Pet Insurance
No matter how careful you are, your pet can still get hurt or sick in unexpected ways. Pet insurance can help you take care of your furry friend without any financial burden. To help you find the best policy for your needs, we collected quotes from pet insurance companies in New York that serve the top cities, including Buffalo, New York City and Rochester. Our findings determined the average cost of pet insurance in New York as well as the product offerings of each insurer.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in New York
It’s important to consider the best way to care for your pet’s health. Looking for pet insurance that meets your budget and your pet’s needs may be the first step in accomplishing this. MoneyGeek analyzed thousands of quotes from pet insurance companies in New York and reviewed coverage details for each provider to determine the best pet insurer in the state. The best pet insurance companies were chosen based on their affordability and product offerings.
Best Overall Pet Insurance in New York for Your Pet
pros
Comprehensive coverage
No upper age limits for pets
Processes claims quickly
cons
Does not cover preventive or elective care
Does not cover testing, treatment and prevention of parasites such as fleas or ticks with a standard policy
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Overall, the best pet insurance company in New York is Pets Best. This insurer covers almost everything, from accidents and illnesses to surgeries and cancer treatments. It also lets you personalize your plan in a way that suits your budget and your pet’s needs. An average policy from Pets Best costs $31.15 per month.
Pets Best comprehensive coverage includes hereditary and congenital conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral consults and dental care. You won’t have to worry about diagnostic testing fees and most prescription medications for your pet. Even emergency care and hospitalization costs are taken care of by Pets Best.
The insurer has a quick turnaround for your pet insurance claim. Its direct deposit feature allows reimbursement directly into your bank account as quickly as two days after processing your claim. Another feature it offers is Direct Vet Pay, where you can request Pets Best to pay your veterinarian directly.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New York: Unlimited Coverage
pros
Offers unlimited coverage
Routine care coverage offered
24/7 pet helpline
cons
Does not cover elective and preventive procedures
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
MoneyGeek’s top pick for a pet insurance company with unlimited coverage in New York is Pets Best. The company offers policies that feature a choice of two annual policy limits: $5,000 and unlimited coverage. While unlimited coverage ensures maximum protection for your pet, it also adds a significant amount to the cost of your policy. The average premium is $41.16 per month for a pet insurance policy with unlimited coverage.
Still, there’s peace of mind in knowing you are financially protected against unexpected veterinary bills. Pets Best policies cover accidents, illnesses, emergency care and hospitalization, surgeries and cancer treatments. Prosthetic devices and wheelchairs are also covered when a licensed veterinarian prescribes them to treat an accident or illness.
Pets Best plans also include a pet helpline that will take any questions you might have about pet health. Veterinary experts are available at any time of the day or night to talk to you by phone, live chat or email. This feature has no limits on usage, meaning you have access to expert help as long as you are a policyholder.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New York: Affordable Coverage
pros
Specialists and emergency clinics are included
Covers exam fees
Covers comprehensive dental
cons
Does not cover routine care
No multi-pet discount
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
In New York, the best pet insurance company with affordable coverage is Petplan. Its $5,000 coverage policy costs $20.97 per month on average. This covers the complete sick visit, including the exam fee, which can save you an average of $50 to $250 per visit.
Petplan coverage also includes injuries, illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery and rehabilitation, cancer treatment and behavioral therapy. It helps you afford comprehensive dental and breed-specific conditions. Pre-existing conditions are excluded in Petplan’s policies, and the wait period on orthopedic conditions is six months.
You can choose from the insurer’s different annual limits ($5,000, $15,000 and unlimited), deductibles ($250, $300 and $500) and reimbursement levels (70%, 80% and 90%) to meet your budget. One possible downside is Petplan only offers one plan, which means there are no add-ons for things like routine and preventive care, which are excluded from its policy.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New York: Multiple Pets
pros
Has multi-pet discount
No upper age limits for pets
Offers routine care coverage
cons
Does not cover parasite testing and treatment without additional coverage
Does not cover non-veterinary expenses including taxes and grooming
Does not cover herbal, holistic and experimental therapies and medications
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
If you’re looking for an affordable pet insurance policy covering multiple pets in New York, look no further than Pets Best. This insurer offers a 5% discount if you insure more than one pet with them. On average, a pet insurance policy from Pets Best will cost $28.04 per month.
With Pets Best, you can start insuring your pet as early as seven weeks of age. The company has no upper-age limits, meaning senior dogs and cats will get the same coverage as puppies and kittens. If you have a limited budget, you can enroll your pet in Pets Best’s accident-only plans to get coverage for things like broken legs, snake bites, accidental swallowing and more.
While pet insurance typically covers unexpected illnesses or injuries, you can still add regular scheduled veterinary visits to your Pets Best policy. It can help you pay for items like vaccinations, deworming and microchipping. Pets Best is only one of the few pet insurance companies to offer this kind of coverage.
Best Pet Insurance Company in New York: Cats
pros
Comprehensive coverage
Has a range of coverage limits and deductible options
Has a 10% multi-pet discount
cons
Routine and preventive care requires add-on coverage
Claims process can take up to 25 business days
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
GEICO is MoneyGeek’s top pick for the best pet insurance company in New York for cats. Generally, your feline friend is cheaper to insure than dogs. The average insurance policy for cats from GEICO costs $21.13 per month.
GEICO has teamed up with Embrace Pet Insurance to provide comprehensive dog and cat policies. That means any claims will be filed directly with Embrace. Its coverage includes accidents, illnesses, dental issues and cancer treatments. The company allows you to choose any licensed veterinarian and will reimburse up to 90% of your veterinary bill.
You can choose coverage from $5,000 to $30,000 per annum, but unlimited is not available. Your deductible options range from $100 to $1,000 and you can select a 70% reimbursement if that’s better for your budget. GEICO has a 10% discount for pet owners who wish to insure more than one pet with them.
Best Pets Insurance in New York Ranking Summary
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- RankingWinnerAvg. Monthly Cost
- OverallPets Best$31
- Unlimited CoveragePets Best$41
- Affordable CoveragePet Plan$21
- Multiple PetsPets Best$28
- CatsGEICO$21
What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs and Cats in New York?
How much you pay for a pet insurance policy will depend on several factors, such as the coverage you choose, and your pet’s breed and age, and even where you live. Insuring a dog costs an average of $31.01 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $58.50 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $63.69 per month for unlimited coverage. It’s typically cheaper to insure cats, with one costing an average of $17.11 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $28.72 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $40.81 per month for unlimited coverage.
Average Monthly Cost of Pet Insurance in New York
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- Pet Insurance Policy$5k Coverage$10k CoverageUnlimited
- Average Cost for a Dog$31$59$64
- Average Cost for a Cat$17$29$41
HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED IN NEW YORK?
We recommend an $8,000 to $20,000 coverage limit for the average pet insurance buyer in New York and a reimbursement level of 80% or more. Carrying this kind of policy can protect you against large and unexpected veterinary bills should your pet have an accident, injury or become ill.
Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in New York
MoneyGeek wants to help pet owners in New York understand the typical options most companies offer in their pet insurance policies:
- Annual reimbursement limits: range from $3k to unlimited
- Deductible: $250 to $500, but some companies have higher or lower options
- Bill reimbursement percentage: 70-90%
Pet owners in New York with limited budgets or those who require less coverage tend to choose cheaper policies with lower coverage amounts. Others prefer high coverage limits to ensure their pet gets the maximum protection available, but this type of policy is generally more expensive. The average pet owner doesn’t necessarily need unlimited coverage, but it does buy the owner peace of mind.
MoneyGeek recommends the average coverage amount below for pet insurance shoppers in New York.
Cheapest Pet Insurance in New York by Coverage Level
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- Maximum Policy CoverageWinner: Cheapest PolicyAvg Cost
- $5,000Pet Plan$21
- $10,00024 Pet Watch$50
- UnlimitedPets Best$41
To save some money, shop around for pet insurance with different coverage options. Below, MoneyGeek compared pet insurance companies in New York that offer policies with the cheapest low coverage, cheapest average coverage and cheapest unlimited coverage.
Cheapest Low Coverage: $5k Annual Maximum / 80% / $500 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyLow Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pet Plan$21
- Pets Best$21
- Hartville$31
Cheapest Average Coverage: $10k Annual Maximum / 80% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyAverage Coverage Monthly Cost
- 24 Pet Watch$50
- Figo$53
- GEICO$54
Cheapest Unlimited Coverage: Unlimited Maximum / 90% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyUnlimited Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pets Best$41
- Healthy Paws$46
- Pet Plan$48
The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in New York
The cost of your pet insurance can vary depending on your coverage amount and your pet’s breed and age. Another determining factor in a policy’s rates is your location. In New York, some cities have a higher cost of living, which means higher veterinary medical costs and higher policy costs. Other cities have more accident risks for pets due to weather, traffic and other hazards.
Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies by City
- CityCoverage Level and Average Monthly Rate
- Buffalo$5k: Pet Plan, $20
Unlimited: Pets Best, $41
$10k: Embrace, $45 - New York$5k: Pets Best, $21
Unlimited: Pets Best, $41
$10k: 24 Pet Watch, $53 - Rochester$5k: Pet Plan, $20
Unlimited: Pet Plan, $39
$10k: 24 Pet Watch, $48 - Syracuse$5k: Pet Plan, $20
Unlimited: Pet Plan, $39
$10k: Embrace, $45 - Yonkers$5k: Pet Plan, $21
$5k: Pets Best, $21
Unlimited: Pets Best, $41
$10k: 24 Pet Watch, $53
MoneyGeek used city-based data in New York 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 York?
Some determining factors such as location, coverage amount and a pet’s breed and age can impact your pet insurance rates. In New York, most pet insurance companies will allow you to personalize your plan to suit your budget and your furry friend.
Annual reimbursement limits
The annual reimbursement limit refers to the maximum amount of veterinary expenses your insurance company will pay each year. Coverage usually ranges from $3,000 to unlimited.
Deductible
Deductibles refer to the fixed amount of out-of-pocket money you will pay before your insurance kicks in. Higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums and vice versa.
Bill reimbursement percentage
This refers to the percentage of covered veterinary bills that you will receive from your provider after your deductible.
Breed
Your pet’s breed can affect the cost of your pet insurance policy. Generally, dog insurance in New York is more expensive than cat insurance.
Animal Age
The cost of your insurance premium can vary depending on the age of your pet. Some insurance companies offer no-upper age limits to their policies, meaning older pets can get the same coverage as younger pets.
Location
Where you live can affect the cost of your pet’s monthly premiums. Some cities have a higher cost of living, while others have more accident risks to pets.
Multi-pet discounts
Many insurance providers offer discounts, usually of 5% or 10%, if you insure more than one pet with them.
FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in New York
At 50%, New York has one of the lowest rates of pet ownership in the country, and of those pets, only 8.7% are insured. MoneyGeek believes that pet insurance is a good way to protect yourself against significant medical expenses should anything happen to your pet.
For example, if your dog accidentally swallows something it shouldn’t, it could cost you roughly $3,260 without insurance. If your pet is being treated for cancer, it could cost you even more at about $4,000. Just a broken bone can run over $2,200, whether your pet is a cat or dog.
Petplan is MoneyGeek’s top pick for the cheapest pet insurance with low coverage in New York. On average, a policy from this insurer costs $20.97 per month.
In New York, a policy with $10,000 coverage costs $58.50 for dogs and $28.72 for cats on average. That said, your monthly premium can vary depending on the coverage option you purchase, your pet’s breed and age, and where you live.
MoneyGeek chose Pets Best as the best overall pet insurance company in New York. This insurer is also the best option for unlimited coverage or if you have more than one pet with the same company. Petplan is the top pick for companies with the most affordable coverage, while GEICO is our choice for cat owners.
MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance
MoneyGeek thinks data helps us make better financial decisions. That’s why our data team spent countless hours gathering thousands of pet insurance quotes across the 13 largest providers: to help you find the most affordable policy that meets your pet’s needs and your budget.
To determine the best pet insurance companies in New York, MoneyGeek analyzed each company’s product offerings and costs. We weighted affordability by coverage level at 50% of the total for our rating score, and our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50%.
To determine the cheapest pet insurance companies in New York and to determine our affordability scores for our best rankings, MoneyGeek gathered quotes by company across many zip codes in New York 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
- Petplan. "Dog insurance." Accessed December 1, 2021.
- NAPHIA. "Pet Insurance Market Continued Double Digit Growth." Accessed December 1, 2021.
- Care Credit. "Average Costs: Veterinary Care." Accessed December 13, 2021.
Pet Insurance
