If you’re the parent of a Golden Retriever, then you know why this breed is one of—if not the—most popular in the United States. These pups are sweet, loyal, and affectionate and make excellent pets. However, like all dog breeds, they have certain health issues they’re prone to, such as allergies, heart disease, and hip dysplasia—and treating these conditions can be pricey.
Luckily, you have the option to purchase pet insurance to help you with costs associated with your Golden Retriever’s health care. But which pet insurance plan should you go with? After all, there are tons of companies that offer pet insurance, and each covers different things, which makes narrowing down your options difficult.
That’s why we’re here to help by giving you the low down on 10 great pet insurance plans for Golden Retrievers! Keep reading for the basics of each plan, the pros and cons, and what exactly you should be on the lookout for when searching for the right pet insurance plan.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Lemonade Pet Insurance
Affordable
Covers a lot
Plenty of ways to customize
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Best Value
Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Great value
Fewer restrictions than other companies
Multi-pet discount
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Trupanion Pet Insurance
Lifetime per-condition deductibles
Comprehensive coverage
Can pay vet directly
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Embrace Pet Insurance
Excellent customization options
Reduced deductibles for no claims filed
Several available discounts
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Fetch by Dodo Pet Insurance
Extremely affordable
Coverage for every tooth your dog has
Excellent customer service
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Comparing 10 Pet Insurance Plans for Golden Retrievers
- Lemonade Pet Insurance – Best Overall
Compare Lemonade PlansLemonade Pet Insurance offers the best overall base plan, which covers illnesses, accidents, cancer, medication, diagnostic services, congenital conditions, cancer, and surgery (all excellent for the Golden Retriever’s needs), at an affordable price. Plus, they have the option of two other plans that build on from that base plan to provide coverage for preventative services such as vaccines. Lemonade also has options for add-ons (five total) that offer coverage for everything from dental health to physical therapy!
And, though you’d think all this would cost quite a bit, Lemonade’s prices are amongst the lowest of all the pet insurance companies. And because they give you the choice of three deductibles ($100, $250, or $500), three reimbursement rates (70%, 80%, or 90%), and flexible annual coverages ($5K, $10K, $20K, $50K, or $100K), then you can get a price that fits your budget easily.
Compare Lemonade Plans
Lemonade Pet Insurance offers the best overall base plan, which covers illnesses, accidents, cancer, medication, diagnostic services, congenital conditions, cancer, and surgery (all excellent for the Golden Retriever’s needs), at an affordable price. Plus, they have the option of two other plans that build on from that base plan to provide coverage for preventative services such as vaccines. Lemonade also has options for add-ons (five total) that offer coverage for everything from dental health to physical therapy!
However, the price will go up the more add-ons you choose, so be careful. And if you live in Wyoming, West Virginia, Vermont, South Dakota, Minnesota, Maine, Louisiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Idaho, Hawaii, Florida, Delaware, or Alaska, you’ll have to choose another insurance company, as Lemonade isn’t available in these states.
Pros
Affordable
Covers a lot
Plenty of ways to customize
Cons
Add-ons can add up when it comes to cost
Not available in all states
- Pumpkin Pet Insurance – Best Value
Compare Pumpkin PlansPumpkin Pet Insurance offers you the best value because even though their prices are a tiny bit higher than others, they’re known for providing great coverage with fewer restrictions than other pet insurance companies. Just a few of the things that Pumpkin will cover for your Golden Retriever include accidents, illnesses, dental care, microchipping, diagnostics, holistic treatments, and prescription diets.
And because all their plans have a 90% reimbursement rate (there are no other options), you’re getting a lot of money back after vet visits! You can also choose from three annual limits of $10K, $20K, and unlimited, as well as deductibles of $100, $250, and $500. Plus, multi-pet households are eligible for a 10% discount for additional pets!
Affordable
Covers a lot
Plenty of ways to customize
- Affordable
- Covers a lot
- Plenty of ways to customize
Add-ons can add up when it comes to cost
Not available in all states
- Add-ons can add up when it comes to cost
- Not available in all states
Compare Pumpkin Plans
Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers you the best value because even though their prices are a tiny bit higher than others, they’re known for providing great coverage with fewer restrictions than other pet insurance companies. Just a few of the things that Pumpkin will cover for your Golden Retriever include accidents, illnesses, dental care, microchipping, diagnostics, holistic treatments, and prescription diets.
The biggest downside of Pumpkin is that there isn’t any customer service or claims help on weekends, as the company uses a third-party service for these things.
Pros
Great value
Fewer restrictions than other companies
Multi-pet discount
Cons
Monthly premiums are a tiny bit higher than other companies
No customer service or claims help on weekends
- Trupanion Pet Insurance
Compare Trupanion PlansTrupanion may only have one plan, but they have a fairly vast deductible range you can pick from that makes it easy to get what you need for the price you desire. And Trupanion’s deductibles provide lifetime per-condition coverage, which means you’re off the hook for any more money after your deductible for a condition has been met. That’s excellent for Golden Retrievers with chronic conditions! However, Trupanion doesn’t offer much in the way of flexibility overall, as there’s only one reimbursement rate of 90% and one annual limit choice.
Though their base plan is pretty comprehensive, there are some things it doesn’t cover, such as preventative care. However, there are a couple of add-ons you can choose that will cover those items. And Trupanion can pay your vet directly rather than having to go through the hassle of getting reimbursed (at least, as long as your vet has the required software).
Great value
Fewer restrictions than other companies
Multi-pet discount
- Great value
- Fewer restrictions than other companies
- Multi-pet discount
Monthly premiums are a tiny bit higher than other companies
No customer service or claims help on weekends
- Monthly premiums are a tiny bit higher than other companies
- No customer service or claims help on weekends
Compare Trupanion Plans
Trupanion may only have one plan, but they have a fairly vast deductible range you can pick from that makes it easy to get what you need for the price you desire. And Trupanion’s deductibles provide lifetime per-condition coverage, which means you’re off the hook for any more money after your deductible for a condition has been met. That’s excellent for Golden Retrievers with chronic conditions! However, Trupanion doesn’t offer much in the way of flexibility overall, as there’s only one reimbursement rate of 90% and one annual limit choice.
There is an age-limit cap on pet enrollment, but it’s 14 years, so you have lots of time to get your pup in. Trupanion also has a longer waiting period for coverage to begin for illnesses than other companies, at 30 days.
Pros
Lifetime per-condition deductibles
Comprehensive coverage
Can pay vet directly
Cons
Not much flexibility
Longer than average waiting period for illness coverage
- Embrace Pet Insurance
Compare Embrace PlansEmbrace Pet Insurance is a winner for Golden Retrievers (or any pet, really). They offer a ton of plan customization in the form of five deductible options of $100, $200, $300, $500, or $1,000, reimbursement rates ranging from 65–90%, and annual limits from $5K–$15K. And for every year you don’t have claims, your deductible is reduced by $50! You can also get various discounts for different things, such as being in the military, having your pet spayed or neutered, and enrolling multiple pets.
Embrace covers a ton of items, as well, including genetic conditions, orthopedic conditions, preventable and chronic illnesses (cancer included), and dental work. And though pet insurance doesn’t usually cover pre-existing conditions, Embrace offers a workaround so that certain pre-existing conditions are covered. It simply has to be a condition that is curable, and your pet has to have been sign-free for 12 months. Plus, if you want even more coverage than the base plan offers, you can add on their Wellness Rewards plan to cover items, such as vaccines.
Lifetime per-condition deductibles
Comprehensive coverage
Can pay vet directly
- Lifetime per-condition deductibles
- Comprehensive coverage
- Can pay vet directly
Not much flexibility
Longer than average waiting period for illness coverage
- Not much flexibility
- Longer than average waiting period for illness coverage
Compare Embrace Plans
Embrace Pet Insurance is a winner for Golden Retrievers (or any pet, really). They offer a ton of plan customization in the form of five deductible options of $100, $200, $300, $500, or $1,000, reimbursement rates ranging from 65–90%, and annual limits from $5K–$15K. And for every year you don’t have claims, your deductible is reduced by $50! You can also get various discounts for different things, such as being in the military, having your pet spayed or neutered, and enrolling multiple pets.
The downside to Embrace is that there have been some complaints about reimbursements being slow to be paid out.
Pros
Excellent customization options
Reduced deductibles for no claims filed
Several available discounts
Covers some pre-existing conditions
Cons
Some complaints about reimbursement payments being slow
- Fetch by Dodo Pet Insurance
Compare Fetch PlansDental disease is one of the most seen problems in Golden Retrievers, so you’ll be glad to know that Fetch by Dodo doesn’t just offer coverage for typical items, such as accident and illness, but also coverage for every single tooth your pup has. They also cover non-routine things other pet insurance companies usually don’t, like alternative therapies. And all this coverage comes at extremely affordable monthly premiums!
The negatives of Fetch, though, are that their base plan doesn’t cover preventative care, nor do they have add-ons that cover those items. Fetch also offers you less in the way of customization for your plan, as it has fewer deductibles, reimbursement rates, and annual limit options. There’s still enough customization to help you find a good price, but it’s much less than companies like Lemonade have.
Excellent customization options
Reduced deductibles for no claims filed
Several available discounts
Covers some pre-existing conditions
- Excellent customization options
- Reduced deductibles for no claims filed
- Several available discounts
- Covers some pre-existing conditions
Some complaints about reimbursement payments being slow
- Some complaints about reimbursement payments being slow
Compare Fetch Plans
Dental disease is one of the most seen problems in Golden Retrievers, so you’ll be glad to know that Fetch by Dodo doesn’t just offer coverage for typical items, such as accident and illness, but also coverage for every single tooth your pup has. They also cover non-routine things other pet insurance companies usually don’t, like alternative therapies. And all this coverage comes at extremely affordable monthly premiums!
One of the best things about Fetch, though, is its customer service. Pet owners repeatedly praised how quickly they received help when they had questions.
Pros
Extremely affordable
Coverage for every tooth your dog has
Excellent customer service
Cons
No coverage for routine care
Less plan customization than other companies
- Bivvy Pet Insurance
Compare Bivvy PlansIf you want basic coverage for your Golden Retriever that’s incredibly affordable, then you’ll want to check out Bivvy. This company offers a single plan for a single rate ($13) for all dogs and cats, making it one of the most affordable plans out there. However, that low price means that the coverage you get is pretty low, too.
Bivvy provides coverage for illnesses, accidents, chronic conditions, and a few other items, but not much else. However, they do have a wellness add-on that provides a bit of coverage for everyday items for only a few more dollars a month! Bivvy also doesn’t allow much customization with this plan; you get a deductible per claim, a low annual limit, and a 50% reimbursement rate.
Extremely affordable
Coverage for every tooth your dog has
Excellent customer service
- Extremely affordable
- Coverage for every tooth your dog has
- Excellent customer service
No coverage for routine care
Less plan customization than other companies
- No coverage for routine care
- Less plan customization than other companies
Compare Bivvy Plans
If you want basic coverage for your Golden Retriever that’s incredibly affordable, then you’ll want to check out Bivvy. This company offers a single plan for a single rate ($13) for all dogs and cats, making it one of the most affordable plans out there. However, that low price means that the coverage you get is pretty low, too.
On the plus side, it only takes 5 minutes or less to sign-up for this pet insurance plan!
Pros
Super cheap
Quick and easy to sign-up for
Offers wellness add-on
Cons
Extremely basic coverage
No plan flexibility
- Hartville Pet Insurance
Compare Hartville PlansWith Hartville Pet Insurance, you can get a very affordable plan for your Golden Retriever, but if you aren’t careful, you could also wind up with a pricey monthly premium. Unfortunately, it’s one end of the spectrum or the other with this insurance company with few prices in between. The cost will depend upon what customizations you make to your plan, though, so it’s relatively simple to find an option you can afford.
Hartville’s Complete Coverage plan covers a bit of everything, including illness, accident, behavioral therapy, and genetic conditions. And their Accident-Only plan actually offers reasonably decent coverage, as it covers not just accidental injuries but also alternative therapies and even exam fees. Plus, they offer an add-on for routine care.
Super cheap
Quick and easy to sign-up for
Offers wellness add-on
- Super cheap
- Quick and easy to sign-up for
- Offers wellness add-on
Extremely basic coverage
No plan flexibility
- Extremely basic coverage
- No plan flexibility
Compare Hartville Plans
With Hartville Pet Insurance, you can get a very affordable plan for your Golden Retriever, but if you aren’t careful, you could also wind up with a pricey monthly premium. Unfortunately, it’s one end of the spectrum or the other with this insurance company with few prices in between. The cost will depend upon what customizations you make to your plan, though, so it’s relatively simple to find an option you can afford.
However, as your Golden Retriever ages, your monthly premium will go up, which is definitely a negative. Hartville also has a relatively long turnaround time for claims processing (14–16 days).
Pros
Can be affordable
Pretty good accident-only coverage
Cons
Can be pricey
Monthly premiums go up as your pet ages
Claims processing takes a couple of weeks
- Figo Pet Insurance
Compare Figo PlansIf you thought a 90% reimbursement rate was great, then you’ll love Figo Pet Insurance, as they offer a 100% rate! Their accident and illness plan also has no claim payment caps, which is fabulous, and it offers excellent comprehensive coverage. You can even choose from Figo’s “Power Ups” (aka add-ons) to add coverage for routine care, exam fees, and more! However, Figo’s monthly premiums are a bit pricier as a result of all this.
One of the best things about Figo is the ability to contact customer care via text, phone, or email. Other great things about this company include fast claim reimbursements (3-day processing) and an app that allows you to receive needed documents and manage vet care.
Can be affordable
Pretty good accident-only coverage
- Can be affordable
- Pretty good accident-only coverage
Can be pricey
Monthly premiums go up as your pet ages
Claims processing takes a couple of weeks
- Can be pricey
- Monthly premiums go up as your pet ages
- Claims processing takes a couple of weeks
Compare Figo Plans
If you thought a 90% reimbursement rate was great, then you’ll love Figo Pet Insurance, as they offer a 100% rate! Their accident and illness plan also has no claim payment caps, which is fabulous, and it offers excellent comprehensive coverage. You can even choose from Figo’s “Power Ups” (aka add-ons) to add coverage for routine care, exam fees, and more! However, Figo’s monthly premiums are a bit pricier as a result of all this.
Pros
100% reimbursement rate
Easy to reach customer service
Fast claims processing
Figo app
Cons
Pricier than other companies
- ASPCA Pet Insurance
Compare ASPCA PlansYou’re probably familiar with the ASPCA, but you might not have realized that they offer pet insurance. They do, though, and their plans come in a vast range of price points with tons of customization, so you should easily find a plan that works for you and your Golden Retriever. The ASPCA’s insurance plans cover quite a lot, too.
Besides the usual items, such as accident and illness, hereditary conditions, surgery, and behavioral issues, the ASPCA also provides coverage for things like holistic therapies, dental disease, exam fees, and stem-cell therapy. Plus, there are a couple of add-ons that will cover routine care like vaccines. And if you change your mind about your ASPCA insurance plan within 30 days of purchase, you’re in luck, as they have a 30-day money-back guarantee!
100% reimbursement rate
Easy to reach customer service
Fast claims processing
Figo app
- 100% reimbursement rate
- Easy to reach customer service
- Fast claims processing
- Figo app
Pricier than other companies
- Pricier than other companies
Compare ASPCA Plans
You’re probably familiar with the ASPCA, but you might not have realized that they offer pet insurance. They do, though, and their plans come in a vast range of price points with tons of customization, so you should easily find a plan that works for you and your Golden Retriever. The ASPCA’s insurance plans cover quite a lot, too.
However, there are a couple of cons to ASPCA, such as complaints that the company claimed some conditions as “pre-existing” though they were not, and customer service being a bit spotty in quality.
Pros
Fairly affordable
Provides coverage for non-typical items
Money-back guarantee
Cons
Complaints of conditions being claimed as pre-existing when they were not
Spotty customer service
10. Progressive Pet Insurance
Compare Progressive PlansProgressive may be a common name in car and home insurance, so you might be surprised to learn they also offer pet insurance. And their plans are reasonably affordable and relatively flexible! With a choice of three plans and six deductibles, you can customize a plan to fit a wide variety of budgets. Plus, Progressive’s wellness add-ons for routine care aren’t that much extra, so overall you get fairly good coverage for your Golden Retriever.
Another plus of Progressive is the option of when to pay your premiums—quarterly, annually, or monthly. There’s also no age cap for pet enrollment, so you can enroll your pup at any age!
Fairly affordable
Provides coverage for non-typical items
Money-back guarantee
- Fairly affordable
- Provides coverage for non-typical items
- Money-back guarantee
Complaints of conditions being claimed as pre-existing when they were not
Spotty customer service
- Complaints of conditions being claimed as pre-existing when they were not
- Spotty customer service
Compare Progressive Plans
Progressive may be a common name in car and home insurance, so you might be surprised to learn they also offer pet insurance. And their plans are reasonably affordable and relatively flexible! With a choice of three plans and six deductibles, you can customize a plan to fit a wide variety of budgets. Plus, Progressive’s wellness add-ons for routine care aren’t that much extra, so overall you get fairly good coverage for your Golden Retriever.
The biggest complaint about the company, though, seems to be the occurrence of claims being denied as “pre-existing conditions” though the conditions actually were not.
Pros
Options for when to pay premiums
Flexible and affordable plans
No age cap
Cons
Complaints of denied claims due to “pre-existing conditions” that weren’t pre-existing
Options for when to pay premiums
Flexible and affordable plans
No age cap
- Options for when to pay premiums
- Flexible and affordable plans
- No age cap
Complaints of denied claims due to “pre-existing conditions” that weren’t pre-existing
- Complaints of denied claims due to “pre-existing conditions” that weren’t pre-existing
Buyer’s Guide: Comparing Pet Insurance Plans For Golden Retrievers
What to Look for in Pet Insurance for Golden Retrievers
When purchasing pet insurance for your Golden Retriever, there are a few things to consider. The most important is what a policy covers, as you want it to cover illnesses your Golden Retriever is more prone to getting and accidents since this breed tends to be an active dog. Other than that, you’ll need to consider the price you can afford, the reputation of a company, how quickly claims are paid, and how easy it is to work with a company’s customer service.
Policy Coverage
Pet insurance plans can vary wildly in the types of coverage they offer, so you need to look carefully to ensure a plan covers what you need. The majority of insurance companies will offer basic accident and illness or accident-only plans, along with add-ons that provide coverage for routine care and non-typical items, such as alternative therapies. Some plans will provide coverage for congenital or hereditary conditions, while others will not. The type of coverage you get will depend upon your pet’s needs, but you’ll want to ensure any plan covers common Golden Retriever illnesses.
Customer Service & Reputation
Policy coverage may be the most important thing to look at in a pet insurance plan, but a company’s customer service and reputation are close seconds! You want a company that offers customer service that’s simple to get in touch with (preferably via multiple ways) and has customer service reps that know how to do their job and won’t give you the run-around if you have questions or concerns.
You also need to know how good a reputation a pet insurance company has before purchasing any plans. If a company is known for constantly denying claims or being sneaky with fine print, you want to know sooner rather than later. That’s why it’s a good idea to look at reviews from people who already have experience with the company before committing to an insurance plan. Check out TrustPilot or the Better Business Bureau to get an idea of how well-liked a company is.
Claim Repayment
One of the main points of purchasing pet insurance is to be reimbursed for costs associated with vet care. That means you need to know how to submit claims to your chosen insurance company and how claims are reimbursed (Paid directly to the vet? Direct deposit? Mailed check?). You also want to ensure that a company has a reasonable turnaround time on claim reimbursements—most insurance companies are relatively quick about this, but others may take up to 2–3 weeks to reimburse you.
And some companies may say they only take a few days, but actually take much longer, so it’s a good idea to check out reviews from others on how the claim reimbursement process actually goes.
Price of Policy
Finding an insurance plan that fits all your needs at a price that fits your budget is right up there in importance, along with coverage and a company’s reputation. Monthly premiums come in a wide range of prices that can vary not only from company to company but within a single company (depending on how you customize your plan). Luckily, there are enough insurance companies that finding the perfect plan for your Golden Retriever shouldn’t be too difficult. Do keep in mind, though, that insurance for dogs is always a bit higher than insurance for cats!
Plan Customization
Most insurance companies will offer plan customization in the form of a variety of options for deductibles, reimbursement rates, and annual limits (although a few do not). You’ll want a plan with enough customization to help you get the price you want. You’ll also want to see if a company offers add-ons for routine care or other items (most do), so you can receive all the coverage you need.
Can My Pet Insurance Be Used Outside the U.S.?
Most insurance companies allow pet insurance to be used in Canada, but that’s about it. A handful allow coverage in other U.S. territories or countries, but mostly only Canada is permitted.
What if My Insurance Company Is Not Listed in Your Reviews?
There are tons of pet insurance companies, so, unfortunately, we couldn’t talk about them all. So, if you don’t see the company you’re considering on this list, look at your state’s Department of Insurance or check out reviews on the Better Business Bureau to learn more.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Has the Best Consumer Reviews?
While all of the above companies have good consumer reviews, from our research, it seems as if Embrace has the absolute best.
What the Users Say
As we said above, all the companies on this list have good consumer reviews for the most part; in fact, the majority of these companies are rated four stars or higher on TrustPilot! However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t the occasional negative reviews. Overall, though, pet parents are happy with the affordability and coverage the above insurance companies offer.
But companies are liked (or disliked) for different reasons. For example, some people love Embrace because it offers many customizations, which helps with affordability, while others enjoy Lemonade because it fits many budgets and has excellent comprehensive coverage.
Which Golden Retriever Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
The Golden Retriever insurance provider that’s best for you will be the one that provides all you need at an affordable price. What’s suitable for someone else isn’t necessarily right for you, so find the plan that covers your Golden Retriever’s potential illnesses and accidents, along with anything else you may want help covering. Then, look at a plan’s flexibility to see if your monthly premium can be tweaked enough to fit your budget. Finally, ensure you have a way to easily get in touch with an insurance company in case of questions or concerns.
Conclusion
Golden Retrievers are excellent pets, but they’re also a breed prone to certain health issues (some of which are chronic). Since you don’t want to be stuck in a lurch if the worst happens and your pet gets ill, purchasing pet insurance can help tremendously. Pet insurance will enable you to be partially reimbursed for any costs covered under a plan, saving you money in the long run.
If you want the best overall pet insurance plan for your dog, you’ll want to check out Lemonade. If you’re looking for the best value, consider Pumpkin. And if you want something in between, consider any of the other eight companies on this list, as they’re all highly rated!
Featured Image Credit: atyana Vyc, Shutterstock
