The Best Pet Insurance In North Carolina (2024)
North Carolina, otherwise known as the Tar Heel State, is known for its fantastic beaches, beautiful weather, and amazing outdoor landscape. There are many wonderful state parks to camp in, and it’s an overall dog-friendly place. While you and your dog are out on an adventure, you may want to consider the potential for accidents, such as your dog being stung by a jellyfish or scraping its paws on rough shells. Even if your pet is young and healthy now, it can develop an illness or have a sudden accident that leads to significant veterinary expenses.
Pet insurance can provide you with coverage for accidents or illnesses your pet may experience or develop throughout its life. To find out more about pet insurance in North Carolina, keep reading.
The 6 Best North Carolina Pet Insurance Companies
- Spot: Best overall
- Lemonade: Most affordable
- Embrace: Best for deductibles
- Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Most experienced
- Prudent Pet: Best for dog and cat parents who want basic options
Compare Pet Insurance Companies in North Carolina
There are many pet insurance companies to choose from in North Carolina, making it overwhelming to know where to begin when it comes to shopping for the best pet insurance plan. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the different pet insurance providers available to North Carolinians. Take time to consider the many different pet insurance plan options available, including features like: multiple rates, coverage, charitable giving, user-friendly mobile apps, discounts, and more.
Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of different North Carolina pet insurance providers.
*Certain conditions, such as cruciate ligaments or orthopedic conditions, may have longer waiting period times, usually six months to a year. This is common among many pet insurance providers, but most illnesses will be covered after the waiting period listed above.
Top 6 Best Pet Insurance Companies In North Carolina
How Does Pet Insurance Work in North Carolina?
Pet insurance works through you and not your vet’s office. Unlike human medical insurance, pet insurance will reimburse you directly for out-of-pocket veterinary expenses that are covered under your pet insurance plan. Your reimbursement will usually be based on a percentage agreed upon in your plan, which typically falls between 50 and 90%. After submitting your claim to your provider, it will process the claim, and once approved, you’ll be reimbursed for that agreed-upon percentage.
The benefit of working directly with your pet insurance provider, rather than it working with your vet, is that you can choose any vet practice you want. You never have to worry about seeing a veterinarian who is “in network.” As long as they are a licensed veterinarian and the medical care your pet receives is covered by your plan, you’ll be reimbursed. Overall, we recommend treating pet insurance as a safety net for unexpected illnesses or accidents.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in North Carolina for You
When choosing a pet insurance provider for your beloved pet, there are many things to consider. We recommend starting with the type of plan you want for your pet. Most pet insurance providers offer three main types of plans:
- Accident-only coverage: As the name implies, this plan only offers coverage for accident-related health problems, such as treatment for a broken bone or emergency surgery if your pet swallows something.
- Accident and illness coverage: Accident and illness coverage includes everything listed above and coverage for developed illnesses. Pre-existing illnesses are not covered, but any illnesses your pet develops while on your pet insurance plan can be covered. This could include conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, cancer, infections, and more.
- Wellness plan: This is usually an add-on to one of the above plans and helps with the cost of routine veterinary care, such as vaccinations, regular vet checkups, and teeth cleanings.
After considering the different plan types, think about other details and options within those plans that matter most to you.
- Are alternative therapies or behavioral treatments available under this plan?
- Does the plan have a lifetime or annual benefit cap?
- Can you communicate with your provider via your preferred communication method (email, live chat, phone, etc.)?
- Are dental problems covered under this plan?
- Does this plan cover prescription diets and medications?
- What kind of reviews does the pet insurance provider have from customers and consumer report websites, like the Better Business Bureau?
How Much is Pet Insurance in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a multitude of pet insurance providers that you can choose from. Depending on your pet’s age, breed, and even the city you live in, the cost of pet insurance can vary greatly. The type of plan you pick will also significantly impact your monthly cost, especially if you choose more comprehensive plans or add a wellness plan on top of your pet insurance plan. Generally, you can expect to pay around $45 per month for dogs and $25 per month for cats in North Carolina.
Provider | Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs | Sample Monthly Cost For Cats | Sample Monthly Wellness Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Spot | $40.00 | $22.00 | $9.95 (gold), $24.95 (platinum) |
Lemonade | $37.00 | $15.00 | $10 to $34/month for cats, $15 to $40/month for dogs |
Embrace | $35.00 | $18.00 | $35 |
Healthy Paws | $39.00 | $12.00 | Not offered |
ASPCA | $49.00 | $29.00 | $9.95 (basic), $24.95 (prime) |
Prudent Pet | $39 | $23 | $13.95 for cats, $19.95 for dogs |
When we requested estimates from Figo Pet Insurance, we entered information about an average dog that weighs at least 21 pounds and is 3 years old. The rates below include 80% reimbursement and a $250 deductible with $14,000 in annual benefits. Figo offers exam fees for just a few dollars more. The quote you get may depend on factors such as what you want in a plan and the age of your dog, as well as its size and where you live.
City | Monthly Cost |
---|---|
Wilmington | $32.40 |
Raleigh | $32.95 |
Winston-Salem | $32.95 |
Charlotte | $34.01 |
Greensboro | $34.01 |
Final Thoughts on Top Pet Health Insurance Providers in North Carolina
Pet insurance is a valuable resource for pet parents and can give us peace of mind knowing that our pets will be covered if they get in an accident or develop an illness. As veterinary care continues to advance, the cost of medical care for our pets will also continue to increase. While this can be stressful to think about, our pets will continue to receive better care as time goes on, and pet insurance can help offset these costs significantly. Wellness plans can be an especially great option for pet parents looking to save on routine veterinary costs.
Information for Pet Owners in North Carolina
Between its beautiful beaches, gorgeous hiking trails, and dog-friendly environment, North Carolina offers plenty of options for outdoor fun. If you’re new to the area or simply want to explore new parts of North Carolina, here are some fantastic options for fun things to do with your pet in North Carolina, along with laws and pet resources you should know about.
North Carolina Pet Laws
North Carolina has strict laws about keeping your pet in the car in hot and cold weather. Not only is this unfair to your pet, but many pets die this way every year. If you leave your pet in the car, know that North Carolina law enforcement does have the right to break windows to save your pet.
Another important North Carolina pet law is its requirement to register your pet with a license and tag. Many people living in this area do not have their dogs registered, which is illegal, so don’t let this be you. First, make sure that your dog is up to date on its rabies vaccination, then make sure you have a license and tag. Lastly, ensure that you always keep your dog leashed for both its safety and the safety of those around it when you’re outside.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in NC
North Carolina is home to many beautiful beaches and dog-friendly areas. First, we recommend stopping at some of the best beaches around North Carolina. Duck Beach is a popular place where dogs can frolic and play without leashes, which many dog owners enjoy. Kitty Hawk, where the Wright Brothers first took flight, is another excellent location for dogs where they can be unleashed and play. We also recommend bringing your pup to Nags Head Beach and Atlantic Beach.
Lastly, you’ll want to grab a bite to eat at a dog-friendly restaurant. The Dog Bar in Charlotte, Angry Ale’s, Sunny Point Cafe, and Posana in Asheville are other great locations that allow dogs to eat with their owners.
North Carolina Pet Resources
- Fuzzy Friends Pet Food Pantry: If you’re struggling with affording dog or cat food, Fuzzy Friends Pet Food Pantry offers free pet food to those in need.
- Spay Neuter Assistance Program of North Carolina: This mobile service offers low-cost spaying and neutering to those in need. Its service helps to prevent overwhelmed shelters and abandoned dogs and cats.
- Gaston Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic: This clinic offers anyone high-quality, low-cost spaying and neutering. There is no income requirement or residency requirement needed. All procedures are performed by licensed veterinarians.
- Pet Food Pantry: Pet Food Pantry offers qualified monthly pet food distributions to Eastern North Carolina, especially those struggling with job loss, chronic illness, disability, homelessness, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in North Carolina
How much does pet insurance cost?
Pet insurance costs will vary based on your pet insurance provider, location, your pet’s breed, your pet’s age, and more. Other factors that will influence the cost of pet insurance include the type of plan you choose, especially if the plan has extensive coverage and if you opt for preventative care add-ons. The more coverage your plan has, the higher the cost is likely to be.
To give you a general idea of pet insurance costs, we’ve researched the following numbers for you. Currently, most dog insurance plans cost $28 per month on average, and cat insurance plans can cost as little as $11 per month. Depending on the plan, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 per month to $90 per month in most cases.
Do all vets take pet insurance in North Carolina?
In short, yes. Your pet insurance provider doesn’t work with your vet, so you don’t have to worry about your vet being in-network like a human health insurance plan. Instead, you submit your claim directly to your pet insurance provider, which will reimburse you based on your coverage. This allows you to go to any licensed veterinarian, whether they are at a clinic or animal hospital, to get your pet the care they need. As long as the treatment is covered under your plan, you’ll be covered.
Does pet insurance only cover dogs and cats?
Most pet insurance providers only cover dogs and cats. To date, the only pet insurance provider that covers birds and exotic pets in the United States is Nationwide Insurance. Nationwide can cover your pet pig, lizard, parrot, chinchilla, and other exotic animals. Exotic pets need excellent veterinary care just as much as dogs and cats, so consider looking into a pet insurance plan for them today if you have an exotic pet.