Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania (PA) in 2024
Written by
Pet insurance shields pet parents from costly veterinary bills and ensures their dogs and cats get the care they need. Find out how the state’s best pet insurance companies can help your pet during an unexpected vet emergency.
From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, we’ve evaluated the following inexpensive pet care companies based on plan coverage, customer reviews, and price, and found Lemonade as the top provider. Read more to more to help pet owners find the right provider for them.
- Read on to learn about the best pet insurance offerings in Pennsylvania and how you can save time and money by choosing the best fit for you and your pet.
How Do Pennsylvania Pet Insurance Companies Compare?
| Company | Star Rating | Monthly Cost for Dogs* | Monthly Cost for Cats* | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33.69 | $13.32 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $38.44 | $21.53 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $20.76 | $18.47 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.83 | $24.68 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49.85 | $26.55 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.79 | $16.36 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49.85 | $26.55 | VISIT SITE |
*Sample quotes are for 4-year-old, mixed-breed, male pets in Pennsylvania
Who Are Pennsylvania’s Top 7 Pet Insurance Providers?
How Much Is Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania?
Our research indicates that pet insurance in Pennsylvania typically costs around $13–$202 per month for dogs and $11–$86 per month for cats.
Your pet insurance and pet wellness plan rates can depend on the following factors:
- Age: As your pet ages, its risk of getting sick or injured increases. To account for this heightened risk, pet insurance companies charge higher rates for older pets. That’s why you should get a pet health insurance plan as early in your dog or cat’s life as possible.
- Species: Because dogs tend to be at a higher risk of congenital conditions like hip dysplasia, pet insurance for dogs is usually more expensive than pet insurance for cats.
- Breed: Labrador retrievers and other large breeds are more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia than some smaller breeds, which can account for higher premiums.
- Location: Metropolitan areas tend to have a higher cost of living than rural areas, a trend that extends to pet healthcare costs. As such, city dwellers may have to pay more for pet insurance. Compare pricing from at least three pet insurance companies within your ZIP code to get the most accurate rates.
- Customization: Your deductible, coverage cap, and reimbursement level can have a significant effect on your pet insurance premiums. For example, we pulled a sample quote from Spot for a medium mixed-breed 4-year-old dog in Philadelphia. Using a 70% reimbursement rate, a $1,000 annual deductible, and a $2,500 annual limit, we calculated a monthly premium cost of $16.51. If we adjust the reimbursement rate to 90% with unlimited coverage and a $100 deductible, the monthly cost rises to $130.93.
- Discounts: Many pet insurance providers extend discounts to multi-pet policyholders. Other companies, such as Fetch, provide discounts to active military members and veterans.
What Types of Pet Insurance Plans Are Available in Pennsylvania?
You can choose from three types of coverage when looking at pet insurance.
Accident-and-Injury Plan
Most pet owners opt for this standard plan. It covers accidents, such as broken bones, cuts, swallowed objects or toxins, eye and ear damage, and other accidental injuries. The plan also covers common illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, allergies, eye and ear issues, and heart conditions.
Accident-only Plan
Some providers offer an accident-only plan for pet parents who just want coverage for injuries.
Wellness Plan
Many companies offer wellness coverage as an optional add-on to your standard plan to cover preventive care such as wellness visits, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, dental cleanings, grooming, parasite prevention, and other routine vet care.
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
The process for using pet insurance from most providers starts with taking your pet to the vet clinic for covered care, paying the vet out of pocket, then filing a claim for the amount you were charged and getting reimbursed by your provider, usually within a couple of weeks.
You can customize your plan to work for your budget and your pet’s needs. To get the best price and coverage for you, you’ll need to understand these four elements:
- Premium: Your premium is the amount you’ll pay your provider per month for your plan. It’s based on several factors, such as your location and your pet’s age, breed, and gender. It’s also impacted by the factors below.
- Annual coverage limit: Your coverage limit is the amount your provider will reimburse you for in a policy year. You’re responsible for paying for any vet care over that amount. Most providers start at a $5,000 coverage limit and go up from there. Some offer unlimited coverage, meaning there’s no cap.
- Deductible: Just like your own insurance, your deductible is how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your plan kicks in. You can typically choose from deductible options ranging from $100–$1,000.
- Reimbursement percentage: This is how much of each vet bill your provider will reimburse you for. Most offer options of 70%, 80%, and 90%, though a few offer 100%.
How Can You Find the Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania?
You’ll find that many top providers cover many of the same pet health conditions and have similar offerings. A few things can give companies an edge, however. Here are a few things we recommend looking for:
- 24/7 vet help: It’s not a must, but a 24/7 helpline can really come in handy if your pet gets unexplainably sick or displays weird symptoms at night. Being able to call and speak to a vet at any time can save you a trip to the clinic and give you peace of mind.
- Direct-pay: Some companies provide a direct-pay option that lets you show or swipe your membership card when checking out at the vet in lieu of paying out of pocket. Then your provider will work out the claim with the vet office, and you can skip having to file for reimbursement.
- Discounts: We suggest looking for valuable discounts, such as those for bundling with other insurance types, insuring multiple pets, or serving in the military.
- Exam fees: It’s also helpful if you can get vet exam fees covered in your standard plan.
- Waiting periods: A 14-day waiting period is typical for most providers. That’s how long you have to wait after your policy start date before you can file a claim. However, some providers have shorter waiting periods.
What Are Pet Laws in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s pet laws include:
- Dogs 3 months and older must be licensed by the county treasurer
- Dogs cannot roam at large
- Dog owners are responsible if their dog causes property damage
- Owners cannot mistreat or abandon any pet
- No dog under 8 weeks may be sold, traded, bartered, or transferred
- You cannot have poison or harmful substances in any place where pets could eat them
- Dogs and cats 3 months and older must have a current rabies vaccination
- Facilities that keep, harbor, board, shelter, sell, give away, or transfer 26 or more dogs in one calendar year must have a current kennel license
- Dog breeders and sellers must post a visible notice informing consumers of their rights under the Dog Purchaser Protection Act
Cities and municipalities have their own laws as well. For example, Philadelphia requires dogs to be on a leash no more than 6 feet long when not on the owner’s property. Pet owners are responsible for waste disposal when not on their property, and dogs must wear a tag. Pittsburgh requires dogs to be on leashes no longer than 6 feet as well. Cats don’t need to be licensed, but they must wear a tag or collar with contact information. Allentown pet owners cannot allow their pets to bark, howl, or cry excessively.
Is Pennsylvania Pet Insurance Right for You?
Lemonade is our top pet insurance pick for Pennsylvania residents due to its coverage compared to price. If you want an accident-only plan, Spot or ASPCA may be right for you. All providers on our list have benefits, so determine what your priorities are for your pet plan. We recommend carefully reading providers’ sample policies, looking at customer reviews, and getting a quote from at least three providers before making a decision.
FAQs About Pennsylvania Pet Insurance
What is the most reasonable pet insurance in Pennsylvania?
After researching pet insurance quotes from several providers, we’ve determined that Lemonade generally offers the most reasonable pet insurance prices in Pennsylvania, with a range of flexible deductibles, coverage caps, and reimbursement levels. To get the best pet insurance for your needs at the lowest cost, compare multiple quotes in your area.
Is medication covered by pet insurance?
Pet insurance usually covers medication when it is prescribed by a licensed vet for a condition included in the pet’s plan. Preventative prescriptions, such as vaccinations and heartworm medication, are typically excluded from coverage unless you purchase a wellness care add-on.
What is the average waiting period for pet insurance?
All pet insurance companies have a waiting period, which is the amount of time before a policy’s coverage is activated. The average waiting period for pet insurance is 14 to 15 days, but some companies enforce only a two-day waiting period for accident coverage.
Is pet insurance worth it?
In our proprietary survey of 1,000 pet owners, 43% of respondents said they would have to take out a personal loan or use a credit card to pay for an expensive vet bill. Pet insurance can be worth the peace of mind and financial protection it offers if a pet emergency arises.
Our Rating Methodology
We are dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
