alone. More than 65% of Florida’s dog owners that participated in Forbes’ survey said that they spend more on their dog’s health and grooming than their own.

Here’s how you can lower the amount of money you’re shelling out at the vet’s office and the cheapest pet insurance options in Florida.

How much should you budget for vet bills?

How much you should budget for your dog’s vet bills depends on what stage of life your dog is in and how healthy they are. Every dog needs routine immunizations, but if you have a puppy, you may have to budget to have them spayed or neutered. If you have an elderly, injured or arthritic dog, you will probably have to budget for extra preventative care, procedures and medication.

According to USA TODAY’s report on what it costs to own a pet in 2023, veterinary care for the first year of owning a dog costs from $375 to $1,875 and owners of adult dogs should expect to pay $200 to $500 each year for routine vaccines and exams.

If you have an elderly dog, you can expect to pay $1,000 or more for annual dental costs and medications.

How can I reduce my vet bill?

According to PetMD, there are a few ways to help cover expensive vet costs, like health-specific credit cards, loans, pet insurance and crowdfunding. But the most highly recommended method by Forbes and others is pet insurance.

“By paying a monthly premium, the eventual out-of-pocket costs for large vet expenses, such as cancer treatment or a broken bone, are reduced significantly,” According to Forbes Advisor. “Routine care, including immunizations, can typically be added on to coverage.”

How much is pet insurance in Florida?

According to MarketWatch and LendEDU, the cost for pet insurance increases as your dog ages and more money is spent keeping them healthy.

You’ll likely see the cost for pet insurance increase by a small amount each year until your dog turns six. After that, the yearly increase will most likely escalate.

This is because the older your dog becomes, the more likely it is that your pet insurance company will have to cover costs for an injury or illness.

What is the best pet insurance in Florida?

According to USA TODAY’s list of best pet insurance companies servicing Florida in December 2023, these are the pet insurance servicers with the best coverage for the best monthly price for Florida residents:

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Pet insurance in Florida: How much it costs, how to reduce vet bills