Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania

We compared 29 companies and chose the top pet insurance providers

  • Best overall
    Embrace Pet Insurance
    3.8(1,676)
  • Claims process
    Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation
    4.9(758)
  • Value
    ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
    4.4(1,146)

Best Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania

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Author picture
Edited by: Jon Bortin

Our 3 picks for Pennsylvania pet insurance companies

  1. Best overall: Embrace Pet Insurance
  2. Best claims process: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation
  3. Best value: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

We’ve chosen the best pet insurance in Pennsylvania by comparing ratings and reviews, coverage, add-ons, pricing and other factors. Read our full methodology below for all the details. Our picks may be Authorized Partners that compensate us — this does not affect our recommendations or evaluations but may impact the order in which companies appear.

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Best overall
Embrace Pet Insurance
Highlight
24/7 telehealth support
Plan types
Accident-only, accident-and-illness
Discounts available
Multipet, active or former military

Embrace has been in the pet industry for over 18 years and has covered more than half a million pets. It's one of only a few companies that offer a plan with unlimited annual reimbursement, and you can add Wellness Rewards for routine things like exams, vaccines, grooming and training. Every policy comes with free access to a 24/7 health helpline. Claims are processed in 10 to 15 business days.

  • Annual reimbursement limit: $2,000 to unlimited
  • Annual deductible: $100 to $1,000
  • Optional coverages: Exam fees for accidents and illnesses, prescription drugs, routine care
  • Waiting period: 14 days

Pros

  • Option for unlimited annual reimbursement
  • Fast quotes
  • Discount program for healthy pets

Cons

  • Medications not covered in standard plan
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation
Highlight
No cap on annual reimbursement
Plan types
Accident-and-illness
Discounts available
None

Healthy Paws' claims handling gets some of the highest satisfaction ratings of any pet insurance company. If a claim is approved, reimbursement is issued within 24 hours, and you get your check or direct deposit within 10 to 15 days. Healthy Paws is also one of the few pet insurers that can arrange direct payment to vets. Healthy Paws makes pet insurance simple, with one accident-and-illness plan that has no payout limits — and you still have choices for the deductible and reimbursement percentage. Healthy Paws has covered over 560,000 dogs and cats.

  • Annual reimbursement limit: No limit
  • Annual deductible: $250 to $1,000
  • Optional coverages: None
  • Waiting period: 15 days

Pros

  • No maximum annual payout
  • Direct payment to vet possible
  • Coverage for alternative medicine

Cons

  • No optional coverages
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Highlight
Exam fees covered
Plan types
Accident-only, accident-and-illness
Discounts available
Multipet

There's lots to like about the overall package from ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, including the breadth of coverage in its higher-end plan, payout for exam fees and the 30-day money-back guarantee. You're also getting insurance from a strategic partner of the leading animal welfare groups in the country. ASPCA, one of the oldest pet insurance providers in the U.S., has covered more than 600,000 pets in the past 20 years. It offers two plans — Complete Coverage and accident-only — as well as optional coverage for preventive care. Claims, which you can submit online, by fax or by mail, are completed in 30 days or less.

  • Annual reimbursement limit: $2,500 to $10,000
  • Annual deductible: $100 to $500
  • Optional coverages: Preventive care, upgraded preventive care
  • Waiting period: 14 days

Pros

  • Exam fees covered
  • No upper age limit
  • Multiple preventive care add-ons

Cons

  • $10,000 annual reimbursement maximum

Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania Buyers guide

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Pennsylvania pet insurance buyers guide

Veterinary care is expensive — especially when your pet has to be seen for an unexpected accident or illness. That’s why many dog and cat owners purchase pet insurance, which reduces out-of-pocket costs.

Key insights

Pet insurance reimburses the pet owner for a percentage of vet costs after a visit for an accident or illness.

Jump to insight

Before purchasing a pet insurance policy, consider what’s covered, plus the reimbursement percentage and limit, and your deductible.

Jump to insight

Monthly costs for pet insurance average $56 for a dog and $34 for a cat but vary based on many factors.

Jump to insight

How pet insurance works in Pennsylvania

Most pet insurance policies work similarly: You take your pet to any licensed vet and pay the provider directly at the time of the visit. Then you submit the invoice to the insurer (usually online through an app or by email), and the insurer reimburses you according to the terms of your plan. There is usually a waiting period of two weeks after sign-up before coverage takes effect.

What pet insurance covers

Pet insurance covers diagnostic and treatment services for accidents, illnesses or both, depending on the plan you select. This usually includes X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, blood work, medication, surgery and hospitalization for events and conditions such as:

  • Bite wounds
  • Broken bones
  • Cuts
  • Foreign body ingestion
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Skin, eye and ear infections
  • Digestive issues
  • Infectious diseases
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Diabetes
  • Dental conditions
  • Behavioral problems

What pet insurance doesn’t cover

Pet insurance doesn’t cover every type of vet visit. Coverage varies by company, but in general, pet insurance doesn’t cover:

  • Preexisting conditions
  • Cosmetic treatments (e.g., tail docking)
  • Breeding or pregnancy
  • Preventive care (e.g., annual checkups, vaccines)
  • Training
  • Illnesses or accidents that result from negligence, intentional mistreatment or malicious activity

What to consider with pet insurance in Pennsylvania

When you’re choosing a pet insurance company in Pennsylvania, here are the main points to consider:

  • What’s covered: Pet insurance plans tend to cover accidents, illnesses or both. Diagnostics (e.g., blood work, X-rays), surgeries, hospitalization and medications are usually covered — but not always. Some treatments, like dental care, for example, are covered only under specific conditions. Care for preexisting conditions is always excluded.
  • Reimbursement limit: Most plans specify a maximum yearly reimbursement amount. When signing up, you may have options for caps that range anywhere from $2,000 to an unlimited amount.
  • Annual deductible: The annual deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in. This ranges from as low as $100 up to $1,000.
  • Reimbursement percentage: Once you meet your deductible, the insurance company will reimburse you a percentage of the covered care costs. As with the annual limit and deductible, you can customize the amount; we’ve seen plans that cover from 60% to 90%.
  • Waiting period: As a general rule, you have to wait around two weeks after sign-up before your dog or cat is covered. The waiting period may be shorter or even nonexistent for accidents — or longer for orthopedic events, like torn ligaments.

As with any insurance policy, it’s essential to dig through the fine print so you aren’t surprised once it’s time to use it. Pay particularly close attention to exclusions (what’s not covered), limitations and definitions. If there’s something you don’t understand, ask a company representative for clarification.

Cost of pet insurance in Pennsylvania

The average monthly cost of an accident-and-illness pet insurance plan is about $56 for a dog and $34 for a cat, according to data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. Some insurers offer accident-only plans, which typically cost about 70% less. The cost of pet insurance depends on a host of factors, including:

  • Species (i.e., dog or cat)
  • Breed
  • Age
  • Where you live
  • Plan type
  • Annual reimbursement limit
  • Reimbursement percentage
  • Deductible
  • Any add-on coverages you select (e.g., preventive care)

Sample quotes for pet insurance in Pennsylvania

We collected quotes from the companies on our list for a 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, one of the most popular breeds in the U.S., living in Philadelphia. We also got quotes for a 2-year-old male ragdoll. All quotes are for accident-and-illness plans.

FAQ

Do all vets in Pennsylvania accept pet insurance?

Vets don’t accept pet insurance directly; pet insurance is a reimbursement policy, so you pay the vet directly and then submit a claim to the insurer for reimbursement. You can visit any licensed veterinarian for pet care.

Does pet insurance cover preexisting conditions?

No, pet insurance doesn’t cover preexisting conditions. These are usually defined as any conditions that existed before the policy’s start date. For instance, if your dog had arthritis before you signed him up for insurance, you won’t be covered for any arthritis-related treatment under a plan.

Pet insurance companies will ask for copies of medical records when you sign up or make a claim to check for any preexisting conditions. Keep in mind that some companies cover conditions that can be cured and that haven’t recurred within a certain time frame (e.g., 12 months).

» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?

Is pet insurance worth it?

Whether pet insurance is worth it depends on your pet’s age, breed and health history, plus your financial situation.

There are pros and cons to pet insurance. It gives you a financial safety net in case your dog or cat gets sick or gets in an accident. You also can customize coverage to fit your needs. However, there are exclusions and limitations, and the costs add up over time. There’s also a chance you pay for coverage and never use it.

Overall, pet insurance is more likely to be worth it if you have a younger pet that’s at higher risk for health conditions or if a big vet bill is likely to cause you financial hardship.

How is pet insurance regulated in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department regulates pet insurance policies in the state. If you have a question about pet insurance, you can contact the department using the consumer services online portal.

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    Methodology

    To choose the top pet insurance companies in Pennsylvania, we started with over 30 popular providers listed in our main buyers guide. First, we narrowed the list down to the ones available in Pennsylvania. We then weighed reviewer satisfaction ratings for pet insurance companies on our website, focusing on these aspects:

    • Coverage
    • Customer service
    • Claims handling
    • Price

    The companies with the highest satisfaction ratings were selected as the top pet insurance companies in Pennsylvania. In circumstances where tiebreakers were necessary, we made decisions based on our research of various features at each company, including reimbursement and deductible options and the availability of discounts.


    Guide sources

    ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:

    1. North American Pet Health Insurance Association, “Industry Data.” Accessed Jan. 21, 2025.
    2. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, “Pet Insurance.” Accessed March 4, 2025.

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