Pets can get into accidents or develop illnesses wherever you are in the U.S.A. Connecticut is no stranger to allergies or wild animals like coyotes. Since it’s on the coast, the state also experiences extreme weather conditions, from cold winters to humid summers, both of which can be a threat to your pet.
A pet insurance plan from a reputable company won’t prevent your pet from developing illnesses or having an accident, but it will help you afford the cost of emergency treatments. Whether you’re a lifelong resident of the Constitution State or moved there recently for work or a change of pace, here are 10 pet insurance reviews in the area.
A Quick Comparison of the Winners for 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Spot |
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Best Value | Embrace |
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Wagmo |
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Lemonade |
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Pumpkin |
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The 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Connecticut
1. Spot — Best Overall
Compared to many other pet insurance plans, Spot has the most customization options available. Along with an unlimited annual coverage option, it offers a low $100 deductible for pet owners who don’t mind spending more for coverage.
The other annual limits range from $2,500 to $10,000, and the deductible options also include $250, $500, $750, and $1,000. You can choose between 70% and 90% reimbursement rates. The claims are handled through Spot’s website for an eco-friendly, paperless service.
Spot supports pet owners’ budgets by offering accident-only plans and a 10% discount for multiple pets. It also doesn’t have an upper age limit for coverage or enrollment, and there’s an optional wellness plan to make sure all pets are covered when they need to be.
While Spot excels over other pet insurance providers in most areas, it does have one of the longest waiting periods for accident coverage at 14 days compared to the 2–3 days of some other policies.
2. Embrace — Best Value
With a 24/7 helpline and the ability to file paperless claims through an app, Embrace pet insurance is one of the easiest agencies to contact. It provides a wide range of customization options, with five annual coverage limits ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 and five deductible choices between $200 and $1,000. Embrace reimburses you for 70%, 80%, or 90% of the vet bill after you meet your deductible.
Provided that your pet doesn’t show symptoms of or receive treatment for a curable pre-existing condition in the 12 months before the claim, Embrace will consider the condition a new illness and cover it. Embrace also covers the fees for the necessary examinations required to diagnose and treat your pet’s condition.
Although the waiting period for accidents is only 2 days, orthopedic conditions require 6 months before they’re covered by the policy.
3. Wagmo
Wagmo approaches pet insurance plans and wellness coverage a little differently than other insurance companies. While most pet insurance agencies focus on only covering unexpected accidents and illnesses, Wagmo was originally developed to offer wellness coverage only. Due to this unique start, its wellness plans are available without the need to buy an insurance plan. Basically, your pet will be covered for routine checkups even if you don’t purchase the insurance plan.
There aren’t many options for customization, since Wagmo only offers one insurance plan with annual coverage of $10,000. However, you do get the choice between 90% and 100% reimbursement rates and three deductible choices: $250, $500, and $1000. It also helps you save money through discounts, with 10% off for multiple pets and 15% off when you renew after a year of no claims.
Unlike many other insurance plans, Wagmo ties you into a 12-month contract. It also has some of the longest waiting periods, with 15 days for accidents and 30 days for cancer treatments.
4. Lemonade
Besides pet insurance, Lemonade also offers car, renters, homeowners, and life insurance and gives you a 10% discount if you bundle plans together.
Along with the quick 2-day waiting period for accidents, Lemonade offers optional wellness coverage and the ability to fully customize your plan. It offers annual coverage of $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, and $100,000. The deductible choices range from $100 and $250 to $500, and it has three reimbursement rates: 70%, 80%, and 90%.
Although the company doesn’t have a 24/7 helpline, your policy can be managed through the app, including any claims that you need to file. It’s also one of the more affordable plans on this list due to the simplicity of the online and mobile interface.
While Lemonade does cover the examination fees for accidents and illnesses, it only does so if you purchase an add-on. None of the plans cover pets that are older than 14.
5. Pumpkin
While some pet insurance providers raise the deductible based on your pet’s age, the team at Pumpkin believes that all pets should be treated equally. The company offers a 90% deductible for all pets, regardless of their age. The 14-day waiting period is longer than many of Pumpkin’s competitors, but it’s also the same time frame for all covered eventualities, including accidents, illnesses, hip dysplasia, and cancer.
Although Pumpkin does offer coverage for preventive care for an extra cost, it doesn’t have accident-only plans to suit tighter budgets. The limited customization options can make the premium for the plan too high for some pet owners. However, there is a 10% discount if you add more than one pet to your policy.
Pets are covered throughout the U.S.A. and Canada, but there is no 24/7 helpline. This can make it a challenge to get in contact with the company if there’s an emergency outside of business hours.
6. Figo
It’s difficult to find pet insurance plans that reimburse you for the entire cost of your vet bill, but Figo offers a 100% reimbursement option for pet owners. The provider is dedicated to supporting pets, with a 1-day waiting period for accidents and a 24/7 helpline. It also helps pet owners organize doggy play dates, make friends, and find pet-friendly places to visit with the Figo Pet Cloud.
Figo offers three coverage plans, with annual maximum coverage of $5,000, $10,000, and unlimited. The reimbursement rates range from 70% to 100% for all three plans, and the deductible options give you the choice from $100 to $750. However, the choices available change depending on the age of your pet.
Although policyholders can benefit from the quick 1-day accident waiting period, knee injuries have a 6-month waiting time before they’re covered by the plan. There is also no coverage for dental treatments.
7. Pets Best
As one of the oldest pet insurance providers in the U.S.A., Pets Best is backed by experience and the desire to help pet owners keep their pets healthy. With no upper age limit, all cats and dogs are covered by the plan, and an optional wellness package can be purchased for an extra cost.
Pets Best doesn’t have many annual coverage options, with only $5,000 or unlimited plans available. However, it does have a 70% to 90% reimbursement rate and plenty of deductible choices to choose from — $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000 — to lower the premium. There are also military and multi-pet discounts, and all claims are submitted electronically.
While many pet insurance providers cover alternative therapy, Pets Best does not, and it has a 6 month waiting period for cruciate ligaments.
8. ASPCA Pet Insurance
ASPCA is One of the most recognizable names when it comes to pet care. Along with sharing advice on how to keep pets safe, it also offers pet insurance for pets across the U.S.A. and Canada. With both complete coverage and accident-only plans available, this provider can suit a variety of budgets to support pets of all ages. An optional wellness package can be added to both plans, and the policy covers exam fees.
The ASPCA doesn’t underwrite its pet insurance policies, but the plans are managed by the C&F Insurance Agency and benefit from the experience and knowledge held by that company.
Compared to most other insurance companies, the ASPCA does have lower annual coverage limits, with the highest being only $10,000. It does offer plenty of coverage options, though, with choices between $3,000 and $7,000. The deductible choices are more limited, ranging from $100 to $500. You can be reimbursed 70% to 90% of the vet bill that you pay. There is a 10% discount if you have more than one pet.
Along with the 14-day waiting period for accidents, ASPCA pet insurance often takes up to 30 days to process claims.
9. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws supports pet owners with its pet insurance plans and homeless pets through the Healthy Paws Foundation. Through the “Every Quote Gives Hope™” and “Refer-a-Friend” grant programs, Healthy Paws donates regularly to shelters and rescues to help homeless pets get the medical care that they need and find forever homes.
The insurance plans aren’t as customizable as some other policies, and the coverage differs depending on the age of your pet. Older animals have much lower reimbursement rates — 50% to 90% — and higher deductibles — $100 to $1,000 — but can still benefit from the unlimited annual coverage that the plan provides.
Claims are processed within 2–3 days and can be submitted through the website or by using the mobile app. Healthy Paws also has a 24/7 helpline to make the claim process easy. Unfortunately, there is no coverage for preventive care or exam fees.
If you have a breed susceptible to hip dysplasia, Healthy Paws might not be the best option. It has a 12-month waiting period for conditions related to hip dysplasia and doesn’t offer coverage for the condition in pets over 6 years old.
10. AKC Pet Insurance
Compared to many other pet insurance providers, AKC pet insurance is limited in coverage, but it has plenty of options for you to customize your plan. The deductibles range from $100 to $1,000, with 70% to 90% reimbursement rates and $2,500 to unlimited annual coverage.
AKC pet insurance offers several discounts, including for multiple pets on the plan. It also has a discount for dogs bought from AKC-registered breeders and those who have passed a Good Canine Citizen test. The plan covers curable pre-existing conditions, provided that your pet is symptom and treatment free for 12 months.
Although there is no enrollment fee for signing up for a policy, AKC pet insurance does have a $3 monthly service fee. There is also an extra cost for certain coverage, such as for hereditary and congenital conditions, wellness care, and exam fees. Pets that are 9 years of age or older aren’t eligible for illness coverage.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance Provider in Connecticut
What to Look For in Pet Insurance in Connecticut
We all wish that insurance decisions were easy, but unfortunately, they rarely are. Research can help make this daunting task easier, but if you don’t know what to look for, it can be confusing. Here are the parameters that we considered while making this list, so you can get an idea of where to start.
Policy Coverage
Determining what a policy covers should be your first step in deciding whether a provider is the right one for you. Not all policies cover the same conditions.
While all providers will support you when it comes to emergency expenses, each plan is different when it comes to the types of illnesses that it covers. For example, some plans will cover hip dysplasia, while others will only cover it in pets under a certain age. You’ll need to keep this in mind if the breed of your pet is susceptible to developing conditions that aren’t met by the policy.
Pre-existing conditions are something to consider too. Insurance providers won’t cover the treatment for conditions that your pet already has. However, there are a few that will cover curable conditions that your pet already has if they haven’t had symptoms or treatment within the last 12 months of you filing the claim.
There are also add-on packages, such as preventive care, that you should look into if you don’t mind paying more.
Customer Service & Reputation
When it comes to researching pet insurance plans, considering the reputation of each provider is worth the time. A pet insurance provider’s reputation gives you an idea of how it treats its policyholders and how well it responds to claims. It will also tell you about the company’s customer service.
All these things should be closely considered before you choose a provider. The better the reputation of the provider and its customer service, the more likely it is that you’ll have a good experience if you ever need to file a claim. Friendly reassurance from customer service agents will also go a long way in making a stressful situation less horrible.
Claim Repayment
Each policy will have different ways of reimbursing you for veterinary expenses, and you’ll be able to customize the deductible and reimbursement rate to suit your budget. A low deductible and a high reimbursement rate will give you more back from your policy, with the downside of raising your premium.
While most providers will pay you after you take care of the veterinary bill, some policy providers give the option of paying your veterinarian directly. You’ll only need to pay the deductible up front, while your policy provider pays the rest. You won’t get reimbursed for the cost, but you also won’t need to pay out for the whole cost of the vet bill.
Price of Policy
Along with what the policy covers, the price of the plan can make or break your decision to sign up your pets for pet insurance or which provider you choose. You need a plan that won’t empty your wallet but still offers enough coverage to protect your pet. The customization options offered by the provider can also help you adjust the premium to suit your needs.
Make a list of all the providers that you think will suit your needs the best, and request a free quote from each one. This quote should be tailored to your pet’s needs and age, as it will give you an idea of how much you’ll be spending for the policy from each provider.
Plan Customization
Not all pet insurance providers give you a wide range of customization options. Usually, you can adjust the annual coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate. Some policies, however, will only have a few deductible options or maybe only one annual coverage limit. Others might have a much broader range of coverage limits, so you can adjust your policy to suit how often you might need to visit a vet.
While the number of customization options can be daunting — especially when you have no experience with pet insurance — a broader range can often be more helpful. For example, if you only have an indoor cat that rarely gets up to mischief enough to risk having an accident, a lower annual coverage may suit you better. You simply might not need to visit the vet as often as you would if your cat was more active and explored the outdoors.
FAQ
Do All Vets Take Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is similar to human health insurance because it helps you afford the cost of veterinary care for your pet. However, it does have a major difference. Instead of paying your veterinarian directly, most pet insurance is designed to reimburse you for the cost. While you pay the vet bill up front, you get a certain amount of the expense back from your policy if the treatment is covered.
Due to the fact that pet insurance is tailored to work with pet owners rather than veterinarians, you can visit any licensed veterinarian, provided that they’re in an area your provider covers. You’re not limited to finding a veterinarian who accepts pet insurance in the same way that you are for health insurance.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
The idea of pet insurance is to support pet owners by helping them with the cost of emergency veterinary bills. Unforeseen accidents or sudden illnesses can be an unexpected — and often devastating — blow to your wallet. Pet insurance helps you afford the treatment that your pet needs instead of losing them.
For this reason, pet insurance covers accidents and illnesses, provided that the emergencies occur while you’re covered and aren’t considered pre-existing. Depending on your policy provider, the conditions and coverage that you get can vary. For example, many providers will only cover routine vet visits as additional costs to the standard coverage plan. Others don’t offer preventive care coverage at all.
What the Users Say
Not every pet owner in the U.S.A. has pet insurance, but those who do enjoy the safety net that it gives them when it comes to keeping their pets healthy. While it can be another expense that you have to budget for, most users agree that it saves them money — and their pets’ lives — when they need it.
Like with all businesses, however, not all pet insurance providers provide a legitimate service. There are a few people who have had bad experiences with companies that don’t prioritize the welfare of their pets. For this reason, you must do plenty of research into the provider that you’re considering before signing up for a policy.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
Whether you live in Connecticut or somewhere else in the U.S.A., the pet insurance provider that’s right for you might not be the same as the best one for your neighbor or even another family member. Pet insurance should be tailored to the individual needs of you and your pet. Not only does your budget play a part, but your pet’s age, health history, and potential hereditary conditions can also change how your plan protects you or even what you need it to do.
Unfortunately, we can’t tell you for certain which pet insurance provider you should choose; we can only offer guidance while you research policies. Go through the list of providers here, and pick out the ones that offer the most benefits to you. You’ll need to do your own research from there. Pay close attention to the company’s reputation, along with reviews from other policyholders, and request free quotes from each provider that you’re interested in.
Remember that you don’t need to decide immediately. Take a few days to think over your choices, and don’t be afraid to choose a provider that’s not mentioned here.
Conclusion
Pets in Connecticut can be susceptible to injury from coyotes or illnesses and allergies brought on by extreme conditions in winter or summer. No matter the cause of your pet’s emergency, pet insurance is the best chance for pet owners with a limited budget to afford treatment for the unexpected.
The pet insurance providers on this list were all chosen due to their good reputation across the U.S.A., including smaller states like Connecticut. Go over the list, and select a few providers that suit your needs. Request a free quote from each one to help you make your final decision.
Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock