Affiliate Disclosure: This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our websiteRead More. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.

Best Pet Insurance in Virginia (VA)

By Stephanie Koncewicz 11/20/2023

From the waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are plenty of pet owners in Virginia who cherish their time with their animals and can benefit from a pet insurance policy. No one wants to max out their credit card debt or fork out their savings to pay for their pet’s unexpected emergency treatments. That’s where pet insurance comes in—it can provide peace of mind that your pet will get the care it needs without breaking the bank.

The This Old House Reviews Team has spent hours analyzing the top pet insurance providers on the market, studying the inconveniences of pet ownership by conducting surveys and reading customer reviews and curating a list of the best pet insurance companies in Virginia.

Compare Other Pet Companies

Star Rating Monthly Cost Coverage Link
Lemonade Lemonade
$23.22 accident and illness, wellness Visit Site
Spot Spot
$45.75 accident and illness, accident only, wellness Visit Site
Embrace Embrace
$57.19 accident and illness, wellness Visit Site
ASPCA ASPCA
$43.29 accident and illness, accident only, wellness Visit Site
Healthy Paws Healthy Paws
$48.65 accident and illness Visit Site
Lemonade
Logo Lemonade
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $23.22
Coverage accident and illness, wellness
Visit Site
Spot
Logo Spot
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $45.75
Coverage accident and illness, accident only, wellness
Visit Site
Embrace
Logo Embrace
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $57.19
Coverage accident and illness, wellness
Visit Site
ASPCA
Logo ASPCA
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $43.29
Coverage accident and illness, accident only, wellness
Visit Site
Healthy Paws
Logo Healthy Paws
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $48.65
Coverage accident and illness
Visit Site
Providers
Star Rating
Monthly Cost
Coverage
$23.22
accident and illness, wellness
$45.75
accident and illness, accident only, wellness
$57.19
accident and illness, wellness
$43.29
accident and illness, accident only, wellness
$48.65
accident and illness

Top 5 Pet Insurance Providers in Virginia


Lemonade Best Overall
4.8

Lemonade performed exceptionally well in our review, earning points for its comprehensive policy coverage, affordable prices, and impressive preventative care additional coverage options.

Learn more:ย Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Highlights
  • Our score: 96
  • Offers some of the lowest prices on the market for pets of different breeds and ages according to dozens of sample quotes we requested from the company
  • Has a fast claims filing process with AI software on the Lemonade mobile app
  • Provides a 10% bundling discount forย Lemonade homeowners insuranceย orย renters insuranceย customers

Lemonade lost points in our review for itsย C rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)ย for a higher-than-average number of complaints. However, we still recommend it as a top pet insurance provider since most complaints are in regards to Lemonadeโ€™s homeowners and renters insurance products instead of its pet insurance policies.

Lemonade Pros and Cons
Pros Has a charitable giveback program Has a 48-hour waiting period for accidents Doesnโ€™t have age limits for coverage Cons Doesnโ€™t cover behavioral treatments or dental veterinary care Is available in only 35 states
Lemonade Plans and Coverage

Lemonade offers coverage for most unexpected accidents and illnesses, including broken bones, sprains, infections, and heart disease. It pays $5,000 to $100,000 per yearโ€”depending on the customization options you chooseโ€”for vet bills related to diagnostic tests, outpatient care, hospitalization, prescription medications, and more. Lemonade doesnโ€™t cover pre-existing conditions, dental illness, behavioral conditions, and elective procedures.

If you want extra coverage, you can add vet visit fees and physical therapy add-ons for a bit extra per month. You can also add preventative care coverage for items like a wellness exam, vaccines, and a blood test. This coverage comes at two different levels and monthly pricing options.

Spot Most Customizable Plans
4.6

We recommend Spot for its customizable plansโ€”you can choose from an extensive list of seven annual coverage limit options to help make your policy fit within your budget.

Learn more:ย Spot Pet Insurance Review

Highlights
  • Our score: 91
  • Has a low annual coverage limit of $2,500 forย cheaper pet insurance premiums
  • Offers an accident-only plan for coverage on accidents and injuries
  • Provides an unlimited annual coverage option
Spot Pros and Cons
Pros Its standard plan includes microchipping Offers a 10% discount for customers with multiple pets Features an unlimited coverage option Cons Doesnโ€™t cover pets under eight weeks old Has a long waiting period of 14 days for accidents
Spot Plans and Coverage

You can purchase a Spot pet insurance plan with $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited annual coverage on accidents only or both accidents and illnesses. While its accident-only plan covers just accidents and injuries, its accident and illness plan pays for vet bills for a wide range of conditions, including dental disease, cancer, respiratory infection, diabetes, and more.

Spot doesnโ€™t cover pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, and issues related to breeding or pregnancy. However, it does offer two options for preventative care coverage on treatments like dental cleanings, a wellness exam, and vaccinations. The Gold option comes with an annual total of $250 per-treatment limits and the Platinum option comes with $450 of per-treatment coverage per year.

Healthy Paws Best Coverage Limit
4.5

To get the most value out of your pet insurance plan, you can purchase a policy with unlimited lifetime, per-incident, and annual coverage caps from Healthy Paws.

Learn more:ย Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

Highlights
  • Our score: 93.5
  • Provides unlimited coverage at lower monthly premiums than other competitorsโ€™ unlimited annual coverage options
  • Has a 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Has been in business for 11 years, which is more than many competitors
Healthy Paws Pros and Cons
Pros Has fast claims processing with a direct deposit Donates to homeless pets with every pet insurance quote Offers a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee Cons Has higher premiums for some breeds Its plans lack customizability compared to other providers
Healthy Paws Plans and Coverage

Healthy Paws makes unlimited payouts during the year and lifetime of your pet for accidents and illnesses, including cancer and chronic, congenital, and hereditary conditions. Eligible vet bills can include prescription medications, emergency care, alternative treatments, surgery, and more. Since all policies come with unlimited coverage caps, youโ€™ll never have to worry about reaching a maximum and paying out of pocket for procedures that extend past a certain limit.

Healthy Paws doesnโ€™t cover vet visit fees, exam fees, pre-existing conditions, behavioral treatments, and any preventative care, such as spay or neuter surgery, wellness visits, and vaccinations. It also has a waiting period of 12 months for hip dysplasia coverage, which is longer than many competitors.

ASPCA Best for New Pet Owners
4.5

We recommendย ASPCA Pet Health Insuranceย as the top provider for new pet owners, since it provides extensive resources for learning and caring for your new furry family member.

Learn more:ย ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Review

Highlights
  • Our score: 89
  • Features a local vet finder tool on its website to help you find vets near you
  • Provides online resources about various pet breeds and their common health conditions
  • Offers a mobile app that can connect you to poison control resources
ASPCA Pros and Cons
Pros Covers behavioral issues and conditions Offers an accident-only plan for low-cost coverage on accidents and injuries Includes coverage for exam fees in its standard plans Cons Doesnโ€™t offer a website chat for customer service Has longer-than-usual wait times for customer support, according to third-party customer reviews
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Plans and Coverage

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers two plans: the Accident-Only Coverage plan and the Complete Coverage plan. Accident-Only Coverage pays for costs related to broken bones, bite wounds, and other accidents and injuries. Complete Coverage covers everything in Accident-Only Coverage plus illnesses and other conditions, such as eye disorders, cancer, kidney disease, behavioral issues, and more.

Neither plan covers pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, and breeding costs, but ASPCA Pet Health Insurance does offer two options for preventative care coverage. The Basic plan pays for items such as dental cleanings, deworming, and vaccines with $250 per year of per-item limits. The Prime plan pays for those treatments plus a few extras such as bloodwork, urinalysis, and spay or neuter surgery. It comes with $450 per year of total per-item limits.

Pawp Best Digital Clinic
4.5

Although Pawp isnโ€™t technically a pet insurance carrier, we recommend it to pet owners looking for an unlimited 24/7 digital clinic and coverage for unexpected life-threatening emergencies.

Learn more:ย Pawp Pet Insurance Review

Highlights
  • Our score: 90
  • Provides access to online vets 24/7 via video call and chat
  • Includes a $3,000 emergency fund for one emergency per year
  • Costs $24 per month, regardless of your petโ€™s species, age, breed, and location
Pawp Pros and Cons
Pros Offers 24/7 online vet services Doesnโ€™t have deductibles or copays Pays vets directly Cons Doesnโ€™t offer wellness or preventative care Doesnโ€™t have a BBB rating
Pawp Plans and Coverage

Pawp doesnโ€™t offer traditional pet insurance policies, but it provides a membership with unlimited access to licensed vets. It includes a $3,000 emergency fund that can go toward one vet bill per year for one of up to six different pets in your household. Eligible emergencies include toxic ingestions, blockages, choking, severe injuries, and other conditions that a Pawp vet deems life-threatening.

To access the emergency fund, members must speak with an official Pawp vet by video call, who will be able to verify the animalโ€™s condition. Once the Pawp representative verifies your petโ€™s eligible emergency, you have four hours to take your pet to a vet near you for a treatment or procedure. Then, Pawp pays the vet bill directly at the vet office with the emergency fund.

The fund canโ€™t cover any scheduled procedures, pregnancy or breeding issues, wellness care, or any other instances that arenโ€™t considered a life-threatening emergency.


Compare the Top Providers of Pet Insurance in Virginia

Since many factors affect the price, as detailed below, we encourage you to get multiple quotes to ensure you’re getting the best pet insurance for your specific pet.

Comparison of the Best Pet Insurance Companies in Virginia

Provider Avg Cost of Dog Insurance* Avg Cost of Cat Insurance* Number of Plans and Add-ons Wellness Add-On

Lemonade

$15-$30

$9-$15

3

โœ“

Spot

$15-$25

$10-$15

4

โœ“

Healthy Paws

$30-$65

$20-$30

1

โœ˜

ASPCA

$15-$25

$10-$20

4

โœ“

Pawp

$24

$24

1

โœ˜

The sample quotes in this article are for various 4-year-old animals in Alexandria, Virginia, on policies with $5,000 annual limits, $250 deductibles, and 80% reimbursement rates when those customizable options were available.


How Much Is Pet Insurance in Virginia?

Virginia pet insurance prices vary depending on a few factors, such your ZIP code and pet’s specific details. In general, we found that policies typically fall between $15 and $90 per month when pulling various pet insurance quotes during our research. Here are other factors that may affect your pet insurance rates:

  • Species: If you’re looking for pet insurance for your cat, you’re likely going to pay less than if you were looking for dog insurance, since cats aren’t as prone to expensive health conditions such as hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament issues.
  • Breed: Certain breeds are pricier to insure if they’re known to have health conditions. For instance, Great Danes have a high likelihood of experiencing hip dysplasia in their lifetime and therefore can be considerably more expensive to insure than healthier dog breeds.
  • Age: Some animals older than 8–9 years old can cost more than $150 per month for coverage. Purchasing a policy as early as possible can help keep rates lower, but you should expect your premium to increase as your companion ages.
  • Customization: If you’re having trouble finding a policy that fits within your budget, you can lower your premium by selecting a higher annual deductible, a lower annual coverage limit, and a lower reimbursement rate. For example, a policy from Spot for a mixed dog with unlimited annual coverage, a $100 annual deductible, and a 90% reimbursement rate costs $114.21 per month, while a policy with $2,500 of annual coverage, a $1,000 annual deductible, and a 70% reimbursement rate was quoted at $14.85 per month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pet insurance in Virginia worth it?

With the cost of vet bills increasing, pet insurance in Virginia can be worth the peace of mind it provides. You can rest assured that youโ€™ll have the means to pay for your dog or catโ€™s necessary treatments after an unexpected emergency without having to rack up any credit card expenses.

Adding to credit card debt from vet bills is a common pain point for pet parents. When we surveyed 1,000 pet owners, we found that around 40% of them would have to use a credit card to pay for unexpected vet bills and 9% didnโ€™t know how theyโ€™d afford them. Pet insurance can protect you from unwanted credit card debt by reimbursing you for your dog or catโ€™s procedures in a timely manner.

When should I purchase a pet insurance policy in Virginia?

We recommend purchasing your pet insurance policy while your animal is young, so that all future conditions are covered. If you wait until after your pet gets sick or injured, it would be considered a pre-existing condition and wouldnโ€™t qualify for coverage.

Does pet insurance cover my petโ€™s vaccinations?

Although standard pet insurance policies wonโ€™t cover vaccinations or any other wellness or preventative care treatments, you can add extra coverage for routine care to your policy with many top providers, includingย Lemonade,ย Spot, andย ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.


Our Conclusion

Although Lemonade scored the highest in our review, providing the best overall policies with a fast claims process, affordable prices, and comprehensive coverage, other pet insurance companies in Virginia may make more sense for you depending on your needs. If you want unlimited annual coverage, consider Healthy Paws or Spot. On the other hand, Pawp may be best for pet owners who have older animals or more expensive breeds, since it offers a digital clinic and emergency fund at a flat monthly rate.


Other Virginia (VA) Home Service Resources


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.