Best pet insurance in Arizona in July 2024
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BLUEPRINT
Published 1:40 p.m. UTC June 6, 2024
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Figo is the best pet insurance in Arizona, based on our in-depth analysis of cost and coverage. Figo pet insurance plans come with a one-day waiting period on accidents, 24/7 access to a pet telehealth line and coverage for alternative therapies and end-of-life expenses.
Best pet insurance companies in Arizona
- Figo: Best pet insurance in Arizona.
- Healthy Paws: Best pet insurance for unlimited coverage in Arizona.
- Lemonade: Best pet insurance in Arizona for fast claims processing.
- Paw Protect: Best pet insurance in Arizona for policy extras.
- Pets Best: Best pet insurance for cats and kittens in Arizona.
- Embrace: Best pet insurance for older dogs and cats in Arizona.
Why trust our pet insurance experts
Our team of pet insurance experts evaluates hundreds of pet insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 4,000+ pet insurance rates reviewed.
- 500+ coverage details evaluated.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Top-rated pet insurance companies in Arizona
Compare the best pet insurance rates in Arizona
| PET INSURANCE COMPANY | ARIZONA RATING | AVERAGE MONTHLY COST FOR A DOG | AVERAGE MONTHLY COST FOR A CAT | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Figo | $66 | $28 | ||||||
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 Healthy Paws | $53 | $24 | ||||||
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 Lemonade | $57 | $32 | ||||||
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 Paw Protect | $79 | $34 | ||||||
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 Pets Best | $73 | $42 | ||||||
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 Embrace | $78 | $54 | ||||||
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*Average monthly Arizona pet insurance premiums assume unlimited reimbursement (or the highest level offered by that company), a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement percentage.
How much is pet insurance in Arizona?
The average cost of Arizona pet insurance with unlimited coverage is $80 per month for dogs and $41 per month for cats.
How much pet insurance in AZ will cost for your pet depends on factors like your pet’s species, breed, age, size and gender. Your Arizona ZIP code also factors into your pet insurance premiums.
Arizona pet insurance rates by city
*Source: Petinsurer.com. Average monthly rates are based on dog insurance in Arizona; policies included have a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.
Average cost of veterinary care in Arizona
How much you pay for veterinary care will vary based on your location. Here are the average costs for dogs and cats to visit a vet office in Phoenix.
| CITY | VET OFFICE VISIT | VACCINES* | PROFESSIONAL DENTAL CLEANING | SPAY/NEUTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoenix
| Dog $63.95
Cat $63.95
| Dog $206.67
Cat $90.11
| Dog $373.95
Cat $373.95
| Dog $474.35
Cat $280.45
|
*Dog vaccines include Bordetella, DAPP, bivalent influenza, leptospirosis, Lyme disease and rabies. Cat vaccines include feline distemper FVRCP, feline leukemia virus and rabies. Source: Banfield Pet Hospital.
Average cost of Arizona pet insurance claims
The average pet insurance claim in Arizona is $467, according to Embrace Pet Insurance Company’s most recent data.
These are the highest individual-paid Arizona pet insurance claims so far this year, according to Embrace:
- For dogs: $13,535, $13,429 and $10,116.
- For cats: $11,486, $8,142 and $5,882.
How to find the best pet insurance in Arizona
When searching for the best pet insurance, Arizona pet owners should compare pet insurance quotes from several companies. Doing so can help you find the most comprehensive coverage for the lowest price.
However, price and coverage aren’t the only things to compare. You should also consider the following factors:
- Waiting periods. Even the best pet insurance policies have waiting periods, which is the time between the policy’s effective date and when coverage begins. The accident coverage waiting period is usually between two and 14 days. The illness waiting period is generally 14 or 15 days. Certain conditions, such as hip dysplasia and other orthopedic conditions, typically require a six-month waiting period.
- Discounts. One of the most common discounts pet insurers offer is the multi-pet discount, which is a great way to lower the cost of pet insurance if you have more than one pet to insure. You may also save if you’re in the military or opt to pay annually instead of monthly.
- Wellness plan options. Most pet insurance companies offer a wellness plan add-on for an extra cost. If you want coverage for your pet’s routine care expenses, consider an insurer offering this optional coverage for a low price.
- Vet exam fees. Most vets have a consultation or exam fee when evaluating your pet for injury or sickness. Some pet insurers cover exam fees, but most won’t. If this coverage is important to you, check plans to see if it’s included or available for an extra cost.
- Vet direct pay. Most pet insurance companies require you to pay the bill upfront and submit a claim for reimbursement. Some pet insurers, like Pets Best, have an option to pay the vet directly in some circumstances. This could help if your pet has a large, unexpected bill that you may not be able to cover in full out of pocket.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is an insurance policy that can help offset veterinary costs for a pet’s injuries and illnesses. Many pet insurance plans offer an optional wellness plan add-on to reimburse you for some of your pet’s preventive care expenses.
Types of pet insurance plans
There are two types of pet insurance Arizona owners can choose from: accident and illness policies and accident-only plans.
Accident and illness plans
Most pet owners choose an accident and illness plan since it offers the broadest pet insurance coverage. It can cover incidents like your Australian shepherd getting bitten by a rattlesnake or your French bulldog suffering from heat stroke. It can also pay for hereditary or congenital conditions, ingesting an object or breaking a bone.
Comprehensive pet insurance plans cover veterinary costs for accidents and illnesses such as:
- Blood work.
- CT scans, X-rays and MRIs.
- Diagnostic testing.
- Emergency medical care.
- Hospitalization costs.
- Prescription medications.
- Surgery.
Accident-only plans
A cost-effective option is an accident-only plan, which doesn’t cover sickness. It can cover emergencies like your Labrador retriever tearing his ACL during a game of fetch in the backyard or your poodle cutting her leg while swimming in Gateway Park. But if your beagle gets kennel cough or your sphynx develops allergies or conjunctivitis, it won’t be covered.
Wellness plans
Some Arizona pet insurance companies offer optional coverage for preventive and routine care that pet insurance doesn’t cover. These wellness plans come at an additional cost, but can help you pay for:
- Dental cleanings.
- Heartworm, flea and tick testing and prevention.
- Microchipping.
- Spaying and neutering.
- Vaccinations.
- Wellness exam fees.
How pet insurance works
Pet insurance companies consider your pet’s breed, age, gender and ZIP code when determining the cost of pet insurance. The level and type of coverage also factor into your monthly premiums.
- Coverage maximum. This amount is the most the insurer will pay for covered veterinary care each year. Most of the best pet insurance companies offer unlimited annual coverage, but some have a cap. For example, Lemonade only covers up to $100,000 of vet bills annually.
- Deductible.This is the amount you must pay towards your pet’s eligible vet visits before the pet insurance provider starts paying its portion. Deductible options are usually between $0 and $1,000. Lower deductibles increase pet insurance premiums, but you’ll spend less for covered medical expenses.
- Reimbursement level. Your pet insurance policy will reimburse a specific portion of covered veterinary care after you’ve met the deductible. The most common reimbursement rates are 70%, 80% and 90%. As with your deductible, the more the insurance company pays, the higher your premiums.
Methodology
We analyzed 12 pet insurance companies in Arizona using data from Petinsurer.com.
For this analysis, average Arizona pet insurance rates are based on accident and illness plans, which account for 98% of pet insurance policies purchased, according to data from the North American Health Pet Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Arizona rates are also based on insuring dogs, as dogs make up 85% of insured pets, per NAPHIA.
Each pet insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:
- Cost: 50 points. We calculated average rates for accident and illness pet insurance plans for a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog at two different ages in Arizona, with unlimited annual reimbursement (or the highest level offered by that company), a $250 deductible and a 90% reimbursement percentage. The lower the average rate, the higher the number of points.
- Annual coverage limits: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer annual reimbursement of up to $100,000, or unlimited annual coverage scored in this category.
- 24/7 vet line: 10 points. Insurance companies that offer access to a 24/7 vet line earned points. Being able to call for medical advice might save you money on vet visits.
- Routine wellness plan: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer an optional wellness plan add-on scored points. Wellness plans can reimburse you for preventative care for your pet.
- Pays vet exam fees: 10 points. If a pet insurance plan includes pet exam fees, the insurer received 10 points. If this is offered as a coverage add on, the insurer received 5 points.
- Behavioral therapy: 5 points. If an insurance company covers behavior therapy in its pet insurance plans, it scored points.
- Euthanasia or end of life expenses included: 5 points. If euthanasia or other end of life expenses are covered in pet insurance plans, an insurance company scored in this category.
Best pet insurance in Arizona FAQs
In Arizona, the average cost of pet insurance with unlimited annual coverage is:
- $81.34 per month for dogs.
- $40.97 per month for cats.
Pet insurance in Arizona with a $5,000 annual coverage maximum costs an average of:
- $59.98 per month for dogs.
- $30.48 per month for cats.
Unless a vet’s office participates in vet direct pay, pet insurance is a reimbursement and not an acceptable payment method. You must pay your vet’s bill in full and then submit a pet insurance claim with the receipt and visit details to your pet insurance company for reimbursement.
Some disadvantages of pet insurance include the following:
- Older pets cost more and premiums increase as your pet ages.
- Pre-existing conditions are usually not covered by pet insurance.
- You generally have to pay the vet bill in full and then wait for reimbursement.
- You typically have to meet a deductible each year before the insurance company reimburses its percentage of covered expenses.
- Most pet insurance policies have exclusions on pregnancy, birth, grooming, food and nutritional and dietary supplements.
Here are some pet illnesses and diseases you should be aware of in Arizona:
- Heat stroke. Brachycephalic or flat-faced dogs like bulldogs and pugs are at higher risk than other dog breeds.
- Undetermined Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex. Symptoms are similar to kennel cough; most dogs get them from high-traffic places like dog parks, boarding and daycare facilities. Though most dogs recover after a few weeks, it’s been fatal for some dogs that don’t have a strong immune system.
- Valley Fever. Pets are most susceptible in the Arizona low desert regions of Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties. Around 6% to 10% of dogs in this area get sick from Valley Fever annually, according to the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona.
Like other states, Arizona has local and statewide pet laws to keep the community and your pet safe. The Grand Canyon State requires all dog owners to:
- Get a county license for dogs three months and older.
- Have a current rabies vaccination.
- Have a license tag, which must be displayed on the dog’s collar or harness.
- Be held personally responsible for any damage or injuries their dog inflicts on others when running at large.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
