When we brought Rosie, our Bernese Mountain Dog, into our lives, we knew we were in for a wonderful adventure. But as any BMD owner knows, these dogs come with a high risk of health issues. From hip dysplasia to bloat (very serious!) and even cancer, Bernese Mountain Dogs are unfortunately prone to lots of serious medical conditions. That’s why we made the decision early on to get pet insurance—because we never wanted to be in a situation where we had to choose between saving money and saving Rosie’s life.
Choosing a Pet Insurance Provider
There are a lot of pet insurance providers out there, and choosing one can feel overwhelming. Some of the top options we considered included:
- Lemonade
- Trupanion
- Spot
- Pets Best
We originally signed up with Trupanion, which offered a $500 lifetime deductible per condition and 100% coverage with no payout limits for $100 per month. It seemed like a great deal at the time, ensuring we wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket after reaching the deductible.
However, after the New Year in 2025, Trupanion increased our monthly cost to $130 per month. This price hike made us reconsider whether we were getting our money’s worth. While we had plenty of vet visits during our time with Trupanion—treating Giardia, vaccinations, and even spaying—most of these expenses weren’t covered under our plan. At the end of the year, we realized we had been paying for insurance that never actually reimbursed us for any of our costs.
Switching to Lemonade
Frustrated with the lack of coverage, we decided to switch to Lemonade. Our new plan offers:
- $500 deductible (per policy period, not lifetime)
- 70% reimbursement
- Coverage up to $20,000 per year
- $80 per month premium (a $50 savings compared to Trupanion)
One of the biggest advantages of Lemonade is that it includes preventative care in our plan. This means we get coverage for:
- One wellness exam
- One fecal or internal parasite test
- Three vaccines
- One heartworm test
- One blood test
If we didn’t include preventative care, our premium would have been even lower.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
For us, switching to Lemonade made the most sense financially. While Trupanion’s unlimited coverage was reassuring, it wasn’t actually benefiting us in practice. With Lemonade, we’re paying less while still having peace of mind that if Rosie ever faces a serious health emergency, we’ll have some help covering the costs.
If you’re considering pet insurance for your dog, here are a few key takeaways from our experience:
- Understand what’s covered – Some plans only cover emergencies, while others include preventative care.
- Check the deductible structure – A lifetime deductible might sound good, but if it’s per condition, it may not be as helpful as it seems.
- Expect price increases – Many companies raise rates annually, so be prepared for potential cost changes.
At the end of the day, having pet insurance means we can focus on giving Rosie the best life possible—without worrying about unexpected vet bills. If you’re on the fence about pet insurance, we definitely recommend looking into it, especially if you have a breed prone to health issues like Bernese Mountain Dogs.
Do you have pet insurance for your dog? Have you switched providers? Let us know in the comments!
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