Best French Bulldog Pet Insurance: 2022

French bulldogs’ “bat ears” and stumpy bodies make them a beloved breed, but these features can also cause numerous health issues. This means Frenchies are high-risk to insure, and some pet health insurance companies won’t cover them.

We at the Home Media reviews team spent hundreds of hours researching the best pet insurance companies across the United States. We analyzed customer reviews, secret-shopped each provider and surveyed 1,000 pet owners to gather data and compare coverage options. These are our top recommendations for pet insurance providers that cover French bulldogs.

All quotes in this article are for a 4-year-old French bulldog in Dallas, Texas. Each quote we gathered is for a plan including an annual limit of $5,000, a $250 deductible and 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} reimbursement rate unless stated otherwise.

Top 8 Pet Insurance Companies for French Bulldogs

Below are our top recommendations for French bulldog pet insurance plans:

 


 

Lemonade Pet Insurance: Most Affordable Plans

Though known for its renters and homeowners insurance, Lemonade offers well-rounded pet insurance to pet owners nationwide. Its plans cover many common treatments for Frenchies, such as a respiratory function grading scheme for breathing problems and hip and patella examinations for hip dysplasia. In addition, Lemonade offers more affordable policies than many competitors, making them ideal for pet parents looking to spend less.

*Lemonade pet insurance is currently unavailable in 15 states, including Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Coverage

Lemonade offers one comprehensive plan covering treatments related to accidents and illnesses. The plan covers items such as diagnostic tests, hospitalizations, surgery, cancer treatments, broken bones or sprains, prescription medications and more. Like many providers, Lemonade doesn’t cover preexisting conditions, cosmetic procedures or behavioral treatments. 

You can customize your Lemonade policy with the following options: 

  • Deductibles: $100, $250 or $500
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}, 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

We obtained a quote from Lemonade for a French bulldog for a monthly premium of $56.76. 

Get your quote: Visit Lemonade’s website

To learn more: Lemonade Pet Insurance review

 


 

Spot has more customizable policies than most competitors, with annual limit options ranging from $2,500 to unlimited. It’s also one of the few providers that offers a choice between a low-cost accident-only plan and a more comprehensive accident-and-illness plan.

Coverage

Spot offers two plans: accident-only and accident-and-illness. The accident-only plan is good for emergency coverage of swallowed objects, animal bites, broken bones and more. However, Frenchie owners may want to opt for the more comprehensive accident-and-illness plan considering French bulldogs’ common health issues. This plan covers several illnesses French bulldogs may experience, such as dental problems, cancer, heart disease and more. Like other providers, Spot excludes preexisting conditions.

Based on the quotes we received from Spot, an accident-and-illness plan for a Frenchie costs $81.54 per month, while the accident-only plan costs $31.67 per month. 

Spot offers the following customization options: 

  • Deductibles: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
  • Annual coverage limits: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000 or unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}, 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

Get your quote: Visit Spot’s website

To learn more: Spot Pet Insurance review

 


 

Embrace is ideal for pet parents who want to save money. In addition to being one of the cheapest pet insurance providers, the company offers a 10{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} discount for each additional pet policy you purchase, a 5{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} military discount and a 10{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} discount for employees of companies that offer Embrace. The insurer also provides a Healthy Pet Deductible benefit that credits $50 toward your co-payment each year you don’t file a claim.

Coverage:

Embrace offers one accident-and-illness plan covering injuries, illnesses and chronic conditions. It includes coverage for common French bulldog problems such as hip dysplasia, plus treatments including surgery and physical therapy.

Embrace quoted us $77.73 per month to insure a Frenchie with a $200 deductible.

We’ve listed Embrace Pet Insurance’s customization options below: 

  • Deductibles: $200, $300, $500, $750 or $1,000
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000 or $30,000
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}, 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

Get your quote: Visit Embrace’s website

To learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance review

 


 

Healthy Paws offers unlimited annual and lifetime coverage caps, providing relief to pet parents worried about exceeding their limit and paying for expensive vet bills out of pocket. The company’s pricing is also more affordable than competitors with unlimited coverage plans, such as Prudent Pet or Spot.

Coverage:

Healthy Paws has one plan covering accidents and illnesses. It reimburses many veterinary treatments standard for Frenchies, such as X-rays, lab tests, prescription medication, hospitalization, nursing care and medical supplies. However, it excludes other important coverage for French bulldogs, such as boarding, microchipping and hip dysplasia (within the first 12 months of the policy).

Healthy Paws quoted us $64.99 per month to insure a French bulldog. This includes a 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} reimbursement rate, $500 annual deductible and unlimited coverage.

You can customize your Healthy Paw plan with the following options:

  • Deductibles: $250 or $500
  • Annual coverage limits: Unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

Be aware that Healthy Paw’s policies for pets over 6 years old have lower reimbursement rates (50{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} to 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}) and higher annual deductibles ($500 to $1,000).

Get your quote: Visit Healthy Paws’ website

To learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance review

 


 

Most companies will only reimburse up to 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} of a vet bill, but Figo will reimburse 100{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}. The provider also offers unlimited annual benefits and a range of useful add-ons, such as liability coverage for damage your pet causes. Unlike some providers, Figo doesn’t deny coverage based on age, so you’ll be able to enroll in a policy even if you have an older Frenchie. 

Coverage:

Figo offers three tiers of accident-and-illness coverage. The Essential plan provides $5,000 of annual coverage and the Preferred plan offers $10,000. The Unlimited plan has no annual cap, so you’ll never have to worry about exceeding your limit. Each of Figo’s plans covers typical expenses related to a French bulldog’s health, including emergency vet visits, lab work, surgery and more.

Figo quoted us $62.89 per month to enroll a French bulldog in the Essential plan. It quoted  $68.78 per month for the Prefered plan and $88.66 per month for the Unlimited plan.

Figo offers the below customization options:

  • Deductibles: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1000
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}, 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

Get your quote: Visit Figo’s website

To learn more: Figo Pet Insurance review

 


 

Fetch covers many services other providers don’t, including therapy for behavioral issues such as separation anxiety or aggression. It also covers holistic care such as acupuncture and homeotherapy, making it an ideal choice for pet parents who want a truly comprehensive plan.

Coverage:

Fetch’s accident-and-illness plan covers treatments, procedures and vet visit fees related to hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral disorders, dental trauma, injuries and cancer. This is an excellent option for French bulldogs, given how many of their health complications are hereditary. However, Fetch doesn’t cover preventive care such as vaccines, annual checkups or blood tests. 

We received a quote from Fetch of $55.55 per month for a French bulldog. Though Fetch offers a deductible as low as $250, the lowest option for a French bulldog was $300.

You can customize your Fetch policy with the following options: 

  • Deductibles: $300, $500 or $700
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $15,000 or unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}, 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

Get your quote: Visit Fetch’s website

To learn more: Fetch by the Dodo review

 


 

Founded in 1998, Trupanion is one of the oldest and most well-known pet insurance companies. It offers unlimited annual caps, customizable deductibles and vet-direct payments. If you choose a $0 deductible, you’ll only ever have to pay your percentage of vet bills and won’t have to wait for reimbursement. 

Coverage

Trupanion offers one accident-and-illness plan covering most health issues your Frenchie could experience. It also covers certain conditions outside of accidents or illnesses, including congenital and hereditary conditions and other undiagnosed issues. 

We received a quote from Trupanion for $244.65 per month to insure a Frenchie. That includes a 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} reimbursement rate and uncapped payouts. We could not change these options as we could with other insurers. 

Though Trupanion has a fixed reimbursement rate and annual limit, it offers the following customization options:

  • Deductibles: $0 to $1,000 (selected in $5 increments)

Get your quote: Visit Trupanion’s website

 


 

Pets Best insures pets of all ages (beginning at seven weeks), but it stands out for its coverage of senior pets. The company has no upper age limit, so you can enroll your older Frenchie at any time. Pets Best also covers prescribed prosthetic devices and wheelchairs, which many French bulldogs need because they’re prone to ligament and degenerative joint disorders.

Coverage:

Pets Best has several coverage options. Its accident-and-illness coverage, called the BestBenefit plan, is available at three levels: Essential, Plus and Elite. Each level increases in covered treatments and pricing. Pets Best also offers an accident-only plan with a $10,000 annual limit, $250 deductible and 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} reimbursement rate. The accident-only plan is the most budget-friendly option, starting at $9 per month for dogs.

We received a quote of $81.10 per month to insure a French bulldog under the Essentials plan. We were quoted $94.61 for the Plus plan and $99 for the Elite plan. 

You can customize Pets Best’s plans with the following options:

  • Deductibles: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1000
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}, 80{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} or 90{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac}

 


 

Why You Need French Bulldog Pet Insurance

French bulldogs are prone to many breed-specific health issues, and these are even more common for purebred Frenchies. You may not have many veterinary expenses when your Frenchie is young, but bills can quickly add up as your dog ages and begins experiencing health problems. A pet insurance plan will help keep these costs to a minimum.

The average cost of pet insurance is $30 to $50 per month for dogs. Compared to the expenses of ongoing treatment for your French bulldog’s respiratory system, eyes and bones, a pet insurance plan can save you thousands of dollars.

 


 

How Much French Bulldogs Pet Insurance Costs

French bulldog pet insurance is in line with typical pet insurance costs. However, it may veer toward the higher end of the cost spectrum, around $50 to $80 per month. This is because French bulldogs are more susceptible to health complications, and pedigree breeds are more expensive to insure than mixed breeds due to abnormal traits passed through selective breeding.

Your location, dog’s age, and selected plan and customization options will also influence your plan’s overall cost.

 


 

Common French Bulldog Health Issues

French bulldogs may experience various health complications throughout their lives. Some of these conditions are genetic, while others are common among small dogs. 

  • Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS): Due to their flat faces and short snouts, Frenchies are at risk for BOAS. This is an upper airway issue that causes shortness of breath, breathing troubles, heat intolerance and sleeping difficulties. It most often occurs during exercise and warmer seasons.
  • Conjunctivitis: Because French bulldogs are a short-nosed breed (also known as a brachycephalic breed), they commonly experience conjunctivitis, a.k.a. pink eye. Symptoms include pink or red eyes, excessive blinking and/or mucus, pus or other eye discharge. Conjunctivitis is typically caused by bacterial and viral infections or allergic reactions.
  • Diarrhea: French bulldogs experience diarrhea frequently because they’re sensitive to e. Coli, parasites and viruses. Though you can tell if your dog is experiencing diarrhea from its stool, other signs include appetite and weight loss, fevers or vomiting. 
  • Ear infections: Frenchies have narrow ear canals and large, bat-like ears that make it easy for debris and bacteria to enter and collect. French bulldogs are also susceptible to allergies, which can cause ear infections. These problems cause your dog’s ear glands to swell and produce more wax than usual. Excessive ear scratching and redness inside the ear are warning signs. 
  • Mobility: Though French bulldogs’ stubby bodies are cute, they can cause various mobility issues. Some common problems include hip dysplasia and luxating patellas caused by genetics or old injuries. One of the most dangerous mobility issues Frenchies can experience is Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), which can be paralyzing. If you notice your dog losing the ability to walk, experiencing pain or showing other signs of paralysis, take it to the vet immediately. French bulldogs can also face Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) and spinal disc issues. 
  • Pyoderma: This bacterial skin infection occurs when your French bulldog has a cut or scratch that becomes infected. It tends to occur in Frenchies with many skin folds. Common symptoms include itching, red skin, pus and hair loss. 
  • Skin fold dermatitis: French bulldogs’ skin folds can also cause dermatitis. Signs include itching, biting, redness and sores on the affected skin. Keep your Frenchie’s skin folds dry and clean to prevent this problem.
  • URT infection: French bulldogs‘ short noses make them prone to upper respiratory tract (URT) infections. Symptoms include coughing, congestion and lethargy. These infections are highly contagious and typically occur when your dog spends more time with other dogs.

 


 

Types of Plans for French Bulldog Pet Insurance

You can enroll your French bulldog in any of the standard pet insurance plans. Most companies offer accident-and-illness plans, but some offer an accident-only plan for a lower monthly premium. We recommend selecting an accident-and-illness plan given how susceptible Frenchies are to infections and certain diseases.

Many companies also offer an optional wellness care plan to cover routine care such as annual exams and dental cleanings. You can add this plan to your policy for an extra monthly fee.

Below are more details about each type of pet insurance plan:

  • Accident-only plans: These are the most affordable plans. They offer limited coverage for accidents or injuries such as broken bones, swallowed objects or severe cuts.
  • Accident-and-illness plans: These plans are more comprehensive, covering accidents plus illnesses such as diarrhea, vomiting, cancer, and hereditary, congenital and genetic conditions.
  • Wellness or preventive care plans: Most providers offer wellness or preventive care plans as add-ons to your standard policy. These cover annual checkups, vaccines, bloodwork and fecal tests. This coverage is especially valuable for younger pets, since puppies usually require lots of vaccinations and initial checkups. When we surveyed 1,000 pet owners, 52.28{7b6cc35713332e03d34197859d8d439e4802eb556451407ffda280a51e3c41ac} said they took their pets to the vet for routine checkups every six months.

 


 

The Bottom Line: What’s The Best Pet Insurance Company For French Bulldogs?

Pet insurance plans are valuable to any pet owner, but especially for Frenchie parents. French bulldogs are prone to many mobility issues and genetic illnesses that can lead to costly vet bills as they age. We recommend enrolling your Frenchie in an accident-and-illness plan to ensure it will get necessary care without stressing your finances.

Lemonade offers affordable, comprehensive plans that cover many common issues Frenchies may experience. The company also has a short two-day waiting period to ensure you’ll start getting reimbursed for vet bills quickly. Spot is another great option if you want more customizable coverage, while Trupanion is ideal for those looking for a flexible deductible.

We recommend getting quotes from at least three reputable pet insurance providers to compare pricing and coverage for your French bulldog. Use our tool below to get free quotes from reliable pet insurers quickly.

Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Pet Insurance Companies

Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage.

We scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements. We then divided the points earned for each provider’s final score on a 5-point scale.

Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:

  • Monthly pricing (25 points): How much each company charges for its pet insurance plans is an important part of a customer’s decision. The best pet insurance companies combine comprehensive coverage and plan options with affordable rates.
  • Plans (15 points): The top pet insurance companies offer accident and illness plans, accident-only plans and wellness or preventive care add-ons to give customers the option to choose a plan that’s best for their pet.
  • Covered treatments (15 points): With this factor, we scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Companies with a breadth of included treatments and unique coverages received more points than providers with more standard or general policies.
  • Customization options (10 points): Customizing your policy is a valuable way to ensure you only pay for what your pet needs. Providers with more annual-limit, deductible and reimbursement-rate options earned the highest scores.
  • Customer care (10 points): We scored companies on their website accessibility and overall usability, customer service availability, mobile apps (if any), money-back guarantees and veterinarian telehealth options, awarding points to the insurers with more customer experience offerings.
  • Industry reputation (10 points): To determine each company’s industry reputation, we reviewed up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and scored companies on their years of experience in the industry and their state availability.
  • Waiting periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident, illness and orthopedic waiting periods between the sign-up and coverage start date scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
  • Eligible age (5 points): Some companies don’t offer policies for pets that are over a certain age. We deducted points from providers that have age limits for covered pets.

We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.