10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in North Dakota – 2024 Reviews
Updated on
North Dakota is one of America’s most sparsely populated states, known for cold winters, sweeping prairies, and a recent oil boom. However, the people living in North Dakota share their lives with many pets! With plenty of open space to roam and get into trouble, accidents and injury are always a concern for North Dakota pets.
It’s hard to budget for emergency medical care, but costs can quickly add up when the unthinkable happens. Pet insurance can serve as a valuable lifeline for North Dakota pet owners, allowing them to get their animals the care they need with less worry about how to pay for it.
If you’re in North Dakota and considering buying a pet insurance policy, this article is for you. We’ll reviews some of the most popular pet insurance options in North Dakota and help you compare costs and coverages.
A Quick Look at Our Winners in 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
|
|
Lemonade Pet Insurance |
|
Click to Get Quote |
|
|
Trupanion Pet Insurance |
|
Click to Get Quote |
|
|
Wagmo Pet Insurance |
|
Click to Get Quote |
|
Spot Pet Insurance |
|
Click to Get Quote | |
|
Pumpkin Pet Insurance |
|
Click to Get Quote |
The 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in North Dakota
1. Lemonade Pet Insurance – Best Overall
Lemonade offers some of the lowest monthly premiums of the plans we reviewed and has a fast and simple claims process. Because of that, we’ve chosen Lemonade as our best value pick. Lemonade has a comprehensive accident and illness policy and options for add-on wellness coverage.
They offer a special wellness plan for puppies and kittens that covers spay and neuter surgery, plus all the vaccine boosters. Lemonade has a flexible deductible, reimbursement, and annual limit amounts, which impact the monthly price of the premium. Lemonade is only available in 37 states at the moment, but North Dakota is one of them.
Exam fees, behavioral care, and prescription diets are not covered under Lemonade’s standard policy. They also have age limits on enrollment and may restrict certain coverages for older pets.
- Affordable monthly premiums
- Three wellness plan options, including a puppy and kitten package
- Flexible deductible, reimbursement, and annual limit options
- Easy enrollment and claims process, all app-based
- Age limits on coverage and enrollment
2. Trupanion
Trupanion offers no wellness plans and has only one accident-and-illness policy available but they feature unlimited lifetime payouts at a flat 90% reimbursement rate. Trupanion is also one of the few companies that can arrange to pay your vet directly when you checkout from the hospital, leaving you only your deductible and any services not covered to pay.
Not every vet has this technology set up, but the company’s website has a handy search feature to find one in your area that does. Trupanion covers hereditary conditions, herbal supplements, and congenital issues under its standard policy. While the insurer has coverage for services like behavioral consults, acupuncture, and physical therapy, they are not part of standard coverage and will cost you more. Trupanion has some of the highest monthly premiums, but its direct pay features eliminate a lot of the hassle and worry. They also don’t cover exam fees, but customer service is available 24/7.
- Direct vet pay at checkout
- Covers hereditary and congenital conditions
- 24/7 customer service availability
- Herbal medicine and supplements are covered in a standard policy
- Unlimited lifetime payouts
- Exam fees not covered
- No wellness plans are available
- Higher monthly premiums
- Behavioral care, physical therapy, and other services not part of standard care
3. Wagmo
Wagmo provides accident and illness coverage and a wellness plan. They offer three deductible options and may cover up to 100% of costs once that is met. Wagmo has a 10% multi-pet discount, plus an additional 15% off each year that you don’t file a claim. Inherited conditions, chronic conditions, end-of-life care, and even a pet ambulance are all covered under the standard policy.
Wagmo makes customer service easy with an available app. They do not cover all cancer care, however. Wagmo has a 6-month waiting period for knee surgeries and another 6-month waiting period before they will cover the other knee. To receive coverage, the company requires you to meet preventative care requirements such as vaccinations, annual exams, and other senior wellness recommendations.
- App available for easy policy management
- Multi-pet discount, annual discount if no claims made that year
- Wellness plans available
- May cover up to 100% of costs once deductible met
- Extensive coverage, including end-of-life care and pet ambulance
- 6-month waiting period for knee surgery
- Additional 6-month wait for bilateral knee coverage
- Not all cancer care covered
- Preventative care requirements to maintain coverage
4. Spot
Spot Pet Insurance offers extremely flexible coverage, including accident-only policies. With multiple deductible and coverage limit options, it’s a good option for those trying to stick within a limited budget. They have no age limit on enrollment and cover exam fees as part of standard care.
Spot has a preventative care add-on as well. The standard coverage is quite extensive, with alternative care, behavior therapy, prescription diets, and supplements all included. They are generous with their definition of a “cured” pre-existing condition, except for knee issues. They won’t cover future knee problems if one occurs during the waiting period or before coverage starts. Customer service is not available on weekends either.
- Extensive coverage options
- Highly customizable plans
- Wellness plans available
- Coverage available for “cured” pre-existing conditions with some exceptions
- No age limits on enrollment
- Future knee problems are not covered
- No customer service on weekends
5. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Another great option for pet insurance in North Dakota is Pumpkin. As one of the newer players in the pet insurance game, it offers extensive accident and illness coverage and a flat 90% reimbursement rate for all covered services. Claims are filed online and reimbursed quickly; if your vet doesn’t make you settle your bill upfront, Pumpkin will pay them directly.
Users rave about the customer service from the company, but they are only available by phone on weekdays between 8 am- 8 pm. Pumpkin is a good choice for older pets, and they have no upper age limit for enrollments or decreased reimbursement rates. Pumpkin covers exam fees, behavioral therapy, and alternative medicine in its standard policy. As is standard for most pet insurance companies, Pumpkin doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.
- Excellent customer service
- Easy claim process
- No upper age limits for enrollments
- Extensive coverage, including behavioral services and exam fees
- Flat 90% reimbursement rate
- Customer service not available overnight and on weekends
- Doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions
6. PetsBest Insurance
PetsBest offers flexible deductible options, even as low as $50, and also features an available 24/7 emergency vet helpline for additional peace of mind. Like Pumpkin, PetsBest will pay your vet directly if they don’t require payment at the time of service. The company has a standard accident and illness plan, along with a cheaper accident-only option. An add-on wellness plan is also available.
PetsBest does not have age limits on enrollment or reduced coverage for older pets. They are also unusual among pet insurance companies in offering coverage for conditions that result from a pet not being spayed or neutered, such as prostate issues. However, there is a 6-month waiting period for knee surgery coverage, and PetsBest does not cover alternative, holistic, or experimental treatments.
- 24/7 telehealth hotline
- Flexible deductible and coverage options
- Full coverage for pets who aren’t spayed or neutered
- Optional direct vet payments are available
- No age limits on enrollment or coverage
- 6-month waiting period for knee surgery
- No coverage for alternative or holistic treatments
7. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws scores high for customer service among users, reportedly processing most claims in about 2 days. They offer flexible reimbursement and deductible options, with no annual or lifetime limits on payouts. Alternative therapies, inherited conditions, and chronic conditions are all covered in the standard plan. Healthy Paws doesn’t offer a wellness plan. They also have a bilateral exclusion policy for knee surgeries, meaning they will cover one knee but not the other. However, some policies don’t have an extra-long waiting period for knee surgeries. Healthy Paws is also a very charity-focused company, with a foundation dedicated to helping shelters and rescues cover the many costs of helping homeless pets. Even if you only get a quote from the Healthy Paws website, they’ll still donate to the foundation.
- High customer service rating
- Inherited and chronic conditions covered
- No annual or lifetime payout limits
- No extra waiting period for knee surgery
- Charity-focused company
- No wellness plans
- Exam fees not covered
- Bilateral exclusion policy for knee surgeries
8. Figo
Figo offers 24/7 video chat with a licensed vet and a unique Pet Cloud, where you can manage all aspects of your pet’s medical care and social life. Figo has accident and illness coverage and an optional wellness plan. They don’t have age enrollment limits but specify that they may have wellness care requirements to renew coverage for older pets.
Figo covers chronic conditions, cancer care, and alternative treatments as part of a standard policy. However, exam fees are not covered and require you to purchase an additional rider.
Figo has three separate plans with varying deductibles, reimbursements, and annual coverage limits. They are one of the insurance plans to offer a 100% reimbursement on covered services. While pre-existing conditions aren’t covered, Figo does consider some of them “curable” and will cover future incidents.
- 100% reimbursement available
- Chronic conditions, cancer, and alternative treatments covered
- No age limits on enrollment
- Flexible plans
- Wellness plan available
- “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be covered
- 24/7 video chat with vets
- May require senior pets to meet wellness care requirements
- Exam fees not covered in standard policy
9. Embrace
Embrace offers a high level of customization to pet owners, with multiple deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement options. They also provide customer service via live chat, eliminating the need to wait on hold for answers. The company has both an accident and illness plan and a wellness option, with three annual payout limits. Embrace rewards you for keeping your pet healthy by reducing your deductible by $50 every year you don’t file a claim.
The insurer covers chronic and inherited conditions but has a 6-month waiting period for knee surgeries and other orthopedic issues. Pets older than 15 are only eligible for accident coverage, not the full accident and illness policy. Exam fees are covered in a standard plan.
- Reduces deductible by $50 for every year you don’t file a claim
- Wellness plan available
- Live chat customer service
- Lots of customization options for plans
- Chronic and inherited conditions covered
- Exam fees covered in a standard plan
- 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions
- Pets over 15 years old only eligible for accident coverage
10. ASPCA
ASPCA insurance is offered by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ASPCA has a complete accident and illness policy and a cheaper accident-only plan. Two preventative plan options are also available. The company has a longer waiting period for accident coverage, 14 days, than some other plans on our list.
ASPCA insurance is easy to manage via its available app, including claim submission and signing up to have your reimbursement direct deposited. Exam fees, behavioral care, and even microchipping are covered in the standard plan. Deductibles, reimbursement, and annual coverage limits are all customizable. This is also one of the most experienced pet insurance providers, offering coverage since 1997.
- Experienced company
- Accident-only plans available
- Two wellness plans are available
- Easy to manage care via the app
- Customizable plans
- Longer accident waiting period than some providers
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Pet Insurance Provider in North Dakota
What to Look for in Pet Insurance
When comparing insurance policies, there are several points to consider. A few factors we examined when developing our rankings included what was covered in a standard policy, how much customization was available, and the ease of the claims process.
Policy Coverage
When comparing policy coverage, you first need to decide whether you want an accident-only policy or an accident and illness plan. Some companies do not provide an accident-only option. From there, you’ll need to look at some of the finer points of coverage to see which one will fit your needs and budget best.
For example, not all policies offer coverage for chronic conditions, which can be a big financial drain over time. Also, see how each policy handles pre-existing conditions, specifically whether they ever consider any of them “curable.”
If you own a purebred dog, check to see if the policy covers breed-related conditions, like breathing problems in French Bulldogs. Even if your dog isn’t purebred, they could end up with a condition, like epilepsy, that’s considered inherited or genetic. You should compare whether a policy covers those conditions as well.
Customer Service & Reputation
Because emergencies don’t always happen during business hours, customer service availability is an essential factor when comparing insurance companies.
Several of the plans we reviewed specify that they have 24/7 availability, including vets for telehealth or video chat. Others have a website live chat or an app where you can contact them. A few only have email or phone availability, with limited hours.
The pet insurance companies we reviewed range from the very experienced like the ASPCA to new players in the game like Lemonade and Pumpkin. It’s worthwhile to consider the reputations that the companies have built up over time.
For example, one helpful tidbit might be whether the company has a reputation for denying claims or requiring excessive documentation before they’ll reimburse you.
Claim Repayment
Unlike medical insurance, which generally only requires a co-pay upfront, pet policies typically require you to pay your vet bill and then file a claim for reimbursement. The speed at which your claim is settled can significantly impact your ability to get your pet the care they need.
Check the fine print of each policy to see how long they take to approve claims on average. How easy is it to file a claim and provide the proper documentation from your vet? You’ll get your money more quickly if you upload the paperwork electronically rather than relying on the mail, for example.
Does the insurance company offer direct payments to your vet? In most cases, your vet will have to agree to wait on payment until the company approves your claim, which is why Trupanion’s ability to pay at checkout still gives them an edge over the others.
Finally, investigate how each insurance company distributes reimbursement money. Do you have to wait for a check to be mailed, or is direct deposit an option?
Price Of Policy
For budget planning purposes, you’ll need to compare the actual monthly price of the policy.
All companies calculate their premiums differently, depending on your pet’s age, breed, sex, and the cost of vet care in your area. If vet prices are lower in North Dakota than in neighboring Minnesota, your monthly pet insurance premium will probably be lower as well. Many companies allow you to customize your plan to change the monthly price.
Another comparison to consider is whether your pet’s age will impact their monthly premium (or coverage levels). Older pets, like older people, tend to need more health care, increasing the number of insurance payouts. Some companies may charge more per month because of that.
Plan Customization
Nearly every company we reviewed offers at least some ability to customize your plan, some far more than others. Some insurers have more than one type of insurance plan with varying levels of coverage. Others feature additional add-ons, like preventative care or exam fee coverage.
Most plans can alter your monthly payment when you choose between several annual deductible or coverage options. Some allow you to select your reimbursement percentage as well. High deductible, low annual limit, and low reimbursement plans are generally the most affordable, at least in terms of monthly costs.
Because your financial circumstances won’t always stay the same, another factor to consider is how easy it is to change your initial choices. Will it impact your pet’s coverage if you do?
FAQ
Can I Get Pet Insurance Outside the U.S.?
We focused on companies that operate primarily in the United States, but what if you’re moving or deploying abroad? Can you still get pet insurance outside the U.S.? Yes, pet insurance is available in many other countries as well.
If you already have an existing policy, contact them to see if they are also licensed in the country you’re moving to. If you’re shopping for a new policy, you can check with the major U.S. companies to see if they also offer global coverage. If not, research your chosen location to determine which pet insurance options are available.
What If My Insurance Company Is Not Listed In Your Reviews?
Even just a few decades ago, pet insurance companies were few and far between. Now, there are too many to fit in one (word-limited) review article. If we didn’t list your insurance company in our reviews, it could be because we just didn’t have space.
Because this article focuses explicitly on pet insurance in North Dakota, we only reviewed pet insurance available in that state. If your company isn’t on the list, it might be because they don’t offer policies in North Dakota.
If you’re happy with your pet insurance company, that’s great! Don’t feel the need to switch just because they aren’t listed. However, if you want to make a change, our reviews might be an excellent place to start.
What Is The Best And Most Affordable Pet Insurance?
The best pet insurance for you isn’t necessarily going to be the same for everyone. Your specific health goals and your pet’s medical needs will make some plans a better fit than others.
In terms of affordability, that will also depend somewhat on your specific pet. Based on our research, we can report that Lemonade tends to have some of the lowest monthly premiums and Trupanion some of the highest. However, as we also mentioned, what you lose in monthly costs, you may lose in high deductibles or lower reimbursement.
What the Users Say
While user reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt, they can give you some insight into actual customer experiences. Here’s a quick look at what users are saying about some of our top picks.
Pumpkin
Customers are generally pleased with Pumpkin, noting their coverage and customer service is great. A few negatives are that their website doesn’t always work and some areas of their coverage might be overpriced.
Lemonade
Most people loved the ease of using an AI system to submit claims and get their payments. Although some found that a customer service agent would have been a nice alternative to the AI in some situations.
Healthy Paws
Most liked that it was easy to submit claims and that payments were issued quickly. However, they were unhappy about the increasing premiums each year.
Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best For You?
To decide which pet insurance provider is ideal for you, look for the plan that best meets your pet’s individual health needs while still fitting into your budget. Every policy has fine print, especially regarding exclusions, so make sure you read carefully before signing up.
The cheapest monthly policy may look attractive, but if they don’t cover a procedure your pet needs, you’ll wind up paying a lot more in the long run. If you’re adopting an older pet, your options will be more limited than a puppy or kitten, and the potential costs will be higher. As you learned from reading our buyer’s guide, the monthly price is just one factor to consider when deciding which pet insurance provider is best for you.
Conclusion
No matter which pet insurance policy you select, get your dog or cat enrolled as soon as possible, especially if they are young. Prices tend to be lower, and you’ll decrease the chances of your pet having a pre-existing condition that can be used to deny coverage in the future.
Pet insurance can be a valuable tool for North Dakota pet owners, but it’ll take some research on your part to find the best fit for your individual needs. Consider not only the monthly premium but also available coverages, reimbursement process, and customer service availability.
See also:
- 15 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Illinois – Reviews & Top Picks
- 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Minnesota – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Rawpixel.com, Shutterstock
