Best Pet Insurance in Vermont: Top Companies & Plans (2023 Review)

​Vermont is a lush mountainscape overflowing with famous maple syrup and cheddar cheese. It’s also full of adorable pets, with at least one furry family member in 70% of households.

If you live in Vermont, you know the pet ownership rate isn’t the only thing that’s high. As of 2021, the Green Mountain State ranks 10th in the country as the most expensive place to live.

Along with those lofty everyday expenses, rising veterinary costs might have you and fellow Vermont pet owners wondering how you’ll afford unexpected medical care for your beloved animal. 

Luckily, pet insurance is a fast-growing tool that can help you plan for even the most unpredictable veterinary emergencies. With the right plan, you’ll pay regular monthly premiums for peace of mind when it comes to affording your pet’s healthcare.

In this article, we’ll discuss the following providers to help you find the best pet insurance in Vermont:

• Spot: Best overall 
• Lemonade: Most affordable
• ASPCA: Most experienced
• Embrace: Best for deductibles
• Healthy Paws: Best for chronic conditions
• Prudent Pet: Best for dog and cat parents who want basic options
• Figo: Most flexible reimbursement rates
• Wagmo: Best for immediate reimbursement
• Trupanion: Most flexible deductible

Best Vermont Pet Insurance Companies & Plans

Pet Insurance Companies in Vermont Reviews

Pet insurance helps alleviate financial stress during veterinary emergencies. With insurance coverage, you’ll be able to focus on getting the best care for your pet instead of worrying about breaking the bank.

Any plan can help you afford vet care and avoid heartbreaking decisions, but some policies and providers are better than others. There are a lot of options on the market, so we’ve reviewed top providers that are up and running in Vermont.

We’ll discuss plans, price points, add-on packages, and exclusions to help you find your perfect match.

Spot Pet Insurance

Spot pet insurance provides highly customizable accident/illness coverage for your pet’s unexpected veterinary needs.

A Spot plan will typically cost around $30-$50 per month for dogs and $18-$25 per month for cats. You can combine different rates to fit your cost and coverage to your budget and pet care needs. 

We like that Spot offers an unlimited annual benefit option, so your coverage won’t max out even if you submit multiple claims. 

The tables below show your rate customization options, as well as what’s covered by a Spot accident/illness plan.

Spot offers two preventive care packages for pet parents seeking routine wellness coverage. 

The Gold package covers up to $250 per year for deworming, canine heartworm or feline FeLV tests, fecal tests, vaccinations, wellness exams, and dental cleanings. The Platinum package covers up to $450 for all of those items, along with flea/heartworm prevention, routine blood work, urinalysis, health certificates, and additional vaccinations.

Pros:

• Preventive care add-ons
• Highly customizable accident/illness coverage
• No upper age limits

Cons:

• Higher monthly premiums
• No diet pet food coverage

Read our Spot pet insurance review to learn more.

ASPCA Pet Insurance

ASPCA pet health insurance provides accident/illness coverage, so you never have to refuse treatments due to cost.

ASPCA’s plans are on the higher end of the price range, costing about $50 per month for dogs and $30 per month for cats.

The rates are customizable and allow you to mix and match limits, reimbursement percentages, and deductibles to fit your needs. The provider caps annual coverage at $10,000, which is relatively low compared to other top providers. However, it provides low deductible options, so your coverage will kick in sooner.

Check out ASPCA’s coverage options and inclusions:

*ASPCA only insures dogs, cats, and horses.

If you’d like reimbursement for your pet’s routine vet bills, you can select ASPCA’s Basic or Prime Preventive Care package. 

You can select the Basic Package for up to $250 in yearly coverage for dental cleanings, wellness exams, deworming, vaccinations, fecal tests, and parasite tests. This package costs about $10 per month.

The Prime Package costs around $25 per month. It provides $450 in yearly coverage for urinalysis, routine blood work, parasite tests, fecal tests, vaccinations, flea/heartworm prevention, health certificates, wellness exams, deworming, and dental cleanings or spay/neuter procedures.

Pros:

• Low deductible options
• Microchip implantation coverage
• Exam fee coverage

Cons:

• $10,000 annual coverage cap
• Poor customer reviews

To learn more, read our ASPCA pet insurance review.

Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace pet insurance offers one straightforward pet insurance policy for all of your pet’s unexpected veterinary needs.

On average, you’ll pay $30-$40 per month for dog insurance and $15-$20 per month for cat insurance with Embrace.

Embrace’s accident/illness plan comes with customizable rates, so you can choose the coverage and price that best suits your needs. Embrace doesn’t offer an unlimited annual benefit option, so your coverage is capped at $30,000 per year.

It does, however, offer an exclusive Healthy Pet Deductible program that rewards you for keeping your pet healthy. With the program, your deductible will automatically reduce by $50 for every year you go without submitting a pet insurance claim.

Take a look at Embrace’s plan options, rates, and coverage exclusions.

Embrace offers a Wellness Rewards program to help you budget for your pet’s preventative and routine care needs. Wellness Rewards provides you $250-$650 per year to cover the cost of parasite preventatives, vaccinations, routine dental care, grooming, spay/neuter procedures, checkups, and more. 

Pros:

• Flexible pre-existing condition policy
• Diminishing deductible program
• Cancer medication coverage

Cons:

• No unlimited annual benefit option
• Wellness packages won’t save you much money

For more information, check out our Embrace pet insurance review.

Embrace Pet Insurance

Healthy Paws pet insurance provides one easy-to-understand plan for your pet’s veterinary needs. The provider also operates the Healthy Paws Foundation, which has donated nearly $2 million to animal shelters and rescues nationwide.

Healthy Paws designed its pet insurance plan to cover unexpected accidents and illnesses with no per-item, annual, or lifetime limits. This means the provider will never cap your coverage no matter how many claims you file.

Healthy Paws’ prices are competitive, considering all plans have an unlimited payout. You’ll typically pay about $40 per month for dogs and $20 for cats.

You can customize your pet’s rates up until its fifth birthday. After that, Healthy Paws enforces set coverage rates. The table below shows rate options for pets 3 years old and younger.

Despite its customization limitations, Healthy Paws’ accident/illness plan covers a full range of veterinary services. The provider doesn’t offer any add-on packages for exam fees or wellness coverage, so you’ll just get reimbursements for the unexpected.

Pros:

• Unlimited lifetime benefit for all plans
• Competitive rates
• Dedication to animal welfare

Cons:

• No exam fee or preventive care coverage
• Coverage limited by age
• $25 enrollment fee

Take a look at our Healthy Paws pet insurance review for more information.

How Does Pet Insurance Work in Vermont?

Pet insurance in Vermont – and almost anywhere – works on a reimbursement system. This means you’ll pay for veterinary services in full, and your pet insurance provider will reimburse you after the fact.

Human health insurance works through networks, which means you have to make sure your healthcare provider accepts your insurance plan. You don’t have to worry about this with pet insurance and can visit any licensed veterinarian for the care your pet needs.

After your pet has been treated and is back home safe and sound, you’ll submit your itemized invoice and your pet’s medical records to your pet insurance provider. This process is called filing a claim, and you can easily do it through your online member portal or mobile app.

After submitting your claim, you can track it online. Your provider will process the claim and typically issue reimbursement in about two weeks.

How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance in Vermont for You 

When choosing pet insurance, you should consider how factors like coverage, cost, waiting periods, and discounts can affect your plan. We’ll discuss these items to help you make an educated buying decision and choose a policy tailored to your specific needs.

Coverage and Cost

First, you need to establish a price range you’d like to stay within for monthly or annual costs. Once you have an idea about your budget, you can look for providers that offer optimal coverage for that price. 

Keep in mind that lower prices aren’t always worth the coverage you’ll get for them. For example, if you pay a low monthly premium for a plan with a high deductible, low annual limit, and low reimbursement rate, you might never reap the benefits of your coverage. 

If lower premiums are important to you, we suggest choosing a plan with a low deductible, middle-tier annual limit, and mid-range reimbursement rate. This plan would provide more reimbursement, and your coverage would kick in sooner.

Waiting Periods

A waiting period is a time frame at the beginning of your policy before your coverage begins. Pet insurance providers enforce waiting periods to ensure your pet doesn’t have any pre-existing conditions.

Most pet insurance policies have waiting periods of 14 days for illnesses and 2-14 days for accidents. Waiting periods for orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament events can range from 6-12 months.

Any incidents that occur during waiting periods will be considered pre-existing conditions, and your provider won’t cover them going forward. If your pet is accident-prone or an at-risk breed for orthopedic diseases, you’ll want to look for a pet insurance plan with shorter waiting periods.

Discounts

Most of the pet insurance agencies we’ve discussed offer discounts to make your policy more affordable. Take a look at all of these great ways you can save on your pet’s coverage:

Spot

• 10% multi-pet discount
• 10% employee benefits discount
• $25 Amazon gift card promotion at enrollment

Embrace

• 10% multi-pet discount
• 5% military discount
• 10% employee benefits discount

ASPCA

• 10% multi-pet discount
• 10% employee benefits discount for veterinary professionals

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Vermont?

In Vermont, you’ll typically pay around $30-$50 per month for dog insurance and $20-$35 per month for cat insurance. 

Your premiums will vary depending on your pet’s species, breed, age, and location. Rates are typically higher for dogs, older pets, purebred pets, and pets in highly populated or high-income areas.

We’ve retrieved free quotes from Spot to show you how age and location affect your monthly cost. These quotes are for a 1-year-old Dalmation whose owner selected a $5,000 annual limit, $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement rate.

Burlington is a more densely populated area than Montpelier, so rates are much higher. Your rates would also vary depending on which pet insurance company you selected.

To help you understand how pet insurance costs in Vermont vary by provider, we’ve compiled some sample quotes* for a 2-year-old Goldendoodle and American Curl cat living in Brattleboro, Vt.

*For these pet insurance quotes, we selected a $500 deductible, $10,000 annual limit, and an 80% reimbursement rate, when possible.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best pet insurance provider can seem tough, especially with so many options on the market. You might feel overwhelmed while trying to sift through the fine print to find a plan that fits your needs. Luckily, reading comprehensive pet insurance reviews is the first step in finding a provider with trustworthy service and solid coverage.

We hope this article helps you find the best pet insurance in Vermont. We think that with the right plan, you won’t ever have to choose between your finances and top-notch veterinary care for your pet. You’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re covered from Stamford to Newport and everywhere in between.

Information for Pet Owners in Vermont

Now that you understand pet insurance and how it works in Vermont, it’s time to talk about pet-friendly fun in the Green Mountain State. 

No matter the season, Vermont is an excellent destination for sightseeing, hiking, and camping. Most of the state’s national parks are pet-friendly, so you can bring your buddy along for the journey.

While you’re exploring, remember to stay out of trouble and follow Vermont pet laws. We’ve listed a few below so you can keep your pet safe. We’ve also included some pet owner resources in case you need a helping hand.

Vermont Pet Laws

Vermont’s pet laws vary by county, but we still recommend following them no matter where you are. Animal laws hold pet owners to high standards and keep pets safe. Here are a few notable guidelines for Vermont pet owners:

• There isn’t a statewide leash law in Vermont, but you must keep your pets leashed while visiting Vermont State Parks. You must also clean up after your pet and ensure it’s updated on rabies vaccinations.
• You must provide your pet with nutritious food, clean water, sufficient shelter, and basic veterinary care.
• You must register all dogs and cats over six months old with your residential clerk’s office. Your pet license will confirm that your pet is vaccinated against rabies and state whether it’s spayed/neutered.

Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in VT

Vermont is brimming with outdoor adventures for you and your furry friend to enjoy. Take your pet for a hike through the Green Mountain National Forest. This 400,000-acre natural haven offers visitors a look into rich archeological and historic sites, fall foliage tours, diverse landscapes, and exciting wildlife. 

If you’re visiting West Rutland, Vt., or just need a quick getaway, the Paw House Inn is the place for you. Founded in 2001, the Paw House Inn is a bed and breakfast designed specifically for dog lovers. The inn consists of stunning cottages and offers a variety of wag-worthy features, including a doggy daycare, dog park, dog walking services, and a pet bed in every suite.

Feline fanatics can stop by the Kitty Korner Cafe in Barre, Vt. As Vermont’s first and only cat cafe, Kitty Corner is the ideal destination for visitors of all ages to sip tasty beverages and mingle with adoptable cats.

Vermont Pet Resources

The PAWSitive Pantry in Waitsfield, Vt., is a nonprofit organization that provides pet food to financially struggling families. The pantry delivers pet supplies to food banks across Vermont so pet parents can keep themselves and their animals nourished and healthy.

The Vermont Spay Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP) provides vouchers for low-cost surgical sterilization procedures. These procedures help reduce local pet overpopulation, keeping more pets off the streets and out of shelters. If you need help affording a spay/neuter procedure for your pet, you can apply for a VSNIP voucher online.

The Help-a-Pet Clinic in Burlington, Vt., assists pet parents who can’t afford veterinary care for their pets. The clinic’s volunteer staff provides local pets with free vet services, including parasite treatments, tests, wound care, vaccinations, and routine wellness exams.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance in Vermont

How do I get reimbursed for a vet bill in Vermont?

Simply take your cat to any licensed veterinarian and submit your claim. Depending on your provider, you can submit your claim through its mobile app, online member center, or through the mail. Then, you’ll wait for your provider to approve the claim. Once approved, it will reimburse you for the allocated amount in your pet insurance policy through direct deposit or check.

Does pet insurance cover all veterinary expenses? 

No, pet insurance won’t cover all expenses you build up at the vet’s office. However, insurance will typically cover accidents and illnesses that aren’t pre-existing. Some policies will even offer wellness and preventative care add-ons that add additional benefits to your policy, like wellness exams and vaccines.

Do pet insurance policies have waiting periods?

Yes, pet insurance policies more than always have waiting periods. between your initial enrollment period and when coverage officially begins for the plan. Across most providers, the standard is around 14 days for accidents and illnesses, but some others, including Lemonade and Embrace, can shorten your waiting period to as low as two days for accidents.

Our Methodology

​​Here at 365 Pet Insurance, our research team looks to examine all pet insurance policies and comes up with reviews based on:

• Coverage
• Plan options
• Cost 
• Reputation
• Customer service 
• Species available
• Wellness benefits 

We’ve created a 5-star rating system to score pet insurance brands based on a 100-point scale. To develop a list of the best pet insurance plans, we looked into plans, rating coverage, claims handling, reimbursements, deductibles, and limitations. 

Each factor is weighted differently based on the following factors:

• Monthly Pricing (25 points): How each pet insurance company charges for their plans is a crucial part of the decision-making process of the customer. Affordable rates and comprehensive coverage are the defining characteristics of providing the best pet insurance.
• Coverage (20 points): We scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Providers offering broader coverage and more unique treatments received more points.  Pet insurance policies are not offered by all companies for older pets. Providers who have an age limit on the pets they cover were deducted points.
• Plans (15 points): Pet insurance providers offer accident-and-illness plans, accident-only plans, wellness add-ons, and pet preventive care add-ons, so customers can choose the right plan for their pets. We also factored in costs to achieve the most comprehensible review for your pet’s needs.
• Customization Options (10 points): You can ensure your pet only gets what they need by customizing your policy. A higher score was earned by providers who offered a greater range of annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
• Customer Service (10 points): We scored companies based on their website accessibility and usability, mobile apps, and grating points to companies with the most customer experience options.
• Industry Reputation (10 points): We assessed each company’s industry reputation by reviewing up-to-date BBB ratings and accreditation information, as well as their years of experience in the industry.
• Waiting Periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident and illness waiting periods scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.

Our team revisits each company’s information at the end of every month to make updates and ensure the information is as accurate as possible.