6 Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies (September 2022) – MarketWatch

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To help you find cheap pet insurance and keep your premiums within your budget, we at the Home Media reviews team examined some of the best pet health insurance companies available.
The overall cost of veterinary bills may increase with the growing need for pet health care. This means you could be expected to fork out hundreds or even thousands of dollars if your furry companion ever gets sick or injured unexpectedly. Pet insurance can help cover the cost of expensive vet bills while giving you peace of mind that your cat or dog will receive the care it needs during an emergency.
Keep reading to compare the coverage, pricing and plans of top companies to protect your four-legged friend.
 
Out of all the pet insurance picks we reviewed, Lemonade consistently offered the most affordable plans for dogs and cats. The provider scored the highest in our review for its performance on customization options, customer care and covered treatments. Pet owners can also get 10% off their Lemonade policy by bundling with a homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy offered by the insurer.
Lemonade may not be the right choice for pet parents living in Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia or Wyoming, since it currently excludes coverage in those states.
+ Will give you a discount if you bundle your pet insurance with Lemonade homeowners or renters insurance
+ Covers routine vet visits through optional add-on coverage
+ Provides a preventive care plan specifically for puppies and kittens
– Does not provide dental coverage
– Does not cover treatment of behavioral issues
Coverage: Lemonade offers one standard plan that covers the cost of items such as diagnostic tests, urinalysis, outpatient procedures, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery and prescription medications when your pet suffers from an accident or illness, such as a broken bone, sprain, infection, cancer, heart disease or hip dysplasia. Lemonade’s policies don’t cover preexisting conditions, elective procedures and issues related to pregnancy. Read a sample policy from Lemonade to review its full list of coverage and excluded items.
Add-Ons: Lemonade offers three add-ons for optional coverage. One for coverage on vet visit fees, one for coverage on physical therapy treatments and one for preventive care at two different monthly premiums and coverage levels. The preventive care add-on covers your dog or cat’s routine care and includes a wellness checkup, fecal test, three vaccines, blood test and heartworm or feline leukemia virus (FeLV) test.
Customizations: You can customize your Lemonade policy’s coverage and pricing by selecting from the following options when getting a quote:
To Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Get a Quote: Use Lemonade’s easy online quote tool to get an instant quote on your pet’s policy.
 
 
Spot is an affordable pet insurance provider that offers the most customizable plans of the companies we reviewed. With options for accident-only or accident and illness coverage, as well as seven different annual coverage limits ranging from $2,500 to unlimited, you can customize your premium to fit your exact budget based on your four-legged family member’s coverage needs.
+ Provides 24/7 telehealth assistance
+ Offers two optional preventive care plans
+ Does not have an age limit on coverage for older pets
– Charges a $2 fee to process each monthly payment
– Does not provide customer support on the weekends
Coverage & Cost: Spot offers two plans: one for accident-only coverage that covers vet bills related to injuries, swallowed objects, toxic ingestions and other unexpected accidents and one for accident-and-illness coverage, which extends coverage to illnesses and conditions like gingivitis, behavioral issues, hip dysplasia, heart disease, cancer, respiratory infection, diabetes and more. Read a Spot sample policy to review the company’s full list of coverage and exclusions.
Add-Ons: You can also add preventive care coverage to your policy for items such as dental cleanings, a wellness exam, a fecal test and deworming at two per-item coverage levels with total annual amounts of $250 per year or $450 per year.
Customizations: You can customize your policy’s coverage options and pricing by selecting from the following options when getting a quote:
Note: Spot’s Accident-Only Plan’s premiums don’t change based on your pet’s age or breed.
To Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review
Get a Quote: Customize a policy for your dog or cat when getting a quote from Spot by filling out this simple online form.
 
 
As another cheap pet insurance company, Embrace stands out for the savings opportunities it makes available to pet parents. For example, military members can get 5% off their policies, employees of companies enrolled in Embrace’s benefits program can receive 10% off and people with multiple pets can get 10% off of additional policies for multiple pets.
Embrace also offers the Healthy Pet Deductible, which credits your annual deductible with $50 for each year you don’t file a claim, lowering it to as little as $0. This could save you substantial money out of pocket when filing a claim.
+ Covers routine vet visits through optional add-on coverage
+ Will reduce your deductible when you go 12 months without filing a claim
+ Has an optional wellness plan that covers all routine pet care costs
– Does not provide reimbursement for supplements and prescription food, even when recommended by a vet
– Has a $25 enrollment fee
Coverage & Cost: Embrace pet insurance offers an accident-and-illness plan for coverage on treatments, procedures and other costs related to conditions like dental trauma, chronic conditions, congenital conditions, injuries and more. It doesn’t cover preexisting conditions, organ transplants, breeding or pregnancy issues and elective procedures. Read a sample policy from Embrace to review its full list of coverage and exclusions.
Add-Ons: For preventive care coverage from Embrace, you can purchase the optional Wellness Rewards Plan, which covers 100% reimbursement up to your choice of a $250, $450 or $650 annual coverage limit. It covers typical wellness plan costs for spaying or neutering, microchipping, routine vaccines, cremation, acupuncture, grooming, teeth cleanings and more.
Note: The Wellness Rewards plan is not available in Rhode Island.
Customizations: You can customize your Embrace policy with the following options:
To Learn More: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
Get a Quote: Visit Embrace’s website to get a free quote on your pet’s policy.
 
 
In addition to having affordable, customizable policies, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is serviced by the Crum & Forester Pet Insurance Group, which has been in the industry for more than 25 years. ASPCA is an ideal choice for new and seasoned pet owners alike—it offers both accident-only and accident-and-illness coverage with five coverage limit options and three reimbursement rate and deductible choices.
+ Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
+ Provides coverage for microchipping and behavioral issues in its base plan
+ Does not have an upper age restriction for coverage
– Has a 14-day waiting period for accidents 
– Does not offer customer service or vet tech support on weekends
Coverage & Cost: Similar to Spot, ASPCA offers pet parents two plan options—accident-only and accident-and-illness. Its accident-only plan covers vet bills related to unexpected injuries such as broken bones, swallowed objects, lacerations and toxic ingestions. 
The accident-and-illness plan, also referred to as the Complete Coverage plan, covers the injuries mentioned above plus illnesses and conditions including cancer, behavioral issues, infections, hip dysplasia, heart disease, hereditary conditions, diabetes and more.
 Similar to other providers, preexisting conditions, cosmetic procedures and breeding costs are excluded from coverage.
Add-ons: Pet owners can extend their coverage with a wellness care add-on, which covers routine care services such as wellness exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, deworming and more. The wellness add-on is available at two different levels, reimbursing up to $250 or $450 annually.
Customizations: You can customize your ASPCA pet insurance coverage and pricing by selecting from the following deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate options:
To Learn More: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review
Get a Quote: Get a free pet insurance quote by filling out ASPCA’s online form.
 
 
Fetch by The Dodo stands out for its coverage of holistic treatments like chiropractic care and acupuncture. Additionally, the company’s standard plan covers veterinary care related to behavioral issues, including separation anxiety and hyperactivity. Fetch offers a variety of discounts, including up to 10% off for AARP members, active and retired military and pet owners who adopted from a shelter or rescue.
+ Covers up to $1,000 each for telehealth vet visits and up to $15,000 for treatment of behavioral issues
+ Reduces premiums by up to 30% for customers who don’t file a claim for at least 12 months
+ Provides discounts for paying premiums quarterly or annually, rather than monthly
– Does not have a multi-pet discount
– Has a longer claim processing period than most pet insurance companies
Coverage: Fetch has one standard plan for both accidents and illnesses. Coverage includes sick visits, vet exams, diagnostic testing, surgeries and cancer treatment. Treatment of dental issues, breed-specific conditions and behavioral problems are also covered. The standard plan can be customized with three deductible amounts — $250, $300 or $500 — and three annual reimbursement caps — $5,000, $15,000 or unlimited. 
Add-Ons: Fetch does not have wellness or preventive care options, but its standard plan does have some additional perks not offered by most other pet companies. For example, Fetch will reimburse you if you have to advertise for your lost pet or cancel a vacation due to a pet injury or illness-related treatment. 
To Learn More: Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance Review
Get a Quote: To receive your free quote from Fetch, visit the company’s website.
 
 
If you’re looking for a cheap pet insurance company that offers unlimited annual, per-incident and lifetime coverage, we recommend Healthy Paws. Although its policies can be more expensive for older pets, we still found that it consistently offers lower premiums than other providers’ unlimited coverage plans. However, it might not be the right fit for pet parents looking for preventive care coverage, since it doesn’t offer that option.
+ Covers acupuncture, chiropractic care and other alternative treatments
+ Promotes a two-day turnaround on claims
+ Offers a money-back guarantee if you cancel your policy within the first 30 days
– Will not cover hip dysplasia for the first 12 months of your policy
– Reduces reimbursement levels for older pets
Coverage & Cost: Healthy Paws offers one plan that covers costs for medically necessary veterinary treatments related to covered accidents and illnesses, such as congenital conditions, hip dysplasia (after 12 months), chronic conditions, cancer, injuries and more. It doesn’t cover any preventive or routine care, elective procedures, preexisting conditions, exam fees and spay or neuter surgery. Read a sample policy from Healthy Paws to review its full list of coverage and exclusions.
Customizations: Pets over 6 years old come with either a $500 or $1,000 annual deductible and a 50% or 70% reimbursement rate. If your pet is younger than 6 years old, you’ll be able to choose from the following options to customize your policy:
*Policies that cover pets over 6 years old come with lower reimbursement rates (50%–70%) and higher annual deductibles ($500–$1,000).
To Learn More: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
Get a Quote: Get an online quote from Healthy Paws by filling out this quick form.
 
 
We recommend these pet insurance picks for pet owners on a budget looking to spend less on their monthly premiums. Although we found Lemonade to consistently offer lower prices than many competitors, it’s not available in every state.
If Lemonade doesn’t serve your area or you’re looking to compare prices across a few companies, we recommend getting quotes from other affordable pet insurance companies, such as ASPCA or Embrace.
 
Pet insurance is a policy you can purchase for your pet that covers the cost of veterinary care related to emergencies, accidents and illnesses, preventing you from paying for expensive treatments out of pocket. For eligible expenses, you’ll pay at the vet’s office and your provider will reimburse you up to the percentage you selected during enrollment.
Most pet insurance policies cover major accidents and injuries, including general sicknesses, infections, injuries, wounds, cancer, genetic conditions and hereditary conditions, that require treatments, procedures or vet visits. Costs from hospitalizations, surgeries, medications and diagnostic tests are typically covered and qualify for a claim on your policy’s coverage up to your selected annual limit, which is the total amount your provider agrees to pay throughout the year.
 
 
Before purchasing a pet insurance policy, it’s important to understand the different types of plans that are available. While most companies offer accident-and-illness plans, some offer more affordable accident-only plans. Additionally, many top pet insurers offer preventive care coverage as an optional add-on.
Here’s a breakdown of each type of plan, what it includes and who it’s good for:
 
 
 
Pet insurance costs can range anywhere from $20 to $150 per month, depending on the following factors:
As a pet owner, you’ll want to consider these factors when determining if a pet insurance policy is right for you and your furry friend.
 According to one of our pet experts, Veterinarian Dr. Shannon Barrett, a pet insurance policy is the most important investment a pet owner can make. “I remind them that there is no way to protect [your pets] from everything. Pets will inevitably eat something they shouldn’t or take a tumble playing with the dog next door.” 
Injuries and illnesses alone may cause you understandable stress, but pet owners can alleviate financial worries, “because they know they have pet insurance to help them out.”
 
 
We pulled multiple pet insurance quotes for dogs and cats from several companies to find the cheapest plans. When possible, the plans were pulled for 4-year old mixed breeds and included a $250 deductible, $5,000 annual maximum, and 80% reimbursement level.
Monthly Cost
Coverage
Affiliate Link
Lemonade
$21.33
Accident, Illness, Preventive, 5% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
Spot
$36.86
Accident, Illness, Preventive, 10% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
Embrace
$39.62
Accident, Illness, Wellness, 10% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
ASPCA
$36.86
Accident, Illness, Wellness, 10% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE
QUOTES
Fetch
$46.94
Accident, Illness, 10% discount for shelter & rescue adopters, AARP members, veterans and active military, and more
COMPARE
QUOTES
Healthy Paws
$37.95
Accident, Illness
COMPARE QUOTES
*The monthly cost is based on sample quotes for accident-and-illness plans for a four-year-old mixed dog in Columbia, S.C.
 
Monthly Cost
Coverage
Affiliate Link
Lemonade
$12.83
Accident, Illness, Preventative, 5% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
Spot
$20.02
Accident, Illness, Preventative, 10% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
Embrace
$23.29
Accident, Illness, Wellness, 10% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
ASPCA
$20.02
Accident, Illness, Wellness, 10% Multi-Pet Discount
COMPARE QUOTES
Fetch
$20.16
Accident, Illness, 10% discount for shelter and rescue adopters, AARP members, veterans and active military, and more
COMPARE
QUOTES
Healthy Paws
$14.46
Accident, Illness
COMPARE QUOTES
*The monthly cost is based on sample quotes for accident-and-illness plans for a one-year-old mixed cat in Columbia, S.C.
 
 
Although pet insurance is similar to your own health insurance, it works a bit differently. Rather than paying the vet’s office directly after a visit, your pet insurance provider reimburses you for a percentage of the amount you spend on the bill after you file a claim. Additionally, you have to pay your deductible before coverage kicks in, just like you would with your own health insurance or car insurance.
The providers on this list offer high-quality pet insurance at affordable prices, making it easy to find an excellent policy in your price range. We found Lemonade consistently offers low prices across multiple states, but Spot or ASPCA may be a good choice for pet parents who want affordable accident-only coverage.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average annual premiums for dog insurance in 2020 were $218 for accident-only insurance plans and $594 for an accident and illness plan.
There are pet insurance policies without deductibles. Keep in mind, though, some pet insurance policies with no deductible, require a much higher premium.
Based on our 2021 survey of 1,000 pet owners, 70% of those without pet insurance paid between $200 and $1,000 out-of-pocket every year for routine care services. A preventive care add-on would cover wellness care such as vaccinations, blood work, flea/heartworm prevention and spay/neuter surgery. Additionally, the average annual price of a preventive care add-on costs far less than these combined services.
 
 
 
 
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 have scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements.
Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:
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.
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