Advisor

Content on Quartz Advisor is commercial in nature and independent of Quartz Editorial and Advertising. Quartz Advisor content is free to consumers and always will be, however we and our partners may be compensated if you purchase a product or service through the links on this website.

Best Pet Insurance For French Bulldogs (2024 Review)

04/18/2024 08:58 AM

Those scrunched little faces, stumpy bodies, and bat-like ears are the very features that keep Frenchies among the most popular pedigree breeds to own year after year. But what most don’t realize is that these adorable aesthetic traits are directly related to common degenerative genetic health issues in French Bulldogs.

As such a high-risk breed, sniffing out the best pet insurance for French Bulldogs can be tricky, especially because plenty of popular plans have partial limitations on hereditary issues. Above all else, an ideal policy for French Bulldogs is one that guarantees full, versatile treatment coverage for their breed-specific predispositions to: 

  • Hip dysplasia
  • Patella luxation
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
  • Allergies and ear infections
  • Skin fold dermatitis
  • Cherry eye, entropion, and conjunctivitis
  • Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS)
  • Tracheal and laryngeal collapse

Best Pet Insurance For French Bulldogs

Continue reading to learn more about the following pet insurance providers so that you can choose the best one for your needs:

Compare the Top Pet Insurance Providers for French Bulldogs

Enrolling in the right pet insurance policy from the get-go could end up saving you a paw and a leg in veterinary costs should hereditary conditions affect your French Bulldog down the road. 

But with so many policy options to choose from, how are you supposed to know which brands are actually worth howling praise to? We’ve curated a list of our three top picks for most-suitable providers regarding the specialized needs of French Bulldogs, like breed-specific care inclusions, hip dysplasia, physical therapy, and more. 

Remember, each premium range listed below is a generalized average. Although these prices are derived from direct quotes specific to French Bulldogs, your personal premium is subject to change based on your dog’s age, gender, medical history, and ZIP code. 

Best For Star Rating Monthly Cost Link
Spot Spot Most Inclusive
$22-$80 Compare Quotes
Lemonade Lemonade Most Affordable
$16–$30 Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance ASPCA Pet Insurance Most Experienced
$18–$44 Compare Quotes
Embrace Embrace Best for Discounts Offered
$23-$85 Compare Quotes
Spot
Logo Spot
Best For Most Inclusive
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$80
Compare Quotes
Lemonade
Logo Lemonade
Best For Most Affordable
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $16–$30
Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance
Logo ASPCA Pet Insurance
Best For Most Experienced
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $18–$44
Compare Quotes
Embrace
Logo Embrace
Best For Best for Discounts Offered
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $23-$85
Compare Quotes
Company
Waiting Period
Money-back Guarantee
Maximum Enroll Age
Monthly Cost
14 days
Yes
No age limit
$22-$80
14 days for illnesses, 48 hours for accidents
Yes
14 years old
$18-$60
15 days
Yes
No age limit
$22-$46
14 days for illnesses, 48 hours for accidents
Yes
14 years old
$23-$85

Why Trust Quartz Advisor

Our editorial team follows a strict and comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing pet insurance providers. Our scores are not impacted by advertisers.

27

Companies rated

105

Hours researching

2,700

Quotes collected

Best Pet Insurance Providers for French Bulldogs

Even though each of these insurers are ones we stand by, their policies still aren’t all created equal. For every provider that piques your interest, be sure to study their inclusions and exclusions to guarantee you’re signing up for coverage that fully meets your pet’s needs (and yours.) 

Spot

Most Inclusive
4.8

Read more: Spot Review

Overview

Spot provides comprehensive coverage for policyholders, starting with two industry-standard base plan variations — accident-only and accident-illness. For extra support, Spot also carries two levels of elective preventative care riders featuring wellness coverage up to $250 or $450 per year. 

Highlights

More often than not, pet insurance providers will instate an extended waiting period, usually around six months in time, for orthopedic events like cruciate ligament injuries. Spot, on the other hand, does not apply any extending waiting periods to its policies, which is especially advantageous to French Bulldogs, which have a higher onset rate of orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia, patella luxation, and IVDD. 

Coverage

related to vet exams, consultations, and lab work. Regular trips to the vet will better your chances at an early diagnosis of potential congenital conditions. Spot prioritizes a prevention-first approach in its policy framework, helping a French Bulldog owner develop targeted approaches for managing their dog’s medical predispositions well before issues arise.

Spot also wraps alternative therapy expenses related to eligible illnesses and injuries in its base policies. Holistic pet care approaches like chiropractic treatments, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy can be especially helpful for older French Bulldogs with health statuses too fragile for more aggressive treatment options.

One of Spot’s exclusions that may pose an issue to French Bulldogs, in particular, is Spot’s bilateral condition clause, which goes paw-in-paw with standard pre-existing condition exclusions. Bilateral conditions refer to medical conditions that can occur on both sides of the body. So, as it relates to Spot’s exclusions, if, for example, your Frenchie begins exhibiting signs of hip dysplasia in one hip before your enrollment, Spot won’t cover the same condition if it occurs in the other hip after your policy start date.

Plan Customizations

Spot policyholders are able to choose from six incremental maximum coverage limits spanning $2,500 to an unlimited option, which are all feasible depending on the gravity of their pets’ healthcare situations. For additional customization, customers can also choose from five deductibles between $100 to $1,000 and a reimbursement rate of either 70, 80, or 90%.

Pros & Cons

Pros Offers comprehensive wellness plans No upper age limits 30-day money-back guarantee Excellent coverage for both accident and illness-related costs Cons Prescription pet food is not covered Does not cover exotic animals

Lemonade

Most Affordable
4.8

Read more: Lemonade Review

Overview

By virtue of breed-specific health risks, there are a number of diagnostic tests that your vet may recommend for your French Bulldog, including a respiratory function grading scheme, DNA testing for degenerative myelopathy, DNA testing for hereditary cataracts, hip and patella examinations, and a cardiac exam. 

Lemonade offers three add-on options to supplement its stand-alone accident-illness base policy, including coverage for preventative care, physical therapy, and checkup fees. 

While Lemonade’s base policy won’t cover routine diagnostics without the purchase of a wellness rider, should your French Bulldog begin to exhibit symptoms of any common congenital conditions after your policy start date, diagnostics, lab work, inpatient hospitalization, medical imaging (CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, etc.), and prescription medications are just a few of the items that Lemonade will cover. 

Highlights

Whereas most leading providers require an average waiting period of two weeks for accidents, Lemonade only requires new policyholders to hold off from filing an accident-related claim for 48 hours. 

Coverage

Frenchies have a tendency to develop bacterial skin infections like skin fold pyoderma, which occurs when moisture becomes trapped between the wrinkles around their noses and snouts, creating a welcoming breeding ground for yeast and bacteria. Infections like this can cause your dog a bit of inflammation and irritation around the affected area. In order to diagnose cases of dermatitis like this, your veterinarian will usually perform a biochemical profile as well as a swab of the skin to identify the presence of yeast. Diagnostic tests like these are covered by Lemonade, up to your selected annual reimbursement percentage.

None of Lemonade’s exclusions should deter French Bulldog owners from receiving the specialized coverage they need. Like any other pet insurance provider, Lemonade does not reimburse veterinary expenses related to pre-existing conditions, even if the condition occurs during your set waiting period. Additionally, Lemonade also excludes elective cosmetic procedures, behavioral treatments, and routine dental care (unless purchased with an add-on.)

Plan Customizations

As far as plan customizations go, Lemonade doesn’t hold back. Lemonade policyholders can choose from five different annual coverage limits — $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000. Deductibles are allocated in $100, $250, or $500, and reimbursement rates also come in threes of 70%, 80%, and 90%. 

Lemonade offers some of the sweetest policies on the market. To learn more about how Lemonade might be right from your Frenchie, check our Lemonade pet insurance review.

Pros & Cons

Pros Completely online experience Special preventative care package for kittens and puppies 48-hour wait period for accidents 5% discount for multiple pets insured Cons Only available in 36 states and Washington, D.C. Newer to the market

ASPCA Pet Insurance

Most Experienced
5

Read more: ASPCA Review

Overview

Offering both accident-only and an ASPCA-exclusive Complete Coverage plan, a dog insurance policy through ASPCA covers some alternative therapies and behavioral issues, in addition to distinguishing between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions, which give French Bulldogs a better chance of receiving coverage for on-again, off-again conditions. 

Highlights

As a pedigree pet, most people who own French Bulldogs consider their dogs as children. As they should! But 24/7 pampering can also create a comfortable environment for separation anxiety to take form. Separation anxiety isn’t just your Frenchie missing you when you leave; it often looks more like disruptive barking and howling when you’re gone, destructive behavior, attempts to escape, pacing and scratching, and going potty inside. Fortunately, ASPCA policyholders with clingy French Bulldogs have full access to behavioral therapy and treatment, so long as these behaviors didn’t exist prior to enrollment. 

Coverage

Vet visit fees, diagnostics, lab and blood work, and even microchipping are all included in ASPCA’s bare minimum base plan. 

Coverage for genetic conditions is only available in ASPCA’s accident-illness policy and not accident-only. The same goes for behavioral treatment.  

Plan Customizations

ASPCA plans have no lifetime maximums but do operate under annual coverage limits, which are offered in choices from $3,000 to $10,000. As far as deductibles go, ASPCA gives its policyholders the option to choose between $100, $250, and $500, alongside reimbursement rates of 70, 80, and 90%. 

As one of the oldest providers on the market, ASPCA sure knows the ropes of what makes a pet insurance policy high-quality. Dig into our breakdown of its available programs in our official ASPCA pet insurance review. 

Pros & Cons

Pros Coverage for alternative therapies Offers multi-pet discount Partner of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Lower deductibles than most Microchipping coverage Cons Poor customer reviews Low annual coverage limits Coverage waiting period is longer than most

Embrace

Best for Discounts Offered
4.7

Read more: Embrace Review

Overview

If money is of major concern for you, we highly recommend pursuing a policy through Embrace pet insurance. Through its Healthy Pet Deductible program, French Bulldog parents can save big on their annual deductibles with a $50 reduction per year for every policy term they go without submitting a claim for reimbursement. Assuming your Frenchie is in good health from the start, this program rewards you for being protected ahead of time without needless use of your policy.

Highlights

Aside from vanishing deductibles available to Embrace policyholders, Embrace also promotes a non-insurance wellness program called Wellness Rewards. Customers select fixed allowance amounts for their preventative care needs and are allowed to use them freely, with no per-item limits as long as they keep within their selected maximums. 

Coverage

Embrace includes coverage for exam fees at no extra charge in its stock accident-illness policy, which is a veterinary cost that not many providers cover without a few additional bucks per month. With vet visit costs covered, French Bulldog owners won’t have to wager whether or not to take their pets to the vet if something seems off.

Moreover, breed-specific, genetic, and congenital conditions are covered by every Embrace policy as long as no symptoms pre-dated the termination of your waiting period. 

Embrace does not cover DNA testing, which your veterinarian may recommend to assess your French Bulldog for hereditary conditions. Canine DNA tests can range in price from $60 to $200 out-of-pocket, depending on the objective of the test.

Plan Customizations

Embrace policyholders can choose from five annual coverage limits ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 through either its accident-only or more comprehensive accident-illness policies. Five available deductible selections between $200 to $1,000 are also open to the customer’s discretion. And in the likeness of most other pet insurance plans, Embrace offers reimbursement rates of 70, 80, or 90%.

Interested in learning more about one of the most affordable providers in the pet category? No need to sit and stay through the rest of this guide. Read more about Embrace in our annual Embrace pet insurance review.

Pros & Cons

Pros “Healthy Pet Deductible” reduces your deductible by $50 each year with no claims Donates $2 to charity for every policy sold Comprehensive coverage for breed-specific and congenital conditions Microchipping and spay/neuter coverage 10% multi-pet discount, 5% military discount Cons Pricier wellness plan option Strict pre-existing condition policy

Healthy Paws

Best for Chronic Conditions
4.3

Overview

Every pet owner who purchases a policy through Healthy Paws will automatically receive unlimited coverage with no maximums due throughout their entire enrollment experience. And while we think such generous coverage is a great feature for French Bulldogs to have in particular, given their complex breed history of common health issues, automatic maximums do limit the range of customization customers have to reduce their premiums. 

Highlights

As previously mentioned, Healthy Paws includes fixed unlimited annual coverage limits for all shapes and sizes of its base policies. Although a preset payout limit does pose some restrictions on plan customization, it’s actually a major win for French Bulldog owners who are likely up against some pricey congenital condition costs. On average, diagnosis and treatment of hereditary conditions can cost upwards of $3,000 per each treatment attempt. With that being said, Healthy Paws’ unlimited coverage does more good than bad. 

Coverage

A stand-out feature of Healthy Paws is its inclusion of an array of alternative therapies, including but not limited to acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, physiotherapy, and physical rehabilitation. This could be a major perk for French Bulldogs recovering from orthopedic events.

The biggest downfall in Healthy Paws’ policy terms is the fact that it does not offer any wellness care plans — not even as an add-on. If you ask us, preventative care protection not only removes any financial inhibitions to go all out with your dog’s routine care, but it ensures preventative care isn’t handled as a negotiable. Prevention should always supersede treatment, so we think this is an area of coverage for Healthy Paws to reconsider. 

Another major ruh-roh in Healthy Paws’ policy is the 12-month waiting period it instates for hip dysplasia reimbursements. The cost of treatment for hip dysplasia can be between $3,500 and $7,000 per hip depending on the severity of the case, which can leave pet owners in tight financial spots for over a year should their French Bulldogs be diagnosed with this health condition. Dogs over the age of six aren’t eligible for hip dysplasia treatment coverage at all.

Plan Customizations

Operating under one standard accident-illness base plan, Healthy Paws makes room for even the most astronomical veterinary costs with its unlimited annual coverage, also featuring no per-incident or lifetime caps. The only customizations really left to the policyholder’s choosing is one of three deductible options between $100 and $1,000, as well as reimbursement rates between 50 and 90%.

Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage is just one of the many treats wrapped into Healthy Paws’ policies. Our 2022 Healthy Paw pet insurance review covers the kibbles n’ bits of what makes this pet insurance worth it. 

Pros & Cons

Pros Underwritten by the Chubb Group, an A+ rated insurer Has an easy to use mobile app for easy claim submission Unlimited lifetime benefits Donates to over 300 nonprofit pet organizations More affordable than many other options Cons One time customer fee of $25 No wellness plan options

Why Do French Bulldogs Need Pet Insurance?

As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, French Bulldogs are particularly prone to a certain array of breed-specific hereditary health disorders, namely affecting their respiratory systems, eyes, and bones.  

Due to their flat faces and short skull bones, many French Bulldogs develop an elongated soft palate, which blocks their airways, leading to brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS). Breathing difficulties in French Bulldogs also arise from the trachea, which is notorious for collapsing in the breed, caused by genetic factors.

Loved for their big, protruding eyes, French Bulldogs are known to struggle with an assortment of eye-related issues, including cherry eye, pink eye, and entropion. Cherry eye refers to when a gland in the lower eyelid becomes so inflamed that it eventually pops out of the lid, revealing a pink mass that may distort your dog’s vision in the affected eye. Entropion is another condition that affects the eyelid; however, it describes an inherited inward rolling of the eyelid. 

Although their stocky frames are one of the features that make French Bulldogs the perfect lap dogs, the compressed nature of their skeletons causes progressive mobility issues throughout their lifetimes. Orthopedic conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia, luxating patellas, spinal disc issues, sudden paralysis, and degenerative myelopathy are just a few of the more common diseases. French Bulldogs can also be born with a condition called hemivertebrae, which is when half a vertebrate in the spine doesn’t form. 

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost For French Bulldogs?

The average cost to insure French Bulldogs is between $40 and $80 per month across leading providers. Not only for Frenchies but all pets, your personalized premium will depend on your ZIP code, plan customizations (base plan level, annual maximum, reimbursement rate, and deductible), as well as your dog’s age. While French Bulldogs are among the top five purebred dogs to insure, pedigree breeds, in general, cost more to insure than mixed breeds by virtue of abnormal traits passed between parents and their offspring due to selective breeding.

Is Pet Insurance Really Worth It?

Yes. French Bulldogs fall into a specified risk pool along with other pedigree breeds for their long list of complex genetic healthcare needs. Not to mention, IVDD, a condition notoriously seen in French Bulldogs, is among one of the most expensive pet health problems to treat overall, averaging around $3,200 per claim. All things considered, you’re better off paying a small premium per month to offset potential vet bills than face medical costs in the thousands out-of-pocket should congenital conditions eventuate in your French Bulldog.  

Our Final Thoughts on Pet Insurance For French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs are expensive to own, from their initial purchase cost to basic necessities to breed-specific health liabilities. And that doesn’t even include emergency care should your dog get into trouble. Without enrolling your Frenchie in comprehensive coverage from the start, there’s a good chance unexpected veterinary bills will eat away at your rainy day fund in no time at all. 

Pet insurance gives you peace of mind that no matter your financial situation, money will never be an issue when your pup needs immediate medical attention, even at the most inopportune of times. 

Our Methodology

​​Here at Quartz, our research team looks to examine all pet insurance policies and comes up with reviews based on:
  • Coverage
  • Plan options
  • Cost 
  • Reputation
  • Customer service 
  • Species available
  • Wellness benefits 
We’ve created a 5-star rating system to score pet insurance brands based on a 100-point scale. To develop a list of the best pet insurance plans, we looked into plans, rating coverage, claims handling, reimbursements, deductibles, and limitations.  Each factor is weighted differently based on the following factors:
  • Monthly Pricing (25 points): How each pet insurance company charges for their plans is a crucial part of the decision-making process of the customer. Affordable rates and comprehensive coverage are the defining characteristics of providing the best pet insurance.
  • Coverage (20 points): We scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Providers offering broader coverage and more unique treatments received more points.  Pet insurance policies are not offered by all companies for older pets. Providers who have an age limit on the pets they cover were deducted points.
  • Plans (15 points): Pet insurance providers offer accident-and-illness plans, accident-only plans, wellness add-ons, and pet preventive care add-ons, so customers can choose the right plan for their pets. We also factored in costs to achieve the most comprehensible review for your pet’s needs.
  • Customization Options (10 points): You can ensure your pet only gets what they need by customizing your policy. A higher score was earned by providers who offered a greater range of annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
  • Customer Service (10 points): We scored companies based on their website accessibility and usability, mobile apps, and grating points to companies with the most customer experience options.
  • Industry Reputation (10 points): We assessed each company’s industry reputation by reviewing up-to-date BBB ratings and accreditation information, as well as their years of experience in the industry.
  • Waiting Periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident and illness waiting periods scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
Our team revisits each company’s information at the end of every month to make updates and ensure the information is as accurate as possible.