What Does Pet Insurance Cost in Colorado? 2024 Update
By Jordyn Alger
Updated on
Pet insurance is one of the many expenses that go into owning a pet. The exact cost of insurance can vary depending on where you live, and if you are a pet owner living in Colorado, this article is for you.
If you are considering pet insurance, you probably have many questions. The cost of pet insurance is likely high among them, along with other questions such as additional costs and what you can expect pet insurance to cover. To learn all of that and more, keep reading below.
The Importance of Pet Insurance
It is natural to wonder if pet insurance is something you even need. Why bother taking on an extra, unnecessary expense if your pet is healthy?
The truth is that pet insurance is far from unnecessary. It is impossible to predict which illnesses or accidents may impact your pet or what the resulting expenses will amount to. One out of every three pets requires emergency care each year. Although you may think that you are safe from unexpected illnesses or accidents, statistically, that is not the case. When it comes to veterinarian care, the costs can be high.
More pet parents recognize the importance of pet insurance, as the number of pets in the United States enrolled in a plan increased by 28% in 2021.
If you are on the fence about enrolling in pet insurance, consider the following question: are you prepared to spend several thousand dollars at any given moment? Chances are, the answer is no. That’s why pet insurance is so important.
Top Rated Pet Insurance Providers
How Much Does Pet Insurance in Colorado Cost?
Several factors can influence what your pet insurance will cost. As mentioned, the state you live in will play a huge role, but so will the location within that state. The cost of pet insurance will not be a flat rate throughout the entire state of Colorado.
The pet you are looking to enroll may also influence the price. Cats tend to have cheaper premiums than dogs across the board, although the age and breed of your pet may cause prices to vary.
The specific pet insurance plan will also play a role in determining the price. Which policy you choose, how you customize the plan, and any available discounts will all impact the cost. Factors such as a policy’s deductible, reimbursement rate, and payout limits will greatly influence your monthly price. The best plans tend to have unlimited coverage, but those also tend to be the most expensive.
Average Monthly Pet Insurance Costs in Colorado
Enrolled Pet | $5,000 Coverage | $10,000 Coverage | Unlimited Coverage |
Dog | $32 per month | $58 per month | $61 per month |
Cat | $17 per month | $28 per month | $39 per month |
Additional Costs to Anticipate
When looking at pet insurance, the most common additional cost to anticipate is the cost of a wellness plan add-on. Wellness plans, also known as preventative care plans, are meant to cover the costs of preventative care treatment. Pet insurance generally does not cover this, so if you want help paying these expenses, you will need to look for a wellness plan.
- Vaccinations
- Blood tests
- Spaying or neutering
- Tick and flea prevention
- Heartworm prevention
Some wellness plans may cover additional items, such as grooming fees or fecal examinations, but not all of them will. If you are eager to catch your pet’s potential medical problems before they can even occur, preventative care can be invaluable. A wellness plan add-on may be a worthwhile expense for you, as it could prevent you from needing frequent veterinarian trips in the future.
How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance for You
If you are looking for pet insurance in Colorado but aren’t sure where to start, you’re not alone. Picking out pet insurance can feel like a daunting task, but thankfully, there are ways to simplify it.
The first step you will want to take is gathering various quotes from several pet insurance providers. To do so, you’ll need some vital information on hand: what type of pet you are insuring, how many pets, your pet’s gender and age, your pet’s breed and weight, and whether or not your pet has a pre-existing condition. With that information, you can go to each candidate’s website and find a quote there.
Once you have your quotes, you can compare the coverage and prices. You can start by eliminating expenses that are out of your range. If you have a handful of options you can’t choose between, consider what you want to avoid in pet insurance.
It is best to avoid pet insurance companies that are just starting out. If they haven’t been around long enough to gain a reputation, you probably do not want to be on one of their first trial runs.
Slow reimbursement speeds are another thing to avoid. The standard pet insurance company takes around 14 days to reimburse your claim.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Generally, pet insurance covers medical expenses related to sickness, injuries, and accidents. Accidental injuries, sudden illness, chronic conditions, dental problems, hereditary diseases, surgery, and cancer treatment are covered by most insurers. Some may cover additional items such as prescription medication, emergency exam fees, and diagnostic testing.
A few pet insurance providers go above and beyond, covering even more expenses for your pet. This could include alternative treatment, behavioral therapy, lost pet advertising and reward, and end-of-life care.
The best pet insurance policies will reimburse you 80%–100% of the veterinarian bills after you meet your deductible.
What Pet Insurance May Not Cover
Pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, which are conditions that your pet developed prior to enrollment in the policy. Still, some plans will provide coverage for curable diseases, as long as a waiting period is met and there are not any recurring symptoms.
There are other items that pet insurance will rarely if ever, offer to cover. Preventative care is among those things, but you can find coverage with a wellness plan add-on. Outside of a wellness plan, you can expect that no pet insurance company will pay for cosmetic surgeries or experimental procedures.
Final Thoughts
Pet insurance is a crucial pet care expense, no matter where you live. Although the price may vary throughout the state of Colorado, there are affordable options depending on the customization of your policy. As you search for your plan, consider your pet’s needs to determine which policy you need. From there, you can pick the perfect plan for you and your pet.