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Pet Insurance

Dog
Cat
No
Yes
We offer flexible payment plans to fit any budget needs.

We offer flexible payment plans to fit any budget needs.

We've helped over 60,000 customers buy more affordable insurance coverage.

We've helped over 60,000 customers buy more affordable insurance coverage.

We shop your coverage with up to 35 national carriers.

We shop your coverage with up to 35 national carriers.

We shop your personal insurance to save you time and money.

What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance can insure your cats and dogs in the event of accident or illness, as well as provide coverage for preventative care. Much like health insurance for humans, pet insurance is extremely customizable to fit the needs of your pet(s) and your budget. Coverage for pets is available for everything from surgeries and medications to yearly physicals and vaccinations. Typically this coverage is broken into three parts:

  1. Accidents. Broken bones, torn ligaments, diagnostics (blood tests), ingested toxins and bite wounds are all examples of accidents that are covered through pet insurance.
  2. Illness. Coverage can be added to include illnesses such as cancer and diabetes, hereditary illnesses such as hip dysplasia, and behavioral issues such as separation anxiety.
  3. Preventative. Vaccinations, wellness checks, and dental exams are some of the preventative treatments covered through our preventative care endorsement.

We treat our pets like family, and when our family needs us, we are there. However, when our pets get sick or in an accident which results in costly medical bills many of us are faced with very difficult decisions. Pet insurance is very affordable and is rated based on the age, breed, gender and type of pet (cat or dog). The younger and healthier your pet is, the lower his/her rate will be. While pre-existing conditions, such as allergies or diabetes, will NOT disqualify a pet from obtaining insurance, it does mean that treatments such as allergy shots and medications such as insulin will not be covered. When complete coverage is purchased for your pet, he/she will be covered for accidents AND illness. Preventative care is an add-on, it adds certain preventative coverages at three different levels. The basic plan covers dental cleaning, but not spay/neuter, making it more affordable and suited for pets who have already had that procedure. Some preventative coverages such as flea/heartworm prevention and blood tests are only included at the highest level, known as Prime, of coverage.

While pet insurance does have a lot in common with human healthcare (there are cardiologists, allergists, and even animal acupuncturists), there are some differences in how it works. All pet insurance plans are reimbursement based, meaning you must pay for your services up front, then submit your claim to get reimbursed. The reimbursement amount is up to you, options range from 70 to 90 percent. Your deductible and annual maximum also have lots of options. The annual maximum is the most you can get reimbursed in ONE YEAR, resetting at the start of each policy period (typically 12 months). Your annual maximum can be set anywhere from $2,500 to Unlimited, based on your pet’s needs and your budget. Your deductible is the amount you will pay for your pet’s covered services/treatments before the insurance will begin reimbursing. Optimally, this deductible is also annual, meaning you only have to meet it once for the whole year. Deductibles can range from $100 to $500, it is your choice.

It is extremely important to work with a pet insurance specialist while shopping for pet insurance. The specialists at The Insurance Shop know all the inclusions and exclusions of coverages as well as how to shop around for your coverage to get you the best rates. Working with a professional will also ensure you choose an appropriate annual maximum, deductible and reimbursement percentage. While you can always add or remove pets from your plan, there are some aspects that, after binding, you will never be able to change. For example, if you choose an annual maximum that is too low, you cannot raise it once you realize you need more coverage, so making the right decision to begin is the best option.

Find your lowest insurance rates.

Find your lowest
pet insurance rates

Whether you have just one puppy or a whole litter, we'll get you covered for less. We have pet insurance experts who will walk you through all your options.

  • Customized plans cater to your pet and your budget.
  • Licensed throughout the U.S. and the District of Columbia.
  • Premiums for pet insurance are low, and often pays for itself before you reach your deductible.
Compare quotes from over 35 carriers.

Compare quotes
from multiple carriers

Once we've got your best quotes back from our carriers, we take the time to help you understand your options and take the next steps to get you covered quickly.

  • Easy claim reporting and change requests.
  • Discounts available through many carriers.
  • We continue to follow up after binding; our service to you never ends.

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Pet Insurance
We shop your insurance to save you time and money.

Why do I need Pet Insurance?

Our pets are our family and when they need treatment, preventative or otherwise, we do our best to take care of their needs within our budget. However, there are some treatments that are out of budget, forcing pet owners to make tough choices about the health of their loved one. With pet insurance, you can rest assured that your best friend won’t be disabled or worse because you couldn’t afford to care for him. Hartville Insurance claims data reported the average costs of certain medical services in 2015, they are as follows:

  • $2,488. Surgery to remove a foreign object.
  • $760. Treatment for allergies.
  • $8,280. Cancer treatments.

It is estimated by The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ASPCA, that 78 million dogs and 85.5 million cats are kept as pets in the United States (2015-2016). The ASPCA also reported the reasons pets get brought to shelters, and not surprisingly, health problems the owner couldn’t afford, was near the top of the list. Pet problems like this accounted for nearly 50% of both cats and dogs to be rehomed.

What does Pet Insurance Cost?

Pet insurance is extremely affordable because it is very customizable. You can purchase accident-only coverage or complete coverage (includes accidents and illnesses). There are also three levels of preventative care you may want to include. Premiums will be partially based on these choices, as well as your chosen reimbursement percentage, annual maximum and deductible. The rest of the premium is calculated by a risk analysis of your pet based on their age, breed, type (cat or dog) and gender. Note that pre-existing conditions DO NOT affect rates, however they are not covered either, so insuring your pet while they are young and healthy is the best way to assure services will be covered.

Discounts are available for multi-pet policies. Note that any claims made either before or after purchasing pet insurance will never affect your premium. Payment plans are extremely flexible with pet insurance as well, customers can usually choose monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually payments.

What are Common Pet Claims?

If you are looking for how to file a claim, please visit our Client Services.

According to Nationwide’s claims data, the most common claims for cats and dogs are as follows:

Most common conditions for cats and dogs in 2015:

  • Bladder or Urinary Tract Disease.
  • Periodontitis/Dental Disease.
  • Chronic Kidney Disease.
  • Vomiting/Upset Stomach.
  • Excessive Thyroid Hormone.
    (cats only)
  • Diarrhea/Intestinal Upset.
  • Diabetes.
  • Upper Respiratory Infection.
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
  • Ear Infection.
  • Non-cancerous Skin Mass.
  • Skin Allergies/Infections.
    (higher for dogs)
  • Arthritis. (dogs)
  • Soft Tissue Trauma
    (Bruise or Contusion).

How Can I Reduce My Risk?

Unfortunately, there are many risks to our pets that we cannot control such as other people’s pets, other people and some diseases like cancer. However, if you take good preventative care, such as annual wellness checks, dental exams and being cautious around new people/animals, some risks can be made smaller or avoided completely. Some common pet health issues can be prevented by simply feeding your pets a healthy diet and allowing them plenty of exercise. Similar to us, pets who are overweight are more likely to get sick or have an accident.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I use my coverage?
  2. For the majority of carriers, you first take your pet for treatment/services, pay your bill directly to veterinarian and then submit a claim to get reimbursed. Some carriers even offer direct deposit of reimbursements, making claims easier than ever.

  3. Where will my pet insurance be accepted?
  4. Your insurance can be used at any veterinary clinic in the United States or Canada, including (for some carriers) U.S. Territories. There are no network limits or out-of-network fees.

  5. How long does it take to get reimbursed?
  6. While our carriers work their hardest to process claims as fast as possible, it can take up to two weeks to complete the process and reimburse.

  7. What happens to my pet’s coverage as they get older?
  8. You will see an increase in premiums as your pets get older, due to increased likeliness of a claim. However, your pet insurance will never be canceled or downgraded due to your pet’s age or health.

Insurance Services

Our Special Products and Services Make Us Better

Whether you are looking for the best coverage or to save more money over your current policy, our fast and friendly service staff is always here to help. As we work with numerous carriers across the United States we can offer more products at the best competitive rates. We at The Insurance Shop don't stop there, we also have a highly trained and experienced customer service team who guide and support you both before and after you've obtained your coverage.

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