If your pet sustains an emergency injury or has a severe condition that necessitates ongoing treatment, your vet bills may mount and put a serious dent in your finances. Because many pet parents prioritize their pet’s health, pet insurance is an excellent way to ensure that you can afford the care it requires. We analyzed the best affordable pet insurance in Texas on factors such as waiting period, customer service, monthly pricing, and plan options to help you find a policy for your dogs or cats in the Lone Star State. Continue reading to learn more about the best affordable pet insurance providers in Texas.
Best Pet Insurance Texas
Here are our top recommendations for the best affordable pet insurance in Texas:
#1. Lemonade
Lemonade is our pick for the “Best Overall” affordable pet insurance company in Texas, earning a 96 out of 100 for a combination of its low prices, comprehensive coverage, annual limit customization from $5,000 to $100,000, additional coverage options, quick claims process, and unique discounts.
We docked Lemonade points for its low Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating, which was determined in part by the volume of customer complaints. However, the majority of complaints are about Lemonade’s other insurance products, specifically homeowners’ and renters’ insurance.
Lemonade Plans
Lemonade’s Accident and Illness Plan covers vet bills for procedures and treatments such as blood tests, urinalysis, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, specialty care, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and prescription medications. Injuries, broken bones, sprains, diarrhea, infections, cancer, skin conditions, hip dysplasia, and hernias are examples of covered incidents.
#2. Spot
Spot scored 91 out of 100 in our comprehensive review of the best pet insurance providers for its customizability. When getting a quote for your policy, you can choose from seven annual coverage limits ranging from $2,500 to unlimited, which is more options than any of the other insurers in this review. If you want to tailor your policy’s coverage to your specific needs and budget, we recommend Spot.
Spot Plans
Spot offers a low-cost accident-only plan that covers unexpected vet bills related to your pet’s accidents, such as injuries, swallowed objects, and toxic ingestion. It also offers an accident and illness plan that covers dental disease, behavioral issues, hip dysplasia, cancer, diabetes, and other conditions.
#3. Embrace
During our review, Embrace received a score of 93.5 out of 100 and stood out the most for its five deductible options and free diminishing deductible benefit known as the Healthy Pet Deductible. With any Embrace policy, your annual deductible will be reduced by $50 for each year you do not file a claim. This is ideal for pet owners who keep their pets healthy because the benefit can help reduce any out-of-pocket expenses if you need to file a claim for an accident or illness.
Embrace Plans
Embrace provides a single coverage plan for both accidents and illnesses. Exam fees, genetic conditions, prescription medications, congenital conditions, dental trauma, cancer treatments, allergy testing, physical therapy, acupuncture, hospitalization, emergency care, or specialist vet visits are examples of qualifying vet bills.
#4. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
We recommend ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for new pet owners in Texas because it covers the best microchip implantation for your new dogs or cats, as well as a useful local vet finder tool and a wealth of online articles and resources about pet breeds and health issues. The provider also provides comprehensive accident-only and accident and illness plans, as well as some affordable preventative care add-on options.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans
Consider ASPCA Pet Health Insurance as an affordable Accident-Only Plan for coverage of injuries, broken bones, and cuts. The Complete Coverage Plan covers accidents and illnesses, including vet bills from various treatments and procedures such as cancer treatments, diagnostic tests, exams, surgery, hospitalization, and more. It does not cover pre-existing conditions that develop before or during the policy’s 14-day waiting period.
#5. Fetch by The Dodo
If you’re looking for the most comprehensive coverage that provides holistic care, Fetch by The Dodo, formerly Petplan is a good choice. In our review, the company received a 91.5 out of 100. Its accident and illness policy covers stem cell therapy, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care for your pet, which are treatments that are frequently limited or excluded by competitors. The policy also covers up to $1,000 in behavioral therapies and virtual vet visits.
Fetch Plans
Fetch’s accident and illness policy has annual coverage limits of $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited. It reimburses you for your pet’s vet visits, treatments, procedures, or other costs related to various accidents and illnesses, such as broken bones, cancer, chronic conditions, and hereditary conditions. It also covers necessary dental treatment for all of your pet’s teeth, which some providers do not.
#6. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws received a score of 93.5 out of 100 and impressed us with its unlimited coverage caps. The advantage of a pet insurance plan with no per-incident, annual, or lifetime limits is that policyholders never have to worry about running out of coverage after costly claims. Anyone who values that benefit should look into Healthy Paws’ accident and illness coverage. Not to mention, the provider’s policies are less affordable than other unlimited coverage plans offered by competitors in Texas.
Healthy Paws Plans
Healthy Paws only has one plan with no add-on options for wellness care. It covers procedures, visits, or treatments related to accidents and illnesses, such as cancer treatments, diagnostics, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, surgery, hospitalizations, prescription medications, emergency care, specialty care, and alternative treatments. It also covers chronic conditions, hereditary conditions, and congenital conditions.
#7. Prudent Pet
Prudent Pet received a rating of 95 out of 100 in our review. Pet (dog or cat) owners in Texas looking for the best comprehensive insurance policy, including extra coverage for behavioral disorders, boarding fees, stolen pet replacement costs, vacation cancellation fees, and mortality or end-of-life costs, should consider Prudent Pet’s Ultimate Plan. However, depending on the breed of your pet, its prices can be high, so it may not be the best option for those looking to save money.
Prudent Pet Plans
Prudent Pet offers three plans: the Accident-Only Plan, the Essential Plan, and the Ultimate Plan. The Accident-Only Plan is ideal for pet owners who only require basic coverage for incidents such as bite wounds, broken bones, or swallowed objects, with a $10,000 limit per year. Cancer, congenital conditions, digestive issues, ear, eye, or skin conditions, hereditary conditions, hip dysplasia, and urinary infections are among the illnesses covered by the Essential Plan.
Pet Insurance Texas No Waiting Period
The following best affordable pet insurance for dogs in Texas do have waiting periods, but they are shorter, and there is also the option with some to have long waiting periods, such as those for orthopedic conditions, shortened with the proper veterinary examination.
Most Texas pet insurance companies have a 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses, with some being a little shorter for accidents and a little longer for illnesses.
Here are some of the best no-waiting-period pet insurance companies in Texas:
#1. Embrace
Waiting period: 14 days for illnesses and 48 hours for accidents. Six months for dogs with orthopedic conditions.
Special Notes: You can reduce the orthopedic condition waiting period to 14 days by taking the dog to a vet for an orthopedic exam at your expense or by using the wellness benefits and receiving an ‘all-clear’ on ortho issues as reported on your Orthopedic Report Card (every dog with Embrace has one).
If your veterinarian discovers something, such as a problem with the right hip, all areas that are not impacted will be reduced, but the right hip will be considered pre-existing. Embrace does have a clause where you can ‘earn back’ the coverage and they will remove the pre-existing condition if the dog is reexamined in six months and the issue has been resolved.
#2. Pets Best
Waiting period: three days for accidents and fourteen days for illnesses. Six months for cruciate ligament events and any other related conditions. There is no need to wait for routine care.
#3. Figo
Waiting period: The most recent data showed 14 days for illnesses and five days for accidents. According to Figo, these vary by state, and you should check with customer service before enrolling.
#4. Healthy Paws
Waiting period: 15 days for accidents and illnesses, and 12 months for hip dysplasia. They do have exclusions for the “other side” if an orthopedic event occurs.
#5. Trupanion
Waiting period: five days for accidents or injuries and thirty days for illnesses.
#6. ASPCA
Waiting period: Both the accident and illness waiting periods are 14 days.
Special notes: Some of the industry’s shortest wait times.
#7. Nationwide
Waiting periods: 14 days for accidents and illnesses, and a 12-month waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries.
#8. PetFirst
Waiting period: Midnight after receiving a policy for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.
#9. Petplan
Waiting period: 15 days for illness or injury and a six-month exclusion for hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament, and patella.
Notes: The six-month cruciate exclusion may be waived if your pet is examined by a veterinarian within the first 30 days of having the policy and no problems are discovered.
Other knee exclusions: yes
What is a Waiting Period?
A waiting period is a time between when you get the policy and when you can start using the benefits. Pet insurance companies in Texas want to make sure you don’t wait until the last minute to get coverage, and unfortunately, many people wait until their pet is sick or injured to try to get care.
A waiting period is a way for pet insurance to reduce its risk. While they are there to cover claims and save pet owners from financial ruin, if they had to pay for pre-existing illnesses, they would go bankrupt. A waiting period ensures that the pet owner is responsible and obtains pet insurance as soon as possible in Texas.
How to Find the Best and Most Affordable Pet Insurance in Texas
Here are some things to look for when comparing options for the best affordable pet insurance for dogs in Texas.
#1. Waiting periods for coverage
After purchasing a pet insurance policy, you must usually wait a certain amount of time before your plan will reimburse you for vet bills. Although every pet insurance company has a waiting period, they vary across the industry in Texas. Companies such as Figo, for example, have a one-day accident waiting period, whereas Healthy Paws has a 15-day accident waiting period.
Some companies also have long wait times for issues such as cruciate ligament injuries. If your pet is prone to these conditions, you should avoid plans with such a long waiting period.
#2. Fees for veterinary examinations
You must pay a fee for the vet to examine your pet every time you visit the vet. Unfortunately, some pet insurance plans do not cover exam fees for visits for injuries and illnesses, so you are responsible for this cost, which can be $100 or more.
#3. Range of benefits
Examine the other benefits that pet insurers provide, such as whether the pet insurance plan includes a 24/7 vet telehealth line. Helplines that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
#4. Pet insurance discounts
Pet insurance discounts can include military discounts, annual payment discounts, and multi-pet discounts for insuring multiple pets.
#5. Direct veterinary payment
Some pet insurance companies will pay the vet directly, eliminating the need for you to pay in advance at the vet’s office. Trupanion, for example, pays veterinarians directly if your veterinarian has their claims software installed.
#6. Routine care coverage
If preventive care is a top priority for you, look for a pet insurer that allows you to add a wellness plan. These plans pay for annual visits, vaccinations, and other preventative treatments.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for affordable insurance for dogs and cats policy, finding the best pet insurance company in Texas is critical to ensuring your pet’s safety at all times.
Lemonade is our recommendation for the best overall coverage, affordability, and unique features. Spot, on the other hand, might be your best bet for a customized plan. You might be drawn to Embrace because of its flexible deductible options. Each provider in this review has distinct features and benefits. Compare quotes from multiple providers to get the best policy for your pet’s needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does most pet insurance cost?
Pet insurance premiums can range from $10 to $100 per month. However, most pet owners should budget between $30 and $50 for dogs and $15 to $30 for cats. Your pet insurance premium is determined by a number of factors.
What should I look out for in pet insurance?
Insurance premiums
These can include (but are not limited to): the type of policy; your pet’s age; your pet’s health; claims or treatment history; where you live; purchase price; your pet’s breed; and whether it is male or female. Premiums are also affected by claims costs and the amount veterinarians charge for treatment.
How do pet insurance know about pre existing conditions?
Yes! Medical records are required by pet insurance companies in order to enroll any pet in a policy. These companies hire teams of veterinary specialists who are trained to review your pet’s medical records to see if your pet has any pre-existing medical conditions.
How much does a dog cost annually?
Being a responsible dog owner includes financially providing for your dogs. The annual cost of owning a dog ranges between $1,500 and $9,900.
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