The Best Pet Insurance In Ohio (2024)
Pet insurance companies in Ohio offer top-rated coverage options for pets that love to explore. It’s a good thing because dogs and cats in the Buckeye State have plenty of reasons to need health coverage, whether their stomping grounds include uncharted territory or just the back patio.
Pet health insurance helps us keep exploring despite some of these pesky setbacks:
- Seasonal allergies, ticks, and fleas
- Overheating and dehydration, frostbite, and hypothermia
- Unexpected accidents like poisoning or a torn ligament
The 6 Best Ohio Pet Insurance Companies
- Spot: Best overall
- Lemonade: Most affordable
- ASPCA: Most experienced
- Embrace: Best for deductibles
- Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
- Prudent Pet: Best for dog and cat parents who want basic options
Compare Pet Insurance Companies in Ohio
In this article, our Quartz team gives you a quick and easy guide to the best pet insurance providers in Ohio. We’ve compiled reviews of the best pet insurance providers in Ohio, tallied their top pros and cons, and highlighted the most important small print to make the best decision you’ll make for your pet, a simple one.
*Certain conditions, such as cruciate ligaments or orthopedic conditions, may have longer waiting period times, usually six months to a year. This is common among many pet insurance providers, but most illnesses will be covered after the waiting period listed above.
Top 6 Best Pet Insurance Companies In Ohio
We know insurance language can get confusing. Before we dive in, here are some things you should know:
- Pre-existing conditions: No pet insurance company covers a pet’s injuries, illnesses, or irregularities that your veterinarian notices before your policy’s waiting period is over. For example, base insurance policies will cover diagnostic tests and vet-recommended treatments and operations for Fido’s hip disorder if he showed signs of illness after getting pet health insurance and he was also diagnosed after enrolling.
- Annual Maximum: Bigger animals often mean bigger vet bills. We recommend choosing higher maximums for larger pets.
- Claims Trends: Lately, most pet insurance companies have been moving their claims online, and these top insurance companies have too.
We’ve done the dirty work below, but since pet insurance offerings are modified frequently by their companies, it’s always important that you read the fine print.
How Does Pet Insurance Work in Ohio?
In Ohio, they view pet examinations and treatments as preventative medicine because they want to give dogs and cats the best and longest life possible and don’t want to pay higher bills later. We know sick pets can easily rack up vet bills from $1,000 to $10,000 and sometimes more. That’s why many people choose to purchase pet insurance. Depending on the plan and where they live, insurance cuts those surprise bills significantly.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Ohio for You
We know – making the choice is tough. But when you’re thinking about enrolling your pet in health insurance, here’s where we recommend you start.
First, consider whether you prefer accident-only or accident and illness coverage. Accident-only coverage supports veterinary costs for emergencies and unexpected treatments for things like sprained knees and swallowed toys. Accident and illness coverage adds to that treatment for infections and congenital or hereditary problems like cancer and diabetes.
Second, consider adding a preventative care plan for an additional charge to fill in the coverage that fits your pet’s health. These add-on plans often provide coverage for wellness checkups, vaccinations, medications, routine blood work, and dental cleaning. Wellness plan add-ons can offer great savings if you take advantage of their benefits often. If you don’t, you may save money by paying out of pocket.
Third, balance the premium you’ll pay by choosing an annual deductible and reimbursement percentage that works best with your budget.
About Reimbursements
The industry standard for pet insurance reimbursement of veterinary costs are 70%, 80%, and 90%. While a higher reimbursement gives you more cash, it also means you must pay a higher premium. Lower reimbursements mean the opposite. Learn more about reimbursements in our How to Make a Pet Insurance Claim article.
What is a Good Deductible for Pet Insurance?
Choose a high annual deductible if you don’t expect to rack up many vet expenses, and you want to keep your long-term insurance expenses low. If you suspect you’ll be visiting the vet frequently or otherwise racking up large costs there, and aren’t prepared to pay much out-of-pocket, choose a low deductible to save your emergency wallet.
What Impacts Your Pet Insurance Premiums?
Your premium is the amount you pay every month or year to have insurance. Your pet insurance premium depends on several factors, such as where you live, the breed, age, and health of your pet, and the insurance plan you choose.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost In Ohio?
The monthly rates for pet insurance vary by city. Here are the monthly rates for pet insurance in five large Ohio cities based on a 4-year-old medium-sized mixed breed dog.
City | Monthly Cost |
---|---|
Columbus | $47 |
Cleveland | $44 |
Cincinnati | $38 |
Toledo | $48 |
Dayton | $41.05 |
The above prices are for the pet insurance plan preferred by most pet owners in that city. The plans typically pay 80% of covered costs and require a $250 deductible.
Below, we’ve also broken down our top-rated insurance companies’ monthly average cost of basic pet insurance plans and preventative plans.
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 for cats, $15 for dogs |
Embrace | $35 | $18 | $35 |
Healthy Paws | $39 | $12 | Not offered |
ASPCA | $48.78 | $29.16 | $9.95 (basic), $24.95 (prime) |
Prudent Pet | $39 | $23 | $13.95 for cats, $19.95 for dogs |
Final Thoughts on Top Pet Health Insurance Providers in Ohio
According to Embrace, allergies are the top diagnosed condition among pets in Ohio. Common problems a pet can encounter in Ohio are often caused by natural events like poor air quality, extreme heat or cold, outdoor pests, and backyard accidents. An illness or infection resulting from such a simple cause can lead to big problems costing thousands of dollars in vet bills. But if your economic situation holds you back from treating a problem when it occurs, it could grow out of hand, and drastic measures such as euthanasia may be your only answer.
Many pet insurance companies offer basic plans and additional wellness packages that take care of special medications, tick and flea preventative treatments, emergency visits, and many other proactive care plans so that you can easily address any problems as they arise and prevent many more.
Information for Pet Owners in Ohio
Ohio Pet Laws
Whether your pet is a native of the Buckeye State or just visiting, it’s up to you to make sure your pet follows the pet laws in Ohio. The following laws may change depending on what county or municipality you are in, but these are the most important, general rules you should know before adopting a pet in Ohio or visiting our beautiful state together.
- Because they love their dogs and cats dearly in Ohio, they take stray dogs seriously. If your dog is unlicensed and goes missing for more than five days, it will be impounded and/or put to sleep.
- Please beware that dogs are not allowed to run loose outside of their property. For example, dogs should be on their leash at all times in parks and any other spaces away from their home. Dogs that are found running loose will be impounded.
- Dogs must be kept up to date on their rabies shots, with proof available upon request.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in OH
Ohio is full of amazing hikes, parks, and wild places that residents and many visitors enjoy – especially with their pets. Here are several places you should visit.
- Beowoof Pet Care – A fun walk-about with your dog while passing time in Stewart.
- The Canine Club – Treat your dog to social time and grooming in Elyria.
- Dog Beach at Salt Fork State Park – Give your dog some off-leash time in the water in Lore City, Ohio. Remember to use a leash when out of the water.
- Momocho – A pet-friendly Cleveland restaurant with ample space for dogs of all sizes.
- Sonic Drive-In – What more fun than a dinner out with the pup? There’s even seating for Fido.
Ohio Pet Resources
If we haven’t made it clear yet that pets are a well-loved part of Ohio, here are some resources to build your confidence that the Buckeye state has its arms wide open.
- Paws 4 A Cure – Offers financial support for veterinary services that aren’t typically covered. It welcomes dogs and cats and accepts applications from individuals and families via email or U.S. mail.
- Humane Society – Offers adoptions and some veterinary service assistance at a low cost. Several are available in Ohio and provide shelter, care services, and adoptions.
- K9s For Warriors – Provides service canines to wounded soldiers so they can transition smoothly to civilian life.
- Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance – Superb financial support for eligible emergency cat treatments. 1-on-1 live, instant, 24/7 service is available without sign-up or commitment.
- Ohio Pet Loss Resources – A safe support group for hurting pet parents.
- Pets in Need – Veterinary care and financial support at a low cost for non-emergency situations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Ohio
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.
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.
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.