Conscientious pet parents understand that while their dogs and cats may be healthy from day to day, emergencies can happen at any time. For this reason, many people purchase pet insurance to help safeguard against financial hardships that such circumstances may create, therefore guaranteeing their pets have access to the necessary care, irrespective of price. To help you with your research, we are happy to share the 6 best pet insurance companies for North Carolina residents.
6 Best North Carolina Pet Insurance for Dogs & Cats (2024 Reviews)
5 Top Dog & Cat Insurance Companies Compared for North Carolina
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1. Lemonade
(Best overall)
Why it’s great: Lemonade tops the rankings for the best overall pet insurance company with a wide range of benefits, including extensive accident and illness coverage, affordable rates and wellness packages. They also have one of the shortest accident waiting periods, which is currently 2 days. Pet parents can rest assured their furry friends will get the care they need. Lemonade makes it simple for pet parents to file claims via their world-class mobile app. Don’t forget to bundle a pet insurance plan with renters’ or homeowners’ insurance to receive a discount.
Keep in mind: Be aware that you may have to submit veterinary
documentation if your pet has a pre-existing condition.Good for: Almost all dogs and cats, especially the young and healthy.
Average price for DOGS in North Carolina: $22.33/month
Average price for CATS in North Carolina: $11.00/month
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2. Wagmo
(Best for wellness)
Why it’s great: Wagmo has a speedy reimbursement process, which is done via direct deposit, PayPal or Venmo. Moreover, they reimburse up to 100% of veterinary fees once you meet your annual deductible. They also give discounts to those who insure multiple pets or had no claims in the previous year. If that weren’t enough, pet parents have the freedom to choose their dog or cat’s veterinarian.
Keep in mind: Wagmo has maximum lifetime benefits of $100,000. After which, animals are no longer eligible for coverage.
Good for: Pet parents who want a balanced mix of wellness and emergency care.
Average price for DOGS in North Carolina: $48.98/month
Average price for CATS in North Carolina: $29.42/month
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3. Figo
(Best for cats)
Why it’s great: Figo may insure both cats and dogs, but they feature some of the best monthly premiums for felines. They also provide their customers with live, 24/7 veterinary support, which pet parents can access via the mobile app. Better yet, Figo has a dynamic selection of wellness packages for pet owners to choose from, including one that will reimburse up to $250 in prescription food should the vet deem it essential to your pet’s recovery.
Keep in mind: Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
Good for: Cat parents and pet owners who want their insurance to cover
24/7 telehealth services.Average price for DOGS in North Carolina: $33.83/month
Average price for CATS in North Carolina: $17.08/month
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4. Pawp
(Best for pre-existing conditions)
Why it’s great: Pawp’s emergency fund will protect up to 6 pets of any age, breed or health history within a household for $24 per month. In addition, pet parents get free virtual veterinary and pet expert consultations. With Pawp, there are no copays, deductibles or credit checks. Also, pet owners are free to choose any veterinarian for their cat or dog. Pawp’s coverage highlights that they guarantee that their customers will leave the vet’s clinic with their bills paid in full, eliminating the potential stress of waiting for reimbursement.
Keep in mind: The emergency fund limits coverage to emergencies approved by their virtual team of vets. Additionally, they only reimburse one pet’s care per household for a single vet bill of less than $3,000 each year.
Good for: Older pets or those with pre-existing conditions. Makes an
excellent supplement for a traditional pet insurance plan.Price: $24/month
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5. Embrace
(Best established brand)
Why it’s great: Embrace is well-known for having many perks such as unlimited lifetime benefits, multiple pet discounts and diminishing deductibles. A diminishing deductible means it drops automatically by $50 upon renewal after each year in which you have had no claim reimbursements. One of their most unique benefits is their wellness package add-on, which extends coverage to alternative veterinary treatments, including reiki, chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy.
Keep in mind: The wellness plan provides a maximum of $650 in total combined claims, equating to an annual savings of approximately $25. Any unused funds attributed to the wellness package will not be refunded at the end of your policy year.
Good for: Pet parents who want their pets to receive new age, alternative
veterinary treatments.Average price for DOGS in North Carolina: $61.18/month
Average price for CATS in North Carolina: $35.73/month
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6. Eusoh
(Best pet healthshare community)
Why it’s great: Eusoh is an excellent alternative to pet insurance, offering community health sharing plans that continue to save their members as much as 50% on veterinary care. Members get reimbursed for accident, illness and routine care-related expenses. Eusoh also allows pet parents to choose their veterinarian and access telehealth services via FirstVet.
Keep in mind: Eusoh is not a pet insurance company. Instead, they provide their members with an expense-sharing community. The maximum annual reimbursement total is $8,500 per year, and the highest reimbursement rate is 80%.
Good for: Pet parents that prefer healthshare communities.
Average price for DOGS in North Carolina: $62.58/month
Average price for CATS in North Carolina: $40.94/month
Lemonade
Lemonade is our overall top recommendation. It’s the most comprehensive pet insurance provider in North Carolina and they also offer the best value.
Average price for DOGS in North Carolina: $22.33/month
Average price for CATS in North Carolina: $11.00/month
FAQs about Pet Insurance in North Carolina
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1. What does pet insurance typically cover for dogs and cats?
While coverage differs from one provider to another, a good rule of thumb is that all accidents and ailments considered sudden and catastrophic will be covered. Such covered care includes emergency treatments, tests, exams, diagnostics, surgery and medication.
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2. How much does pet insurance cost in North Carolina?
Pet insurance in North Carolina costs anywhere from $15.45 to $46.64 per month for dogs (based on prices for a healthy 2-year-old located in the 27401 zip code). And anywhere from $14.45 to $18.01 per month for cats (based on prices for a healthy 2-year-old located in the 27401 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.
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3. Can I cancel my dog or cat insurance plan after I make a claim?
Most pet insurance companies will let you cancel your policy at any time. However, you will need to contact them to find out the steps you will need to take.
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4. Do North Carolina pet insurance companies cover spaying and neutering?
North Carolina pet insurance companies do not include spaying or neutering in the coverage. However, some providers such as Embrace offer wellness add-ons that will reimburse for these operations.
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5. Does the cost of insurance increase as my pet ages?
Monthly premiums will go up as your pet ages to help offset the elevated risk of your pet becoming ill or having an accident as they grow older. Premium increases become most noticeable once your pet turns 4 or 5 years old.
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6. Which companies cover pre-existing conditions?
Pawp is known for offering the best coverage for pets with pre-existing conditions, particularly in emergencies. However, Embrace has policy terms covering limited ‘curable’ pre-existing conditions. It is always good to seek further clarification on the extent of coverage directly from the providers. Do not worry, though; pre-existing conditions will not preclude your pet from becoming insured.
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7. Is pet insurance worth it in North Carolina?
Pet insurance can be valuable for North Carolina pet owners since most pets suffer veterinary emergencies at some time in their lives. Since urgent care is pricey, pet insurance provides a financial cushion to help you afford the necessary procedures and treatments. For example, cancer therapies can cost as much as $10,000 and hip replacement surgery $7,000.
Conclusion
We hope this article helps you determine the right pet insurance plan for your much-loved cat or dog. We suggest taking extra time to delve into the benefits and terms each provider offers before you settle upon one. Buying the best North Carolina pet insurance plan will help you protect your little pal in emergencies and ensure they get the best routine care. Ultimately, the goal is to help them share a long, happy and healthy life with you.
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 27401 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
- Eusoh = $8,500
- Lemonade = $20,000