Pets Best is the best pet insurance company in New Jersey, based on our in-depth analysis of accident and illness plans. While Pets Best doesn’t have the most affordable pet insurance in New Jersey, it gets top marks for offering unlimited coverage, having a 24/7 pet health line and including coverage for behavioral therapy and end-of-life expenses. With Pets Best, you can also opt to add a wellness plan for more comprehensive coverage.
Why trust our pet insurance experts
Our team of pet insurance experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 30 New Jersey pet insurance rates reviewed.
- 324 coverage details evaluated.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Best pet insurance in New Jersey
Best pet insurance with diminishing deductible in New Jersey
Best pet insurance with included exam fees in New Jersey
Cheapest pet insurance in New Jersey
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Best pet insurance for quick accident coverage in New Jersey
Best flexible pet insurance in New Jersey
Compare the best pet insurance companies in New Jersey
*Average monthly pet insurance premiums assume unlimited reimbursement (or the highest level offered by that company), a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement percentage.
How much does pet insurance cost in New Jersey?
Pet insurance in New Jersey costs an average of $39 per month for an accident and illness plan with unlimited annual coverage (or highest offered by that company), a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement percentage.
Several factors affect how much pet insurance in New Jersey costs, including:
- Annual coverage limit.
- Deductible amount.
- New Jersey ZIP code.
- Pet insurance company.
- Reimbursement percentage.
- Your pet’s species, age, size and gender.
We compare average rates for top-rated New Jersey pet insurance companies below.
Top-rated pet insurance company | Monthly cost for $5,000 annual coverage | Monthly cost for unlimited annual coverage | Learn More | |||||
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Lemonade | $10 | $20 | ||||||
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ManyPets | – | $25 | ||||||
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Pets Best | $26 | $32 | ||||||
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Figo | $27 | $39 | ||||||
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Healthy Paws | – | $40 | ||||||
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Embrace | $29 | $41 | ||||||
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Fetch | $33 | $41 | ||||||
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MetLife | $29 | $58 | ||||||
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Trupanion | – | $60 | ||||||
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*Source: PetInsurer.com. Monthly pet insurance rates are for plans with a $250 deductible ($200 for Embrace) and 90% reimbursement level. Rates for plans with unlimited coverage use the highest annual coverage amount available ($30,000 for Embrace and $100,000 for Lemonade).
Vet costs in New Jersey
How much you pay for veterinary care will vary based on your location. Here are average veterinary costs in these New Jersey cities, according to Banfield Pet Hospital.
*Dog vaccines include Bordetella, DAPP, bivalent influenza, leptospirosis, Lyme disease and rabies. Cat vaccines include feline distemper FVRCP, feline leukemia virus and rabies.
When shopping for pet insurance, consider which vet costs you want covered by your plan. Some plans cover vet exam fees, some require you to pay extra for this coverage and some pet insurance plans exclude exam fee coverage altogether.
If routine and preventative care, such as vaccinations, pet dental insurance, and spay/neuter coverage, are important to you, look for a pet insurance wellness add-on package that includes these coverages.
Average pet insurance claim amount in New Jersey
In March 2024, the average New Jersey pet insurance claim was $482, according to data from Embrace pet insurance. New Jersey had the eighth-highest pet insurance claim average in the nation that month:
- Washington, D.C. – $623
- Massachusetts – $527
- California – $525
- Nevada – $515
- Washington – $503
- Oregon – $491
- Arizona – $483
- New Jersey – $482
- Virginia – $482
- New York – $474
How to find the best pet insurance rate for you in New Jersey
Follow these steps when you’re ready to compare pet insurance rates in New Jersey:
- Compare pet insurance quotes from several companies. Get free pet insurance quotes from the pet insurance company website, a comparison website or by contacting an independent insurance agent in person, by email or by phone.
- Provide information about your pet. You may have to answer a few questions about your pet’s age, breed, species and overall health.
- Provide information about yourself. This can include your name, email address, phone number and ZIP code.
- Build a custom pet insurance plan. Choose your deductible, annual limit and reimbursement level — see how different options affect the pet insurance premium you’ll pay. Consider adding optional coverage for wellness visits, veterinary exam fees and other riders that may be available. Determine the best balance of your coverage needs with your budget.
- Check for any discounts. Insurers may offer discounts for insuring multiple pets with the company.
How to compare New Jersey pet insurance plans
Before you buy, make sure you dig into a pet insurance plan’s details. Don’t just consider the cost; there are a few more factors to consider.
Exam fees
When the vet sees your pet, there is usually an exam fee included in your bill. Only some pet insurance companies cover veterinary exam fees in the policy, and others may only offer it as an add-on. Consider if this coverage is important to you and check to see which companies offer it.
Multi-pet discounts
Some pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. If you own multiple pets, consider insuring them with a company offering this discount to maximize your savings.
Waiting periods
A waiting period is the gap between when your policy starts and your coverage begins. The waiting period for accidents and illnesses will vary by pet insurance company. Many pet insurers have longer waiting periods for specific health conditions, like hip dysplasia or cruciate ligaments.
Extra benefits
Don’t forget to look for extra perks when comparing New Jersey pet insurance companies. These benefits can vary by company but might include:
- 24/7 vet healthline.
- Boarding assistance if you’re hospitalized.
- Lost and found advertising.
- Pet cloud app.
- Rewards for lost or stolen pets.
- Special prescription pricing through select pharmacies.
- Vacation cancellation.
Types of pet insurance plans
There are several types of pet insurance plans in New Jersey. Here’s what each covers.
Accident-only plan
Accident-only pet insurance in New Jersey covers veterinary expenses for your pet’s injuries, but not if they get sick. This plan will pay up to your policy limits if your pet breaks a bone, has a dental illness or injury or ingests poison.
An accident-only plan is budget-friendly since it doesn’t provide coverage for illnesses. According to Zabrina Thorson, co-founder and chief operating officer at Odie Pet Insurance, accident-only coverage may also be a good fit for pets with pre-existing health conditions or first-time pet parents.
Accident and illness plan
This is the most popular form of pet insurance. Accident and illness pet insurance policies include coverage for your pet’s injuries and illnesses. This plan will reimburse for many veterinary expenses, including:
- Bloodwork.
- Congenital, hereditary and chronic health conditions.
- CT scans.
- Emergency care.
- Hospitalization.
- MRIs.
- Prescribed medications.
- Specialized veterinary care.
- Surgeries.
- Ultrasounds.
- X-rays.
Some of the best pet insurance companies in New Jersey will also cover alternative and holistic therapies, like acupuncture, therapeutic laser treatments and chiropractic care if prescribed by your vet. Embrace, Healthy Paws and Figo are just a few New Jersey pet insurance companies that include this coverage in their accident and illness plans.
Wellness plans
Most pet insurance companies offer optional wellness coverage you can add to your pet insurance policy. A wellness plan covers preventive and routine care to keep your pet healthy. These expenses are usually not automatically covered by a standard pet insurance policy.
A wellness plan can cover veterinary costs for:
- Annual wellness exams.
- Deworming.
- Flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
- Grooming.
- Microchipping.
- Spaying and neutering.
- Vaccinations.
We analyzed New Jersey pet insurance companies using data from Petinsurer.com.
For this analysis, average New Jersey pet insurance rates are based on accident and illness plans, which account for 98% of pet insurance policies purchased, according to data from the North American Health Pet Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Rates are also based on dog pet insurance, as dogs make up 85% of insured pets, per NAPHIA.
Each pet insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:
- Cost: 50 points. We calculated average rates for accident and illness pet insurance plans for a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog at two different ages in Colorado, with unlimited annual reimbursement (or the highest level offered by that company), a $250 deductible and a 90% reimbursement percentage. The lower the average rate, the higher the number of points.
- Annual coverage limits: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer annual reimbursement of up to $100,000, or unlimited annual coverage scored in this category.
- 24/7 vet line: 10 points. Insurance companies that offer access to a 24/7 vet line earned points. Being able to call for medical advice might save you money on vet visits.
- Routine wellness plan: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer an optional wellness plan add-on scored points. Wellness plans can reimburse you for preventative care for your pet.
- Pays vet exam fees: 10 points. If a pet insurance plan includes pet exam fees, the insurer received 10 points. If this is offered as a coverage add on, the insurer received 5 points.
- Behavioral therapy: 5 points. If an insurance company covers behavior therapy in its pet insurance plans, it scored points.
- Euthanasia or end of life expenses included: 5 points. If euthanasia or other end of life expenses are covered in pet insurance plans, an insurance company scored in this category.
Best pet insurance in New Jersey FAQs
What is the cheapest pet insurance in New Jersey?
The cheapest pet insurance company in New Jersey is Lemonade, costing an average of $20 per month for a plan with $100,000 in annual coverage, a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement percentage.
The cost of pet insurance in New Jersey will depend on your pet’s age, health and breed. Also, remember that the more the pet insurance company reimburses, the higher your premium will be.
Is pet insurance required in New Jersey?
No, pet insurance is not required by law in New Jersey.
“While pet insurance is not required in New Jersey, vet costs have continued to rise, leading to high out-of-pocket costs and vet bills for pet parents,” said Wendy Wen, founder and CEO of Antelope, an omnichannel pet consumer platform.
If your pet needs chemotherapy, it can cost up to $600 per dose, for instance. Pet insurance can help offset the cost of your pet’s injuries and illnesses, whether mild or severe.
How much is pet insurance in NJ per month?
The average cost of pet insurance in New Jersey is about $41 per month, based on the pet insurance rates we analyzed. But the amount you pay for pet insurance will be based on several factors, including but not necessarily limited to:
- Pet species.
- Pet breed.
- Pet age.
- Pet gender.
- Where you live.
- Policy coverage and deductible amounts.
- Any available discounts, such as policy bundling.
Can you use pet insurance at any vet in New Jersey?
Yes. Unlike human health insurance, with in- and out-of-network doctors, you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian or veterinary clinic for treatment with your pet insurance.
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