7 Best Pet Insurance Companies in Virginia of 2023 – MarketWatch

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Owning a pet can add so much value to your life — companionship, cuddles, laughter, even increased exercise, to name just a few benefits. But being a pet parent can also add to your household expenses, particularly if your four-legged family member has an unexpected accident, illness or injury.
As long as your pet qualifies, pet insurance is a financially responsible way to protect both your pet and your wallet if expensive emergency veterinarian care is needed. To help you choose the right provider, we at the Guides Home Team conducted extensive research on pet insurance companies and selected our top recommendations. We have narrowed down that list of best pet insurance companies here to focus on those serving Virginia.
Check out the best pet insurance providers for Virginia pet owners:
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: Lemonade’s standard pet insurance policy covers treatment for both accidents and illnesses. Coverage includes heart disease, hip dysplasia, cancer, skin conditions, broken bones and sprains, among other issues. In addition, the standard plan will reimburse you a portion of the cost for diagnostics like X-rays and ultrasounds related to your pet’s previously undiagnosed illness or accidental emergency. Outpatient procedures and surgeries requiring hospitalization and prescription medication are also covered. 
Lemonade offers an optional add-on for vet visit fees. The additional coverage varies in price depending on where you live. For example, in Richmond, Va., it would cost approximately $6 per month to add vet visits to a basic coverage package. 
Additional preventive care is available in three tiers, ranging from $16 to $24 per month. These cover wellness exams, some vaccinations, fecal and heartworm tests, dental cleanings and other routine checkups. The company also offers a comprehensive preventive care plan designed specifically for puppies and kittens that helps offset the cost of spaying/neutering, vaccinations, and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. 
Using Lemonade’s online tool, quotes to cover adult mixed-breed pets in Richmond are as follows:
The quotes above are based on a policy with a $5,000 annual coverage cap, $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate. As with most pet insurance companies, Lemonade’s list of exclusions includes preexisting conditions or any elective procedures.
Lemonade is currently involved in a class-action lawsuit regarding its alleged collection and storage of biometric data. However, we still consider Lemonade to be a reputable pet insurance provider. You can read more details in our Lemonade review.
To learn more: Lemonade pet insurance review
Get a quote: Take Lemonade’s quick questionnaire to get a free pet insurance quote.
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: Spot is an excellent option for pet parents who want to create a more customized solution for pet health care. The company offers seven annual caps ranging from $2,500 to unlimited on its accident-only and accident-and-illness coverage options. The Accident-Only Plan provides coverage for emergency accidents such as broken bones, bite wounds and poison ingestion. In addition, the plan will partially reimburse you for both diagnostic (such as X-rays and ultrasounds) and treatment procedures related to your dog or cat’s unexpected injury. 
Spot’s Accident and Illness Plan is more comprehensive, including everything covered in the Accident-Only Plan along with vet visits, diagnostics, surgeries and hospitalizations related to diseases and conditions like diabetes, arthritis, thyroid problems, urinary tract infections and cancer. This plan also reimburses pet owners for alternative treatments such as chiropractic care, hydrotherapy and acupuncture. Unlike Lemonade, Spot also includes behavioral issues like anxiety and aggression in its Accident and Illness Plan.  
It is important to note that, while the plan covers hereditary and congenital conditions like heart disease, eye disorders and hip dysplasia, Spot, like most pet insurance providers, will not pay for any conditions diagnosed before the start of your policy. 
Spot has two optional preventive care packages: the Gold Plan and the Platinum Plan. Both cover wellness-related expenses such as annual vet exam fees, some vaccinations and fecal and heartworm tests. The difference between the two plans is the annual cap on preventive treatments. The Gold Plan, which costs about $10 extra per month, has a $250 annual limit, while the Platinum Plan has a $450 cap at a cost of approximately $25 more per month. 
The estimated cost for Spot’s Accident-Only Plan for adult mixed-breed dogs and cats in Richmond is as follows:
The prices above are based on a $5,000 policy with a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate.
To learn more: Spot Pet Insurance review
Get a quote: Visit Spot Pet Insurance’s website for a free insurance quote on your pet.
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: For pet parents looking for a cost-effective but comprehensive care plan, Embrace may be a good solution. Like many providers in our review, Embrace will give you a 10% discount when you enroll more than one pet. Additionally, the company gives a 5% discount to active and retired military and a 10% discount as part of its employee benefits program. If the company you work for participates in the program, you are eligible for the savings. 
Upon enrollment with Embrace, the company will carefully review your pet’s vet records and identify any preexisting conditions for which you will not receive reimbursement. Should you decide the coverage is not extensive enough for your needs, you have 30 days after enrollment to cancel your policy and receive a full refund. Embrace also reduces deductibles by $50 each year you don’t file a claim. 
Embrace’s standard plan covers accidents and illnesses as well as exams and procedures related to accidental emergencies, diseases and hereditary conditions. Its optional Wellness Rewards plan provides full reimbursement of routine veterinary care, including all grooming needs. Customers can select a $250, $450 or $650 annual limit for the Wellness Rewards plan.
We received the following estimated price ranges for coverage of adult mixed-breed dogs and cats in Richmond with a $5,000 coverage cap, 80% reimbursement rate and $300 deductible:
The lowest price reflects a base plan estimate, while the highest price is a base plan plus an optional Wellness Rewards plan with a $650 limit. 
To learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance review
Get a quote: To find out how much it would cost to cover your pet, fill out Embrace’s online form.
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has two standard plans: Accident-Only and Complete Coverage. Accident-Only is the most basic option, providing coverage for medical costs associated with injuries such as bite wounds, torn ligaments and broken bones. Complete Coverage includes everything in the Accident-Only Plan and adds illnesses and common conditions such as behavioral disorders, cancer and hip dysplasia.
ASPCA offers two optional wellness plans for preventive care: Basic and Preventative Prime. The basic plan, which costs about $10 extra per month, will pay up to $100 per item for routine care like fecal and heartworm tests. The annual coverage cap on the basic wellness plan is $250. 
Preventative Prime costs an additional $25 per month and covers everything in the basic wellness package but also includes flea and heartworm prevention and blood and urine testing, among other items. The annual reimbursement limit for Preventative Prime is $450.
The estimated cost of accident-only plans for adult mixed-breed dogs and cats in Richmond with a $5,000 coverage cap, 80% reimbursement rate and $250 deductible is as follows:
To learn more: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance review
Get a quote: Use ASPCA’s online quote form to determine how much a policy with ASPCA Pet Health Insurance will cost you.
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: Healthy Paws stands out for its unlimited coverage caps at affordable prices. Although Spot, Figo and Embrace have plans with unlimited annual limits, they are more expensive than Healthy Paws’ premium rates. Additionally, Healthy Paws’ unlimited coverage cap extends beyond an annual plan to the lifetime of your pet while covered under one of its pet insurance policies.
Healthy Paws offers one standard plan covering both accidents and illnesses and related care. These include cancer, hereditary and congenital conditions, broken bones, sprains and bite wounds. However, the company does not have optional preventive care packages, and it is limited in its coverage of hip dysplasia, a common ailment among cats and dogs. Healthy Paws will only cover hip dysplasia for pets 6 years of age and younger and will not provide that coverage for the first 12 months of your policy. After 12 months, the company may cover the condition following an extensive veterinary examination. Healthy Paws also does not provide coverage for spaying/neutering, office visits or examinations. 
Average monthly rates for adult mixed-breed pets in Richmond on plans with unlimited caps, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate are as follows:
To learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance review
Get a quote: Fill out Healthy Paws’ online form for a free pet insurance policy quote.
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: Figo has a flexible reimbursement rate with each of its three plans. Customers can opt for a 70%, 80%, 90% or 100% rate on the company’s Essential, Preferred and Ultimate plans. While other providers on our list offer reimbursement in the range of 70%–90%, Figo is the only one with a full reimbursement option.
Figo’s plans cover veterinary expenses from illnesses and accidents, including prescription medications, surgeries and diagnostic testing. Chronic and hereditary or congenital conditions are also included, provided they were not diagnosed before the start of your policy. Figo’s plans vary in their annual coverage cap amounts. Those amounts are as follows:
Figo provides optional preventive care through its Extra Care Pack. The add-on plan pays up to $150 for a lost or stolen pet and $250 for burial costs if your pet passes away during your policy term. 
In addition to round-the-clock access to veterinarians, Figo’s mobile app can provide reminders of routine pet care, such as annual shots. The app also has a social feature, allowing you to connect with other pet parents in your community.
Using Figo’s online quote tool, the cost to cover adult mixed-breed pets in Richmond under the Essential Plan is as follows: 
Get a quote: Take Figo’s brief questionnaire to receive a quote for your Figo Pet Insurance plan.
 
Highlights:
Coverage and cost: Prudent Pet offers three standard plans. The Accident-Only Plan and the Essential Plan both have an annual coverage cap of $10,000. The Essential Plan also provides additional coverage of illnesses and conditions like cancer and hip dysplasia.
Like Figo, Prudent Pet provides reimbursement for lost and stolen pets as well as burial costs. However, Prudent Pet’s coverage is included in the top tier of its three standard plans, the Ultimate, instead of an add-on option. The Ultimate Plan, which covers accidental emergencies, illnesses, diseases and chronic conditions, also has unlimited coverage caps.
Veterinary exams and consultation fees related to diagnosing an issue or disease are only available with Prudent Pet through an optional package that would cost about $9 extra per month for residents of Richmond. An optional wellness package that provides reimbursements for routine exams and vet visits is available with per-item coverage limits of  $210, $315 or $460 for an additional $12 to $30 per month in Richmond. 
Here are the average prices we received for the Essential Plan for adult mixed-breed pets in Richmond with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate:
To learn more: Prudent Pet Pet Insurance review
Get a quote: For a free quote, take Prudent Pets’ quick online survey.
 
If you are looking for added peace of mind regarding your pet’s health and longevity, pet insurance can be a way to balance your pet’s ongoing health with the cost of veterinary care. While your pet’s needs and your budget will ultimately determine which pet insurance company is best, we recommend Lemonade as our top pick overall. Lemonade generally has affordable rates and many helpful add-on options, such as the preventive care package just for pets under two years of age. 
If your pet is well beyond the puppy or kitten stage, it may be worth considering Figo or Spot because neither pet insurance company limits coverage based on age. Healthy Paws is a good option for those looking for basic coverage at an affordable price.
Provider
Get a Quote
Our Score
Monthly Cost*
Waiting Periods
Multi-Pet Discount
Mobile App
Lemonade
Visit Lemonade’s site
90.5
$24–$48
2 days for accidents; 14 days for illnesses
5%
✔
Spot
Visit Spot’s site
89
$33.96
14 days for all conditions
10%
✔
Embrace
Visit Embrace’s site
90.5
$51–$103
2 days for accidents; 14 days for illnesses
10%
✔
Healthy Paws
Visit Healthy Paws’ site
84
$34.66
15 days for accidents and illnesses
None
✔
Figo
Visit Figo’s site
90
$38.66
Varies by zip code
5-10%
✔
Prudent Pet
Visit Prudent Pet’s site
90.5
$48.97
5 days for accidents; 14 days for illnesses
10%
✘
ASPCA
Visit ASPCA’s site
90
$13.13
14 days for all conditions
10%
✔
*Each provider’s monthly cost is based on standard policy premiums from quotes we obtained for 4-year-old, medium-size dogs in Richmond, Va.
 
When shopping for pet insurance policies, there are typically two standard plans — accident-only and accident and illness — and optional preventive care packages.
Deciding on a pet insurance company can be overwhelming, so it’s helpful to keep these critical factors in mind while shopping for the right provider and policy: 
 
Pet insurance rates vary depending on your pet’s age, breed, species, gender and zip code. Based on our research, it would cost anywhere from $13 to $103 monthly ($156 to $1,326 per year) for dog insurance in Richmond, Va. Cat insurance costs anywhere from $15 to $77 per month or $180 to $924 annually.
Yes. Pet insurance reimburses you instead of paying a veterinarian directly, meaning your pet insurance policy will be accepted at any vet’s office anywhere in the country.
Most pet insurance claims are denied due to preexisting conditions. To avoid running into this issue when you most need coverage for your pet, ask potential pet insurance providers to review your cat or dog’s medical record and identify any conditions that may lead to denied claims in the future.
While a pet insurance policy can add to your monthly budget — and it won’t cover all your veterinary expenses — it is essential to consider what you would do if the unexpected happens. Your pet may be reasonably healthy and accident-free and require few veterinary expenses outside of routine visits. However, for a minimal cost, comparatively speaking, pet insurance can provide peace of mind that you will be able to provide care for your pet in the event of a sudden injury or illness. And having insurance in place while your dog or cat is healthy guarantees a more stress-free experience should your pet need emergency care.
 
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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