Things to Consider Before Choosing Pet Insurance in Ohio
- 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
Surrounded by natural attractions such as the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Erie, and Ohio River, Ohio is a great place for adventures with furry companions – so, it’s no wonder that more than 62% of Ohio households own a pet.
The companionship and joy that pets bring to their owners make them equal members of the family. So, when a pet faces an illness or injury, medical care is as essential and as expensive as for human family members.
This is where pet insurance policies step up to relieve the financial stress related to pets’ health issues by covering major veterinary bills.
Most pet insurance policies in Ohio tend to cover extensive costs for injuries and illnesses as well as routine procedures, such as wellness visits and vaccinations. Different insurance providers and policies include different types of vet care expenses.
In this article, we will assess the best pet insurance Ohio providers in 2023.
Lemonade
Lemonade is considered the overall best choice for pet insurance in Ohio thanks to its vast range of coverage, short waiting periods, and helpful customer service.
Pros
- Lemonade provides three add-on solutions for the customization of your plan
- The waiting period for accidents is fairly short – around 48 hours
- There’s an option to give unclaimed money from your premium insurance plan to various charity causes
Cons:
- Lemonade pet insurance in Ohio requires recent medical exams for enrollment
- Its coverage plans don’t include dental or behavioral treatments
Plans & Coverage
The general Ohio pet insurance accident and illness plan from Lemonade cover prescription medications and injections as well as diagnostic procedures, including blood tests, urinalysis, lab work, CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs. Furthermore, costs of emergency care, surgery, and hospitalizations are covered, too.
The three add-on options include – coverage of vet visit fees for eligible illnesses and accidents, costs for physical therapy treatments (such as chiropractic care or acupuncture), and costs of routine care (i.e. vaccinations, wellness exams, parasite tests, and yearly blood tests).
Lemonade’s pet insurance services exclude routine dental care, behavioral treatment, cosmetic procedures, and pre-existing conditions.
Prices can go from $11 for mixed cat insurance to more than $85 for older and more sensitive dog breeds.
Embrace
As one of the options for the best pet insurance in Ohio, Embrace provides pet owners with 5 deductible solutions for customizing their coverage plan.
Pros
- Embrace offers pet parents with five options for deductibles: $200, $300, $500, $750, and $1,000
- There’s a 10% discount for owners of multiple pets
- $2 of each policy is donated to charity
Cons
- The customer support team is available for a limited part of the day, not 24/7
- Embrace has higher premium quotes for larger dog breeds than its competitors
Plans & Coverage
The all-inclusive Accident and Illness Plan by Embrace includes many diagnostic procedures, such as lab tests, CT scans, X-rays, and biopsies. Moreover, prescription drugs, cancer treatments, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, as well as emergency care, are taken care of.
On average, cat insurance premiums vary from $15-$20, while dog insurance is priced at $30-$40.
Embrace also offers a Wellness Rewards Plan that covers everyday vet care costs and routine vet visits such as nail trims, spay and neuter surgery, chiropractic care, etc.
As usual, pre-existing conditions are excluded as well as cosmetic procedures, pregnancy or breeding costs.
Healthy Paws
Another good choice for flexible pet insurance plans in Ohio is Healthy Paws with its unlimited coverage that prevents almost all out-of-pocket costs. Also, Healthy Paws makes a cheap pet insurance Ohio provider, which makes it a go-to choice.
Pros
- The waiting time for processing claims is as short as two days
- Healthy Paws’ premium, unlimited insurance policies are generally cheaper than those of their competitors
- There are no annual or lifetime coverage limits
Cons
- You can’t customize your plan for pets more than 6 years old
- The waiting period for hip dysplasia treatment can last as long as a year
Plans & Coverage
Healthy Paws provides pet parents with an extensive Accident and Illness plan (priced at $10.83 for cats and $18.50 for dogs) that includes coverage of vet bills connected to emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, chronic and hereditary conditions.
The policy also includes diagnostic procedures and treatments like blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays, prescription drugs, and alternative therapies.
Pre-existing conditions are excluded from the plan, as well as preventive and routine care or spaying and neutering, which can be a deal-breaker for some pet owners.
Prudent Pet
Prudent Pet provides the most comprehensive pet insurance in Ohio with its wide-ranged plans of coverage and care.
Pros
- The 24/7 live chat feature allows customers to get in touch with a licensed veterinarian anytime they need help
- There’s a 10% discount for owners of multiple pets
- The Ultimate plan includes a variety of costs such as mortality expenses and boarding kennel fees
Cons:
- Prudent Pet doesn’t have a mobile app
- Coverage plans are limited with no option of customization
Plans & Coverage
Prudent Plan provides Ohio pet insurance in three plans: Accident-Only, Essential, and Ultimate. The monthly premiums can range from as low as $13 to $107.
The Accident-Only plan covers exclusively injuries caused by incidents, such as broken bones, bite wounds, or swallowed objects.
The Essential Plan focuses on illnesses like cancer, hip dysplasia, urinary infections, digestive issues, and hereditary conditions.
The Ultimate Plan includes all vet care coverage from the Essential Plan plus mortality benefits, such as burial or cremation of a lost pet, boarding kennel and cattery fees, advertising and reward costs, and vacation cancellation fees.
In addition to that, Prudent Pet offers coverage for routine care (vaccinations, microchipping, deworming, and routine exams) in its two wellness add-ons.
Pre-existing conditions, cosmetic care, and breeding costs are excluded.
ASPCA
ASPCA is one of the most favored providers for customizable insurance policies, so it’s recommended to pet owners that seek low deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
Pros
- No medical exams are required to sign up for an ASPCA coverage plan
- This provider is famous for the low deductibles it offers to pet parents
- Insurance plans cover preventive care such as microchipping
Cons:
- Some negative customer reviews that complain about ASPCA’s services
- The veterinary costs as regulated in the insurance plans are lower than most expenses for quality vet care
Plans & Coverage
ASPCA pet insurance in Ohio provides health insurance for every pet dog and cat with no pre-enrollment exam. Customers can establish a direct connection with this provider through its mobile app and obtain all major health coverage as well as exclusive support for alternative therapies and behavioral treatment.
Essentially, ASPCA has three basic plans that range from accident-only to advanced care coverage. The advanced plan includes coverage for dental care, behavioral issues, and hereditary or congenital illnesses.
That’s not all – ASPCA’s additional wellness plan covers preventive care costs, including wellness exams, dental cleaning, vaccinations, urinalysis, heartworm prevention, and more. Moreover, this provider offers a 10% discount for owners of multiple pets.
The average ASPCA monthly premium is $16.57 for cats and $41.26 for dogs.
Fetch by Dodo (Petplan)
Fetch by Dodo is an acclaimed coverage provider that has offered pet insurance focused on pet dogs and cats in Ohio since 2001. This insurer is currently acquired under the Fetch, Inc. brand, with its insurance plans underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company. Known for its flexible pet insurance plans, it has the best A rating from customers.
Pros
- Fetch by Dodo healthcare coverage for dogs and cats is famous for its customization options. Depending on the tier of insurance you choose (bronze, silver, or gold), pet parents get various benefits.
- The company not only offers an online enrollment option, but the online purchase of a coverage plan comes with an immediate 5% discount.
- The mobile app has solid software compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Cons:
- Customers who sign up for this pet insurance for dogs Ohio plan are obliged to take their dogs to regular health and dental check-ups that aren’t covered.
- Petplan doesn’t offer a wellness insurance policy option, so pet parents should pay regular visits completely out of pocket.
Plans & Coverage
Petplan’s coverage plans include a wide range of medical procedures, such as behavioral treatments, prescription drugs, and alternative therapies for dental illness or injury, cancer treatments, stem cell therapy, acupuncture, and more – all of it for the price of $20.16 for cats and $36.97 for mixed dog breeds.
Emergency veterinary services and exam fees are covered as well and virtual vet care is offered.
Apart from medical issues, this insurance provider also takes care of advertising and reward fees for lost pets, vacation cancellation fees in case of sudden pet health issues, and boarding kennel fees in cases of hospitalization of the pet owner.
Like most other vet care coverage providers, Fetch by Dodo doesn’t include pre-existing conditions or preventive and cosmetic procedures. This company’s insurance plans also lack add-on options for routine care expenses.
Figo
Figo is mostly recommendable for owners that seek the best pet insurance in Ohio because of its Extra Care Pack that includes various vet care expenses.
Pros
- In case of injuries, Figo has a short waiting period of only one day
- This provider offers an optional add-on that includes vet visits and exam fees that may not be included in a covered treatment
- Unlike many other pet health insurers, Figo offers a 100% reimbursement option
Cons:
- Figo’s insurance policy doesn’t include behavioral treatments of dogs and cats
- Annual vet visits and dental exams are required for pets to remain included in Fido’s coverage plans
Plans & Coverage
Figo’s pet health coverage policy includes injuries and illnesses such as chronic conditions, cancer, broken bones, etc. It covers all necessary expenses from vet care addressing these issues, including prescription drugs, diagnostic tests, surgeries, hospitalization, and emergency care.
For pet parents that seek additional coverage, Figo offers add-ons (priced at around $4-10 per month) for exam fees and vet visits, as well as wellness care plans in two possible coverage levels that cover preventative treatments like vaccinations and annual vet checkups.
Moreover, the Extra Care Pack, which will cost you $6.62 per month, also covers the expenses for advertising and reward fees for lost pets, burial and cremation expenses for deceased pets, and third-party property damage liability.
How Much Is Pet Insurance in Ohio?
On average, the monthly cost of Ohio pet insurance ranges between $12 and $46 for cats and $20 and $87 for dogs.
However, each pet’s quote is different and it depends on several factors, such as:
- Species – As a rule of thumb, pet insurance policies for dogs are more expensive than pet coverage plans for cats because most dogs tend to develop health issues more frequently than cats, especially with aging. This fact makes dog health issues more pricey to cover, and therefore the premiums for health insurance are higher.
- Age – Age is a major risk factor that makes pets prone to various health problems, such as arthritis, cataracts, and cancers. Therefore, insurance policy rates become higher for pets that have reached 6 years of age.
- Breed – Some specific breeds are more sensitive to congenital or hereditary conditions as well as other health issues that come with age. For instance, large dog breeds such as German Shepherds or Great Danes get more prone to heart diseases and hip dysplasia as they age, which is why the premium prices are higher for their owners.
- Discounts – When choosing the best insurance provider in Ohio, prioritize pet healthcare insurers that offer discounts to their customers. For example, when it comes to animal lovers with multiple pets, Lemonade offers a 5% discount, while Embrace and Prudent Pet give a 10% discount.
FAQ: Pet Insurance in Ohio
Is Ohio pet insurance worth it?
Emergency vet care can often be expensive for pet owners in Ohio. In the case of an accident or emergency involving your dog or cat, pet coverage is the best form of protection that will relieve your financial stress and enable you to focus on your pet’s health instead of the astronomical vet care bills. So, purchasing a pet insurance plan is highly advisable for all pet parents in Ohio.
What is not covered by Ohio pet insurance?
Most pet insurance plans cover the expenses for injuries, illnesses, and wellness visits, but there are still vet bills that you’ll have to pay out of pocket. For example, most pet insurance plans don’t include treatment of pre-existing conditions. Also, many pet healthcare insurers will exclude the expenses for congenital or hereditary disorders, as well as grooming, cosmetic procedures, and other elective procedures.
Does every vet accept pet insurance in Ohio?
In general, most licensed veterinarians in the United States, including Ohio, will accept bill payments via pet insurance policies. Unlike human doctors, veterinarians usually don’t get involved in particular insurance networks, so the coverage policies from all aforementioned providers will cover your vet bills.
Does pet insurance cover routine vet visits?
Routine vet visits are usually included in comprehensive pet insurance policies. By choosing an all-encompassing plan, you will have routine checkups, vaccinations, and other preventive procedures covered.