I’m looking into pet insurance options in California for my dog, and I’ve been seeing Lemonade, Spot, and Embrace mentioned a lot. I want good coverage, but I don’t want to overpay either. Has anyone tried these or maybe something else like ASPCA or Healthy Paws? Also, do I need to worry about local pet laws when it comes to insurance?
I’ve been using Lemonade for my dog, and it’s great! It’s affordable, and you can pick what extras you need, like wellness coverage for things like spay and neuter or vaccinations. Plus, they use an app for claims, and it’s super quick.
@Caden
That sounds perfect. How’s their customer service? I don’t want to get stuck in a long claims process.
Broderick said:
@Caden
That sounds perfect. How’s their customer service? I don’t want to get stuck in a long claims process.
Honestly, it’s super smooth. I submitted a claim for my dog’s check-up, and it got approved within an hour. AI handles a lot of it, so it’s fast!
I went with Embrace because I have two pets, and they offer discounts for multiple pets. It’s really flexible, and they even cover curable pre-existing conditions if your pet’s been symptom-free for a year. The cost is pretty reasonable too.
@Iman
Oh wow, that’s cool. I didn’t know they cover pre-existing conditions. Do they offer wellness plans too?
Ira said:
@Iman
Oh wow, that’s cool. I didn’t know they cover pre-existing conditions. Do they offer wellness plans too?
Yeah, they do offer wellness coverage, which helps with routine care like vaccinations and dental cleanings. It’s nice to get that stuff reimbursed!
Spot is great if you want options. I was able to customize my plan based on my budget and what I wanted covered. They don’t have an age limit for pets, so it works for older dogs too.
Ash said:
Spot is great if you want options. I was able to customize my plan based on my budget and what I wanted covered. They don’t have an age limit for pets, so it works for older dogs too.
That’s good to know. My dog’s getting up there in years, and I was worried about finding a plan that wouldn’t cut us off because of her age. Do they cover big things like surgery or cancer treatments?
@Penn
Yeah, they cover big stuff like surgeries and cancer treatments. Just make sure you check the fine print on waiting periods and pre-existing conditions, though.
Healthy Paws has been awesome for my dog. I went with them because they don’t cap coverage, so if anything major happens, I don’t have to worry about hitting a limit. Plus, their prices are really affordable compared to others.
@Emlyn
Unlimited coverage sounds amazing. Are there any downsides with them, though?
Broderick said:
@Emlyn
Unlimited coverage sounds amazing. Are there any downsides with them, though?
Only thing is, the reimbursement rate goes down for older pets, and they don’t offer wellness add-ons like some of the others do. But for big stuff like accidents or major illnesses, they’re great.
I’ve got ASPCA for my cat since she’s older, and it’s been good. They don’t have any age limits, so it’s perfect if you’ve got a senior pet. Plus, they offer accident-only plans that are super affordable.
@Lyle
That’s awesome! My cat’s almost 13, and I wasn’t sure if I could still get insurance. How’s their customer service been?
Drew said:
@Lyle
That’s awesome! My cat’s almost 13, and I wasn’t sure if I could still get insurance. How’s their customer service been?
No complaints! I haven’t had to file many claims, but the ones I did were processed without any issues. They’ve been easy to work with.
By the way, don’t forget about the pet laws in California. In some cities like Los Angeles, dogs need to be licensed and vaccinated for rabies. They’ve even got rules about leashes being no longer than six feet in public, and if you have a dog riding in a truck bed, they have to be tethered or in a crate.
@Ira
Good point! I didn’t think about the laws. I live in San Jose, and I think we’ve got similar rules. I know we can only have up to three dogs or five pets total. Guess I’ll need to check all that when getting insurance.
@Broderick
Yeah, definitely worth looking into! Every city has its quirks. Like in San Diego, you can’t have more than six dogs unless you’re a kennel, and in SF, dogs need to be licensed and leashed on public transport. Better to be safe and know the rules.