Key takeaways
ASPCA offers the best pet insurance in New York overall.
Pumpkin is our pick for big vet bills.
Figo is our top choice for pet owners on a budget.
Prudent Pet is a great option for quick claims processing.
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: ASPCA had the highest raw score of all the pet insurance companies we evaluated, thanks to some of the most generous coverage in the industry. ASPCA’s accident and illness plan covers things that other insurers charge extra for or don’t cover at all, including:
Vet exam fees.
Prescription food and supplements.
Behavioral issues.
Alternative therapies.
Microchipping.
Standout feature: Some pet insurers make you wait six months to a year for coverage of orthopedic conditions. But ASPCA has a 14-day waiting period after you buy your policy for all accident and illness claims.
Don’t choose ASPCA if: You want to use a mobile app to manage your policy. The company’s app draws mediocre reviews from both Android and iPhone users.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for plans with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $63/month
Age 8: $125/month
Cats
Age 2: $34/month
Age 8: $56/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: With pet insurance, you usually have to pay your vet bills up front, then wait for reimbursement from your insurer. If you don’t have enough money on hand, you could end up going into debt or not being able to give your pet the care they need.
PumpkinNow, an urgent pay service included with all Pumpkin policies, is designed to solve that problem. It can process claims of $500 or more within minutes and then deposit money directly into your bank account. The service is available Monday through Saturday.
Standout feature: Pumpkin has no upper age limit for enrollment, so even seniors can get accident and illness coverage.
Don’t choose Pumpkin if: You want coverage for herbal supplements, which Pumpkin’s plans won’t pay for.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for pets living in New York with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $63/month
Age 8: $125/month
Cats
Age 2: $34/month
Age 8: $56/month
» READ MORE: Pumpkin pet insurance review
Figo stands out for paying up to 100% of your vet bills after you meet your deductible.
Annual max coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement rates
70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
Deductibles
$100 - $1,500
Policy highlight
Mobile app has lots of useful features.
Why we picked it: Figo’s rates were among the cheapest for our sample pets living in New York City — and Costco members may be able to save an extra 15%. Figo’s plans cover dental illnesses, holistic treatments and hereditary conditions. However, coverage for vet exam fees costs extra.
Standout feature: Policyholders get access to Figo’s Pet Cloud mobile app. You can use it to store your pet’s medical records, file claims, meet other pet parents and reach out to vet professionals.
Don’t choose Figo if: You’re looking to buy accident-only coverage, which Figo doesn’t offer.
Sample rates
These sample rates are for plans with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $46/month
Age 8: $108/month
Cats
Age 2: $21/month
Age 8: $40/month
» READ MORE: Figo pet insurance review
Prudent Pet boasts a broad range of coverage options for pets of all ages. Although it has a live chat customer support option, it lacks a mobile app to manage your policy.
Annual max coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursement rates
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductibles
$100 - $1,000
Policy highlight
Processes most claims within 24 hours.
Why we picked it: Prudent Pet says it processes 75% of its claims within 24 hours, a quicker turnaround than you’ll find with many other insurers. You can choose to be reimbursed by direct deposit or check.
Standout feature: All Prudent Pet policies include access to a 24/7 vet chat. This service could be useful if your pet gets sick in the middle of the night when your usual vet isn’t available.
Don’t choose Prudent Pet if: You want a plan with short waiting periods. Coverage for knee and ligament conditions doesn’t take effect for six months. (You can have it shortened to 30 days if your vet fills out a waiver consent form.)
Sample rates
These sample rates are for plans with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Dogs
Age 2: $46/month
Age 8: $85/month
Cats
Age 2: $27/month
Age 8: $51/month
» READ MORE: Prudent Pet insurance review
Compare the best pet insurance companies in New York
Below you can compare our top pet insurance picks at a glance. Average monthly rates are based on quotes for four sample pets in New York City. Note that although Prudent Pet is the cheapest option, its quotes are based on a plan with a lower coverage limit than the others ($2,500 per year vs. $5,000.) All four companies offer an unlimited annual coverage option, though prices will be higher.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Average monthly rate | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|
$69 | Best overall | ||
$69 | Best for big vet bills | ||
$54 | Best budget option | ||
$52 | Best for quick claims processing | ||
*Prudent Pet policies had a $2,500 annual coverage limit. | |||
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Cheap pet insurance in New York
Below are the cheapest insurers we found in New York for dogs and cats, based on quotes we gathered in New York City. 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
$43
$46
$46
$53
$56
$63
$63
$63
$63
$63
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 8-year-old dogs.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$85
$108
$109
$110
$113
$119
$125
$125
$125
$125
$125
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 2-year-old cats.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$21
$27
$29
$30
$33
$34
$34
$34
$34
$34
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit. The Healthy Paws plan had unlimited coverage.
Below are the lowest monthly rates we found for 8-year-old cats.
Company
NerdWallet star rating
Sample monthly rate
$40
$48
$51
$56
$56
$56
$56
$56
$61
*The Prudent Pet plan had a $2,500 annual coverage limit.
What to know about buying pet insurance in New York
Vet care in New York is a little more expensive than average, according to 2024 data from CareCredit. The average cost of a vet visit in New York is $94 for dogs and $71 for cats.
Keep in mind that expenses can be much higher if your pet gets a major injury or illness. For example, you could spend hundreds of dollars dealing with skin conditions or thousands on treatment for cancer. Pet insurance can help with these costs.
Your plan may also be able to pay for issues that could affect New York pets in particular. These could include tickborne diseases and leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread by rats and other animals.
More Nerdy Perspective
Pet insurance may not cover treatment for preventable conditions, such as parasites like heartworm or diseases for which a vaccine is available. To help you pay for these preventive measures, consider adding a wellness package to your pet insurance plan. Just be sure you’ll use all the included services, or you may not get your money’s worth.
Pet insurance may not cover treatment for preventable conditions, such as parasites like heartworm or diseases for which a vaccine is available. To help you pay for these preventive measures, consider adding a wellness package to your pet insurance plan. Just be sure you’ll use all the included services, or you may not get your money’s worth.
Sarah Schlichtersenior writer on Insurance» 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
Get quotes from at least three pet insurance companies to explore your options. Look for savings; many companies offer discounts if you insure more than one pet. Tweaking your deductible, reimbursement rate and annual coverage limit can also help reduce rates.
It depends. We found rates ranging from $21 to over $200 a month for pets living in New York City. Your price will vary based on where you live in the state, how much coverage you want, and your pet’s age and breed.
With pet insurance, you can take your pet to any licensed vet. While some pet insurers may be able to pay your vet directly, in most cases you’ll pay the bill yourself and then file a claim for reimbursement.
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.
