Choosing pet insurance for your pet can be daunting because there are so many options available. Also, the text in the policies can often be confusing, causing many people to give up their search. If you need help choosing an insurance company, keep reading. We list several of the most popular companies currently operating in Rhode Island, along with the pros and cons of each. There’s also a buyer’s guide to help you know what to look for so you can make an informed purchase.
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners for 2023
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Best Overall
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Progressive Pet Insurance |
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Best Value
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Lemonade Pet Insurance |
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Hartville Pet Insurance |
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AKC Pet Insurance |
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Embrace Pet Insurance |
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The 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Rhode Island
1. Progressive Pet Insurance — Best Overall
Progressive is our pick as the best overall pet insurance plan. It’s one of the more popular companies in the United States and is a good choice for people living in Rhode Island. It provides highly customizable plans and enables you to set a deductible between $50 and $1,000 to help fit any budget. You can use any veterinarian in the country, and there’s a 5% discount on plans that cover more than one pet. There’s no upper age limit for coverage, and it covers all injuries incurred from a motor vehicle for free.
You can choose to make payments monthly, quarterly, or annually, and reimbursements usually take only 2 to 5 days. You can set your reimbursement rate to 70%, 80%, or 90%, and you can choose to have a $5,000 annual limit or go with the unlimited plan.
The only downside to Progressive insurance plans is that it doesn’t cover exotic animals.
2. Lemonade Pet Insurance — Best Value
Lemonade Pet Insurance is our pick as the best pet insurance for the money. It has two levels of insurance and a wellness plan that helps cover the cost of routine visits and vaccinations. It offers a discount for insuring more than one pet and a discount for paying in full. One of the things that we like best about Lemonade pet insurance is that it donates a portion of its profits to non-profit organizations.
Lemonade enables you to choose a deductible between $100 and $500 with a coverage limit that ranges from $5,000 to $100,000. You can also choose a 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement rate.
The downside to Lemonade pet insurance is that it’s not available in all states, though it is available in Rhode Island. Also, your credit report can affect your rates, and the maximum age to obtain coverage varies by breed.
3. Hartville Pet Insurance
Hartville pet insurance is a popular choice among pet owners because it has a wide range of coverage limits to suit any budget. You can also take your pet to any veterinarian in the United States or Canada to receive care. There’s no maximum age to be eligible for coverage, and you get a discount for covering more than one pet.
Hartville enables you to select an annual deductible of $100, $200, or $500 with a coverage limit that can range from $5,000 per year to unlimited. You also select 70% 80%, or 90% reimbursement amounts.
The only downside is that it only covers dogs and cats, so people with birds, reptiles, rodents, or fish will need to look elsewhere.
4. AKC Pet Insurance
The AKC pet insurance is a high-quality plan provided to customers by the American Kennel Club. It has an unlimited coverage option, so your pet will never have to go without care. There’s also a multiple pet discount and a discount for dogs that have received the AKC Good Citizen Award, which evaluates dogs for behavioral traits like good interaction with other people and animals. It’s also one of the few policies that will cover pre-existing injuries.
You can choose a deductible from $100 to $1,000 for the Companion Care plan, while the accident-only program has a $100 fixed deductible. You can select a reimbursement rate of 70%, 80%, or 90% and set an annual limit of $2,500 to $20,000 or go with an unlimited plan.
The downside to AKC pet insurance is that it only offers limited coverage to pets beyond 9 years of age.
5. Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace pet insurance is a company from Ohio that has been creating comprehensive, personalized plans for dogs and cats for over 18 years. It offers a 10% discount on multiple pets and guarantees reimbursement for preventative and routine pet care. There’s no per-incident maximum, so you don’t have to worry about your pet not receiving the proper care. The company is online 24/7 to provide phone, live video, or chat support, so you always have help when you need it.
Embrace evaluates pre-existing conditions fairly, and if the situation clears up within 12 months, it’s likely to cover it. It also offers rewards points for proper care that you can use on grooming, training, or preventative maintenance. Your deductible gets lower every year that you don’t put in a claim, and Embrace even covers exam fees. Your deductible can range from $200 to $1,000, and you can choose 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement.
While Embrace is a fantastic pet insurance company, it’s not without minor problems. For example, a $25 enrollment fee is required to cover processing costs, and coverage only applies in the United States. Some older pets might also have more limited coverage. For example, there is no illness protection for 15-year-old pets.
6. Nationwide Pet Insurance
Nationwide is a common name when it comes to insurance providers. You can find it in all 50 states, including Rhode Island, and it has a comprehensive pet insurance plan that covers a wide variety of animals besides cats and dogs, including birds and reptiles. You can get a 5% discount on your insurance plan if you insure more than one pet. Nationwide helps cover your pet through congenital or hereditary conditions, and it also helps pay for diagnostic testing, prescription medication, and even behavioral exams. The insurance plans even cover certain dental issues.
You choose your Nationwide insurance plan by tier. The Whole Pet plan is more comprehensive, while the wellness plan is more budget friendly. Both have a $250 deductible, enabling you to select a 50% or 70% reimbursement. The Whole Pet health plan has a $10,000 limit, while the wellness plan is limited to only $400 or $500, depending on your coverage options.
The downside to Nationwide is that it will not cover older pets once they are beyond 8 years of age.
7. ASPCA Pet Insurance
ASPCA Pet Insurance is a great insurance provider for dogs and cats across the United States, including Rhode Island. This company has many great features, including online claim submission that you can do at your convenience in the comfort of your home. You can also receive your reimbursement via direct deposit, so you won’t need to make an extra trip to cash your check. You can take your pet to any veterinarian or clinic in the United States, and the coverage includes exam fees. There is also no upper age limit to obtaining coverage.
You can set an annual limit between $3,000 and $10,000. The deductible can range from $100 to $500, and you can set up the plan to receive a 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement.
The downside to ASPCA pet insurance is that it doesn’t have an app for online claim submissions, so you will need to use a desktop or laptop or struggle with a small smartphone screen. Their website also has more bad reviews than the other insurance companies on this list.
8. Geico Pet Insurance
The Geico pet insurance plan is a perfect choice if you’re on a tight budget, as you can customize the plan in various ways to get the coverage that you need without paying too much. It also offers a 10% discount when you insure more than one pet and an additional discount for having your pet spayed or neutered. High coverage limits help protect your pet from any problem.
You can set your annual limit as high as $30,000. You can also choose supplemental care packages for between $250 and $650 annually. Your deductible will depend on the options that you choose.
The downside to Geico pet insurance is that despite having a gecko as its mascot, it only covers cats and dogs. Geico also does not offer unlimited coverage or service the policies itself; instead, the insurance company Embrace services the policies through Geico.
9. Figo Pet Insurance
Figo pet insurance is a fantastic company with no maximum age on the pets that it covers. It also offers virtual appointments so you can have your pet looked over and get advice without visiting the office, and if there is a problem, you can make a claim using the smartphone app. You can also add additional coverage to help pay exam fees and cover prescription food costs.
Figo enables you to choose a deductible between $100 and $750. You also get to choose an annual limit between $5,000 and $10,000 or go unlimited, and you can select a reimbursement plan of 70%, 80%, 90%, or even 100% of your costs.
The downside to Figo is there’s no wellness plan to help with preventative costs and care. There also isn’t an accident-only plan, and exams cost extra unless you opt for additional coverage.
10. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws pet insurance is a provider with no coverage limits. The plans are customizable, so you can get the coverage that you need and visit any veterinarian when there’s a problem. It also processes claims quickly, and you can make a claim using the smartphone app or internet website.
Healthy Paws enables you to choose a deductible of $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000, and you can select a reimbursement rate anywhere from 50% to 90%. There is no limit to your coverage.
The downside to the Healthy Paws insurance plan is that it only covers cats and dogs. There’s also a 12-month waiting period for dogs under 6 years old, as the company waits to test for hip dysplasia. It won’t accept pets over 14 years old, and you must pay your exam fees. Finally, you need to pay a $25 enrollment fee to cover the processing of your application.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance Plan in Rhode Island
When reviewing these pet insurance companies, we rated them by their coverage, pricing, and customization options. We also looked at the type of pets covered and the maximum age to receive coverage. Customer service is also something that we checked for each of the insurance companies, as well as the ability to add on preventative care.
Policy Coverage
Most insurance companies cover treatment, surgery, and medication for ailments suffered while the pet has coverage. They can also cover hospital visits, other emergency treatment, MRI scans, and X-rays. However, some companies won’t cover preventative care or regular visits, but others will, so we recommend that you look closely at the policies of each company you’re considering. Many policies limit how old your pet can be to obtain coverage or reduce how much coverage is provided.
Customer Service & Reputation
A crucial metric is the reputation of the company. Many people tend to give out bad reviews more freely than good ones, and many people can even attempt to damage a business’s reputation by purposely posting bad reviews. However, a website with many negative reviews is a red flag that you shouldn’t ignore. Most of the businesses on this list have great reviews.
Claims Repayment
When choosing an insurance company for your pet, it’s important to consider claim repayment. Always check to see how long it will take for the company to reimburse you after you file a claim. Most companies on this list pay you extremely quickly, but some have long waiting periods.
Another factor to think about regarding claim repayment is your reimbursement rate. Most companies will enable you to choose a reimbursement rate based on a percentage of what you spend on a claim. Most people choose a 70% or 80% reimbursement rate, though you can select a number as low as 50% or as high as 100% with some companies. A high reimbursement rate will likely increase your insurance premium, while a low one will decrease it.
Price of Policy
Naturally, the price of your policy will be one of the primary factors leading you to a decision. The overall cost of your policy can vary significantly based on the coverage that the plan offers and the annual limit and deductible that you choose.
Lowering your annual limits will reduce costs but could put your pet at risk if they experience a major health issue. Raising your deductible — the amount that you need to pay out of pocket before the insurance kicks in — will also help lower your insurance premiums.
Plan Customization
The more customizable your insurance plan is, the more likely you will receive the coverage that you need at a rate that you can afford. Eliminating things that you don’t need can help reduce costs, and adding individual items can help you create a plan that otherwise would not be possible.
FAQ
Will My Pet Insurance Cover My Pet If I Leave the Country?
You will need to check with your provider to see if your pet will be covered when you leave the country. Most companies will not cover vet services outside of the United States, but a few will.
Can I Get Pet Insurance Outside the U.S.?
Most Western countries, including Canada and Europe, have domestic veterinarians who work with insurance companies in their home countries to provide healthcare to pets. If you are considering leaving the country for an extended period, we recommend researching what insurance companies are available in the area that you are visiting to keep your pet covered.
What If I Don’t See My Insurance Company in Your Reviews?
Numerous insurance companies are willing to cover pets across America, even in small states like Rhode Island. Many did not make this list, but that does not mean they are not high quality. If the coverage provided by your current insurance company is adequate for your needs and fits your budget, there’s no need to change to one of the companies on this list.
What the Users Say
We wanted to see what other people are saying about these insurance companies, so we searched the internet for reviews. You can look at a few of these reviews here, here, and here.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
The best insurance provider is the one that provides adequate coverage for your pet. Different companies will offer various services that may suit your situation better. Before you make a purchase, look over the coverage that the policy provides. Take the time to consider the policy limit and how many problems might exceed that limit. Also, consider your deductible. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium, but it will cause you to shell out more money out of pocket if there’s a problem.
Conclusion
While all the options on this list are fantastic, we highly recommend our best overall pick. Progressive Pet Insurance provides comprehensive coverage and is a company that many already know. You can customize the plan and receive a discount for insuring multiple pets. You are also free to visit any vet, and coverage has no age limit. Another great choice is our best value pick. Lemonade Pet Insurance has a wide range of customizable plans for any budget. Other great choices include AKC, Embrace, and Nationwide.
Featured Image Credit: Ivan Babydov, Pexels
