Pet Insurance
Treating pet illnesses and injuries is not cheap in Pennsylvania. That’s why pet owners who want the best for their furry friends should think of investing in pet insurance as a way to reduce their veterinary expenses.
However, not all pet insurance policies are the same. While some companies have high premiums, others offer more affordable insurance coverage. MoneyGeek collected data from some of the biggest pet insurance companies serving the top cities in Pennsylvania, such as Allentown, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. We analyzed and compared their costs, benefits and coverage details to help you find the best pet insurance in Pennsylvania.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Pennsylvania
The cost of pet insurance in Pennsylvania depends on several factors, including your pet’s medical history, breed and age. That’s why we strongly recommend that you compare quotes from several insurers before deciding which pet insurance policy to buy. This will help you narrow down your choices and find the best insurance that meets your budget.
To help you find the best deal, MoneyGeek analyzed thousands of quotes in Pennsylvania while carefully reviewing coverage details and policy. In this way, we’ve found the best pet insurance companies in Pennsylvania in terms of affordability and product offerings.
Best Overall Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania for Your Pet
pros
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions
Covers ongoing and chronic conditions
No upper age limits for pets
cons
Limited coverage for preventive care, which must be purchased separately
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Pets Best is MoneyGeek’s pick for the best pet insurance in Pennsylvania. The average cost of pet insurance is $25.55 per month.
They offer two annual coverage levels ($5,000 and unlimited) and have a wide range of deductible options, from $50 to $1,000. The company covers accidents, illnesses, surgeries, cancer, and much more and offers wellness coverage for routine care and specialized coverage plans.
Because Pets Best policies are flexible, you can customize them to meet your needs and budget. If you’re going to enroll more than one pet, you can take advantage of the company’s 5% multi-pet discount for additional savings. One downside to Pets Best is that they do not cover preventive or elective care, although there is limited coverage for vaccines and preventive care if you purchase that add-on plan.
Best Pet Insurance Company in Pennsylvania: Unlimited Coverage
pros
Covers cancer treatments
Covers diagnostics
Full coverage even when pet not spayed or neutered
cons
Periodontal disease is only covered if your pet meets certain conditions
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
MoneyGeek also picks Pets Best as the best pet insurance company in Pennsylvania for unlimited coverage. The average cost for unlimited coverage is $32.33 per month.
While unlimited coverage is more expensive than low coverage, it gives you complete financial protection in the event of unexpected veterinarian bills. It also gives you peace of mind if anything happens to your pet.
Pet insurance from Pets Best covers everything from injuries to chronic illnesses. While most plans include exam fees, acupuncture and chiropractic, and prescription medication coverage, these can be excluded from some plans to fit the needs and budgets of you and your pet.
Exclusions include pre-existing conditions, elective and preventive procedures, and testing, treatment and prevention of parasites, although limited coverage for vaccines, preventive care and parasites may be available as an add-on.
Best Pet Insurance Company in Pennsylvania: Affordable Coverage
pros
Flexible policy options
No upper age restrictions
5% multi-pet discount
cons
Does not cover preventive or elective care, although limited coverage for some procedures is available with the purchase of an add-on
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Pets Best placed first as the best pet insurance company in Pennsylvania with the most affordable coverage. The average cost for insurance with a maximum coverage limit of $5,000 is $18.77 per month.
Pets Best policies are flexible. You can customize them to fit your budget and your pet’s needs. You can choose from different deductibles and two coverage limits. If you have a healthy pet, insurance with a low premium and high deductible may be the best and most cost-effective option for you. If your pet is aging, you may wish to consider unlimited coverage. There’s no upper age limit, and euthanasia is covered.
Best Pet Insurance Company in Pennsylvania: Multiple Pets
pros
5% multi-pet discount
Insurer pays vet directly or reimburses via direct deposit
Covers exam fees for accidents and illnesses
cons
Herbal, holistic, and experimental therapies and medications are not covered
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Pets Best also offers multi-pet discounts, when you insure more than one pet with them. The average cost for a multi-pet plan is $23 per month.
Getting insurance for several pets can be pretty expensive. Pets Best offers a 5% discount for enrolling more than one pet. The insurance policy for each pet covers accidents, illnesses, emergency care, and hereditary and congenital conditions.
As with all pet insurance companies, there are specific waiting periods before you can submit a claim. You have to wait three days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses after your policy becomes effective. You can file a claim online through your customer account from any device or have Pets Best pay your vet directly.
Best Pet Insurance Company in Pennsylvania: Cats
pros
Covers behavioral therapy and training
Your pet is covered for life; coverage is never reduced based on age
Covers bilateral conditions
cons
No unlimited coverage option
Preventive or routine care costs are not covered, although you can purchase a separate plan for limited coverage
Pets 15 years and older are eligible for accident-only insurance, not full accident and illness coverage
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
MoneyGeek’s pick for the best pet insurance company in Pennsylvania for cats is Embrace. The company’s average price for cat insurance is $15.98 per month.
Cats generally are less expensive to insure than dogs. As with all insurance, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare quotes. Remember only to look at pet insurance premiums for cats; if you inadvertently mix in dog insurance premiums, you’ll skew your results by quite a bit.
Embrace offers robust pet insurance coverage. It covers exam fees, illness and injury, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs, congenital and chronic conditions, cancer treatment and more. They also cover behavioral therapy, which is often not included in other insurers’ coverage. Furthermore, they offer a 10% multi-pet discount, which can help save a little money when you’re enrolling multiple cats or kittens in a policy.
Embrace does not offer an unlimited coverage option, which some pet owners may see as a downside; however, the maximum annual coverage limit is a healthy $30,000.
Best Pets Insurance in Pennsylvania Ranking Summary
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- RankingWinnerAvg. Monthly Cost
- OverallPets Best$26
- Unlimited CoveragePets Best$32
- Affordable CoveragePets Best$19
- Multiple PetsPets Best$23
- CatsEmbrace$16
What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs and Cats in Pennsylvania?
The cost of pet insurance in Pennsylvania varies, depending on the age and breed of your pet, the coverage level and deductible you choose, and even where you live.
The average cost of dog insurance in Pennsylvania is $26.77 for a $5,000 coverage limit, $50.65 for a $10,000 coverage limit, and $56.62 for unlimited coverage. The average cost of cat insurance in Pennsylvania with a $5,000 coverage limit is $14.58 per month; with a $10,000 coverage limit, it’s $25.42 per month; and with unlimited coverage, it costs $35.58 per month on average.
Since every insurance company puts a different emphasis on each variable that goes into determining your pet insurance premium, getting at least a few individualized quotes before deciding on a policy is a good idea.
Average Monthly Cost of Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania
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- Pet Insurance Policy$5k Coverage$10k CoverageUnlimited
- Average Cost for a Dog$27$51$57
- Average Cost for a Cat$15$25$36
HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED IN PENNSYLVANIA?
For the average pet insurance buyer in Pennsylvania, we recommend a policy with $5,000 to $15,000 in coverage and a reimbursement rate of not lower than 80%. With these levels, you get good annual coverage at relatively affordable premiums.
Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in Pennsylvania
MoneyGeek intends to help pet owners in Pennsylvania understand the most common options available in pet insurance policies, which include the following:
- Annual reimbursement limits: typically range from $3,000 to unlimited
- Deductible: usually $250 to $500, but some companies have higher or lower options
- Bill reimbursement percentage: 70-90%
Some pet owners in Pennsylvania will seek less expensive insurance policies with lower coverage amounts either for budget purposes or because they don’t think they’ll need higher coverage. Of course, others opt for high or unlimited coverage limits and don’t mind paying extra for the peace of mind it gives them. While unlimited coverage does provide the maximum protection, the average pet owner is unlikely to require it. For pet insurance buyers in Pennsylvania, we usually recommend the average coverage as outlined below.
Cheapest Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania by Coverage Level
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- Maximum Policy CoverageWinner: Cheapest PolicyAvg Cost
- $5,000Pets Best$19
- $10,000Figo$37
- UnlimitedPets Best$32
If you want to pay a cheaper monthly premium, consider getting insurance with a low annual maximum, large deductible, and low reimbursement percentage. The table below shows the cheapest $5,000 coverage, 80% reimbursement, and $500 deductible pet insurance policies available in Pennsylvania, broken down by company.
Cheapest Low Coverage: $5k Annual Maximum / 80% / $500 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyLow Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pets Best$19
- Pet Plan$23
- Spot$27
Cheapest Average Coverage: $10k Annual Maximum / 80% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyAverage Coverage Monthly Cost
- Figo$37
- GEICO$41
- Embrace$41
Cheapest Unlimited Coverage: Unlimited Maximum / 90% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyUnlimited Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pets Best$32
- Healthy Paws$43
- Figo$54
The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in Pennsylvania
Pet insurance costs are influenced by a variety of factors in addition to your pet’s age and breed, including where you live. Because some cities in Pennsylvania have a higher than average cost of living than others, your location is an important determining factor. That's because a high cost of living means higher veterinarian medical costs and increased pet insurance premiums.
Furthermore, due to hazards such as traffic and weather, some cities are high-risk in terms of pet injury and can also result in higher insurance costs.
Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies by City
- CityCoverage Level and Average Monthly Rate
- Allentown$5k: Pets Best, $19
Unlimited: Pets Best, $32
$10k: Figo, $37 - Philadelphia$5k: Pets Best, $19
Unlimited: Pets Best, $32
$10k: Figo, $37 - Pittsburgh$5k: Pets Best, $19
Unlimited: Pets Best, $32
$10k: Figo, $37
MoneyGeek used city-based data in Pennsylvania by gathering quotes for $10k coverage, 80% reimbursement, and $250 deductible for a 1-year-old Goldendoodle.
What Factors Impact Pet Insurance Cost in Pennsylvania?
The breed, type and age of your pet, the kind of coverage you choose, and where you live are some of the factors that influence the cost of pet insurance in Pennsylvania. As a result, most pet insurance policies allow you to customize your coverage limits to design a plan uniquely tailored to your budget and your pet’s specific needs.
Annual reimbursement limits
These are the maximum amounts insurance companies will pay toward your pet’s medical expenditures each year. The coverage limit you can choose typically ranges from $3,000 to unlimited.
Deductible
The amount you pay before your insurance kicks in is known as the deductible. It’s usually between $250 and $500, although it can be as low as $50 and as high as $1,000. The lower the deductible, the higher your insurance premium, and vice versa.
Bill reimbursement percentage
Once you’ve paid your deductible, this is the percentage of your vet bills that the insurance company will reimburse you for. For example, a $1,000 pet medical expense with a 90% reimbursement will pay you back $900.
Breed
Dogs are more expensive to insure than cats. Breeds that pose a higher risk, like those with established hereditary conditions, are typically more expensive.
Animal Age
As pets get older, they tend to suffer more health problems. As a result, you can expect your monthly premiums to increase as your pet ages.
Location
Your geographic location has an impact on the cost of pet insurance due to factors like a higher cost of living and hazards related to weather and traffic.
Multi-pet discounts
Most pet insurance providers offer a 5% or 10% discount if you choose to insure more than one pet with them.
FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania
Well over one-half (60.6%) of Pennsylvania households own pets; however, just a fraction purchase pet insurance. We think pet insurance is worth the cost because it allows you to afford unexpected and expensive treatments that you might otherwise have difficulty paying for out of pocket.
We all know that vet bills can be extremely expensive. To treat your cat or dog with chemotherapy for cancer, you’re looking at an average cost of $4,000, and the amount to treat diabetes for your pup is over $2,800. If your pet swallowed something they shouldn’t have, the cost to you is about $3,000 or more. Broken bones cost in excess of $2,000 to treat, and feline urinary tract infection or kidney disease will set you back more than $1,000.
Pets Best is the cheapest pet insurance company in Pennsylvania at an average of $18.77 per month for low coverage. However, depending on your pet's age, breed, the coverage you select and where you live, this rate may vary.
The average cost of pet insurance in Pennsylvania for $10,000 coverage is $50.65 for dogs and $25.42 for cats. Again, the coverage limit you choose and other factors such as your pet’s breed and age will also impact how much you pay for pet insurance.
Pets Best is MoneyGeek’s overall best insurance company in Pennsylvania. It is also our best insurer choice for affordability, unlimited coverage and multi-pet coverage, while Embrace is our top pick for those insuring their cats.
MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance
MoneyGeek is of the opinion that data helps us make smarter financial decisions. We spent a significant amount of time gathering hundreds of pet insurance quotes from 13 of the industry’s major players. To find the best pet insurance providers in Pennsylvania, we compared each company’s product offerings and rates.
To calculate the overall MoneyGeek rating score, we weighted our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50% and affordability by coverage level at 50% of the total score.
MoneyGeek gathered quotes for four different types of pets from various zip codes in Pennsylvania. To identify the cheapest pet insurance companies in the state and to establish our affordability scores for our best rankings, we considered 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 December 15, 2021.
- Care Credit. "Average Costs: Veterinary Care." Accessed December 15, 2021.
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