Pet insurance is an important item to consider if you have a pet. With veterinary care costs on the rise,1 it’s getting more and more difficult to pay for vet bills. Common diagnostic procedures can easily cost thousands of dollars and can leave many pet owners in unfortunate situations where they must make difficult decisions about paying for their pets’ medical treatments.
So, while pet insurance may sound like a luxury, it can actually help you save significantly on veterinary care costs. It can also give you peace of mind in knowing that you’ll receive reimbursements for unexpected vet bills.
You can find many pet insurance providers in the US, and it’s common for pet owners to feel overwhelmed when shopping for pet insurance. Our reviews of the best pet insurance companies in Colorado will help make the process easier for you.
A Quick Comparison of the Winners for 2024
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Best Overall
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Lemonade |
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Best Value
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Bivvy |
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Trupanion |
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Embrace |
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Pumpkin |
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The 15 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Colorado
1. Lemonade Pet Insurance – Best Overall
Lemonade Pet Insurance is one of the best places to start if you’re new to the world of pet insurance. It offers one accident and illness plan that covers all the essential veterinary care costs, such as diagnostic testing, surgeries, and treatments for chronic illnesses. It also has plans specifically designed to meet pets’ needs in different stages of their lives.
You can find some of the cheapest insurance premiums through Lemonade. Just keep in mind that you won’t find the most robust coverage with this company. For example, its insurance plans won’t cover alternative and holistic therapies and experimental treatments. However, Lemonade has excellent customer service and makes the pet insurance process very easy for beginners. So, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth and won’t have to worry about overpaying with premiums.
2. Bivvy Pet Insurance – Best Value
If you’re looking for simple and affordable pet insurance, Bivvy is a great option to consider. Bivvy offers pet insurance plans at a flat rate of $14 a month, regardless of your pet’s age and breed. It also has one of the fastest application processes, so if you’re looking for a quick way to get your pet insured, you can submit an application online in less than 5 minutes and expect immediate approval.
While Bivvy is cheap and convenient, its coverage is definitely more limited than other pet insurance companies. You can submit claims for common veterinary costs, but it doesn’t cover alternative therapies and dental care.
In exchange for affordable rates, you’ll also find that Bivvy has low annual limits and lifetime coverage amounts. Bivvy will cover up to $3,500 every year and a maximum of $25,000 in your pet’s lifetime. So, it’s a great option for young and healthy pets, but you’ll probably find more benefits with other pet insurance companies if you have an older pet with more veterinary care needs.
3. Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion offers some of the most comprehensive pet insurance plans on the market. So, it’s a considerable option for older pets that may require more veterinary care. If you’re willing to pay higher premiums, you can insure your pet with some of the most robust plans that cover basic services, along with extra services that aren’t typically covered by other pet insurance companies, like veterinary supplements, herbal therapy, and prosthetic devices.
You can also add riders to help pay for non-clinical procedures, including acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, and homeopathy therapy. Trupanion also offers plans with unlimited annual benefits, and you can opt to remove lifetime payout limits as well.
4. Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance is a large pet insurance provider and is also often used as a third-party provider for other insurance companies. It’s known for its top-notch customer service and fast response rates. So, you can easily keep track of your claims once you submit them. All customers also have access to a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
Embrace offers accident-only and accident and illness plans, and they have plans specifically catered to different life stages. Its accident and illness plan also includes some dental care coverage. However, you won’t find a standalone wellness plan with Embrace.
You can find several ways to adjust the pet insurance plans to fit your budget. Embrace has one of the widest selections of deductible amounts – 10 – to choose from.
5. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pumpkin is another premium pet insurance company that provides options to create some of the most comprehensive pet insurance plans. If you’re willing and able to pay extra, you’ll experience excellent coverage and service from Pumpkin.
Pumpkin doesn’t place any age restrictions on its plans, and additional services covered in these plans are alternative therapies, prescription foods, and dental care. Pumpkin can also help pay for costs related to behavioral issues.
All of Pumpkin’s plans have a 90% reimbursement rate, and you can choose from several deductible amounts to adjust your premium prices. Pumpkin also offers relatively high annual limits with $7,000 and $15,000 for cats and $10,000 to $20,000 for dogs.
6. AKC Pet Insurance
AKC Pet Insurance offers one of the best insurance plans for purebred and show dogs. Its accident and illness plan will cover treatments for hereditary conditions, and your dog may also receive coverage for curable pre-existing conditions if they remain symptom-free for 12 months.
AKC also offers several different riders that can help cover costs related to breeding and pregnancy, routine care, and end-of-life services. Just keep in mind that you’ll want to act fast with AKC, as pets older than 8 years old aren’t eligible to enroll in its plans.
While AKC has excellent plans, it’s a pet insurance company that exclusively provides insurance for dogs. So, it’s not the best option for homes with different kinds of pets.
7. Progressive Pet Insurance
Progressive offers accident-only plans and accident and illness plans. You can also purchase a standalone wellness plan if you just want coverage for routine care costs. The accident-only and wellness plans have flat rates regardless of your pet’s age and breed.
The accident and illness plans can be fairly cheap, but premiums increase significantly if you want an unlimited plan. One way to reduce your premium is to choose either a quarterly or annual payment method, rather than monthly payments.
Progressive’s accident and illness plans cover essential services and treatments, but it doesn’t include holistic therapies, prescription foods, and supplements.
8. Figo Pet Insurance
Figo Pet Insurance is another company that has extensive accident and illness plans. Your pet insurance plan can cover alternative and holistic treatments and prescription foods. You can also add a preventative care rider to help pay for routine care costs.
Your pet can also receive coverage for curable pre-existing conditions if it’s been symptom-free for 12 months since its last treatment. Figo is also a great option for older pets because it doesn’t have any age restrictions, and you can choose unlimited annual benefits.
Overall, Figo excels in providing coverage for a wide range of services. However, if you don’t see yourself utilizing most of these services, you’ll probably find more affordable options elsewhere that are suitable for younger pets.
9. ASPCA Pet Insurance
ASPCA Pet Insurance offers accident-only and accident and illness plans. The accident and illness plans are very customizable, and you can choose from a selection of reimbursement rates, deductibles, and annual limits. These plans also include coverage for alternative therapies, prescription foods, poison consultations, and behavioral issues. However, they don’t include breeding care costs, and you’ll have to purchase an add-on if you’d like coverage for routine care costs.
Another great thing about ASPCA is that it doesn’t have any age restrictions and doesn’t automatically transfer pets to an accident-only plan once they reach a certain age. You can also receive a 10% multi-pet discount. Along with providing insurance for cats and dogs, ASPCA also has insurance plans for horses.
10. Pets Best Pet Insurance
Pets Best is another considerable option if you anticipate your pet needing more veterinary care as it ages. It offers accident and illness plans, and you can customize them to make them more affordable. The deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement rates can all be adjusted to help lower costs, but you can still expect higher premiums than some of its competitors.
If you’re willing to pay higher premiums, you can choose unlimited annual benefits and lifetime payouts. If you have a relatively young and healthy pet, you can choose Trupanion’s wellness plans that help pay for routine care costs.
Pets Best also has a strong and reliable customer service department and a fast and easy claims processing system. All customers also have access to its 24/7 emergency pet telehealth line.
11. Nationwide Pet Insurance
Many pet owners of birds and small animals will choose Nationwide because it’s one of the few companies that offer pet insurance beyond just cats and dogs. It also provides a 5% multi-pet discount, so it’s a considerable option for pet owners with more than one type of pet in their homes.
Nationwide has wellness plans, accident-only plans, and accident and illness plans. You’ll also find several different tiers of coverage within each type of plan. So, you can easily find a plan that best fits your pet’s needs within the same company.
Because Nationwide has a wide selection of plans, you can’t make too many customizations to a plan. Nationwide will also provide a predetermined list of deductible and reimbursement rate options based on your application.
12. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws is another considerable company if customer service is a top priority for you. Along with having a responsive customer service line, Healthy Paws has an excellent app with an intuitive interface that makes submitting claims a quick and easy process.
Healthy Paws is also a good option for younger pets because prices do start to increase significantly as pets age. Older pets also start to experience restrictions on reimbursement rates and annual limits.
For the most part, Healthy Paws has relatively customizable plans, and you can choose your deductible amount, reimbursement rate, and annual limit. Its accident and illness plan can help pay for congenital conditions, cancer treatments, and specialty hospital visits.
13. Geico Pet Insurance
Geico offers relatively affordable accident and illness plans along with other savings opportunities. You can choose an annual premium payment plan, which is cheaper than monthly premiums, and Geico has multi-pet discounts for even more savings. You’ll also have access to its 24/7 pet telehealth line, which can help you save on costs by avoiding extra vet clinic visits.
Geico offers a wide selection of annual limits that range between $5,000 to $30,000, but your options are predetermined for you. So, Geico will give you your options after it reviews your application.
Geico doesn’t offer a standalone routine care plan, but you can choose to add routine care to your accident and illness plan. The accident and illness plan also includes coverage for dental care, except for preventative dental cleanings.
14. USAA Pet Insurance
USAA offers pet insurance for military veterans, active servicemen, and military families. It works with Embrace Pet Insurance, so you’ll have access to the same excellent customer service. When you enroll with USAA, you’ll receive a 15% discount on your pet insurance plans. You can also save on multi-pet discounts, which can leave you eligible for a total of 25% in discounts.
USAA offers accident-only and accident and illness plans. Accident-only plans have $100 deductibles and a $5,000 annual limit. Keep in mind that senior pets will automatically switch to an accident-only plan when they turn 14 years old if they’ve been on an accident and illness plan.
USAA also subtracts from your deductible for every year you don’t submit a claim. So, pet owners with younger pets are typically the ones that experience the most savings with USAA.
15. Hartville Pet Insurance
Hartville offers relatively affordable pet insurance for younger and healthy pets. So, it’s worth looking into this company if you’re interested in getting a cheaper accident and illness plan for low-risk pets. However, you’ll experience a significant price hike once your pet reaches 5 years old, so it may not be the most cost-efficient option for senior pets.
While you’ll probably encounter expensive accident and illness plans as your pet ages, Hartville offers accident-only plans at a flat monthly rate. Hartville provides an additional opportunity to save on costs by offering an annual payment plan, which ends up being cheaper than paying monthly premiums.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Pet Insurance Provider in Colorado
What to Look for in Pet Insurance in Colorado
Each pet insurance company has variations in its policy coverage and claims processing. However, they also share some similarities in how they operate. Here are some key features to focus on when shopping for pet insurance.
Policy Coverage
Wellness care plans help pay for routine care, such as vaccines, flea and tick medication, and fecal exams. Accident-only plans cover procedures and treatments related to unforeseen accidents and injuries.
Accident and illness plans are the most commonly available plans and are also the most comprehensive. They help pay for emergency care and essential veterinary care costs, like diagnostic testing, surgeries, and hospital stays. They also help pay for medications and treatments for chronic illnesses. Some companies will have more expansive coverage than others and may include reimbursements for congenital illnesses, dental care, and alternative therapies.
Customer Service & Reputation
Most insurance companies operate on a reimbursement system. So, it’s important to work with a company that has a quick claims process and responsive customer service. It’s also helpful to look for companies that have a good online account or app available so that you can submit claims easily and get them processed quickly.
Some companies also provide complimentary 24/7 pet telehealth lines. These lines provide direct communication to veterinarians and prevent any unnecessary trips to your veterinarian’s clinic.
Claim Repayment
Most pet insurance companies will require you to pay your veterinarian bill and then submit a claim for reimbursement. Various companies have different waiting periods for sending reimbursements. Some can process them within 2 days, while others can take a couple of weeks. So, if quick reimbursements are a priority for you, make sure to get clear answers on a company’s claims processing time and if the company has an easy claim submission system.
Some pet insurance companies offer direct deposits to veterinarians so that you could skip the claim submission process altogether. However, veterinarians must enable deposits from your pet insurance company. So, you’ll have to make sure that your veterinarian accepts direct deposits from a specific company or be willing to switch to a new veterinarian that’s already in the company’s system.
Price of Policy
Policy prices depend on several different factors. First, geographical location can change rates. Larger cities, like Denver and Colorado Springs, typically have higher rates because of a higher cost of living.
Your pet’s age and breed will also affect your premium rates. In general, older pets have higher insurance fees than kittens and puppies because they’re more susceptible to needing veterinary care. Breeds known for having higher risks of certain illnesses also tend to have more expensive premiums. For example, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bulldogs, and Manx and Munchkin cats can have higher premiums than mixed-breed pets of the same age.
Lastly, your plan customizations can change policy prices. More customization, lower deductibles, and unlimited annual benefits and lifetime payouts may mean higher premiums. You can get cheaper premiums by raising your deductible and lowering your reimbursement rate.
Plan Customization
A popular way pet insurance companies let consumers make customizations is to offer add-ons or riders. You can stack riders onto your base plan to extend your coverage. A common rider that pet insurance companies offer is a wellness rider, which helps pay for routine care costs.
Companies can also allow customers to choose their reimbursement rates, deductible amounts, and annual limits. Reimbursement rates are the percentage that the company will pay once you meet your deductible, and they can range from 50%-100% reimbursements.
A pet insurance plan will have an annual limit, which is the maximum amount a company will pay in a year. It also has a lifetime limit, which is the maximum amount a company will pay for one pet. So, if a policy has an annual limit of $5,000 and a lifetime limit of $30,000, the company will pay up to $5,000 a year until it has paid out a total of $30,000 in your pet’s lifetime.
FAQ
What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance in Colorado?
The average cost of pet insurance in Colorado is about $58 a month. However, this price will either increase or decrease depending on your location and your pet’s age and breed. Some pet insurance companies will also offer plan customizations, which can affect your premium amount.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Has the Best Consumer Reviews?
Lemonade has consistently positive reviews. It does have a mediocre rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but most consumer complaints refer to experiences with its home and renters insurance.
ASPCA, Pets Best, and Figo also have considerably positive customer reviews.
What is the Most Affordable Pet Insurance?
Lemonade and Bivvy tend to have the most affordable pet insurance premiums. You can also experience significant savings with USAA if you’re eligible, and you can also find some cheap accident-only plans with flat rates from Progressive and Hartville.
What the Users Say
Customers are generally impressed with Lemonade’s quick and easy claims submission process and responsive customer service. Most are satisfied with their plan coverage. However, pet owners with older pets may find its plans to be too limited as their pets have growing veterinary care needs, and they may need to move to another provider with more comprehensive coverage.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
Many pet owners will be satisfied with Lemonade Pet Insurance because of how easy and simple it makes pet insurance. Lemonade makes pet insurance a straightforward process, and you can end up with many savings by choosing them as your provider. Another affordable option to consider is Bivvy.
If you’re looking for more extensive coverage and are willing to pay a bit more on your premiums, Trupanion and Pumpkin are suitable options to explore. Embrace is another considerable option if you prioritize customer service and reliability.
Conclusion
Colorado is a beautiful state where you and your pet can share plenty of adventures together. As your pet engages in outdoor activities, you can have peace of mind in knowing that any potential accidents are covered by pet insurance.
It’s best to select a plan sooner rather than later, as pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by pet insurance. You can always consult with your veterinarian to determine potential medical costs for your pet. Then, you’ll have a better understanding of the type of coverage your pet needs and purchase the most appropriate plan.
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