Pet Insurance
The cost of treating common pet illnesses and injuries in South Carolina might be higher than you expect. Pet insurance helps alleviate those unexpected expenses. Some insurance plans include optional coverage for routine veterinarian visits for wellness and preventive care.
MoneyGeek has gathered insurance quotes for different coverage options and benefits from reputable pet insurance companies in the top cities in South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia and North Charleston. By comparing the data we collected, we were able to find the best and most affordable pet insurance in South Carolina.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in South Carolina
The cost of insurance will vary depending on your pet’s age and breed, the amount of coverage you select, and even the company you use, so it is advisable to compare pet insurance quotes in South Carolina from different sources. It helps ensure that you get the benefits you need on a budget you can work with.
This is where MoneyGeek comes in. After reviewing thousands of quotes, policies, coverage details and other essential data, we were able to find the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina based on their product offerings and affordability.
Best Overall Pet Insurance in South Carolina for Your Pet
pros
Flexible policy options
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions
Online claim submissions
cons
Limited coverage for parasite testing and prevention is available only through an additional plan
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
MoneyGeek ranks Pets Best as the best overall pet insurance company in South Carolina. It offers affordable premiums and comprehensive coverage with flexible policies you can customize based on budget and needs. On average, a pet insurance policy from Pets Best costs $27.35 per month.
Pets Best covers a wide range of accidents from swallowed chew toys, broken bones and emergency surgeries. Additionally, the company offers insurance plans for different ailments including allergies, diabetes, and congenital conditions. An add-on for routine care and pet wellness coverage is also available for regular veterinary visits.
The company also offers a mobile app for Android and iOS devices for online claim submissions and a pet helpline. There are two annual coverage options ($5,000 and unlimited), and deductible options range from $50 to $1,000.
Best Pet Insurance Company in South Carolina: Unlimited Coverage
pros
No upper age limits for pets
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions
Covers prosthetic devices and wheelchairs
cons
Preventive procedures and elective care excluded
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
We recommend Pets Best as the best pet insurance company in South Carolina for unlimited coverage. While it’s more expensive than capped coverage, unlimited protects you financially from unexpected veterinarian bills, whether for accidents or illnesses. The average monthly premium for unlimited coverage at Pets Best is $33.31.
Illnesses covered range from cancer, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, cruciate ligament injuries, skin and ear infections, urinary tract infections, and epilepsy. Hereditary and congenital conditions are also covered with a Pets Best policy, which includes hip dysplasia. Ongoing and chronic conditions are covered too, which means that when your policy renews, those conditions are not considered pre-existing.
Best Pet Insurance Company in South Carolina: Affordable Coverage
pros
You’ve covered even while traveling in the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico
Covers pre-anesthetic blood work before surgery
Covers diagnostics including CAT scans and X-rays
cons
Does not cover herbal, holistic or experimental therapies and medications
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Pets Best is also our top pick for affordable pet insurance in South Carolina. A policy with low coverage costs an average of $18.40 per month.
With Pets Best, you can customize your policy to meet your needs. You can choose between $5,000 and unlimited annual coverage limits and a range of deductibles to suit your budget and coverage amounts you think your pet will need each year. This means that if you have a healthy pet with no major issues, you may wish to choose a high deductible plan with a low coverage.
Full coverage is available for your pet even if they are not spayed or neutered, and behavioral consults and related medication prescribed by a licensed veterinarian are also covered.
Best Pet Insurance Company in South Carolina: Multiple Pets
pros
5% discount for more than one pet enrolled
Covers emergency care, hospitalization and surgery
Covers ongoing conditions
Covers euthanasia
cons
Does not cover food for special diets, vitamins or supplements
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
For those planning to insure more than one pet in South Carolina, we again recommend Pets Best. Enrolling more than one pet with Pets Best will save you 5% with their multi-pet discount, and the average discounted monthly cost is $24.61.
If your budget is limited and you need to find more savings, you can purchase accident-only coverage. While your pet is not covered for medical issues like illness or cancer with an accident-only plan, they are covered for things like a broken leg, snake bite and accidental swallowing.
Best Pet Insurance Company in South Carolina: Cats
pros
10% multi-pet discount
Covers vet exam fees
Covers complementary treatments (chiropractic and physiotherapy)
cons
No unlimited coverage option
COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
MoneyGeek’s top pick for a cat insurance company in South Carolina is Embrace, with an average cost of $12.97 per month. Cats tend to be less expensive to insure than dogs, so if you have a feline friend, it’s a good idea to shop around for coverage focused on cats.
Embrace offers robust coverage for your cat. This includes exam fees, illness and injury, congenital and chronic conditions, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs and more. Unlike some other providers, they also cover behavioral therapy.
Embrace also offers a 10% multi-pet discount. If you have more than one cat, you can save money while making sure that they all have the proper coverage. A slight downside to Embrace is that they don’t have an unlimited coverage option; however, coverage tops out at $30,000 annually, and you probably won’t exceed this coverage limit in most cases.
Best Pets Insurance in South Carolina Ranking Summary
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- RankingWinnerAvg. Monthly Cost
- OverallPets Best$27
- Unlimited CoveragePets Best$33
- Affordable CoveragePets Best$18
- Multiple PetsPets Best$25
- CatsEmbrace$13
What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs and Cats in South Carolina?
The cost of pet insurance in South Carolina varies based on factors, like the breed and age of the pet, policy coverage details and where you live. The average cost to insure a dog in South Carolina is $24.70 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $47.08 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit, and $50.63 per month for an unlimited coverage limit. Cats are typically less expensive to insure. The average cost to insure a cat in South Carolina is $13.37 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $24.11 for a $10,000 coverage limit, and $34.04 per month for unlimited coverage.
MoneyGeek recommends getting at least a few personalized quotes before choosing a policy. Pet insurance companies treat factors like breed, age, location and add-ons differently, ultimately affecting the cost of insurance.
Average Monthly Cost of Pet Insurance in South Carolina
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- Pet Insurance Policy$5k Coverage$10k CoverageUnlimited
- Average Cost for a Dog$25$47$51
- Average Cost for a Cat$13$24$34
HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED IN SOUTH CAROLINA?
We recommend an annual coverage limit of $5,000 to $10,000 and an 80% reimbursement rate for the average pet insurance shopper in South Carolina. This should be enough to cover medical emergencies while still keeping your premiums affordable.
Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in South Carolina
MoneyGeek wants to help pet insurance buyers in South Carolina understand the standard options that most companies offer in pet insurance policies, including the following:
- Annual reimbursement limits: These usually range from $3,000 to unlimited
- Deductible: $250 to $500, but some companies have higher or lower options
- Bill reimbursement percentage: Typically between 70-90%
Many pet owners in South Carolina want less expensive insurance policies that better fit their budgets or are in line with how much coverage they think their pet needs. Others prefer high coverage limits for the ultimate financial protection those policies offer. While unlimited coverage offers maximum protection, it is usually not required by the average pet owner.
We typically recommend the average coverage amount shown in the table below for pet owners in South Carolina.
Cheapest Pet Insurance in South Carolina by Coverage Level
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- Maximum Policy CoverageWinner: Cheapest PolicyAvg Cost
- $5,000Pets Best$18
- $10,000GEICO$34
- UnlimitedPets Best$33
If you want a low monthly premium, consider getting a policy with a low annual maximum coverage, high deductible and low reimbursement percentage. The data below shows the least expensive $5,000 coverage, 80% reimbursement and $500 deductible pet insurance policies in South Carolina per company.
Cheapest Low Coverage: $5k Annual Maximum / 80% / $500 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyLow Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pets Best$18
- Pet Plan$21
- ASPCA$24
Cheapest Average Coverage: $10k Annual Maximum / 80% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyAverage Coverage Monthly Cost
- GEICO$34
- Embrace$34
- Figo$38
Cheapest Unlimited Coverage: Unlimited Maximum / 90% / $250 Deductible
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- Pet Insurance CompanyUnlimited Coverage Monthly Cost
- Pets Best$33
- Healthy Paws$37
- Pet Plan$48
The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in South Carolina
It’s not just coverage level and your pet’s breed and age that affect insurance costs. Your location is also a factor because some cities in South Carolina have a higher cost of living than average. This translates to increased veterinary medical costs which, in turn, means higher insurance premiums. Also, some cities see more pet accidents than others due to hazards like traffic and adverse weather events, so they tend to have more expensive insurance premiums as well.
Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies by City
- CityCoverage Level and Average Monthly Rate
- Charleston$5k: Pets Best, $18
Unlimited: Pets Best, $32
$10k: Figo, $38 - Columbia$5k: Pet Plan, $20
Unlimited: Pets Best, $37
$10k: ASPCA, $48
$10k: Hartville, $48
$10k: Spot, $48 - North Charleston$5k: Pets Best, $18
$10k: Embrace, $28
Unlimited: Pets Best, $32
MoneyGeek used city-based data in South Carolina by gathering quotes for $10k coverage, 80% reimbursement, and $250 deductible for a 1-year-old Goldendoodle.
What Factors Impact Pet Insurance Cost in South Carolina?
There are several factors affecting the cost of pet insurance in South Carolina, including the type of pet you have, the pet’s breed and age, the coverage level you choose and where you live. Pet insurance companies offer customized policies, so you can get a plan that’s best suited to your budget and your pet’s needs.
Annual reimbursement limits
The annual reimbursement limit refers to the amount that insurance companies will pay toward your pet’s medical bills per year. The coverage limit typically ranges from $3,000 up to unlimited coverage.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance kicks in. You can select your deductible, which usually ranges from $100 to 1,000. The lower your deductible is, the higher your monthly premium, and vice versa.
Bill reimbursement percentage
This refers to the portion of your bills that are reimbursed to you by your insurer. For instance, if after your deductible, you pay a $1,000 vet bill, you’ll get $900 back (with a 90% reimbursement plan).
Breed
Dogs usually cost more to insure than cats. Breeds with higher risks, such as those with known hereditary issues, might cost more.
Animal Age
Most pets develop health issues as they age. The older your pet is, the more expensive the monthly insurance premium.
Location
Where you live affects your pet insurance cost. For example, living in an area with a higher cost of living tends to increase the amount you pay for your policy. The same goes for hazard-prone areas.
Multi-pet discounts
Many pet insurance companies offer small discounts of 5%-10% if you insure more than one pet with them.
FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in South Carolina
Well over one-half (62%) of households in South Carolina own pets, while only a fraction of those pets are insured. MoneyGeek believes that pet insurance is helpful because it protects you financially from large and unexpected veterinary expenses if your pet becomes ill or is in an accident.
And veterinary care can be extremely costly. For instance, stomach issues in dogs can cost over $29,000 to treat, while ear infections can run nearly $13,000. Meanwhile, cancer treatment comes in at about $4,000 and a broken bone will cost you more than $2,000.
You can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenditures with pet insurance and perhaps afford more extensive or alternative treatments.
The cheapest pet insurance company in South Carolina is Pets Best, with an average cost of $18.40 per month for low coverage.
The average cost of pet insurance in South Carolina for $10,000 coverage is $47.08 per month for dogs and $24.11 for cats. However, prices can range widely depending on your specific situation.
You can choose from various companies if you’re looking for a good pet insurance policy in South Carolina. We recommend Pets Best and Embrace as the top pet insurance companies in the state.
MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance
MoneyGeek knows that data helps us make better financial decisions. To ensure that you find the best affordable insurance policy to match your needs, our team collected hundreds of pet insurance quotes from 13 of the largest players in the pet insurance field.
We created a rigorous ranking system by comparing each company’s product features and prices to determine the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina. We weighted our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50% and affordability by coverage level by 50% of the overall score to achieve the total MoneyGeek rating score.
MoneyGeek collected quotes by the company across multiple zip codes in South Carolina for four kinds of pets. We used the following coverage levels to determine the cheapest pet insurance companies in South Carolina and generate our best rankings.
- 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
- Care Credit. "Average Costs: Veterinary Care." Accessed December 18, 2021.
- Canine Journal. "How Much Does a Vet Visit Cost? List of Common Expenses." Accessed December 18, 2021.
- AVMA. "AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographic Sourcebook." Accessed December 18, 2021.
Pet Insurance
