The Best Pet Insurance in Washington (2024)
Washington is nicknamed “The Evergreen State” due to its large number of gorgeous evergreen forests. Thanks to its natural resources, Washington is a beautiful place to live and raise your pets. If you’re looking for a state rich in outdoor adventures and natural beauty, Washington is the place to be. Many pets will also enjoy the outdoors and forests in this area. However, you should keep in mind that accidents can happen while you’re out and about, whether this is a broken bone from a fall or a bee sting. Pets can also become ill, even when they’re young and healthy.
Pet insurance can provide you with a financial safety net so that you never have to worry about being blindsided by large vet bills to treat your pet’s injuries or illness.
The 5 Best Washington Pet Insurance Companies
In our review of the best pet insurance in Washington, we’ll discuss the following pet insurance providers:
- Spot: Best overall
- Lemonade: Most affordable
- ASPCA: Most experienced
- Embrace: Best for deductibles
- Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
Compare Pet Insurance Companies in Washington
Pet Insurance Companies in Washington Reviews
There are many pet insurance companies in Washington, making it overwhelming to begin the pet insurance research process. Our team at QUARTZ compiled the following list of different pet insurance providers that offer Washington pet parents coverage. Keep reading to learn more about these companies’ pros and cons and other factors, such as discounts, deductibles, coverage types, charitable giving, pricing, and much more.
How Does Pet Insurance Work in Washington?
Pet insurance works through you, not your vet’s office. Unlike human healthcare insurance, you will submit your claims directly to your pet insurance provider after you’ve paid the veterinary bill upfront. Once the claim is approved, your pet insurance provider will reimburse you based on the reimbursement rate in your policy. This reimbursement percentage typically falls between 50 and 90%. You’ll be responsible for the remaining portion of the bill. Depending on the plan you choose, your pet can be protected for accidents, illnesses, and even routine veterinary care coverage, like wellness exams, vaccinations, and regular blood work.
Pet insurance can give you peace of mind knowing that your pet’s needs will be covered should it have an unexpected accident or illness. We recommend treating it as a safety net for your pet’s unexpected veterinary care.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Washington for You
Pet insurance shopping can be overwhelming due to the many pet insurance providers and customization options available. To choose a policy, we recommend starting by considering what kind of pet insurance coverage you’d like for your pet. These are the main types of pet insurance plans:
- Accident-only plans: Accident-only plans protect you financially should your pet have an accident or become injured. This could include broken bones, animal bites, lacerations, insect bites, and much more. Accident-only plans will not cover illnesses or routine veterinary care costs.
- Accident and illness plans: Accident and illness plans are more comprehensive and give your pet coverage for accidents and developed illnesses. Examples of accident and illness coverage include diabetes, cancer, thyroid disorders, infections, and much more. This plan won’t cover wellness care costs.
- Wellness add-ons: A wellness or preventative care plan is usually an add-on to one of the other types of plans. It provides you with coverage for routine veterinary care, such as wellness visits, vaccinations, routine blood work, dental cleanings, and regular urinalysis.
Next, consider what other factors are important to you when it comes to choosing a pet insurance plan. Consider the following questions before you decide on a pet insurance provider and plan:
- Does this plan cover prescription diets or medications?
- What kind of reviews does this provider have from customers and consumer report websites, such as the Better Business Bureau?
- Does this plan cover alternative therapies or behavioral problems?
- Are wellness or preventative care plans offered through this provider?
- Does this plan have dental illness coverage?
- Is there a convenient mobile app available that allows you to submit and track claims?
- Does the pet insurance provider offer your preferred communication method? (email, phone, live chat, etc.?)
- Is there a lifetime or annual benefits cap?
- Does this provider have multiple plan options and allow you to customize your plan to your preferences?
- How are its rates compared to other pet insurance companies?
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Washington?
Many factors can impact the cost of your pet insurance, including where you live in Washington, and your pet’s age, health, and breed. The type of pet insurance plan you choose will also heavily affect the overall cost of your pet insurance. For example, an accident and illness plan will typically be more expensive than accident-only coverage. In general, you can expect monthly premiums of around $45 for dog insurance and $25 for cat insurance, not including a wellness add-on. With a wellness add-on, you’re looking at an additional $10 to $25 each month typically.
Remember that shopping around between providers and looking at available discounts can save you hundreds of dollars each year on pet insurance costs.
Provider | Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs | Sample Monthly Cost For Cats | Sample Monthly Wellness Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Spot | $40 | $22 | $9.95 (gold), $24.95 (platinum) |
Lemonade | $37 | $15 | $10 to $34/month for cats, $15 to $40/month for dogs |
Embrace | $35 | $18 | $35 |
Healthy Paws | $39 | $12 | Not offered |
ASPCA | $49 | $29 | $9.95 (basic), $24.95 (prime) |
Monthly Cost of Pet Insurance by City in Washington
Seattle is the most expensive city in Washington for pet insurance, but surprisingly, its high-end neighbor to the east, Bellevue, is one of the lowest. Maybe there is less trouble for a dog to get into in a suburb. Either way, the monthly rates are all reasonable and certainly a lot more affordable than a $10,000 vet bill for an emergency.
City | Monthly Cost* |
---|---|
Seattle | $41.21 |
Bellevue | $36.84 |
Tacoma | $38.66 |
Spokane | $38.04 |
Ellensburg | $35.14 |
*We used a mixed breed, 3-year-old male dog, 20-55 lbs. for our sample quote.
Final Thoughts
Pet insurance gives many pet parents peace of mind knowing that they don’t have to worry about affording expensive veterinary treatments their pet may need throughout its life. Life isn’t certain, and neither is our pet’s health, so having a financial backup plan for your pet can provide comfort and stability should it get sick or have an accident. Wellness plans can also give you financial help with the everyday costs of routine veterinary care.
Regardless of the pet insurance provider you choose, we recommend considering multiple companies and getting pet insurance quotes from them to see what is worth most to you. This process will allow you to thoroughly weigh your options before deciding on a plan.
Information for Pet Owners in Washington
Washington has many unique pet-friendly locations and establishments. It’s also known for its abundance of pet-friendly employers and employers who offer pet insurance as an employee benefit. Due to its pet-friendly nature, you won’t have to leave your pup in the hotel or at home. Get ready to get out and play!
Washington Pet Laws
Before you take your pet out on an adventure, make sure you’re aware of Washington pet laws:
- Washington has strict liability laws for dog bites on humans and other animals. You may be held liable for damages, regardless of owner negligence, if your dog bites someone.
- Washington does not have a statewide pet licensing or leash law. However, the city you’re in may have one, so we recommend researching where you’re at before wandering around with your dog unleashed.
- Certain dog breeds are banned from different cities. A handful of Washington cities have bans on pit bull dogs. Auburn even has breed-specific laws against pit bulls, Akitas, and kuvasz dogs.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in WA
Check out these fun, pet-friendly establishments and have fun taking your pup on an adventure:
- Westcrest Park: Westcrest Park is a breathtaking park that features a fun off-leash area for dogs to enjoy running around.
- Old Ballard Brewery Tour: This pet-friendly tour is hosted by Timothy and lasts around three hours. On the tour, you can enjoy sampling delicious beers in a two-block area of Seattle.
- Wilco Farm Store: Wilco Farm Store is a dog-friendly place that allows owners to meander through aisles of mud boots, generators, grills, winter clothes, and much more with their dogs. They are open Monday through Saturday and have reduced Sunday hours.
- Double Bluff Beach: Enjoy the breathtaking views at Double Bluff Beach with your dog right beside you.
Washington Pet Resources
If you or someone in your life is in need, check out these Washington pet resources for help caring for your pet:
- Doney Coe Pet Clinic: This veterinary care center serves low-income and homeless families. It’s funded by the community and offers no-cost veterinary care to pets. It also supports and promotes spaying and neutering.
- Seattle Humane Society: Seattle’s Humane Society offers support for pet owners in need. It runs a pet food bank that also gives out pet supplies, such as leashes, collars, indoor crates, flea/tick preventatives, supplements, pet food, litter boxes, litter, and kennels. It also offers Wellness Clinic appointments to support low-income families with pets that need wellness checkups, vaccinations, and microchipping services.
- WSU Good Samaritan Program: The Washington State University Good Samaritan Program is a fund used to help special needs or ownerless animals while training vet students. If you have a special needs animal, consider this program.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Washington
What does Pet Insurance Typically Cover?
Depending on what type of plan you choose, your pet insurance plan will cover different things. Accident-only plans provide medical coverage for accidental injuries, such as broken bones, sprains, and prescription medications. Accident-and-illness plans try to extend that coverage to include cancer treatments, digestive illness, hip dysplasia, and similar issues.
Does pet insurance cover all veterinary expenses?
No, pet insurance won’t cover all expenses you build up at the vet’s office. However, insurance will typically cover accidents and illnesses that aren’t pre-existing. Some policies will even offer wellness and preventative care add-ons that add additional benefits to your policy, like wellness exams and vaccines.
Does pet insurance cover all veterinary expenses?
No, pet insurance won’t cover all expenses you build up at the vet’s office. However, insurance will typically cover accidents and illnesses that aren’t pre-existing. Some policies will even offer wellness and preventative care add-ons that add additional benefits to your policy, like wellness exams and vaccines.
Do all vets take pet insurance?
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.