Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania (PA) in 2023

An unexpected vet emergency doesn’t have to derail your finances or leave you with a difficult decision to make about your beloved pet. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, pet parents count on pet insurance to shield them from costly veterinary bills and ensure their dogs and cats get the care they need.

We’ve evaluated the best pet insurance companies, ranking them on plan coverage, customer reviews, price, and more to help pet owners find the right provider for them. See our top picks for pet insurance companies in Pennsylvania below.

*Sample quotes are for 4-year-old, mixed-breed, male pets in Pennsylvania

• Lemonade: Best Overall
• Embrace
• Healthy Paws
• Figo
• Spot
• Fetch
• ASPCA

Lemonade: Best Overall

Due to its competitive rates, extensive plan lineup, and simple user experience, Lemonade is our highest-rated pet insurance provider in Pennsylvania.

• Our score: 4.8 out of 5
• Offers $100,000 in annual benefits, higher than most carriers reviewed
• Its giveback program donates up to 40% of premiums to non-profits
• Features wellness add-ons specifically designed for puppies and kittens

Lemonade’s biggest shortcoming is its lower Better Business Bureau (BBB) score compared to many other competitors and a good amount of negative customer reviews. However, most BBB complaints are centered around Lemonade’s renters insurance and the company’s homeowners insurance policies, not its pet insurance policies.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Pros and Cons

✔ Has a two-day waiting period for accidents, while many companies have a 14-day waiting period
✔ Consistently offers lower plan rates than most providers
✔ Extends discounts for insuring multiple pets, bundling with home insurance, and paying annually

✘ Excludes behavioral issues and dental treatment from coverage
✘ Can be challenging to reach for customer support
✘ Has a lower BBB rating than some competitors 

Lemonade Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage

Lemonade’s accident and illness plan provides coverage for procedures, diagnostic testing, hospitalizations, emergency treatment, and prescriptions when your pet is ill or injured.

These treatments are covered when they are related to:

• Cancer
• General illness
• Broken bones
• Infection
• Hip dysplasia
• Heart disease

In addition to accident and illness coverage, Lemonade has add-ons for vet fees and physical therapy. Lemonade also offers a preventative care add-on for vaccinations, annual checkups, and blood tests, ranging from $13–$31 per month for dogs and $11–$19 per month for cats.

Lemonade’s accident and illness policy excludes elective cosmetic procedures, dental care, behavioral therapy, and pre-existing conditions.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Cost

Based on our research, an average Lemonade accident and illness plan costs $12.75–$30.83 per month for dogs and $11–$18.42 per month for cats.

Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Embrace

Embrace is unmatched when it comes to flexible deductibles and savings. While most providers offer two or three deductible options, Embrace has five, letting you customize your rates and coverage.

• Our score: 4.7 out of 5
• Lowers your deductible by $50 each year you don’t file a claim
• Covers exam fees in its basic accident and illness plan, unlike most providers reviewed
• Allows you to choose from five deductible options that range between $200 and $1,000 to tailor monthly premiums to your budget

Embrace Pros and Cons

✔ Has a user-friendly app with a 24/7 Pet Help Line
✔ Features 100% reimbursement for preventative care, while most providers cap the amount of coverage per item
✔ Covers treatments often excluded by other providers, such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy

✘ Has more expensive wellness plans than some companies in this review
✘ Includes a $1 installment fee if you make monthly payments rather than annual ones
✘ Has a 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions

Embrace Plans and Coverage

Embrace has one accident and illness plan with a routine care add-on. The plan features coverage for:

• Dental trauma
• Cancer treatments
• Genetic conditions, such as hip dysplasia
• Chronic illnesses, including allergies
• Preventable conditions like parvo and parasites
• Orthopedic conditions

Embrace issues reimbursements for prescriptions, treatments, operations, emergency care, vet and specialist care, diagnostic tests, and hospitalization. Embrace also covers physical therapy, and alternative treatments such as homeotherapy, which are sometimes excluded from accident and illness plans.

The optional Wellness Rewards for Routine Care package adds $250–$650 of preventative benefits, reimbursing you for 100% of wellness care expenses up to your selected annual maximum.

Embrace Pet Insurance Cost

Based on our thorough evaluation of pet insurance costs in Pennsylvania, the average pet plan from Embrace is $18.72–$72.75 per month for dogs and $11–$42.76 per month for cats.

Learn More: Embrace Pet Insurance Review

Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws pet insurance stands out for offering unlimited coverage with its basic accident-and-illness policy.

• Our score: 4.7 out of 5
• Doesn’t have per-incident, annual, or lifetime coverage limits, so your policy’s benefits never max out
• Offers more competitive rates for unlimited coverage than other companies
• Plans are underwritten by Chubb, a reputable global insurance group

Healthy Paws Pros and Cons

✔ Provides a 30-day money-back guarantee
✔ Recommends other pet insurance providers if your quoted rates are unusually high
✔ Claims to pay out most claims within two days of filing, according to its website

✘ Has fewer deductible and reimbursement options than some competitors
✘ Offers less plan customization
✘ Doesn’t include an option for wellness coverage

Healthy Paws Plans and Coverage

Healthy Paws has one accident and illness plan, which reimburses pet owners for:

• Medications
• Operations
• Diagnostic tests
• Emergency consultations
• Blood tests
• Hospitalizations

Healthy Paws covers the following conditions: broken bones, general sickness, cancer, hereditary and congenital conditions, and chronic illnesses.

Healthy Paws’ plan excludes coverage for routine care costs, cosmetic and elective procedures, and routine vet visits. It also enforces a 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia, which is covered by some companies after six months.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Cost

Our research indicates that a Healthy Paws accident and illness plan in Pennsylvania costs an average of $37.01–$48.74 per month for a dog and $17.30–$22.82 per month for a cat.

Learn More: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

Figo

If you’re looking for extra coverage for expenses you may have while owning your pet, we recommend Figo for its Extra Care Pack. It covers a variety of things, including third-party property damage your pet may cause, up to $10,000.

• Our score: 4.7 out of 5
• Provides an unlimited coverage option
• Features the Figo Pet Cloud app, which uniquely connects you to other pet owners and pet-friendly locations in your area
• Typically processes claims within three days of filing

Figo Pros and Cons

✔ Has a one-day waiting period, which is shorter than its competitors in this review
✔ Provides lower prices for older animals than many competitors, according to our sample quotes
✔ Includes a 100% reimbursement option for coverage without any copays

✘ Varies deductible options depending on your pet’s age or breed
✘ Requires annual checkups and dental exams to remain eligible for coverage
✘ Has a 6-month waiting period for knee injuries

Figo Plans and Coverage

Purchasing a Figo pet insurance policy means getting comprehensive coverage for treatments, procedures, and other costs related to accidents and illnesses. This could include diagnostic tests, hip dysplasia procedures, surgeries, hospitalization, emergency care, prescription medications, and more.

It also provides the Extra Care Pack for coverage on additional unexpected costs, including third-party property damage, lost-pet advertising and reward money, vacation cancellation fees while your pet is sick, emergency boarding costs if you’re hospitalized, burial or cremation costs, and replacement costs if your pet is lost or stolen.

To further fine-tune your policy, you can purchase one of two wellness add-ons for help paying for routine care costs, such as vaccinations, dental cleanings, and annual checkups. You can also add coverage for vet visits and exam fees.

Figo Pet Insurance Cost

Figo policies are generally on the cheaper side with prices for dogs ranging from $20 to $70 and cats ranging from $12 to $40 per month, based on the sample quotes we’ve received in Pennsylvania on standard policies.

Learn More: Figo Pet Insurance Review

Spot

Spot provides the most customization out of these companies with two plans to choose from and seven annual coverage limits ranging from $2,500 to unlimited.

• Our score: 4.6 out of 5
• Has an extensive resource blog for pet owners who want to learn more about taking care of their animals
• Includes access to 24/7 telehealth line for each policyholder
• Has a 30-day money-back guarantee

Spot Pros and Cons

✔ Provides coverage for vet visit fees without charging extra per month, unlike many competitors
✔ Includes coverage for your pet’s microchip implantation
✔ Has a less expensive accident-only plan with prices than don’t vary based on your dog’s or cat’s age or breed

✘ Has a 14-day waiting period for accidents, which is longer than some competitors
✘ Doesn’t have weekend customer service availability
✘ Doesn’t offer as many discounts as some other providers

Spot Plans and Coverage

Spot’s plans come with either accident-only coverage for things like injuries, bite wounds, and toxic ingestions, or accident and illness coverage for a broader range of covered conditions. Those conditions can include general illnesses, congenital conditions, dental trauma, cancer, and more. Spot policies also come with microchipping and vet exam fees coverage without any extra monthly costs.

For additional coverage, you can also purchase the Gold or Platinum preventative care plans. They cover routine treatments, such as annual checkups and vaccinations with specified per-treatment limits. The Gold plan comes with a total of $250 per year for those limits, and the Platinum plan comes with $450 per year.

Spot Pet Insurance Cost

Based on the sample quotes we received, you can generally expect to pay somewhere between $20 and $90 for dogs and $10 and $50 for cats with standard Spot accident and illness policies.

Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review

Fetch Pet Insurance

Fetch is a suitable pick for pet owners who want a plan that covers holistic treatments, such as homeopathy and stem cell therapy.

• Our score: 4.6 out of 5
• Reimburses up to $1,000 of behavioral treatments costs, typically excluded or limited by other providers
• Covers vacation cancellation fees due to a sick or injured pet, kennel fees, and advertising and reward cost for missing pets
• Does not deny pets coverage based on old age, while most providers have age-related cutoffs

Fetch Pet Insurance Pros and Cons

✔ Allows you to customize your reimbursement, annual limits, and deductibles
✔ Reimburses up to $1,000 of telehealth visit costs
✔ Features discounts for rescue and shelter pets, service pets, military members, and more

✘ Lacks a wellness add-on, which some of the companies in this review offer
✘ Has a 15-day waiting period for accidents, which is longer than some companies in this review
✘ Doesn’t have a 24/7 vet telehealth line

Fetch Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage

Fetch has one accident and illness plan and does not offer any wellness add-ons. It provides basic coverage for emergency procedures, diagnostics, prescriptions, and hospitalizations in addition to:

• Comprehensive dental care for all teeth
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic therapy
• Stem cell therapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Homeopathy
• Up to $1,000 of behavioral therapy

It also covers vacation cancellations resulting from a qualified condition, boarding fees when pet owners are hospitalized for at least four days and can’t take care of their pet, and lost-pet advertisement and reward money. The policy excludes cosmetic and elective procedures, wellness care, and pre-existing conditions.

Fetch Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Cost

Based on our research, a policy from Fetch falls between $59.56 and $201.04 per month for a dog and between $24.78 and $85.62 per month for a cat.

Learn More: Fetch Pet Insurance Review

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

As a new pet owner, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance should be at the top of your list for consideration. ASPCA provides a local vet finder on its website and numerous resources for pet parents regarding pet ownership, managing certain diseases, and specific information about various pet breeds.

• Our score: 4.5 out of 5
• Carries policies underwritten by the Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group with over 25 years of experience in the pet insurance industry
• Covers microchipping and alternative therapies in its base plan
• Offers a budget-friendly, comprehensive accident-only policy

ASPCA Pros and Cons

✔ Has a 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind
✔ Offers a 10% multi-pet discount
✔ Provides coverage for cats, dogs, and horses

✘ Has a longer waiting period for accidents (14 days) than some providers
✘ Has per-item limits for each wellness benefit
✘ Requires you to call for a quote if choosing unlimited coverage

ASPCA Plans and Coverage

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers accident-only coverage for injuries such as cuts, broken bones, bite wounds, toxic ingestions, and swallowed objects. Also offered is an accident-and-illness plan (called Complete Coverage) which covers the injuries above and treatment and procedures for diseases, conditions, and emergencies, including chronic conditions, cancer, digestive issues, behavior problems, breed-specific conditions, and more. ASPCA’s base plan also covers alternative therapies (including chiropractic care, rehabilitation, and stem cell therapy) in its standard plan.

ASPCA has no upper age limits for enrollment in coverage. While it does not cover incurable preexisting conditions, once a pet has healed and remained symptom-free from a curable condition after 180 days, ASPCA will no longer consider that particular condition preexisting.

ASPCA also offers a preventive care add-on at a Basic or Prime level. It covers routine treatments, such as wellness exams, vaccinations, and dental cleanings, each with different annual limits. The Basic plan covers up to $250 per year, and Prime covers up to $450.

ASPCA Insurance Cost

Based on our research, ASPCA’s Complete Coverage plan ranges from $26.59 and $91.50 per month for dogs and $16.09 and $59.96 per month for cats.

Learn More: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review

Our research indicates that pet insurance in Pennsylvania typically costs around $13–$202 per month for dogs and $11–$86 per month for cats.

Your pet insurance rates can depend on the following factors:

• Age: As your pet ages, its risk of getting sick or injured increases. To account for this heightened risk, pet insurance companies charge higher rates for older pets. That’s why you should get a pet health insurance plan as early in your dog or cat’s life as possible.
• Species: Because dogs tend to be at a higher risk of congenital conditions like hip dysplasia, pet insurance for dogs is usually more expensive than pet insurance for cats.
• Breed: Labrador retrievers and other large breeds are more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia than some smaller breeds, which can account for higher premiums.
• Location: Metropolitan areas tend to have a higher cost of living than rural areas, a trend that extends to pet healthcare costs. As such, city dwellers may have to pay more for pet insurance. Compare pricing from at least three pet insurance companies within your ZIP code to get the most accurate rates.
• Customization: Your deductible, coverage cap, and reimbursement level can have a significant effect on your pet insurance premiums. For example, we pulled a sample quote from Spot for a medium mixed-breed 4-year-old dog in Philadelphia. Using a 70% reimbursement rate, a $1,000 annual deductible, and a $2,500 annual limit, we calculated a monthly premium cost of $16.51. If we adjust the reimbursement rate to 90% with unlimited coverage and a $100 deductible, the monthly cost rises to $130.93.
• Discounts: Many pet insurance providers extend discounts to multi-pet policyholders. Other companies, such as Fetch, provide discounts to active military members and veterans.

You can choose from three types of coverage when looking at pet insurance.

• Accident-and-injury plan: Most pet owners opt for this standard plan. It covers accidents, such as broken bones, cuts, swallowed objects or toxins, eye and ear damage, and other accidental injuries. The plan also covers common illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, allergies, eye and ear issues, and heart conditions.
• Accident-only plan: Some providers offer an accident-only plan for pet parents who just want coverage for injuries.
• Wellness plan: Many companies offer wellness coverage as an optional add-on to your standard plan to cover preventive care such as wellness visits, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, dental cleanings, grooming, parasite prevention, and other routine vet care.

The process for using pet insurance from most providers starts with taking your pet to the vet clinic for covered care, paying the vet out of pocket, then filing a claim for the amount you were charged and getting reimbursed by your provider, usually within a couple of weeks.

You can customize your plan to work for your budget and your pet’s needs. To get the best price and coverage for you, you’ll need to understand these four elements:

• Premium: Your premium is the amount you’ll pay your provider per month for your plan. It’s based on several factors, such as your location and your pet’s age, breed, and gender. It’s also impacted by the factors below.
• Annual coverage limit: Your coverage limit is the amount your provider will reimburse you for in a policy year. You’re responsible for paying for any vet care over that amount. Most providers start at a $5,000 coverage limit and go up from there. Some offer unlimited coverage, meaning there’s no cap.
• Deductible: Just like your own insurance, your deductible is how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your plan kicks in. You can typically choose from deductible options ranging from $100–$1,000.
• Reimbursement percentage: This is how much of each vet bill your provider will reimburse you for. Most offer options of 70%, 80%, and 90%, though a few offer 100%.

You’ll find that many top providers cover many of the same pet health conditions and have similar offerings. A few things can give companies an edge, however. Here are a few things we recommend looking for:

• 24/7 vet help: It’s not a must, but a 24/7 helpline can really come in handy if your pet gets unexplainably sick or displays weird symptoms in the night. Being able to call and speak to a vet at any time can save you a trip to the clinic and give you peace of mind.
• Direct-pay: Some companies provide a direct-pay option that lets you show or swipe your membership card when checking out at the vet in lieu of paying out of pocket. Then your provider will work out the claim with the vet office and you can skip having to file for reimbursement.
• Discounts: We suggest looking for valuable discounts, such as those for bundling with other insurance types, insuring multiple pets, or serving in the military.
• Exam fees: It’s also helpful if you can get vet exam fees covered in your standard plan.
• Waiting periods: A 14-day waiting period is typical for most providers. That’s how long you have to wait after your policy start date before you can file a claim. Though, some providers have shorter waiting periods.

Pennsylvania’s pet laws include:

• Dogs 3 months and older must be licensed by the county treasurer
• Dogs cannot roam at large
• Dog owners are responsible if their dog causes property damage
• Owners cannot mistreat or abandon any pet
• No dog under 8 weeks may be sold, traded, bartered, or transferred
• You cannot have poison or harmful substances in any place where pets could eat them
• Dogs and cats 3 months and older must have a current rabies vaccination
• Facilities that keep, harbor, board, shelter, sell, give away, or transfer 26 or more dogs in one calendar year must have a current kennel license
• Dog breeders and sellers must post a visible notice informing consumers of their rights under the Dog Purchaser Protection Act

Cities and municipalities have their own laws as well. For example, Philadelphia requires dogs be on a leash no more than 6 feet long when not on the owner’s property. Pet owners are responsible for waste disposal when not on their property, and dogs must wear a tag. Pittsburgh requires dogs be on leashes no longer than 6 feet as well. Cats don’t need to be licensed, but they must wear a tag or collar with contact information. Allentown pet owners cannot allow their pets to bark, howl, or cry excessively.

Lemonade is our top pet insurance pick for Pennsylvania residents due to its coverage compared to price. If you want an accident-only plan, Spot or ASPCA may be right for you. All providers on our list have benefits, so determine what your priorities are for your pet plan. We recommend carefully reading providers’ sample policies, looking at customer reviews, and getting a quote from at least three providers before making a decision.

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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.