Pet Insurance
Pets are part of the family, and it’s important to make sure they get taken care of. Many people skip buying pet insurance because they think their furry friends won’t need much medical attention. Unfortunately, these assumptions can lead to significant, unexpected expenses down the road if your animal does get sick. A bit of pre-planning is all you need to secure your financial protection and your pet’s health.
MoneyGeek gathered insurance quotes data from various New Jersey top cities, including Elizabeth, Jersey City, Newark and Paterson. By doing so, we hope to help you find the best and most cost-effective pet insurance provider in the state that fits your budget and meets your pet’s needs.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in New Jersey
To find the best pet insurance companies in New Jersey, MoneyGeek conducted extensive research to identify the top pet insurance providers in New Jersey. This includes reviewing thousands of quotations and documenting coverage data for companies that provide pet insurance in New Jersey.
MoneyGeek selected the top pet insurance providers based on affordability and product offerings. The cost of pet insurance in New Jersey varies depending on your pet’s breed, age, the coverage you select, the company you choose, and even your own location. Before choosing a provider, it’s always a good idea to shop around to compare prices and plans from different providers.
Best Overall Pet Insurance in New Jersey for Your Pet
pros
No upper age limit
Covers ongoing and chronic conditions
Has a 24/7 helpline
cons
Only two annual limit options
Does not cover preventive or elective care
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
While there are many options available, MoneyGeek’s top pick for the overall best pet insurance company in New Jersey is Pets Best. They offer comprehensive coverage that makes them a clear choice for top-rated pet insurance companies in New Jersey. Pets Best insures pets for an average of $30.82 per month.
In addition to pet insurance plans that cover accidents, illnesses, surgeries and cancer treatments, Pets Best offers wellness coverage for routine care and specialized coverage plans. Their accident-only plan is an option for pet owners on a tight budget; it costs an average of $6 per month for cats and $9 per month for dogs. Pets Best provides a choice of two annual coverage limits ($5,000 or unlimited), with deductibles ranging from $50 to $1,000, and reimbursement rates between 70%-90%.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New Jersey: Unlimited Coverage
pros
Fast claim payout
No maximum annual or lifetime payouts
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions
Covers hip dysplasia for pets enrolled under the age of six
cons
Does not cover exam fees
Does not cover preventive care
15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Healthy Paws is MoneyGeek’s top pick for unlimited coverage in New Jersey. It costs $34.58 per month on average. Although more costly than plans with lower annual coverage, pet insurance with unlimited coverage protects you financially if your pet unexpectedly requires expensive treatment.
The insurer’s pet coverage provides a single plan that covers accidents, illnesses and injuries, including emergency treatment, cancer care, breed-specific problems and genetic and congenital conditions. There are no limits on coverage either per incident, per year or lifetime, and most claims are processed within two days.
While Healthy Paws does not cover herbal medicine or homeopathy treatments, it does cover holistic and alternative therapies such as hydrotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic therapy, physical therapy and massage therapy.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New Jersey: Affordable Coverage
pros
Covers complete sick visit
Alternative therapies covered
Covers aging eye and ear problems
cons
Does not cover preventive care or vaccines
No multi-pet discount
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Petplan is our top pick for the cheapest pet insurance in New Jersey. Petplan’s $5,000 annual maximum coverage costs an average of $22.11 per month.
This insurer covers the cost of the complete sick visit, including the exam fee, except if the visit is a result of routine or elective procedures. Chronic and hereditary conditions are covered as are alternative therapies such as veterinary acupuncture, homeotherapy, chiropractic treatment and stem cell therapy.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New Jersey: Multiple Pets
pros
Multi-pet discount of 5% per pet
Offers two tiers of routine care coverage for additional premium
Offers accident-only coverage
cons
Does not cover testing, treatment and prevention of parasites, although limited coverage available as an add-on
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
MoneyGeek's top option for low-cost coverage for more than one pet in New Jersey is Pets Best, with a premium of $27.74 per month on average. Pet owners receive a 5% discount when insuring more than one pet with Pets Best.
Coverage through the insurer’s accident and illness plans includes accidents, illnesses, cancer treatments, emergency care and surgery. In order to reduce your premium, you can exclude coverage for things like exam fees, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment and prescription medicine. The insurer does not cover elective and preventive procedures such as dewclaw removal and anal gland expression.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New Jersey: Cats
pros
10% discount for multiple pets
Covers hip dysplasia
Accident-only coverage available
cons
Does not offer unlimited coverage
Does not cover preventive care
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Embrace is MoneyGeek's top pick for pet insurance for cats in New Jersey. Cat insurance prices are lower when compared to other types of pet insurance. A cat insurance policy with Embrace costs an average of $17.06 per month.
The insurer offers a 10% multiple pet discount and covers congenital and chronic conditions. Coverage also includes alternative therapies such as acupuncture, behavioral therapy and training, and chronic conditions over multiple years. Dental care is covered too, up to $1,000 per year, for extractions, gingivitis and root canals, with no dental exam required.
Best Pets Insurance in New Jersey Ranking Summary
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- RankingWinnerAvg. Monthly Cost
- OverallPets Best$31
- Unlimited CoverageHealthy Paws$35
- Affordable CoveragePet Plan$22
- Multiple PetsPets Best$28
- CatsEmbrace$17
What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs and Cats in New Jersey?
The cost of pet insurance in New Jersey is impacted by many factors, including your pet's age, breed, the level of coverage you choose and even your zip code. The average cost of dog insurance across the state is $29.18 per month for up to $5,000 in coverage per year, $53.14 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $55.53 per month for unlimited coverage. Cats are typically less expensive to insure, and cost on average $15.76 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $26.18 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $38.45 per month for unlimited coverage.
Other variables can impact the cost of insurance in addition to those mentioned. For example, your deductible and whether you choose any extra features or treatments will make a difference to your premium. Since every insurer weighs these factors differently, it’s a good idea to get a few personalized quotes before deciding on a policy.
Average Monthly Cost of Pet Insurance in New Jersey
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- Pet Insurance Policy$5k Coverage$10k CoverageUnlimited
- Average Cost for a Dog$29$53$56
- Average Cost for a Cat$16$26$38
HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED IN NEW JERSEY?
We recommend $8k to $20k in coverage for the average New Jersey pet owner, with a reimbursement rate of at least 80%. It’s enough coverage to protect you financially if your pet needs emergency medical care or suddenly gets sick.
Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in New Jersey
MoneyGeek wants to help pet owners in New Jersey understand the typical options most insurance companies provide. These include:
- Annual reimbursement limits: these usually range from $3,000 to unlimited
- Deductible: $250 to $500 per year, but some companies have higher or lower options
- Bill reimbursement percentage: 70-90%
Some New Jersey pet owners may choose less expensive policies with lesser coverage levels to keep their monthly expenses under control or because they don’t think they need high coverage. Others prefer the security that high coverage levels offer. While it’s more expensive and the average pet owner may not desire unlimited protection, it does provide the best financial protection for you. MoneyGeek generally recommends the average coverage amount below for pet insurance shoppers in New Jersey.
Cheapest Pet Insurance in New Jersey by Coverage Level
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- Maximum Policy CoverageWinner: Cheapest PolicyAvg Cost
- $5,000Pet Plan$22
- $10,000GEICO$43
- UnlimitedHealthy Paws$35
To save money on pet insurance, consider a low annual limit, high deductible and low reimbursement. In the below table, we’ve compared New Jersey pet insurance policies with a $5,000 coverage limit, $500 deductible, and 80% reimbursement.
Cheapest Low Coverage: $5k Annual Maximum / 80% / $500 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyLow Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pet Plan$22
- Hartville$26
- ASPCA$26
Cheapest Average Coverage: $10k Annual Maximum / 80% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyAverage Coverage Monthly Cost
- GEICO$43
- Embrace$43
- ASPCA$48
Cheapest Unlimited Coverage: Unlimited Maximum / 90% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyUnlimited Coverage Monthly Cost
- Healthy Paws$35
- Pets Best$39
- Pet Plan$48
The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in New Jersey
When it comes to the cost of your pet's insurance, where you live can be just as crucial as your pet's age and breed. This is because medical treatment may be more expensive in your area.
For example, the higher cost of living in many New Jersey cities means that veterinary medical treatment and insurance premiums are more costly. Added to that, certain cities may be more dangerous for your pets due to adverse weather conditions, high levels of traffic and congestion or other circumstances. Your insurance premiums may reflect those circumstances in your premiums. Of course, the type and level of coverage you choose will also impact your monthly pet insurance payments.
Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies by City
- CityCoverage Level and Average Monthly Rate
- Elizabeth$5k: Pet Plan, $22
Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $36
$10k: Embrace, $40 - Jersey City$5k: Pet Plan, $22
Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $36
$10k: ASPCA, $48
$10k: Hartville, $48
$10k: Spot, $48 - Newark$5k: Pets Best, $22
Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $30
$10k: Embrace, $44 - Paterson$5k: Pets Best, $21
Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $36
$10k: Embrace, $40
MoneyGeek used city-based data in New Jersey by gathering quotes for $10k coverage, 80% reimbursement, and $250 deductible for a 1-year-old Goldendoodle.
What Factors Impact Pet Insurance Cost in New Jersey?
The cost of pet insurance in New Jersey is impacted by your pet's age, breed, the coverage level you choose, where you live, and the insurance company itself. Most policies allow you to customize your coverage limits to create a policy that works for you and your pet.
Annual reimbursement limits
The annual reimbursement or coverage limit refers to the total amount of money your insurance provider will pay towards your pet’s medical expenses each year. Annual coverage plans in New Jersey typically range from $3,000 to unlimited.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before you make a claim. For the most part, a higher deductible will save you money on your insurance premium.
Bill reimbursement percentage
After the deductible is applied, the reimbursement rate is the percentage of eligible expenses reimbursed to you by the insurance provider. Most pay between 70% and 90% of the claim. If you have a higher reimbursement rate, your monthly payment will be higher.
Breed
The breed of your pet has an impact on the cost of your insurance coverage. Larger breeds have higher insurance rates. Insuring cats is less expensive than insuring dogs. Breeds with congenital issues are more costly to insure than other breeds.
Animal age
The cost of pet insurance rises with the age of your pet. The reason for this is that many pets develop health problems as they become older.
Location
Where you reside can have a significant impact on the cost of pet insurance. The cost of living in your city and the associated risks of living there can make veterinary care and pet insurance premiums more expensive.
Multi-pet discounts
Pet insurance discounts of 5% or 10% are available from certain companies if you have more than one pet insured.
FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in New Jersey
More than 47 percent of New Jersey households include pets. Although the number of pet insurance plans sold is increasing at a rate of more than 20% every year, according to NAPHIA, a large percentage of pet owners in the state are without pet insurance.
MoneyGeek feels that pet insurance is a good way to protect yourself financially from large and unexpected vet bills. Without insurance, your out-of-pocket costs may not be affordable.
For example, a broken bone typically costs more than $2,200 to treat. Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy, could run you $4,000 or more. Even more expensive is stomach issues in dogs, which can cost nearly $30,000 to treat.
Petplan offers the cheapest cost of pet insurance in New Jersey, at an average of $22.11 per month for low coverage. Pet insurance rates are determined by criteria such as location, breed, age and more.
Monthly premiums for dog insurance ranges from $29.18 to $55.53 per month, depending on the coverage limit you choose. It costs on average $15.76 per month to insure a cat for a $5k coverage limit and $26.18 per month for a $10k coverage limit.
If you're searching for pet insurance in New Jersey, there are several excellent choices to consider. The top companies in the state, according to MoneyGeek, are Pets Best, Healthy Paws, Petplan and Embrace.
MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance
MoneyGeek believes that data helps us make better financial decisions. For pet insurance, our data team gathered thousands of pet insurance quotes across the 13 largest providers to ensure you find the most affordable policy to meet your pet's needs.
To determine the best pet insurance companies in New Jersey, MoneyGeek built a detailed rating system by analyzing each company’s product offerings and costs. For the MoneyGeek rating score, we weighted affordability by coverage level at 50% of the total score and weighted our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50%.
To determine the cheapest pet insurance companies in New Jersey and determine affordability scores, MoneyGeek gathered quotes by company across many zip codes in the state for four pet types with the following coverage levels:
- Low Coverage: $5,000 Coverage, $500 Deductible, 80% reimbursement
- Average Coverage: $10,000 Coverage, $250 Deductible, 80% reimbursement
- High Coverage: Unlimited Coverage, $250 Deductible, 90% reimbursement
About Mark Fitzpatrick
sources
- AVMA. "AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook." Accessed November 30, 2021.
- North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). "State of the Industry 2021." Accessed December 21, 2021.
- Care Credit. "Average Costs: Veterinary Care." Accessed November 30, 2021.
- Canine Journal. "Healthy Paws Cost of Pet Care Report 2019." Accessed December 12, 2021.
Pet Insurance
