The Best Pet Insurance in Nebraska (2024)
Nebraska, otherwise known as the Cornhusker or Beef State, has many amazing pet-friendly locations, from dog parks to pet-friendly restaurants, travel spots, and more. Pet parents can also take their furry family members to various beautiful outdoor areas.
Because of this, it’s crucial that pet parents prepare financially for their pets’ vet bills. After all, our pet’s health is uncertain, and it can develop illnesses or have an accident at any time, even when it’s young and healthy.
This is why choosing a pet insurance agency as soon as possible is a wise investment for your finances and your pet’s health.
The 5 Best Nebraska Pet Insurance Companies
In our piece on the best pet insurance in Nebraska, we’ll discuss the following Nebraska pet insurance providers and their pros and cons:
- Spot: Best overall
- Lemonade: Most affordable
- ASPCA: Most experienced
- Embrace: Best for deductibles
- Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
Compare Pet Insurance Companies in Nebraska
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Nebraska Reviewed
Every pet insurance company has its pros and cons. However, it can feel overwhelming to sift through all the information on the many providers available. To help you out, we at Quartz have made the following list of pet insurance providers, their offerings, pros and cons, coverage options, and so much more. Keep reading to learn about everything you need to know about the following pet insurance providers.
How Does Pet Insurance Work in Nebraska?
Pet insurance services work by helping with veterinary bills, typically for accidents and illnesses your pet may have. When your pet is on an active pet insurance plan, you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian, animal hospital, or vet clinic. Once your pet is treated, you’ll pay the bill at the clinic then submit the invoice to your pet insurance provider. Then, your provider will process the claim and reimburse you for the agreed-upon percentage in your pet insurance policy. Typically, this reimbursement rate will fall between 50 and 90%.
Pet health insurance acts as a financial safety net and gives you peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to choose your pet’s treatment based on affordability. Instead, you can focus on getting it the care it deserves.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Nebraska for You
Pet insurance is a highly personal choice that requires you to think about what is truly most important to you and your pet’s health. Before deciding on a provider or plan, consider the following factors, starting with the primary types of pet insurance plans offered:
- Accident-only coverage: Accident-only coverage will only provide your pet with coverage for accidents, such as burns, broken bones, swallowed foreign objects, poisoning, and animal bites. It won’t cover illnesses or wellness care costs.
- Accident and illness coverage: Accident and illness coverage covers your pet for accidents and illnesses, like hereditary conditions, diabetes, hypothyroidism, infections, hip dysplasia, and more. It will not cover wellness care costs.
- Wellness or preventative coverage: Wellness or preventative care coverage is typically an add-on to other pet insurance plans. It usually helps with the costs of routine care, such as vaccinations, checkups, deworming, dental cleanings, and more.
Once you’ve chosen what kind of plan you’d like to enroll your pet in, consider which providers and plans have the features that matter the most to you. Here are some factors to consider:
- What are the pet insurance plan’s exclusions?
- Are dental illnesses or cleanings covered with this plan?
- Does this plan have a lifetime or annual benefits cap?
- Will this provider give you a free pet insurance quote?
- Does this pet insurance provider have positive customer reviews and reports from consumer report websites, like the Better Business Bureau?
- Will this plan give you coverage for alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or physical therapy?
- Can you talk to your pet insurance provider via your preferred communication method (phone, live chat, email, etc.)?
- Will this plan help with costs for prescription diets or medications?
- Is your dog or cat’s breed more prone to certain diseases? Does this plan offer coverage for those breed-specific conditions?
We recommend choosing a pet insurance provider right away so that your pet will have less time to develop pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are never covered by insurance, so it’s essential that you get your pet covered as soon as possible.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost In Nebraska?
Pet insurance monthly premiums can vary wildly based on many factors, including your location, your pet’s age, and its breed. Different aspects can make your monthly premium more costly, especially the plan type, annual deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual limit you choose. If you decide to add a wellness plan, this will also be an additional cost each month.
Generally speaking, accident and illness plans will cost between $30 to $60 per month for dogs and $15 to $30 per month for cats. Wellness plans usually add $10 to $25 per month to your monthly premium. However, you can save money by choosing a plan that offers the right amount of coverage for you, gathering several free quotes, choosing an accident-only plan, or finding a provider that offers discounts you qualify for.
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 in Nebraska Cities
Here are some premiums for five different cities in Nebraska. The premiums are for a policy that pays 70% of the bill after a $500 deductible is paid. It also has an unlimited maximum payout amount. It’s for a 6-year-old mixed breed dog of medium size.
City | Monthly Cost |
---|---|
Omaha | $41 |
Lincoln | $37 |
Bellevue | $34 |
Burwell | $31 |
South Sioux City | $31 |
Our Final Thoughts on the Top Pet Insurance Providers in Nebraska
Pet insurance shopping can be frustrating and overwhelming. To help you out, we at Quartz put together this guide on the best pet insurance in Nebraska so that you can narrow down your choices and determine if pet insurance is worth it for you. Veterinary care costs can be expensive without pet insurance, especially for illnesses, accidents, and emergency care. We believe that pet parents should never have to turn down necessary treatments for their pets due to cost. We hope that you’re able to choose a pet insurance provider after reading this piece and have peace of mind knowing that your pet is covered should it develop an illness or have an accident.
Information for Pet Owners in Nebraska
The Cornhusker State is rich in pet resources and many pet-friendly businesses. Whether you and your pet are looking for an outdoor adventure or a delicious bite to eat, you can find it in Nebraska. Make sure to read up on Nebraska pet laws before embarking on your adventure, and don’t forget to enjoy your fun in the sun.
Nebraska Pet Laws
Here are some critical Nebraska pet laws you need to know about before enjoying time with your pet in Nebraska:
- Both dogs and cats must have tags and collars on them at all times unless they’re microchipped.
- Certain breeds of dogs have to be leashed and muzzled at all times when they’re outside, unless in a fenced yard. This includes Pitbulls, Cane Corsos, American Bulldogs, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Presa Canarios in some areas of Nebraska.
- If you don’t have a fenced yard, your dog must be accompanied by someone 19 years or older at all times that it’s outside.
- Dogs must be up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations, and owners need to keep records of this.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in NE
Looking for some pet-friendly fun in the sun in Nebraska? Check out these fantastic pet-friendly Nebraska establishments:
- Old Chicago Pizza and Tap Room: Located in Omaha, this casual pub offers beer, appetizers, grinders, and pizza. It has great outdoor seating for owners that want to bring their dogs.
- Lake McConaughy SRA Campground: If you’re interested in a great pet-friendly campground, check this place out. All dogs must be kept on a six-foot leash.
- Hanscom Park Dog Park: This dog park has a beautiful water fountain, plenty of shade, and areas for both small and large dogs to play in.
- Bryson’s Airboat Tours: Located in Fremont, this pet-friendly service gives you the chance to take your dog on a fun boat cruise.
Nebraska Pet Resources
Need help caring for your pet? Check out these Nebraskan pet resources:
- Lincoln Animal Ambassadors: The Lincoln Animal Ambassadors offers low-cost spay and neuter services and pet food. It also has a low-cost vaccination clinic and free education to help people care for their pets.
- Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha: This humane society offers pet food delivery for seniors receiving Meals on Wheels. It also has low-cost spay and neuter services, boarding services, training classes, and grooming services.
- North Platte Pet Food Pantry: This pantry provides nutritional assistance for pets in need. Donations are distributed from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every Monday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Nebraska
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.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is health insurance for your pet that reimburses you for part of your pet’s vet bills based on your specific plan’s coverage. Unlike human insurance, pet insurance providers do not pay for your pet’s medical bill at the vet clinic or animal hospital. Instead, your pet insurance provider will reimburse you directly after you’ve submitted your claim. Most pet insurance plans will reimburse you for between 50 to 90% of the total vet bill. This means that you’ll pay out of pocket for your dog or cat’s medical bill at the time of the visit, then submit your claim to your pet insurance provider, which will then reimburse you for the cost up to your plan’s reimbursement rate.
How do I get reimbursed for a vet bill?
Simply take your cat to any licensed veterinarian and submit your claim. Depending on your provider, you can submit your claim through its mobile app, online member center, or through the mail. Then, you’ll wait for your provider to approve the claim. Once approved, it will reimburse you for the allocated amount in your pet insurance policy through direct deposit or check.
Our Methodology
The Quartz research team looks at all pet insurance policies and comes up with our reviews based on coverage, plan options, cost, reputation, customer service, and species eligibility. We’ve also created a rating system to score pet insurance brands.
We’ve consulted with pet experts and dug into plans to develop what we think are the best overall plans, complete with ratings on coverage, how they handle claims, reimbursements, deductibles, limits, and more.
To make our list, pet insurance companies must have:
- A variety of plan options
- Affordable monthly rates
Our team revisits each company’s information at the end of every month to make updates and ensure the information is as accurate as possible.