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

Are you looking for pet insurance in Virginia? MoneyGeek analyzed policy details, coverage options, and thousands of quotes to help you find the best pet insurance company in Virginia with affordable rates.

By Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: September 26, 2024

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A policy from the best pet insurance company in Virginia ensures you can afford veterinary care for your dog or cat in case of an accident or illness. Having insurance allows you to focus on caring for your furry loved one instead of the cost of that care. With some insurers even offering coverage for preventative care, pet insurance helps keep your pet in optimal health throughout its life.

MoneyGeek gathered pet insurance quotes in Virginia’s leading cities, including Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Arlington and more. We analyzed the cost of pet insurance in Virginia to help you find a policy that meets your budget and your pet’s needs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Pet Insurance Companies
The Average Cost of Pet Insurance
The Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes
What Impacts Pet Insurance Cost?
FAQ’s About Pet Insurance

The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Virginia

Many companies offer pet insurance in Virginia, and the options can be overwhelming. As a pet parent, you only want the best for your furry loved one, but the cost is an important and unavoidable consideration.

To help you make sense of your options, MoneyGeek studied various insurance providers to identify the best pet insurance companies in Virginia. We collected thousands of quotes and coverage details to analyze a provider’s overall value proposition. We selected the top companies based on affordability and product offering options.

Best Overall Pet Insurance for Your Pet

pros

Offers a direct-to-vet payment option.

Has a 24/7 customer support hotline.

Offers an unlimited maximum coverage option.

cons

Limited coverage for parasite testing and prevention.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Pets Best is the best pet insurance company in Virginia overall, based on our analysis. At an average cost of $31.71 per month, it covers accidents, illnesses and routine care for your dog or cat. They allow you to choose a maximum coverage of $5,000 or unlimited and offer deductible options from $50 to $1,000.

Depending on your package, Pets Best covers laboratory tests, MRI, CAT scans and x-rays. They will also pay for your pet’s covered prescription medication and dental care. There is limited coverage available for deworming, heartworm prevention, rabies vaccine and flea/tick prevention, depending on the Pets Best plan you choose.

The waiting period for Pets Best, from the time you join to the time you can claim reimbursement under that policy, is three days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. You can avoid paying out of pocket by using their direct-to-vet payment option. They have a 24/7 helpline to assist you, which can be extremely useful during emergencies.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Unlimited Coverage

pros

No incident, annual or lifetime coverage limit.

Covers alternative therapies.

Quick claim processing through a mobile app.

cons

Only one plan available.

Doesn’t cover examination fees, regular dental care, prescription supplements, preventive care or vaccines.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Healthy Paws is MoneyGeek’s choice of top unlimited coverage provider among pet insurance companies in Virginia. It offers a single plan with no spending limit when covering accidents, illnesses and injuries.

Having limitless coverage can help a lot should anything happen to your dog or cat. That comes with a cost, however. On average, a Healthy Paws policy costs $40.13 per month, which is the most expensive on this list.

Unlike most companies, Healthy Paws’ sole plan doesn’t cover exams, prescription supplements, preventive care or vaccines. It also comes with a $25 one-time fee. However, it compensates by covering accidents, illnesses, cancer, emergency care, genetic conditions, and alternative therapies like acupuncture, hydrotherapy, physical therapy and chiropractic care.

In addition, Healthy Paws has a seamless way of processing claims through its mobile app. They also offer a direct-to-vet payment option.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Affordable Coverage

pros

Flexibility on coverage, deductible and reimbursement options.

Offers the cheapest rates among Virginia’s pet insurance companies.

Offers discounts for multi-pet enrollment, pet adopters and shelter staff.

cons

Six-month waiting period for orthopedic coverage.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

MoneyGeek’s pick as Virginia’s best pet insurance provider in terms of affordability is Pets Best. Its packages, on average, cost $22.01 per month, the cheapest on our list of pet insurance companies in Virginia.

They give you the freedom to adjust your maximum coverage, deductible and reimbursement options. Likewise, you can choose from their various plans for one with coverages that fit your needs and budget.

Pets Best offers a 5% discount if you insure more than one pet. They also provide a 5% discount for pet adopters and pet shelter staff.

Although its waiting period is only three days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses, there is an extended wait period for orthopedic conditions. Specifically, you must wait six months following your policy's effective date to make claims for any cruciate ligament events or related conditions.

Best Pet Insurance with Multiple Pets

pros

Offers multiple pet discounts.

Offers coverage for chronic and ongoing conditions.

Three-day waiting period for accidents, which is relatively quick.

cons

Does not cover bilateral conditions.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

Pets Best is our top pick if you’re looking to insure multiple pets in Virginia. They offer a 5% discount if you enroll more than one pet on their BestBenefit plans. At an average rate of $28.54 per month, you can get comprehensive pet insurance coverage for each of your furry loved ones.

While the coverages vary depending on the package you choose, a Pets Best policy typically covers diagnostics, accidents, illnesses, cancer treatments, hereditary conditions, dental, chronic conditions and more. Even if your pet has not been spayed or neutered, you can get full coverage.

Like most pet insurance companies in Virginia, Pets Best doesn’t cover any illness or injury that begins before your policy’s start date. They also don’t cover elective or preventive procedures. Likewise, non-veterinary expenses, vitamins and supplements are excluded from their coverage.

Despite that, Pets Best has a wide range of flexible offers that’s helpful for owners looking to insure multiple pets.

Best Pet Insurance Company: Cats

pros

Covers most types of veterinary care, including testing, emergency care and specialist care.

Offers a multiple pet discount.

Two-day waiting period for accidents.

cons

Coverage for routine care like wellness exam fees and spay/neuter surgery is only offered through a non-insurance reimbursement option capped at $650 per year.

COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS

In Virginia, Embrace is MoneyGeek’s pick if you’re looking to insure your cat. They offer coverage limit options from $5,000 to $30,000, and deductible options from $200 to $1,000. An Embrace policy has an average rate of $21.37 per month.

Embrace covers expenses for exams, illnesses and accidents. They even cover behavioral therapy and specialist care. If you’re looking for a cheaper policy, they offer accident-only coverage that protects your pet during unforeseen events.

By enrolling two or more pets on an Embrace policy, you can enjoy a 10% discount. Likewise, your deductible diminishes by $50 for each year that passes without you filing a claim for accident or illness.

However, Embrace doesn’t offer unlimited coverages and zero-deductible options. While they offer a Wellness Rewards add-on to reimburse wellness claims, it’s available as an expensive non-insurance option that’s limited to $650 per year.

Ranking	Winner	Avg. Monthly Cost
Overall	Pets Best	$32
Unlimited Coverage	Healthy Paws	$40
Affordable Coverage	Pets Best	$22
Multiple Pets	Pets Best	$29
Cats	Embrace	$21

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

In Virginia, pet insurance costs vary based on your location, preferred coverage and your pet’s age and breed. On average, monthly pet insurance for a dog costs $30.02 for $5,000 coverage, $55.53 for $10,000 coverage and $58.22 for unlimited coverage.

Cats are usually less expensive to insure, with the average monthly insurance premium in Virginia for a $5,000 coverage limit being $16.04. To insure your cat with a $10,000 coverage limit, the average monthly premium is $27.25, and for unlimited coverage, it’s $37.41 monthly.

Every insurance company determines its own rates, so it’s a good idea to get quotes from several providers before buying.

Pet Insurance Policy	$5k Coverage	$10k Coverage	Unlimited
Average Cost for a Dog	$30	$56	$58
Average Cost for a Cat	$16	$27	$37

HOW MUCH PET INSURANCE DO YOU NEED?

MoneyGeek recommends a $5,000 to $15,000 coverage limit and a minimum reimbursement rate of 80% for Virginia’s average pet insurance buyer. This ensures that you can afford the associated costs if your pet gets into an accident or requires medical attention. Such coverage limits and reimbursement rates are optimal for most pet owners, as you won’t unnecessarily pay for an expensive insurance policy that you won’t be able to maximize.

Compare the Cheapest Pet Insurance Quotes in Virginia

To help you understand the typical options offered by most pet insurance companies in Virginia, MoneyGeek evaluated an insurance policy’s components. These include:

Annual reimbursement limits: Ranges from $3k to Unlimited
Deductible: $250 to $500, but some companies have higher or lower options
Bill reimbursement percentage: 70-90%

Some pet owners tend to look for policies with less coverage and cheaper premiums to better manage their monthly expenses. Others do that because they don’t see a need for increased coverage.

Still others look for policies with high coverage limits to have the peace of mind that their pet is protected in case of an emergency. Policies with high or unlimited coverage tend to be more expensive, and it may be unnecessary for the average pet owner.

MoneyGeek recommends an average coverage amount for most pet insurance shoppers in Virginia. This strikes a balance between ensuring your pet is protected while keeping rates generally affordable. To keep your pet insurance rates affordable, look for a plan with a low annual maximum, high deductible and low reimbursement percentage.

Maximum Policy Coverage	Winner: Cheapest Policy	Avg Cost
$5,000	Pets Best	$22
$10,000	Figo	$45
Unlimited	Healthy Paws	$40

The tables below demonstrate how changing your annual maximum, reimbursement percentage or deductible can affect the price of your pet insurance policy.

Pet Insurance Company	Low Coverage Monthly Cost
Pets Best	$22
Pet Plan	$25
Spot	$26
Hartville	$26
ASPCA	$26
Figo	$29
24 Pet Watch	$38
GEICO	$38

Pet Insurance Company	Average Coverage Monthly Cost
Figo	$45
ASPCA	$49
Hartville	$49
Spot	$49
24 Pet Watch	$51
GEICO	$54
Embrace	$54
Pumpkin	$58
Nationwide	$90

Pet Insurance Company	Unlimited Coverage Monthly Cost
Healthy Paws	$40
Pets Best	$41
Trupanion	$49
Figo	$65
Pet Plan	$75
Spot	$79

The Best Cheap Pet Insurance by City in Virginia

Beyond factors such as pet age and breed, the city you live in also affects your pet insurance rates.

Some cities in Virginia have higher costs of living and, as a result, more expensive veterinary treatment costs, translating to higher policy premiums. In addition, some places have a higher incidence of accidents due to weather conditions, traffic and other hazards, raising pet insurance costs.

Ultimately, buying a policy with unlimited coverage will drive your rates up, whether in an expensive or affordable area.

City	Coverage Level and Average Monthly Rate
Alexandria	$5k: Pets Best, $23 Unlimited: Pets Best, $37 $10k: Figo, $47
Chesapeake	$5k: Pet Plan, $21 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $43 $10k: Figo, $47
Hampton	$5k: Pets Best, $21 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $36 $10k: Figo, $42
Newport News	$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $39 $10k: Figo, $42
Norfolk	$5k: ASPCA, $21 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $39 $10k: ASPCA, $39
Richmond	$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Healthy Paws, $32 $10k: Figo, $47
Virginia Beach	$5k: Pet Plan, $20 Unlimited: Pets Best, $41 $10k: ASPCA, $43

What Factors Impact Pet Insurance Cost in Virginia?

Various factors affect the cost of pet insurance in Virginia, such as your pet’s breed and age, your preferred coverage and your location. Most insurers allow you to adjust coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement ratios to create a policy that fits your needs and budget.

Annual reimbursement limit

Refers to the yearly limit that the insurance company will pay towards your pet’s medical expenses. Policies with higher or unlimited coverage tend to be more expensive.

Deductible

Refers to the amount you need to pay before your insurance provider pays your claims. The lower your deductible, the more expensive your monthly premium tends to be.

Bill reimbursement percentage

Refers to the rate that the insurance company will reimburse from your pet’s covered expenses. For example, with 90% reimbursement, once you’ve paid your deductible, a $1,000 bill from the vet means you pay $100.

Breed

Dogs are more expensive to insure than cats. Within species, insurance for larger breeds and breeds with congenital health issues may also cost more.

Animal age

Pet insurance rates tend to be higher for older cats and dogs. This is because as they grow older, pets develop more health issues.

Location

Where you live also affects your pet insurance rates. Areas with a higher cost of living or a higher incidence of accidents tend to be more expensive.

Multi-pet discount

Refers to the discount you can get from some insurers if you insure more than one pet with them.

FAQ’s About Pet Insurance in Virginia

Is pet insurance in Virginia worth it?

According to a study by the American Veterinary Medical Association, 55.5% of households in Virginia own a pet, but only a fraction of them have pet insurance. MoneyGeek believes pet insurance is a good idea. In an emergency, you can focus on caring for the pet you love instead of worrying about the medical expenses.

For example, if your dog accidentally swallows a foreign object, your veterinary care can amount to $3,262 on average without insurance. Likewise, cancer treatment can cost you $4,000 on average.

Pet insurance is a relatively affordable way to ensure you can afford medical treatment for your pet in case of an accident or illness.

Which company has the cheapest pet insurance in Virginia?

Pets Best is the most affordable pet insurance provider in Virginia, with an average cost of $22.01 per month for a policy with $5,000 maximum coverage. However, the cheapest provider for you depends on factors specific to your pet.

What is the cost of pet insurance in Virginia?

In Virginia, a pet insurance policy with a $5,000 maximum coverage costs on average $30.02 per month for a dog and $16.04 per month for a cat. Prices can change depending on your preferred coverage and your pet’s profile.

What are the best pet insurance companies in Virginia?

The best pet insurance company can vary depending on your needs, budget and your pet’s profile. While there are several good options in the state to choose from, MoneyGeek’s top picks in Virginia are Embrace, Healthy Paws and Pets Best.

MoneyGeek's Rating Methodology for Pet Insurance

MoneyGeek believes that data helps us make better financial decisions. For pet insurance, our data team spent countless hours gathering thousands of pet insurance quotes across the 13 largest providers to ensure you find the most affordable policy to meet your pet’s needs.

To determine the best pet insurance companies in Virginia, 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 Virginia and to determine our affordability scores for our best rankings, MoneyGeek gathered quotes by each company across many zip codes in Virginia 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

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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.

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sources

Care Credit. "Average Costs: Veterinary Care." Accessed September 26, 2024.