Best Pet Insurance Maine

You know that your pet deserves the best — but sometimes the best can be expensive. Here’s everything that resident in the Pine Street state need to know about finding the most affordable pet insurance in Maine.

Pet Insurance in Maine: An Overview

Pets are an important part of our families. Here’s a quick overview of pet ownership in the U.S.:

• Number of households with pets: 
• Dogs: 48 million
• Cats: 31 million
• Birds: 3.5 million
• Horses: 893,000
• Amount spent on pet bills annually: 
• Cats: $908
• Dogs: $1,381
• Average cost of pet insurance annually:
• Cats: $17 per month
• Dogs: $37 per month

What Does Pet Insurance Typically Cover?

Look closely at what each plan covers when you’re looking for pet insurance. Here’s what’s typically covered:

• Illnesses. Pet insurance plans usually cover illnesses, whether those illnesses are major or minor. This includes treatment and diagnosing illnesses like cancer, arthritis, infections and urinary tract infections. 
• Accidents. Pet insurance usually covers care for accidents. This includes emergency care and the X-rays and other tests needed to determine what’s wrong. It also includes surgery and hospitalization. 
• Congenital and hereditary conditions. Many plans include coverage for hereditary conditions. Some of these conditions don’t show up until later in life. Check each plan carefully for whether it covers these conditions and if it excludes others. 
• Alternative therapies. Coverage for alternative therapies vary. Some plans cover these types of therapies, but many don’t. Common alternative therapies include chiropractic care and acupuncture. 
• Behavioral issues. This coverage also varies from plan to plan. Some plans include coverage for seeing a vet for behavioral issues like excessive licking or chewing. 

It’s also important to know what isn’t usually covered by pet insurance. 

• Preexisting conditions. Most pet insurance plans don’t cover preexisting conditions. Most plans also have a waiting period. If an illness or injury happens during the waiting period, it typically won’t be covered. 
• Preventive care. Annual visits and vaccines are an important part of pet health. Many pet insurance plans don’t include preventive care. Some may offer preventive care option as an add-on. This means you pay more for this benefit. 
• Breeding. Pet insurance typically doesn’t cover costs related to pregnancy. 
• Cosmetic procedures. Most plans don’t cover claw removal and other elective procedures.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet insurance is different than health insurance. Most plans require you to pay the veterinarian for the full cost of services. Next, you submit your itemized bill to your pet insurance company. After that, the insurance company reimburses you according to the terms of your plan. Here are the things to look for when you consider plans:

• The deductible. The deductible is the amount you pay before the plan starts to reimburse you. A higher deductible usually means you have a lower monthly premium. Let’s say your plan has a $500 annual deductible. Your pet has a $500 veterinarian visit and it’s your first veterinary expense for the year. You pay $500. The plan won’t reimburse you because you haven’t met your deductible. The plan will reimburse you for any expenses after that, according to the terms of your plan. 
• The reimbursement percentage. Plans reimburse a percentage of covered costs. You may be able to choose your reimbursement percentage. The higher your reimbursement percentage, the higher your premiums will be. Let’s say you’ve met your deductible and you have a $700 vet bill for covered services. If you have a plan with 70% reimbursement, it will reimburse you $490. If you have a plan with 90% reimbursement, it will reimburse you $630. 
• The annual coverage limit. The annual coverage limit is the maximum your plan will pay each year. If you choose a plan with a $2,500 coverage limit, you’ll be responsible for covered expenses once your plan pays out $2,500. Some plans offer unlimited coverage. 

Pet Insurance Premium Factors

How do pet insurance companies decide their premiums? It depends on a few factors. Pet insurance considers:

• Your pet’s age. Older pets may need veterinary care more often. Insurance companies may charge more to insure a senior pet. 
• Breed type. Some breeds are more likely to have certain health conditions. 
• Your location. Your location is also a significant factor. Some areas have higher veterinary costs. This may be because there are fewer veterinarians in the area or it’s more expensive to run a business in that particular area in Maine. Insurance companies take the cost of veterinary care in your area into consideration. 

Each insurance company has its own formula for determining prices. This is why it’s important to get multiple quotes. 

The Best Pet Insurance in ME

Ready to find the best pet insurance in Maine? Here are our top picks.

1. High-Quality Pet Insurance: Spot Pet Insurance

Spot Pet Insurance is the No. 1 pet insurance provider recommended by Cesar Millan, the leading expert in dog behavior. Some insurance highlights:

• Up to 90% reimbursement on eligible vet bills
• No age cap on coverage
• Plans start as low as $1 a day* — that’s less than a cup of coffee!

You can customize your coverage and can even add special Spot-On coverage. Coverage options include accidents, behavioral issues, dental disease, illnesses, preventive services and even hereditary and congenital conditions. 

Spot’s claims service is easy. Just visit your vet (don’t forget to give your pet a treat on the way out!), send Spot the bill and get reimbursed.

Take 30 seconds to fetch your free quote now. 

*Rates vary based on plan type, species, breed, age and location

2. Progressive: Best for Bundling

Progressive is great for bundlers.

You can bundle auto, home and pet insurance and save 5% on your car insurance. That 5% savings may be enough to cover the costs of your pet insurance.

You can customize your plan and choose a deductible and reimbursement percentage that works for you. Progressive also has a 24/7 helpline you can call if you have a question for a veterinary expert. 

3. Pumpkin Pet Insurance: Best Extensive Coverage

Look no further than Pumpkin for the best pet insurances on the market. You can get a traditional pet insurance and optional preventive care coverage. All of Pumpkin Pet Insurance’s policies come with a 90% reimbursement rate. 

Pumpkin offers policies for both dogs and cats and covers a wide range of situations. Your best bet is to get a sample quote, where you can find exclusions clearly laid out. 

Pumpkin’s customer service team can be reached by:

• Calling 1-866-ARF-MEOW, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
• Emailing help@pumpkin.care

Watch out for Pumpkin’s chat feature — coming soon!

Is Pet Insurance Right for You?

Is pet insurance right for you and your family? That depends on your pet and your financial situation. If your biggest concern is a preexisting condition, keep in mind that most plans don’t cover those. Review plan terms carefully. Most plans have exclusions and waiting periods. 

To find the best pet insurance plan in Maine, start by contacting multiple insurance companies for quotes. Ask if you can see a sample policy. Sample policies contain the fine print so you can compare plan coverage. If you want preventive care benefits, ask if those benefits are included or if you need to purchase additional coverage. 

Keep the reimbursement process in mind. Look for a company that has a simple claims process. Some companies allow you to take a photo of your itemized bill and upload that for reimbursement. Dealing with pet issues is stressful enough — you don’t want a claims process that adds to that stress. 

Your financial situation is also a factor. If you have money saved for vet costs, you may want a higher deductible plan to keep your monthly premium down. If you don’t have money saved, you may want to buy a plan with a lower deductible so you don’t have to worry about high out-of-pocket costs. The best plan is 1 that fits into your budget and provides the coverage you need. 

Frequently Asked Questions