Final Verdict
There are many New Jersey pet insurance companies and each one has pros and cons. For example, if you’re looking for the best value for your money, Companion Protect is a good insurer to consider. However, if you have a bird or an exotic pet, Nationwide may be a better provider for you. If your pet has pre-existing health conditions, AKC Pet Insurance might be the right choice.
Overall, the companies that scored the best in our ratings were Figo, Embrace, MetLife, Nationwide, Pets Best, Prudent, and ASPCA.
Frequently Asked Questions
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In New Jersey, pet insurance is not tax deductible. The only time you can write off your pet’s medical expenses on your tax return is if your pet is a certified service animal, a foster animal, or if the animal protects your business. You can only deduct qualifying expenses if you itemize your deductions.
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In some cases, pet insurance premiums get more expensive over time. This is usually due to the animal getting older, which can increase the amount of medical care they need. However, the actual rate increase will depend on many factors, including the age of your pet, breed, and their pre-existing conditions.
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Yes, it’s possible to insure a pet with a pre-existing condition. Several of the best New Jersey pet insurance companies we reviewed cover pets with pre-existing conditions, including MetLife and AKC Pet Insurance. However, not all pet insurance companies cover animals with pre-existing conditions, and those that do may not cover certain conditions.
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Pet insurance covers the cost of some pet medical expenses, including accidents, injuries, illnesses, and hereditary and congenital conditions. Some plans also cover routine care, like annual veterinary exams, and preventative and dental care. Coverage for routine and preventative care usually costs extra.
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Most pet insurance companies don’t sell standalone emergency plans. Accident plans and accident and illness plans, which are the most common types of pet insurance, both cover emergency care. If your pet has an emergency, you can take them to any veterinary clinic or animal hospital (in New Jersey or in another state) and their medical care will likely be covered by your plan.
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance companies in New Jersey, we looked at 18 companies and more than 50 data points. Here are the categories we analyzed
Coverage
We paid close attention to the coverage that each insurer offers. This includes the types of plans, number of plans, and add-on plans available. Coverage accounted for 17% of the company’s total score. We also accounted for the types of pets that are covered (dogs, cats, and exotic animals/birds), which was 1% of the total score.
Another thing we looked at was whether pre-existing conditions are covered (both bilateral and cured conditions). This contributed to 6% of the insurer’s overall score.
Cost
Cost was one of the most heavily weighted factors in our scoring methodology. The cost to value for each insurer made up 15% of the total score, and the deductibles, reimbursement percentages, and annual and lifetime maximums accounted for 9% of the total score. We also looked at what fees are required (3%) and which discounts are available (7%).
To get rate quotes for each insurance company, we used the sample profile of a 3-year-old female mixed-breed dog with no pre-existing conditions. The location we used for the quotes was Lakewood, New Jersey (08701).
Claims
The claims process made up a smaller percentage of each insurer’s score. The overall claims process accounted for 12% of company scores, which included the average number of days it takes to process claims. Negative claims impact made up only 3% of the score.
Requirements
Every pet insurance company has different requirements for enrollment and using benefits. For this category, we looked at the age limits (5%), including the minimum and maximum ages for enrollment. Waiting periods were also factored into each score (8%). Specifically, we looked at waiting periods for accidents and illnesses, as well as whether the company has extended waiting periods for specific conditions.
Accessibility
Accessibility is a category that includes things like customer service and the quote process, which both accounted for 4% of each company’s score. We looked at whether you can get a quote online and what customer service channels are available, like live chat. Additionally, we checked to see which insurers give customers access to a 24/7 vet helpline for questions and emergencies. This accounted for 3% of each insurer’s score.
Company Information
We also wanted to learn more about each company’s experience selling pet insurance. We looked at the number of years each company has been in business and which states it sells coverage in. This contributed to 3% of the company’s overall score.
