5 Cheap Pet Insurance Companies (Full Review)

If you are looking for cheap pet insurance companies that are able to cover the needs of your pet then this article is for you.

In this article, you will learn about the best pet insurance companies that are affordable for you and your pup.

Not only that, but you will also learn some tricks that will help you choose the pet insurance best for you.

Also, we have answered some of the frequently asked questions about cheap pet insurance companies.

So, without much ado let’s get into details.

Also read: How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Top 5 Pet Insurance Companies that are Cheap

Table of Contents

Top List of Cheap Pet Insurance Companies – Reviews

1. Lemonade: Best Overall

This pet insurance company is not only the best for kittens and puppies, but it’s also the best for the quick claim processing.

With the use of the company’s app, you can submit a claim and get reimbursement in minutes according to the company.

Basically, they offer a variety of coverage limits, reimbursement and deductibles, and discount options.

Also, they offer an inexpensive boost coverage and several ads-on as a result, making it a more comprehensive coverage for your animal.

Lemonade does not only focus on making a profit alone but on donating to reputable causes.

This is done through the Lemonade give back program, whereby the program takes a flat rate, claims have settled, and donations up to 40% to charities chosen by policyholders.

That said, the price ranges from $25 to $45 per month for dogs and $15 to $35 per month for cats.

Pros

Offers a 48 hours waiting period for accidents.
No age limit for coverage
Optional wellness plan available
Multiple discount programs
Fast processing of claims
Multiple policies and riders are available.
Offers a multi-pet discount of 10%

Cons

Don’t cover behavioral treatments
No unlimited benefits

Read this article next: 4 Best Pet Insurance In Connecticut (CT)

2. Spot: Most Customizable Plans

This particular pet insurance company offers two types of policies for cats and dogs.

One is for accidents only and the other coverage is for both accidents and illnesses which also includes exam fees and vet visit fees.

They offer two types of Wellness and preventive care coverage options which are Gold and platinum.

So, you can add any of the options to your accident-only or accident-and-illness plan for an additional cost.

Spot provides various ways to customize your plan with options for annual coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursements.

In addition, the spot makes it perfect for those who need only minimal coverage with their cheap plan on accident-only coverage.

That said, they cover advanced treatments like chemotherapy and surgery, stem-cell therapy, and acupuncture.

Spot won’t cover:

Pre-existing Conditions
Cosmetic Procedures
Breeding Costs

Prices range from $18 to $25 per month for cats and $30 to $50 per month for dogs.

Pros

No upper age limit
30 days money back guarantee
Covers the veterinarian office visit fee for illness and accidents
Offers a multi-pet discount of 10%
Optional wellness plan available
Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line
A low $100 deductible is available
Its standard plan includes microchipping.
Has option for unlimited annual coverage

Cons

Doesn’t cover pets under eight weeks old.
The waiting period for accidents is 14 days

Also, check out these 7 Best and Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies In Minnesota

3. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Best For New Pet Owners

ASPCA pet health insurance is one of the best due to its partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

They offer accident-only, accident and illness, and preventive care for cats and dogs as well as horses.

That said, ASPCA’s premium rates are affordable and they are more flexible when it comes to certain policy terms.

For example, while other companies set an age limit on coverage, they guarantee coverage no matter the age of your animal.

ASPCA pet insurance company covers many issues and is one of the cheapest options in the market.

It covers three levels of coverage which are:

Accident Only plan
Injuries and Illnesses
Injuries, Illnesses, and Advanced Care.

The average cost of ASPCA’s pet health insurance is $29 a month for cats and $49 a month for dogs.

Pros

Covers horses in addition to dogs and cats.
No upper age limit
Covered stem cell therapy and microchipping.
Includes coverage for Exam fees
Offers a multi-pet discount of 10%
Has a 24/7 telehealth line

Cons

There is a limit to the choices you can make for deductibles.
It doesn’t offer unlimited annual coverage

4. Embrace: Best For Diminishing Deductibles

Embrace pet insurance provides you with a variety of options for coverage, reimbursement, and deductibles within your budget.

Also, you can lower your premium with a diminishing deductible that reduces it by $50 each year you don’t have a claim paid.

In addition, Embrace donates $2 to a pet-related charity for each policy purchased.

Their coverage includes accidents, illnesses, and other conditions. In addition, they also offer an accident-only policy.

However, when you buy an accident-only policy you won’t be covered for conditions included in accident and illness plans.

Embrace is best for older pets because they are willing to offer coverage for animals that are up to the age of 15.

Price ranges from $25 to $40 per month for dogs and $15 to $25 dollars for cats per month.

Pros

Offers employers and military benefits of 5%
Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
2 days a waiting period for an accident
Covers the veterinarian office visit fee for illness and accidents.
30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

No unlimited benefits
A waiting period of 6 months for coverage of orthopedic conditions
Strict pre-existing condition guidelines

5. Pawp: Best For Multiple Pets

Pawp is a pet insurance company that is best with emergencies and can cover up to 6 pets in a household, regardless of your pup’s age, breed, or medical history.

In addition, unlike other policies, they do not have reimbursement levels, deductibles, or copays.

The best part is that your pup can see the vet of your choice and the bill will be fully paid for before you leave the clinic.

With this, you don’t have to go through the stressful claim process of some insurance policies.

That said, they are great for older pets and those with pre-existing conditions; however, wellness, routines, or preventive care has to be paid for from your pocket.

It’s important to note that Pawp emergency funds can only be used for true emergencies.

Pawp’s pricing structure is simple. Each membership, which includes the Emergency Plan, is a flat rate of $24 per month.

Pros

Does direct payment to your vet before you leave the clinic instead of reimbursing you
There are no deductibles
Has a 24/7 telehealth line
Can cover pre-existing conditions as long as they’re considered life-threatening emergencies.

Cons

Doesn’t offer coverage options for preventative care
Has a 14days waiting period.

Summary of the Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies

Lemonade: Best Overall
Spot: Most customizable Plan
ASPCA: Best For New Pet Owners
Embrace: Best for determining deductibles
Pawp: Best for multiple pets

Also read about the 4 Best and Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies In New York (NYC)

Are Cheap Pet Insurance Companies Worth it?

Let’s do some math to know whether these cheap insurance companies are actually cheap.

Supposing you normally pay $35 every month or $420 each year. Then for over 3 years, you have paid $1260 in premiums.

Let’s say your dog swallows an object and undergoes surgery that costs $4,500.

Now if you have a policy with a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement level, you would pay only $900 for your dog’s medical expenses ($500 deductibles + 10% of $4,000 = $900).

The result:

In total, you have paid $2160 for three years of premiums including your share of the costs of the surgery.
Without pet insurance, you would have paid $4,500 for the surgery.
Pet insurance has saved you $2,340.

So, if you’re still in doubt about buying pet insurance ask yourself these questions

How much can you afford to pay out of your pocket for your pet’s vet bills, especially when an emergency arises?
When an emergency surgery arises or an illness like cancer, how much can you pay for the vet bill?

Now you know the worth of a pet insurance company, let’s find out how you can find cheap pet insurance.

Are you new to dog breeding? Check out this article about Dog Breeding For Beginners: What You Should Know

How To Find Cheap Pet Insurance Companies

Trying to find a cheap insurance policy that can offer good coverage for you and your pup can be difficult.

So, here are some things to keep in mind when searching for the best insurance for your pup.

1. Review the pet insurance plan with your veterinarian:

Use the advice from your veterinarian as a resource about your pet’s breed, and health issues for pinpointing the best coverage before you buy.

It’s important to note that some breeds are more prone to certain hereditary conditions than others.

Because of this, your veterinarian can identify some health concerns worth covering before your pet becomes affected.

2. Compare pet insurance policies:

The next step is to evaluate the various types of coverage that cover certain conditions.

After that, you’ll have to compare their different types of coverage and get the prices and quotes that suit you.

Then you also consider other factors like waiting periods, deductibles, and reimbursements and what applies when your pup gets older.

3. Buy pet insurance early on:

As a pet owner who has a pet, you should be aware of the financial burden vet bills have which is why it’s important to buy pet insurance on time.

For example, if your pup develops a heart condition before you enroll in an insurance plan, it will be considered a pre-existing condition and thus, won’t be covered.

Knowing this helps you purchase a pet insurance policy early on and also helps in minimizing out-of-pocket costs.

4. Pay annually instead of monthly

Some pet insurance providers allow the option to pay for coverage in single or annual payments.

As a result, many pet insurance companies tend to offer discounts when you pay this way rather than monthly.

With this offer, you are sure that your pup will be covered throughout the year with no risk of coverage lapsing when you forget to make your monthly payment.

5. Ask For Pet Insurance Discounts

Checking for discounts is one of the good ways in choosing cheap pet insurance companies because this will help you save.

Below are some common discounts you should look out for:

Annual Pay Discount: You’ll be able to save money if you can afford to pay your premium annually rather than on a monthly basis.

Bundle Discount: you get a lower price when you bundle with a renters or homeowners insurance policy under the same provider.

Employee Benefit Discount: Some companies might decide to offer pet insurance discounts voluntarily and ranging from 5% to 10%

Multi-pet Discount: many pet insurance companies offer discounts when you insure more than one animal with them.

Military Discount: Being a former or active duty military member offers you a discount on some insurance policies.

Spay/Neuter Discount: when you spay or neuter your animal before enrolling for an insurance policy, this will attract a premium discount from your issuer.

Also read about 15 Small Chicken Breeds Perfect for Pets and Homesteading (With Pictures)

How To Buy A Cheap Pet Insurance Plan

The best way to buy cheap pet insurance plans is to compare prices among several issuers.

Here is how to get a cheap insurance Plan:

Online: Getting quotes from pet insurance companies is easy and free. All you have to do is answer a few basic questions about your pet.

Also, you can use a website that compares different pet insurance companies’ quotes and saves yourself the stress.

Phone, email, or in-person: You can also contact a representative of the pet insurance company to get the information you need.

Conclusion

In this search, we found out that Lemonade, Spot, ASPCA, Embrace and Pawp offer the most affordable coverage.

When it comes to the cost, the prices are dependent on some factors which are your pet’s breed, age, and location.

But if you’re looking for affordable pet insurance, any of these mentioned above will help keep your vet bill at a minimum.

However, while shopping for the most affordable make sure you get different pet insurance quotes in order to get the best coverage for your pup’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the Best Cheap Pet Insurance Companies?

Lemonade, Embrace and Pawp are the best when it comes to price coverage features and cost.

While ASPCA and Spot also offer superior plans. However, you don’t need to focus on just the price in finding the best pet insurance.

You should also look out for other things to avoid missing out on other benefits such as access to a 24/7 vet helpline or adding a routine wellness plan for your pet.

Do Cheap Pet Insurance Companies Only Cover Cats and Dogs?

Pet Insurance is not only limited to just cats and dogs, there are cheap pet insurance companies that offer coverage for birds, exotic pets, and horses.

For instance, ASPCA offers coverage for horses and Nationwide offers coverage for exotic animals and birds.

Although, not all exotic pets are covered, especially species that are illegal to own by state and Federal law.