Best Pet Insurance for German Shepherds (2024)

Lemonade is our pick for the most affordable plans because its base plans are typically some of the cheapest pet insurance plans available. It keeps costs low by allowing multiple customizable add-ons, so you pay only for what you need.

Lemonade operates differently than most insurance companies, taking a flat fee from its premiums and donating leftovers to various charities, including ones that support animal welfare. It also offers several other insurance products and provide a discount for product bundles.

Lemonade offers a single base plan that includes coverage for accidents and illnesses, including diagnostic tests, procedures, non-elective surgeries and prescription medications.

The base plan does not include veterinary exam fees, dental illness coverage, physical therapy, behavior therapy or end-of-life care, but each is available as an add-on so you can customize your plan to your needs. Wellness add-ons cover routine care, and Lemonade’s reimbursement amounts are reasonable compared to the added premium cost.

We obtained quotes from all companies on our list for a hypothetical 4-year-old German shepherd living in Kansas City, Mo. We chose a $250 deductible, $10,000 in annual coverage and 80% reimbursement unless otherwise specified in each section.

The cost for Lemonade insurance for our young adult German shepherd was $33.13 per month, and add-ons ranged in price from $2 per month for physical therapy coverage to $26 per month for the top-tier wellness plan.

Spot is our pick for most customizable because it offers a comprehensive base plan that includes everything most pets need, but allows pet owners to customize premiums with multiple deductible and coverage limit options. For further customization, pet owners can choose a low-cost, accident-only plan for emergency coverage at a low cost or add wellness coverage to round out their needs.

Spot is a good choice for German shepherd owners looking for comprehensive coverage with a customizable premium. Spot offers accident and illness, accident-only and wellness add-on plans, providing pet owners multiple options to suit their financial needs without compromising coverage. Spot’s base plan includes exam fees, physical therapy, dental illness and experimental therapies, so add-ons aren’t necessary to cover everything a German shepherd needs.

Costs for the base accident and illness plan for our young adult German shepherd in Kansas City came in at $45.48 per month. The accident-only option was $25.88 per month, and the wellness add-ons ranged from $9.95 to $24.95 monthly.

Healthy Paws is our pick for unlimited coverage because it does not place annual or lifetime caps on any policy. It also pays out claims in an average of two days and regularly donate to pet-related charities, which helps them stand out. Healthy Paws offers only one plan without add-ons or wellness coverage, which provides simplicity for pet owners.

The Healthy Paws plan is simple, offering unlimited coverage limits with two to three deductible and reimbursement rate options for each plan. Healthy Paws covers alternative treatments, hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer and other chronic diseases.

However, it has a 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia coverage. If you buy your policy when your German shepherd is 3 months old and they begin showing hip dysplasia signs at 9 months, coverage for this life-long condition will be excluded.

A policy for a young adult German shepherd cost $60.24 per month when we obtained sample quotes.

Embrace is our pick for savings because it offers multiple discounts that others do not, allowing pet parents to save money. Discounts include 10% for additional pets, 5% for active military personnel and veterans, 10% for employees enrolled through an employer benefit program and $50 off your deductible each year a claim is not filed. Embrace claims to cover “just about everything,” except the standard exclusions, such as pre-existing conditions, and it offers a substantial wellness add-on.

Embrace offers a single accident and illness plan that covers common German shepherd issues, including specialty visits, exam fees, genetic and inherited conditions, rehabilitation and alternative therapies.

Embrace will waive the six-month orthopedic condition waiting period with a healthy exam, which is good news for owners of breeds prone to joint issues, such as German shepherds. The wellness add-on allows flexible spending and reimburses 100%, which stands out from other itemized wellness offerings, but premiums cost almost as much as the coverage limit.

The cost for our hypothetical 4-year-old German shepherd was higher than other plans for the same coverage level, but the inclusions and savings make this plan a contender. We were quoted $83.01 per month for the base plan, and wellness add-ons ranged from $18 to $52 per month.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is the most experienced, reputable company on our list, as it has been protecting pets since 2006. It provides comprehensive coverage at reasonable rates using the same underwriter and similar plan features as Spot.

Like Spot, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers several coverage options with a standard accident and illness plan, an accident-only plan and an add-on wellness plan. Plans are customizable to fit any budget.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers an accident and illness plan, an accident-only plan and add-on wellness plans to provide a range of coverage and cost options for all pet owners. Annual limits were lower than competitors, topping out at $10,000. German shepherd owners could risk maxing out their benefits if their pet needs major surgery, cancer treatments or treatment for another severe illness.

However, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has reliable, comprehensive coverage that includes exam fees, physical therapy and other services often considered optional by other providers.

Quotes for our young adult German shepherd came in at $71.69 per month for the complete coverage plan, $44.15 per month for accident-only coverage, and $9.95 to $24.95 per month for wellness add-ons.

Founded in 2013, Fetch rounds out our list because it has been in the business for over a decade and provides coverage that many other companies exclude. Fetch’s base plan includes holistic therapies such as homeopathy, acupuncture and enhanced behavioral care, providing an option for pet parents who prefer natural and holistic therapies. It also offers optional wellness plans to help German shepherd owners proactively manage their dog’s health.

Fetch will also waive its six-month orthopedic waiting period with a veterinary exam proving adequate joint health, a benefit for owners of German shepherds considering the breed is prone to joint problems.

Fetch offers comprehensive coverage for German shepherds, based on our review. The company offers a single base plan with some customization options, including wellness care add-ons. However, it may benefit pet parents seeking complete coverage, including holistic therapies. Other unique inclusions include lost pet advertising, boarding reimbursement if an owner is hospitalized, vacation cancellation coverage if a pet gets sick while the owner is away, and all-tooth dental illness and injury coverage.

Fetch’s quote for a sample young adult German shepherd was $70 per month, although choosing a higher deductible significantly decreased the quote. Wellness plans cost an additional $11 to $32 per month.

To learn more: Fetch Pet Insurance Review