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The Best Pet Insurance in North Dakota (2024)

Written by
Graci Daby
Written by Graci Daby Author

Graci Daby graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism. She has written for 365 Pet insurance, and edited pet insurance categories across other Insurance focused sites, including MarketWatch. Recently, Graci has been working as an SEO analyst and editor in the pet field for the past 2 years. In her spare time, Graci looks after her fur babies.

04/18/2024 03:17 PM

​North Dakota is a rugged state filled with beautiful countryside and an abundance of things to do, and many of these fun activities can be shared with your pet. North Dakota may not be ranked as one of the top states in terms of the number of household pets, but there are many households with dogs and cats, and these pet owners always seem to be looking for places to take their pets and ways to keep them healthy.

The Best North Dakota Pet Insurance Companies

Compare Pet Insurance Companies in North Dakota

Best For Star Rating Monthly Cost Link
Spot Spot Most Inclusive
$22-$80 Compare Quotes
Lemonade Lemonade Most Affordable
$16–$30 Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance ASPCA Pet Insurance Most Experienced
$18–$44 Compare Quotes
Fetch Pet Insurance Fetch Pet Insurance Most Comprehensive Coverage
$22-$38 Compare Quotes
Embrace Embrace Best for Discounts Offered
$23-$85 Compare Quotes
Healthy Paws Healthy Paws Best for Chronic Conditions
$24–$54 Compare Quotes
Spot
Logo Spot
Best For Most Inclusive
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$80
Compare Quotes
Lemonade
Logo Lemonade
Best For Most Affordable
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $16–$30
Compare Quotes
ASPCA Pet Insurance
Logo ASPCA Pet Insurance
Best For Most Experienced
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $18–$44
Compare Quotes
Fetch Pet Insurance
Logo Fetch Pet Insurance
Best For Most Comprehensive Coverage
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $22-$38
Compare Quotes
Embrace
Logo Embrace
Best For Best for Discounts Offered
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $23-$85
Compare Quotes
Healthy Paws
Logo Healthy Paws
Best For Best for Chronic Conditions
Star Rating
Monthly Cost $24–$54
Compare Quotes
Company
Waiting Period
Money-back Guarantee
Maximum Enroll Age
Monthly Cost
14 days
Yes
No age limit
$22-$80
14 days for illnesses, 48 hours for accidents
Yes
14 years old
$18-$60
15 days
Yes
No age limit
$22-$46
14 days for illnesses, 48 hours for accidents
Yes
14 years old
$23-$85
15 days
Yes
14 years old
$14-$45

Why Trust Quartz Advisor

Our editorial team follows a strict and comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing pet insurance providers. Our scores are not impacted by advertisers.

27

Companies rated

105

Hours researching

2,700

Quotes collected

Pet Laws in North Dakota

North Dakota, like many of the other states, has specific pet laws. The municipality or county in which the person lives determines some of them and others are statewide laws.

  • Cats and dogs that are at least 3 months old must be vaccinated against rabies and must have verification of the vaccination with them at all times.
  • All dogs and cats living in this state must be licensed, and the pet owner must show proof of current rabies vaccination before the animal can be licensed.
  • Most city ordinances in North Dakota state that households may not have more than 3 pets (cats and dogs combined).
  • All cats and dogs entering North Dakota and staying for more than 30 days must have a certificate of veterinary inspection.
  • North Dakota does not have a statewide leash law, but dogs are not allowed to be running at large, and owners must be able to control their pets at all times.

Pet-Friendly Things in North Dakota

Whether you’re a resident of North Dakota, a family or individual on vacation or just someone passing through with your pet, you’ll find plenty of places to take your pet. Whether you want a beach, restaurant, park or a place to spend the night, you’ll find plenty of pet-friendly things to do in North Dakota.

  • Kelly Inn in Minot – offers an indoor pool, hot tub, Wi-Fi and a pet-friendly room
  • Country Inn & Suites in Fargo – offers pet-friendly rooms for up to two dogs of any size
  • Fireflour Pizza in Bismarck – features pizza, baked goods, a full espresso and dog-friendly outdoor seating
  • OB Sports Zone in Fargo – offers pasta, pizza and the best appetizers along with outdoor seating for your dog
  • Village West Dog Park in Fargo – This off-leash park has separate areas for small or large dogs, water spigots and a great walking area.

North Dakota pet owners are generally pleased with the pet-friendly places of employment in the state. These employers understand the importance of being happy at your job and having their pets with them often makes them happier and more productive. Here are some pet-friendly employers in North Dakota.

  • Petco in Minot
  • PetSmart in Bismarck
  • Casselton Veterinary Service in Fargo
  • Fetchers in Fargo

Monthly Cost for Pet Insurance in North Dakota

Pet insurance is a great way to ensure that, if an unexpected circumstance occurs involving high veterinary costs, you’ll be able to provide for your pet and help it get well again. Below are examples of the average monthly cost for pet insurance in five different cities. This particular policy is for a three-year-old, mixed breed medium size dog.

CityMonthly Cost
Fargo$26.71
Bismarck$29.67
Hettinger$26.71
Grand Forks$29.67
Minot$28.39

These premiums are for a policy that pays 80% of the covered expenses, has $250 deductible and unlimited maximum payouts. Pet insurance is usually for unexpected or larger emergency visits and doesn’t usually cover wellness checks and preventative veterinary care. However, some insurance companies do offer this type of coverage as a rider to the policy and for an additional fee.

North Dakota Veterinary Costs

When compared to other states, North Dakota pet owners don’t pay as much for unexpected veterinary services. Pet owners in North Dakota pay an average of $700 to $900 annually for veterinary care that goes beyond the routine visits for wellness, vaccinations and checkups. This is a relatively low amount when we consider what it could cost if the pet was seriously injured or developed a life-threatening disease.

It’s not unusual to pay between $250 and $1,000 for one emergency visit if the dog requires blood work and x-rays. If a dog requires exploratory surgery or surgery for a broken bone, it can easily cost from $1,000 to $2,000 or more. A serious diagnosis like cancer can require chemotherapy or radiation, which often costs at least $1,000 per treatment with up to 10 treatments required. Nothing can take away the pain of watching your pet suffer, but pet insurance can lessen the stress of having to pay high vet bills.

Low-Income Pet Help in North Dakota

North Dakota has a few different organizations that help pet owners by providing low-cost veterinary services as well as food and pet supplies. Their goal is to ensure that pet owners can continue to care for their pets even if they might be going through difficult times.

  • Spay Dakota – offers low-cost spay/neuter assistance and referrals
  • Circle of Friends Humane Society in Grand Forks – offers emergency medical assistance and spay/neuter assistance
  • Minn-Kota Paws in Fargo – offers spay/neuter and veterinary services
  • Central Dakota Humane Society in Mandan – offers low-cost veterinary services
  • Animal Health Clinic in Fargo – offers low-cost veterinary services
  • West Dakota Veterinary Clinic in Dickenson – offers low-cost veterinary services

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in North Dakota

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 pet insurance policies have waiting periods?

Yes, pet insurance policies more than always have waiting periods. between your initial enrollment period and when coverage officially begins for the plan. Across most providers, the standard is around 14 days for accidents and illnesses, but some others, including Lemonade and Embrace, can shorten your waiting period to as low as two days for accidents.

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.

Our Methodology

​​

​​Here at Quartz, our research team looks to examine all pet insurance policies and comes up with reviews based on:
  • Coverage
  • Plan options
  • Cost 
  • Reputation
  • Customer service 
  • Species available
  • Wellness benefits 
We’ve created a 5-star rating system to score pet insurance brands based on a 100-point scale. To develop a list of the best pet insurance plans, we looked into plans, rating coverage, claims handling, reimbursements, deductibles, and limitations.  Each factor is weighted differently based on the following factors:
  • Monthly Pricing (25 points): How each pet insurance company charges for their plans is a crucial part of the decision-making process of the customer. Affordable rates and comprehensive coverage are the defining characteristics of providing the best pet insurance.
  • Coverage (20 points): We scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Providers offering broader coverage and more unique treatments received more points.  Pet insurance policies are not offered by all companies for older pets. Providers who have an age limit on the pets they cover were deducted points.
  • Plans (15 points): Pet insurance providers offer accident-and-illness plans, accident-only plans, wellness add-ons, and pet preventive care add-ons, so customers can choose the right plan for their pets. We also factored in costs to achieve the most comprehensible review for your pet’s needs.
  • Customization Options (10 points): You can ensure your pet only gets what they need by customizing your policy. A higher score was earned by providers who offered a greater range of annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
  • Customer Service (10 points): We scored companies based on their website accessibility and usability, mobile apps, and grating points to companies with the most customer experience options.
  • Industry Reputation (10 points): We assessed each company’s industry reputation by reviewing up-to-date BBB ratings and accreditation information, as well as their years of experience in the industry.
  • Waiting Periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident and illness waiting periods scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
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.