10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Alaska – 2024 Reviews

In Alaska, dogs are more than just pets. Many also serve as transportation, pulling sleds across the snow-covered terrain. In a land of harsh cold and even harsher terrain, opportunities for accidents and emergencies abound, leading to unexpected medical costs.

No one plans on an emergency happening, but you can help cover the expense. Pet insurance can help Alaskans prepare for the worst and offer peace of mind in stressful situations. In this article, we’ll review the best pet insurance options for Alaska this year and give you tips on picking the right policy for your situation.

A Quick Look at Our Winners in 2024

The 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Alaska

1. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance – Best Overall

Healthy Paws ranks high in customer satisfaction and has no yearly or lifetime payout limits. They also prioritize giving back, funding a foundation to assist animal rescues with the costs of helping homeless pets. It has a comprehensive accident-and-illness policy but no wellness add-on option. They have two deductible and reimbursement options. However, these only apply to pets under 6 years old, with reduced choices for older animals. Healthy Paws covers inherited, congenital, and chronic conditions. Alternative treatments and cancer care are also covered. Exam fees aren’t covered, and they have a bilateral exclusion for pre-existing knee conditions, meaning they won’t cover the other knee if one was injured before coverage kicks in. Healthy Paws settles claims quickly, according to customer feedback, and without as much hassle as other companies.

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2. ASPCA Pet Insurance – Best Value

Offered by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this pet insurance provider is one of the most experienced companies. They provide good value with both accident-and-illness plans and cheaper accident-only policies. Accident-only plans may appeal to Alaskans who want to protect their working dogs in an emergency.

ASPCA Pet Insurance also has two wellness plan add-ons to help pay for preventative care. The company offers multiple deductible, reimbursement, and max payout options. However, they cap their annual payout at $10,000, lower than many other plans. They also have a 15-day waiting period before coverage kicks in, which is longer compared to some other plans. Exam fees are covered under the standard plan, along with behavioral care, inherited conditions, microchips, and prescription diets.

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3. Spot Pet Insurance

Spot Pet Insurance offers a ton of flexibility when customizing your plan and keeping monthly premiums low. Seven annual limit options, five deductibles, and three reimbursement choices are offered, including an unlimited annual payout.

Spot has an accident-only plan and a preventative care add-on, in addition to the standard accident-and-illness coverage. They have no upper age limit on pet enrollments and offer 24/7 telehealth connections for members. Exam fees, along with cancer care and behavior treatment, are included in standard coverage. There is a 14-day waiting period for all coverage, including accidents. According to some users, Spot can take a while to pay claims and require a lot of documentation.

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4. Trupanion Pet Insurance

Trupanion is one of only a few pet insurance companies to offer direct vet payments as a reimbursement option. They are the only ones with the availability of claim approval and payment at the time your pet leaves the hospital. They offer only an accident-and-illness policy, with unlimited payouts and a 90% reimbursement rate. No preventative care option is available, and some alternative therapies are only covered with an additional add-on.

Trupanion has multiple deductible options, including a $0 choice. They also have a per-condition lifetime deductible, meaning that all future care for that condition is covered once you meet it for a certain issue, such as allergies. Trupanion doesn’t enroll pets older than 14 years, and their monthly premiums tend to be some of the most expensive.

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5. Fetch Pet Insurance

Fetch is an experienced pet insurance provider (previously known as PetPlan) and a good choice for those interested in holistic and alternative treatments. Many of the therapies, like acupuncture and hydrotherapy, are covered in Fetch’s standard plan. While it doesn’t offer a wellness plan, Fetch’s extensive accident-and-illness coverage includes sick visit exam fees, virtual vet visits, inherited conditions, and breed-specific problems.

However, they tend to charge higher premiums for older and higher-risk pets. There are three deductibles, annual limit, and reimbursement customizations. Fetch allows you to use any vet in the U.S. and Canada, which is helpful for Alaska pet owners who may live close to the Canadian border. According to user reviews, Fetch may increase annual plan prices frequently. There is a 6-month waiting period for knee and hip conditions.

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6. Pets Best Pet Insurance

Pets Best offers accident-only, accident-and-illness, and preventative care add-on plans. Their accident plans are affordable, regardless of a pet’s age or breed. Pets Best also has a direct vet pay option, but only if your vet agrees to wait for the claim to process for payment. They are one of the only companies to offer full coverage for unspayed and unneutered pets, including conditions that result from their condition, like mammary cancer.

Pets Best has no upper age limit on enrollments and doesn’t reduce coverage as pets age. Exam fees, acupuncture, and prescription medications are usually covered, but not in every case. There is a 6-month waiting period for knee issues. Pets Best has a mobile app for claim submissions and a 24/7 pet health hotline. However, customer service is unavailable 24/7, with no Sunday hours and reduced holiday availability.

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7. Figo Pet Insurance

Figo has an accident-and-illness policy with three different levels: each with a different annual payout limit, including one unlimited option. They offer multiple reimbursement options and are the only provider we reviewed to offer 100% reimbursement as a choice.

Exam fees are not covered under a standard policy. Figo does cover chronic conditions, alternative treatments, and dental injuries. There is an optional wellness plan available as well. Figo offers a Pet Cloud, where you can keep track of all your pet’s medical care, upload documents for your claim, and track the process. Customer service is not available 24/7. There are no upper age limits for enrollment, but Figo requires senior pets to meet wellness testing requirements.

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8. Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace provides an accident-and-illness plan with multiple customization options, including five deductible and annual limit choices. They have a unique incentive to keep pets healthy by reducing the yearly deductible by $50 for each year no claim is filed.

A preventative care plan is also available. Embrace has good customer service support, with a 24/7 live chat feature. Inherited conditions, chronic conditions, and preventable conditions are all covered, as are exam fees. Embrace is also somewhat flexible in covering some pre-existing conditions if they’re considered “cured.” There is a 6-month waiting period for all bone and joint conditions. User reviews suggest that the company is not particularly fast at paying out claims.

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9. Prudent Pet Insurance

Prudent is a newer pet insurance provider but has good customer reviews and three different plan options. They have an accident-only plan, two accident-and-illness plans, and one with an unlimited annual limit and extra coverage for behavior care and other conditions. Multiple deductible and reimbursement options are available. Prudent Pet offers 24/7 vet chat for all customers.

They don’t have an app but have an online customer portal. There is a 6-month waiting period for knee conditions, and they won’t cover either knee if one had a problem before coverage began. Prescription food (except to treat bladder stones) is not covered. Monthly premiums tend to be expensive, especially for breeds considered high-risk.

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10. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Pumpkin is another new player in the pet insurance world but has an extensive accident-and-illness plan with 90% reimbursement on covered conditions. Three deductible and annual limit options are available. They also offer a preventative care plan. Pumpkin is a good choice for older pets, with no upper age limit or reduced benefits for seniors.

There are no extended waiting periods for bone and joint conditions. Pumpkin covers exam fees, alternative therapy, behavioral care, prescription food, and microchipping in the standard policy. Customer service is not available on weekends. Pumpkin’s premiums tend to be a bit higher than comparable plans.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Alaskan Pet Insurance Provider

What to Look for in Pet Insurance

While reviewing the pet insurance providers, we considered such factors as how extensive the coverage is, the length of waiting periods, and customization options, including the types of plans available. We also examined customer service availability and the ease of the claims and reimbursement process.

Policy Coverage

Many of the policies we reviewed have somewhat similar policy coverage options. One of the differences that could impact your out-of-pocket costs is whether plans include exam fees as part of standard coverage. Those with breeds known to be at risk for inherited conditions will want to ensure their policy covers those problems. None of the providers cover costs related to breeding and pregnancy, but most also don’t cover conditions that arise in pets that aren’t spayed or neutered. If you have an older pet getting coverage for the first time, some providers may limit your options, offer reduced benefits, or impose wellness care requirements.

Customer Service & Reputation

We reviewed some of the oldest and some of the newest pet insurance providers. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but older companies have more time to build up a good or bad reputation. For example, some may have a complicated claims process or a reputation for denying claims. Others may bury you in paperwork before approving a claim.

Since pet emergencies rarely happen during business hours, customer service availability will make a difference in your overall experience. Some companies go above and beyond by offering 24/7 access to veterinary advice. Customer service is one of the most common complaints or praises in consumer reviews, and it should be fairly easy to get a feel for the company you’re considering.

Claim Repayment

Most pet insurance functions on a reimbursement system, meaning you pay your bill at the vet’s office and submit a claim for repayment. Because of this, the speed of claim processing determines how quickly you get your money back. Again, this is where consumer reviews can give you some good insight, as people will always have an opinion on waiting for money!

Some of the providers we discussed offer a direct vet pay option, with only Trupanion featuring the technology to pay costs when you leave the vet’s office. Look at what kind of documentation your provider requires when you file the claim. Does your vet need to fill out a form, or can you simply upload an itemized service invoice? Can you file a claim digitally, or do you have to fax or mail paperwork?

Price Of Policy

Monthly premiums will vary quite a bit depending on your pet’s age, breed, gender, and the cost of vet care in your area. Thankfully, you also have some control over the price depending on how easily you can customize your plan (more on that in the next section.)

Some price factors are out of your control, such as your provider raising prices as your pet ages. For the lowest rates, try to get your puppy or kitten covered as soon as possible, usually 7–8 weeks. This also makes it less likely that your pet has a health issue that’ll later be considered pre-existing. If your provider has an accident-only plan, it will generally be cheaper.

Plan Customization

When you set up your pet’s insurance plan, you’ll have the chance to tinker with a few options to reduce or increase your monthly costs. All the plans we reviewed offer options, including different deductibles, annual limits, and sometimes reimbursement percentages.

However, some have more than others. Choosing a higher deductible and lower annual limit will generally lower your monthly payment. Also, consider the add-ons each provider offers, such as preventative plans, exam fee coverage, or other special benefits. Not every insurance provider offers an accident-only plan, and if that’s what you’re interested in, your options will already be narrowed.

Frequent Asked Questions

Can I See a Vet in Canada?

With so much of Alaska made up of wilderness, some secluded residents may live closer to towns in Canada than they do to other parts of Alaska. Before deciding on an insurance provider, check to see whether you have the option of using a Canadian vet if needed.

What If My Insurance Company Is Not Listed In Your Reviews?

There are two primary reasons that our reviews don’t list your specific insurance company: they don’t offer coverage in Alaska, or we just didn’t have the space. There are numerous pet insurance providers, and we had to narrow our reviews down to 10. If you’re happy with your pet insurance provider, don’t abandon it just because we didn’t cover it on our list.

Do I Need a Preventative Care or Wellness Plan?

Since some insurers do not have wellness plans, knowing whether or not you need one is an important question to ask before you start shopping. Essentially, you’ll need to do some math to find out if you’ll save money with a wellness plan. Look at how much you’d spend paying out-of-pocket for care versus how much you’ll pay per year for the wellness plan. Each wellness plan handles care a little differently, and they don’t all cover the same thing. Some programs might make more sense than others financially.

What the Users Say

 Here’s a quick check of what users are saying about our top pet insurance choices:

Healthy Paws

Spot

ASPCA

Trupanion

Pets Best

Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best For You?

To decide which pet insurance provider is right for you, look for the policy that offers the most coverage for your specific animal. Some policies are better for older or younger pets, while others may be superior for specific breeds. Your preferences will also play a role. If your pet receives holistic or alternative treatments, look for a plan that covers the procedures.

How much money do you have available for pet insurance premiums each month, and which policy can you afford? Do you need the option to take your pet to a Canadian vet? The right pet insurance provider will be unique to each situation, but hopefully, we’ve given you the tools to make that decision for yourself.

Conclusion

Pet insurance is generally considered a wise investment, especially if you live in a state full of large predators and dangerously cold weather. Alaskan dog and cat owners have their pick of the 10 providers we reviewed, plus some others we didn’t have room for. Read the fine print of each policy carefully before you make your selection. Monthly premium costs are important, but knowing which type of coverage you’re paying for is also vital.

See also:

• 9 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Iowa – Reviews & Top Picks
• 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Idaho – Reviews & Top Picks

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