Does pet insurance go up with age?
Yes, it can—but not every insurer prices ageing the same way. Some use your pet’s age at renewal; others say they do not raise rates simply because your pet gets older. Premiums can still change with veterinary costs, location and other pricing factors. Check age-related deductibles as well as the monthly payment.
Age at enrolment, age at renewal and age limits
Age when you first apply
A new quote may depend on your pet’s current age. That starting price does not tell you how future renewals will be calculated.
Age during ongoing coverage
Ask whether the insurer adjusts premiums or deductibles as your pet ages. Check when each adjustment takes effect.
Age limits for new applicants
A limit on starting a new policy is different from rules for keeping an existing policy. Confirm both before cancelling cover.
For older dogs and cats, our senior pet insurance guide covers the broader comparison. There is no single birthday or national percentage increase that applies to every Canadian policy.
Two examples of different pricing approaches
Provider
Published approach
What it means for your review
Furkin
Its FAQ says renewal pricing can reflect the pet’s new age and updated information, including regional veterinary costs.
Ask which factors changed and compare the new premium with any deductible adjustment. Furkin renewal FAQ.
Trupanion Canada
Its Canadian comparison page says pricing uses age at enrolment and does not increase solely because a pet gets older.
This is not a lifetime price guarantee. Its pricing guidance also discusses veterinary costs and location. Trupanion’s own age-pricing statement.
These examples explain a difference in pricing methods, not which insurer will be cheaper over your pet’s lifetime. This guide does not adopt either provider’s claims about competitors.
For location and veterinary-cost factors, see Trupanion Canada’s pricing guidance.
Compare the old and new documents first
Keep the renewal notice beside last year’s schedule. A higher payment may involve several changes at once, so ask for an explanation rather than assuming age caused all of it.
Detail
Question to ask
Monthly and annual premium
What is the increase in dollars and percent, using the same treatment of taxes and fees?
Reason for the change
Does this reflect age, regional costs, a move, changed settings or an expired discount?
Deductible
Has it changed with age, and is it annual or linked to a condition?
Reimbursement and limits
Are the payout percentage, benefit limits and covered services unchanged?
Existing conditions
How will ongoing eligible treatment be handled under the renewed policy?
Dates and options
When does the change start, and what deadlines apply to requested adjustments?
If you made a claim, ask whether it affected your price under this insurer’s rules. A price increase after a claim does not by itself prove the claim caused it. Read our guide to premium changes after a claim.
Your deductible may change with age too
Furkin’s published deductible table has separate age bands and different amounts for dogs and cats. That shows why checking only the premium can miss a change in what you pay when claiming.
Ask for your pet’s next age-band change, its effective date and the deductible that would apply. Do not assume another provider uses the same bands.
Check Furkin’s deductible guide.
“No age-based premium increase” is not the same as “no price increase.” Ask what other factors can change the cost and what the contract actually guarantees.
How to calculate a renewal increase
A hypothetical renewal from $70 to $84 a month
The increase is $14 each month, or $168 over 12 months. Divide $14 by the previous $70 premium and multiply by 100: the increase is 20%.
The annual premium rises from $840 to $1,008. These are illustrative Canadian-dollar figures, not a quote, average renewal rate or forecast.
Compare savings with the risk you would take on
If a different deductible reduces the premium, calculate the annual saving and check how much more you could pay on a claim. Ask for a worked example under your actual policy, since calculation order and deductible structure vary.
Keep a separate allowance for routine care, excluded expenses and your share of eligible claims. Premium payments alone are not the full cost of caring for a pet.
Why a neighbour’s quote may not match yours
Published insurer guidance identifies location and regional veterinary costs as pricing factors. Local comparisons are most useful when the pet details, address and coverage settings are consistent.
Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey
If you move within Metro Vancouver, ask whether your new address changes the premium and when the change applies. Do not assume the rate stays the same because you still use the same clinic.
Ottawa and Gatineau
A move across the provincial boundary is a reason to confirm product availability and policy terms as well as price. Quote using your home address, even if your regular vet is across the river.
Saskatoon and rural Saskatchewan
If veterinary visits involve travel into Saskatoon, include transport and any overnight costs in your household budget. Ask which expenses, if any, your contract covers separately from treatment.
These are planning scenarios, not claims that one city is cheaper than another. No neighbourhood-level rate data or local fee survey was available for this guide.
Make a fair local comparison
Use the same pet age, breed, medical history, home address, deductible and benefit limit for each quote where comparable settings exist. If one quote is lower because it excludes illness or reduces benefits, label that difference before comparing prices.
Check what you could lose by switching
A new insurer may treat a condition covered by your current policy as pre-existing. Earlier signs can matter, not just a formal diagnosis. Trupanion’s Canadian pre-existing-condition guidance illustrates why medical history needs review.
Ask your current insurer about available changes and their effect on existing coverage.
Get the proposed new policy’s exclusions and waiting periods in writing.
Confirm enrolment eligibility for your pet’s current age.
Compare annual savings with changed deductibles, limits and uncovered conditions.
Confirm acceptance and start dates before making any cancellation decision.
A quote alone is not proof that ongoing treatment will be covered. Ask what can be assessed before purchase and what remains subject to a later records review.
If you are considering setting money aside instead of insurance, remember that savings accumulate over time, while a large bill can arrive before the fund is ready. Whether to retain coverage depends on the actual policy, your pet’s history and the costs you can manage.
Resources for your renewal decision
Provider reviews
Compare policy features and limitations.
Coverage guide
Check benefits beyond the premium.
Support centre
Find help navigating the site’s guidance.
Insurance FAQs
Understand common policy terms.
Pet insurance age and renewal FAQs
Does pet insurance go up every year?
It can, but a yearly increase is not universal. Ask how the insurer handles age and other pricing changes under your policy.
At what age does pet insurance become more expensive?
There is no single age across providers. Some use age at each renewal; others use age bands for deductibles or a different premium model.
Does enrolling a puppy lock in the premium?
Not necessarily. An age-at-enrolment pricing model can still allow changes for other reasons. Read the pricing and renewal terms.
Can the price increase if I have never claimed?
Yes. Age or wider pricing factors may affect a policy even when you have not submitted a claim.
Does no birthday pricing mean a fixed lifetime price?
No. It describes how age is treated, not necessarily how veterinary-cost changes or other factors affect the premium.
Can my deductible increase as my pet ages?
Some policies have age-related deductibles. Check the schedule and effective date of any change.
How much should I expect the premium to rise?
There is no reliable single percentage for every pet and policy. Use the renewal notice for an actual increase; treat any future estimate as uncertain.
Will moving to another city change my premium?
It may. Notify the insurer and ask how the new address affects pricing, availability and terms.
Can I insure an older pet for the first time?
It depends on the provider’s enrolment age limit and other eligibility rules. Check the benefits and exclusions offered for your pet.
Does an enrolment age limit end existing coverage?
Not automatically. Rules for starting cover and continuing it are different questions; confirm the renewal terms.
Should I raise the deductible to reduce the premium?
Compare the confirmed annual saving with the extra claim costs you could afford. Ask whether you can lower it again later and under what conditions.
Should I switch insurers after a renewal increase?
Compare the full terms first. A cheaper policy may exclude existing conditions, impose new waiting periods or provide different benefits.
Find out what changes—not just what it costs
Keep your renewal notice, policy schedule and pet’s medical history nearby. Compare the premium alongside age rules, deductibles and protection you may want to keep.
Future premiums are not guaranteed by a current quote.
About this guide
Sources checked: 30 August 2026. Official Canadian insurer resources are linked beside the information they support. This is a document-based guide, not a personal insurance recommendation, rate forecast or claim approval.
No firsthand claims testing, professional review or local pricing survey is claimed. The budget calculation is hypothetical. Your issued policy and renewal notice control the details; confirm current terms with the insurer.