The Best Pet Insurance in Alaska (2024)
Alaska, also known as The Last Frontier State, has breathtaking views, chilly weather, and a unique culture and environment all its own. Alaska has some of the greatest fishing and hunting in the world. With its many pet-friendly areas, Alaska is also a wonderful place for pets and their parents. However, it’s important to consider that your pet can be injured or have an accident while out and about with you. Pets can become sick, get an infection, or develop a chronic illness at any time, even if they’re healthy or young.
Pet insurance protects you financially if your pet has an accident or develops an illness.
The 4 Best Alaska Pet Insurance Companies
Shopping for pet insurance can be overwhelming with the many providers and pet insurance policies available. In this article on the best pet insurance in Alaska, we’ll cover the following pet insurance providers:
- Spot: Best overall
- ASPCA: Most experienced
- Embrace: Best for deductibles
- Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
Compare Pet Insurance Companies in Alaska
Pet Insurance Companies in Alaska Reviews
Alaska has many pet insurance providers. However, it can be frustrating and confusing to sort through all the information about these providers while trying to pick out a pet insurance plan for your pet. To help you out, we’ve compiled in-depth details on each Alaskan pet insurance provider. We’ve included information about coverage options, plan types, average costs, exclusions, and everything you need to know about these pet insurance providers before you decide on one.
How Does Pet Insurance Work in Alaska?
Pet insurance is a pet health insurance that acts as a financial safety net should your pet develop an illness or have an accident. You can also choose add-ons for routine veterinary care coverage or accident-only coverage. To use pet insurance, visit any licensed veterinarian or animal hospital and have your pet treated. Then you’ll pay the veterinary bill out of pocket and submit the invoice to your pet insurance provider. Once your pet insurance claim is processed, your provider will reimburse you based on your policy details, like your annual deductible and reimbursement rate, which typically falls between 50 and 90%.
Pet insurance gives many pet parents peace of mind knowing that their pets will receive veterinary care if they have accidents or develop illnesses. With pet insurance, you can rest easy knowing that your pet will be covered, and you won’t have to worry about expensive vet bills.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Alaska for You
Before choosing a pet insurance provider, you’ll want to consider several factors. For starters, we recommend deciding what kind of pet insurance plan you’d like. There are three primary types of pet insurance plans available on the market:
- Accident-only coverage: As the name implies, accident-only coverage will help with costs associated with accidents your pet may have, such as broken bones, swallowing a foreign object, eating something toxic, or being bitten by an animal. It won’t cover illnesses or routine veterinary care costs.
- Accident and illness coverage: Accident and illness coverage will cover everything accident-only coverage does and developed illnesses, such as diabetes, cancer, hip dysplasia, and much more. It will not help with routine veterinary care costs.
- Wellness or preventative care plans: Wellness plans are typically add-ons to one of the other types of plans. It will provide you with financial help for routine veterinary care, such as wellness exams, vaccinations, deworming, dental cleanings, and more.
After deciding what kind of pet insurance plan is best for you and your pet, consider the following factors and what features are most important to you:
- Are dental illnesses or cleanings covered under this plan?
- Can you speak with your pet insurance provider via your preferred communication method? (live chat, phone, email, etc.)
- Does this pet insurance provider have good customer reviews and ratings from consumer report websites, like the Better Business Bureau?
- Will the plan cover alternative therapies, such as physical therapy or acupuncture, and behavioral issues?
- Does the plan have an annual or lifetime limit?
- Will the plan provide coverage for prescription diets or medications?
- What are the plan’s exclusions?
- Can you easily get a free quote from the pet insurance provider?
- What kind of diseases is your dog or cat’s breed more susceptible to? Does the plan cover those breed-specific health issues?
- Does the pet insurance provider have preventative care or wellness plan options?
Once you know which provider you’re interested in, we recommend immediately signing your pet up before it has time to develop pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are never covered by pet insurance, so sign your furry family member up as early as possible to minimize the risk of it developing pre-existing conditions.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Alaska?
Pet insurance monthly premium costs can vary significantly based on many factors. Some are factors you choose, including your annual deductible, plan type, annual limits, reimbursement percentage, and if you choose a wellness plan add-on. Other factors like your location, pet’s age, and pet’s breed are not controllable but will also affect your monthly premium.
Typically, you can expect to pay between $30 and $60 per month for dogs and $15 and $30 per month for cats for accident and illness coverage. Wellness plans will usually cost an additional $10 to $25 per month. Accident-only plans are generally cheaper and may be as little as $10 per month. Other factors like multi-pet, bundle, or military discounts can decrease your monthly premium if you qualify for them.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Alaska?
Provider | Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs | Sample Monthly Cost For Cats | Sample Monthly Wellness Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Spot | $40 | $22 | $9.95 (gold), $24.95 (platinum) |
Embrace | $35 | $18 | $35 |
Healthy Paws | $39 | $12 | Not offered |
ASPCA | $49 | $29 | $9.95 (basic), $24.95 (prime) |
Monthly Cost of Pet Insurance in Alaska Cities
Here are some monthly premiums for pet insurance in five different cities in Alaska. The policy we picked pays 80% of the bill for covered expenses and requires a $250 deductible. It’s based on a medium-size mixed breed male dog that’s 5 years old.
City | Monthly Cost |
---|---|
Anchorage | $35.07 |
Juneau | $41.84 |
Fairbanks | $38.58 |
Cordova | $41.84 |
Fort Yukon | $31.56 |
Final Thoughts
Pet insurance is a personal choice that can be an excellent investment for pet parents looking for a financial safety net in case their pet has an accident or develops an illness. Veterinary expenses can become costly quickly, especially if you consider the costs of emergency care and chronic conditions. Having a pet insurance plan in place helps you always provide your pet with the best veterinary care it deserves, allowing you to enjoy your time with him or her.
We Quartz hope that this article on pet insurance in Alaska helps you make the best decision on if pet insurance is worth it for you and your pet. No matter which provider you choose, know that you’re making a key investment in your furry family member’s health.
Information for Pet Owners in Alaska
This vast, chilly state is very pet-friendly and offers some of the most beautiful outdoor adventures to pets and pet parents alike. Before going out, review Alaskan pet laws to ensure that you comply with them and look at all the fun things you can do with your pet in Alaska. Then enjoy your pet-friendly adventure!
Alaska Pet Laws
Here are some Alaska pet laws you should know about before embarking on your adventure:
- Alaska is very strict about the type of animals you can bring into the state. If you’re visiting or moving to Alaska, make sure you review Alaska’s “Clean List,” which does exclude many exotic and wild animals.
- There is no statewide leash law. However, areas in Alaska may still require that your dog is leashed, so be sure that you check with the local area before unleashing your dog.
- All dogs need to be licensed by the time they’re four months old.
- Dogs must be up-to-date on their vaccinations.
- Dogs that chase wild animals or pose a threat can legally be shot, so please keep your pet safe with you.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in AK
Looking to have a blast with your pet in Alaska? Check out these pet-friendly establishments:
- Fairbanks Dog Park: This huge 20-acre park has two large fenced-in areas, many hiking trails, and a dog training area.
- Bishop’s Beach: This large dog-friendly beach has plenty of space for dogs to run and enjoy the water.
- Tommy’s Burger Stop: Located in Anchorage, this restaurant has excellent burgers and salads. Its pet-friendly patio is a great place to stop for a bite.
- Spenard Roadhouse: This pet-friendly restaurant features many cuisines and a lovely outdoor patio for you and your dog to enjoy.
Alaska Pet Resources
If you or someone you know is in need, consider these Alaskan pet resources for help:
- Friends of Pets in Anchorage: This place allows residents of Alaska to apply for a $100 coupon for spay or neuter services at any Alaskan veterinary clinic.
- All Creatures Veterinary Clinic in Wasilla: This clinic offers low-cost vaccinations for dogs and cats.
- Palmer Veterinary Clinic in Palmer: This clinic has low-cost vaccinations for pets in need in the spring and fall.
- Alaska SPCA: This pet food bank offers low-cost spay and neuter services and vaccinations.
- STOP the Overpopulation of Pets: This charity offers vouchers for spay and neuter services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Alaska
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 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.
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.