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Compare the Best Pet Insurance Companies in California
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in California
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in California?
The average cost of pet insurance in California is $52 per month for a dog and $29 per month for a cat, according to our analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The average cost in California for a similar policy with unlimited annual coverage is $75 per month for a dog and $40 per month for a cat.
Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs in California
Cost of Pet Insurance for Cats in California
How To Find the Best Pet Insurance in California
The best pet insurance policy in California doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest pet insurance option. But don’t pick a policy based solely on price, because you could end up with minimal coverage.
Veterinary Costs in California
The average vet visit cost in California is $89 for dogs. You can expect to pay more if your pet has additional medical needs like blood tests, dental cleaning or vaccinations. Here’s a look at vet visit costs in California cities.
| City | Average Cost For A Veterinary Visit For One Dog | Average Cost For A Veterinary Visit With Additional Dog | Total Cost For A Veterinary Visit With Two Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | $85 | $67 | $152 |
| Los Angeles | $85 | $67 | $152 |
| Palm Springs | $83 | $65 | $148 |
| San Diego | $85 | $67 | $152 |
| San Francisco | $106 | $83 | $189 |
More About Our Customer Satisfaction Survey
We surveyed 1,300 American pet owners with pet insurance who had purchased a new policy within the last 12 months and another 1,300 who had made a claim on their pet insurance. Overall, we found that pet insurance customers have a high level of satisfaction: 89% of survey respondents said they were likely to recommend their pet insurer to family and friends.
We also found that 86% of survey respondents were satisfied with pricing and customer service. A high percentage (85%) of respondents said that their pet insurance company was somewhat to exceptionally competitively priced compared to other pet insurers.
While most (86%) of survey respondents who made claims said they were satisfied with their claims experience with their pet insurance company, this category has room for improvement. Only 83% of survey respondents were satisfied that their plan’s coverage met their expectations during the claims process.
Methodology
To find the best California pet insurance we scored each company based on the following:
- Pet insurance rates (40% of score): We calculated average rates in California for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
- Special waiting period (10% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.
- Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.
- 24/7 vet health line (10% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line earned points.
- Routine wellness plans (10% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
- Pays veterinary exam fees (10% of score): Plans that cover the vet exam fee received points. Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit.
- Euthanasia or end of life expenses (5% of score): Insurers that cover end of life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, received points.
- Multipet discount (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates pet insurance companies
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California Pet Insurance FAQs
Is pet insurance more expensive in California?
California’s pet insurance rates are only slightly higher than average in our analysis of pet insurance costs.
The cost for pet insurance for a dog in California for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement is $52 per month compared to a national average of $50 per month. A similar policy with unlimited annual coverage is $75 per month in California compared to a national average of $73 per month.
What is the cheapest pet insurance in California?
The cheapest pet insurance in California for dogs is ASPCA pet insurance ($19 per month). That’s for a policy with $5,000 annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The cheapest company for a similar policy for cats is also ASPCA pet insurance ($13 per month).
Is pet insurance worth it in California?
A good way to determine if pet insurance is worth it in California is to consider how an unexpected vet bill might impact your personal finances. For example, if you’ve been paying about $52 per month for pet insurance for a dog for three years, you’ve paid $1,872 in pet insurance premiums.
Let’s say your dog is diagnosed with cancer and treatment costs $4,100. If you have a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level, your out-of-pocket cost for treatment would be $1,020 ($250 deductible + 20% of $3,850 = $1,020). Adding up the premium for three years and what you’ve paid toward treatment, you’ve paid $2,892 and saved $1,208 by having pet insurance.
