A pet health insurance policy helps you enjoy those dog walks past the Empire State Building or cuddling with your cat in your Manhattan apartment without worrying about potential accidents or illnesses that may occur.
The This Old House Reviews team reviewed the best pet insurance companies and compared each provider’s coverage plans, pricing, and benefits.
Keep reading to determine which top-rated provider offers the best pet insurance in New York City for you and your pet.
New York City’s Best Pet Insurance Providers:
Here are the top 8 providers of the best pet insurance in NYC:
- Lemonade: Best Overall
- Spot: Most Customizable Plans
- Embrace: Best Deductibles
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Best for New Pet Owners
- Fetch by The Dodo: Best Holistic Coverage
- Healthy Paws: Best Coverage Limit
- Prudent Pet: Most Comprehensive Plan
- Figo: Best Extra Coverage Add-on
Lemonade
The top provider in our review is Lemonade, scoring a 96 out of 100 for offering a variety of annual coverage limit options.
Some highlights include:
- Comprehensive & affordable wellness add-on
- Extended coverage option
- Mobile app enables fast claims process
Lemonade primarily lost points for its low rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) for excessive complaints filed against it. However, many of these complaints reference experiences with the insurer’s renters insurance and homeowners insurance products.
Pros and Cons of Lemonade Pet Insurance
✔ Has a discount for paying annually
✔ Offers a discount for bundling your pet insurance policy with your Lemonade homeowners insurance policy
✔ Has a short two-day waiting period for accidents
✘ Doesn’t cover chronic conditions
✘ Doesn’t cover behavioral treatments
Lemonade Plans
Lemonade’s Accident and Illness Plan covers diagnostics, medications, procedures, hospitalizations, and vet visits related to injuries, broken bones, sprains, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or other illnesses.
It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, or any behavioral treatments.
Coverage and Add-ons
Lemonade also offers a Preventative and Wellness Package add-on for routine care that includes wellness exams, tests, vaccinations, blood work, and access to an online medical advice chat.
This coverage doesn’t have a deductible and has a set reimbursement rate based on the one you choose for your policy.
The add-on for vet visit fees costs less than $10 more per month and covers extra vet visits and exam fees. Whereas- the add-on for physical therapy treatments- such as acupuncture and chiropractic care typically cost under $5 per month.
Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Spot
Impressed with its customizability, we gave Spot a 91 out of 100, awarding points for plan options and coverage but deducting points for its long accident waiting period and limited customer service availability.
Some highlights include:
- Six coverage limit options, ranging from $2,500 to unlimited
- Three reimbursement rates
- Five annual deductible choices
Pros and Cons of Spot Pet Insurance
✔ Doesn’t have a maximum age requirement for coverage
✔ Offers educational resources on its website
✔ Covers behavioral issues
✘ Has a 14-day waiting period for accidents
✘ Doesn’t cover animals under eight weeks old
Spot Plans
Spot’s Accident-Only Plan covers procedures and vet visits related to swallowed objects, toxic ingestions, or injuries. Its comprehensive Accident and Illness Plan includes those procedures, plus illnesses and conditions such as behavioral issues, dental disease, cancer, hip dysplasia, heart disease, respiratory infection, and diabetes.
Coverage and Add-ons
During checkout for your chosen policy, you can add one of two preventative care options. The Gold Preventative Care Plan costs $9.95 per month and covers routine care, such as wellness exams and fecal tests, and the Platinum Preventative Care Plan costs $24.95 per month and includes higher per-procedure limits and coverage for items such as spay or neuter surgery and flea prevention.
Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review
Embrace
We gave Embrace a rating of 93.5 out of 100 for its deductibles, plan options, and customer service features, although it lost points for its low coverage limit choices and high plan prices.
Some highlights include:
- Five deductible options for premiums
- “Healthy Pet Deductible” credits $50 toward your annual deductible each year you don’t file a claim
Pros and Cons of Embrace Pet Insurance
✔ Offers a 10% multi-pet discount
✔ Has an easy claims process with the MyEmbrace customer portal and mobile app
✔ Covers pets that are between zero and eight weeks old
✘ Its wellness coverage options are more expensive than competitors’ options
✘ Doesn’t offer annual limit options over $30,000
Embrace Plans
Embrace’s Accident and Illness Plan covers vet bills due to allergy testing, alternative therapies, acupuncture, CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, ultrasounds, emergency care, specialist care, hospitalization, lab tests, biopsies, and physical therapy when related to eligible accidents and illnesses, such as congenital and chronic conditions, dental trauma, and cancer.
It doesn’t cover preexisting conditions noticed by you or a vet before the end of the two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses.
Coverage and Add-ons
Embrace also offers an optional Wellness Rewards for Routine Care Plan that covers a 100% reimbursement up to your choice of $250, $450, or $650 per year for eligible preventive and wellness procedures, vet visits, or vaccinations, including annual exams, microchipping, and blood tests.
Learn More: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
If you just got your first pet, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, which scored an 89 out of 100 in our review, is an ideal provider to purchase a policy from. It offers a local vet finder on its website and a mobile app in addition to resources about various pet breeds and common health issues associated with them.
Some highlights include:
- Microchipping included in standard policies
- Five annual coverage limit options for customizable pricing
- Short waiting period of 14 days for hip dysplasia
Pros and Cons of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
✔ Offers a preventive care plan at two coverage levels and prices
✔ Includes coverage for exam fees in its standard policies
✔ Doesn’t require medical records for coverage
✘ Doesn’t offer annual coverage limits beyond $10,000
✘ Doesn’t offer an online chat for customer service
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans and Coverage
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s Accident-Only Plan covers treatments and procedures related to new injuries and emergencies from accidents, such as broken bones, bite wounds, and cuts.
The Complete Coverage Plan covers those accidents in addition to illnesses and other conditions, including congenital conditions, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and cancer.
Limitations and Add-ons
Both plans exclude preexisting conditions that occur before and during the 14-day waiting period. For preventive care, you can purchase the Basic Plan for $9.95 per month, which covers a total of $250 per year for items like wellness exams, deworming, and dental cleanings.
Alternatively, you can add the Prime Plan for $24.95 per month for $450 of annual coverage.
Learn More: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review
Fetch by The Dodo
Fetch stands out for its coverage of holistic therapies, including homeotherapy, stem cell therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care, scoring a 91.5 out of 100 in our review.
Some highlights include:
- Has an unlimited annual coverage option
- Provides a mobile app for policy management and claims
Pros and Cons of Fetch Pet Insurance
✔ Includes coverage for behavioral therapies up to $15,000
✔ Covers exam fees and sick visit fees with a standard policy
✔ Reimburses pet owners for boarding fees if they’re ever hospitalized for more than four days
✘ Doesn’t offer a multi-pet discount
✘ Requires records from annual medical exams and wellness checkups for your pet to be eligible for coverage
✘ Doesn’t offer a preventive care add-on option
Fetch Plans
Fetch offers an accident and illness plan with annual coverage limits of $5,000, $15,000, or unlimited, depending on your pet’s needs. It pays for treatments, procedures, vet visits, and other costs related to conditions like cancer, broken bones, toxic ingestions, general illnesses, hereditary conditions, and hip dysplasia.
It doesn’t cover any preexisting conditions that show signs before or during the 15-day coverage waiting period.
Coverage and Extras
Fetch also reimburses you for a few extras, such as boarding fees if you’re hospitalized for more than four days, vacation cancellation fees related to your pet’s necessary treatments, and up to $1,000 in advertising and reward money if your dog or cat gets lost.
Learn More: Fetch Pet Insurance Review
Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws scored a 93.5 out of 100 for its affordable unlimited coverage. The provider won’t cut off services for your pet’s accidents or illnesses regardless of how many claims you file or how much money you receive in payouts.
Some highlights include:
- No annual, lifetime, or per-incident caps
- More affordable than both Prudent Pet & Spot
Pros and Cons of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
✔ Has an easy online quote and sign-up tool
✔ Covers hereditary, chronic, and congenital conditions
✔ Supports homeless animals with each filled-out quote
✘ Doesn’t offer wellness or preventive care coverage
✘ Its plans have limited customizability
Healthy Paws Plans
Healthy Paws sells only one pet insurance plan with unlimited coverage on accidents and illnesses, including cancer, injuries, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, and congenital conditions.
The covered procedures and vet visits in this plan include X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, specialty care, and alternative treatments.
Coverage and Limitations
Healthy Paws excludes preexisting conditions that occur before your policy enrollment or during the 15-day waiting period. It also excludes spay or neuter surgeries, preventive care, office visit fees, and extra exam fees.
Learn More: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
Prudent Pet
We gave Prudent Pet a 95 out of 100 for its impressive Ultimate Plan.
Some highlights include:
- Unlimited annual coverage cap
- Extensive coverage for vet bills
- Extra coverage for things like behavioral disorders, lost pet advertising, and boarding fees
Pros and Cons of Prudent Pet Insurance
✔ Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
✔ Provides a 24/7 vet chat
✔ Has a cheap Accident-Only Plan
✘ Doesn’t allow customization for annual coverage limits
✘ Some plan prices are higher than the competition
Prudent Pet Plans
Both Prudent Pet’s Essential and Ultimate plans cover accidents and illnesses, such as broken bones, bite wounds, dental diseases, cancer treatments, digestive illnesses, hip dysplasia, and more, although the latter has an unlimited coverage cap and covers pet advertising and vacation cancellations due to a sick pet.
This insurer also offers a cheap Accident-Only Plan, which has a $10,000 annual limit for minimal coverage on accidents, such as bite wounds, injuries, swallowed objects, and associated procedures.
Coverage and Add-ons
Additionally, Prudent Pet sells three wellness coverage options for flat rates of $7.95, $13.95, and $19.95 extra per month with specific limits for covered items. It also provides an add-on to help cover veterinary exam fees associated with eligible accidents or illnesses.
Learn More: Prudent Pet Insurance Review
Figo
Figo stands out for its optional coverage and benefits. The company, which scored a 93 out of 100, provides reimbursement for advertising if your pet is lost or stolen.
Figo will even compensate you up to $150 if you pay out a reward for the safe return of your furry family member. Figo will also pay up to $250 toward cremation expenses in the unfortunate event that your cat or dog passes away during the life of your policy.
Beyond those add-ons, Figo offers third-party liability coverage of up to $10,000 as another means of curbing the cost of any potential issues with your pet. Third-party liability coverage essentially protects you from any lawsuits filed due to damage your pet caused to someone else’s property.
Some highlights include:
- Offers the option of 100% reimbursement
- Does not deny or limit coverage for older pets
- Provides customer service through text
Pros & Cons of Figo
✔ Has one of the shortest waiting periods (one day) in the industry
✔ Allows customers to file claims through its app
✔ Has a diminishing deductible for customers who are claim-free for one year
✘ Does not have an optional preventive care package
✘ Will not cover cats or dogs younger than two months
Figo Plans and Coverage
Figo offers three plans that cover costs related to the diagnosis and treatment of accidents and illnesses, including tests, surgeries, and prescription medications. The Essential Plan comes with a $5,000 annual reimbursement cap, while the Preferred Plan has a $10,000 limit. The Ultimate Plan has no annual limit.
While most pet insurance companies have three deductible options, Figo offers four, with a 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% rate.
Limitations and Add-Ons
Like most pet insurance companies, Figo does not cover preexisting conditions or cosmetic surgeries like tail docking or ear cropping. The company also excludes procedures related to breeding and pregnancy.
Routine and preventive care are available through Figo’s Wellness Basic Plan and Wellness Plus Plan. The plans are the same in terms of coverage, providing reimbursement for annual vet exams and spay and neuter surgeries, among other items. The plans differ in terms of the reimbursement amounts. For an additional $9.50 per month, the Basic Plan provides up to $135 in total reimbursements. The Plus Plan comes with a reimbursement cap of $250 and costs $16.50 per month.
For further coverage, Figo’s add-on plan, the Extra Care Pack, provides payouts for cremation costs and lost-pet advertising.
Learn More: Figo Pet Insurance Review
Comparing the Top Providers of Pet Insurance in NYC
Our recommendation to all pet owners in New York City is to get a few quotes from top-rated pet insurance companies to compare pricing and offerings based on your pet’s specific details and your zip code.
FAQs About Pet Insurance in NYC
How Much Is Pet Insurance in New York City?
As with most things for sale in New York City, pet insurance prices are slightly higher compared with averages in other cities and states.
Based on the quotes we received, standard accident and illness policies for dogs in NYC typically fall between $30 and $65 per month, while pet insurance premiums for cats in NYC are a bit lower at $20–$40 per month.
Here are a few factors that affect the price of your pet insurance premium:
- Location: Not only does the city and state you live in affect your premium, but prices can vary based on your ZIP code. We suggest getting quotes from a few providers to determine which company is the most affordable in your area.
- Breed: Your pet’s breed is a big factor in establishing how much you’ll pay for your premium. For example, a purebred dog such as a golden retriever may be more prone to illnesses or diseases, so the monthly cost of your plan will be higher. For pet owners with animals that need affordable care, we recommend choosing Pawp, which offers a flat rate for every plan.
- Age: Older pets typically cost more to insure since they’re more likely to have issues with diseases and illness. If you get your pet insured at an early age, you can keep the cost of your policy relatively low.
- Customization: You can lower your monthly premium by choosing lower annual coverage limits, decreased reimbursement rates, and higher deductibles. However, keep in mind that these choices could result in more money out of pocket in the event of an expensive accident or illness.
- Discounts: Looking out for discounts is the best way to get the cheapest pet insurance possible. Companies like Embrace and Pumpkin offer discounts for adding multiple pets to your policy. Lemonade offers a unique 10% discount for policyholders who bundle their pet insurance with a homeowners insurance policy.
Pet Insurance Regulations in NYC
While we’ve done thorough research on pet insurance companies available in NYC, it is worth noting that all insurance companies selling policies in New York State must be licensed by the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS).
Because of this, we do recommend verifying the company you choose, even if not on this list, is authorized to do business in New York. If they’re not, you may not have the protection guaranteed by the DFS licensing system. This would put you at risk of getting incomplete coverage and wasted money on monthly premiums.
You can verify by searching for the actual insurers name, which could be different than what they’re doing business as, on the DFS website.
Our Conclusion
A New York pet insurance policy can protect your pet and give you peace of mind that you won’t have to pay excessive vet bills out of pocket.
Of the pet insurance providers listed in this review, we recommend Lemonade for the best overall policies on the market. We recommend you take a few minutes to compare quotes from multiple top pet insurance companies to choose the right one for your pet’s needs.
Our Rating Methodology
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.