Key takeaways
ASPCA offers the best pet insurance overall in Florida.
Pumpkin is our top choice for big vet bills.
Pets Best is the best option for senior pets.
Liberty Mutual is our pick for pet owners on a budget.
ASPCA offers some of the most comprehensive pet insurance coverage on the market.
Annual max coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement rates
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductibles
$100-$750
Policy highlight
Broader coverage than most other plans.
Why we picked it: Of all NerdWallet’s 5-star pet insurance companies, ASPCA had the highest raw score. One reason is that ASPCA’s policies are some of the most comprehensive on the market. The base plan covers sick exam fees, prescription food, behavioral issues and alternative medicine. It even pays for microchipping.
Standout feature: ASPCA has a 24/7 vet helpline you can call any time with questions about your pet’s health.
Don’t choose ASPCA if: You prefer to use an app to manage your policy. ASPCA’s app is poorly rated in the App Store and Google Play.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for pets living in Jacksonville with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $42/month
Age 8: $93/month
Cats
Age 2: $15/month
Age 8: $30/month
» READ MORE: ASPCA pet insurance review
Pumpkin stands out for comprehensive coverage and the ability to reimburse you for big vet bills almost immediately.
Annual max coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement rates
80%, 90%
Deductibles
$100 - $1,000
Policy highlight
PumpkinNow service can reimburse you while you’re still at the vet.
Why we picked it: Pumpkin has an urgent pay service called PumpkinNow that can pay you within minutes for vet bills of $500 or more. The service is available Monday through Saturday. You must have a bank account that accepts real-time payments.
Standout feature: Like most pet insurers, Pumpkin generally doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, it can pay to treat most curable conditions that have been symptom-free without treatment for at least 180 days.
Don’t choose Pumpkin if: You want coverage for herbal supplements, which Pumpkin doesn’t offer.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for pets living in Jacksonville with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $35/month
Age 8: $87/month
Cats
Age 2: $14/month
Age 8: $28/month
» READ MORE: Pumpkin pet insurance review
Pets Best offers lots of options and can pay your vet directly. But it’s not a good fit if you want coverage for food or supplements.
Annual max coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement rates
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductibles
$100 - $1,000
Policy highlight
May be able to reimburse your vet directly.
Why we picked it: Some pet insurers won’t cover animals above a certain age, or will provide them with accident coverage only. But Pets Best has no upper age limit on which pets can get accident and illness coverage. Its rates for older pets were reasonable in our tests, too.
Standout feature: Pets Best may be able to pay your vet directly if your vet’s office permits it.
Don’t choose Pets Best if: You want coverage for prescription food, vitamins or supplements, none of which the company will pay for.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for pets living in Jacksonville with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $23/month
Age 8: $52/month
Cats
Age 2: $15/month
Age 8: $30/month
» READ MORE: Pets Best pet insurance review
Liberty Mutual offers a solid range of plans but won’t pay to treat certain age-related conditions, including arthritis.
Annual max coverage
$15,000
Reimbursement rates
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductibles
$250, $500, $1,000
Policy highlight
Discount for existing Liberty Mutual customers.
Why we picked it: Liberty Mutual offered the lowest monthly rates for all our sample dogs and cats in Jacksonville. You can choose from three tiers of coverage. The basic level covers only accidental injuries, while the second level adds illness coverage. The most inclusive package also pays for yearly checkups and other routine expenses.
Standout feature: We like Liberty Mutual's simple 14-day waiting period for all coverage, including orthopedic injuries. Some other companies make you wait six months to a year before they’ll cover certain orthopedic conditions.
Don’t choose Liberty Mutual if: You want coverage for alternative or behavioral therapies. Although the company covers these treatments in other states, they’re not included in Florida plans.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for pets living in Jacksonville with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $18/month
Age 8: $29/month
Cats
Age 2: $10/month
Age 8: $17/month
» READ MORE: Liberty Mutual pet insurance review
Compare the best pet insurance companies in Florida
Below you can compare our top companies at a glance. The rate in the table is the average of quotes for four sample pets in Jacksonville. Liberty Mutual is the cheapest option by a large margin, but its coverage isn’t as comprehensive as that of ASPCA or Pumpkin.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average monthly rate | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|
$45 | Best overall | ||
$41 | Best for big vet bills | ||
$30 | Best for older pets | ||
$18 | Best budget option |
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Cheap pet insurance in Florida
Below are the cheapest insurers we found in Florida for dogs and cats, based on quotes we gathered in Jacksonville. Some of these companies didn’t make our list of the top picks above because they didn’t rate as highly for coverage or consumer experience. But they may be right for your pet, depending on your budget and coverage needs.
Unless otherwise stated, our sample pets were mixed-breed dogs and cats with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Your own prices may be different.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 2-year-old dogs.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$18
$23
$28
$30
$30
$31
$32
$32
$33
$35
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit. The Fetch plan had a $300 deductible.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 8-year-old dogs.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$29
$52
$52
$63
$66
$69
$73
$75
$81
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit. The Kanguro plan had a $200 deductible.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 2-year-old cats.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$10
$13
$14
$14
$15
$15
$15
$15
$15
$16
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 8-year-old cats.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$17
$23
$26
$28
$30
$30
$30
$30
$30
What to know about buying pet insurance in Florida
The average cost of a vet visit in Florida is $90 for dogs and $69 for cats, according to 2024 data from CareCredit. That’s close to the national average.
Vet bills can rack up quickly if your pet gets hurt or is diagnosed with a major illness. Treating feline leukemia costs $633 on average, while stomach blockage surgery in dogs is more than $3,500, according to CareCredit. Pet insurance can help with these expenses, as long as you bought it before your pet showed symptoms.
Florida pets may face certain local risks, such as heartworm (spread by mosquitoes), venomous snakes and poisonous plants like sago palms and oleander.
Adding a wellness package to your pet insurance plan can help with routine expenses like heartworm preventives. Make sure you’ll use all the services in the package, though, or else you might not get your money’s worth.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
How to choose the best pet insurance
Look beyond price. Cost is important, but it shouldn’t be your only consideration. Say Plan A costs $10 more a month than Plan B, but it includes coverage for exam fees and alternative therapies. If you have to pay extra to get these types of coverage with Plan B — or they’re not available at all — you might find Plan A a better value. See the table below to get an idea of which services are typically covered.
Expense | Covered? |
|---|---|
Alternative or behavioral therapies | Sometimes. Some companies charge extra for this coverage or don't offer it at all. |
Checkups and vaccines | No, unless you have a wellness plan. |
Congenital and hereditary conditions | Usually. Most companies cover these issues, but occasionally there are limits or restrictions. |
Dental care | It depends. Dental coverage varies widely. See our guide to pet dental insurance. |
Emergency care | Yes. You can generally count on pet insurance plans to cover emergencies. |
Prescription medicine | Usually. A handful of pet insurers charge extra for this coverage, but most companies include it in their standard plans. |
Prescription food and supplements | Sometimes. There may be limits or extra charges for this coverage. Learn more about pet insurance and prescription food. |
Pre-existing conditions | Usually not. If your pet was sick or hurt before you bought the plan, the condition typically won't be covered. See our guide to pre-existing conditions. |
Spaying or neutering | No, unless you have a wellness plan. Learn more about spay and neuter coverage. |
Surgery and hospitalization | Usually. It depends on the underlying condition, but pet insurance often covers these expenses. Learn more about pet insurance and surgery. |
Vet exam fees | Sometimes. It can be an unpleasant surprise to find that some companies will cover other treatments but not the vet's exam fee for a sick visit. |
» MORE: What does pet insurance cover? Read our complete guide
Learn about the claims process. If one pet insurer generally processes claims within two days while another takes up to a month, you may want to go with the quicker one. That way you’re not waiting for weeks to get reimbursed. Even better, keep an eye out for pet insurers that can pay your vet directly.
Read reviews. NerdWallet has researched dozens of pet insurance companies so you don’t have to. Read our pet insurance reviews to see our star ratings and get coverage details.
Understand your policy options. The following elements of your plan determine how much of your vet expenses your pet insurer covers. You can usually customize these options when you first buy your plan.
Most plans have a limit on how much they'll reimburse each year. It's often a fixed amount such as $5,000 or $10,000, though many companies also offer an unlimited option. If you spend more than the limit in a given year, you'll have to cover the rest yourself.
A pet insurance deductible is the amount of vet expenses you need to pay before you’re eligible for reimbursement. For example, if you have a $500 deductible but spend only $300 at the vet one year, your insurer won't reimburse anything. Most companies have an annual deductible that resets each year.
Once you've met your deductible, you and the insurance company will split your vet bills. The insurer will typically reimburse 70%, 80% or 90% of your bill, while you pay the rest. The amount you pay is sometimes called your coinsurance.
How we choose the best pet insurance companies
👋 I’m Sarah Schlichter, a senior writer and content strategist covering pet insurance. I built NerdWallet’s pet insurance rubric and did the research for this page to find the best pet insurance options. I gathered and analyzed data across three major categories:
Companies score higher if they include more types of coverage in their standard plans.
We evaluate pet insurance plans based on their default accident and illness coverage, which types of coverage cost extra and which types of coverage aren't available at all.
Plan types
In addition to accident and illness plans, we look at whether companies also offer accident-only and wellness plans.
Animals covered
Companies get extra credit for insuring animals besides just dogs and cats.
Coverage for specific services and conditions
Some of the biggest differences between pet insurance plans have to do with how they cover the following services and conditions. Companies rank higher if they offer more of these types of coverage, especially if they're included at no extra cost:
Vet exam fees.
Congenital and hereditary conditions.
Behavioral therapies.
Prescription food.
Supplements.
Alternative and complementary treatments.
Dental illnesses.
Pre-existing conditions
Pre-existing conditions are medical issues your pet had before you bought your policy. We reward companies that will cover certain pre-existing conditions after a waiting period.
Companies score well when they have consumer-friendly features such as live chat or the ability to pay your vet directly.
We evaluate each pet insurer's customer experience based on the following factors:
Direct vet pay
Most pet insurance companies reimburse you for vet bills you've already paid, but some are able to pay your vet directly. That means you'll have to put out less of your own money upfront.
Live chat
Pet insurers get extra credit if they offer a live chat for customer service.
Vet helpline
We reward companies that have a 24-hour vet helpline for questions about your pet's health.
Claim calculation
The way a pet insurer calculates your claim payouts can influence how quickly you meet your deductible and start getting paid. We reward companies that use a more generous method.
Companies earn points based on how customizable their pet insurance plans are.
Being able to customize your plan makes it easier to find the coverage and price that are right for you. We look at the following factors:
Deductibles
A deductible is the amount of vet care you need to pay for before your insurer will start reimbursing you. We reward companies that offer more deductible options.
Reimbursement rates
Once you've met your deductible, the insurance company will reimburse a certain percentage of your vet bills, such as 70% or 80%. The more options for your reimbursement rate, the better.
Coverage limits
Most pet insurers will reimburse you up to a certain annual limit, such as $5,000 or $10,000. Some offer plans with no limit. We reward companies with a broad range of limits to choose from.
Frequently asked questions
The first step is to shop around. We recommend getting quotes from at least three insurers to get a sense of the rates available for your pet. You may also be able to save by paying your premiums annually instead of monthly. Finally, consider adjusting your deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate to get a lower price.
It depends. We found rates ranging from $10 to $219 per month for pets living in Jacksonville, but your own rates will vary. Your pet’s age and breed will determine how much you pay, along with the amount of coverage you want.
Pretty much every pet insurer has waiting periods for illness coverage — typically about two weeks. But some companies, including MetLife and Lemonade, start covering accidents almost immediately.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.CareCredit. Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs. Accessed May 1, 2026.
Pet insurance star rating methodology
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including consumer experience, scope of coverage and the ability to customize your plan. We give higher ratings to companies that cover a wide range of medical treatments and that offer perks such as live chat support and direct vet pay. To calculate each insurer’s star rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around. Comparing several insurance quotes can help you find the best rate for your pet. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Pet insurance sample rate methodology
To find sample rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and don't include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons.
Each plan had a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. We customized the plans as necessary when those limits weren’t available. Our sample pets were a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog and a domestic shorthair (mixed-breed) cat. We gathered rates for pets aged 2 and 8 years old.
These are sample rates gathered for specific pets in a select ZIP code. Your own rates will be different.
