Why did my pet insurance go up with no claims? Your pet got a year older, and state insurance regulators say age alone can raise the premium. Some policies also change with your location. And vet prices rose faster than inflation in 2025, according to the AVMA.
A clean claims record does not freeze the price. It only takes one factor off the list.
The good news is that the reasons are not hidden. In Washington and states with similar rules, the insurer has to tell you how your premium can change.
Why Did My Pet Insurance Go Up When Nothing Changed?
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department pet insurance guide lists what drives the price. Breed, age, spay or neuter status, prior claims, coverage limits, and the deductible, copays and coinsurance you choose all play a part.
It also says the chance of claims rises sharply as a pet ages, especially for plans that cover illness. So your premium may change from year to year, sometimes by a lot.
That is the easy part to miss. Your pet did not file a claim, but your pet is now in an older age group.
| Price factor named by the Pennsylvania guide | Can it move at renewal with zero claims? |
|---|---|
| Pet age | Yes, on policies that price by current age |
| Prior claims history | No claims means this one is not the cause |
| Breed | No, it does not change |
| Spayed or neutered status | Only if that status changed |
| Coverage limit, deductible, copay, coinsurance | Only if the plan or your choices changed |
The Pennsylvania guide adds one key question to ask. Some policies look only at the age of your pet when you first buy. Others increase as your pet gets older.
What Your Insurer Has to Tell You
Washington passed a pet insurance law in 2023, Senate Bill 5319, based on model rules from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Washington insurance commissioner explains it here.
Under that law, the insurer must tell you if premiums increase based on your claims history, the age of your pet, or a change in your location. You also get a 15-day free look period to return a new policy, if no claim was filed.
Other states have their own rules, and not every state has adopted the same model. Still, your policy papers are the first place to check which of those three triggers applies to you.
Car insurance renewals follow a similar pattern, with no claim needed:
Your Car Insurance Renewal Just Went Up. Here Is Why, Even With a Clean Record.
Vet Prices Are the 2026 Background
Insurers pay vet bills, so vet prices matter. A February 2026 American Veterinary Medical Association report says veterinary prices rose faster than inflation in 2025.
The same report says practice revenue grew about 2.5 percent in 2025 while visits fell roughly 3 percent. Revenue growth came mainly from higher prices, not more patients. And 81 percent of surveyed veterinarians said clients were more price sensitive, up from 72 percent in 2024.
More pets are insured too. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association says 7.6 million pets were insured in North America at the end of 2025. That was up 8.5 percent from 7.03 million in 2024.
Spot, Lemonade, Fetch, MetLife, Embrace, Nationwide: Same Questions
People often search for their own company by name. The factors above are the ones to ask about, no matter whose name is on the bill.
Each company sets its own rates, so we cannot say how much any one of them raised prices. What you can do is ask each one the same questions, with your renewal notice in hand.
Honestly, a renewal letter does not always say which factor moved. Asking is the fastest way to find out.
How to Check the Increase, Step by Step
Step 1. Find your renewal notice and your policy disclosure. Look for wording on age, location and claims history.
Step 2. Call the insurer and ask which factor changed. Age, location, the base rate or your plan options.
Step 3. Ask what the premium would be with a different deductible, copay or reimbursement level. The Pennsylvania guide lists those as cost drivers you choose.
Step 4. Before you switch, check preexisting conditions. The South Carolina Department of Insurance says no policy covers them, so a new insurer may not cover what your current one does.
Step 5. Estimate the long run. The South Carolina Department of Insurance suggests getting quotes for your pet at each age for the next 10 or 12 years, then adding up the yearly totals.
A Hypothetical Five-Year Check
Here is that South Carolina method with made-up numbers. All monthly quotes here are invented to show the math, not real prices from any company.
| Pet age | Hypothetical monthly quote | Times 12 equals yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | $42 | $504 |
| 4 | $47 | $564 |
| 5 | $53 | $636 |
| 6 | $60 | $720 |
| 7 | $68 | $816 |
| Five-year total | $3,240 |
The first year looks like $504. The five years add up to $3,240. That gap is the whole reason to run the numbers before you pick a plan.
A vet bill that lands in the same month as a renewal hits harder without a cushion:
Your Emergency Fund Is Not What It Used to Be. Here Is What Changed.
Renewals that creep up every year are easy to lose track of. Here is a free tracker for every payment date you need to watch.
The Short Version
Why did my pet insurance go up with no claims? Age can raise it on its own, and location and rising vet prices can add to it. Check your policy disclosure, ask the insurer which factor moved, and price out the next several years before you switch.
How much did your pet insurance renewal go up this year, and did the insurer explain why?
Disclaimer: MoneyWisePro is not an insurance company or financial advisor. This article is for general information only and is not financial or legal advice. Contact your pet insurance provider or state insurance department for guidance on your specific situation.
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