Pet insurance continues to increase in popularity as veterinary expenses continue to skyrocket all over the nation. If your beloved pet falls ill or becomes injured, the costs can result in a massive financial burden on the household.
When pet parents decide to start shopping around for pet insurance plans, it can get quite overwhelming. Not only are there a lot of providers to choose from, but plenty of plan and coverage options, too.
Thankfully, Texans have plenty of options to choose from, but we’ve decided to make it a bit easier. We’ve researched the top companies and taken a thorough look at what they have to offer to bring you this list of the top pet insurance plans in the Lone Star State.
A Quick Comparison of the Winners for 2024
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Best Overall
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Wagmo |
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Best Value
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Lemonade |
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Spot |
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Fetch |
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MetLife |
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The 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Texas
1. Wagmo – Best Overall
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $250, $500, or $1,000 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to $20,000 |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 90% or 100% |
| Wellness Option: | Yes |
Wagmo was founded in 2018 and is based out of New York, NY. This company was initially known for offering wellness coverage for dogs but also has a traditional pet insurance plan that covers accidents and illnesses.
Their comprehensive plan covers accidents, illnesses, surgeries, cancer treatment, prescription medicine, and even euthanasia. They have a waiting period of 15 days for coverage after enrollment for both accidents and illnesses. Any cancer treatment has a 30-day waiting period. There is no upper age limit for enrollment with Wagmo.
Wellness plans are not an add-on service but are separate from the pet insurance policy and can be purchased at any time. Owners can even choose to only have a Pet Wellness plan if they prefer. They offer three tiers of Pet Wellness: Value, Classic, and Deluxe. They each offer different scopes of coverage when it comes to wellness and preventative care services.
Wagmo offers high reimbursement percentages when compared to most competitors and has a very quick turnaround time for claims, which can be obtained via Venmo, PayPal, or bank transfer. They have some flexibility with deductibles and will cover up to $20,000 for the annual coverage limit. As far as monthly premiums go, they aren’t the least expensive option, but their prices are very reasonable.
The downside about Wagmo is that they put a limit of $10,000 per incident and have a lifetime limit of $100,000 over your pet’s lifetime. Wagmo pet insurance is readily available in Texas but does not offer coverage in Rhode Island, Alaska, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, or any US territories.
2. Lemonade – Best Value
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $100, $250, $500 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to $100,000 |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Wellness Option: | Yes |
Lemonade aims to focus on offering pet insurance coverage at the most affordable prices. They make an excellent choice if you are looking for a provider that will give you great value for your money. Lemonade features a base plan that covers accidents and illnesses and offers a variety of add-on services.
Lemonade does offer a range of discounts for things like multiple pet policies or paying in full. Their coverage is a bit more limited with their base plan, which typically leads customers to purchase their preferred add-ons for a wider breadth of covered services.
Not only do they have competitive pricing but there’s plenty of flexibility with deductibles, reimbursement percentages, and annual limits when building your plan. Upon enrollment, there is a 2-day waiting period for accidents, a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, and a 6-month wait for any ligament issues.
A portion of Lemonade’s proceeds are donated to nonprofit organizations. They serve Texas but are not available in all 50 states. There is no coverage available in Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.
4. Spot
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness, Accident-Only |
| Deductible: | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to unlimited |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Wellness Option: | Yes |
Spot is a top-rated pet insurance provider that offers both an accident and illness plan and an accident-only option. Their most basic insurance package covers prescriptions, procedures, exam visits, and any required diagnostics.
Spot also offers coverage for behavioral issues, alternative therapies, vitamins, supplements, and additional preventative care packages. As with any insurance, plan pricing fluctuates depending on several factors. But overall, Spot has affordable pricing when compared to competitors.
There’s plenty of flexibility when customizing your plans, including a variety of deductibles, up to unlimited annual limits, and three options for reimbursement percentages. There is a 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses. Regarding accidents, that’s lengthy when compared to most of the competition.
There are no lifetime or per-incident payout limits with Spot and the claims process is easy, though reimbursement turnaround is typically 10 to 14 days after claim submission, which is longer than several other competitors.
4. Fetch
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $300, $500, $700 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to $15,000 |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Wellness Option: | No |
Fetch is a fairly new pet insurance that is offered by The Dodo, a popular animal-based media and digital publishing brand. They offer accident and illness policies for dogs and cats that include many coverage benefits that other companies lack.
Their wider breadth of coverage includes extras like comprehensive dental care, breed-specific conditions, exam fees, and holistic care. They also have additional benefits like boarding fees, lost pet advertisements, and coverage for vacation cancellation.
There’s also some flexibility with Fetch’s plans, they offer three options for both deductibles and reimbursement percentages but only have annual coverage limits of up to $15,000. Fetch does not have any options for additional wellness coverage, but they offer multiple discount options and a claims turnaround time of as little as two days.
Fetch’s waiting period is 15 days for both accidents and illnesses, which is lengthy for accidents. Coverage for orthopedic issues will not begin until after the 6 month waiting period is completed.
5. MetLife Pet Insurance
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $0-$750 (in $50 increments), $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000, or $2,500 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to $25,000 |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% |
| Wellness Option: | Yes |
MetLife has an accident and illness plan with a wide breadth of coverage, very flexible deductibles, and no lifetime or per-incident limits for your pet. They offer additional wellness coverage for those that want a more comprehensive plan.
Coverage for accidents and wellness begins on the day of enrollment, while illnesses have a standard 14-day waiting period. Deductibles are eligible for a decrease of up to $50 each year you go without a claim in certain states.
Unlike many competitors, MetLife offers coverage for holistic care and alternative therapies. They have a fairly quick claims turnaround time, with up to 80% of claims being reimbursed within 10 days, though some competitors have a much faster turnaround.
According to customers, the claims submission process isn’t nearly as simplified as other competitors. You must download and fill out a form to send back rather than having quick completion available online.
Customer service is available 24/7, 365 days a year when using the live chat option. You can also reach out via the website, app, or by phone.
6. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $100, $250, or $500 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to unlimited |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 90% |
| Wellness Option: | Yes |
Pumpkin pet insurance offers an accident and illness plan with a wide scope of coverage. They include services like dental care, holistic care, and alternative treatment and also offer the Preventative Essentials plan as an additional wellness option.
Pumpkin has a set 90% reimbursement rate, three deductible choices, and offers flexibility with annual limits of up to unlimited for both dogs and cats. Pumpkin is a bit more expensive when compared to the competition, but that is due to the comprehensive coverage and higher-than-normal reimbursement percentage.
Enrollment eligibility begins at 8 weeks of age and there is no maximum age limit. Pumpkin’s waiting period is 14 days for accidents, illnesses, and any orthopedic issues. This stands out among other providers, which typically have a 6-month waiting period for orthopedic concerns.
A third party is used for Pumpkin’s customer service and claims processing. They do not offer any availability on weekends, but they have live chat options and quick responses to emails. To top things off, you do get a 10% discount for each pet that’s insured.
7. Trupanion
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $0-$1,000 |
| Annual Limit: | Unlimited |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 90% |
| Wellness Option: | No |
Trupanion is a pet insurance provider that is significantly more expensive than other providers but functions much differently. They offer per-condition deductibles that you can adjust anywhere from $0 to $1,000. Once you’ve reached the deductible, your pet’s treatments for that condition are covered for life.
Trupanion lacks the flexibility of other providers with a set 90% reimbursement and unlimited coverage limits both annually and for life. Trupanion does not offer coverage for exam fees, taxes, or any preventative care but they will cover a lot of services that others do not.
Trupanion will reimburse for care related to accidents, illness, prescription medication, diagnostic testing, congenital or hereditary conditions, prosthetics, dental disease, and more. Their customer service is available 24 hours a day, which is very convenient for pet parents.
There is a 5-day waiting period for accidents and a lengthier wait for illnesses, which is 30 days from the date of enrollment. They are one of the few companies that will pay the veterinarian directly, but only with their partnered veterinarians. Enrollment eligibility starts at birth and the maximum enrollment age is 13.9 years.
8. Embrace
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness, Accident-Only |
| Deductible: | $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 (Accident & Illness) $100 (Accident-Only) |
| Annual Limit: | Up to $30,000 |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 70%, 80%, or 90% (Accident & Illness) 90% (Accident-Only) |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | Yes |
Embrace is a popular pet insurance provider that also administers pet insurance through other providers like Geico and USAA. They offer both accident and illness coverage and an accident-only plan. They also have a separate customizable Wellness Rewards program.
While the Wellness Rewards program is designed to save you money on preventive care, the rewards balance is non-refundable if not used within the year. Embrace offers flexible deductibles for their more comprehensive coverage plan but a standard $100 deductible for the accident-only plan.
There is a 90% reimbursement rate and a $5,000 annual limit for the accident-only plan. But Embrace offers three options of reimbursement percentage and customizable annual limits of up to $30,000 for accident and illness coverage.
Enrollment can begin as soon as 6 weeks of age and there is no maximum age limit to enroll. Pets older than 15 at the time of enrollment are only eligible for accident-only coverage. A wide variety of services are available in the more comprehensive plan, but Embrace is pricey when compared to competitors.
There are a few discounts available through Embrace and since Texas has a fair share of military personnel, it’s recommended that any military members check out USAA pet insurance, which is through Embrace, for some great discounts.
9. Healthy Paws
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness |
| Deductible: | $100, $250, $500 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to unlimited |
| Reimbursement Percentage: | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Wellness Option: | No |
Healthy Paws is a very popular pet insurance provider that offers a simple accident and illness plan. They lack the flexibility of competitors and do not have any add-on options for preventative care. The company has lower prices when compared to others, but the scope of coverage is more limited.
There are no annual limits, but deductibles and reimbursement percentages have some flexibility when customizing your plan. They offer 24/7 live chat with a veterinarian and will compensate for alternative therapy, prescription medications, and certain supplements.
Enrollment eligibility begins at 8 weeks with a maximum age limit of 14 years. Healthy Paws has a 15-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses, but a 12-month wait for orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia. Pets 6 years of age or older will not be eligible for hip dysplasia coverage, so this isn’t an ideal choice for middle-aged to older pets.
There are no discounts available for premiums, but they do have a seamless claims process with one of the quickest claims turnaround times – two days. Healthy Paws may be able to pay the veterinarian directly, which is a rarity among pet insurance providers. The company gets great reviews for customer service, which is available Monday through Saturday.
10. Nationwide Pet Insurance
| Plan Types: | Accident & Illness, Accident-Only |
| Deductible: | $250 |
| Annual Limit: | Up to $10,000 (Whole Pet Plan) Per Condition (Major Medical Plans) |
| Annual Limit: | 50% or 70% (Whole Pet Plan) |
| Wellness Option: | Yes |
Nationwide is one the largest insurance providers in the country and offers a variety of policies, which includes pet insurance plans. They are currently the only provider to offer coverage for pets other than cats and dogs with their unique Avian and Exotic Plan.
Nationwide offers a comprehensive Whole Pet plan and customizable Major Medical plans. They also provide the option for an additional wellness plan for those seeking preventative care coverage, which is available in Texas but may not be in all states.
Deductibles are automatically set at $250 if purchased online; other options may be available if you call in. Annual limits and reimbursement percentages will vary depending on which plan you choose. The annual limit is per condition and reimbursement percentages are based on the benefits schedule for the Major Medical plan options.
Whole Pet is a comprehensive but expensive option, and you cannot add wellness coverage to this plan. The Major Medical plans have some flexibility with coverage and customization and are much more budget friendly. There are discount options on the table with Nationwide.
There is a maximum age limit of 10 years for enrollment but if pets are enrolled before their 10th birthday without any lapses in coverage, they will be covered for life. The minimum age to enroll is 6 weeks. Nationwide has a standard 14-day waiting period for coverage once the policy is purchased. If pet parents opt for the wellness plan it becomes effective 24 hours following enrollment.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Pet Insurance Provider in Texas
What to Look for in Pet Insurance (for Cats, Older Dogs, etc.)
When you are on the hunt for the perfect pet insurance plan, you will need to consider your specific situation and the health status of your pet. We can’t always foresee the type of healthcare needs our animals will require, but here’s some vital information on what to look for in pet insurance:
Policy Coverage
Most pet insurance plans offer coverage for care related to unexpected accidents, injuries, or sudden illnesses. Some companies may also offer accident-only plans, which are often less expensive because they will cover costs related to accidents but nothing if your pet falls ill.
Accident and illness plans typically cover the basics but sometimes include exam fees, behavioral therapy, alternative or holistic treatment, rehabilitative care, congenital and hereditary conditions, vitamins, supplements, and final expenses.
The scope of coverage varies significantly by company and plan, so it’s important to understand coverage before purchasing a policy.
Customer Service & Reputation
You want to choose a company that has a reputation among consumers for providing excellent service in their times of need. When your pet is ill or injured, you will be under enough stress and should not have to deal with any hassle from your insurance provider.
Claim Repayment
The overall claims process and repayment turnaround time varies by provider. Few companies may be able to pay your veterinarian directly, but most require you to pay the clinic upfront and will reimburse you at a later date.
Some providers offer more seamless, streamlined claims while others have more extensive submission processes. Certain companies have extremely quick claims repayment of 2 days or less, while others can take 2 weeks or more after the claim is submitted.
When shopping for pet insurance, be sure to keep in mind what would work best for you regarding the claims process. Take a look at how you can be reimbursed whether it be through direct deposit, check, or another cash transfer app.
Price of Policy
You will need to get an idea of what you need to be covered and what your budget is before you decide. The final price of your policy is going to depend on many different factors. Here’s a quick overview of what helps determine the price of your policy:
Species
Most companies only offer coverage for cats and dogs, but Nationwide also has an option for a variety of other pets including birds and exotics. Coverage for dogs is more expensive than for cats, so your premium cost will depend on what species you are buying the policy for.
Breed, Size, Age
Certain purebreds and large breed dogs tend to be more susceptible to genetic health conditions and orthopedic issues, which can lead to more costly veterinary bills. Older animals typically suffer from more health issues and insurance companies will consider all of this when coming up with your personalized quote.
Geographical Location
The cost of living in Texas varies throughout the state, which will affect the price of your policy. Insurance providers will ask for your zip code when gathering information for your quote.
Plan Customization
Many companies offer flexibility and plan customization options, while others are more straightforward. Flexible deductibles, reimbursement percentages, and annual limits allow customers to play around with their monthly premium cost to make it suit their financial needs.
Higher deductibles mean lower premiums, while higher reimbursement percentages and annual limits mean higher premiums. Wellness add-ons are quite popular among most pet insurance providers and some even offer different tiers of wellness coverage.
Kittens and puppies are great candidates for wellness since they require more frequent wellness exams and vaccinations during the first year of life. You should weigh how much you typically spend each year on wellness to see if these add-ons would be worth the additional fees.
FAQ
Can I Get Pet Insurance Outside the U.S.?
Some pet insurance companies will cover the costs of veterinary care when traveling outside the United States as long as care is rendered by a licensed veterinarian, and you submit the claims properly. Be sure to check with each provider on their policy regarding international travel.
What If My Insurance Company Is Not Listed in Your Reviews?
There is no shortage of available pet insurance providers in the state of Texas. If you have found a company that suits your budget and all your coverage needs for your pet, that’s great! Just because a company didn’t make the list doesn’t mean they don’t excel at what they do. The goal here is to meet the needs of you and your pet.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Has the Best Consumer Reviews?
We have thoroughly vetted the companies above regarding their consumer reviews. The most highly reviewed companies are Wagmo, Lemonade, and Spot, which is why they each got high rankings on the list.
What Is the Best and Most Affordable Pet Insurance?
The most affordable pet insurance plans on our list are Lemonade and Healthy Paws. These two companies aim their focus on offering good coverage at a decent price. Spot also allows for a lot of customization, which gives some wiggle room in the budget.
What the Users Say
Consumers have varying opinions on pet insurance. Those that have already set aside emergency savings accounts for their pets typically don’t feel the need to pay a monthly premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket expenses before coverage kicks in.
Those that don’t visit the veterinarian very often generally feel that pet insurance is a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere.
Those that are thankful for pet insurance are pet parents that understand the extensive costs of veterinary care, especially during emergencies and when costly illnesses pop up.
The truth is, you would much prefer never having to submit a claim because it means your beloved pet is happy and healthy. But having a safety net to help offset the financial burden if the unexpected hits can be the difference between you paying thousands of dollars upfront or just a few hundred or less.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?
Since pet insurance plans are variable and providers have different levels of coverage and flexibility, finding the best provider for you will depend on your circumstances. You will need to narrow down which companies offer the coverage you need in the price range that works for you.
We highly recommend narrowing down your list based on your needs and then getting thorough, personalized quotes. Thankfully, online quotes from all of the above providers are very quick and easy to obtain.
Conclusion
Having a safety net in place for those unexpected and expensive veterinary care costs can put your mind at ease and help you focus on restoring your pet’s health. There are plenty of pet insurance options in Texas that cover a wide scope of coverage. Make sure you find a plan that fits your needs and get personalized quotes from each company you are interested in.
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Featured Image Credit: Yolya Ilyasova, Shutterstock
