Cat insurance provides you with peace of mind that your pet is protected should the unexpected happen. You could save on large vet bills through reimbursements for pet illnesses, injuries, accidents, and wellness routine care. We’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.
Pumpkin offers high-quality pet insurance plans for cats and dogs as well as an optional non-insurance preventive care plan for vaccinations, key tests and wellness exams, which will help to keep your pet happy and healthy through their life. You can travel with your pet in Canada or the US and can get access from any licensed vet in these countries. The platform is entirely digitized and serves as a one-stop-shop for all your pet's healthcare needs.
Pumpkin will cover up to $20,000 for dogs and $15,000 for cats annually.
What we like
Extensive coverage on multiple health issues
Optional preventive care plan that reimburses in full for annual wellness exams and vaccines
Pumpkin Advertiser Disclosure: Pumpkin Pet Insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/insurancepolicy. Products, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (“Pumpkin”) (NPN #19084749) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a Crum & Forster Company (NAIC #21113, Morristown, NJ) and produced by Pumpkin. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy. It is offered as an optional add-on non-insurance benefit. Pumpkin is responsible for the product and administration. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not available in all states. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/customeragreement. Paid Endorsement.
Lemonade has earned a stellar reputation in the pet insurance industry with its affordable monthly premiums and fast reimbursement of claims with its AI technology. This technology has attracted thousands with its customizable policies and provides comprehensive coverage on illness and accidents to dogs and cats.
What we like
Customizable plans so you only pay for coverage that your pet needs
Claims are reimbursed in minutes
Affordable monthly premiums starting at $10/month
Comprehensive wellness plans to keep your pet in good health
Pawp offers pet owners an emergency fund up to but not exceeding $3,000 annually. The platform is different from other traditional pet insurance agencies as it does not require you to provide a medical examination report before enrolling your pet. Whether your pet is healthy or has been diagnosed with a pre-existing condition, you can still enroll it and access the emergency fund when the need arises.
With no deductibles and low monthly premiums as low as $24, the digital platform will protect your furry friend during an incident and save money from large vet expenses. Although the agency does not provide any limitations on age, it is best to insure your pet while still young and be prepared in advance when an emergency occurs.
What we like
Monthly premiums as low as $24
Allows coverage on 6 pets for $24 a month
Allows enrollment of pets with pre-existing conditions
24/7 unlimited access to Pawp’s virtual vet doctors
What we don't
Coverage is restricted to healthcare emergencies only
Does not offer wellness coverage
Emergency funds can be accessed only once per year
Prudent pet has excellent coverage for your pet regardless of their age. The insurer can customize your plan from illnesses, medications, accidents to preventive care that will fit your pet's needs and financial situation. This plan will give you peace of mind that you won't break the bank with unlimited coverage if an emergency occurs since treatments tend to be more expensive for older pets.
What we like
Older cats and dogs are covered
Customize your plan to fit your pet's needs and financial situation
Customers from US can get covered in Canada as well
Unlimited live vet chat if an issue occurs with your pet
Cats are some of our best companions that possess uncanny abilities to shake off our anxiety and stress. However, the American Pet Products Association reveals that only 1% of cat owners have insured their pets. Medical emergencies can strike any minute, and you may have to break into your savings or borrow money to give the best healthcare to your pet. A cat insurance plan gives you full control of your pet’s health by allowing you to visit a licensed veterinarian or specialist by minimizing vet costs.
Aside from protecting your finances and the cat’s health, an insurance plan for your pet gives you much-needed peace of mind when an emergency occurs. With affordable monthly premiums and high reimbursement levels, pet insurance could extend the life of your pet by enabling you to provide medical care for your cat even when it develops serious conditions, such as cancer or diabetes.
How does cat insurance work?
Cat insurance reimburses a certain amount of money for their pet’s medical costs. The amount reimbursed varies depending on the reimbursement option selected in the policy. Cat insurance agencies offer different policies that cover certain conditions and exclude others. Before you settle on an insurance agency, ensure you read and understand the terms of your policy to determine if it suits your financial situation and pet’s needs. Other insurance agencies allow cat owners to customize their policies and configure them based on their budgets or to include pre-existing health conditions.
Below are some facts you need to understand in your policy:
Premium: This is the amount paid by pet owners for purchasing the insurance policy. Premiums can be paid monthly, quarterly, or annually.
Deductible: The amount paid by the pet owner before coverage kicks in. Some pet insurance agencies require you to pay the deductible just once a year, while others require pet owners to pay the deductibles after every incident that happens with their pet.
Reimbursement: Percentage of the bill paid by the insurer after the deductible. Pet insurance agencies require you to take your cat to any licensed veterinarian. You will be required to pay the bill out of your pocket and submit your claim for reimbursement.
Annual limit: The insurer will indicate the coverage amount it will pay each year. Once you exceed this amount, you will be required to pay out of your pocket. The agency will set the annual limit based on the policy and some insurance providers allow you to customize your plan to select a limit that suits your budget.
Co-insurance: Co-insurance refers to the percentage that you need to pay for the vet bill. If your reimbursement rate is 80%, then your co-insurance is 20% (100% minus 80%).
Co-payment: On some items, such as prescription drugs, the insurer has set up a specific amount that you also need to pay. For instance, If the prescription drugs for your cat costs $100, the insurance provider pays $80, and you will pay $20. Therefore, your co-payment is 20% ($20/$100).
What does cat insurance cover?
Some of the coverages offered by insurance providers for your pet include:
Accident coverage:Covers injuries and emergencies related to accidents, such as broken bones, torn ligaments, toxic ingestions, bites, and cut wounds. In addition, services related to accidents like surgery, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, medication, and hospitalization are usually covered in the insurance policy as well.
Illness coverage: It covers expenses for diagnosing health issues and therapeutic treatment. Both major and minor illnesses such as cancer, digestive problems, arthritis, UTI, ear infections, among others that are usually covered. Illness coverage also covers prescription medication used to manage chronic conditions and inflammation.
Wellness coverage: Most insurance agencies provide this wellness coverage as an add-on and cover medical bills for your pet’s wellness tests, preventable diseases, and vaccinations.
Depending on your insurance provider, you may need to get a medical examination for your cat to determine any pre-existing conditions. Most of the agencies do not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. Ensure you ask about this coverage before you make up your mind. Insurance agencies also provide a waiting period before your coverage. The average waiting period for illness coverage is usually 14 days.
How are cat insurance costs determined?
Cat insurance costs depend on several factors, including:
Breed type: Some breeds are prone to hereditary diseases and have different life expectancies, which translates to higher medical bills and more veterinary visits.
Pet age: Older dogs have weaker immune systems compared to younger dogs, and Illness chances increase with age resulting in higher insurance premiums.
Deductibles and reimbursement levels: High reimbursement levels require higher monthly premiums, and low deductibles require higher monthly premiums.
Chronic or pre-existing conditions: Most insurance agencies do not cover pre-existing conditions. However, some allow you to pay an extra amount to provide coverage for these conditions.
Location: The costs of dog insurance in some States are high compared to others.
What to look for in cat insurance?
If you are shopping around for the best cat insurance plan, you may need to consider the following factors:
Prescription coverage: Some policies exclude certain prescription drugs such as supplements. You can find out from your provider if they have approved to co-pay on drugs.
Waiting period: This refers to a period of qualification before the insurance coverage kicks in. For most insurance providers, the average waiting period on illness coverage is 14 days, and some providers have waiting periods as short as one day on accident coverage.
Veterinarian and treatment agency: Most of the insurance providers do not limit you to a preferred veterinarian, but they require you to visit a licensed veterinary clinic. If your pet requires any special care, you need to find out if your provider allows you to visit specialists since most agencies provide this feature at an extra cost.
Reputation: Before you enroll your cat with an insurer, you need to do some background checks on the agency. Some of the elements to watch out for include efficiency, reliability, and reimbursement of claims.
Exclusions: Some of the common exclusions are pre-existing conditions, hereditary defects, alternative therapies, and behavioral conditions. Check with the provider if these exclusions might be covered at an extra cost.
Routine wellness care: Some insurance agencies offer a comprehensive policy that includes routine wellness plans, such as heartworm testing, dental care, and immunizations. However, most agencies provide this coverage as an add-on policy.
When should you get cat insurance?
Most insurance agencies provide limitations on the minimum and maximum age to enroll your pet. However, some providers do not have age restrictions on their policies. The average minimum age of enrolling your cat is usually 6 to 8 weeks, while the average maximum age ranges between 10 years and 14 years.
Cat insurance is a safety guard against unexpected expenses. It is best to insure your cat while it is still a kitten or at a young age. Also, insuring your cat at a young age avoids claim rejection for a pre-existing condition that could potentially develop later in life in your pet.
You can still enroll your cat at an older age to ensure it receives the best care during emergencies while protecting your finances at the same time.
How to choose the best cat insurance plan?
Comprehensive cat coverages are good as they cover a wide range of conditions. To choose the best plan, consider some of the pointers below:
Compare cat insurance providers: make a side-by-side comparison to more than one plan. This enables you to realize the difference in plan premiums, deductibles, reimbursements, exclusions, and add-ons.
Check the insurer’s track record: you need to do a background check on the agency based on reliability, terms, efficiency, among other factors. You want to enroll your cat with an agency with proven stability, reliability, and received recommendations.
Research on coverage inclusions and exclusions: Before enrollment, understand factors that affect coverage like the cat’s breed and any pre-existing conditions. Inquire how and why your premium increases and if the amount of claims affects your premium. If you are uncertain about their policy, it is advisable to contact customer care for further information.
Review discounts: Some insurance providers offer discounts to owners with multiple pets.
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