Our Thoughts on State Farm Pet Insurance
State Farm policies are administered by Trupanion, a company that earned a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars based on our comprehensive rating process, which includes factors such as pricing, reputation, customer experience, plan features, coverage and plan limitations. Customers who purchase a plan through State Farm enjoy unlimited lifetime payouts and excellent customer service.
State farm policies provide 90% reimbursement and adhere to Trupanion’s commitment to price transparency, which states the company will never raise rates based on how many claims you file or your pet’s age. However, most plan premiums continue to increase year over year because of inflation and market conditions.
One of the unique features of a State Farm plan is the vet direct pay option. Veterinarians who partner with Trupanion are available in every state, Canada and Puerto Rico and can process your claim immediately at checkout. Most claims processed this way are approved immediately and paid directly to the veterinarian, leaving you to pay only 10% coinsurance and can help offset large out-of-pocket bills.
State Farm plan pricing is identical to Trupanion, which commands the highest premiums of all providers that we’ve reviewed. Although the plan’s minimal customization options make it easy for pet owners to understand, this feature limits each customer’s ability to lower their monthly costs as premiums increase with each policy renewal.
Pros and Cons
State Farm pet insurance has benefits and drawbacks that pet owners should consider before choosing a provider.
How State Farm Scored in Our Methodology
After analyzing State Farm using our pet insurance methodology, the company scored 4.2 out of 5 stars. State Farm uses Trupanion to administer pet insurance policies and performed well in the plans, covered treatments and customer experience categories. It lost points for reputation, waiting periods, custom coverage levels and cost.
Flip Card
State Farm Pet Insurance Rating
State Farm Pet Insurance Plans and Pricing
One advantage that State Farm policies provide to current customers is the ability to sign up with their local agent, who typically understands their unique insurance needs and budget. If you go to the State Farm website to get a quote, you’ll be redirected to Trupanion’s site to enroll.
When you sign up with your State Farm agent, you can ask questions about the plan and learn what will be covered and what won’t. Alternatively, you can learn this information by studying Trupanion’s website and FAQs or calling Trupanion customer service directly.
How Much Does State Farm Pet Insurance Cost?
The average cost for a State Farm pet insurance plan is $88 per month overall, $123 per month for dogs and $53 per month for cats. Pricing is high compared to most other providers, but the plan offers distinct advantages like high reimbursements, unlimited payouts and vet direct pay. Premium costs also vary depending on where you live and your pet’s breed, age and species.
Although State Farm policyholders will pay identical pricing compared to customers who sign up directly through Trupanion, customers with other State Farm policies may see benefits from bundling their insurance plans. To determine whether you may qualify for a bundle discount, contact your local State Farm agent.
* We determined the average monthly costs for this pet insurance provider by obtaining four sample quotes in each state: two for dogs and two for cats. We then averaged the overall and species-specific costs in each state and found a national average using state costs. The sample pets used during the quote process were a 5-year-old medium, mixed-breed male dog, a 2-year-old female golden retriever, a 5-year-old mixed-breed male cat and a 2-year-old female Siamese cat.
State Farm pet insurance is likely not ideal for the budget-minded pet owner. Costs are higher than many other providers potentially because of its unlimited, high-coverage model. Pet owners looking for cheaper plans may find a better value with a lower-coverage option such as Lemonade, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance or Healthy Paws.
What Does State Farm Pet Insurance Cover?
State Farm offers one basic accident and illness plan, which makes plan choices simple for pet owners opting to use this provider. Two optional coverage riders, which expand covered services, are available for an additional cost each month. State Farm’s plan does not cover exam fees or preventive care.
Accident and Illness Plan Details
The accident and illness plan offers broad general coverage but has a few important exclusions. State Farm does not reimburse claims for pre-existing conditions, veterinary exam fees, preventable conditions or preventive care services. State Farm plans follow Trupanion’s coverage rules, which means the insurer may deny claims if you do not follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for treatment and prevention of disease.
The base plan covers the following conditions:
- Chronic conditions (arthritis, diabetes, allergies)
- Congenital conditions (eye, kidney, or liver defects)
- Hereditary conditions (orthopedic disease, cataracts, breed-related diseases)
- Illnesses (infections, cancer, gastrointestinal issues)
- Injuries (trauma, fractured teeth, broken bones)
- Pregnancy and whelping or queening
Covered treatments include:
- Advanced dentistry
- Advanced imaging tests
- Blood and urine tests
- Cancer treatments
- Hospitalization
- Medications
- X-rays and ultrasounds
- Prescription food
- Prosthetics and carts
- Surgeries
- Vet-prescribed supplements
State Farm’s Optional Add-On Coverage
State Farm’s add-ons mirror those offered by Trupanion. You may opt to include breeding-related coverage, recovery and rehabilitative services and additional pet owner assistance perks built into your policy.
Recovery and Complementary Care Add-On
Although some alternative medical treatments fall under the base plan, you can choose this rider to expand your options. This rider is worthwhile for pet owners who value alternative medicine or who would be likely to pursue rehabilitation therapy following a serious injury. Coverage includes:
- Acupuncture
- Behavior treatments
- Chiropractic treatments
- Homeopathy
- Hydrotherapy
- Naturopathy
- Rehabilitation therapy
The cost for Recovery and Complementary Care varies between $10 and $60 per month, depending on your overall plan cost.
Pet Owner Assistance Add-On
The Pet Owner Assistance rider costs $5 per month and affords the following value-loaded benefits:
- Boarding fees if your pet’s caregiver unexpectedly lands in the hospital
- Cremation or burial
- Lost pet advertising and reward fees
- Third-party property damage liability
- Vacation cancellation reimbursement when caused by your pet’s covered illness
Customizable Coverage Levels
State Farm’s single plan choice is not particularly customizable compared to competitors. It fixes reimbursement rates and annual limits, but the deductible offers flexibility to adjust premiums.
Deductible Options
State Farm offers valuable and flexible deductibles, allowing pet owners to choose their deductible in $5 increments between $0 and $1,000. It also has a per-condition deductible compared to the typical annual deductible. You only pay once in your pet’s lifetime for chronic conditions, but you could pay multiple deductibles in a given year if your pet has many unrelated health problems.
Reimbursement Rates
State Farm plans offer a 90% reimbursement rate, leaving policyholders responsible for only 10% of their covered veterinary bills.
Annual Limit Options
All State Farm policies supply unlimited coverage for the life of your pet, so coverage never runs out.
Sign-Up, Claims Filing and Payout Processes
State Farm encourages customers to direct questions and concerns about their insurance products toward local agents, of which there are many. One advantage of choosing State Farm for your pet insurance needs is that you can sign up with your local agent and get your questions answered by someone in your local market.
You can also choose to use the State Farm website to get a quote and sign up for a policy. However, it funnels you directly to Trupanion’s website. If you’re not already a State Farm customer or do not wish to bundle multiple policies, you may be better off buying directly through Trupanion. If you choose to use the website quote tool, you’ll find the process fast and easy.
Once you sign up, State Farm turns your policy over to Trupanion. The company will reach out to your veterinarian to obtain medical records and perform a complete record review, which will help them make determinations about pre-existing conditions. You can also send your records directly to the company.
State Farm does not process claims for pet insurance policies because Trupanion handles them exclusively for State Farm. We found the most efficient way to submit claims and get reimbursed is to use a participating veterinarian who can submit the claim on your behalf and get paid immediately. Trupanion customers using this method reported positive experiences in their reviews.
Suppose you use a veterinarian who doesn’t work directly with Trupanion. In that case, you can submit a claim by calling the company or logging in to your online account to upload the necessary documents. State Farm states that around 60% of claims are paid in less than 24 hours, although online reviewers say the process can take several weeks.
State Farm’s Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
State Farm has waiting periods of five days for accidents, 30 days for illnesses and no waiting period for orthopedic conditions. Accidents or illnesses that occur before or during the waiting periods are considered pre-existing and excluded from future coverage.
The upper age limit for pets to enroll in a new State Farm policy is 14 years. Although plan premiums won’t increase and the company won’t decrease coverage based on age, you will likely see premiums creep up over time.
The younger your pet is at the time of enrollment, the better chance you can obtain a lower premium and more coverage before pre-existing conditions occur. A young age reduces the chances of your pet having pre-existing conditions that would be excluded from future coverage. As soon as you are aware that a new pet is coming into your life, we suggest calling State Farm about a pet insurance policy.
What Customers Think About State Farm Pet Insurance
Because State Farm partners with Trupanion to offer pet insurance policies, we were unable to find any reviews pertaining specifically to plans purchased through State Farm. However, when we combed through Trupanion reviews, we got a good sense of how customers feel about the plans. Customers rated the company highly, and 79% of its reviews on Trustpilot are 5-star reviews. However, many customers complained about skyrocketing prices reducing their policy’s perceived value.
What Customers Like
Customers highlighted the following positives of State Farm/Trupanion:
- Excellent customer service: Customers appreciate the 24/7 customer service availability and above-average training of those team members.
- Easy website enrollment: Some customers enjoy fast and easy sign-up with helpful customer service representatives.
- Per-condition deductible: Policyholders dealing with their pets’ chronic conditions felt they saved money with a per-condition deductible.
- Pre-approval process: Getting an estimate approved ahead of time helped many pet owners confidently choose a treatment path without worrying about cost.
- Direct vet payments: The vet direct payment feature made payment and claims filing a breeze for appreciative policyholders.
What Customers Don’t Like
Customers also point out a few negatives.
- Coverage denials: Some one-star reviews cite claims denials and confusion about pre-existing conditions.
- Slow reimbursements: Some customers remarked that claims processing is now taking longer.
- Confusion over pricing: Some customers who read Trupanion’s pricing promise felt the advertising indicated they were locked into a lifetime rate, which was not the case.
- Price increases: Price increases are normal and expected for insurance products, but some pet owners saw increases that were unaffordable for them.
- Poor plan value: Many unhappy reviewers felt they paid into the plan in a timely fashion and got little back when they filed claims.
We reached out to State Farm for comment on its negative customer reviews but did not receive a response.
State Farm Pet Insurance vs. the Market
Use the table below to compare State Farm pet insurance to other popular providers
State Farm vs. Lemonade
State Farm and Lemonade operate on opposite ends of the pet insurance spectrum. While Trupanion has several exclusions, its coverage is comprehensive and unlimited — which can provide some with peace of mind but might drive up premium costs. Lemonade provides low-cost plans with minimal frills and allows customers to pick and choose add-ons based on their particular needs.
If you’re looking for a cheap plan and technology-focused company between the two, we recommend Lemonade. If you want a policy that offers excellent customer service, easy-to-reach representatives and high coverage levels, State Farm will be your better option.
| State Farm | Lemonade | |
| Reimbursements | 90% | 70% to 90% |
| Deductibles | $0 to $1,000 per condition | $100 to $750 annually |
| Annual Limits | Unlimited | $5,000 to $100,000 |
| Average Cost for Dogs | $123 per month | $30 per month |
| Average Cost for Cats | $53 per month | $16 per month |
Read our Lemonade pet insurance review to learn more.
State Farm vs. Spot
State Farm and Spot plans are comparable in coverage level, though Spot offers more inclusions in the base plan. Spot plans cover exam fees at no additional cost, while State Farm never covers them in any form. However, State Farm provides convenient direct vet payments that help reduce major out-of-pocket costs prior to reimbursement.
Pet owners looking for the ultimate in customization will likely appreciate Spot’s many plan parameter choices, while those who value simple choices and 24/7 customer care may lean toward State Farm.
| State Farm | Spot | |
| Reimbursements | 90% | 70% to 90% |
| Deductibles | $0 to $1,000 per condition | $100 to $1,000 annually |
| Annual Limits | Unlimited | $2,500 to Unlimited |
| Average Cost for Dogs | $123 per month | $75 per month |
| Average Cost for Cats | $53 per month | $34 per month |
Read our Spot pet insurance review to learn more.
Where Is State Farm Pet Insurance Available?
Trupanion pet insurance is available in all 50 states. However, it’s unclear if State Farm sells pet policies in every state. State Farm relies heavily on individual agents to understand local laws and regulations and to become familiar with offered policies. To find out if State Farm pet insurance is available in your state, you must contact a local agent.
Frequently Asked Questions About State Farm Pet Insurance
You can buy a Trupanion pet insurance policy through your local State Farm agent. However, Trupanion administers the plan.
State Farm allows customers to buy Trupanion pet insurance policies through its agents. Customers pay the same prices for policies whether they buy through State Farm or Trupanion. Plans are identical.
Your State Farm agent may offer bundled pricing when you purchase more than one insurance product. Otherwise, the Trupanion plans offered through State Farm are not eligible for discounts, including for multiple pets.
All State Farm pet insurance policies provide unlimited annual coverage and 90% reimbursement.
