Best Pet Insurance In Florida
Pet insurance can help pet owners more easily afford veterinary costs for their pets. There are many suitable options for Floridians, with Pets Best being our highest rated.
Written by
Adeleine Whitten
Adeleine Whitten is a seasoned writer and lifelong pet owner with extensive experience in crafting content about veterinary topics that resonates with a diverse audience. She currently works as an in-house and freelance copywriter in Cleveland, Ohio. In her spare time, you can often find her with a good book or in the Taco Bell drive-thru.
Last Update on Jan 15, 2024
Table of Contents
Taking care of a pet can bring a person companionship, happiness, and a renewed sense of purpose. However, pet ownership is also a big responsibility, especially financially.
In Florida, one way you can help pay for the rising costs associated with pet ownership is by enrolling in pet insurance. Pet insurance can help pay for illnesses, injuries, and sometimes preventative care to help keep your pet healthy without the added financial stress.
Although many pet insurance plans aren’t available in every state, Floridians have various plans to choose from. Determining which plan is right for you will depend on your pet, your budget, and your desired coverage.
Top Pet Insurance Providers in Florida
Best for variety of plan options
Pets Best
App availability
Yes
Types of pets covered
Cats and dogs
Waiting periods
3 days for accidents, 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000, Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000
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Pros
- 24/7 telehealth line for pets
- Waiting period for accidents is only 3 days
- Several coverage and plan types
- No age maximum or coverage reduction for older pets
- Offers direct-to-vet payment option
Cons
- Waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries is 6 months
Additional Details
Pets Best offers a wide variety of accident and illness plans, accident only plans, and additional add-ons, so pet owners can choose exactly what coverage they need. Additionally, they process claims fairly quickly, offer short waiting periods, and give 24/7 access to telehealth services.
Coverages
- Accident and illness plans
- Accident only plans
- Optional add-on for routine care
Claims process
- Online via the Pets Best website or mobile app or through email, fax, or standard mail
Coverage details
- All accident and illness plans cover accidents, illnesses, cancer treatments, hereditary and congenital conditions, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing and chronic conditions, diagnostics, behavioral conditions, dental, prosthetic devices and wheelchairs, and end of life care
- Most accident and illness plans cover exam fees, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, physical rehabilitation, and prescription medications
- Accident only plans cover accidents such as broken bones, foreign object swallowing, poisoning, car accidents, lacerations, or snake bites.
- Routine care add-on covers expected veterinary visits, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and other expected medical care
Best for coverage customization
Embrace
App availability
Yes
Types of pets covered
Cats and dogs
Waiting periods
2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 6 months for orthopedic conditions
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000
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Pros
- Ability to customize coverage including deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual maximum
- Offers 24/7 telehealth line
- Covers exam fee costs
Cons
- Waiting period for orthopedic conditions is 6 months
- Doesn’t offer direct-to-vet payment option
- Doesn’t offer wellness insurance coverage
Additional Details
Embrace covers nearly every accident and illness that aren’t considered pre-existing conditions. Their plans include various options, so you can find the coverage that fits your needs and price point. Additionally, they offer a wellness rewards program to help you budget for preventative care.
Coverages
- Customizable plans cover nearly all accidents, illnesses, and conditions
- Wellness rewards program to help budget for preventative care
Claims process
- Online through the Embrace website or app
Coverage details
- Accidents include broken bones, ligament tears, osteosarcoma, and more
- Illnesses include dental illnesses, lyme disease, parasites, parasites, and other preventable illnesses
- Conditions include cancer, arthritis, diabetes, hip dysplasia, allergies, and other breed-specific, congenital, and genetic conditions
- Coverage includes treatments, rehabilitation, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, specialist care, diagnostic testing, and prescription medications
Best for connecting with local pet owners
Figo
App availability
Yes
Types of pets covered
Cats and dogs
Waiting periods
1 day for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 6 months for orthopedic injuries
Maximum annual coverage
$5,000, $10,000, Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
Deductible choices:
$100, $250, $500, $750
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Pros
- Waiting period for accidents is only 1 day
- Offers 24/7 access to telehealth line
- Offers a 100% reimbursement option
- Includes social features to connect with local pet owners
- 5% discount for multiple pets
Cons
- No coverage for dental illnesses
- Vet exam fee coverage is extra
- Waiting period for illnesses is 14 days
- Waiting period for orthopedic injuries is 6 months
- Limited coverage options for older pets
Additional Details
Figo offers one of the shortest waiting periods in the market, with only a 1-day wait for accidents. Additionally, Florida pet owners can take advantage of 24/7 access to telehealth services and social features to meet up with other pet owners in the area.
Coverages
- Illness and injury plans
- Optional wellness add-on
- Optional veterinary exam fees add-on
Claims process
- Online through the Figo Pet Cloud or through phone or fax
Coverage details
- Common illnesses such as colds and skin issues
- Accidents and emergencies such as broken bones or vehicular injuries
- Chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes
- Hereditary and congenital disorders such as hip dysplasia and heart problems
- Cancer treatment including radiation, chemo, and surgeries
- Wellness and preventative care including yearly exams, vaccines, and diagnostic tests
Best for unique coverage situations
Prudent Pet
App availability
No
Types of pets covered
Cats and dogs
Waiting periods
5 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses
Maximum annual coverage:
$10,000 or Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices
$100, $250, $500, $1,000
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Pros
- Ultimate plan covers unique situations that competitors don’t offer
- Waiting period for accidents is only 5 days
- 10% discount for multiple pets
- Offers 24/7 telehealth line
Cons
- No mobile app
- Exam fee coverage is extra
- Doesn’t offer direct-to-vet payment option
Additional Details
Prudent Pet offers many of the same coverage options other pet insurance providers do, but they also cover unique situations such as boarding if you were to be hospitalized or reimbursement for advertising and reward money if your pet were to become lost.
Coverages
- Accident only plan
- Essential plan covers accidents and illnesses
- Ultimate plan covers accidents, illnesses, behavioral issues, and additional unique coverage features
- Optional add-on to cover exam fees
- Optional add-ons to cover wellness
Claims process
- Online through the Prudent Pet website
Coverage details
- Accidents covered can include broken bones, auto accidents, sprains, wounds, burns, toxicity, foreign body ingestion, and any diagnostic exams and procedures related to the incident
- Illnesses covered can include allergies, behavioral problems, dental issues, growths or tumors, cancer, upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, and any diagnostic exams and procedures related to the illness
- The Ultimate plan includes additional situations such as boarding due to your hospitalization, reimbursement for advertising and rewards for a lost pet, and loss due to theft or stray
- Veterinary exam fee add-on covers fees related to vet visits for an additional monthly cost
- Wellness add-ons cover varying levels of preventative care and wellness exams
Best for full coverage
TrustedPals
App availability
Yes
Types of pets covered
Cats and dogs
Waiting periods
14 days for accidents or illness, 12 months for cruciate ligament injuries or hip dysplasia
Maximum annual coverage
$4,000, $8,000, Unlimited
Reimbursement choices
70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
Deductible choices
$0, $100, $250, $500, $750
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Pros
- Offers 0% deductible and 100% reimbursement
- 1% of all profits benefit homeless pets
- 5% discount for service dogs
Cons
- Doesn’t offer 24/7 telehealth line
- Doesn’t offer accident-only plan
- Waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries or hip dysplasia is 12 months
Additional Details
TrustedPals covers a wide variety of accidents and illnesses your pet may experience. They also offer additional coverage for behavioral services, training, and routine care. As a bonus, 1% of all their profits are donated to homeless pets affected by natural disasters.
Coverages
- Accident and illness plan
- Optional wellness add-on
Claims process
- Online through TrustedPals online “Pawtal” (portal)
Coverage details
- Accident and illness plans cover situations such as toxic ingestion, broken bones, diagnostic and testing, ear infections, cancer, prescription food, prescription medications, surgery, and more
- Optional wellness plan offers $750 per year to cover annual exams, dental cleanings, flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, prescription pet food, spaying/neutering, and vaccinations
Exclusions And Limitations
Although every provider is different, most pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions. With some exceptions for curable conditions, any condition that your pet has shown symptoms for or has been treated for before enrolling in coverage is considered pre-existing.
Additionally, insurance providers typically set waiting periods after enrollment before coverage kicks in. These typically range from a few days to a few months, depending on the type of claim. Any costs incurred during this waiting period will not be covered by pet insurance.
Other costs that aren’t typically covered by pet insurance include daycare, boarding, experimental treatment, cosmetic procedures (such as ear cropping or declawing), and care related to pregnancy or breeding.
Cost Of Pet Insurance In Florida
Pet insurance premiums depend on a variety of factors including location, pet type, breed, age, covered services, deductible, and reimbursement percentage. However, you may qualify for discounts if you enroll multiple pets, don’t file a claim for a period of time, or bundle your pet insurance with other offerings.
In Florida, the average cost to enroll a pet in pet insurance is as follows:
- Dogs: $14 – $80
- Cats: $11 – $36
- Exotic Pets: $10 – $100
Cost Of Pet Insurance In Florida Versus Other Regions
Location can cause the price of pet insurance to go up or down depending on the cost of veterinary services in your area. Pet insurance in Florida is slightly higher than the national average for dogs and slightly lower than the national average for cats.
Within Florida, different cities can also result in varying costs of pet insurance coverage. For example, a pet residing in Jacksonville will likely cost more than a pet residing Tallahassee, and a pet residing in Miami will likely fall somewhere in between the two.
Pet Laws In Florida
- Licensing and leash requirements in Florida and in some of the major cities
- Other laws governing pet ownership in Florida
As a pet owner in Florida, it’s important to stay up to date with statewide laws surrounding pet ownership, along with additional regulations set by your locality. A few pet laws to be aware of in the state of Florida include:
- All dogs and cats older than 4 months of age must be vaccinated against rabies and registered with the state
- All pet waste must be removed from public property and properly disposed of
Some Florida cities have additional pet laws that must be followed:
Jacksonville:
- Pet owners must not own more than 4 cats or dogs over the age of 4 months at any one time
- Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than 8 feet at all times in public areas
Miami:
- Noisy pets, such as barking dogs, can incur a fine up to $100
- Dogs should not be tethered outdoors outside the owner’s visible range
Tampa:
- Dogs must be kept on a least no longer than 6 feet at all times when off their own property
- Dogs cannot be left unattended when tethered outside
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
Unlike human insurance, pet insurance does not have in-network or out-of-network providers. Instead, pet owners will pay for veterinary services upfront and then file a claim for reimbursement from the pet insurance provider. Reimbursement will be sent directly to the owner.
When Should I Enroll My Pet In Pet Insurance?
Most plans allow a pet to be enrolled at any time after 8 weeks, although some may have age maximums as well. However, to avoid any conditions being considered “pre-existing”, it may be wise to enroll pets sooner rather than later.
Does My Pet Need To Be Spayed Or Neutered To Enroll In Pet Insurance?
Whether your pet needs to be spayed or neutered will depend on the pet insurance provider; however, some plans may charge additional costs to insure an unspayed/unneutered animal. Additionally, some plans may cover spaying or neutering as part of their wellness plans.
How Long Does It Take To Receive Pet Insurance Reimbursement?
The time it takes to receive reimbursement will depend on how you submit your claim (online versus standard mail), the complexity of your claim (how quickly it can be approved), and the pet insurance provider itself. This could range from a few days to a few weeks.
Find out more
- Pet Insurance for Pre-existing Conditions – Explore coverage options in Washington for pets with health history.
- Pet Insurance Worth It? – Evaluate the benefits of pet insurance for Washington pet owners.
- How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? – Understand the cost of pet insurance in Washington.
- List of Pet Insurance Companies – Compare the best pet insurance providers in Washington.
- What Does Pet Insurance Cover? – Get to know what’s included in Washington pet insurance plans.
- Pet Insurance That Pays the Vet Directly – Find Washington insurers that offer direct vet payments.
- Does Pet Insurance Cover Surgery? – Ensure your Washington pets are covered for surgical procedures.
- Senior Pet Insurance – Discover insurance options for your older pets in Washington.
Adeleine Whitten
Author
Adeleine Whitten is a seasoned writer and lifelong pet owner with extensive experience in crafting content about veterinary topics that resonates with a diverse audience. She currently works as an in-house and freelance copywriter in Cleveland, Ohio. In her spare time, you can often find her with a good book or in the Taco Bell drive-thru.
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