The Best Pet Insurance Companies in Illinois (2024)

Based on our research, these are the six best pet insurance providers in Illinois:

• Lemonade: Our top pick
• Spot: Most Customizable Coverage
• Fetch: Our Pick for Comprehensive Coverage
• Embrace: Our Pick for Savings
• Healthy Paws: Most Affordable Unlimited Coverage
• Figo: Most Flexible Reimbursement Rates

We chose Lemonade as the best pet insurance for Illinois pet owners due to its comprehensive plan, competitive rates and multiple customization options.

Every pet owner has different priorities and needs, which is why no pet insurance plan can be one-size-fits-all. Consider your pet’s unique needs and your budget when comparing insurance providers to make the best choice.

Use the table below to compare each insurance provider on our list based on key pet insurance considerations.

The average cost of pet insurance in Illinois is $54 per month for a standard policy with a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement rate, and maximum annual limit. The average monthly cost for dog insurance is $73 and the average monthly cost for cat insurance is $36.

We calculated these costs by obtaining sample quotes for 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 from 11 providers available in Illinois. The cost of your pet’s plan will likely differ a bit since many factors, including your pet’s breed, age, and location, influence the cost of its specific plan.

Based on the sample quotes we gathered, Lemonade offers the cheapest pet insurance in Illinois. While Lemonade was the most affordable option according to our research, pricing for your pet will depend on the options and add-ons you select, in addition to your pet’s age, breed and location. Even if your quote is slightly higher than our averages, Lemonade’s affordable coverage makes it a top choice for Illinois pet owners.

The following table ranks the top five most affordable Illinois pet insurance companies:

Many factors go into the price of your pet’s plan. Here are some of the factors pet owners might consider when deciding which policy best fits their pet’s needs and their budget.

• Available plans: You’ll need to decide what type of policy you want to purchase for your pet. Accident-only plans cover accidents and injuries only and are typically the cheapest plans offered. Accident and illness plans cover many types of health conditions in addition to injuries. Most providers also offer add-ons, such as wellness coverage, physical rehabilitation, and vet exam fees, for an additional cost.
• Customization options: You can also adjust several options, including a plan’s annual coverage limit, deductible and reimbursement rate, to reach the coverage you want while keeping the monthly premium within your budget.
• Policy details: Once you choose a plan, read the policy carefully before enrolling your pet. You want to completely understand the policy’s fine details — such as which conditions and services are covered and what is excluded from coverage — so there are no surprises when you go to file a claim.
• Customer reviews: Read customer reviews on trusted platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot to ensure customers are satisfied with the provider’s service.
• Availability: Remember that the location of your home impacts the availability and cost of pet insurance since the laws and regulations governing pet insurance vary from state to state. Before choosing a pet insurance company, make sure it’s available in your state.

Cruelty to animals is illegal in every state, but Illinois laws on animal abuse are particularly rigid. The state passed a law in 2022 banning pet ownership for anyone with two or more offenses of animal abuse.

Illinois homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies in 2024 can’t refuse coverage or charge more for insuring certain dog breeds. However, the law allows insurance companies to cancel policies if the dog is considered vicious or dangerous. In addition to state laws, many Illinois municipalities have pet-related laws.

Chicago Pet Laws

• Chicago owners must register all dogs over 4 months of age with the city and show a current rabies vaccination.
• Animals may not wander off their owner’s property unless leashed and under their owner’s control.
• Pet owners who do not clean up after their dog immediately are subject to a fine up to $500.

Aurora Pet Laws

• Aurora residents can have only four domestic animals per home, including any companion or farm animal. They can’t have more than two animals of one species.
• An animal cannot make “excessive noise” outside for more than 15 consecutive minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and for no more than 10 minutes from 10:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. An initial citation for an excessive noise violation is $100.
• Off their owner’s property, dogs must be on a leash no longer than 10 feet in length and held by a person who is physically able to control them.

Springfield Pet Laws

• Pets must wear a collar or harness with an identification tag that includes their name, address and owner’s contact number.
• Pet owners whose dogs bite or attack a person or another animal without provocation can be fined $175 for the first violation and $1,000 for a second violation. Third and subsequent violations can result in a two-year ban on pet ownership.
• Pets must always be under restraint by a fence or structure of sufficient height or on a secure leash.

The Illinois Department of Insurance has resources for residents looking for assistance with buying pet insurance.

When reviewing insurance policies, it’s helpful to understand common pet insurance terminology. Knowing what the following terms mean can help you choose the provider and plan that best fits your pet’s needs.

• Pre-existing conditions: Conditions that occur prior to the start of your pet’s policy, including those that arise during the waiting period, will not be eligible for coverage. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet insurance company, although some will cover the condition down the road if your pet goes a certain period of time without recurrence.
• Waiting period: A plan’s waiting period is the number of days after enrolling that you must wait before filing a claim. Insurers consider events occurring during your pet’s waiting period as pre-existing conditions and will not cover them.
• Premium: Your premium is the cost for your plan’s coverage. Most providers quote a monthly premium, although some allow you to pay for the entire year up front so you don’t have a monthly bill. You can lower your premium by choosing a higher deductible, lower reimbursement rate and lower annual coverage limit.
• Deductible: The deductible is the portion of your veterinary bill that you’re responsible for paying before your insurance provider offers reimbursement. Deductibles vary widely, typically from $100 to $1,000, and can be adjusted to help you reach an affordable premium. Choosing a higher deductible will lower your monthly payment.
• Reimbursement rate: Once you meet the deductible, your insurance will reimburse you for a percentage of the remaining bill. Most insurance companies offer reimbursement options of 70%, 80% or 90%.
• Coverage limit: Most providers set a limit on the amount of money they’ll pay out for your pet’s eligible expenses. Most policies have annual limits that reset yearly, but some impose a lifetime cap on coverage. A few providers offer unlimited coverage.

In Illinois, pets are a part of the family, and keeping them healthy is a top priority for pet owners. Investing in a pet insurance plan provides an overall safeguard for pets by easing the financial burden of routine and emergency care expenses.

Lemonade’s competitive rates and comprehensive coverage is the best option for many Illinois pets, but we always recommend comparing quotes from multiple pet insurance companies to ensure you find the best fit for your pet’s unique needs.

To determine the best pet insurance providers in Illinois, our MarketWatch Guides team ranked pet insurance providers in the state based on availability and the key factors that affect policyholders. To inform our review, we analyzed the average age of pets in Illinois, state veterinary costs, average monthly premium prices for cats and dogs and the most reported accidents for pets in the state. Company rankings reflect affordability, coverage options, available discounts and benefits and more. We also weighed responses to our survey of 1,000 pet owners with pet insurance nationwide, filtered by Illinois residents. Cost data for dogs was determined by averaging sample quotes we obtained from each provider for a 5-year-old medium mixed-breed male dog and a 2-year-old large female golden retriever dog in Illinois. Cost data for cats was determined by averaging sample quotes we obtained from each provider for a 5-year-old mixed-breed male cat and a 2-year-old female Siamese cat in Illinois.

We use our rating system to compare each company we review and determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. To learn more, read our full pet insurance methodology for reviewing and scoring providers.

Use the resources below to learn more about pet insurance and pet care in Illinois:

• Average pet insurance cost by breed, age and state
• Veterinary service price estimator
• Illinois pet laws 
• Illinois Department of Insurance
• Illinois pet assistance information
• Illinois pet disaster planning