Accidents are inevitable. Even if you watch over your pet and don’t feed them questionable table scraps, every dog (and cat) has their day where they don’t feel well. Pet insurance could help you afford the vet bills, especially if the emergency occurred after hours, requiring you to pay a visit to a costly 24/7 clinic.
Depending on the plan you choose, pet insurance can also cover more than emergencies. Some companies, such as Embrace, offer stellar wellness plans in addition to a basic insurance policy that can assist you in budgeting for routine expenses such as annual checkups and preventative vaccines. Whether you live in St. Charles, Baton Rouge, or down the bayou past the Big Easy, here are some of the top providers in Louisiana to help you find the right pet insurance plan for you and your pet today.
A Quick Comparison of the Winners for 2024
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Best Overall
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Embrace |
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Best Value
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Spot |
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Best for Comprehensive Coverage for Average Price
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ASPCA |
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Fetch |
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Trupanion |
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The 7 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Louisiana
1. Embrace with Wellness Plan – Best Overall
If you’re looking for a plan that covers almost every pet-related expense, Embrace accident & illness with the wellness add-on is a good choice for you. We think they’re the best pet insurance in the state overall because they offer extensive comprehensive coverage for a relatively low price without as many restrictions as some plans. Both the accident-only and accident & illness policies pay for exam fees. Embrace also reimburses up to 90% of the total cost depending on your choice of coverage.
If you enroll with the monthly wellness add-on, you’ll receive an annual allotment that you can use to pay for routine vaccines, boarding, and even grooming. Our favorite part is that there’s no per incident or category caps, which means you can spend all of your allotment towards a single expense if you so choose. The wellness plan isn’t an insurance policy, however, and you can only enroll if you also purchase a policy for accidents or illnesses. Think of the wellness add-on like an annual savings account where you pay a little each month to help cover the more expensive routine bills, such as annual wellness visits.
While monthly costs are cheaper with Embrace than most, their annual deductibles are a little higher, starting at $200 and going up to $1,000.
2. Spot – Best Value
Starting at as little as $10 per month, Spot earned its title as our best value option because it offers a wide range of budget-friendly insurance plans. An accident-only plan will always be the cheapest option, but Spot also offers accident & illness policies and two wellness add-ons if you decide to upgrade your coverage. Additionally, their accident & illness policy stands out in the crowd by allowing you to choose holistic therapy for your pet such as acupuncture.
Spot strives to be inclusive to all cats and dogs, so there are no upper age limits to enroll. As long as your pet is at least 8 weeks old, they’re considered eligible for coverage.
While we think the accident-only and accident & illness plans are excellent choices, we weren’t as impressed by their wellness add-on. We weren’t sure how useful it would be since there are many restrictions, such as limited allotments for each category.
3. ASPCA – Best for Comprehensive Coverage for Average Price
A champion of helping dogs and cats find homes, ASPCA also offers health insurance for cats and dogs who are 8 weeks and older. Some other companies bar senior animals from enrollment if they’re within the last few years of their typical life expectancy. This can be incredibly limiting and frustrating to pet parents, especially since the first and last few years of their pet’s life usually carry most of the medical bills. However, ASPCA encourages people to enroll their older pets, a policy which can be especially beneficial to shelter animals with special needs because it gives them a chance to receive a second chance in life without excessive expense.
ASPCA offers cheap accident & illness policies with a wide range of deductibles and annual payout options. If you’re looking for a little extra coverage, there are two wellness plan options. These act like an annual savings account for your pet’s routine expenses. However, we don’t recommend ASPCA if
you’re looking for an accident-only policy because their basic policy starts at a higher price than some.
4. Fetch
Fetch by the Dodo keeps pet insurance simple. There’s one accident & illness plan that you can tailor to your financial needs by adjusting the annual deductible, reimbursement, and annual maximum payout, which starts at $5,000 and goes up to unlimited. Additionally, Fetch is the only option that we’ve found that lets you cancel anytime.
Fetch provides you with free TeleVet access, which is perfect for those middle-of-the-night emergencies. Sometimes accidents don’t wait until morning, and telehealth can help you assess whether you can go back to sleep or if you need to venture out to a 24/7 clinic for immediate care. Fetch also pays for some expenses that are not typically covered by mainstream pet insurance plans, such as paying to board your pet for up to 4 days if you’re hospitalized.
All of their monthly cost options are relatively low, especially for comprehensive care. However, their deductible options start at $300, which is higher than average. Since there’s only one plan option that doesn’t include wellness, Fetch isn’t your best catch if you’re looking for an accident-only policy or a wellness plan, but they’re a great choice for comprehensive.
5. Trupanion
If you prefer pet insurance that functions like human health insurance, Trupanion is the closest model. It’s not the cheapest on the market, but it pays your vet directly instead of reimbursing you later, making it the most hassle-free option. Since you don’t have to pay the cost upfront, Trupanion is also the best option if you don’t have good enough credit to swallow an expensive vet bill.
Trupanion has built-in ways to mitigate their slightly higher costs. For example, you can fully customize your deductible, ranging from $0-$1,000.
If you want additional coverage, Trupanion offers two monthly add-on options. The Recovery & Complementary Care pays for holistic therapies such as acupuncture, and the Pet Owner Assistance pays for expenses such as reward money if your pet goes missing. Overall, Trupanion keeps it pretty simple. There’s no wellness plan, but their accident & illness comprehensive plan always covers 90% of the emergency bill.
6. Healthy Paws
Since most pet insurance companies follow a reimbursement model, quick claims processing might be something to include in your standards for good coverage. Healthy Paws has an average 2-day turnaround time for reimbursement, which is the fastest we’ve seen.
Similar to Fetch by the Dodo, Healthy Paws offers one comprehensive policy that will cover almost any accident or illness. Wellness isn’t included, however, so you’ll need to pay for routine visits separately.
Despite their high price, we like Healthy Paws because of their quick response time and their commitment to always cover your pet. There are no maximum payouts period—per incident, per year, or for life. Healthy Paws can give you some reassurance if your pet develops a chronic disease that is expensive to treat because you know they’ll pay for it all.
However, age at the time of enrollment could be the exception to this standard. You must enroll your pet before their 6th birthday to take advantage of full coverage. Additionally, Healthy Paws may refuse to enroll your pet at all if they’re in the senior stage of their typical life expectancy.
7. MetLife Pet Insurance
Did you know that some employers offer pet insurance? MetLife is a popular choice for employer-based healthcare for humans and their furry companions. If your job doesn’t pay for pet insurance, you can still secure a policy individually. MetLife has an accident & illness policy with optional preventative care. The annual deductibles and monthly costs seem very reasonable, and there are even more discounts if you’ve served in the military, have another MetLife policy, or work in an animal care center such as a veterinary hospital or shelter.
Unlike the other companies we’ve reviewed, MetLife doesn’t offer a cheap accident-only policy. However, their plans are already so low-cost that you can almost obtain comprehensive coverage for the price of another company’s accident-only coverage.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance Provider in Louisiana
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance Provider in LouisianaWhat to Look for in Pet Insurance in Louisiana
There are a lot of things to consider when looking for the ideal insurance policy. Most variables are up to your individual preferences, such as whether you’d prefer an accident-only policy, or if you’re looking for a plan that’ll also help you budget for the routine expenses. When shopping for pet insurance, it’s important to keep all of these criteria in mind as you weigh your options to find the best one.
Policy Coverage
Obviously, an insurance policy with scanty coverage isn’t worth paying the fees. However, maybe you don’t need coverage for wellness, and don’t want to pay extra for illness. It’s important to evaluate your personal financial situation to figure out a plan of how you’ll pay for different types of medical scenarios.
For example, maybe you’re able to cover dental disease since that’s a progressive illness that doesn’t appear overnight, but you can’t be expected to foot the bill if your dog unexpectedly gulps down a sock and needs emergency surgery. If that’s the case, an accident-only plan might be a better fit. Conversely, maybe you have enough money in your savings account to reliably pay for an emergency, but not to cover treatment for possible chronic illnesses. An accident & illness plan could assist you with the more long-term expenses.
Customer Service & Reputation
Any company can appear to be a good choice on paper. Unfortunately, though, some companies claim to cover a variety of illnesses but then don’t necessarily pay the bills at the end of the day. That’s why it’s important to verify a company’s reputation through word-of-mouth with other pet parents, and online through third-party websites such as Consumer Reports and Trustpilot.
Claim Repayment
Not only is it important to make sure your pet’s conditions will be covered, but it’s also crucial to verify how it takes to process a claim. Most pet insurance companies function differently than human insurance companies. Instead of going through a network, pet insurance typically reimburses your percentage after you pay the vet. Since you’ll be covering the total bill at first, you want to find a pet insurance company with a quick turnaround time so you can pay off your credit card statement at the end of the month with no interest.
Price of Policy
Generally, if you have a higher annual deductible, you’ll have a lower monthly cost. The inverse is also true; if your monthly cost is lower, then your annual deductible will be higher. It’s up to you to determine whether you’d rather pay a larger sum at once with a lower monthly commitment, or if you’d rather not have to pay a hefty sum before your first claim, or at the end of the policy period.
Plan Customization
Some plans like Fetch keep it simple by offering one accident & illness policy with customizable deductibles, annual maximum payouts, and reimbursement percentages. Others not only give you the ability to tailor how you pay, but also have an accident-only or wellness add-on option. You’ll need to determine which aspect of healthcare is the biggest priority for your pet and your wallet to make the best decision for you.
FAQ
What if I move? Can I still keep my Louisiana insurance policy?
Pet insurance varies depending on where you live, even within the state. Urban areas such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge are often more expensive than rural zones. Additionally, not all pet insurance policies are available in all states, so if you move out of state, you’ll need to verify whether your policy will cover you in your new home. It’s always a good idea to let your insurance company know that you’ve moved so that both parties have the most accurate information. The last thing you want is to keep paying for an insurance policy, only to find that it doesn’t cover your area when you have your first emergency at your new address.Â
What types of animals does pet insurance cover?
Typically, pet insurance is only available for dogs and cats. Nationwide is the only company that we’re aware of that covers exotic pets. However, it’s not our top pick in this state for canines and felines, which is why we didn’t include it here.
What’s the cheapest pet insurance policy?
Accident-only plans are usually your most budget-friendly option, but coverage is very limited. If you’re looking for comprehensive coverage, Fetch offered the cheapest policy that covers both accidents and illnesses.
What the Users Say
Always research the particular pet insurance company you’re interested in before you secure a policy. Specific companies may have their own quirks, but most complaints generally seem to focus on the amount of time it takes to process a claim, or having their claim denied because it concerned a pre-existing condition. Just like human health insurance, pet insurance generally doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. There are some notable exceptions. Some companies will pay for pre-existing conditions if the illness hasn’t been treated in the last 12 months.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
Since there are so many options to choose from, shopping for a pet insurance provider can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Take time to consider the priorities for you and your pet. Are you prepared to pay for an emergency? How would you deal with a chronic illness diagnosis like cancer? Remember, pre-existing conditions aren’t usually covered, so ideally you want to secure a policy before your pet becomes sick. Additionally, some pet insurance companies such as Healthy Paws limit your pet’s eligibility if you enroll them after their 6th birthday.
The best pet insurance provider for you covers the areas where you suspect you’ll be lacking in funds, without overpaying for coverage you don’t need. There will be some years you might not use your policy at all, but your pet could have three emergencies in a row the next year which would make all of the bills a worthy investment. It’s really a gamble, but it will be useful at some point in your pet’s life, and it could make all of the difference when that time comes.
Conclusion
ConclusionWe evaluated pet insurance plans available to Louisiana residents based on factors such as coverage and price. Some of the choices scored higher in one category than another. For example, Fetch was the cheapest comprehensive option, but they don’t offer any wellness add-ons, which could be a priority for some people. Embrace offered the best wellness option, but they’re a more expensive choice than Fetch. You’ll need to assess your own needs when shopping for the right pet insurance policy for your pets, but hopefully this has given you some good ideas on where to begin.
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Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
