The Best Exotic Pet Insurance (2022 Guide) – MarketWatch

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In this article: What is Exotic Pet Insurance? | What Does Exotic Pet Insurance Cover? | Exotic Pet Insurance Cost | The Bottom Line | FAQs | Methodology
Pet insurance provides financial protection from expensive vet bills and peace of mind that your pet will get care if it’s sick or injured. Unfortunately, many of the best pet insurance companies only cover dogs and cats — not exotic animals.
We at the Home Media reviews team researched the best pet insurance companies and surveyed 1,000 pet parents to find the best providers for exotic pets. Here’s our top recommendation.
 
 
Exotic pet insurance works the same way as a typical pet insurance plan. Plans typically cover costs related to your pet’s accidents and illnesses, such as vet exam fees, lab work and X-rays. Unlike human health insurance, you pay your vet directly at checkout and receive reimbursement from your provider later.
The main difference between standard pet insurance and exotic pet insurance is the type of animal covered. Below are common pets found in a pet insurance company’s “exotic” category:
 
 
Exotic pet insurance policies cover similar procedures and treatments as those for cats and dogs. This means reimbursement for commonplace healthcare issues for reptiles, birds, rodents and more. As with typical pet insurance, coverage only includes accidents and illnesses. Preventive care, such as routine vet visits, is not covered. Preexisting conditions are also excluded.
Below are some of the things exotic pet insurance covers: 
 
 
Exotic pet insurance costs the same as standard pet insurance. The monthly premium can range from $10 to $100. The type of pet you want to cover, your location, reimbursement percentage, deductible, wellness add-ons, and pet’s age and breed all influence price.
 
 
Exotic pet insurance helps you avoid expensive vet bills when your pet gets sick or injured. It could even save your pet’s life in an emergency, ensuring you don’t have to worry about out-of-pocket costs for necessary surgery. Though it comes at a monthly cost, there are plenty of cheap pet insurance companies to match your budget. 
Currently, only Nationwide Pet Insurance offers coverage for exotic animals. We recommend comparing multiple pet insurance companies if you own a dog or cat. 
Known for its work in the auto insurance industry, Nationwide offers an Avian and Exotic Pet Plan. This plan covers most types of birds and exotic animals, such as s parrots, rabbits, turtles and hedgehogs. However, the company doesn’t share cost information for the Avian and Exotic Pet Plan online. 
Nationwide Pet Insurance covers up to 90% of costs for covered illnesses and accidents, including vet exams, hospitalization, medications and more.
 
 
Pet insurance for a reptile costs $10 to $100, the average range for any pet insurance plan. Our research shows that reptile insurance falls closer to $10, though. 
You’re not legally required to get insurance for a rabbit, but enrolling your rabbit in a pet insurance policy will protect your finances and give you peace of mind that it will receive necessary veterinary care.
Any pets that aren’t cats or dogs are usually classified as exotic. Exotic pets include amphibians, birds, ferrets, marsupials, potbellied pigs, rabbits, reptiles, rodents and spiders. 
 
 
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 scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements. We then divided the points earned for each provider’s final score on a 5-point scale.
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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