Best Pet Insurance in New Jersey
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Pet insurance is a valuable purchase that can protect your pet after unexpected accidents and illnesses. If you live in the Garden State, you have access to more than a dozen pet insurance companies, but not all offer the same caliber of service.
To help narrow down the list, we’ve analyzed hundreds of customer reviews, compared coverages, and consulted with industry experts. Read on for our recommendations for the best pet insurance in New Jersey.
The Best Pet Insurance Providers in New Jersey
Our research revealed these to be the top five best pet insurance companies in New Jersey:
Spot
Fast Facts:
- Waiting Period for Accidents: 14 days
- Waiting Period for Illnesses: 14 days
- Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Spot site
What We Like: Spot has many coverage options to suit your preferences, with customizable policy limits and versatile plans. The company covers a wide range of conditions and treatments and offers unlimited protection.
Plan Options: Spot offers accident-only coverage, accident-and-illness protection, and wellness care benefits. The accident-only plan provides affordable coverage for your pet’s unexpected injuries such as burns, cuts, or broken bones. The accident-and-illness plan extends to illnesses and features unique coverages competitors don’t always include, such as reimbursement for therapeutic diets and dietary supplements.
Spot’s Gold and Premium optional preventive care add-ons offer $250 or $450 of benefits for your pet’s dental cleanings, wellness exams, vaccines, and other routine care costs.
Like all pet insurance companies, Spot excludes preexisting conditions present before enrollment, breeding costs, and preventive care.
Quote Process: Spot’s quote process is quick and efficient, with a three-page application form. You need to provide your pet’s age, sex, and breed, as well as your name, ZIP code, and email. You’ll be directed to your personalized pet insurance quote within seconds. Then, you can adjust the policy’s annual coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate, securing anywhere from $2,500 to unlimited coverage.
You can also add preventive coverage for routine care costs. From there, you can purchase coverage directly and review the policy’s terms and conditions.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Consider the following pros and cons of Spot pet insurance:
Pros
- Offers a complimentary Amazon gift card to New Jersey residents at enrollment
- Has no upper age limit, so older pets can be insured
- Provides several levels of coverage to meet multiple pet needs
Cons
- Has a longer waiting period for accidents than some competitors
- Doesn’t offer customer support on the weekends
Lemonade
Fast Facts:
- Waiting Period for Accidents: Two days
- Waiting Period for Illnesses: 14 days
- Money-Back Guarantee: None
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Lemonade site
What We Like: Lemonade has honed in on user experience, using artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline its quotes, claims process, and policy management. The highly rated mobile app is easy to use and makes policy management simple.
Plan Options: Lemonade offers accident-and-illness plans and a few add-ons. The accident-and-illness plan covers diagnostics, procedures, and medications related to your pet’s accidents and illnesses. You can also purchase the add-ons below:
- Vet visit fees: Covers fees for vet visits associated with covered accidents and illnesses
- Physical therapy: Covers chiropractic care, acupuncture, etc.
- Preventive care: Covers wellness exams, blood tests, dental cleanings, etc.
Quote Process: Lemonade’s quote process is more involved than Spot’s but can still be completed in a few moments. Rather than filling out a form, Lemonade’s AI Maya walks you through a series of short pages where you enter your address and your pet’s basic details, then answer a few questions about their medical history. Then, you can choose to add vet visit fees and customize your accident-and-illness plan’s coverages before checking out.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Consider the following pros and cons of Lemonade pet insurance:
Pros
- Can settle simple claims in minutes
- Offers a discount for bundling with Lemonade’s auto, renters, or home insurance
- Has a charitable giveback program that donates unused premiums
Cons
- Requires an add-on for physical therapy
- Is facing a class-action lawsuit over its alleged collection of biometric data
Fetch by The Dodo
Fast Facts:
- Waiting Period for Accidents: Varies by state and condition
- Waiting Period for Illnesses: Varies by state and condition
- Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Fetch site
What We Like: Fetch by The Dodo, formerly called Petplan, has comprehensive accident-and-illness coverage. We also like its extensive online resources, including side-by-side coverage comparisons and policy benefits from other providers.
Plan Options: Fetch offers one accident-and-illness policy. In addition to the standard treatments covered by most providers, such as hospitalization and diagnostics, the plan covers sick-visit exam fees, boarding fees if you are hospitalized, behavioral therapy, and alternative and holistic treatments such as aromatherapy. Annual coverage is limited to $15,000.
Quote Process: Fetch’s quote process is straightforward. After you enter your pet’s age, breed, sex, and location, along with your email address, Fetch presents you with a custom quote. You can then adjust your annual coverage limits, deductible, and reimbursement rate. Once your policy details are squared away, you can enter your payment information and purchase your pet’s policy.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Consider the following pros and cons of Fetch pet insurance:
Pros
- Accepts all vets in the United States and Canada
- Is sponsored by The Dodo, a highly respected animal media network
- Includes every adult tooth in its dental coverage
Cons
- Doesn’t offer an unlimited coverage option
- Has no preventive care coverage
Trupanion
Fast Facts:
- Waiting Period for Accidents: Five days
- Waiting Period for Illnesses: 30 days
- Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Trupanion site
What We Like: Trupanion is ideal for pet parents who want a streamlined payment process. Rather than paying the vet, filing a claim, and getting reimbursed later, the veterinary clinic submits your claim at checkout, you pay your portion of the bill, and Trupanion covers the rest directly. Currently, more than 130 hospitals in New Jersey accept direct Trupanion payments.
Plan Options: Trupanion offers accident-and-illness coverage, plus a few unique add-ons. The accident-and-illness plan offers standard coverage for hereditary conditions, general illnesses, and congenital conditions plus diagnostic tests, hospital stays, and more. It also covers treatments and services such as herbal therapy, prosthetics, and carts.
While Trupanion doesn’t offer preventive coverage, it does have two add-ons:
- Recovery and Complementary Care: This covers alternative treatments such as acupuncture, behavioral therapy, and hydrotherapy.
- Pet Owner Assistance Package: This covers cremation and burial expenses, advertising and rewards for lost pets, and liability coverage for damage caused by your pet.
Quote Process: To get a quote from Trupanion, you’ll need to enter your pet’s name, age, sex, and breed. You’ll also need to note whether or not they have been spayed or neutered and specify if they are assistance animals or therapy pets. Finally, you’ll be required to enter your ZIP code and email address.
Rather than offering multiple payout limits and reimbursement rates, every Trupanion pet insurance policy provides unlimited coverage with 90% reimbursement. You can choose from hundreds of annual deductible amounts ranging from $0 to $1,000 to select the exact amount you’d like to pay out of pocket for a claim. You can also select add-ons during the quote process. You can then proceed to checkout, where you’ll be prompted to enter your name, address, phone number, and vet’s information before making a payment.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Consider the following pros and cons of Trupanion pet insurance:
Pros
- Offers 24/7 phone support
- Has the most customizable deductibles of any insurer
- Is the only provider that pays vet bills directly
Cons
- Only offers one reimbursement option
- Has no routine care coverage
Embrace
Fast Facts:
- Waiting Period for Accidents: Two days
- Waiting Period for Illnesses: 14 days
- Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days
- Get a Quick Quote: Visit Embrace site
What We Like: Embrace has an impressive variety of rewarding perks. The Embrace team employs dozens of vet techs who can offer guidance via phone on your pet’s health issues around the clock. Plus, the company offers a unique Surprise and Delight program that mails personalized gifts to you and your four-legged companion on special occasions.
Plan Options: Embrace provides accident-and-illness coverage and optional routine care coverage. The accident-and-illness policy offers a few less common coverages, such as acupuncture and behavioral treatments. Additionally, the preventive care plan offers $250 or $450 of benefits for expenses such as grooming, checkups, vaccines, and microchipping.
Quote Process: You can get an Embrace quote in less than a minute by providing your pet’s name, sex, species, breed, and age, as well as your ZIP code and email address. Embrace will create a custom quote and allow you to pick your deductible, coverage limit, and reimbursement rate. Once your policy is set, you can enter your payment information and check out.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Consider the following pros and cons of Embrace’s dog and cat insurance plans:
Pros
- Covers curable conditions after your pet has been symptom-free for one year
- Reduces orthopedic waiting period with a vet exam
- Offers highly customizable coverage
Cons
- Coverage maxes out at $30,000 per year
- Doesn’t cover prescription foods or dietary supplements
Comparing New Jersey Pet Insurance
Use the table below to compare the top pet insurance companies in New Jersey:
Provider | Waiting Period for Accidents | Waiting Period for Illnesses | Money-Back Guarantee | Maximum Enrollment Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14 days |
14 days |
30 days |
None |
|
|
2 days |
14 days |
N/A |
Varies by breed |
|
|
Varies by state |
Varies by state |
30 days |
N/A |
|
|
5 days |
30 days |
30 days |
13 |
|
|
2 days |
14 days |
30 days |
14 |
New Jersey Pet Laws
Some states like California have consumer protection laws in place to shield pet insurance policyholders from deceptive or unfair practices on the part of insurance companies.
While New Jersey does not have exclusive pet insurance laws, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance provides contact information for all licensed pet insurance underwriters in the state. It also allows you to file a consumer complaint against insurers for some of the incidents below:
- Cancellation
- Claim denial
- Delayed claims
- Misrepresentation
- No response
- Nonrenewal
Using this online form, you can file a complaint directly with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Consumer Consumer Inquiry and Response Center. It will ask for your contact information, details on the insurance company, an overview of the situation, and your idea of a fair resolution. You can also attach supporting documents to make your claim.
Fun Things to Do With Your Pet in New Jersey
There is no shortage of adventures awaiting pets and their families in New Jersey. If you live in the Garden State, here are a few of the types of activities you can do with your furry companion:
- Beaches: Take your pup to check out a dog-friendly beach, such as the Brigantine North End Beach, Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area in Manasquan, the Bayshore Waterfront Park in Port Monmouth, or the North Wildwood Dog Beach.
- Parks: From lush local dog parks to expansive state and national parks like the Morristown National Historical Park, there’s plenty of New Jersey land for you and your pet to roam.
- Dining: Spend a lazy Saturday at a local brewery, winery, or restaurant that allows trained leashed pets. These are ideal spots to work your dog into your social calendar, especially when the weather is warm.
- Shopping: Not all stores allow pets, but some do. Beyond pet stores, you can take your pet to home improvement hubs, like Home Depot, and some marketplaces, like Bay Village on Long Beach Island.
- Educational outings: Calling all history buffs. Consider taking your leashed dog to the Historic Cold Spring Village or the Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum if you’re near Cape May.
Our Recommendation
Spot is our top pick for New Jersey pet insurance, with three plans, customizable coverage limits, and less frequently covered items like therapeutic diets and supplements.
However, each pet insurance company featured in this review stood up to our in-depth review standards, scoring well for their customer service, quality of coverage, and overall reputation. We recommend comparing quotes and sample policies from at least three companies before purchasing a cat or dog insurance plan for your four-legged friend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pet insurance be used anywhere?
You can use pet insurance at any licensed vet clinic in the United States, including vet hospitals, emergency centers, and specialists’ offices. Some providers, such as Fetch by The Dodo, are also available in Canada.
Does pet insurance pay for vaccinations?
Pet insurance agencies consider vaccinations part of your pet’s routine preventive care. As a result, standard pet insurance plans do not pay for vaccinations. However, many companies offer wellness care coverage for a low monthly fee to cover routine costs like vaccines, grooming, and health checkups.
What will pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance covers your pet’s unexpected health care costs, such as broken bones, cancer, hip dysplasia, and allergies. It reimburses you for emergency care, hospitalization, diagnostics, prescriptions, surgeries, and some exam fees related to these conditions. Common exclusions include routine care, elective procedures, and breeding expenses.
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance is worth it for pet parents who want to secure the highest quality veterinary services for their pets. Whether you’re concerned with footing a pet insurance bill or not, it can protect your pet and take the hassle out of dealing with vet bills.
How We Chose the Top Pet Insurance Providers in New Jersey
Our team researched and reviewed more than a dozen pet insurance companies, analyzing customer reviews, comparing policies, and consulting with industry experts. In our exhaustive review, we assessed the following factors:
- Quality of coverage: First and foremost, we focused on the types and amounts of coverage available from each provider, comparing conditions and treatments covered by each policy.
- Customization: We then looked at each company’s plan options. The more deductibles and reimbursements, higher coverage limits, and add-ons a provider had, the better they scored.
- Brand reputation: We heavily considered each company’s trustworthiness, looking at their BBB ratings, years in business, and customer reviews.
- User experience: We also used customer reviews to assess each pet insurance company’s overall user experience. Additionally, we looked for a mobile app, an online claims center for account management, a 24/7 vet help line, an online chat, and a simple quote and claims process.
- Waiting periods: All pet insurance companies have a waiting period for accidents, illnesses, and orthopedic conditions before coverage takes effect. Companies with shorter waiting periods were rated more highly than companies with longer ones.
- Age limits: We weighed each company’s coverage for older pets, prizing providers that offer plans to elderly dogs or cats without setting a standard age limit for eligibility.
- Cost: While cost is not the foremost concern when choosing a pet insurance provider, we did compare quotes from each provider and factor it lightly into our review process.