Updated: September 26, 2024
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No matter how careful you are, your pet can still get hurt or sick in unexpected ways. Pet insurance can help you take care of your furry friend without any financial burden. To help you find the best policy for your needs, we collected quotes from pet insurance companies in New York that serve the top cities, including Buffalo, New York City and Rochester. Our findings determined the average cost of pet insurance in New York as well as the product offerings of each insurer.
It’s important to consider the best way to care for your pet’s health. Looking for pet insurance that meets your budget and your pet’s needs may be the first step in accomplishing this. MoneyGeek analyzed thousands of quotes from pet insurance companies in New York and reviewed coverage details for each provider to determine the best pet insurer in the state. The best pet insurance companies were chosen based on their affordability and product offerings.
Comprehensive coverage
No upper age limits for pets
Processes claims quickly
Does not cover preventive or elective care
Does not cover testing, treatment and prevention of parasites such as fleas or ticks with a standard policy
Overall, the best pet insurance company in New York is Pets Best. This insurer covers almost everything, from accidents and illnesses to surgeries and cancer treatments. It also lets you personalize your plan in a way that suits your budget and your pet’s needs. An average policy from Pets Best costs $31.15 per month.
Pets Best comprehensive coverage includes hereditary and congenital conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral consults and dental care. You won’t have to worry about diagnostic testing fees and most prescription medications for your pet. Even emergency care and hospitalization costs are taken care of by Pets Best.
The insurer has a quick turnaround for your pet insurance claim. Its direct deposit feature allows reimbursement directly into your bank account as quickly as two days after processing your claim. Another feature it offers is Direct Vet Pay, where you can request Pets Best to pay your veterinarian directly.
Offers unlimited coverage
Routine care coverage offered
24/7 pet helpline
Does not cover elective and preventive procedures
MoneyGeek’s top pick for a pet insurance company with unlimited coverage in New York is Pets Best. The company offers policies that feature a choice of two annual policy limits: $5,000 and unlimited coverage. While unlimited coverage ensures maximum protection for your pet, it also adds a significant amount to the cost of your policy. The average premium is $41.16 per month for a pet insurance policy with unlimited coverage.
Still, there’s peace of mind in knowing you are financially protected against unexpected veterinary bills. Pets Best policies cover accidents, illnesses, emergency care and hospitalization, surgeries and cancer treatments. Prosthetic devices and wheelchairs are also covered when a licensed veterinarian prescribes them to treat an accident or illness.
Pets Best plans also include a pet helpline that will take any questions you might have about pet health. Veterinary experts are available at any time of the day or night to talk to you by phone, live chat or email. This feature has no limits on usage, meaning you have access to expert help as long as you are a policyholder.
Specialists and emergency clinics are included
Covers exam fees
Covers comprehensive dental
Does not cover routine care
No multi-pet discount
In New York, the best pet insurance company with affordable coverage is Petplan. Its $5,000 coverage policy costs $20.97 per month on average. This covers the complete sick visit, including the exam fee, which can save you an average of $50 to $250 per visit.
Petplan coverage also includes injuries, illnesses, diagnostic tests, surgery and rehabilitation, cancer treatment and behavioral therapy. It helps you afford comprehensive dental and breed-specific conditions. Pre-existing conditions are excluded in Petplan’s policies, and the wait period on orthopedic conditions is six months.
You can choose from the insurer’s different annual limits ($5,000, $15,000 and unlimited), deductibles ($250, $300 and $500) and reimbursement levels (70%, 80% and 90%) to meet your budget. One possible downside is Petplan only offers one plan, which means there are no add-ons for things like routine and preventive care, which are excluded from its policy.
Has multi-pet discount
No upper age limits for pets
Offers routine care coverage
Does not cover parasite testing and treatment without additional coverage
Does not cover non-veterinary expenses including taxes and grooming
Does not cover herbal, holistic and experimental therapies and medications
If you’re looking for an affordable pet insurance policy covering multiple pets in New York, look no further than Pets Best. This insurer offers a 5% discount if you insure more than one pet with them. On average, a pet insurance policy from Pets Best will cost $28.04 per month.
With Pets Best, you can start insuring your pet as early as seven weeks of age. The company has no upper-age limits, meaning senior dogs and cats will get the same coverage as puppies and kittens. If you have a limited budget, you can enroll your pet in Pets Best’s accident-only plans to get coverage for things like broken legs, snake bites, accidental swallowing and more.
While pet insurance typically covers unexpected illnesses or injuries, you can still add regular scheduled veterinary visits to your Pets Best policy. It can help you pay for items like vaccinations, deworming and microchipping. Pets Best is only one of the few pet insurance companies to offer this kind of coverage.
Comprehensive coverage
Has a range of coverage limits and deductible options
Has a 10% multi-pet discount
Routine and preventive care requires add-on coverage
Claims process can take up to 25 business days
GEICO is MoneyGeek’s top pick for the best pet insurance company in New York for cats. Generally, your feline friend is cheaper to insure than dogs. The average insurance policy for cats from GEICO costs $21.13 per month.
GEICO has teamed up with Embrace Pet Insurance to provide comprehensive dog and cat policies. That means any claims will be filed directly with Embrace. Its coverage includes accidents, illnesses, dental issues and cancer treatments. The company allows you to choose any licensed veterinarian and will reimburse up to 90% of your veterinary bill.
You can choose coverage from $5,000 to $30,000 per annum, but unlimited is not available. Your deductible options range from $100 to $1,000 and you can select a 70% reimbursement if that’s better for your budget. GEICO has a 10% discount for pet owners who wish to insure more than one pet with them.
Ranking | Winner | Avg. Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
Overall | Pets Best | $31 |
Unlimited Coverage | Pets Best | $41 |
Affordable Coverage | Pet Plan | $21 |
Multiple Pets | Pets Best | $28 |
Cats | GEICO | $21 |
How much you pay for a pet insurance policy will depend on several factors, such as the coverage you choose, and your pet’s breed and age, and even where you live. Insuring a dog costs an average of $31.01 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $58.50 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $63.69 per month for unlimited coverage. It’s typically cheaper to insure cats, with one costing an average of $17.11 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $28.72 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit and $40.81 per month for unlimited coverage.
Pet Insurance Policy | $5k Coverage | $10k Coverage | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|
Average Cost for a Dog | $31 | $59 | $64 |
Average Cost for a Cat | $17 | $29 | $41 |
We recommend an $8,000 to $20,000 coverage limit for the average pet insurance buyer in New York and a reimbursement level of 80% or more. Carrying this kind of policy can protect you against large and unexpected veterinary bills should your pet have an accident, injury or become ill.
MoneyGeek wants to help pet owners in New York understand the typical options most companies offer in their pet insurance policies:
Pet owners in New York with limited budgets or those who require less coverage tend to choose cheaper policies with lower coverage amounts. Others prefer high coverage limits to ensure their pet gets the maximum protection available, but this type of policy is generally more expensive. The average pet owner doesn’t necessarily need unlimited coverage, but it does buy the owner peace of mind.
MoneyGeek recommends the average coverage amount below for pet insurance shoppers in New York.
Maximum Policy Coverage | Winner: Cheapest Policy | Avg Cost |
|---|---|---|
$5,000 | Pet Plan | $21 |
$10,000 | 24 Pet Watch | $50 |
Unlimited | Pets Best | $41 |
To save some money, shop around for pet insurance with different coverage options. Below, MoneyGeek compared pet insurance companies in New York that offer policies with the cheapest low coverage, cheapest average coverage and cheapest unlimited coverage.
Pet Insurance Company | Low Coverage Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
Pet Plan | $21 |
Pets Best | $21 |
Hartville | $31 |
Spot | $31 |
ASPCA | $31 |
24 Pet Watch | $33 |
Figo | $35 |
GEICO | $38 |
Embrace | $38 |
Pet Insurance Company | Average Coverage Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
24 Pet Watch | $50 |
Figo | $53 |
GEICO | $54 |
Embrace | $54 |
ASPCA | $54 |
Hartville | $54 |
Spot | $54 |
Pumpkin | $59 |
Nationwide | $95 |
Pet Insurance Company | Unlimited Coverage Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
Pets Best | $41 |
Healthy Paws | $46 |
Pet Plan | $48 |
Figo | $77 |
Spot | $80 |
Trupanion | $90 |
The cost of your pet insurance can vary depending on your coverage amount and your pet’s breed and age. Another determining factor in a policy’s rates is your location. In New York, some cities have a higher cost of living, which means higher veterinary medical costs and higher policy costs. Other cities have more accident risks for pets due to weather, traffic and other hazards.
City | Coverage Level and Average Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
Buffalo | $5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pets Best, $41 $10k: Embrace, $45 |
New York | $5k: Pets Best, $21 Unlimited: Pets Best, $41 $10k: 24 Pet Watch, $53 |
Rochester | $5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pet Plan, $39 $10k: 24 Pet Watch, $48 |
Syracuse | $5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pet Plan, $39 $10k: Embrace, $45 |
Yonkers | $5k: Pet Plan, $21 Unlimited: Pets Best, $41 $10k: 24 Pet Watch, $53 |
Some determining factors such as location, coverage amount and a pet’s breed and age can impact your pet insurance rates. In New York, most pet insurance companies will allow you to personalize your plan to suit your budget and your furry friend.
The annual reimbursement limit refers to the maximum amount of veterinary expenses your insurance company will pay each year. Coverage usually ranges from $3,000 to unlimited.
Deductibles refer to the fixed amount of out-of-pocket money you will pay before your insurance kicks in. Higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums and vice versa.
This refers to the percentage of covered veterinary bills that you will receive from your provider after your deductible.
Your pet’s breed can affect the cost of your pet insurance policy. Generally, dog insurance in New York is more expensive than cat insurance.
The cost of your insurance premium can vary depending on the age of your pet. Some insurance companies offer no-upper age limits to their policies, meaning older pets can get the same coverage as younger pets.
Where you live can affect the cost of your pet’s monthly premiums. Some cities have a higher cost of living, while others have more accident risks to pets.
Many insurance providers offer discounts, usually of 5% or 10%, if you insure more than one pet with them.
At 50%, New York has one of the lowest rates of pet ownership in the country, and of those pets, only 8.7% are insured. MoneyGeek believes that pet insurance is a good way to protect yourself against significant medical expenses should anything happen to your pet.
For example, if your dog accidentally swallows something it shouldn’t, it could cost you roughly $3,260 without insurance. If your pet is being treated for cancer, it could cost you even more at about $4,000. Just a broken bone can run over $2,200, whether your pet is a cat or dog.
Petplan is MoneyGeek’s top pick for the cheapest pet insurance with low coverage in New York. On average, a policy from this insurer costs $20.97 per month.
In New York, a policy with $10,000 coverage costs $58.50 for dogs and $28.72 for cats on average. That said, your monthly premium can vary depending on the coverage option you purchase, your pet’s breed and age, and where you live.
MoneyGeek chose Pets Best as the best overall pet insurance company in New York. This insurer is also the best option for unlimited coverage or if you have more than one pet with the same company. Petplan is the top pick for companies with the most affordable coverage, while GEICO is our choice for cat owners.
MoneyGeek thinks data helps us make better financial decisions. That’s why our data team spent countless hours gathering thousands of pet insurance quotes across the 13 largest providers: to help you find the most affordable policy that meets your pet’s needs and your budget.
To determine the best pet insurance companies in New York, MoneyGeek analyzed each company’s product offerings and costs. We weighted affordability by coverage level at 50% of the total for our rating score, and our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50%.
To determine the cheapest pet insurance companies in New York and to determine our affordability scores for our best rankings, MoneyGeek gathered quotes by company across many zip codes in New York for four pet types with the following coverage levels:
About Mark Fitzpatrick
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.
