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Pet Insurance Break-Even Calculator

Compare what you pay in premiums with what a claim would repay, from your own policy numbers.

✔ Reviewed by a licensed veterinarianContent updated 18 Oct 2026Reviewed 18 Oct 2026Sources: Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs
Pet Insurance Break-Even CalculatorFree · instant
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Calculated in your browser. The numbers you type are never sent to us or stored.

Quick answer. At US$30 a month you pay US$360 a year. With a US$250 excess and 80% repaid, vet bills of about US$700 in a year repay the premium. A US$2,000 bill would be repaid US$1,400, so you would be US$1,040 ahead. It uses only the numbers you enter.

How to use the pet insurance break-even calculator

  1. Enter your monthly premium, annual excess and repayment percentage from the policy.
  2. Optional: enter a vet bill to see what would be repaid.
  3. Press Calculate.

Worked example

A policy costing US$30 a month with a US$250 annual excess that repays 80%, tested against a US$2,000 vet bill (your policy will differ).

Currency
US dollar
Monthly premium
30
Annual excess (the part you pay first)
250
Percentage the insurer repays (%)
80
A vet bill to test — optional
2000
Break-even: $700 of vet bills a year
Premiums per year
$360
Vet bills needed to repay the premium
$700
Repaid on your test bill
$1,400
Net after premiums
$1,040

Uses only the numbers you entered. Check your policy for limits, waiting periods and exclusions.

Example values are illustrative; this result is produced by the same calculator above.

How we calculate it

annual premium = 12 × monthly premium; break-even vet bills per year = annual premium ÷ repay % + annual excess; payout = (bill − excess) × repay %

Sources: Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs (no external constant)

Understanding your result

This calculator helps you judge pet insurance with your own numbers. It multiplies the monthly premium by 12 for the annual premium, and works out how large your vet bills must be in a year for the insurer's repayment to match what you paid.

The formula is: break-even bills = annual premium ÷ repayment percentage + annual excess. At US$30 a month, an 80% repayment and a US$250 excess, the premium is US$360 a year and bills of about US$700 break even.

If you enter a vet bill to test, the calculator shows what would be repaid and how you would be left after premiums. It does not know your policy's limits, waiting periods or exclusions, so read the policy as well.

Common mistakes

  • Ignoring limits, waiting periods and exclusions in the policy.
  • Entering the monthly premium as the yearly one.
  • Assuming one annual excess applies when your policy uses a per-condition excess.
  • Treating break-even as a prediction of what your pet will cost.
  • Not considering how you would pay a large bill without insurance.

Good to know

  • Insurance is about protecting against a bill you could not comfortably pay, not only about breaking even.
  • Compare policies using the same numbers in this calculator.
  • The Pet Emergency Fund Calculator is an alternative or a complement.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if pet insurance is worth it?

Compare the premiums you pay with what you might claim. This calculator shows how large vet bills must be in a year to repay the premium, so you can judge it against what you can afford to pay yourself.

What is the excess?

The part of each year's vet bills you pay before the insurer repays anything. The calculator uses one annual excess for simplicity; check how your policy applies it.

Does this include limits, waiting periods or exclusions?

No. It only uses the numbers you enter. Read your policy for limits, waiting periods and exclusions.

Where do I find the repayment percentage?

It is in your policy or quote, often called the reimbursement level.

Is break-even the right way to judge insurance?

It is one way. Insurance also protects you from a large bill you could not pay, so think about both the numbers and your own situation.

Does it work with a per-condition excess?

Not exactly. It uses one annual excess, so treat the result as a rough guide and check how your policy applies the excess.

Reviewed by a licensed veterinarian
Last reviewed 18 Oct 2026 · How we review

Sources

  1. Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs (no external constant)
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Estimates only. Every pet is different — confirm with your veterinarian.