Best Washington State Pet Insurance

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Contributor, Benzinga
April 1, 2022

Quick Look: The Best Washington State Pet Insurance

  • Top-Rated Pet Insurance: Lemonade
  • Best for Preventative Coverage: Pumpkin
  • Best for Prescription Food and Supplements: Spot
  • Best for Bundling With Other Insurance Products: Progressive

Looking for the Washington State pet insurance? If you have a furry friend, you know that a pet isn’t just another possession — he or she is a member of your family. The right pet health insurance policy can help you keep your pet happy and healthy, even if you incur a major veterinary bill.

Compare coverage and benefits from the best pet insurance providers in Washington to find your pet the right policy today.

The Best Washington State Pet Insurance

Now that you understand the basics of how pet insurance in Washington work and what’s covered, it’s time to start comparing plan choices. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite pet insurance policy providers. 

1. Lemonade

Lemonade Pet Insurance super customizable coverage options for dogs and cats. Lemonade offers a seamless user experience, letting you apply online and get coverage fast. Filing claims is just as easy, with some claims being paid instantly. And Lemonade has high annual maximums -- between the high level of customizability and this, you definitely know you're getting your money's worth.

Lemonade Pet Insurance is even better for those who already have Lemonade renters or homeowners insurance as you get a discount for bundling your policies. 

Insurance companies keep extra dollars for profit, but Lemonade is unique in that after it pays your claims and its expenses, it gives any remaining premiums to a charity that you choose when you sign up for a policy. You can select charities like the American Red Cross, the Trevor Project, and many pet-centric causes. The downside to Lemonade pet insurance is that you can only insure dogs and cats (no exotic animals). 

  • Lemonade Pet Insurance
    Best For:
    Top-rated pet insurance
    securely through Lemonade Pet Insurance's website

    Lemonade is currently available in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District Of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin,

2. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Pumpkin offers traditional pet insurance as well as optional preventive care coverage at an additional cost. While Pumpkin does offer a wide range of coverage options, you’ll notice some limits to be aware of. All Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans have an annual coverage limit and all of its policies come with a high reimbursement rate.

Pumpkin allows customers to submit a claim online or it can provide a claim form if requested. After you’ve submitted your claim, Pumpkin will review the claim and determine whether it can be covered. If it is, you’ll receive reimbursement for the covered costs on your claim after you have met your annual deductible.

  • Pumpkin Pet Insurance
    Best For:
    Families with multiple pets
    securely through Pumpkin Pet Insurance's website

    Limitations apply. For terms and conditions, visit pumpkin.care. Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (NPN#19084749) (“Pumpkin”) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance plans underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy, and is not available in all states.

3. Spot Pet Insurance

Spot Pet Insurance is the No. 1 pet insurance provider recommended by Cesar Millan, the leading expert in dog behavior. Some insurance highlights:

  • Up to 90% reimbursement on eligible vet bills
  • No age cap on coverage
  • Plans start as low as $1 a day* — that’s less than a cup of coffee!

You can customize your coverage and can even add special Spot-On coverage. Coverage options include accidents, behavioral issues, dental disease, illnesses, preventive services and even hereditary and congenital conditions. 

Spot’s claims service is easy. Just visit your vet (don’t forget to give your pet a treat on the way out!), send Spot the bill and get reimbursed.

Take 30 seconds to fetch your free quote now. 

*Rates vary based on plan type, species, breed, age and location

4. Progressive

Progressive is 1 of the largest insurance companies in the country. From auto insurance to homeowner’s insurance and even business insurance, it has a policy for nearly everything you could want to protect. It also offers 3 unique pet insurance policies that you can bundle together with your ATV, RV, home or any other type of insurance you have through Progressive to save.

Progressive also offers a unique set of premium payment options, allowing you to pay what you owe monthly, quarterly or yearly. If you already have some type of insurance through Progressive, be sure to consider adding a pet policy to your coverage list to save even more money. 

What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is a type of plan that reduces the vet costs, emergency treatment and general medical expenses associated with providing your pet with healthcare. This can include physical therapy and broken bones, but it often does not include pre-existing conditions.

Depending on your provider and plan, it can cover things like preventative care, emergency care and illness, wellness and even alternative therapies. Typically, pet insurers reimburse you for covered events after you've already paid up front at the vet -- which means no provider network restrictions and you can usually work with any provider you'd like. This is different from human health insurance which generally takes the claims out of your hands.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet insurance is a type of protection intended to help you pay for veterinary bills if your pet gets sick or injured. Every month, you pay your insurance provider a set premium that keeps your coverage current. Your premium is due every month, even if your pet doesn’t get sick or need treatment in any given month. Most pet insurance companies charge a few hundred dollars per year for coverage.

If your dog, cat, bird or other covered pet gets sick and needs a veterinary visit, you’ll take them to your veterinarian and pay the bill out of pocket. You’ll then file a claim with your pet insurance company and they’ll reimburse you. Your policy will tell you what percentage you’ll be reimbursed out of the total cost of your bill. Most insurance companies will reimburse you for 50% to 100% of your pet’s veterinary bill total.

Your policy will likely include a deductible and waiting period. Your deductible is a set amount of money that you need to spend on your pet’s veterinary care before your insurance starts to provide reimbursements. For example, if you have a plan with a $100 deductible, it means that you need to pay out $100 for your veterinary bills before your insurance will offer you any form of reimbursement.

Most pet insurance policies include a waiting period between the date you buy your policy and the date your benefits begin. Waiting periods for accidents may be as little as a few days while waiting periods for cancer or genetic diseases can last for months. Your insurance company might also require that your pet have a veterinary exam before your coverage begins to establish any preexisting conditions.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Most pet insurance plans include coverage for both accidents and unexpected illnesses like cancer, genetic diseases and prescription drugs. Even the best pet insurance policy will include a few exclusions.

Some of the most common pet insurance exclusions include:

  • Routine veterinary visits
  • Dental care, cleanings and exams
  • Grooming visits
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Preexisting conditions or hereditary illnesses (like hip dysplasia in certain breeds of dogs)

The specific exclusions you’ll have on your plan will depend on your plan provider. Be sure to thoroughly read your policy’s list of benefits before you enroll in an insurance plan. 

What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?

Generally, pet insurance coverage will not handle:

  • Pre-existing conditions (when present before the pet is insured)
  • Chiropractic care
  • Congenital issues (if they present before the pet is insured)
  • Cancer treatments
  • Wellness care (unless covered under a special rider)

While every pet insurance policy is different, it’s important to review to coverage to learn if it offers the levels of coverage you’re looking for. If not, you may need to look elsewhere.

Pet Insurance in America: An Overview

From playful dogs to fluffy cats and even talking parrots, the United States is a country full of diverse pets. Before we start talking about the specifics of pet insurance, let’s take a look at a few statistics on pet ownership in America. 

Number of households with pets. About 84,500,000 households in the U.S. have a dog, cat, bird or horse as a pet. That means that about 67% of all households in the country have some kind of pet. 

Amount spent on pet bills annually. Americans spend a combined total of about $1.42 billion on pet insurance every year.

Average cost of pet insurance annually. The average pet owner spends about $212 per year for a dog’s routine veterinary care and $160 per year for a cat’s routine veterinary care. The average pet owner also spends about $426 for any specialized treatments their dog needs, while cat owners spend about $216 per year on average. 

3 Reasons to Buy Pet Insurance in Washington State

Maybe you think pet insurance isn't a necessity. Insurance of any kind is meant to help foot the bill for service. Take a look at our top 3 reasons you should look into pet insurance in Washington State:

  1. Pet insurance helps you pay for your pet’s medical bills. If you don’t have pet insurance, you could be left paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for your pet’s veterinary visits after an accident. With pet insurance, you won’t need to worry about figuring out how you’d make such a large payment. 
  2. Pet insurance gives you peace of mind. To most pet owners, their pet isn’t just a piece of property and cannot easily be replaced. However, the truth is that most Americans also can’t pay for a massive veterinary bill out of their own pockets — about 63% of Americans don’t have enough cash in the bank to cover a $500 emergency bill. With pet insurance, you can sleep with the peace of mind that comes along with knowing you won’t be forced to put your pet down or go into debt if he or she needs expensive veterinary treatments. 
  3. Pet insurance is affordable. Most pet insurance companies charge between $10 and $50 per month for coverage. This means that it’s exceptionally affordable to keep your pet insured and prevent a massive veterinary bill from falling squarely on your shoulders.  

Cover Your 4-Legged Friend With Washington State Pet Insurance

Still not sure which pet insurance company is right for your needs? Start by collecting a few quotes from competing providers. Like any other type of insurance, getting a quote is easy — and ensures that you aren’t overpaying for coverage for your 4-legged friend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q

How does pet insurance company know if a condition is preexisting?

A

This will depend on the provider, but many pet insurance plans don’t cover preexisting conditions. Your pet insurer may ask for your pet’s medical records to determine if your pet has preexisting conditions not covered by their policy.

Q

Can I get pet insurance if my pet is already sick or injured?

A

Yes, you can in certain circumstances, but the nuances of this answer varies between providers and plans. Review your policy for more information as pre-exiting conditions are generally not covered.

About Sarah Horvath

Sarah is an expert in the insurance, investing for retirement and cryptocurrency space.