Pet Insurance in Illinois: Compare the Best Pet Insurance Companies and Most Affordable Quotes

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Updated: September 26, 2024

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Finding the best pet insurance in Illinois could save you from unexpected and costly vet bills while ensuring the best course of treatment for your pet. Pet owners know that, just like humans, our four-legged family members deserve the best care possible. Pet insurance gives you a financial cushion to provide such care when the need arrives.

MoneyGeek gathered quotes from pet insurance companies in Illinois, specifically from the top cities in the state, including Aurora, Chicago and Joliet. This allowed us to determine the average cost of pet insurance in Illinois and can help you find the best coverage for your pet that is within budget and based on your pet’s specific needs.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Illinois

MoneyGeek set out to find the best pet insurance companies in Illinois based on different criteria such as policy coverage, affordability, and product offerings. After analyzing thousands of pet insurance quotes in Illinois and documenting policy and coverage details, we compared each policy. By doing so, we found the best pet insurance in Illinois for different needs and requirements.

Since pet insurance costs are based on the pet’s breed, age, and medical history, it’s a good idea to get personalized quotes from multiple providers. This way, you’ll get an idea of how much you can save just by knowing the average cost, and you’ll have an overview of the product offerings.

Best Overall Pet Insurance for Your Pet

Pets Best

pros

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Offers multiple levels of coverage

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Hereditary and congenital conditions, like hip dysplasia, are covered

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Covers ongoing and chronic conditions

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Routine care coverage is separate

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Based on MoneyGeek’s study, the best pet insurance in Illinois is Pets Best, as it comes with policies that can be customized according to your budget and pet’s needs. The average cost to insure a pet in Illinois through Pets Best is $28.03 per month.

Most plans from Best Pets cover accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, cancer, emergency care, surgeries, and prescription medications. Lab tests, MRI, CAT and X-Ray procedures are also covered. However, if you want exam fees or preventive care covered, you may need to upgrade to either the Plus or Elite plan.

As with all insurance companies, pre-existing conditions are not covered. Similarly, herbal, holistic, and experimental therapies and medications are not covered. However, because chiropractic care, acupuncture, and physical therapy are not considered holistic or experimental therapies, they are covered.

You can select either a $5000 or an unlimited annual coverage limit for your Best Pets insurance plan, and deductible options range from $50 to $1000. Reimbursement percentages go from 70% to 90%. Once you’ve chosen your primary plan, you can exclude those coverages you don’t need and select add-ons you think will be useful.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Unlimited Coverage

Pets Best

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You’re covered across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico

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Covers behavioral consults and medication

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No upper age limits

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Only two annual coverage limit options: $5,000 or unlimited

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Does not cover bilateral conditions

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Pets Best provides the best pet insurance in Illinois for unlimited coverage. With unlimited coverage, you can submit as many claims as you need in one policy year without having to think about any caps or paying for expensive vet bills out-of-pocket. On average, a pet insurance policy from Pets Best with unlimited coverage costs $35.54 per month.

You can opt for unlimited coverage regardless if you select any of the insurer’s accident and illness plans. Having unlimited coverage may cost you higher premiums, but it provides you with the most financial protection, allowing you to take advantage of treatments for your pet you might not otherwise be able to afford. You’re covered if your pet requires diagnostics like bloodwork, MRIs and X-rays, prosthetic devices and wheelchairs, or needs to be treated for periodontal disease.

Pets Best does not cover food for special diets or vitamins and supplements. These are considered non-veterinary expenses, much like grooming and other services not performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Affordable Coverage

Pet Plan

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Covers chronic and hereditary conditions

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Covers alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic treatment

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Exam fees covered for visits other than routine or elective procedures

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No multi-pet discount

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Does not cover behavioral issues

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

The most affordable pet insurance company in Illinois is Petplan. Petplan’s $5,000 annual coverage policy costs on average $21.43 per month. You can choose to increase your coverage limit to $15,000 or unlimited. The annual deductibles options are $250, $300 and $500, while reimbursement levels are between 70%, 80% and 90%.

Petplan provides a comprehensive list of benefits that you would otherwise get as an add-on from other providers. This includes accidental injuries and illnesses, dental, some vet exam fees, behavioral therapies, alternative therapies, imaging procedures and others. Chronic and hereditary conditions are covered as well.

Some of the coverages not included in a Petplan policy are routine and wellness care or cosmetic and elective procedures. There is also no option to add these benefits even if you are willing to get them as an add-on.

Best Pet Insurance with Multiple Pets

Pets Best

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5% multi-pet discount

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No upper age limits

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Accident-only plans available

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Does not cover elective or preventive care

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Getting insurance for more than one pet can be costly. A multi-pet discount helps reduce your monthly premiums slightly, and the best pet insurance company in Illinois for multiple pets is Pets Best. The average cost of a policy from Pets Best with a multi-pet discount is $25.22 per month.

When you enroll a new dog or cat in your existing Pets Best policy or get coverage for more than one pet at the same time, Pets Best applies a 5% multi-pet discount. Because Pets Best has no upper age limit, it doesn’t matter if you’re registering a puppy (or kitten) or an older animal. It’s good to know that Pets Best does not reduce or cancel coverage based on your pet’s age.

When buying pet insurance, you may want to look at how long the waiting period is. As with most companies, the Pets Best waiting period before coverage kicks in is 14 days for illnesses. There’s a six-month waiting period to cover cruciate ligament conditions, as well. Some providers can provide coverage for accidents as early as two or three days from the policy date.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Cats

GEICO

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Prescription diet food covered under optional Preventive Care plan

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Discount if your pet is spayed or neutered before enrolling

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Reevaluates pre-existing conditions

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Does not offer unlimited coverage

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Cats are cheaper to insure than dogs. The best pet insurance company in Illinois for cats is GEICO. On average, GEICO offers the state’s cheapest pet insurance for cats at $17.52 per month.

Annual coverage limits range from $5,000 to $30,000, while deductibles are between $200 and $1,000. You can choose to see any licensed veterinarian and select reimbursement of up to 90% of the vet bill. As with most insurers, the waiting period is two days for accidents, 14 days for illness and six months for orthopedic conditions.

Note that your pet must have visited a vet within the 12 months before your insurance coverage starts. You can take your pet in during the waiting period.

Coverage through GEICO includes accidents, such as broken bones or your pet swallowing something they shouldn’t, illness, dental issues, cancer treatment and more. Exam fees in the case of accident or illness are covered, and you can select a wellness add-on to cover preventive care services of up to $650 per year. The insurer will reevaluate a curable, pre-existing condition if your pet remains symptom- and treatment-free for 12 consecutive months.

Ranking
Winner
Avg. Monthly Cost

Overall

Pets Best

$28

Unlimited Coverage

Pets Best

$36

Affordable Coverage

Pet Plan

$21

Multiple Pets

Pets Best

$25

Cats

GEICO

$18

What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs and Cats in Illinois?

Aside from your pet’s breed and age, the cost of pet insurance in Illinois will vary depending on the annual coverage limit you select.

The average cost to insure a dog in Illinois is $29.20 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $54.08 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $56.07 per month for unlimited coverage. Cats are typically cheaper to insure, with an average cost of $15.99 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $26.96 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $38.87 per month for unlimited coverage.

Pet insurance companies weigh factors differently when calculating costs. Common factors that affect the cost are your pet's breed and age, as well as your preferred coverage limit, deductibles and the plan you select. That’s why you may find your own quotes lower or higher than these averages. Getting a personalized quote from at least a couple of pet insurance companies is always a good idea. You’ll get the best coverage at a price that suits your budget and your pet’s specific profile and needs.

Pet Insurance Policy
$5k Coverage
$10k Coverage
Unlimited

Average Cost for a Dog

$29

$54

$56

Average Cost for a Cat

$16

$27

$39

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HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED?

For pet insurance buyers in Illinois, we recommend between $5,000 and $10,000 coverage and 80% reimbursement or more. With this, you’ll likely be covered in case your pet is involved in an accident or becomes ill, while keeping the premiums affordable.

Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in Illinois

MoneyGeek aims to help pet owners in Illinois to understand the typical policies offered by most pet insurance companies in Illinois.

  • Annual reimbursement limits: these range from $3,000 to unlimited
  • Deductible: typically $250 to $500, but some companies have higher or lower options
  • Bill reimbursement percentage: usually 70-90%

Pet owners have different reasons for getting pet insurance. Some want to have it in case of accidents and so look for cheaper and low coverage policies with reduced premiums. Others want comprehensive coverage for any eventuality and are willing to pay higher premiums for that financial protection and peace of mind. Policies with higher coverage limits cost more than lower limits, and the average pet owner may not need unlimited protection.

MoneyGeek generally recommends the average coverage amounts set out below for pet insurance shoppers in Illinois.

Maximum Policy Coverage
Winner: Cheapest Policy
Avg Cost

$5,000

Pet Plan

$21

$10,000

GEICO

$43

Unlimited

Pets Best

$36

If you’re looking for low-cost policies, consider having a low annual maximum ($5,000), a high deductible ($500) and a low reimbursement percentage (80%). Below is a comparison of how much policies from pet insurance companies in Illinois cost if you modify your coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.

Pet Insurance Company
Low Coverage Monthly Cost

Pet Plan

$21

Pets Best

$22

ASPCA

$28

Hartville

$28

Embrace

$30

GEICO

$31

Figo

$31

24 Pet Watch

$43

Pet Insurance Company
Average Coverage Monthly Cost

GEICO

$43

Embrace

$43

Figo

$48

ASPCA

$51

Hartville

$52

Spot

$52

24 Pet Watch

$56

Pumpkin

$61

Nationwide

$90

Pet Insurance Company
Unlimited Coverage Monthly Cost

Pets Best

$36

Healthy Paws

$39

Trupanion

$50

Pet Plan

$62

Figo

$68

Spot

$81

The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in Illinois

Where you live can have an impact on your pet insurance rates. Veterinary services may be much different in your zip code than in the next town over. The higher the cost of living, the more expensive veterinarian costs may be, directly influencing the price of pet insurance in Illinois. Areas with higher risks of pet-related accidents due to weather, traffic and other hazards also tend to have higher insurance costs.

That’s why MoneyGeek researched multiple cities across the state to uncover the cheapest pet insurance by city.

City
Coverage Level and Average Monthly Rate

Aurora

$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $35 $10k: Embrace, $38

Chicago

$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pets Best, $27 $10k: Embrace, $45

Elgin

$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pets Best, $35 $10k: ASPCA, $39 $10k: Hartville, $39 $10k: Spot, $39

Joliet

$5k: Pets Best, $21 Unlimited: Pets Best, $36 $10k: Embrace, $38

Naperville

$5k: Pets Best, $21 Unlimited: Pets Best, $37 $10k: Figo, $47

Peoria

$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $32 $10k: Embrace, $41

Rockford

$5k: ASPCA, $21 $5k: Hartville, $21 $5k: Spot, $21 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $36 $10k: ASPCA, $39 $10k: Hartville, $39 $10k: Spot, $39

Springfield

$5k: Pets Best, $22 Unlimited: Pets Best, $38 $10k: Embrace, $45

What Factors Impact Pet Insurance Cost in Illinois?

The cost of pet insurance in Illinois is calculated based on your pet’s breed, age, and your preferred type of coverage limits, deductible, and benefits, as well as where you live. A pet insurance policy is only as good as its customizability. Personalized quotes keep your budget in mind and the needs of your pet.

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    Annual reimbursement limit

    The annual reimbursement limit, or coverage limit, is the amount that your insurance company will pay for your pet’s vet expenses in one year. Coverage limits range from $3,000 to unlimited; the higher the limit, the more your insurance policy will cost.

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    Deductible

    A deductible is the amount you pay before your coverage kicks in: the higher your deductible, the lower your premium.

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    Bill reimbursement percentage

    Pet insurance policies reimburse a portion of your vet expenses, usually between 70% and 90%. Let’s say you have a total covered bill of $1,000, a $500 deductible and a 70% reimbursement rate. The insurer removes your deductible first, then reimburses 70% of the remaining $500. Your reimbursement is $350.

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    Breed

    Some dog breeds have a longer life expectancy than others. Larger dogs may also need higher doses of medicines. Cats also have a longer life expectancy than dogs. As such, pet insurance companies look at breed as an important factor when calculating premiums.

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    Animal age

    Younger pets are less expensive to insure than older pets. You can expect your premiums to increase as your pet ages.

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    Location

    When you live in a city with a high cost of living, it is more likely that vet care and medicines for your pet are expensive, too. Factors other than the cost of living make a difference, too: in congested cities, for example, pets are more likely to get hit by a car.

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    Multi-pet discount

    If you plan to insure more than one pet, see if your insurer offers a discount. Even a small 5% or 10% annual discount can add up over the years.

FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in Illinois

Is pet insurance in Illinois worth it?
Which company has the cheapest pet insurance in Illinois?
What is the cost of pet insurance in Illinois?
What are the best pet insurance companies in Illinois?

MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance

MoneyGeek believes that data helps us make better financial decisions. Our data team spent countless hours obtaining thousands of pet insurance quotes across 13 of the largest providers so you can find the most affordable policy that meets your budget and your pet’s needs.

To determine the best pet insurance companies in Illinois, MoneyGeek built a detailed rating system by analyzing each company’s product offerings and costs. For the MoneyGeek rating score, we weighted affordability by coverage level at 50% of the total score and weighted our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50%.

To determine the cheapest pet insurance companies in Illinois and affordability scores for our best rankings, MoneyGeek gathered quotes by company across many zip codes in Illinois for four pet types with the following coverage levels:

  • Low Coverage: $5,000 Coverage, $500 Deductible, 80% reimbursement
  • Average Coverage: $10,000 Coverage, $250 Deductible, 80% reimbursement
  • High Coverage: Unlimited Coverage, $250 Deductible, 90% reimbursement

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick headshot

Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.

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