October 14, 2024
Best Pet Insurance in Florida for 2023

Final Verdict

If you are looking for the best pet insurance in Florida, you have several high-quality options. The right fit depends on your priorities. Figo Insurance offers the most comprehensive plans in the state for a good price and has quick claim payments, as does Prudent Pet Insurance. But Pets Best goes even further and pays your vet directly so you don’t first have to spend out-of-pocket for covered treatments.

Your type of pet also matters for finding the best animal health insurance. Nationwide is the only major insurer in Florida for birds and other exotic animals. On the other hand, if you have an older pet with some health issues, ASPCA is best for “cured” pre-existing conditions, whereas AKC Pet Insurance is best for pre-existing health conditions that are ongoing.

And military service members and veterans may want to check out USAA, thanks to its substantial military discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, pet insurance plans cover medically necessary surgeries. The types of surgery covered will depend on your policy terms. For example, an accident-only policy would only cover surgeries for injuries, whereas an accident-and-illness policy would also cover surgeries for illnesses. Pet insurance policies typically do not cover elective surgeries, like spaying and neutering.

  • Yes, you can get pet insurance even if your animal has a pre-existing condition. However, the policy likely will exclude paying for treatment related to the pre-existing condition unless the condition is considered cured, which means it’s been symptom-free for a certain period of time.

  • Most standard pet insurance plans do not cover flea and tick medication. Pet insurance plans typically cover only illnesses and injuries, not preventive care like flea and tick medication. Some plans do include preventive care, though, automatically or for an additional charge. So if your insurance has this wellness benefit, it could cover these medications.

  • No, you cannot deduct pet insurance on your taxes, assuming your animal is your pet only. If you own a service animal or your animal is part of your work, like a sheep-herding dog, the insurance premiums could be deductible. But in most cases, you cannot deduct the cost of pet insurance.

  • With pet insurance in Florida, you pay a monthly premium to cover your animal. Then, if your pet gets sick or injured, the pet insurance will help pay your vet bills. Each pet insurance policy has different rules regarding what’s covered, your out-of-pocket costs, and the reimbursement process.



Methodology

Our researchers studied 25 of Florida’s most popular pet insurance companies. We then rated each company across 15 categories to identify the best ones. The categories we considered were:

  • Coverage (17%): For coverage, we considered what each insurer would and would not cover for pet healthcare. This included both the amount of coverage as well as whether insurers would cover specific categories like vet exams, medications, and rehab.
  • Cost to value (15%): For cost to value, we pulled sample quotes for both a dog and a cat in the 33311 area code (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). With this information, we weighed the level of coverage against the cost. Insurers that offered more coverage for lower premiums received a better score.
  • Claims processing (12%): We considered how quickly an insurer paid claims. We also checked whether an insurer would pay a vet directly, so you don’t have to pay for covered costs out of pocket.
  • Deductibles, reimbursement %, annual and lifetime maximum (9%): Pet insurance plans do not pay all your vet bills. Most charge a deductible and only cover a percentage of covered costs, such as 90%. Plans typically set annual and lifetime limits for coverage as well.
  • Waiting periods (9%): Pet insurers require a waiting period before covering your pet’s illnesses and injuries. The shorter the waiting period, the better the score.
  • Discount opportunities (7%): Some insurers offer discounts, like if you are in the military or if you insure more than one pet at once. The better the discounts, the better the score.
  • Cured pre-existing conditions coverage (6%): We checked whether insurers cover cured pre-existing conditions and the waiting period required. We also checked whether an insurer would cover bilateral conditions if the condition already presented on one side of the body. 
  • Age limits (5%): Insurers could set a minimum and maximum age limit for covering pets. We gave a better score for insurers with more generous ranges.
  • Quote process (4%): Insurers that offer instant online quotes and sample contracts scored higher.
  • Customer service (4%): We considered whether an insurance company offered an online app for claims and the number of customer service options provided: phone, email, and live chat. The more, the better.
  • 24/7 vet helpline (3%): Insurers with a 24/7 vet helpline received a better score.
  • Negative claims impact (3%): Some insurers charge higher rates and/or reduce coverage if you file claims. Other insurers do not. We scored insurers who didn’t ding you for claims higher.
  • Company metrics (3%): Companies that have been in business for more years scored higher for their long-term experience versus brand-new insurers. We also gave a better score for insurers that operated in more states.
  • Fees (3%): Besides premiums, insurers may also charge enrollment fees and ongoing service fees. We considered the amount of fees. Companies that charge the highest fees, scored lowest.
  • Birds/exotic animals coverage (1%): Most pet insurance plans only focus on covering cats and dogs. Insurers that covered other animals received a higher score.