The Best Pet Insurance in Missouri (2024)
With over 60% of its total land area occupied by pastures, Missouri has the ideal acreage for country-loving companions like herding dogs and outdoor barn cats.
But the Missouri backcountry also comes with its own set of threats for domesticated animals, including increased exposure to ticks, fleas, and other parasites, as well as lurking coyotes, toxic native plants, and dangerous chemicals found around farms like rat poison and antifreeze.
Finding the best pet insurance can prepare your pet with the preventative care it needs to keep up with an active country lifestyle while also guaranteeing quality emergency vet care in the event of unexpected accidents or illnesses.
The 5 Best Missouri Pet Insurance Companies
Continue reading to learn more about the following pet insurance providers so that you can choose the best one for your needs:
- Spot: Best overall
- Lemonade: Most affordable
- ASPCA: Most experienced
- Embrace: Best for deductibles
- Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
Compare Pet Insurance Companies in Missouri
| Best For | Star Rating | Monthly Cost | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spot |  | Most Inclusive | $22-$80 | Compare Quotes | |
| Lemonade |  | Most Affordable | $16–$30 | Compare Quotes | |
| ASPCA Pet Insurance |  | Most Experienced | $18–$44 | Compare Quotes | |
| Embrace |  | Best for Discounts Offered | $23-$85 | Compare Quotes | |
| Healthy Paws |  | Best for Chronic Conditions | $24–$54 | Compare Quotes |
| Spot | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Best For | Most Inclusive |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $22-$80 |
| Lemonade | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Best For | Most Affordable |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $16–$30 |
| ASPCA Pet Insurance | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Best For | Most Experienced |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $18–$44 |
| Embrace | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Best For | Best for Discounts Offered |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $23-$85 |
| Healthy Paws | |
|---|---|
| Logo |
 |
| Best For | Best for Chronic Conditions |
| Star Rating | |
| Monthly Cost | $24–$54 |
Pet Insurance Companies in Missouri Reviews
Each of the following providers highlighted in this article only offers insurance for cats and dogs (except for limited equine coverage offered by ASPCA.) If you’re looking to finance a nontraditional pet, select providers like Nationwide and Pet Assure may be able to offer the coverage you need.
Spot
Most Inclusive
Lemonade
Most Affordable
ASPCA Pet Insurance
Most Experienced
Embrace
Best for Discounts Offered
Healthy Paws
Best for Chronic Conditions
How Does Pet Insurance Work in Missouri?
Pet health insurance is a risk product designed to help you offset the treatment costs of unexpected illnesses or injuries by reimbursing eligible emergency veterinary expenses based on your custom coverage level. Depending on your provider, you may also have the option to add on elective wellness coverage to support routine pet care needs.
So say, for instance, your cat takes a leap but doesn’t land on all four feet, or maybe your dog chows down on rocks, socks, and anything else not meant to be eaten. Pet insurance will allow you to concentrate on getting your furry friend the medical attention it needs rather than what it will cost.
Once you’re enrolled in the right policy, you can carry on with life as usual, but with a newfound confidence that your pet’s health is protected no matter what happens. Most pet insurance plans have a set waiting period, which is a certain amount of time that you’ll have to sit tight before your coverage benefits are active. Any accidents or injuries that occur before or during that time frame won’t be covered.
Beyond that waiting period, you’re free to submit a claim to your provider so long as it’s for a covered treatment administered by a licensed veterinarian. Remember, you’ll also have to pay off your selected annual deductible before your insurer takes on any expenses.
After your pet receives the necessary treatment at an animal hospital, you’ll file your claim for review online by providing some contextual information about the incident as well as itemized receipts from the vet visit.
Your provider will then either approve or deny your claim for reimbursement. Assuming that your case is approved, you’ll be paid back according to your selected reimbursement rate and annual payout limit.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Missouri for You
Pet insurance can be an invaluable tool for taming costly veterinary bills that may arise if your pet ever has an emergency health scare — but it’ll only be worth it if you take the time to find a policy that checks all the right boxes.
To find a pet insurance plan that meets your budget and coverage needs, you’ll need to do a bit of research. These are the types of questions you’ll want to ask as you begin browsing possible contenders for your future policy:
- Are there any upfront age restrictions or breed-specific exclusions?
- Is a vet exam required for enrollment eligibility?
- If your dog or cat isn’t yet fixed, are spay/neuter procedures covered?
- How long are the waiting periods?
- Are the available coverage options generous or narrow?
- What are your coverage needs versus wants? How do those align with each providers’ inclusions and exclusions?
- Are there any per-incident, annual, or lifetime coverage caps? If so, would they accommodate your coverage expectations?
- According to A.M. Best, does this insurance agency have a sound financial reputation?
- Do verified customer reviews from current policyholders back up the provider’s service promises?
- Did you get a quote for each of your top picks?
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Missouri?
The average cost of standard accident-illness pet insurance throughout Missouri is anywhere from $15 to $40 per month for dogs and $10 to $20 for cats.
Not all pets are created equal, hence why there isn’t just one universal premium amount that will cover every pet’s needs. There are a few other factors beyond how you customize your pet’s policy that affect how much you’ll owe your provider every month.
Species
Generally, cats cost less to insure than dogs simply because they’re less prone to injuries and also have fewer genetic predispositions to worry about than dogs. The average 10-pound domestic cat will also require smaller doses of required medicines, vaccines, titers, etc., and, therefore, a lower vet bill.
Breed
Both purebred cats and dogs are at a higher risk of carrying hereditary conditions than mixed breeds due to selective breeding. Therefore, they’ll be grouped into a high-risk pool by most insurers, translating into a pricier premium.
Gender
Female cats and dogs often tend to have fewer health issues than males, which some pet insurance providers heed when calculating your monthly premium. Male pets, especially unneutered ones, are naturally more aggressive than female companion animals, making them an added liability for your provider if they’re injured in a fight.
Age
Dog years aren’t a myth, though the seven to one rule is arguably not accurate. And as much as we wish cats did live nine lives, pets have a much faster metabolism than humans, causing them to age at an expedited rate. Older pets need more and more veterinary care as their health becomes increasingly fragile. So, as your pet grows gray, its pet insurance premium will likely also increase accordingly.
Location
Regional vet costs aren’t unanimous across the country. Cities with higher population densities have a higher cost of living than areas with a smaller headcount. Urban areas also tend to offer more state-of-the-art veterinary care than the “mom-and-pop” clinics you’ll find in rural communities. Your monthly premium will correlate with local vet costs to ensure you receive fair coverage based on your location.
For example, accident-illness coverage through Spot for a 4-year-old English Setter in Wildwood, Missouri, costs $53.37 per month, whereas the same coverage for the same dog living in much smaller Parkville, Missouri, costs $44.36.
Cost Per Provider
To show you how pet insurance monthly premiums in Missouri also vary by provider, we’ve generated five quotes for both cats and dogs with each of our highlighted companies, as collated in the table below.
All of the following estimates are based on an alias policyholder with a 2-year-old pet — either a medium mix breed dog or a domestic short-haired kitty — living in Kansas City, Missouri, and selecting the most popular accident-illness plan customizations as recommended by each provider. Sample wellness costs for our dog and cat insurance quotes chose the most basic add-on available.
| Provider | Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs | Sample Monthly Cost For Cats | Sample Monthly Wellness Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot | $29.50 | $15.74 | $39.45 for dogs; $25.69 for cats |
| Lemonade | $17.58 | $11.83 | $33.58 for dogs; $21.83 for cats |
| Embrace | $38.62 | $20.94 | $57.37 for dogs; $39.69 for cats |
| Healthy Paws | $31.44 | $14.70 | N/A |
| ASPCA | $29.50 | $15.74 | $39.45 for dogs; $25.69 for cats |
Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that most of us consider our pets more like family members than just companion animals. We celebrate their birthdays, post them proudly on social media, and share a home — sometimes even a bed — with them. So, when it comes to their healthcare, why wouldn’t we prioritize their access to the best emergency care available should they ever need it?
Pet insurance ensures that money is a nonissue if your pet ever becomes unexpectedly sick or injured. By covering veterinary expenses that arise from eligible accidents or illnesses, the right pet insurance policy won’t allow costs to limit your pet’s access to medical care.
Information for Pet Owners in Missouri
From St. Louis to Springfield and beyond, Missouri hosts a number of pet-friendly outings for you and your pup to explore. To encourage responsible pet ownership, the state of Missouri asks that you follow a few simple rules while you’re out and about to ensure the safety of your pet and others.
Missouri Pet Laws
- Missouri does not have a statewide leash law but does require dogs and other animals to be restrained and controlled while out in public. Certain municipalities may have their own leash laws in effect, so check in with your county before you let your pet loose.
- Missouri residents are legally allowed to shoot dogs that wound or kill their livestock. Keep a watchful eye on your dog if it’s allowed to roam your rural property at large — an escape could be deadly.
- Pet owners living in Missouri must pay a $1 dog tax per year to the state.
- All dogs and cats living in the city must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies by the time they’re six months old. A valid rabies tag must also remain on the animal’s collar at all times.
- All cats and dogs from shelters and rescues must be sterilized.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in MO
Although dogs are mostly prohibited from running at large in most Missouri counties, there are a few designated locations where it’s safe to let your pup off-leash. Treecourt Unleashed Dog Adventure Park in St. Louis offers nine acres of wide open space for dogs of all sizes to enjoy. This park is privately owned and does require a membership and dog temperament test before you’ll be able to enter.
Also in St. Louis is the SLU Ellen Clark Dog Park and Sculpture Garden, which combines modernist outdoor sculpture with a fenced-in area for local pups to socialize and sniff around.
Just a few minutes away, you’ll find The Doghaus, a dog park and sports bar all in one, featuring a free on-leash patio as well as an off-leash AstroTurf dog park, which either requires a daily membership or the purchase of a $10 day pass.
Beyond the city is Table Rock State Park in Branson, Missouri, which welcomes leashed dogs on its several paved trails around the Long Creek. Be aware that dogs are prohibited from entering any nearby historic buildings and are also not allowed to freely roam swimming areas and beaches. Guests staying at the designated campgrounds are limited to two dogs per campsite unless they notify the Table Rock park service ahead of time.
Missouri Pet Resources
If pet insurance isn’t a realistic option for your budget at the moment, Missouri has several local organizations that help low-income pet owners care for their pets with free or low-cost veterinary services:
- Advocates 4 Animals Pet Pantry & Rescue (Jefferson County) — Operated fully by volunteers, A4A provides pet food and spay/neuter assistance as well as adoption programs for pregnant/nursing canines.
- Humane Society of Missouri (St. Louis) — Offers affordable veterinary care packages for cats and dogs as well as low-cost spay-neuter programs.
- Pet Resource Center of Kansas City — Specializes in affordable, same-day spay/neuter surgeries, which includes proper recovery monitoring. Also administers low-cost core vaccines and provides pet food, basic pet supplies, as well as flea/tick/heartworm prevention.
- PAWS Pet Pantry (Springfield) — Assists animals belonging to homeless, elderly, and low-income owners by providing pet food, core vaccinations, and affordable spay-neuter surgeries.
- Republic Paw Pantry -– Offers temporary assistance to low-income owners by supplying pet food and supplies to those who qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Missouri
Do all vets take pet insurance in Missouri?
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.
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.
Our Methodology
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