Pet Insurance Innovations: AI, Telehealth, and Affordability Challenges
Healthy Paws Partners with Airvet
20 Oct 2025
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has partnered with veterinary telehealth platform Airvet, giving policyholders free access to Airvet’s network of licensed vets nationwide. As part of the deal, Healthy Paws becomes Airvet’s exclusive insurance provider. The collaboration combines financial protection with 24/7 veterinary support, helping pet owners manage care more easily. Airvet’s CEO highlighted that the partnership addresses two major challenges for pet families: access to care and affordability. This initiative aims to enhance pet health and provide peace of mind for owners.
‘Pet poverty’ strikes 1 in 7 US pet owners as the average lifetime cost of caring for cats and dogs exceeds $30K — is raising pets only for the rich?
17 Oct 2025
A 2025 MetLife survey found that 1 in 7 U.S. pet owners experience “pet poverty,” struggling to cover both personal and pet expenses, with 22% carrying over $2,000 in pet-related debt. The average lifetime cost of owning a dog or cat ranges from $32,000 to $35,000, making pet care increasingly unaffordable for many. Rising prices for food, veterinary care, and supplies have led 58% of owners to skip meals or 52% to delay needed veterinary care. Pet insurance is growing, covering over 6.4 million pets, and while it may not always save money, 67% of policyholders say it is worth the cost for peace of mind. These trends suggest that pet ownership is becoming a significant financial challenge for middle- and lower-income families.
Pet insurers fuel AI take up in veterinary sector
16 Oct 2025
Pet insurers are increasingly integrating AI-based veterinary services into insurance plans to improve care and reduce costs. Vet-AI, a UK-based startup, provides telemedicine, symptom checking, and AI-driven diagnostics for pets, helping owners decide whether home care, online consultation, or clinic visits are needed. Its AI models analyze gait, skin lesions, and other symptoms, achieving around 81% diagnostic accuracy, while human vets handle final treatment advice. Delivered via app and web, the platform currently serves half a million pets through insurers and completes roughly 300 consultations daily. This approach lowers claims costs, making pet insurance more affordable while enhancing clinical outcomes.
