14 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Vermont – 2024 Reviews

Veterinary care is becoming increasingly expensive,¹ so pet insurance is starting to look like a reasonable option for many pet owners in Vermont. While it may sound like an unnecessary luxury, pet insurance can actually help people save thousands of dollars on costs.

Pet insurance is still a relatively new avenue in the pet care industry. However, it has a steady growth trajectory.² So, you’ll start to see more and more pet owners enrolling their pets in an insurance plan.

While most pet insurance companies offer similar types of plans, they each have their own customizations and offer different levels of coverage. So, it’s crucial to do your research before purchasing a pet insurance plan. This guide will help you get to know some of the most popular pet insurance companies in the industry and help you decide which one is right for your pets.

A Quick Glance at Our Favorites of 2024

The 14 Best Pet Insurance Providers in Vermont

1. Trupanion Pet Insurance – Best Overall

Trupanion offers one standard accident and illness plan bit it is extensive and covers all unexpected injuries and illnesses.

Trupanion also offers two different riders. The Pet Owner Assistance Package extends your coverage to include some non-veterinary pet care costs, like boarding and tools for finding lost pets. The Recover and Complementary Care Rider will help pay for holistic therapies, like acupuncture.

Another feature that makes Trupanion unique is that all plans have a 90% reimbursement rate and there’s no payout limit. Participating veterinarians can also receive direct payments from Trupanion. So, Trupanion pet insurance premiums are a little more expensive than average costs in Vermont, but the coverage can be extensive and unique.

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2. Hartville Pet Insurance

Hartville Pet Insurance offers flexibility and is inclusive to all cats and dogs. Unlike most other pet insurance companies, Hartville has no age restrictions in its eligibility requirements. So, senior pets can receive coverage. Just keep in mind that prices may rise significantly after your pet reaches 5 years old.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option and don’t need too much care coverage, Hartville offers a cheaper accident-only plan with a flat rate on all pets. Another great feature is that Hartville provides flexible payment plans, and you can choose to pay monthly, or annually. You can also make some customizations within your plans to come up with a little more extra savings on your premium.

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3. Bivvy Pet Insurance

If you’re looking for cheap pet insurance and need it fast, Bivvy Pet Insurance may be a great option for you. This company’s application process is one of the fastest you’ll find, and it has a flat rate for all cats and dogs, regardless of age and breed. While the insurance plan doesn’t have the most robust coverage, you could add on a wellness care package to help pay for routine care costs.

Of course, with low prices and extreme convenience, there are some less favorable factors to consider. First, the reimbursement rate is 50% which is much lower than most other insurance companies. The annual limits are fairly low as well.

So, if you have an older pet and foresee more complex care needs in the future, Bivvy won’t be an appropriate option. However, if you have young pets and want pet insurance as a safety cushion, Bivvy is one of the most cost-efficient options you’ll find.

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4. Figo Pet Insurance

Figo Pet Insurance offers an accident and illness plan that has above-average coverage. Along with covering standard care costs, you can also receive reimbursements for alternative therapies and prescription food. The insurance plans also don’t have an age limit on pets.

Figo doesn’t offer the cheapest premiums, but you still get a good deal because of the wide number of services that are eligible for reimbursements. You also have the option of a 100% reimbursement rate and no annual limit.

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5. Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance enables many customizations to your plan to help you control your premium prices. When enrolling in a plan, you can choose your deductible amount, reimbursement rate, and annual limit.

Embrace offers just an accident and illness plan that includes coverage that other companies may exclude, such as dental care, behavioral therapy, prosthetic limbs, and medical devices. You can also add wellness care to your plan to help pay for routine exams and vaccines. Embrace also provides more cost-saving opportunities by including a free 24/7 pet health line and opportunities to reduce your annual deductible for every year you don’t have any claims processed.

Keep in mind that Embrace does have an age limit, so you’ll want to get your pet enrolled sooner than later.

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6. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

If customer service is a priority for you, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance delivers some of the best customer service in the industry. The claims process is relatively quick if you submit claims correctly. Its app has a user-friendly interface, and customer service representatives have a quick response time.

The insurance plan offers pretty standard coverage, and it also includes cancer care and treatments for hereditary and congenital conditions. Once you start applying for a plan, you can make customizations to your deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit. You could even choose to remove annual limits, but it triggers a hefty price increase.

Overall, if you have a relatively young and healthy pet, you’ll find Healthy Paws’ premiums competitive and affordable. However, the prices hike significantly for older pets.

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7. ASPCA Pet Insurance

ASPCA Pet Insurance is another company known for its wide range of customizations. You can choose from accident-only and accident and illness plans and opt for a wellness care add-on. ASPCA offers different options for deductibles, reimbursement rates, and annual limits.

The accident and illness plan extends coverage to alternative therapies, prescription food, behavioral issues, and hereditary and congenital conditions. It also doesn’t have any age restrictions.

One of the most significant concerns about ASPCA Pet Insurance is its inconsistent customer service. Some customers have had highly positive experiences, while others were met with non-responsiveness.

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8. AKC Pet Insurance

AKC Pet Insurance is an option only available to dog owners. It has one base accident and illness plan, but there are many add-ons that you can make, so it’s a really customizable option.

Some optional add-ons are coverage for veterinary exam coverage, hereditary conditions, wellness, and end-of-life services. AKC is also one of the only pet insurance companies that covers costs related to breeding. Regardless of the add-ons you choose, all policyholders have access to AKC’s 24/7 pet health line.

You can really build a plan that’s a great fit for your dog. However, keep in mind that there’s an age restriction, and dogs over 8 years old can’t enroll in an insurance plan. So, it really is more of an insurance plan that is suited for breeders more than the average dog owner.

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9. Nationwide Pet Insurance

Nationwide Pet Insurance is one of the only pet insurance companies that offers coverage for birds and exotic pets. It also has an extensive collection of plan options, so you’ll have an easier time finding a plan that best fits your pet’s needs. Nationwide also offers a 5% multi-pet discount.

The three basic plans that Nationwide provides are comprehensive care plans, wellness plans, and major medical care plans. These plans have their own tiers that cover different types of care.

While Nationwide offers different plan options, you can’t really customize your payment options. Nationwide won’t always provide the option to select your deductible amount, reimbursement rate, or annual limit.

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10. Progressive Pet Insurance

Progressive Pet Insurance provides opportunities to save on costs by offering three different pet insurance plans: wellness care, accident-only, and accident and illness. Some of the cheapest plans only cost about $10 a month. The wellness care and accident-only plans also have flat rates, so you won’t experience increased costs year after year.

The accident and illness plan will cover standard services, including diagnostic testing, surgeries, and unpreventable injuries. However, it doesn’t have expansive coverage that will help pay for alternative therapies and prescription food.

Another attractive feature is that participating veterinarians can receive payments directly from Progressive. So, there’s the potential to skip the claims process and avoid waiting to receive a reimbursement.

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11. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers a single accident and illness plan for dogs and cats. The coverage is relatively comprehensive compared to other pet insurance companies. You can expect to receive reimbursements for emergencies, surgeries, and advanced care. You’ll also have coverage for infections, digestive illnesses, cancer, and unpreventable parasites and infectious diseases. Pumpkin’s insurance plan also includes services that are offered with extra charges, such as alternative therapies and behavioral issues.

While Pumpkin doesn’t offer a standalone preventative care plan, you could add it to your pet’s accident and illness plan. You can also choose your annual limit amount, and all plans have a 90% reimbursement rate.

With how robust Pumpkin’s insurance plan is, it’s no surprise that the premiums are pretty expensive. So, if you have a young and healthy puppy, a cheaper insurance plan with less coverage will suffice, and older dogs will probably benefit more from Pumpkin.

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12. USAA Pet Insurance

USAA Pet Insurance has two types of plans—accident-only and accident and illness. These plans are relatively affordable, and you can get credit added to your deductible for each year you don’t have any processed claims. You also have the option to add wellness care to the accident and illness plan for more comprehensive coverage.

The accident-only plan is an excellent option for young and healthy pets because it’s budget-friendly. However, the annual limit for this plan is $5,000. Older pets also don’t really benefit much from USAA Pet Insurance because once they turn 14 years old, they get switched over automatically to an accident-only plan, even if they started with an accident and illness plan.

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13. Pets Best Pet Insurance

Pets Best Pet Insurance offers comprehensive accident and illness insurance plans and wellness plans for cats and dogs. There are two tiers of wellness plans, and you can also add wellness coverage to the accident and illness plans. So, working with Pets Best is favorable for customers because of the customizations you can make to the plans.

The premium prices are also affected by your pet’s breed and age and where you live. With all these factors to consider, Pets Best has some of the widest range of premiums. You’re more likely to find a plan that’s within your budget. However, Pets Best doesn’t offer the cheapest plans, so if you make too many customizations and have an older pet, your premiums will increase significantly.

Another great benefit to Pets Best is its customer service. The claims process is relatively quick, and you also have access to a 24/7 emergency vet line, so you can potentially save time and money by avoiding unnecessary vet visits.

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14. Geico Pet Insurance

Geico Pet Insurance offers cheap insurance plans, but it’s not very often that you get a high annual limit. With Geico, you aren’t able to choose your own annual limit because Geico will make an offer to you after your pet insurance application goes through the underwriting process.

If you have a relatively young and healthy pet, then annual limits won’t be too much of an issue for you. The pet insurance plans cover costs related to accidents and illnesses, and you can also be reimbursed up to $1,000 for dental care.

Geico also has a 24/7 pet health line so that you can speak with a veterinary professional at any time for any health concerns and if your pet’s condition warrants a necessary vet visit.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Right Pet Insurance Provider in Vermont

What to Look for in Pet Insurance

Selecting a pet insurance plan requires thorough research because you could potentially spend more than save more if you just opt for the most comprehensive plan. Here are some pet insurance features that’ll help you determine what to look for when shopping for pet insurance.

Policy Coverage

Accident-only plans and wellness plans tend to be the cheapest and are best suited for young and healthy pets. Coverage is much more limited, and only unpreventable incidents will be covered.

Accident and illness plans are more comprehensive, but you still want to be thorough about exactly what the plan covers because coverage will differ between companies. For example, some companies offer reimbursements for alternative therapies, dental care, hereditary conditions, and prescription food, while others will omit these services.

Keep in mind that no insurance company will cover preventable conditions and pre-existing conditions. Some may open up coverage after a waiting period, and you must be able to prove that your pet is completely recovered and cured from the condition. The waiting period typically lasts for at least a year.

So, if you know that your pet is predisposed to certain illnesses, it’s best to enroll in a plan sooner than later.

Customer Service & Reputation

Pet insurance companies operate on claims and reimbursements. So, it’s often very important to find a company with a reputable and responsive customer service arm. When shopping for pet insurance, a good indicator of a trustworthy company is transparency and genuine care for your pets.

Customer service representatives should make you feel rushed to purchase any plan, and they should also discourage you from buying the most expensive and comprehensive plan if it’s not appropriate. For example, a healthy, young puppy won’t need all the bells and whistles of a comprehensive accident and illness plan. It’s at extremely low risk of developing a chronic illness, and you won’t end up using any of the services included in a robust insurance plan’s coverage.

Also, make sure to find a company that has a quick claims process. Since you’ll typically have to pay your vet bill before submitting a claim, you don’t want to wait too long to receive your reimbursement for a hefty medical bill.

Claim Repayment

Most pet insurance companies have a similar claim repayment process. Once you pay for a vet bill, you’ll send a claim application to the company, and if the service falls under your plan coverage, you’ll receive a reimbursement.

Claims can usually be sent through postal mail or email. A lot of companies also have their own apps, which make processing claims easier and quicker. Some companies, such as Trupanion and Progressive, have options to pay veterinarians directly so that you can skip the claims process altogether. However, these companies only work with participating veterinarians. So, if you’re not open to finding a new veterinarian that falls in the company’s network, this feature isn’t very applicable.

Price Of Policy

Policy prices are affected by the type of plan, your deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit. Plans with higher deductibles, lower reimbursement rates, and lower annual limits are cheaper, while plans with 100% reimbursement rates and no annual limit are significantly pricier.

Other factors that affect pet insurance prices are your pet’s age and breed and your location. Larger cities tend to have higher premiums, partly because veterinary care tends to be more expensive in those locations. Some breeds tend to have more health concerns than others, so their cover will be more expensive. For example, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Persians, and Munchkins tend to have some of the most expensive premiums.

Plan Customization

Plans can be further customized with riders and add-ons. Most companies won’t have a standalone wellness plan, but they’ll offer a wellness care add-on to accident and illness plans. Some pet insurance providers, like AKC and Trupanion, will offer unique riders and be the best option for dog owners that need more specialized services.

It’s important not to get caught up in riders and select every single available option. Riders can add significant costs to your premiums, and you’ll most likely spend more on paying off high premiums than experiencing savings. Knowing your pet and its health history and predispositions will help immensely in selecting the right riders that you’ll most likely use.

FAQ

What is the average cost of pet insurance in Vermont?

On average, pet insurance premiums in Vermont will range from $11-$50.  These averages are based on basic accident and illness plans. Accident-only plans can be as low as $15, while robust comprehensive coverage plans can cost over $100. Puppies and kittens tend to have the cheapest plans, while older dogs are the most expensive.

What is the most affordable pet insurance in Vermont?

The most affordable pet insurance companies in Vermont are Bivvy and Geico. Bivvy’s premium flat rate is $14 a month. Geico’s pet insurance will be a little more expensive, and prices depend on your pet’s age, breed, and your location.

What services aren’t covered by pet insurance?

While no company provides coverage for pre-existing conditions, preventable illnesses and injuries, and injuries from abuse or neglect, some will extend their coverage to other treatments. For example, some companies may help pay for some costs related to heartworm medication and dental care.

What the Users Say

Most customers are satisfied with the coverage they receive from Hartville Pet Insurance. The customer service is also reliable, and it’s pretty easy to navigate the claims process. One customer wrote this review on Trustpilot:

“Hartville has accompanied me in the lives of my little ones, supporting them at every moment, in every difficult step. Making possible the best medical care for my dearest family.”

The main complaint that customers have are the high premiums. There’s some wiggle room for reducing premium costs, but they’re generally a little more expensive than average pet insurance costs.

Which Pet Insurance Provider Is Best for You?

Overall, Hartville Pet Insurance is a great place to start for most pet owners in Vermont. It includes coverage for a wider variety of services and has a reliable customer service department. If you don’t need extensive coverage and are looking for an affordable plan with basic coverage, Bivvy Pet Insurance is a safe option. Just keep in mind that the reimbursement rates and annual limit are fairly low.

If you’re looking for more specialized coverage, AKC Pet Insurance is an excellent option for dog owners. Embrace, Trupanion, and Nationwide also offer very customizable coverage options.

Conclusion

The best pet insurance in Vermont is Trupanion Pet Insurance. It has great coverage options and is a good reference point for when you’re comparing other pet insurance companies.

Pet insurance can help you save on expensive veterinary care costs in Vermont. However, it’s important to choose the right plan to experience savings. So, it’s worth the effort to do your research on pet insurance. Along with saving on costs, you’ll also have peace of mind in knowing that you’re prepared for any unforeseen injuries or illnesses down the road.

See also:

• Best Pet Insurance Providers in North Carolina – Reviews & Top
• Best Pet Insurance Providers in Arizona — Reviews and Top Picks

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