CostByBreedState rules
Pet insurance in Tennessee
Tennessee has not adopted the national model pet insurance law, but it does carry related filing or licensing rules for pet insurers. The model law's consumer terms do not apply here as a set, so your policy contract carries more of the detail.
Your state rules
| Rule | In Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Model law status | Related rules only |
Rows appear in this table only where Tennessee law sets the term. Where the state sets nothing, the row is omitted rather than filled with another state's rule.
The national average, for context
The national average premium
| Coverage | National average |
|---|---|
| Accident and illness, average for a dog | $836 a year |
| The same average as a monthly figure | $836 divided by 12 is $69.67 a month |
| Accident only, average for a dog | $190 a year |
These are averages across every breed and age in the country, from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. They are printed for scale. No source publishes an average premium for one breed, and this site does not present this figure as a price for any single dog.
The national average premium
| Coverage | National average |
|---|---|
| Accident and illness, average for a cat | $435 a year |
| The same average as a monthly figure | $435 divided by 12 is $36.25 a month |
| Accident only, average for a cat | $112 a year |
These are averages across every breed and age in the country, from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. They are printed for scale. No source publishes an average premium for one breed, and this site does not present this figure as a price for any single cat.
Worth knowing in Tennessee
Related activity only: Tenn. Code 56-7-2101 to 56-7-2103, listed in the NAIC tracker as 2008 and predating the model. No model consumer protections.
Your state regulator
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Consumer line: 615-741-2241.
Insurance departments take complaints about claim denials and policy practices, and most publish pet insurance consumer guides. If an insurer denies a claim, the denial letter and the policy wording are the two documents the department will ask for.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee have a pet insurance law?
Tennessee has not adopted the national model pet insurance law, but it does carry related filing or licensing rules for pet insurers. The model law's consumer terms do not apply here as a set, so your policy contract carries more of the detail.
How much does pet insurance cost in Tennessee?
No source publishes a state average premium, and any site printing one is showing its own quote sample. The national average is $836 a year for a dog and $435 a year for a cat, for accident and illness cover, from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. Your price depends on your pet, your plan, and your deductible.
Who regulates pet insurance in Tennessee?
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. The regulator block on this page carries the details.
Can a pet insurer deny a claim as pre-existing in Tennessee?
Yes, for a condition that existed before the policy or its waiting periods, under the policy's own definition. Read the pre-existing conditions page for how curable condition rules can restore cover.
State law: the pet insurance provisions of Tennessee, checked against the statute and the state insurance department, and the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (Model 633) adoption record. As of 2026-10-27. Premium benchmark: North American Pet Health Insurance Association, State of the Industry Report, 2026 edition, reporting 2025 data. See the methodology page for how every source is used.