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5 Best Maryland Pet Insurance for Dogs & Cats (2024 Reviews)

Enjoying harbor scenery with dog
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If you’ve begun the process of researching pet insurance for your beloved cat or dog, then you—like us—probably think of your pet as family. Pets have a unique way of bringing us joy, comfort, and humor as we traverse all the ups and downs of everyday life.

No matter your pet’s health, though, we know that any pet can be subject to an unexpected health emergency. In these cases, immediate veterinary care is usually needed, and such care isn’t cheap. Pet insurance can protect you from these financial strains so that you can better tend to the emotional stress a pet emergency brings.

We are here with the 5 best pet insurance companies for Maryland pet owners to help you find the best option for your furry family member!

Enjoying harbor scenery in Annapolis
Setting out on journey with doggy from Annapolis Harbor :)

5 Top Maryland Pet Insurance for Dogs & Cats

  • 1. Lemonade

    (Best overall)

    Why it’s great: Lemonade comes in best overall due to its affordable rates, available add-ons for preventative care, and their comprehensive illness and accident coverage. Whereas many other providers will normally require you to wait 14 days between applying for insurance and your insurance becoming active, Lemonade’s waiting period is only 2 days. Their world-class mobile app makes filing claims easy, fast, and simple. To top off their extensive list of benefits, Lemonade also offers an extra discount to pet owners who bundle their pet insurance policy with renters or homeowner’s insurance.

    Keep in mind: Keep in mind that you may need to submit veterinary documentation of your furry friend’s medical history before you can get an active policy, particularly if they are older or have any sort of pre-existing health condition.

    Good for: Almost all dogs and cats, especially those that are young and healthy pets.

    Average price for DOGS in Maryland: $26.75/ month

    Average price for CATS in Maryland: $11.58/month

    Lemonade

    Learn more at Lemonade.com ➜

  • 2. Wagmo

    (Best for wellness)

    Why it’s great: Maryland pet owners can’t help but love Wagmo’s reimbursement rates of up to 100% of vet fees for the rest of the year once they’ve met their deductible. Wagon offers lightning-fast reimbursement services via direct deposit, PayPal, and Venmo, in addition to their vast array of wellness plan add-ons. If you go a year without submitting a claim, you can get additional discounts on top of Wagmo’s already existing discounts! The cherry on top with Wagmo for many pet owners is that you can keep your primary vet if you’d like, rather than having to switch vet offices.

    Keep in mind: Should you end up receiving $100,000 in pet insurance coverage from Wagmo, your coverage will end due to Wagmo’s limited lifetime payout.

    Good for: Pet parents who want a great wellness and care coverage combination.

    Average price for DOGS in Maryland: $44.77/ month

    Average price for CATS in Maryland: $26.99/month

    Wagmo

    Learn more at Wagmo.io ➜

  • 3. Figo

    (Best for cats)

    Why it’s great: Many Maryland cat lovers enjoy Figo’s especially-low cat insurance premiums. With live 24/7 veterinary support available through their mobile app, Figo understands that you may be faced with a pet emergency outside of conventional business hours. Figo has several different add-on wellness packages, including a package option that covers up to $250 in veterinary prescribed food. Unlike Wagmo, Figo has no limited lifetime payouts, meaning you will never have to cancel your policy because you received a certain amount of financial coverage.

    Keep in mind: Like the majority of pet insurance companies, Figo does not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions.

    Good for: Pet owners who crave the peace-of-mind of being able to contact a vet 24/7 and have it covered by insurance.

    Average price for DOGS in Maryland: $42.45/ month

    Average price for CATS in Maryland: $21.42/month

    Figo

    Learn more at FigoPetInsurance.com ➜

  • 4. Pawp

    (Best for pre-existing conditions)

    Why it’s great: Most pet insurances require your pet to be a certain age before you can get them covered, but not Pawp’s. Pawp’s Emergency Fund covers up to 6 pets of any age, breed, or even any with pre-existing health conditions for a mere $24/month. Within this package are also services like 24/7 access to their licensed virtual vet teams and pet experts. Pawp takes your vet experience above and beyond by fully paying the bill before you’ve even left the office; giving you the choice of any vet you want to take your pet to; and eliminating pesky copays, deductibles, and credit checks.

    Keep in mind: Pawp will only offer financial reimbursement if their virtual vet team approves your claim. Moreover, their “Emergency Fund” plan only covers one of your pets for a single vet bill up to $3,000 per year.

    Good for: Older pets or those with pre-existing conditions. Can also be a good supplement for a typical pet insurance policy.

    Price: $24/ month

    Pawp

    Learn more at Pawp.com ➜

  • 5. Embrace

    (Best established brand)

    Why it’s great: Like Figo, Embrace has no maximum lifetime payout limits. For every year you go without needing to claim a reimbursement, your deductible will decrease by $50. Should your pet need a spay/neuter procedure, Embrace’s optional routine care plan can cover it. A few unique features of Embrace’s wellness plan include acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and reiki.

    Keep in mind: Your pet is only eligible for coverage up to 14 years of age. Further, the maximum combined claims for the wellness add-on is $650/year, which equates to approximately $25 in annual savings. Additionally, there are no refunds on wellness plans if all of those funds are not used within the space of a year.

    Good for: Pet parents interested in new age, alternative veterinary care.

    Average price for DOGS in Maryland: $55.77/ month

    Average price for CATS in Maryland: $32.57/month

    Embrace

    Learn more at EmbracePetInsurance.com ➜

Best Overall

Lemonade

Lemonade is our overall top recommendation. It’s the most comprehensive pet insurance provider in Maryland and they also offer the best value.

Average price for DOGS in Maryland: $26.75/ month

Average price for CATS in Maryland: $11.58/month

Lemonade

Learn more at Lemonade.com ➜

FAQs about Pet Insurance in Maryland

  • 1. What does pet insurance typically cover for dogs and cats?

    It is important to review each insurance company’s policies before applying for your pet’s insurance, since coverage will vary. However, you can typically expect pet insurance to cover illnesses and injuries that are sudden and unexpected. The kinds of medical care you can normally expect to be covered by your pet insurance include emergency surgery, exams, tests, medications, and sometimes emergency aftercare.

  • 2. How much does pet insurance cost in Maryland?

    Pet insurance in Maryland costs anywhere from $19.39 to $58.53 per month for dogs (based on prices for a healthy 2-year-old located in the 21209 zip code). And anywhere from $18.13 to $22.61 per month for cats (based on prices for a healthy 2-year-old located in the 21209 zip code). Prices can vary greatly depending on your zip code, the breed of your pet, its age, and medical history.

    We recommend getting a quote from Lemonade who we’ve seen consistently offer the lowest prices and best coverage out of any other provider.

  • 3. Can I cancel my dog or cat insurance plan after I make a claim?

    Because pet insurance requires a payment each month, rather than an annual fee, you can usually cancel your policy at any time if you give your insurance company appropriate notification—meaning, you will likely need to let your insurance provider know, in writing, of your decision to forgo further coverage.

    Suppose your pet is diagnosed with a health concern before you discontinue your insurance policy, that health problem could be considered a “pre-existing health condition” if you try to get your insurance policy started back up again. Basic pet insurance plans will not cover most pre-existing health conditions.

  • 4. Do Maryland pet insurance companies cover spaying and neutering?

    While pet insurance in general doesn’t usually financially cover spay/neuter costs, some companies will offer additional wellness packages that you can purchase on top of your basic plan. One such pet insurance company is Embrace.

    You can determine whether the add-on package is worth it for you by evaluating the cost and benefits in light of your current financial situation.

  • 5. Does the cost of insurance increase as my pet ages?

    There is not normally a restriction on how old your pet can be before you are no longer eligible for coverage, but the cost of pet insurance for elderly pets is typically higher. Older pets are often more likely to get sick so it is typical for most pet insurance providers to compensate for this by increasing their monthly premiums.

  • 6. Which companies cover pre-existing conditions?

    Pawp insurance ranks best overall for its coverage of pre-existing health conditions, especially when an emergency occurs involving a pre-existing problem. when it comes to covering pre-existing conditions, especially when an emergency needs to be covered. While you would need to clarify the exact details with them before applying for a policy, Embrace pet insurance also offers limited coverage for pre-existing conditions that are deemed curable.

    With that in mind, however, it is important to remember that most pet insurances will not offer coverage for any pre-existing health conditions your pet may have. Although this does limit the amount of coverage you can get, it doesn’t keep you from getting any coverage at all, meaning that you can still protect your precious pet despite any longstanding health issues.

  • 7. Is pet insurance worth it in Maryland?

    On average, vet bills are more expensive in Maryland than in other parts of the US. If an unexpected pet emergency occurs, your risk of having significant financial loss is high. With pet insurance, though, roughly 80% of that heavy cost can be reimbursed back to you!

    Of course, the hope is to never have to use your pet insurance for a life-or-death emergency for your pet. But when a health crisis hits, it’s the peace of mind of knowing you and your pet are protected that can make pet insurance more than worth a small monthly premium.

  • 8. What are some strategies to keep my pet safe in Maryland?

    Some great rules of thumb for pet safety include keeping all food, medications, and cleaners out of paw’s reach; additionally, never leaving your pet unattended in the car, particularly on a hot summer’s day, can prevent accidental injury and even death.

    Maryland is home to a few toxic critters your pet could come across in the yard or on a walk. Keep your pet away if you suspect a Northern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake, or Brown Recluse spider lurking nearby!

    While hurricanes and tornadoes aren’t common, Maryland has suffered extensive damage due to local natural disasters even in the past few years. Having an emergency plan in place for you and your pet can help prevent accidentally leaving your pet behind in the case of an evacuation. In the summer of 2020, Maryland had nearly consecutive days of temperatures soaring past 90 degrees. If your pet is primarily outdoors, you may need to bring them inside, in addition to providing appropriate shelter and access to food and water when they are outdoors.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped make the process of selecting the best pet insurance company for your fur family a little easier. Before making your final decision about an insurance policy for your cat or dog, we advise taking time to research and review your favorite insurance companies. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the conditions of each of their policies.

Once you’ve purchased your Maryland pet insurance, you can rest easy knowing that your best pal will be protected during emergencies, in addition to receiving preventative care before a health crisis can even arise!

Here’s to all the many years of adventure and fun you have to look forward to with your beloved pet.

In our experience, after careful review, we’ve consistently seen Lemonade has the best combination of coverage and price.

Note: Our prices listed above are accurate in January 2022 and may change at any time. Please get a quote for your pet on one of the recommended websites for the most accurate monthly costs. These prices are based on a Labrador Retriever dog and American Shorthair cat located in the 21209 zipcode. We chose a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement amount for each policy we reviewed (except for Pawp). The annual benefit amount we selected for each provider is as follows:

  • Wagmo = $20,000
  • Figo = $5,000
  • Pawp = $3,000
  • Embrace = $5,000
  • Lemonade = $20,000