Pet Insurance California

The average cost of a pet insurance policy ranges from about $9 to $37 per month for cats and $23 to $90 per month for dogs. These prices vary depending on factors like location, animal breed, age and type, deductible, type of plan, reimbursement percentage, and claims history. To save on pet insurance, pet owners can choose higher deductibles, lower reimbursement percentages, and take advantage of pet insurance discounts (claims-free discount, military discount, annual pay discount, and multi pet discount).

Only around 20% of California’s pets are insured.

Pet insurance in California covers unexpected vet bills resulting from pet injuries or illnesses. This insurance policy is majorly designed for owners of home pets. As such, individuals who want coverage for their horses, alpacas, llamas, cattle, and pigs can get equine and livestock insurance. Veterinarians, kennel owners, and groomers can purchase animal care and veterinary services insurance to cover liabilities associated with their businesses.

Typically, pet insurance policies in California cover unexpected injuries/accidents and illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery, emergency exam fees, veterinary costs, and medication. Standard pet insurance does not cover routine checkups, pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures (not deemed medically necessary), non-veterinary treatments, grooming, and intentional injuries.

Consult with a California-licensed insurance agent before purchasing pet insurance. An Insurance expert can help you compare California pet health insurance quotes from multiple pet insurance companies so you can choose from the several available pet coverage options.

How Much is Pet Insurance in California?

The average cost of pet insurance in California is between $200 and $400 per year for a $5,000 coverage limit. This cost might vary depending on location, coverage levels, pet age, and breed. The average cost of pet insurance in California is highlighted in the table below:

The table below shows the average cost of pet insurance policies in the top 10 cities in California:

Most people tend to ask the question, “how much does pet insurance cost in California?” when they want to purchase coverage for their pets. The best person to ask this question is a California-licensed insurance agent. An agent knows how insurance works in the state, so they will answer your pet insurance questions correctly.

How Much is Pet Insurance a Month?

The average cost of pet health insurance per month is between $15 and $50. This cost varies depending on several factors like:

• Type of Pet: The type of pet you have can affect your premiums. For instance, dog pet insurance costs between $22 and $40 per month, while cat pet insurance may cost between $17 and $30 per month.
• Pet breed: Most insurers calculate premiums based on a pet's breed because some breeds are more prone to certain illnesses than others. For instance, pet insurance for a Labrador Retriever costs between $50 and $55 per month for a $10,000 coverage, while a French Bulldog costs between $70 and $85 per month for the same coverage.
• Location: Pet insurance premiums in some cities are higher than others due to access to pet care and expensive treatment. For instance, it costs between $28 and $38 per month to insure a Chihuahua in Sacramento, while that same dog breed costs between $38 and $56 per month to insure in Los Angeles.
• Deductible: The higher your deductible, the lower your pet insurance premiums.
• Age of pet: Young pets typically cost less to insure than older pets due to health issues. For instance, the owner of a six months old ​​dog should expect to pay between $17 and $30 for pet insurance, while the owner of a 5-year-old dog would pay between $50 and $90 per month.
• Reimbursement: The higher your reimbursement rate, the higher your pet insurance premiums.

The table below shows the amount pet owners spend every month on pet insurance policies in California:

An insured can save on pet insurance by taking advantage of a multi pet discount and bundling discount. Speak to a California-licensed insurance agent who can provide information on how to save on the cost of pet insurance.

How Does Pet Insurance Work in California?

Without pet health insurance, pet bills can be costly to pay out of pocket. Pet insurance can help you manage your pet's health costs. There are approximately 11 insurance companies offering strictly pet insurance in California, and most of them provide coverage for dogs and cats only. Some insurers offer pet insurance in addition to the standard property coverage.

In 2021, pet parents made over 2,000 insurance claims worth about $120.7 million. California law requires pet insurance companies to disclose the following information to pet insurance buyers:

• Policy exclusions like hereditary disorders, chronic conditions, pre-existing conditions, congenital anomalies, or disorders
• State that “other exclusions may apply” if there are other exclusions that are not listed in the policy
• Coverage limitations like waiting periods, coinsurance, deductibles, and annual and lifetime policy limits
• Whether claim history affects pet insurance premiums

There are two major pet insurance products you can buy for your furry friend to provide a financial safety net for yourself in the event of pet emergency care. These pet insurance products are:

• Pet health insurance: It covers medical bills when your pet becomes ill or accidentally sustains injuries. Pet health insurance has deductibles, caps, annual premiums, and co-pays like human health insurance. Pet insurance companies offer pet health insurance coverage to pets like rabbits, potbelly pigs, exotic birds, ferrets, reptiles, dogs, and cats.

• Pet life and theft insurance: This policy helps insure valuable pets' lives. Pet life and theft coverage covers animals when they get stolen and pays death benefits when animals die due to covered events. Most zoos or owners of championship horses, dogs, cats, and police dogs tend to purchase pet life and theft insurance policies.

California pet insurance companies typically offer three pet insurance plans to pet owners:

• Accident and illness coverage: This pet insurance plan covers a wide range of illnesses and accidents your pet may face.
• Accident-only plans: Covers accident-related medical costs and excludes illness-related costs.
• Wellness coverage: This optional plan covers preventive or routine veterinary visits. Pet owners can add wellness coverage to an existing accident and illness plan but not an accident-only pet insurance.

When your pet suffers a covered illness or accident, you can submit a pet insurance claim by asking your insurance company to pay the vet directly, or you request reimbursement. If you want to request reimbursement, you will have to pay the vet bills from your pocket and complete a pet insurance claim form. Then you will submit the form and other supporting documentation to your pet insurance company so that they can reimburse you for covered expenses. If you opt for your pet insurer to pay the vet directly, you do not need to pay the vet after treatment. You just send the claim form to your pet insurer alongside the invoice from your veterinarian, and when it is approved, the insurer will pay the vet directly. Most claims processes take about two weeks or less.

Read more in-depth about: What is Covered and Not Covered by Pet Insurance in California

Speak to a veterinary expert or a California-licensed insurance agent who can educate you on how pet insurance works. They will offer you all the support you need to get the best pet insurance coverage to cover your pet's needs and any pet insurance emergency.

Does California Control Pet Insurance Rates?

The California Department of Insurance (CDI) controls pet insurance rates in the state. Insurance companies that sell pet insurance policies in California cannot change their rates without filing proposals with supporting documentation and other information with the DOI. The DOI will review the filings and either approve or disapprove the plans. The rate or premiums charged by insurance companies for pet health insurance covers:

• Claim costs: These represent about 60% to 70% of the premium.
• The insurer’s expenses: These include premium taxes paid to the state, commissions paid to agents, and general operating expenses.
• Profit: Offers a reasonable return on the insurance company’s invested capital.

Several factors affect pet insurance rates, including deductible, geographic area, copay, coverage limit, pet species, age, and breed. However, an insured can save on pet insurance costs by taking advantage of a multi pet discount, claim-free discount, wellness plan discount, and group marketing discount (also known as an association or affiliation discount). Insureds who have complaints regarding their pet insurance rates can file their concerns with the Consumer Complaint Center or Provider Complaint Center. Complaints can be made online, by phone, or in person. Phone complaints can be made by calling (800) 927-4357.

What is a Deductible in Pet Insurance?

A deductible in pet insurance is the amount of money an insured has to pay out of pocket for pet treatment before the insurance company begins to pay. With a deductible, an insured can only seek necessary pet health treatment and pay for smaller claims, while the insurance company only pays for larger ones. Insurers typically provide deductibles on a per-incident or annual basis.

What is an Annual Deductible For Pet Insurance?

An annual deductible for pet health insurance is the amount of money an insured would have to pay for covered incidents every year. Insureds can easily predict out-of-pocket costs because annual deductibles typically reset every year their pets have coverage. For example, suppose you have a $500 annual deductible and a 100% reimbursement rate, and you file a pet insurance claim due to a vet visit that costs $800. You will have to pay the first $500 of the bill and the insurance company will pay the remaining $300 after the claim is processed. If your next vet visit costs $200, your insurance company will give you the full reimbursement because you met your annual deductible.

Can Pet Insurance be Used Immediately in California?

No, most pet insurance policies cannot be used immediately in California. Pet insurance in California has a short waiting period between when a policy is purchased and when some or all of the coverage begins. These pet insurance waiting periods differ from one insurer to another. The shortest time pet coverage starts at the effective date of the policy and is only limited to accident coverage.

Which Pet Insurance Has No Waiting Period?

Most pet insurance plans in California have waiting periods, but 24PetWatch and Met Life do not have waiting periods for accident coverage. 24PetWatch accident coverage kicks off after 12:01 AM on the effective date of the policy. MetLife accident and wellness coverage start on the effective date of your policy. Some pet insurance companies may choose to reduce or waive waiting periods if your pet gets examined by a licensed veterinarian within a specific period.

Pet Life Insurance

Pet life insurance is a policy that covers unexpected pet deaths associated with illnesses or accidents. It typically covers funeral expenses, pet value reimbursement, and future income replacement for pets when they die. Pet life insurance might not cover deaths resulting from pre-existing conditions and hereditary diseases. Speak to veterinary experts or a California-licensed insurance agent before purchasing pet life insurance policies. They will help you assess your pet's needs and recommend the best life policy to meet them. An agent will also determine if pet burial insurance is a good choice for you.

Can You Get Life Insurance On a Dog?

Yes, you can get life insurance on dogs. Life insurance policies for dogs work similarly to life insurance policies for humans. Life insurance covers funeral expenses when the insured dog dies. It also covers income replacement benefits for dogs that work in show businesses like Westminster Dog Show. Unlike life insurance policies for humans, life insurance for dogs provides reimbursement for the dog’s value if it is stolen or otherwise disappears. Speak to a California-licensed insurance agent who can recommend pet life insurance policies that you can get for your dog. They will also provide more information on dog mortality insurance, whole life pets, and service dog life insurance.

Is Pet Insurance Worth It in California?

The medical costs associated with pet accidents and illnesses can be costly and may be too huge to pay out of pocket. However, with pet insurance, you can offset some of these costs. Talk to a California-licensed insurance agent who can provide further answers to the question, “is pet insurance worth it?”

Is Pet Insurance a Good Thing To Get?

Yes, having pet insurance is a good thing. Your pet's medical expenses can add up considerably when they fall sick or injured if you are without pet insurance. Below are some of the good things pet insurance can do for pet parents and pets:

• Saves money: Pet parents with pet insurance policies typically save money on medical costs when their pets get sick.
• Focus: Pet parents will be able to focus on the health of their pets instead of worrying about vet bills.
• Increased treatment options: Pet insurance provides coverage for various treatment options that might be too huge for pet parents to pay out-of-pocket.
• Covers all pets: Pet insurance covers all pets regardless of their pre-existing condition, breed, or age.
• Vet visits are not restricted: Pet insurance allows pet parents to choose any vet of their choice to treat their pets. Additionally, no referral is needed from the doctor to visit a specialist.

Should I Get Pet Insurance in California?

Yes, every pet owner in California should consider getting pet insurance. Pet insurance will save you thousands of dollars if your dog or cat gets sick or injured. Individuals with more than one pet should prioritize pet insurance to reduce out-of-pocket costs. On average, pet owners without pet insurance spend between $1,000 and $1,400 annually on vet bills. In contrast, a pet owner with pet insurance that has a $500 deductible can pay between $500 and $900 per year for vet bills.

What is The Best Pet Insurance in California?

It is difficult to select one insurance as the best pet insurance for dogs in California and another as the best pet insurance for cats in California. This is because pet parents consider factors like reputation, quality of service, deductibles, coverage costs, and speed of claims processing to choose the pet insurance to opt for.

Where To Get Pet Insurance in California?

Individuals can get pet insurance policies:

• Online: Several pet insurance companies sell pet insurance plans online and offer free quotes to pet owners. However, you should do your research and find a policy that suits your pet’s health needs. Do not purchase coverage strictly based on the cost alone.
• Through a licensed agent: They can help you compare insurance policies from several pet insurers and get a cost-effective policy. An agent will help with the application process, and claims process, and provide answers to all your pet insurance questions.
• In person at pet insurance companies: Visit any California pet insurance company’s office and request to apply for pet insurance.

How To Get Pet Insurance in California?

Getting pet insurance in California involves the pet owner completing a pet insurance application online by filling in their personal information and basic details about their pet on the pet insurance company's website. A pet owner can also get a free pet insurance quote from the pet insurer. Before committing to any insurance company, compare quotes from several pet insurance providers to understand coverage plans and costs.

Alternatively, pet owners can have insurance agents handle the whole process. Information regarding agents that work for pet insurance companies is available on the California Department of Insurance (CDI) website. Use the Check a License tool to check the licensure of your potential pet insurance agent.