Best Pet Insurance Companies in Maryland (MD)

From the thriving city of Baltimore to the edges of the nation’s capital, Maryland is an excellent place to live with your furry family member. No matter where you live in the state, a pet health insurance policy can keep your pet safe and help you afford any necessary treatments that may come up after an unexpected accident or illness.

The This Old House Reviews Team researched the best pet insurance companies in Maryland and spent hundreds of hours surveying pet owners, reading customer reviews, and comparing how the top players stack up on their plan offerings, customer service, pricing, and more.

• Lemonade: Best Overall
• Spot: Most Customizable Plans
• Embrace: Best Deductibles
• Figo: Best Extra Coverage Plan
• ASPCA: Best for New Pet Owners
• Fetch: Best Holistic Coverage
• Healthy Paws: Best Coverage Limit

Lemonade

Of all the companies we reviewed, Lemonade impressed us the most for its overall policy coverage, plan customization, fast claims filing process, and affordable premiums.

• Our score: 96
• Has a mobile app with AI claims filing technology so you don’t have to speak to an agent to process a claim
• Provides a 10% bundling discount for Lemonade homeowners insurance and Lemonade renters insurance customers
• Offers more affordable premiums for most pet breeds and ages compared to most other providers, according to our sample quotes

The primary reason Lemonade lost a few points in our analysis was its lower-than-average C rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) due to an abnormally high number of complaints. However, we still recommend Lemonade for pet insurance, since we found that most of the complaints were in reference to the company’s other insurance products, not pet insurance.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Pros and Cons

✔ Has a two-day waiting period for accidents, which is shorter than many competitors
✔ Provides extra preventative care coverage for puppies and kittens less than 2 years old
✔ Offers optional add-ons for vet visit fees and physical therapy coverage

✘ Doesn’t cover veterinary costs related to dental illness, unlike many competitors
✘ Offers three annual deductible options, which is fewer than many other providers

Lemonade Plans and Coverage

Lemonade offers one standard pet insurance plan that covers accidents and illnesses, including bite wounds, toxic ingestions, cancer, digestive illness, and more. It pays for vet bills related to those emergencies and covers diagnostic tests, outpatient care, and hospitalization—just to name a few. It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, behavioral conditions, dental illness, and elective or cosmetic procedures.

For extra coverage, you can purchase add-ons for vet visit fees, physical therapy treatments, and preventative care. Lemonade divides its preventative care add-on into two monthly prices and coverage levels. The less expensive option helps pay for a wellness exam, a fecal test, three vaccines, and a blood test, and the more expensive option includes all of that coverage plus a routine dental cleaning and flea, tick, or heartworm medication.

Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Spot

Spot provides seven customizable coverage limits between $2,500 and unlimited for pet owners to choose from when purchasing their policy, making it one of the most flexible options for those on a budget.

Some highlights include the following:

• Our score: 91
• Doesn’t require you to pay extra for vet visit and exam fee coverage
• Has a 24/7 telehealth line for all customers
• Has a 10% multi-pet discount for each additional pet insurance policy after the first one

Spot Pros and Cons

✔ Has helpful resources on its website with extensive tips for your pet’s health care
✔ Covers microchip implantation in standard policies
✔ Doesn’t require medical records to sign up for coverage

✘ Doesn’t have weekend customer service availability
✘ Has a 14-day waiting period for injuries, which is longer than some competitors

Spot Plans and Coverage

Spot provides an accident-only and an accident and illness plan. The accident-only plan is a great option for those who want less-expensive coverage for emergencies, such as injuries, broken bones, and toxic ingestions. The other option is ideal for pet owners who want comprehensive coverage on those accidents, plus illnesses and other conditions, including cancer and chronic conditions.

For help paying for vet bills related to your pet’s wellness care, such as annual checkups, vaccinations, deworming, and more, you can purchase the Gold or Platinum preventative plans. The Gold plan comes with $250 of total coverage per year for each treatment’s specified limits, and the Platinum plan comes with $450 total per year.

Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review

Embrace

For impressive deductible options and a unique Healthy Pet Deductible that helps you save on your deductible each year you don’t file a claim, we recommend Embrace.

• Our score: 93.5
• Provides the Healthy Pet Deductible, which credits your deductible with $50 each year you don’t file a claim on your dog or cat
• Provides five customizable deductible options between $200 and $1,000
• Offers a 5% discount for active and former military members

Embrace Pros and Cons

✔ Has been in business since 2003, which is longer than many competitors
✔ Reimburses you for 100% of preventative care vet bills with its optional Wellness Rewards Plan
✔ Provides a free medical history review to inform you on your pet’s coverage eligibility before you commit to a policy

✘ Offers higher plan prices for cats than many other providers, according to our sample quotes
✘ Caps its annual limit options at $30,000, which is lower than many competitors

Embrace Plans and Coverage

Embrace’s pet insurance policies cover accidents and illnesses, such as congenital conditions, dental trauma, genetic conditions, allergies, and more. It pays up to the annual limit you choose for vet bills related to your pet’s necessary treatments, procedures, exam fees, and other costs, including prescription drugs, allergy testing, hospitalization, cancer treatments, and more. It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, or any issues related to pregnancy or breeding.

Embrace also provides the optional Wellness Rewards Plan to pet parents looking for additional help paying for their dog or cat’s routine care. It pays for 100% of each covered treatment up to $250, $450, or $650 per year, depending on your preference and coverage needs. Routine care costs include wellness visits, microchipping, prescription diet foods, vaccinations, and more.

Learn More: Embrace Pet Insurance Review

Figo

Figo provides the unique Extra Care Pack that stands out among add-on options from other top insurers. It covers extra expenses, such as third-party property damage your pet may cause and vacation cancellation fees if you have to change plans due to your pet’s treatments.

Some highlights include these:

• Our score: 93
• Includes the Figo Pet Cloud app with coverage, which connects you to other pet owners in your area and allows you to track your pet’s medical history
• Provides a low deductible option of $100
• Has a 30-day money-back guarantee

Figo Pros and Cons

✔ Has a one-day waiting period for injuries, which is shorter than each other company in this review
✔ Provides a 100% reimbursement rate, which isn’t offered by many competitors
✔ Has a 24/7 live vet chat easily accessible on the mobile app

✘ Does cover behavioral treatments
✘ Offers less annual coverage limit options than many competitors

Figo Plans and Coverage

Figo’s standard pet insurance plan comes with coverage for both accidents and illnesses, including chronic conditions, cancer, congenital conditions, general illnesses and hip dysplasia. It pays for expenses from necessary treatments, such as diagnostic tests, surgery, prescription medications, and hospitalization.

Figo’s Extra Care Pack comes with coverage for third-party property damage, vacation cancellation fees, emergency boarding fees if your pet needs a place to stay while you’re hospitalized, burial or cremation costs, replacement costs, and lost-pet advertising and reward money.

You can also purchase wellness care coverage with your policy in two coverage levels, in addition to a vet visit and exam fees coverage option.

Learn More: Figo Pet Insurance Review

ASPCA

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is ideal for anyone new to pet ownership. On its website, pet parents can utilize the convenient local vet finder tool, along with extensive resources for different pet breeds and the diseases that could affect them. 

• Our score: 89 out of 100
• Covers the costs of microchipping, behavior issues, and dental illness in its base plan
• Offers highly customizable plans, allowing pet owners to choose from three deductibles, three reimbursement rates, and five annual limits
• Underwritten by one of the oldest, most experienced pet insurance companies, Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group

ASPCA Pros and Cons

✔ Covers the costs of illness and accident-related exam fees

✔ Offers a 10% discount when you enroll more than one pet 

✔ Provides a money-back guarantee if you cancel your policy within the first 30-days

✘ Has a lower annual coverage cap ($10,000) than most providers

✘ Has limited customer service and vet tech availability (only Monday through Friday)

ASPCA Plans and Coverage

ASPCA offers two plans—accident-only and accident-and-illness. Referred to as the Complete Coverage plan, ASPCA’s accident-and-illness coverage pays for dental illness, cancer treatments, prescription medications, surgery, rehabilitation, behavioral therapies, alternative therapies, and more. Its budget-friendly accident-only plan covers treatments for expected injuries such as broken bones, cuts, bite wounds, toxic ingestions, swallowed objects, and more. 

ASPCA does not cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic or elective procedures, or breeding costs. 

There is a preventive care add-on for pet parents looking for coverage for routine care visits. Offered at a Basic and Prime level, each option covers vaccinations, deworming, dental cleanings, and more. The Basic level covers a total of $250 per year, and Prime covers a total of $450 per year. 

Learn More: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review

Fetch by The Dodo

Fetch offers comprehensive pet insurance policies that include holistic coverage, such as stem cell therapy, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture, that isn’t always offered by competitors.

• Our score: 91.5
• Has an unlimited coverage option for policies without annual caps
• Offers a unique Healthy Pet Credit that provides 15% off your policy renewal if you didn’t file a claim in the last 12 months (up to 30% after two years)
• Pays for exam fees with standard policies

Fetch Pros and Cons

✔ Provides a 10% discount for policies on rescued or adopted pets
✔ Covers a few extra reimbursements, such as lost-pet advertising and boarding kennel fees, which aren’t typically offered by other pet insurance providers
✔ Pays up to $1,000 for online vet visits with no copay or deductible

✘ Doesn’t offer preventative care coverage add-ons, unlike most competitors
✘ Prices can be significantly higher than many competitors for some older pets and some dog breeds

Fetch Plans and Coverage

Fetch offers only one standard plan with up to $5,000, $15,000, or unlimited annual coverage on accidents and illnesses. It pays for dental care, cancer treatments, prescription medications, surgery, rehabilitation, up to $1,000 for behavioral therapies, and holistic or alternative therapies. It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic or elective procedures, or issues related to breeding or pregnancy.

Fetch also reimburses you for a few costs that aren’t typically covered by many competitors, such as advertising and reward money when you lose a pet, boarding kennel fees if you’re hospitalized for more than four days and can’t care for your pet, and vacation cancellation fees if your travel plans change due to your pet’s covered condition.

Learn More: Fetch Pet Insurance Review

Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws is our top pick for pet parents who don’t want to worry about reaching their coverage maximum throughout the year, since its policies come with unlimited per-incident, lifetime, and annual coverage caps.

• Our score: 93.5
• Provides less expensive premiums than competing providers’ unlimited coverage options
• Has a 30-day money-back guarantee to ensure pet owners get the coverage they expect
• Recommends other pet insurance providers when its quote tool deems your quoted premium higher than average

Healthy Paws Pros and Cons

✔ Provides a mobile app that acts as a hub for helpful pet health and training resources
✔ Donates money to charities whenever a quote is requested
✔ Makes most reimbursements within two days after customers submit a claim

✘ Doesn’t cover exam fees or office visit fees
✘ Has a 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia coverage, which is longer than most providers’ waiting periods for that condition

Healthy Paws Plans and Coverage

Healthy Paws offers a pet insurance policy with unlimited payouts on veterinary bills related to most accidents and illnesses, such as X-rays, blood tests, surgery, cancer treatments, emergency care, specialty care, and alternative treatments, including acupuncture and chiropractic care. Qualifying illnesses can be related to hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions.

The company doesn’t offer any optional coverage add-ons for your policy, so it won’t help you pay for preventative care or routine vet visits. It also excludes pre-existing conditions, spay or neuter procedures, exam fees, vet visit fees, cosmetic procedures, and behavioral treatments.

Learn More: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

Overall, we highly recommend obtaining a minimum of three quotes from the top pet insurance providers before choosing a policy for your furry friend in Maryland.

*Based on sample quotes from an accident and illness policy for a mixed 4-year-old dog in Baltimore (21224 ZIP code)

There are various factors that go into your quoted monthly rates from each pet insurance company in Maryland, such as your pet’s specific details and your location within the state. Based on the dozens of sample quotes we received, we found that you can typically expect to pay between $15 and $100 per month for a standard policy. Here are more details about significant factors that can impact your premium:

• Species: Pet insurance for dogs and pet insurance for cats comes with different baseline prices. Cats are usually cheaper to insure than dogs, since they’re less likely to have an expensive health condition, such as hip dysplasia.
• Breed: Different breeds of dogs and cats have unique health patterns that can impact how much you have to pay for pet insurance. While many mixed dogs are known to have minimal health problems, canines such as Great Danes and Golden Retrievers commonly have issues with cruciate ligament ruptures, which require expensive vet visits. This means you’ll pay more for a policy to insure those dogs than other healthier breeds.
• Age: If you’re looking to purchase a pet insurance policy for an older pet, you may be surprised by the higher prices. Insurers charge more as your pet ages, since it’s more likely to need treatments later in life. Signing up for a pet insurance policy as early as possible in your dog or cat’s life can help keep rates lower.
• Customization: If you’re looking for the cheapest pet insurance policy in Maryland, you can lower your annual coverage limit, annual deductible, and reimbursement rate options. For example, while our quote from Embrace on a mixed-breed dog’s policy costs $78.17 per month with a $30,000 annual coverage limit, $200 deductible, and 90% reimbursement rate, it costs only $20.12 per month with a $5,000 annual limit, $1,000 deductible, and 70% reimbursement rate.

The right pet insurance for you and your pet can vary depending on your preferences and specific needs. Although we recommend Lemonade to Maryland residents as the best overall provider for its affordability and coverage options, other companies may be a better fit for you. For instance, if you want unlimited coverage, we recommend Healthy Paws, but ASPCA or Spot may make the most sense if you want a budget-friendly accident-only plan.

The This Old House Reviews Team is dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:

• Coverage (25)
• Plan options (20)
• Monthly cost (20)
• Company reputation (15)
• Customer service (10)
• Species eligibility (10)

Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.