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


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Updated: September 26, 2024

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The cost of treating common pet illnesses and injuries in South Carolina might be higher than you expect. Pet insurance helps alleviate those unexpected expenses. Some insurance plans include optional coverage for routine veterinarian visits for wellness and preventive care.

MoneyGeek has gathered insurance quotes for different coverage options and benefits from reputable pet insurance companies in the top cities in South Carolina, including Charleston, Columbia and North Charleston. By comparing the data we collected, we were able to find the best and most affordable pet insurance in South Carolina.

The Best Pet Insurance Companies in South Carolina

The cost of insurance will vary depending on your pet’s age and breed, the amount of coverage you select, and even the company you use, so it is advisable to compare pet insurance quotes in South Carolina from different sources. It helps ensure that you get the benefits you need on a budget you can work with.

This is where MoneyGeek comes in. After reviewing thousands of quotes, policies, coverage details and other essential data, we were able to find the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina based on their product offerings and affordability.

Best Overall Pet Insurance for Your Pet

Pets Best

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Flexible policy options

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Covers hereditary and congenital conditions

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Online claim submissions

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Limited coverage for parasite testing and prevention is available only through an additional plan

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek ranks Pets Best as the best overall pet insurance company in South Carolina. It offers affordable premiums and comprehensive coverage with flexible policies you can customize based on budget and needs. On average, a pet insurance policy from Pets Best costs $27.35 per month.

Pets Best covers a wide range of accidents from swallowed chew toys, broken bones and emergency surgeries. Additionally, the company offers insurance plans for different ailments including allergies, diabetes, and congenital conditions. An add-on for routine care and pet wellness coverage is also available for regular veterinary visits.

The company also offers a mobile app for Android and iOS devices for online claim submissions and a pet helpline. There are two annual coverage options ($5,000 and unlimited), and deductible options range from $50 to $1,000.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Unlimited Coverage

Pets Best

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No upper age limits for pets

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Covers hereditary and congenital conditions

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Covers prosthetic devices and wheelchairs

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Preventive procedures and elective care excluded

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

We recommend Pets Best as the best pet insurance company in South Carolina for unlimited coverage. While it’s more expensive than capped coverage, unlimited protects you financially from unexpected veterinarian bills, whether for accidents or illnesses. The average monthly premium for unlimited coverage at Pets Best is $33.31.

Illnesses covered range from cancer, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, cruciate ligament injuries, skin and ear infections, urinary tract infections, and epilepsy. Hereditary and congenital conditions are also covered with a Pets Best policy, which includes hip dysplasia. Ongoing and chronic conditions are covered too, which means that when your policy renews, those conditions are not considered pre-existing.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Affordable Coverage

Pets Best

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You’ve covered even while traveling in the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico

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Covers pre-anesthetic blood work before surgery

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Covers diagnostics including CAT scans and X-rays

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Does not cover herbal, holistic or experimental therapies and medications

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Pets Best is also our top pick for affordable pet insurance in South Carolina. A policy with low coverage costs an average of $18.40 per month.

With Pets Best, you can customize your policy to meet your needs. You can choose between $5,000 and unlimited annual coverage limits and a range of deductibles to suit your budget and coverage amounts you think your pet will need each year. This means that if you have a healthy pet with no major issues, you may wish to choose a high deductible plan with a low coverage.

Full coverage is available for your pet even if they are not spayed or neutered, and behavioral consults and related medication prescribed by a licensed veterinarian are also covered.

Best Pet Insurance with Multiple Pets

Pets Best

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5% discount for more than one pet enrolled

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Covers emergency care, hospitalization and surgery

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Covers ongoing conditions

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Covers euthanasia

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Does not cover food for special diets, vitamins or supplements

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

For those planning to insure more than one pet in South Carolina, we again recommend Pets Best. Enrolling more than one pet with Pets Best will save you 5% with their multi-pet discount, and the average discounted monthly cost is $24.61.

If your budget is limited and you need to find more savings, you can purchase accident-only coverage. While your pet is not covered for medical issues like illness or cancer with an accident-only plan, they are covered for things like a broken leg, snake bite and accidental swallowing.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Cats

Embrace

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10% multi-pet discount

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Covers vet exam fees

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Covers complementary treatments (chiropractic and physiotherapy)

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No unlimited coverage option

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek’s top pick for a cat insurance company in South Carolina is Embrace, with an average cost of $12.97 per month. Cats tend to be less expensive to insure than dogs, so if you have a feline friend, it’s a good idea to shop around for coverage focused on cats.

Embrace offers robust coverage for your cat. This includes exam fees, illness and injury, congenital and chronic conditions, diagnostic testing, prescription drugs and more. Unlike some other providers, they also cover behavioral therapy.

Embrace also offers a 10% multi-pet discount. If you have more than one cat, you can save money while making sure that they all have the proper coverage. A slight downside to Embrace is that they don’t have an unlimited coverage option; however, coverage tops out at $30,000 annually, and you probably won’t exceed this coverage limit in most cases.

Ranking
Winner
Avg. Monthly Cost

Overall

Pets Best

$27

Unlimited Coverage

Pets Best

$33

Affordable Coverage

Pets Best

$18

Multiple Pets

Pets Best

$25

Cats

Embrace

$13

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

The cost of pet insurance in South Carolina varies based on factors, like the breed and age of the pet, policy coverage details and where you live. The average cost to insure a dog in South Carolina is $24.70 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $47.08 per month for a $10,000 coverage limit, and $50.63 per month for an unlimited coverage limit. Cats are typically less expensive to insure. The average cost to insure a cat in South Carolina is $13.37 per month for a $5,000 coverage limit, $24.11 for a $10,000 coverage limit, and $34.04 per month for unlimited coverage.

MoneyGeek recommends getting at least a few personalized quotes before choosing a policy. Pet insurance companies treat factors like breed, age, location and add-ons differently, ultimately affecting the cost of insurance.

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

Average Cost for a Dog

$25

$47

$51

Average Cost for a Cat

$13

$24

$34

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HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED?

We recommend an annual coverage limit of $5,000 to $10,000 and an 80% reimbursement rate for the average pet insurance shopper in South Carolina. This should be enough to cover medical emergencies while still keeping your premiums affordable.

Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in South Carolina

MoneyGeek wants to help pet insurance buyers in South Carolina understand the standard options that most companies offer in pet insurance policies, including the following:

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

Many pet owners in South Carolina want less expensive insurance policies that better fit their budgets or are in line with how much coverage they think their pet needs. Others prefer high coverage limits for the ultimate financial protection those policies offer. While unlimited coverage offers maximum protection, it is usually not required by the average pet owner.

We typically recommend the average coverage amount shown in the table below for pet owners in South Carolina.

Maximum Policy Coverage
Winner: Cheapest Policy
Avg Cost

$5,000

Pets Best

$18

$10,000

GEICO

$34

Unlimited

Pets Best

$33

If you want a low monthly premium, consider getting a policy with a low annual maximum coverage, high deductible and low reimbursement percentage. The data below shows the least expensive $5,000 coverage, 80% reimbursement and $500 deductible pet insurance policies in South Carolina per company.

Pet Insurance Company
Low Coverage Monthly Cost

Pets Best

$18

Pet Plan

$21

ASPCA

$24

GEICO

$24

Hartville

$25

Spot

$26

Embrace

$26

24 Pet Watch

$38

Pet Insurance Company
Average Coverage Monthly Cost

GEICO

$34

Embrace

$34

Figo

$38

Hartville

$47

Spot

$47

ASPCA

$48

24 Pet Watch

$52

Pumpkin

$55

Nationwide

$69

Pet Insurance Company
Unlimited Coverage Monthly Cost

Pets Best

$33

Healthy Paws

$37

Pet Plan

$48

Figo

$54

Trupanion

$55

Spot

$77

The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in South Carolina

It’s not just coverage level and your pet’s breed and age that affect insurance costs. Your location is also a factor because some cities in South Carolina have a higher cost of living than average. This translates to increased veterinary medical costs which, in turn, means higher insurance premiums. Also, some cities see more pet accidents than others due to hazards like traffic and adverse weather events, so they tend to have more expensive insurance premiums as well.

City
Coverage Level and Average Monthly Rate

Charleston

$5k: Pets Best, $18 Unlimited: Pets Best, $32 $10k: Figo, $38

Columbia

$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pets Best, $37 $10k: ASPCA, $48

North Charleston

$5k: Pets Best, $18 Unlimited: Pets Best, $32 $10k: Embrace, $28

What Factors Impact Pet Insurance Cost in South Carolina?

There are several factors affecting the cost of pet insurance in South Carolina, including the type of pet you have, the pet’s breed and age, the coverage level you choose and where you live. Pet insurance companies offer customized policies, so you can get a plan that’s best suited to your budget and your pet’s needs.

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    Annual reimbursement limit

    The annual reimbursement limit refers to the amount that insurance companies will pay toward your pet’s medical bills per year. The coverage limit typically ranges from $3,000 up to unlimited coverage.

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    Deductible

    The deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance kicks in. You can select your deductible, which usually ranges from $100 to 1,000. The lower your deductible is, the higher your monthly premium, and vice versa.

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    Bill reimbursement percentage

    This refers to the portion of your bills that are reimbursed to you by your insurer. For instance, if after your deductible, you pay a $1,000 vet bill, you’ll get $900 back (with a 90% reimbursement plan).

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    Breed

    Dogs usually cost more to insure than cats. Breeds with higher risks, such as those with known hereditary issues, might cost more.

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    Animal age

    Most pets develop health issues as they age. The older your pet is, the more expensive the monthly insurance premium.

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    Location

    Where you live affects your pet insurance cost. For example, living in an area with a higher cost of living tends to increase the amount you pay for your policy. The same goes for hazard-prone areas.

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    Multi-pet discount

    Many pet insurance companies offer small discounts of 5%-10% if you insure more than one pet with them.

FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in South Carolina

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

MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance

MoneyGeek knows that data helps us make better financial decisions. To ensure that you find the best affordable insurance policy to match your needs, our team collected hundreds of pet insurance quotes from 13 of the largest players in the pet insurance field.

We created a rigorous ranking system by comparing each company’s product features and prices to determine the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina. We weighted our 24 qualitative research policy option data points at 50% and affordability by coverage level by 50% of the overall score to achieve the total MoneyGeek rating score.

MoneyGeek collected quotes by the company across multiple zip codes in South Carolina for four kinds of pets. We used the following coverage levels to determine the cheapest pet insurance companies in South Carolina and generate our best rankings.

  • 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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