Our Rankings of Pet Insurance Providers in Alabama
Here are our rankings for the best pet insurance companies in Alabama:
- Lemonade: Our top pick
- Spot: Most customizable
- Embrace: Our pick for savings
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: Most experienced
- Fetch: Our pick for special perks
- Healthy Paws: Our pick for unlimited coverage
What’s the Best Pet Insurance in Alabama?
Based on our extensive analysis and consultation with veterinary experts, we determined the >best pet insurance provider in Alabama is Lemonade.
Compare the Top Pet Insurance Providers in Alabama
Comparing multiple providers is the best way to find a pet insurance plan that meets your pet’s needs and your budget. No one plan is the best fit for everyone, and we recommend carefully considering your options before making a choice. This chart provides a quick comparison of the most popular plans available in Alabama.
Company | Monthly Cost | Star Rating | Accident Waiting Period | BBB Rating | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$15-$30 | 2 days | B- | |||
$34-$75 | 14 days | A- | |||
$39-$73 | 48 hours | A+ | |||
$18-$44 | 15 days | N/R | |||
$45-$90 | up to 15 days | A+ | |||
$24-$54 | 15 days | A+ |
Company | BBB Rating | Monthly Cost | Star Rating | Accident Waiting Period | Visit Site |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B- | $15-$30 | 2 days | |||
A- | $34-$75 | 14 days | |||
A+ | $39-$73 | 48 hours | |||
N/R | $18-$44 | 15 days | |||
A+ | $45-$90 | up to 15 days | |||
A+ | $24-$54 | 15 days |
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Alabama?
The cost of veterinary care varies between states and cities, so your location impacts how much you will pay for a pet insurance plan. Your pet’s age and breed also plays a role, with purebreds and seniors costing more to insure.
To give Alabama pet owners a general idea of costs and how each company compares, we obtained quotes for four different pet types:
- A 5-year-old medium, mixed-breed male dog
- A 2-year-old female golden retriever
- A 5-year-old mixed-breed male cat
- A 2-year-old female Siamese cat
The average cost for pet insurance in Alabama is $52 per month for dogs and $34 per month for cats. Here are the average Alabama pet insurance costs across eleven providers:
Provider | Dog Insurance | Cat Insurance |
Lemonade | $34 | $25 |
Spot | $22 | $10 |
Embrace | $68 | $35 |
Healthy Paws | $39 | $15 |
Fetch | $32 | $22 |
Figo | $43 | $35 |
Pets Best | $49 | $30 |
Paw Protect | $33 | $19 |
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | $39 | $16 |
ManyPets | $29 | $15 |
Trupanion | $85 | $41 |
What’s the Cheapest Pet Insurance in Alabama?
Spot is the cheapest pet insurance provider in Alabama, according to our research. The insurer’s plans consistently rank highly in our review process and provide excellent coverage for most situations. Spot also provides multiple customization options so you can find a combination that works for your pet and your budget.
How To Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Alabama
Choosing a pet insurance plan requires careful consideration of your pet’s current and future medical needs. Consider your monthly budget, the type of veterinary care you want covered and how much you can afford to pay out of pocket if your pet gets sick or injured. Think about the following as you research pet insurance options:
- Coverage and plans: Different plan types offer different levels of coverage. Accident-only plans are inexpensive but only cover expenses related to injuries. Accident and illness plans are comprehensive but cost more each month. You can also add wellness plans to your base policy to help cover routine pet care costs, such as vaccines.
- Fine print: Like other insurance products, pet insurance policies include a lot of fine print. Consider reading a sample policy to thoroughly understand exclusions and limitations before you sign up.
- Customization: Plans with more customization options, including deductible amounts and coverage limits, allow pet owners to balance monthly premium costs with out-of-pocket expenses for veterinary care. More options can also help you reduce monthly premiums as your pet gets older and rates become more expensive.
- Customer satisfaction: Checking reviews on sites including Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can help you get a feel for what having a pet insurance policy with a company is actually like. You can also read negative reviews and decide which common issues are tolerable and which are deal-breakers.
Keep in mind that state and local insurance laws may determine which plans are available in your area, how those plans operate and how much they cost. We recommend you obtain quotes from multiple companies to ensure coverage is available and affordable in your ZIP code.
What Are the Pet Laws in Alabama?
Alabama has pet laws designed to protect pets, pet owners and the general public. These laws set rules and regulations for owning pets and help to prevent cruelty, animal bites, nuisances and disease spread. Some notable Alabama state pet laws include:
- Animal cruelty or dog fighting are considered felonies.
- Animal control officers may impound pets not vaccinated for rabies and may euthanize the animal if the owner does not reclaim it and pay for vaccination within seven days.
- A veterinarian may keep a pet as a lien if the owner refuses to pay for services.
Although laws are similar across the state, each municipality sets its own rules and ordinances. Here are some examples:
Birmingham Pet Laws
- Dog owners whose pet is repeatedly found running at large can be fined up to $400 or imprisoned.
- Dogs must not be tethered without a person nearby to care for them.
Huntsville Pet Laws
- Residents cannot keep more than three dogs or cats older than 4 months on their premises.
- Female pets in heat must be kept in an enclosure with solid floors to minimize the spread of their scent and prevent unwanted breeding.
- Dogs and cats sold in pet stores must come from animal control or another animal shelter or rescue.
Mobile Pet Laws
- Police can remove animals from vehicles if they believe the animal to be in danger.
- Dogs for sale must be at least 9 weeks old and have a microchip.
Understanding Pet Insurance Terminology
Insurance jargon can be challenging for the average pet owner to understand, especially because pet insurance works differently from human health insurance. Here are some definitions to help you get a handle on the basics.
- A waiting period is the time between policy enrollment and the start of coverage. Companies consider injuries or illnesses that occur during the waiting period as pre-existing conditions and will not cover related treatments.
- A deductible is the amount you must pay toward covered services before the plan will reimburse you. Higher deductibles mean you’ll pay more of your veterinary bills but also pay less in monthly premiums.
- Premiums are fixed payments policyholders make to purchase a pet insurance plan. A premium payment is either payable monthly or annually.
- Your reimbursement rate is the percentage of each claim your insurance plan will pay for. You are responsible for the remaining amount, which is also called co-insurance.
- Pet insurance plans may impose annual, per-condition or lifetime coverage limits. Annual and per-condition limits reset upon policy renewal.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It in Alabama?
Alabama pet owners may find that pet insurance is worth the annual investment. Veterinary care costs for unexpected, serious or chronic conditions can add up quickly, but a pet insurance plan purchased before an issue arises can help cover a portion of the bills. Whether you use all your benefits in a given year or not, a pet insurance plan will likely save you money in the long run.
The best time to purchase a pet insurance plan is when a pet is younger and before major health conditions develop. However, senior pets can also benefit from insurance that covers common age-related diseases, such as cancer or kidney disease. We recommend Lemonade as the best insurance for Alabama pet owners, but you should compare plans before signing up to ensure you choose the right coverage for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Alabama
Dogs in Alabama are more expensive to insure than cats. Although cats and dogs can each develop health problems, dogs are more likely than cats to experience injuries, accidents, or need surgery or other expensive treatments for orthopedic, genetic and breed-related problems. Overall, veterinary costs are higher for most dogs than cats.
Pet insurance plans in Alabama offer pet owners financial protection in the event of emergency veterinary costs. Policyholders pay the veterinarian directly for their pet’s care and submit claims to their insurer for reimbursement after — most plans do not pay veterinarians directly or contract with individual vets. However, any condition your pet develops before the plan goes into effect or during the waiting period is considered pre-existing and excluded from coverage.
All pet insurance plans in Alabama are subject to a waiting period, which can range from 24 to 48 hours for accidents and up to 12 months for orthopedic issues. Any condition that arises during the waiting period is considered pre-existing and will not be covered. Carefully read your policy’s fine print to determine the waiting periods applicable to your pet.
How We Ranked the Best Pet Insurance Providers in Alabama
Our team rated and ranked the best policies for Alabama pets by scoring each company using an objective scale. Our rating method considers each company’s pricing, available coverage options, policy customization, customer reviews, waiting periods and age limits. We ranked companies based on availability and suitability to Alabama pets, as determined by our pet owner survey results and state-level research into common pet accidents and illnesses.
We collected quotes for hypothetical Alabama pets and averaged the rates to arrive at the cost figures listed in this review. Sample pets included 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.
To learn more about our cost collection and ranking process, you can read our full pet insurance methodology and editorial guidelines.
Additional Pet Insurance Resources
If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at editors@marketwatchguides.com.