Best Pet Insurance for Texas

Whether it’s a Blue Lacy, a Texas Heeler, or any breed in between, ensuring that your furry family member gets the medical care he needs is essential. We’ve put together a list of the top-rated pet insurance providers in Texas to get you started in the right direction.

The Importance of Pet Insurance

An emergency vet visit costs between $800-$1500. Add a couple thousand more for surgery. Most people don’t have the money set aside to cover such bills, but no one wants to say goodbye to a pet because the funds aren’t available.

This is where pet insurance comes to the rescue.

Pet insurance is like a financial safety net. You pay a low monthly cost, and in the case of an emergency, the insurance company will reimburse up to 100% of your vet costs. Many providers offer add-on packages that cover wellness visits and preventative care.

While everything may be bigger in Texas, this is fortunately not true about pet insurance. You can customize your policy to get an affordable monthly rate.

Types of Pet Insurance Coverage in Texas

Like human insurance, pet insurance won’t be the same for every Texan dog or cat. Your risk factors and financial situation are unique, so you should be able to decide the best coverage for you.

Luckily, you can! All of the best pet insurance providers offer three basic types of coverage:

• Accident-Only: With this type of coverage, your pet will be covered for everything from rattlesnake bites to sunburns. This is the cheapest type of coverage to choose; however, it won’t cover illnesses or routine care.

• Accident and Illness: Also sometimes called a comprehensive plan, this is the one many Texas pet parents pick because it covers any accident or illness, no matter how big. This may include emergency care, diagnostic testing, treatment-related medications, and specialist visits.

• Wellness: Your pet’s routine care may be covered in a comprehensive plan with some insurance providers. But often, it must be purchased as a rider for your policy. A wellness package can include annual wellness checkups, preventative care medications, vaccinations, dental care, and more.

Factors that Affect Your Premium

Since all pets are different, insurance premium costs will vary. A Labrador retriever won’t cost the same to insure as a horned lizard. Here are the main factors that will affect the cost of your pet insurance:

• Location: Veterinary care costs differ based on the local cost of living, and the cost of your insurance coverage will be directly correlated. Fortunately, Texas is on the low end of the national price spectrum regarding vet care.

• Species: In general, dogs are more expensive to insure than cats. You can also find providers covering common pets like small mammals, snakes, and parrots. Exotic pets like lemurs (yes, they’re legal in Texas) may be more expensive to insure.

• Breed: Some purebred animals are more prone to hereditary conditions that will require attention down the road, so they will cost more to insure. If your pet pal is an at-risk breed, look for an insurance company covering breed-specific and genetic conditions.

• Age: If you’ve just adopted a new puppy or kitten, now’s the time to get your little cowpoke insured. The insurance cost for young animals is lower since they are less likely to need costly medical treatment.

• Your Plan: Factors like deductible, the annual maximum limit, and reimbursement percentage will affect the cost of your premium. In general, the more you pay each month, the more coverage you’ll get.

• Medical History: Like old dogs and purebreds, animals with colorful medical histories may be more expensive to insure. Most providers will not accept pets with pre-existing conditions, though some, like ASPCA, will accept pets with conditions that have been cured.

The Best Pet Insurance Providers for Texas Pets

This isn’t our first rodeo when it comes to pet insurance. We’ve done our research to find the top-rated choices for Texas residents based on crucial factors like customizability, monthly pricing, customer care, and user feedback.

Spot

• Offers a low deductible option
• Up to 90% reimbursement on covered vet bills
• Seven customizable annual limits
• Exam fees and microchipping are covered with any policy

Lemonade

• Low-price plans
• Additional discounts for multiple pets or bundling with home/auto
• Wellness care add-on available
• Quick claims and reimbursement process

ASPCA

• Doesn’t require medical records to get coverage
• Offers valuable online resources and a vet finder tool
• Up to 90% reimbursement on covered vet bills
• Add-on preventative care plans are available

Prudent Pet

• 24/7 vet chat with all policies
• Fast reimbursement through direct deposit
• Offers three levels of wellness add-ons
• Unlimited annual coverage plan

Pumpkin

• Excellent comprehensive coverage
• No upper age limit
• 100% of annual wellness visits and vaccines covered with the Preventative Care option
• 90% reimbursement with all policies

Tips for Keeping Your Premium Down

Pet insurance for Texas pet parents can cost anywhere from $10 to $100 a month, depending on your pet and policy. To keep your monthly premium as low as possible, follow some of these helpful tips:

• Adopt a young animal: Of course, you’ll want to cover your old faithful pet pal, but if you are on the hunt for a new companion, choose a puppy or kitten. Young animals are less expensive to insure.

• Bundle your policies: Most providers offer discounts on multiple pets. If you have home or auto insurance through one of the major insurers like Liberty Mutual or Allstate, consider bundling your pet policy for a discount.

• Consider species and breed: While purebred pets are nice, mixed-breed dogs and cats come with a lower premium. Not a fan of furry pets? You can find a provider that offers low-cost insurance for snakes and lizards, too.

• Adjust your policy: Before you lock in your policy, you’ll be able to adjust it to meet your financial goals. A higher deductible and lower reimbursement percentage can lower your rate. You may pay more out of pocket for medical care, but you’ll spend less each month.

• Prioritize prevention: Regular wellness care makes for a healthy animal, making for a lower insurance premium. Spay or neuter, keep up to date on vaccines, and get those yearly checkups to keep your insurance costs down.

Final Thoughts

Thanks to the warm weather, Texas is a great place for pets. Whether it’s in a city dog park or along the Gulf coast beaches, make sure your pet pal is covered while you enjoy the great outdoors. For a low monthly cost, you can enjoy a mile-high helping of peace of mind.

When you comparison shop for the right insurance company, choose one that lets you customize your coverage, including the amount of your deductible, annual limit, and what percent you’ll be reimbursed for vet care. Check out our complete list of 2022’s best pet insurance for some great options.