Best Pet Insurance Plan for Horses

Can you get health insurance for horses? Yes, but before you start shopping around for a policy, there are some things you should know. Most insurance plans for horses aren't actually pet insurance plans. Instead, most insurers offer mortality insurance policies, which are similar to life insurance for humans. These plans cover your horse in the event of death, theft, or an act of nature (like an earthquake).

Many mortality insurance plans include health insurance as an add-on, not a standalone plan. These plans typically don't cover routine care, alternative treatments, or pre-existing conditions.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at some of the best horse health insurance policies on the market.

• Most affordable monthly premium: ASPCA
• Most customization options: Markel Insurance
• Most comprehensive coverage: Blue Bridle

ASPCA Pet Insurance

http://wagwalking.com/wellness/aspca-pet-insurance

• Colic + Accidents
• Colic + Accidents + Illnesses

ASPCA's horse policies don't cover arthritis, navicular disease, or joint injections. These plans are currently only available in 12 states. Visit the ASPCA website and read the sample policy for more information.

Why ASPCA pet insurance is great for horses

• Covers curable pre-existing conditions (if they present no symptoms or require no treatment for 180 days)
• Offers customizable plans
• Provides 2 wellness add-ons for routine care

What's covered?

• Poisoning
• Broken limbs
• Tooth extractions
• Microchip implantation
• Prescription medications
• Cushing's disease*
• Strangles*
• Cancer*

*Only covered in the Colic + Accidents + Illnesses plan

Deductibles

• $100
• $250
• $500

Coverage limits (annual)

• $3,000
• $5,000
• $7,000

Reimbursement rates

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

Waiting period: 14 days

Monthly premium: $25–$95

Add-on options

ASPCA offers a preventative care add-on that covers routine costs like vaccinations and wellness exams. This plan is available in 2 tiers: Routine and Platinum.

The main difference between the 2 add-ons is the annual coverage limit. For example, the Routine add-on covers up to $50 in wellness exam fees per year, while the Platinum add-on covers up to $200.

The Routine add-on doesn't cover herpesvirus or strangles vaccinations, or blood, fecal, or Coggins tests. The Platinum add-on does.

In addition to horse mortality insurance, Blue Bridle offers a range of health insurance add-ons, including:

• Surgical and/or Colic Only
• Major Medical Insurance
• Medical Assistance
• Accident & Illness Insurance

As one review of Blue Bridle notes, this insurer hasn't published its deductible amounts or reimbursement rates on its website. For an accurate estimate, you'll need to apply for a quote.

Why Blue Bridle insurance is great for horses

• Provides several healthcare coverage options
• Covers lameness as a result of injury or disease
• Offers farm property insurance

What's covered?

Major Medical Insurance Plan

• Fractures
• Tumors
• Eye disease
• Lyme disease
• Colic
• Lameness due to injury or trauma
• Respiratory illnesses

Accident & Illness Plan

• Colic
• Neurological disorders caused by equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, West Nile Virus, and other diseases
• Lameness caused by laminitis
• Certain tests to diagnose an accident or disease (x-rays, ultrasounds, blood work, myeolograms)

Reimbursement rates: Unknown

Deductibles: Unknown

Coverage limits

• $5,000
• $7,500
• $10,000
• $15,000

Waiting period: Unknown

**Monthly premium: $*375–$550

*Your monthly premium will vary depending on your horse's age, value, and use, as well as your coverage limit.

Add-on options

As mentioned, the above horse health insurance plans are add-ons to Blue Bridle's mortality insurance plan. Blue Bridle also offers other add-ons, including coverage for loss of use and stallion accidents.

Markel Insurance offers a wide range of insurance policies not just for horse owners, but also for schools, volunteer services, and child care facilities. Its equine insurance plans include mortality and liability coverage in addition to optional add-ons, including medical and surgical.

Markel Insurance provides 2 health insurance policies for horses: medical/surgical, and surgical-only. Exclusions and conditions apply — visit Markel's website for more information.

Why Markel Insurance is great for horses

• Offers a range of insurance options, including mortality and liability
• Covers infertility as a result of accident or illness
• Provides 24/7 availability for after-hours emergencies

What's covered? Diagnostics, treatments, and medications for injuries and illnesses (excluding pre-existing conditions, arthritis, and navicular disease)

Deductibles

• $50 (only available for surgical-only policies)
• $375
• $500
• $1,000

Coverage limits

• $5,000
• $10,000
• $15,000

Reimbursement rate: 80%

Waiting period: N/A

Monthly premium: $186–$636*

*Note that this premium range only includes the cost of medical add-ons. It doesn't include monthly premium amounts for horse mortality insurance, which must be purchased before the policyholder can qualify for medical and surgical coverage. Mortality insurance premiums typically range from 2.5% to 4% of the horse's agreed value.

Add-on options

The medical and surgical packages are add-ons to Markel's horse mortality insurance. This policy covers death or theft of the insured horse. Payouts are determined on an "agreed-value" basis.

To qualify for medical and/or surgical coverage, horse owners must purchase mortality coverage that's at least 75% of the horse's agreed value. To borrow an example from the Markel website, if you bought your horse for $10,000, the horse must be mortality insured for at least $7,500.

Markel also covers emergency colic surgery for no additional cost for horses with an insured value of $2,500 or $5,000. The coverage limits are $2,500 and $5,000, respectively. No deductibles or premiums apply.

Want to learn more about conditions that commonly affect horses? Check our horse health guides.