As a pet parent in Washington, pet insurance coverage for your furry friend may be an essential need. Considering the weather conditions and cool temperatures in this state, your pet may be more prone to falling ill. With pet insurance, you can take the steps to provide healthcare for your pet(s) and help them lead a happy, healthy life.
To help you with the process of selecting a pet insurance policy, we’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality in Washington.
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
For a pet owner in Washington, there are some risks to be aware of when it comes to the safety of your pets. The state often experiences cooler temperatures for a majority of the year, in addition to heavy downpours. With this type of weather, your pet is more likely to catch a cold and potentially experience respiratory infections. With pet insurance, you can take your pet to a veterinary clinic without any hesitation because your policy will help reduce your medical bills. More so, you can regularly maintain your pet’s health with routine check-ups and preventative care.
Keep in mind that is best to insure your pet from an early age. Any pre-existing conditions are unlikely to be covered under a pet insurance policy. Also, be aware of the hereditary illnesses your pet can sustain in the future. This way you can take preventative measures as early as possible.
What types of pet insurance plans are in Washington?
The following are the most common types of pet insurance plans in Washington:
Accident-onlyplan: This plan is the most affordable among pet insurance policies. It covers only accident-related situations, including sudden or unexpected injuries. You can expect coverage for diagnostics, hospitalizations, prescriptions, surgeries, and treatments related to the accident.
Accident and illness plan: This plan provides holistic coverage for any accidents, illnesses, and injuries your pet may incur. You can expect coverage for treatments, surgeries, x-rays, and hospitalizations. Some insurance providers may also partially reimburse you for diseases and conditions such as cancer and hip dysplasia.
Wellnessplan: This plan can be purchased alone or be tacked onto any pre-existing plans. This plan is meant to provide routine and preventative care. Hence, the aim is to maintain the health of your pet via routine check-ups, vaccinations, and other veterinary procedures.
What does pet insurance include and exclude?
The following are most commonly covered under pet insurance policies:
Vaccinations: Most insurers cover annual vaccines against core diseases like rabies, canine distemper, and feline panleukopenia. Some also cover vaccinations for other conditions such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus.
Treatment for illness or injury: This includes emergency medical treatment for an illness or injury. This policy also covers x-rays, medications, and surgery.
Routine and preventative care: This includes wellness exams, routine lab tests, and other regular maintenance services you may be seeking for your pet. Heartworm testing and flea/tick preventatives are also included.
Diagnostic testing: This includes imaging such as ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, and more.
The following is a list of exclusions you should be aware of when looking at pet insurance policies:
Treatment or diagnosis of pre-existing conditions: Pet insurance will not cover the cost for treatment or the diagnosis of pre-existing conditions.
Injury or illness with intent to cause harm: Pet insurance will not cover injuries or illnesses that were provoked by abuse, neglect, self-mutilation, or any other intentional act on the pet owner’s part.
Breeding, pregnancy, and whelping: Pet insurance does not cover expenses related to breeding, pregnancy, or the whelps (i.e., newborn pups) if the mother dog dies during pregnancy or the whelping process. This would include transportation costs to and from the veterinary clinic, medications, and surgeries related to whelping.
Additional veterinary facility fees: If your veterinarian charges more than the fee agreed upon in your policy, pet insurance will not cover the difference.
Elective veterinary procedures: Any elective veterinary procedures will not be covered by the insurer in a basic plan. Examples of these procedures include dental care, routine surgeries such as spaying (for females), neutering (for males), and declawing. However, many policies do offer an add-on option if you would like to have coverage for elective care.
How much does pet insurance cost in Washington?
This list is an estimated cost of pet insurance in Washington:
Type of Pet
Cost
Domestic Shorthair cat, 3 years old
$20-$25 per month
Mixed breed dog, 1 year old
$30-$40 per month
Golden Retriever dog, 3 years old
$35-$45 per month
Labrador Retriever dog, 5 years old
$45-$55 per month
Depending on the type of pet insurance plan you choose to go with, you can expect the cost to be approximately within this range:
Species
Accident-only
Accident and illness
Wellness
Dog
$16/month
$49/month
$25/month
Cat
$11/month
$29/month
$20/month
The monthly premium in Washington can also vary based on the following factors:
Type of species: Dogs tend to be more expensive to cover than cats because they attract more claims.
Breed: In the above table, Labrador Retriever is the most expensive, probably because it’s more prone to developing certain illnesses.
Age: Older pets tend to be more expensive to maintain than younger pets.
Gender: Treatment for females usually costs less than for males because male pets are more likely to injure themselves.
Location: Generally, pet insurance costs more in urban areas of Washington than in the suburbs.
What are the veterinary costs in Washington?
In the state of Washington, you can expect veterinary costs to be within the following range for these treatments and services:
Veterinary service
Cost
Exam/vet consultation
$139-$209
Diagnostic bloodwork panel
$111-$278
Pet surgery
$2,293-$5,560
Ultrasound
$764-2,500
How to choose the best pet insurance in Washington
Consider your pet’s needs: You want to take your pet’s medical history into consideration when choosing a policy. Most insurance providers do not cover pre-existing conditions so confirm with the agency if this is the case for your pet. Also, consider what illnesses your pet is susceptible to in the future and if coverage will be provided.
Consider all costs: Compare a few policies and see what each has to offer and if it meets your needs. Some insurance agencies also allow you to customize your premiums to suit you via adjusting your reimbursement percentage, deductible, etc. There may also be promotional discounts so do your research before you make a final decision.
Customer reviews: The most useful method in making a decision is seeing what other customers have to say about an insurance agency you’re considering. Read reviews about customer experiences, the provider’s service, and how they handle the claims process.
