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Best Pet Insurance in South Dakota (2024 Guide)

Author Image Written by Brenda Woods Updated 06/27/2024

We researched the best pet insurance companies available in South Dakota, comparing plan offerings, coverage details, costs, and more. We found that the best pet insurance provider in South Dakota is Spot for its unlimited plan option and multi-pet discounts.

There’s no shortage of things to do with your pet in South Dakota. You can tour Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, or the state’s diverse landscapes. But with so many places to explore, it’s important to consider enrolling in a pet health insurance plan to cover vet bills if your furry companion gets sick or injured.

Compare Other Pet Companies

Company Star Rating Monthly Cost for Dogs* Monthly Cost for Cats* Visit Site
4.6
$38.44 $21.53 VISIT SITE
4.7
$65.15 $53.43 VISIT SITE
4.7
$44.83 $24.68 VISIT SITE
4.6
$49.85 $26.55 VISIT SITE
4.7
$44.79 $16.36 VISIT SITE
4.5
$114.73 $57.19 VISIT SITE
4.5
$60.77 $37.93 VISIT SITE

South Dakota’s Top 7 Pet Insurance Providers

Most Customizable Plans: Spot
Best Deductibles: Embrace
Best Coverage Limits: Healthy Paws
Best Holistic Coverage: Fetch
Best Extra Coverage Add-On: Figo
Best for Direct Payments: Trupanion
Best for Wellness: Wagmo

Spot

Most Customizable Plans
4.6

Spot Pros and Cons

Pros Doesn’t have an age limit to qualify Includes behavioral treatments and microchipping in base plan Provides an accident-only plan Cons Has only four years of experience in the pet insurance industry Doesn’t cover repeat knee or ligament issues if they began before or during waiting period

Spot Overview

Spot is a leading choice for pet insurance because it offers customizable plans and monthly premiums. Customers can choose between two plans, two preventive care add-ons, five deductibles, and seven annual limits. 

  • Deductibles: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
  • Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
  • Annual coverage limits: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, unlimited

Learn more: Spot Pet Insurance Review

Why We Chose Spot

Spot’s many plans and monthly premium options make it our vote for most customizable, with a score of 91 out of 100. Unlike many other insurers, it offers both an accident-only policy and an accident-and-illness plan. It also has add-ons for routine preventive care and covers behavioral treatments and microchipping in its base plan.

Embrace

Best Deductibles
4.7

Embrace Pros and Cons

Pros Paid 92% of claims in 2021, according to provider Provides five deductible options Offers multiple discounts Cons Has an upper age limit for pets (14 years) Increases rates for older pets

Embrace Overview

Embrace offers five deductible options plus a 10% discount for each additional pet policy you purchase, a 5% military and veterans discount, and a 10% employee discount if your employer offers Embrace. You have more control over your monthly premium with multiple ways to save money. 

  • Deductibles: $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000
  • Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000

Learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review

Why We Chose Embrace

Embrace’s accident-and-illness plan is comparable to other providers, though it covers some less commonly reimbursed circumstances such as dental accidents and illnesses, pain management, and physical therapy. You can add preventive coverage by enrolling in Embrace’s wellness rewards program. The provider promises an easy, fast claims process. Its claims team is made up of licensed veterinary professionals and fellow pet parents. These reasons and others earned Embrace a score of 93.5 out of 100.

Figo

Best Extra Coverage Add-On
4.7

Figo Pros and Cons

Pros Offers 100% reimbursement rate Provides one-day waiting period for accidents Extends three add-on coverage options Cons Requires annual vet and dental exams Permits add-on changes only at time of renewal

Figo Overview

Figo closes most claims within three business days, provides 24/7 telehealth access with a licensed vet, and has a one-day waiting period for accident claims. Plus, it has three options for additional coverage. Figo requires an annual vet exam and dental exam to continue coverage.

  • Deductibles:  $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500 (can vary depending on your pet’s age and breed)
  • Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000, unlimited

Learn more: Figo Pet Insurance Review

Why We Chose Figo

We scored Figo 93 out of 100. Its competitive edge is its options for extra coverage. In addition to an accident-and-illness base plan, you can choose from three add-ons, which Figo calls “powerups.” There’s one for routine wellness coverage, one for vet exam fees, and one that covers fees related to vacation cancellation, lost pets, and property damage.

Fetch Pet Insurance

Best Holistic Coverage
4.6

Fetch Pros and Cons

Pros Gives 15% discount after each 12-month period without a claim Provides up to $1,000 of coverage for behavioral treatments Covers breed-specific conditions and offers pet wellness coverage as an add-on Cons Has no preventive coverage option Requires vet exam within six months of the policy’s start date to be eligible

Fetch Overview

Fetch may be a good match if your pet has behavioral issues or you want to try alternative therapies. It reimburses holistic treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and homeopathy. You can also get therapy for your pet’s anxiety or aggression. 

  • Deductibles: $250 $300, $400
  • Reimbursement options: 70%, 80%, 90%
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000

Learn more: Fetch Pet Insurance Review

Why We Chose Fetch

Though Fetch doesn’t offer preventive care coverage, its base accident-and-illness policy is more comprehensive than many other providers. In addition to holistic therapy treatments, it provides up to $1,000 for lost-pet advertising and reward money, boarding fees if you’re hospitalized for more than four days, and vacation cancellation fees if your pet’s necessary medical care requires you to reschedule a trip. Fetch also covers all of your pet’s teeth, not just canine teeth like other providers. This earned the company 91.5 out of 100 in our review.

Wagmo

Best for Wellness
4.5

Wagmo Pros and Cons

Pros Offers three wellness plan options Gives 10% multi-pet discount Provides 100% reimbursement rate option Cons Has longer reimbursement turnaround times compared to other providers Requires a 30-day waiting period for cancer claims

Wagmo Overview

Wagmo is worth considering for pet parents interested in preventive care coverage for services such as annual checkups, vaccines, and flea/tick/heartworm prevention. It offers three wellness care options—more than many providers—and allows you to purchase a wellness plan without base coverage.

  • Deductibles: $250, $500, $1,000
  • Reimbursement options: 90%, 100%
  • Annual coverage limits: $10,000 per-incident cap; $20,000 annual cap; $100,000 lifetime cap

Get a quote: Get a quote from Wagmo

Why We Chose Wagmo

While Wagmo has a standard accident-and-illness plan, it stands out in that you can purchase a wellness plan alone. Most providers offer preventive care as an add-on you can combine with your base plan. Wagmo treats wellness coverage as its own plan, a great option if you only want reimbursement for routine wellness needs. It has three options for wellness coverage, each with a different cost and coverage level.

You can choose between the following plans:

  • Value Plan: The Value Plan reimburses up to $350 per year for covered expenses. This includes one routine wellness exam, two vaccines, one round of routine blood work, and one fecal test annually. The plan costs $20 per month.
  • Classic Plan: The Classic Plan reimburses up to $650 per year for one routine wellness exam, three vaccines, one round of routine blood work, one fecal test, and one urinalysis, plus $100 for flea/tick/heartworm medication and $100 for grooming. This plan costs $36 per month.
  • Deluxe Plan: The Deluxe Plan reimburses up to $1,100 for covered expenses, including two routine wellness exams, four vaccines, one round of routine blood work, one fecal test, and one urinalysis annually, plus $200 for flea/tick/heartworm medication, $200 for grooming, and $100 for dental care. This plan costs $59 per month.

Wagmo’s options for routine coverage earned it a 90 out of 100.

Trupanion

Best for Direct Payments
4.5

Trupanion Pros and Cons

Pros Will pay vet bills directly at checkout Offers unlimited coverage Provides multiple add-on options for extra coverage Cons Has no preventive care options Doesn’t reimburse exam fees

Trupanion Overview

An attractive feature of Trupanion is that it allows you to skip the claims process. Instead, the company will reimburse you directly at checkout as long as your veterinary clinic has the proper technology. This means no waiting around for money you may need in your pocket.

  • Deductibles: Customers select a per-condition deductible between $0 and $1,000 (in $5 increments)
  • Reimbursement options: 90%
  • Annual coverage limits: Unlimited

Learn more: Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

Why We Chose Trupanion

We gave Trupanion a score of 89.5 out of 100. While direct payment and unlimited coverage are nice features, it has no option for wellness coverage and doesn’t reimburse exam fees. However, it offers two options for extra coverage in addition to its accident-and-illness policy:

  • Recovery and Complementary Care Rider: Get coverage for acupuncture, behavioral modification, chiropractic care, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, naturopathy, physical therapy, and rehabilitative therapy.
  • Pet Owner Assistance Package: This package includes coverage for lost-pet advertising and reward costs, boarding fees if you’re hospitalized, third-party property damage your pet causes, cremation or burial for accidental deaths, and vacation cancellation costs.

What Pet Insurance Does and Doesn’t Cover

Any accident-and-illness policy, regardless of provider, will cover many of the same treatments and conditions. Accident-related injuries, such as broken bones, cuts, or poisoning, are covered, along with emergency care, hospitalization, procedures, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, prescription medications, and necessary specialist care. Commonly covered conditions include cancer, diabetes, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, and dental diseases. Any health issue is likely to be covered if it’s medically necessary, not the result of negligence, and not a preexisting condition.

Routine care won’t be covered unless you purchase an add-on. This includes annual wellness exams, vaccinations, grooming, dental cleanings, and testing for fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Preexisting conditions also aren’t covered, but some providers have different policies on what they consider preexisting. A few insurers will consider covering preexisting conditions if your pet had no symptoms and didn’t require treatment for a certain window of time prior to enrollment.


How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in South Dakota?

A few factors affect your pet insurance premium, including your location and pet’s age and breed. Expect to pay more for older pets or breeds prone to certain conditions. The average monthly premium for dogs in South Dakota is $44, while the average for cats is $25. Check out our review of the cheapest pet insurance companies to see which providers offer the best plan pricing.

Is Pet Insurance in South Dakota Worth it?

Yes, in most cases, we’ve found that pet insurance is worth it in South Dakota due to the added security and peace of mind. You may not find a pet insurance provider that checks every box on your list, but the companies in this review each have positive features that make them quality choices. Embrace has multiple options for deductibles, reimbursement rates, and coverage limits to customize your monthly premium. Spot and Healthy Paws have no upper age limit, so your pet is covered for life.

The right provider for you is the one that offers the coverage your pet needs at the right price for your budget. Be sure to read through each provider’s coverage details and exclusions before enrolling. We recommend reading customer reviews and getting at least three quotes.


FAQs About South Dakota Pet Insurance

What is the best pet insurance at a reasonable price?

The best pet insurance at a reasonable price depends on your budget and the coverage and other features you need. Spot, Figo, and Healthy Paws have the cheapest pet insurance plans on average, but they may not offer the coverage or add-ons you need. Look at each provider’s coverage details and exclusions to see which ones cover the conditions your pet is prone to.

Is pet insurance worth it?

Many pet owners would say pet insurance is worth it. It’s likely that your pet will get sick, break a bone, or otherwise need medical attention at some point in its life. When this happens, you’re responsible for paying the full bill out of pocket in a timely manner. Keep in mind that one surgery can cost thousands of dollars. If you’re comfortable with that, a pet health plan may not be a monthly expense you want to take on. If you’re not prepared to pay that money unexpectedly, having a pet insurance policy can offer greater peace of mind. 

How does pet insurance work?

Pet insurance works similarly to how your own health insurance policy works. When you enroll in a pet health plan, you pick the annual deductible, reimbursement rate, and coverage limit. When you hit your deductible, your provider will start reimbursing you at your chosen rate until you hit your maximum coverage limit. Some providers, such as Trupanion, allow you to pay vet bills directly at checkout, but most require you to file a claim and then reimburse you via direct deposit or a mailed check within a certain timeframe. 

Is it too late to insure my dog?

It is never too late for pet insurance to be useful, but many providers have an upper age limit. Spot and Healthy Paws are two providers that don’t. It’s best to enroll your pet in a policy as early as possible; the older your pet, the greater the chance that it has preexisting health issues that won’t be covered.

Learn more: Best Cheap Pet Insurance Providers


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.

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