We adore our pets just like they’re our children, so when they get ill or have an accident, it’s a nightmare—especially if something occurs and we’re unable to pay for the proper care our furry friends need. Luckily, we can now offset the costs of going to the vet via pet insurance. Pet insurance is just like human insurance—you pay a monthly premium, have a deductible, and can typically customize certain aspects of your plan to cover what you most want.
If you live in Alabama, you’ll be happy to know there are several pet insurance companies you can choose from. But which ones are the best? Below you’ll find the best pet insurance plans in Alabama—a list that will give you an excellent starting point for finding the right pet insurance provider for your cat or dog. Keep reading to learn about each!
A Quick Comparison of the Winners for 2024
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Best Overall
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Embrace Pet Insurance |
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Best Value
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Bivvy Pet Insurance |
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Lemonade Pet Insurance |
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Figo Pet Insurance |
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Fetch by Dodo |
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The 14 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Alabama
1. Embrace Pet Insurance – Best Overall
Not only did Embrace come out on top of the Forbes list of America’s Best Insurance Companies of 2022, but they came out on top for the state of Alabama. The biggest reason Embrace is such a winner is because of their five flexible deductibles that make picking a plan for your budget a breeze. Plus, for each year you don’t have to file claims, your deductible decreases by $50.
The Embrace plan covers a ton of preventable and chronic illnesses, as well as cancer, dental work, and orthopedic and genetic conditions. And though pet insurance companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions, Embrace does cover some curable ones (after your pet has been symptom-free for a year). If you find you want more coverage than the basic plan offers, you can also add on the Wellness Rewards for preventative care.
Premiums are extremely reasonable, which is a plus. But you can only enroll your pets in Embrace up to the age of 15; after that, you’re only allowed an accident-only plan. And according to some customers, you might also have to wait a while to claim reimbursements, as the company is sometimes slow on that.
2. Bivvy Pet Insurance – Best Value
The cost of living seems to be ever-increasing, so having an extremely affordable pet insurance option is a must. If you’re looking for that option, Bivvy is your insurance company, as they offer the best value plan in the state. Plus, it’s simple to sign-up, as the company only has one plan and one price for any and all pets—no matter the breed or age.
The downside is that you get precisely what you pay for. Bivvy may cover illnesses, chronic conditions, accidents, and more, but they are far less flexible in customizations than most companies. There’s only a single 50% reimbursement rate, a low annual limit, and a deductible per each claim. But if you’re looking for a bit more cost coverage than this plan, you can choose the wellness care add-on for a few dollars more to cover some preventative care like wellness exams.
3. Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade provides a base plan that covers items such as emergency procedures, medication, diagnostic service, and surgery, as well as two other plans that build off that base plan. The other plans include coverage for certain preventative care, such as a heartworm test and up to 3 vaccines. You also get three options for reimbursement rates and deductibles, plus five options available for annual limits.
If you want more vet costs to be covered, though, you can pick from five add-ons that offer coverage on items ranging from vet fees to physical therapy to dental illness. However, even though the base plan is a reasonable amount on its own, the more coverage you choose, the more your monthly premium goes up. So, if you aren’t careful with the type of coverage you purchase, your cost each month can go up by $60 or more.
Overall, this company covers quite a bit for your pet, but it can get pricey for that coverage.
4. Figo Pet Insurance
The good thing about Figo Pet Insurance is that there’s a 100% reimbursement rate option, and the only age limit requirement is that your pet is 8 weeks old and up. Plus, Figo’s accident and illness plan covers a lot, and there are no claim payment caps on the policy. And there’s plenty of customizing you can do in the form of add-ons for preventative care, boarding fees, exam fees, and more! The not-so-good thing about Figo is that it can get quite pricey, particularly for our canine friends.
As for the company itself, they seem quite easy to work with, as you can reach out to customer service via email, phone, or text. And with the company’s app, you can accomplish a range of tasks, such as receiving needed documents and managing appointments with your vet. Best of all, Figo’s claim reimbursement seems to have a 3-day turnaround time, which is excellent!
5. Fetch by Dodo
Fetch by Dodo is an excellent option for pet insurance as they have very affordable premiums that cover quite a bit. Their base plan covers the usual illness and accident-associated costs, along with more unique items like every tooth in your pet’s head, alternative therapies, and more. However, they don’t cover items such as preventative care, and they don’t have an add-on for that. So, if that’s important to you, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
The company also has fewer customizations than other companies (only three options for annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates), but those options should be enough to configure a plan for your budget.
One area where Fetch really seems to shine is in customer service, as there are several excellent reviews from consumers about the great (and timely) help they received when needed.
6. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pumpkin is a company that’s quite excellent all around, as they provide tons of coverage (not just for accidents and illness, but also prescription food, diagnostics, microchipping, and more). Plus, they have a 90% reimbursement rate across the board (though you can choose from three levels of annual limits and deductibles), which is pretty impressive. That high reimbursement rate does mean monthly premiums are a touch higher than companies such as Bivvy or Lemonade, but they also aren’t insanely high either.
And you can choose a wellness add-on for minimal preventative care coverage, like in most places. There’s also a nice 10% discount on any plans purchased for multi-pet homes!
The biggest downside to Pumpkin is likely the fact that some specific dog breeds will automatically have more costly premiums due to their breed.
7. Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion only has one single plan, but it has such a broad range of deductibles to choose from that it’s easy to choose one that fits well into your budget. And because the deductible is what’s known as lifetime per condition, then once you meet that deductible for a specific condition, you won’t have to pay out any more for it for the entirety of your pet’s life! Though there are no add-ons for preventative care, such as vaccines or exam fees, you do have two add-on options. The first covers complementary and holistic care; the other covers items such as unexpected boarding fees.
One of the great things about Trupanion is that rather than reimbursing you directly, they make life easier by directly paying your vet (so long as your vet has the software to do this, at least).
8. Hartville Pet Insurance
Hartville Pet Insurance can go either way cost-wise; depending on your customizations, you’ll either have a reasonably affordable premium or an extremely pricy one (there’s not a lot of middle ground here). But there’s plenty of customization in the form of three reimbursement rates and deductible tiers, as well as five choices for your annual limit, so finding a plan that works for your pet and budget shouldn’t be difficult.
Hartville’s accident and illness plan covers costs associated with those, along with items such as behavioral problems or genetic conditions. Surprisingly, though, their plan for only accidents is pretty great too. It doesn’t just cover injuries like broken bones but also alternative therapies and exam fees! Plus, there’s a preventative care add-on option.
The biggest downside to Hartville is that, unfortunately, the older your pet gets, the more you pay in premiums.
9. Geico Pet Insurance
Geico is partnered with Embrace Pet Insurance, so getting coverage via Geico gets you the same coverage as going straight through Embrace. This means flexible customizations and the Wellness Rewards add-on that covers preventative care costs. It also means plans are reasonably affordable.
However, this does mean that you get the same negatives of Embrace. So, pets can only be enrolled in a comprehensive coverage plan until their 15th birthday—any older, and you can only get coverage for accidents. Plus, claims may take a bit of time to be processed and reimbursed.
10. AKC Pet Insurance
It makes sense that the American Kennel Club (AKC) has made its way into the world of pet insurance, considering how well-known they are in the world of canines. Luckily, the company doesn’t just offer coverage for dogs, though, so cat parents can rest assured.
One of the things AKC insurance is known for is its customization—they offer more than almost anyone out there. This can be a great thing because it makes it easier to find a plan that works for you. Still, it’s also a negative because there are so many add-ons and customizations that things can get confusing, and you might accidentally end up with something you don’t want. Plus, all those add-ons mean that costs can easily pile up (and if you’re looking for preventative care coverage or coverage for genetic conditions, you’ll need those add-ons).
However, AKC offers a basic plan with a simple illness and accident policy with deductibles, etc., already pre-set if you’re looking for something easy.
11. ASPCA Pet Insurance
The ASPCA is another well-known name in the pet industry. Their coverage includes an incredibly wide range of price points, so finding a policy for your budget is easy. Be careful, though, because that range’s high end is costly!
Like most pet insurance companies, the ASPCA has a comprehensive plan for illness and accident, one for only accidents, and a couple of preventative care additions. Unlike most companies, though, the ASPCA doesn’t just cover typical care, such as surgery; they also have coverage for items like stem-cell therapy and holistic therapies.
The biggest complaint about this company seems to be that many people had claims denied because the company deemed them “pre-existing” (though they weren’t). Customer service also seems a bit iffy, as some reported getting quick replies while others received no responses to inquiries.
12. Progressive Pet Insurance
You’re likely familiar with Progressive Insurance, but did you know they offer insurance for pets, too? With six deductibles to pick from, it’s easy to find a plan that costs from very little to a mid-range price. And with three plans to choose from—illness and accident, illness, accident, and fees for exams, or all of the above, plus rehab—finding what your pet needs is a breeze. There are also two add-ons for routine care that don’t add much to the total cost.
Other perks of Progressive include no age limit caps for animals and the option to pay your premiums annually, quarterly, or monthly. The negative of Progressive is that there have been several reports of claims being denied as “pre-existing” even when they weren’t.
13. USAA Pet Insurance
If you’re a member of the military (current or former) or a spouse of a military member, you’re likely familiar with USAA; you may not have been aware that they are partnered up with Embrace to offer pet insurance, though. By purchasing pet insurance via USAA, you’ll get the same excellent Embrace coverage with plenty of affordability and customizations, along with the option to add on their Wellness Rewards plan.
The downsides are that non-military people will have to go elsewhere for insurance, and pets can only get comprehensive coverage up to the age of 15. There have also been reports of claims taking a while to process, so be wary of that.
14. Nationwide Pet Insurance
Nationwide may be best known for its catchy “Nationwide is on your side” jingle and for offering car and home insurance, but they also provide insurance for pets. The best thing about Nationwide pet insurance is that it covers not only dogs and cats but also birds and exotic pets (a rarity in pet insurance)! The not-so-great thing about them is they don’t offer much customization (only two options for reimbursements on one plan), and there aren’t add-ons or preventative care.
You’ll also find an upper age limit cap of 10 (only for cats and dogs, though) and a waiting period for ACL injuries that’s double what most companies have (12 months versus 6 months).
If you want insurance for your cat or dog, you will do better to look elsewhere, but for those with more exotic pets, this is the company for you.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider in Alabama
What to Look for in Pet Insurance in Alabama
The most vital thing to look for in pet insurance from Alabama is that it covers everything your pet requires while still having a monthly premium that fits your budget. Other vital aspects to consider are how simple it is to reach the company in case you need help, how fast claim reimbursement turnaround is, and whether claims seem to be denied often.
Policy Coverage
Policy coverage is, again, the key thing to look at when purchasing pet insurance. Most companies will offer base plans that cover either accident and illness or just accidents with the option to add preventative care coverage for a few more dollars each month. If you’re concerned your pet could become significantly ill in the near future or want them covered in the case of any event, you’ll want the accident and illness. But if your pet is still a puppy or kitten, accident-only coverage will likely have you covered well enough.
Customer Service & Reputation
Customer service is essential, especially when it comes to insurance. You need to be able to easily get in touch with your company’s customer service if a problem arises, and it’s better if you can do that in various ways (text, email, phone, etc.). So, take a look at the website of the company you’re considering to see how simple it is to contact customer service.
And look at reviews of the company from other pet parents at sites like the Better Business Bureau or TrustPilot. These reviews will be one of the best ways to find whether a company actually covers what it says it does or if they reimburse claims as fast as they say they do.
Claim Repayment
How quickly claims are paid is important because if it takes months to get reimbursed, you’re in for a difficult time. A company’s FAQ will answer how fast the process is (but check reviews from other pet parents, too, to ensure the answer is indeed accurate).
You’ll also want to look into how claims are paid out and what the process is for submitting claims to the company.
Price of Policy
You need to have pet insurance you can afford. The price of insurance will range from company to company (and dogs will always be more expensive than cast), but thankfully, there are so many insurance companies to pick from you should be able to find something in your price range. Plus, plan customizations will help you tweak the cost of your monthly premium. Many companies also offer a discount for multi-pet households, so if you have more than one pet, look into that!
Plan Customization
The more customization options an insurance plan offers, the better off you’ll be. Being able to choose the best reimbursement rate, deductible, and annual limits means you’ll be more likely to find a plan you can afford. And if you want coverage for preventative care or other items not covered by base plans, you’ll want to check what kind of add-ons a company offers.
FAQ
How are pre-existing conditions determined?
An insurance company will look at your pet’s health history to determine a pre-existing condition. This means you or your veterinarian will be required to send the company your pet’s past medical records going back however far the company requests.
What if my insurance company isn’t listed in your reviews?
Unfortunately, we can’t cover every pet insurance company available in Alabama, so if you don’t see one you’re interested in here, you should take a look at the Better Business Bureau or Alabama Department of Insurance websites to locate more.
Does my indoor pet require insurance?
Pet insurance may seem like it would be best for those pets that spend part of their time outdoors, as these animals are more likely to get injured or catch an illness from another animal. But even if your pet is one that rarely leaves home, it’s wise to have pet insurance for it, as being strictly indoors doesn’t guarantee no accidents or illnesses will ever occur.
What the Users Say
The majority of pet insurance companies on this list have four stars or more on TrustPilot and, for the most part, are well-liked by pet parents that use them. The companies are just well-liked for different aspects. For example, consumers enjoy Embrace because it offers plenty of customizations, while Bivvy is liked better for its low cost.
That doesn’t mean there are no negative reviews out there of these 15 companies, but when it comes down to it, pet owners are pleased with the job these companies do.
Which Alabama Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
The best Alabama pet insurance provider for you will be determined by what type of pet you have, their age, the sort of coverage you want, and what you can afford. If you’re looking for something that’s excellent cost-wise, we’d recommend going with Bivvy. But if you want the best in coverage, Embrace will serve you better. Or if you have an older animal, you’ll want to find a company with a lower upper age limit cap (or none at all), like Progressive.
Conclusion
Pet insurance can be a real life-saver (literally and figuratively), as it guarantees you can afford care for your pet in case of an accident or illness. And if you want the best pet insurance for your pet in the state of Alabama, then Embrace is the way to go. But if you want something with more affordability or customization, there are plenty of other pet insurance companies from which to choose. Just remember to check policy coverage carefully and read up on how you should submit claims and how quickly they are processed!
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Featured Image Credit: Robert Kneschke, Shutterstock
