Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but there’s no shortage of coverage options here. Whether you live in Providence or Little Compton, you can find insurance to cover your little cutie if they get injured or sick. One in three pets will have an emergency situation in a given year, so pet insurance typically pays for itself within a few years. Puppies, adults, and seniors have different medical needs pertaining to their season of life, but all deserve high quality healthcare. Read on to browse our top picks, as well as how they scored best for pet insurance coverage in the Ocean State.
A Quick Look at the Winners for 2024
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Best Overall
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Lemonade |
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Spot |
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Embrace |
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Pet’s Best |
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ASPCA |
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The 6 Pet Insurance Reviews in Rhode Island
1. Lemonade – Best overall
If you have a new pet, Lemonade could be the best choice for you. Their Puppy/Kitten Preventative Care package will help you pay for many of their first-year expenses, such as vaccines, microchips, and spay/neuter surgery.
One of the newest pet insurance companies on the market, Lemonade stands out from the crowd by offering affordable care packages that start at just $9. Lemonade lets you choose between a wide range of maximum annual payouts from $5,000-$100,000. Your choice will greatly determine the price of your premium, but their annual deductibles options are only $100, $250, or $500, which is extremely low compared to their competitors.
However, Lemonade may not be available if you have an older pet. Eligibility varies according to their breed’s life expectancy, which is highly subjective.
2. Spot
In addition to the standard accident-only and accident & illness plans, Spot lets you choose between two wellness add-ons and offers wide ranges of deductibles and maximum annual payouts. For example, your annual deductible can be as little as $100 or as high as $1,000. The maximum annual payout starts at $2,500, but you can choose unlimited if you’d rather pay a little more and not worry about reaching your limit.
We like how their accident & illness plan covers holistic therapies such as acupuncture that some pet insurance companies won’t pay for. There’s also no upper age limit to enroll, so it doesn’t matter if you’re bringing home a new puppy or seeking better healthcare for your elderly Maine Coon.
The only problem we see with Spot is that there are spending limits per category in the wellness plan, which might prevent you from using that plan to its full potential if you’d prefer to use most of your allotment on a single expense.
3. Embrace
Given Rhode Island’s small size and proximity to bustling areas such as D.C. and New York, we’re willing to bet that you and your pet travel a lot. Embrace covers your pet while they’re home, roaming the country, or visiting internationally (up to six months). They’re one of the only pet insurance companies to offer temporary coverage outside the North American continent.
Embrace offers exceptional coverage for the everyday, too! While they have an accident-only and an accident & illness plan, you’ll get the most for your money if you add on the Wellness Rewards program. This plan functions like an annual savings account for your pet’s ordinary routine expenses. Wellness Rewards will even cover grooming, which is pretty rare in the pet insurance world.
Here’s how it works: you choose your maximum annual limit, and then pay a fee every month (typically $10-$25) in addition to your pet’s insurance plan. Whenever it’s time to pick up your pet’s heartworm pills, you pay with Embrace Wellness Rewards! The Wellness Rewards program pays for most routine expenses your pet needs throughout the year, as long as you’re under your maximum annual limit.
While Embrace has many benefits, we did notice they have a high annual deductible. The lowest option is $200, and it goes up all the way to $1,000. Considering that their monthly prices are relatively low, however, we think a high deductible seems reasonable.
4. Pets Best
Our best value option, Pets Best, scores the highest for flexibility and affordability. Pet’s Best gives you the freedom to decide how much you want to pay per month or annually. Their cheapest accident-only plan starts around $10, but they also have an accident & illness plan and two wellness options if you’re looking for more coverage. Your annual payout can be $5,000 or unlimited, and you can also customize your annual deductible and reimbursement level.
We recommend using Pet’s Best if you’re wanting an accident-only or accident & illness plan but don’t really care about having a wellness plan. They offer two options, but if you add them then your total cost is going to be about the same as any other pet insurance policy.
5. ASPCA
You can buy complete coverage for your pet for a low price with ASPCA. With a $3,000-$10,000 annual limit and $100-$500 annual deductible, ASCPA offers reasonable prices and exceptional coverage for a wide variety of accidents and illnesses. In the spirit of supporting adopted animals of any age, there are no upper age restrictions to enroll, as long as your animal is 8 weeks or older. We think they’re the best choice for complete coverage, especially for a newly adopted senior animal with few pre-existing conditions. Note: although this company is affiliated with ASPCA, you don’t have to adopt a pet or donate to qualify.
ASCPA also offers two wellness choices if you want to give your coverage a little routine boost.
While the complete coverage plan is a great deal, their accident-only plan is a little more expensive than other basic plans. If you’re looking for cheap, minimal coverage, you’re probably better off with someone else like Lemonade or Pet’s Best.
6. Healthy Paws – Best for Emergencies
Healthy Paws specializes in a single plan that covers pretty much any accident or emergency that your pet may experience. Customers say that they’re pretty timely with their reimbursements, too, taking an average 2 days to pay you back after you file a claim. This is an important feature to consider because you don’t want a large vet bill lingering on your credit card. There are no maximum payouts per incident, per year, or per life, so no need to worry about falling behind on bills if your pet has a particularly hard year.
You’ll need to enroll your pet while they’re young to reap the most benefits from this company. If your pet is over six years old, there are some coverage restrictions such as not being eligible for hip dysplasia expenses.
Although they’ll cover most medical emergencies, Healthy Paws won’t pay for exam fees or telemedicine, which may be off-putting to some pet parents who may not live near an animal hospital. They do not have a wellness add-on, or accident-only, so this isn’t the best company if you want to pick and choose your coverage.
They’re not the cheapest option available, either, but they do have one of the timeliest response rates and are one of the only companies that don’t have any maximum payout amounts. Healthy Paws could be the best choice for you if you’re looking for a company that will have your back in case of emergency.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Pet Insurance Plan In Rhode Island
What to Look for in Pet Insurance
When shopping for the best insurance to cover your dog or cat, consider how much you’re willing to pay per month and annually. You also want to decide if a wellness plan is worth it, or if you want to choose a more basic plan just to cover emergency situations. An insurance company’s reputation is also important because you want to make sure your claims are processed in a timely manner since most companies reimburse you directly instead of your vet.
Policy Coverage
Beyond pre-existing conditions, which typically aren’t covered by any insurance company, every insurance provider has a list of conditions and procedures they won’t cover. For example, Healthy Paws doesn’t pay for exam fees or telehealth medicine. Some customers, such as a rural farmer who doesn’t live near a physical vet, will find this more of an inconvenience than an urban dweller who might be able to rush their pet to a 24/7 vet in their city in case of an emergency.
Customer Service & Reputation
No pet insurance company is perfect, but you might consider asking other pet parents about their experiences with the insurance company in question. Some policies might sound good until you read the fine print, or you realize your coverage is more limited than you thought after the vet bill. Especially note the customer’s remarks on coverage and timeliness since you’ll also want to receive your reimbursement quickly so that you can pay off your credit card statement.
Claim Repayment
Pet insurance functions differently than human insurance by paying you directly. This allows you to escape the confines of a provider network, giving you the freedom to visit any licensed vet of your choice. However, the downside is you’re usually required to pay the total cost upfront and then wait for reimbursement from the insurance company. A reputation of quick repayments is a vital component of a positive pet insurance review since you don’t want a large, unexpected vet bill sitting on your credit card statement for too long.
Price of Policy
You can usually determine the price of the policy by your coverage options, as well as customizing your maximum payout amounts, monthly payments, and annual deductibles. Typically, a lower cost plan will have a smaller annual maximum payout with a low monthly rate but higher annual deductible. Some companies have some plans that are better for the money than others. For example, ASCPA has an exceptionally priced comprehensive plan, but their accident-only plan is actually more expensive than many of their competitors.
Plan Customization
You might find a one-size-fits-all approach works for you and your pet, or you might want the flexibility to choose what coverage you need. For example, Healthy Paws has only one plan that covers most accidents and illnesses, but other companies like Embrace and Pet’s Best offer a wide range of plans and prices.
FAQ
Can I Get Pet Insurance Outside the U.S.?
You might be able to buy a policy outside the U.S., but it must be from a company that’s based in your new country. Pet insurance must match your place of residence. Embrace is the only pet insurance company that will also cover your pet if you travel internationally, but only for up to six months. If you decide to stay longer, you’ll have to purchase a policy from your new place of residence. Other pet insurance companies restrict their coverage to the North American continent or the United States. A few companies might not even pay for vet visits outside of your state.
What Is the Best and Most Affordable Pet Insurance?
The best and most affordable pet insurance will depend on your values and desired coverage. Someone who wants extensive emergency coverage might vote for Healthy Paws as the best choice, while someone who likes to include everything in their insurance budget would probably favor Embrace since their wellness program also includes everyday costs such as grooming. However, to a college student on a budget, Lemonade might be the best choice since their basic plan starts at $9. You’ll have to decide what you’re looking for in a plan based on coverage and what you can afford.
Are All Pet Insurance Companies Available in Rhode Island?
Although most American-based insurance companies provide coverage to every state, some may be restricted to certain areas. Always get an individualized quote from the insurance provider you’re considering to make sure coverage is available where you live. It’s good to get multiple quotes, too, because the price can fluctuate depending on your location.
What the Users Say
Although no company is perfect, our overall best choice, Embrace, has mostly positive customer reviews. The few negative remarks mostly stemmed from not receiving the reimbursement in a timely manner. In most of these circumstances, a representative from Embrace has responded saying their medical file is incomplete. It seems that most customers have a positive experience if they fill out all of their pet’s medical paperwork ahead of filing a claim. According to Embrace, the majority of claims are reimbursed within 5-15 days.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
Decide what you want from your insurance plan by determining what coverage you need, and whether you’d rather pay more per month or per year with a higher annual deductible. If you don’t want to worry about going over your limit, an unlimited annual payout option might be the one for you. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you probably want an accident-only plan with a low annual payout.
If you’d prefer to handle routine care by yourself, you can skip preventative care or wellness coverage. But you might benefit from a wellness plan if you think it would help you budget for things like flea prevention and vaccines.
Conclusion
Choosing the best insurance provider for your pet is an important part of your budgeting and planning for inevitable emergencies. An accident-only plan will help you out if your new puppy accidentally swallows something toxic, but a comprehensive accident & illness plan might pay for ongoing treatment for illnesses like cancer.
Different companies excel in different areas, but Lemonade is our overall best choice because they offer great coverage for a fair price. Gather some quotes from a few companies on our list to see how they compare to your pup’s needs.
Featured Image Credit: Hryshchyshen Serhii, Shutterstock
