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Best Pet Insurance Companies in Texas (2024)

Author Image Written by Brenda Woods Updated 12/12/2024

Whether you live in Houston, San Antonio, or another city in the Lone Star State, a pet insurance policy can prevent you from worrying about finances to get your pet the necessary medical care. These policies help to cover expensive vet bills in the event of an accident or illness, allowing you to focus on your pet’s well-being.

We put in hours of research to measure insurers on key metrics, such as customer service, reputation, policy coverage, and affordability, to reveal the best pet insurance companies. We found that Lemonade is the best provider in Texas due to its below-average price point and quality service.


How Do The Best Texas Pet Insurance Companies Compare?

We always recommend getting your own quotes to compare exact prices and coverage details in your area.

Company Star Rating Monthly Cost for Dogs* Monthly Cost for Cats* Visit Site
4.8
$33.69 $13.32 VISIT SITE
4.6
$38.44 $21.53 VISIT SITE
4.5
$20.76 $18.47 VISIT SITE
4.7
$65.15 $53.43 VISIT SITE
4.7
$44.83 $24.68 VISIT SITE
4.6
$49.85 $26.55 VISIT SITE
4.8
N/A N/A VISIT SITE
Why Trust Us? Our review and rating process for the best pet insurance companies
22
Companies Considered We carefully considered 22 companies to find the best pet insurance providers available.
1000
Pet Owners Surveyed We surveyed 1,000 pet owners to see what they care about most when in comes to pet insurance.
3800
Reviews Analyzed We went through 3,800 customer reviews of pet insurance companies to see what people had to say about each provider.
51
Policies Compared We compared 51 policies to find the best pet insurance offerings on the market.

Top 6 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Texas

Lemonade

Best Overall
4.8

Pros & Cons

Pros Provides a 10% discount for bundling with a Lemonade home insurance policy Doesn’t have an age limit for coverage Has a short two-day waiting period for accidents Cons Doesn’t have a phone number for customer service Doesn’t cover behavioral treatments

Overview

Earning a 96 out of 100, Lemonade is our pick for the ‘Best Overall’ pet insurance company in Texas for a combination of its low prices, comprehensive coverage, annual limit customization from $5,000 to $100,000, additional coverage options, fast claims process, and unique discounts.

We deducted points from Lemonade for its low rating by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which was calculated in part by the volume of customer complaints. However, most complaints are in reference to Lemonade’s other insurance products, specifically homeowners insurance and renters insurance.

  • Deductibles: $100, $250 or $500
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000
  • Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%

Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Lemonade Plans

You can purchase Lemonade’s Accident and Illness Plan for coverage on vet bills from procedures and treatments, including blood tests, urinalysis, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, specialty care, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and prescription medications. Covered incidents can include injuries, broken bones, sprains, diarrhea, infections, cancer, skin conditions, hip dysplasia, and hernias.

Add-Ons

The Preventative and Wellness Package is an extra $16–$25 per month for dogs and $10–$20 per month for cats. It covers routine care, such as wellness exams, heartworm tests, vaccines, and bloodwork. You can also purchase additional coverage on vet visit fees and exam fees with another add-on and coverage on physical therapy treatments with a separate add-on.

Coverage

Lemonade’s coverage excludes pre-existing conditions, behavioral treatments, and elective cosmetic procedures, and there’s a waiting period of two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and six months for cruciate ligaments. Lemonade also requires a medical exam from the past 12 months before coverage can start.

Spot

Most Customizable Plans
4.6

Pros & Cons of Spot Pet Insurance

Pros Covers microchip implantation in the standard policy unlike most other providers Provides an accident-only plan for those looking to pay less for coverage on just accidents Offers a low deductible option of $100 to help minimize your out-of-pocket costs during a claim Cons Doesn’t have any customer service availability on weekends Has less experience than most other providers in this review, operating since 2019

Overview

With a 91 out of 100 in our in-depth analysis of pet insurance providers, Spot stands out as a top player for its customizability. When getting a quote on your policy, you can select between seven annual coverage limits, ranging from $2,500 to unlimited, which is more options than provided by any of the other insurers in this review. We recommend Spot if you’re looking to fine-tune your policy’s coverage to fit your exact needs and budget.

  • Deductibles: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
  • Annual coverage limits: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000 or unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%

Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review

Spot Plans

Spot provides an inexpensive accident-only plan for coverage on unexpected vet bills related to your pet’s accidents, such as injuries, swallowed objects, and toxic ingestions. For more comprehensive coverage, it also offers the accident and illness plan that extends coverage to dental disease, behavioral issues, hip dysplasia, cancer, diabetes, and more.

Add-Ons

Unlike many competitors, Spot covers exam fees and microchip implantations in its standard policies. You can also add extra coverage to help pay for your pet’s routine care treatments, such as dental cleanings, wellness exams, vaccinations, and more. It comes in two options with various per-treatments coverage limits totalling either $250 per year or $450 per year, depending on how much you need.

Coverage

Spot excludes coverage for pre-existing conditions that occur before or during the policy’s 14-day waiting period for all conditions, and it doesn’t cover elective procedures or issues related to pregnancy or breeding.

ASPCA

Best for New Pet Owners
4.5

Pros & Cons of ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Pros Provides a helpful mobile app for policy management and claims filing Has more than 24 years of experience in the industry Covers pets without requiring medical records Cons Caps annual coverage limit options at $10,000 Has a 14-day waiting period for accidents

Overdview

We recommend ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for new pet owners, since it covers microchip implantation for your new dog or cat and provides a useful local vet finder tool and a breadth of online articles and resources about pet breeds and health issues. The provider also offers comprehensive accident-only and accident and illness plans in addition to some affordable preventative care add-on options.

  • Deductibles: $100, $250 or $500
  • Annual coverage limits: $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000 or $10,000
  • Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%

Learn more: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans

For coverage on accidents like injuries, broken bones, and cuts, consider ASPCA Pet Health Insurance’s affordable Accident-Only Plan. The Complete Coverage Plan covers accidents and illnesses, including vet bills from various treatments and procedures like cancer treatments, diagnostic tests, exams, surgery, hospitalization, and more. It doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions that arise before or during the policy’s 14-day waiting period.

Coverage

With either plan, you can add preventative care coverage. The Basic Preventative Plan costs $9.95 per month and comes with $250 of total annual coverage for a wellness exam, two vaccines, and a fecal test. The Prime Preventative Plan costs $24.95 per month for $450 of coverage for everything included in the Basic Preventative Plan plus a few other items like spay or neuter surgery, a health certificate, another vaccine, and flea or heartworm prevention.

Embrace

Best Deductibles
4.7

Pros & Cons of Embrace Pet Insurance

Pros Has a mobile app for filing claims and managing policies Covers chronic conditions Offers a free medical history review Cons Has limited customer service availability Doesn’t offer an annual limit option of $30,000

Overview

During our review, Embrace scored a 93.5 out of 100 and stood out the most for its five deductible options and free diminishing deductible benefit called the Healthy Pet Deductible. With any Embrace policy, your annual deductible will decrease $50 each year you don’t file a claim. This is perfect for those who keep their pet healthy, since the benefit can help lower any out-of-pocket expenses when you do need to file a claim from an accident or illness.

  • Deductibles: $200, $300, $500, $750 or $1,000
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000 or $30,000
  • Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%

Learn more: Embrace Pet Insurance Review

Embrace Plans

Embrace features one coverage plan for accidents and illnesses. Qualifying vet bills can be from exam fees, genetic conditions, prescription medications, congenital conditions, dental trauma, cancer treatments, allergy testing, physical therapy, acupuncture, hospitalization, emergency care, or specialist vet visits.

Add-Ons

In addition to Embrace’s plan, customers can add the optional Wellness Rewards for Routine Care Plan, which offers $250, $450, or $650 to go towards 100% of covered preventive care, such as flea, tick, and heartworm medication, blood tests, microchipping, medicated shampoos, annual vet visits, and prescription diet foods.

Coverage

Embrace excludes pre-existing conditions that manifest before or during the two-day waiting period for accidents or the 14-day waiting period for illnesses. It also requires a medical report from a licensed vet within 12 months prior or 14 days after the policy’s effective date.

Healthy Paws

Best Coverage Limit
4.7

Pros & Cons of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Pros Has an online quote tool that recommends other companies when the quoted premium is higher than usual Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee Supports homeless pets with each filled-out quote Cons Doesn’t offer any discounts Only offers two deductible choices

Overview

Healthy Paws scored a 93.5 out of 100 and impressed us with its unlimited coverage caps. The benefit 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 expensive claims. Anyone who prioritizes that benefit should look to Healthy Paws for its accident and illness coverage. Not to mention, the provider’s policies are more affordable than other unlimited coverage plans offered by competitors in Texas.

  • Deductibles: $250 or $500
  • Annual coverage limits: Unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70% or 80%

Learn more: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

Healthy Paws Plans

Healthy Paws only offers one plan without any 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.

Coverage

Healthy Paws doesn’t cover preventative care, spay or neuter procedures, behavioral treatments, elective procedures, exam fees, or any pre-existing conditions that show up before enrollment or during the 15-day waiting period. It also doesn’t cover hip dysplasia until after the first 12 months of the policy.

*Policies that cover pets over six years old come with lower reimbursement rates (50% to 70%) and higher annual deductibles ($500 to $1,000).

Fetch Pet Insurance

Best Holistic Coverage
4.6

Pros & Cons of Fetch Pet Insurance

Pros Offers an unlimited coverage option with no caps on annual payouts Includes up to $1,000 for virtual vet visit fees Reimburses pet parents for lost-pet advertising and reward money Cons Doesn’t offer a preventive care add-on, unlike many competitors Has a relatively long waiting period of 15 days for accidents

Overview

If you’re looking for the most complete coverage offering holistic care, Fetch Pet Insurance, formerly Petplan, is a solid option. The company scored a 91.5 out of 100 in our review. Its accident and illness policy covers your pet’s stem cell therapy, homeotherapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care, which are treatments often limited or excluded by competitors. The policy also pays up to $1,000 for behavioral therapies and virtual vet visits.

  • Deductibles: $250, $300 or $500
  • Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $15,000 or unlimited
  • Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% or 90%

Learn More: Fetch Pet Insurance Review

Fetch Plans

Fetch’s accident and illness policy can come with $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited annual coverage caps. 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 your pet’s teeth, which some providers do not.

Coverage

Fetch doesn’t offer a preventive care option to cover items such as routine checkups or vaccinations, but its standard policy reimburses you for a few extras that aren’t typically provided by other pet insurance companies. These extras include boarding fees if you’re hospitalized for more than four days, vacation cancellation fees, and reward and advertising money for finding your lost pet.


How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Texas?

These top-rated providers offer affordable pet insurance policies and top pet wellness plans in Texas, but your quoted premiums will vary depending on a number of factors, such as location and breed.

Based on our research, we found premiums for standard accident and illness policies to average around $20–$60 per month for dogs and $10–$30 per month for cats.

Pet insurance companies typically use the following factors to determine costs:

  • Breed: The breed of your dog or cat can have a significant impact on your quoted premium. For example, larger purebred dogs can be more susceptible to illness and disease and cost more to insure. Small mixed breeds are typically the cheapest to insure.
  • Age: Older dogs or cats can be more costly to insure since they’re more likely to experience injuries or illnesses. Consider insuring your animals at a young age, since most providers don’t increase annual premiums based solely on age.
  • Location: You may have to pay more for pet insurance depending on where you live in Texas since many carriers base premiums on the estimated cost of local vets. For example, our quotes in Houston and Dallas were around $5–$10 higher per month than our sample quotes in San Antonio, Texas. Getting a few of your own quotes can give you a better idea of how your ZIP code affects your premium.
  • Discounts: Another tip for pet owners is to look for discounts from providers to lower costs. For example, Lemonade offers a discount for bundling a pet insurance policy with its homeowner’s insurance. Other providers, such as Prudent Pet and Embrace, offer discounts for adding more pets to your policy, making policies more affordable for those who have large pet families.
  • Customization: Choosing higher annual deductibles in addition to lower reimbursement rates and annual limits can help decrease your premium. However, these choices can result in being under-covered during a claim with higher out-of-pocket costs.

How Much Are Dog and Cat Owners Spending on Pet Insurance?

Here are the average pet insurance premiums for dogs and cats across top pet insurers.

ProviderMonthly Avg. for Dogs*Monthly Avg. for Cats*

Embrace

$41.41

$24.34

Figo

$22.21

$11.27

Healthy Paws

$40.66

$19.01

Lemonade

$34.27

$17.55

Spot

$30.01

$21.62

*Averages are for 4-year-old, mixed-breed, male dogs and cats in Texas using a $5,000 annual limit, $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement rate. 

Cost of Pet Insurance by Breed

Species/BreedAverage Monthly Premium*

French bulldog

$83.27

German shepherd

$56.28

Golden retriever

$52.15

Mixed-breed dog

$34.27

American shorthair cat

$23.40

Maine coon

$28.62

Mixed-breed cat

$22.44

*Sample quotes are based on Lemonade accident-and-illness plans for 4-year-old male pets in Houston, Texas using a $5,000 annual limit, $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement rate.

Cost of Pet Insurance by Location in Texas

Most pet insurers provide coverage in Texas. Since pet insurance premiums vary by ZIP code, we looked at the average monthly cost of an accident-and-illness plan from our top-rated provider, Lemonade, for some of Texas’ most populated cities.

CityLemonade Premium*

El Paso

$27.94

Fort Worth

$29.97

San Antonio

$31.83

Houston

$34.27

Austin

$37.47

Dallas

$55.62

*These quotes are for 4-year-old, mixed-breed, male dogs.


What Does Texas Pet Insurance Cover?

Exact coverage among providers varies, but most companies cover the same core accidents and illnesses. They typically cover the following accidents:

  • ACL ruptures
  • Bite wounds
  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations
  • Swallowed objects
  • Toxic ingestions

Common illness coverage includes the following:

  • Allergies
  • Arthritis
  • Blood disorders
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Diarrhea 
  • Ear infections
  • Eye disorders
  • Heart disease
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Seizures
  • Skin conditions
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Vomiting

In general, coverage applies to the following services:

  • Accidents and injuries
  • Behavioral treatments 
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Common illnesses
  • Emergency care
  • Hereditary conditions
  • Holistic and alternative therapies
  • Hospitalization 
  • Lab testing
  • Procedures
  • Routine wellness care
  • Specialist care
  • Surgeries
  • Testing

What Is Excluded From Pet Insurance in Texas?

No pet insurer covers everything. It’s important to read policy terms carefully before committing to a plan to make sure you know exactly what is and isn’t covered. The most common complaint among pet insurance customers is claim denial. Usually, this is due to not reading what their policy excludes before submitting a claim or enrolling in the plan. 

Here are the most common pet insurance exclusions:

  • Accidents or injuries resulting from negligence, such as abuse
  • Elective or cosmetic procedures
  • Experimental procedures
  • Preexisting conditions
  • Treatments not performed by a licensed veterinarian

Preexisting conditions are any accident, injury, or illness your pet showed symptoms of or received vet care for prior to your policy start date. Some providers make allowances for issues your pet hasn’t shown symptoms for within a certain time period prior to enrollment. 

Standard accident-and-illness plans also don’t cover the following:

  • Annual wellness checkups
  • Boarding
  • Breeding and pregnancy care
  • Burial or cremation costs
  • Dental cleanings
  • Grooming
  • Microchipping
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Training
  • Vaccinations 

You’ll need to purchase a wellness plan to receive coverage for these services. Some providers’ wellness plans only cover some items on this list.


Types of Texas Pet Insurance Plans

There are a few plans to choose from when signing up for pet insurance. Some companies have all three options, and some may only offer one.

  • Accident-and-illness plan: This is the most common type of plan. Accident-and-illness coverage reimburses costs for diagnostic testing, emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, ultrasounds, X-rays, and more related to injuries and illnesses. 
  • Accident-only plan: This type of plan covers only accident-related medical costs. You’ll save money on your premium, but you won’t be covered if your pet gets sick.
  • Wellness plan: Not all providers offer wellness plans. These are add-ons to help cover the cost of preventive vet care, such as annual checkups, grooming, and vaccinations. You can combine a wellness plan with your base plan for an additional monthly fee.

What Is Pet Insurance?

Navigating pet insurance can feel confusing with all its terminology and different coverage options. Below is a video we created to explain how pet insurance helps cover the cost of your furry friend’s veterinary treatments.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Most pet insurance companies require you to pay your vet bill out of pocket before leaving the vet office. You then submit a claim with your provider for the bill. Once approved, you’ll receive reimbursement via direct deposit or a mailed check, usually within a couple weeks. You’ll only receive reimbursement if the vet bill is related to vet treatments your policy covers, so be sure to read the terms carefully before enrolling. 

You need to understand a few variables regarding how much you’ll pay, how much you’ll be reimbursed, and when your policy will and won’t help you cover pet insurance costs. Your location as well as your pet’s breed and age will determine your monthly premium. You’ll also need to be familiar with these coverage factors to understand how pet insurance works:

  • Annual Limit: This is the total amount your pet insurance provider will reimburse you per year. For instance, if your annual coverage limit is $5,000 and your pet needs treatment that totals $6,000 for the year, your insurance will only cover the first $5,000 worth of claims. You’ll be responsible for the remaining $1,000 once you’ve hit your limit.
  • Deductible: Your pet insurance deductible is the amount you have to spend out of pocket before you can file a claim. If you choose a low deductible, such as $250, that’s how much you’ll have to pay before you can begin filing claims for reimbursement. The lower your deductible, the higher your monthly premium will be and vice versa.
  • Reimbursement Rate: This refers to the percentage of each claim your provider will reimburse you for. Most providers have reimbursement rates ranging from 70%–100%. If you file a claim for a $1,000 vet bill, you’ll only be reimbursed $700 if you have a 70% reimbursement rate. The higher the reimbursement rate, the higher your premium will be.

What Texas Pet Laws Affect Pet Ownership?

Texas has several laws to help protect pets. Some laws apply to the entire state, while others are city-specific. Be sure to research the laws in your area. Here are some of the most common pet laws Texas residents should be aware of. 

Texas Pet Laws

Texas has several laws to help protect pets. Some laws apply to the entire state, while others are city-specific. Be sure to research the laws in your area. Here are some of the most common pet laws Texas residents should be aware of. 

Austin Pet Laws

  • Dogs must be on a leash in public spaces unless the space is designated as leash-free.
  • Dogs are not allowed off-leash even on private property, unless they are indoors or contained inside a fence or other barrier. 
  • Kittens and puppies that don’t have microchips and all necessary vaccinations may not be sold.

Dallas Pet Laws

  • A single-family home with more than half an acre of land is allowed to have a total of eight animals. 
  • A single-family home with half an acre or less of land is allowed to have a maximum of six animals. 
  • Pet owners living in an apartment or duplex are allowed to have a maximum of four animals.

All animals must be licensed with the city of Dallas and vaccinated for rabies. 

Houston Pet Laws

  • All pets must be microchipped. 
  • Apartment residents can have no more than two pets. 
  • Private homes can have no more than four pets.

Houston also requires pet stores to deter the use of puppy mills and reduce the number of stray dogs. 

Dallas Pet Laws

  • All dogs and cats must be licensed annually. 
  • No pets are allowed outside the home without a leash. Pets must stay on public “right-of-way” areas, not on private property. 
  • No more than eight animals are permitted in one home within city limits. 
  • Retail pet sales are banned. This is to encourage shelter adoptions and reduce euthanizing healthy pets.

Is Texas Pet Insurance Worth It?

Whether you’re looking for pet insurance for dogs or pet insurance for cats, choosing the best pet insurance company in Texas is important to ensure your pet is protected at all times.

For the best overall coverage, affordability, and unique features, we recommend Lemonade. However, Spot might be your best bet for a customized plan. You may also be drawn to Embrace for its flexible range of deductibles. Each of the providers in this review has unique features and benefits. To get the best policy for your pet’s needs, be sure to compare quotes from multiple providers.


FAQs About Pet Insurance in Texas

Is pet insurance worth it in Texas?

Whether you live in Houston or near the Gulf beaches, insuring your pet can prevent you from paying expensive vet bills and ensure that your pet receives treatment during an unexpected illness or accident. Adding a wellness care package to your policy can also help mediate preventative care costs from regular checkups, blood tests, and vaccinations.

Does Texas pet insurance cover birds or exotic pets?

Most pet insurance companies only offer coverage for cats and dogs, but Nationwide—which also operates in Texas—offers protection for avian or exotic animals.

What does pet insurance not cover in Texas?

Pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions that are noticed by you or your vet before enrollment or during the dedicated waiting periods. It also typically excludes cosmetic or elective procedures, such as ear clipping or declawing.


Other Texas Home Service Resources


Our Rating Methodology

We are 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 team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.