Things to Consider Before Choosing Pet Insurance in Maryland
- The type of coverage you need: Some pet insurance plans only cover accidental injuries, while others also cover illnesses. You will need to decide what type of coverage is right for you and your pet.
- The cost of the plan: Pet insurance can be expensive, so it is important to find a plan that fits your budget.
- The deductible and reimbursement rate: The deductible is the amount of money you will have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. The reimbursement rate is the percentage of the vet bill that your insurance will cover.
- The waiting period: Some pet insurance companies have a waiting period before they will cover certain conditions. This is usually around 14 days.
- The policy limits: The policy limits are the maximum amount of money your insurance will pay out for a single claim or over the lifetime of your pet.
Introduction
No matter where you live, owning a pet is a life-changing experience that requires constant dedication. When it comes to the Old Line State, it is home to many pets and pet owners.
You may not choose the Maryland crab as a pet, but a Chesapeake Bay Retriever will surely be a great companion.
Being a pet parent brings on the responsibility of providing only the best care for your furry family member. That’s why purchasing a pet insurance policy will provide you with peace of mind knowing your pet is protected during difficult times.
The best option is to find a solid pet health insurance Maryland provider. However, with so many options, plans and prices, this can be a hassle.
So, our team rolled up the sleeves and did some research into the best pet insurance in Maryland. Here are the top Maryland pet insurance providers offering the best plans, pricing, and services.
Lemonade
Lemonade is considered to be one of the best Maryland pet insurance companies favored by pet owners. Purchase a monthly insurance policy and in exchange, your pet will be taken care of without having to deal with the stress of costs.
With the help of AI technology and a mobile app, filing a claim with Lemonade has never been easier. No need to deal with the paperwork and talk to agents to process a claim – just use their app.
The overall plan customization and policy coverage are suitable for almost all pet owners. The coverage levels vary from $5,000 to $100,000 and the rates are as low as $10 per month.
If you also happen to need homeowner or renter’s insurance, simply bundle all insurances together and get a 10% discount.
Pros
- Easy-to-use app for processing claims
- Annual coverage of a maximum of $100,000
- Offering a helping hand to nonprofits by donating unpaid claims
- Offers preventive coverage for kittens and puppies
Cons
- Offers fewer deductible options than other provides
- Costs related to dental illness are not covered
- Offers coverage for dogs and cats only
Plans & Coverage
When signing up for Lemonade pet insurance in Maryland, your pet receives a standard insurance plan covering illness and accidents. These include infections, diagnostics, digestive illness, bite wounds, broken bones, X-rays, surgery, cancer, ultrasounds, and blood tests.
Pre-existing conditions, dental care, elective procedures, and preventable illnesses are excluded from the coverage plan. There is an option to get coverage for vet visits, holistic therapy, vaccines, and parasite tests if you decide on getting the add ons.
The best pet insurance in Maryland cost varies between $37 per month for dogs and $15 per month for cats. The owner may always add extra coverage to the pet health insurance Maryland at an extra cost.
Depending on the breed, age, and species of pets, the coverage limit varies between $5,000 – $100,000.
Embrace
Embrace is a strong candidate that offers unique insurance benefits of its own. Offering a variety of coverage plans, what puts it on the list of best pet insurance in Maryland are its Embrace Wellness Reward and Healthy Pet Deductible.
Dedicated to being the best in the insurance business, Embrace not only insures pets but is also active in collaborating with charities. For every purchased policy plan, Embrace donates $2 to a pet or animal charity through its match program.
Offering a series of deductibles and a variety of plans, Embrace is striving to stand out from its competitors. When preparing Embrace’s Maryland pet insurance, they take into consideration the breed, gender, and age of your pet, along with other conditions.
Pros
- Embrace Wellness reward program allowing you to cover preventive costs for your pet
- Healthy Pet Deductible is a great option for every year you don’t file a claim. It decreases the annual deductible by $50.
- If you are an owner of multiple pets, you get a 10% pet insurance Maryland discount
- 24/7 access to a mobile app for making quick claims
Cons
- The annual cap is limited to $30,000 which is lower than the competitors
- Higher prices for cat plans
- Quite expensive wellness add-ons
Plans & Coverage
Embrace doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, elective and cosmetic treatments. What it does offer to cover is accidents, emergencies, illness, injuries, hospitalization, ultrasound, X-rays, surgery, allergies, cancer treatment, diagnostics, and more.
Unlike others, Embrace has dental illness and conditions included in the policy.
What distinguishes Embrace from other providers in the Wellness Rewards Plan that allows you to cover your pet’s preventive care. This includes prescribed diet food, routine visits to the vet office, and regular vaccination among other things.
Depending on your pet’s needs and coverage preferences, the plan fully pays for the treatment up to $250, $450, or $650 per year.
Healthy Paws
Being around for more than a decade, Healthy Paws has earned its reputation of being one of the best providers of pet insurance in Maryland in 2023. As a top provider, Healthy paws cuts your pre-accident and annual coverage limits worry short.
This is a rare pet insurance Maryland provider, offering pet parents the possibility to test the coverage they expect to get with their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Highly active on the charity scene, Healthy Paws cares for homeless pets and has donated over $1.5 million to charities.
Pros
- A 2-day reimbursement period after a claim is submitted
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited annual cap and maximum payouts.
- Covers conditions that are breed-specific
- Active in donating to charities with each requested quote
Cons
- Charges a new member fee
- Preventive care or wellness add ons are not offered
- Don’t offer discounts for multiple pet owners
- Not offering customizable plans like other providers
Plans & Coverage
There is only one insurance policy plan that is offered by Healthy Paws and it covers pretty much the standard list of conditions offered by others. This includes injuries, illness, emergencies, and hospitalization among other treatments and conditions.
Unfortunately, preventive care plans and wellness add-ons are not offered. Pre-conditions, exam and vet visit fees, cosmetic procedures, and behavioral treatments are also excluded.
The cost for cats is usually around $12 per month and $39 for dogs. If you are a new member, you’ll need to pay a $25 one-time fee. Cats and dogs may be insured with Healthy Paws until the age of 14.
Fetch by Dodo (Petplan)
A well-established insurance provider on the market, Fetch by Dodo offers comprehensive coverage plans for both cats and dogs. Among the best pet insurance Maryland companies in 2023, Fetch by Dodo has received top ratings from satisfied customers.
Pros
- Offers reimbursement of up to 90%
- Provides coverage of chiropractic and homeopathic therapy
- Flexible plans due to a range of deductibles
Cons
- Claim payouts take a longer period to be realized
- They offer no preventive coverage
Plans & Coverage
This Maryland pet insurance provider allows for flexibility and versatility in purchasing the right policy for your cat or dog. Depending on the budget and needs, the monthly average amounts to $45 for dogs and $28 for cats.
Breeding and preventive care are not included, but pet owners can rest assured that costs for specific therapy like holistic treatments will be covered.
ASPCA
Being in the industry for many years, ASPCA has proven to be one of the best pet insurance in Maryland. A member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty on Animals, ASPCA also designs suitable pet insurance plans as well.
Requiring no preliminary tests before enrolling, they trust their quality coverage plan by offering a 30-day money-back guarantee. Owners of multiple pets are offered discounts and microchipping is included in the coverage.
Pros
- Offer many deductibles
- Microchipping is included in basic coverage
- Multiple pet discount
- Covers cremation and burial
Cons
- Limited to cats and dogs
- No coverage for breeding and nursing
- Has higher prices than competitors
Plans & Coverage
ASPCA’s comprehensive plan covers a long list of issues including injuries, accidents, illnesses, alternative therapy, behavioral issues, prescription food and supplements, microchip implantation, and much more.
Wellness add-ons may be used to cover fees for preventive and routine care veterinary costs and exam fees. The average time for reimbursement of claims is 9 days.
At the same time, the minimum eligible age for enrollment of pets is 8 weeks.
The average monthly pet insurance Maryland cost for dogs is $50 and for cats – $30. There is also a $2 transaction fee that is charged, alongside a $24 saving on transaction fees if the pet owner pays annually instead of monthly.
Figo
Figo is a Maryland pet insurance provider which offers a unique add-ons approach not present with other providers. The Extra Care Pack is an add-on option that covers costs of property damages caused by your pet, as well as vacation cancellation fees in case of rescheduling of plans due to the pet’s treatment.
Pros
- 100% reimbursement
- Access to live vet chat available 24/7
- The shortest waiting period for injuries
Cons
- Charging transaction fees for non-annual plans
- Doesn’t cover behavioral treatments
Plans & Coverage
Figo offers pet owners the choice of three coverage plans with $5,000 and $10,000 caps, and an unlimited coverage option per year. The coverage includes all conditions, issues, and treatments offered by most insurance providers. There is an option of purchasing wellness care coverage added to the policy.
A unique opportunity is offered with the Figo Pet Cloud app which allows pet owners to connect to other pet owners in the area. It also enables you to keep track of the medical history of your pet.
Prudent Pet
Offering an abundance of options for financial and service customization, Prudent Pet has proven to be an excellent choice of pet insurance in Maryland. Pet owners who wish to have unlimited yearly coverage for their furry friends can find the best option among the many plans available.
The core benefits of Prudent Pet are their Wellness plans and the coverage of routine pet care. Offering something for everyone, they allow you to choose between their Accident-only plan, Essential Plan, or Ultimate plan.
Pros
- There is no age limit for coverage
- Multiple pet discounts
- Insurance plans that meet the needs of any pet
- Fast claim processing
Cons
- Insurance available only for cats and dogs
- High premiums
- A long list of exclusions
Plans & Coverage
Finding a plan that fits your budget highly depends on your pet’s needs, as well as the breed, age, health condition, and gender. The average plans typically cost around $40 for dogs and $23 for cats. The pet owner is offered a choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement.
Pre-existing conditions, cosmetic operations, prescription food, or organ transplants are not covered by Prudent Pet.
How Much is Pet Insurance in Maryland?
Various factors influence the pet insurance Maryland cost for a pet. For instance, factors that influence the premium are the pet’s breed, age, species, health condition, gender, location, and, of course, the choice of insurance provider.
A pet parent can expect to pay somewhere between $15 to $90 per month for a basic insurance policy. In general, cats are also less expensive to insure than dogs because they are less likely to have expensive health conditions.
FAQ: Pet Insurance in Maryland
Can pet insurance be used anywhere?
Pet insurance may be used at any licensed veterinary clinic or animal hospital. If the treatment qualifies for coverage, you will receive reimbursement from your provider. Based on the insurance policy, some providers offer direct payment to the vet clinic.
Is pet insurance worth purchasing?
Some think that pet insurance is a waste of money. That’s until they are faced with a pet injury or emergency and not having the money to pay the bill. Purchasing pet insurance offers peace of mind and protects your wallet from unexpected expenses down the line.