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State Farm Pet Health Insurance Pricing, Coverage, & More
By Leslie Ingraham
Published: 08/06/2021, edited: 08/10/2021
More articles by Leslie Ingraham
Save on pet insurance for your pet
You don't have to choose between your pet and your wallet when it comes to expensive vet visits. Prepare ahead of time for unexpected vet bills by finding the pawfect pet insurance.
Overview
- How much does State Farm Pet Health Insurance cost?
- How do I file a claim with State Farm Pet Health Insurance?
- What does State Farm Pet Health Insurance cover?
- How to apply for State Farm Pet Health Insurance
- What is the waiting period for State Farm Pet Health Insurance?
- State Farm Pet Health Insurance reviews
- Is State Farm Pet Health Insurance right for my dog?
State Farm is an insurance company providing auto, home,
rental and medical pet insurance. For many people, it’s the ultimate answer to
accessing discounts by bundling different policies together. State Farm’s pet insurance is through a partnership with Trupanion, a
small pet insurance company that sells its own individual pet insurance
policies as well.
How much does State Farm Pet Health Insurance cost?
Some consider State Farm to be more expensive than other
insurers. Whatever annual premium is agreed upon at the outset, the rates are
fixed for the life of the policy, so you may end up paying less than other companies' policies in the long term. The pricing per month for dogs is between $36 and
$100 for most breeds. Some breeds known to carry genetic illnesses may be more
expensive. Cats’ premiums are between $23 and $57 per month.
Deductibles
are agreed upon by the consumer and State Farm at the time of product purchase.
Deductibles can range up to $1,000. The higher the deductible, the lower the
monthly cost. Conversely, the premium is higher with lower deductibles. The
good news is that once a deductible has been paid for a new illness or injury,
you will not have to pay it again for that condition. Other new illnesses or
injuries will carry their own deductibles which will be the same amount as the
policy-wide deductible.
In other words, if your pup develops a new condition
that needs to be treated, you will be responsible for the deductible and then
10% of costs for that condition. You will not be charged another
deductible for that condition. New conditions or injuries that arise
will require the deductible to be paid.
For additional fees, customizable add-on enhancements may be
added to the policy. These could include recovery care and pet parent assistance. Once you’ve
purchased a pet insurance policy from State Farm, you have 30 days to inform
the company you’re not satisfied and receive any payments back. There is a
small $25 service fee which will not be returned.
How do I file a claim with State Farm Pet Health Insurance?
When your pet
receives care, you will be responsible for paying out-of-pocket at the point of
service. You then may file a claim online and State Farm/Trupanion will
reimburse you for 90%of the covered services, minus your deductible.
If you choose, State Farm/Trupanion will pay the veterinarian directly and you
will only be responsible to pay the deductible and 10% of covered
expenses at the clinic.
What does State Farm Pet Health Insurance cover?
State Farm covers
care resulting from unexpected illness or injury to your pet. This means that tests
and procedures like routine bloodwork, vaccinations, and neutering procedures
are not covered. Dental care is not covered, nor is any planned, non-essential
surgery. Pre-existing
conditions that were present before purchase are also not covered.
Included in its
coverage is non-routine:
- Diagnostic tests
- Surgery
- Prosthetic devices and carts
- Veterinary supplements
- Medications and prescriptions
- Hospital stays
- Herbal therapy
In addition, hereditary
and congenital conditions that are breed-specific and that appear unexpectedly five
days after the policy is purchased, including (but not limited to):
- Dysplasias of the hip or elbow
- Cherry eye
- Thyroid disease
- Diabetes
An additional
feature of State Farm is that there is no payout limit cap. This means you won’t
have a maximum amount of benefit reimbursements over the life of the pet.
How to apply for State Farm Pet Health Insurance
On State Farm’s
pet insurance web page is a clickable link to the application page. Here, you
will be asked to enter your zip code, as fees and premium rates in
different places vary. You will then be asked for pet-specific information such
as breed, age, how long you’ve had the pet and other items, including your choice
of deductible for your policy. These details will help the underwriters at
State Farm determine the annual and monthly premiums you will need to pay.
All pet parents are eligible to purchase health care coverage for their pets except for those
with pre-existing conditions at the time of the purchase.
What is the waiting period for State Farm Pet Health Insurance?
State Farm pet
health insurance covers unexpected illness or injuries. There is a 5-day
waiting period before you can file a claim for an injury, meaning any new injury
occurring during or prior to the 5-day waiting period is considered a
pre-existing condition that won’t be covered. For illnesses, the waiting period
is 30 days.
State Farm Pet Health Insurance reviews
The reviews for
State Farm/Trupanion pet health insurance are mixed. While there are those who
praise the company for saving them from catastrophic bills for their pet’s
care, there are many others who do not recommend this company. They claim that
the company's pre-existing rules are fluid, changing whenever it suits the insurance
company, and their turn-down rate is unreasonable. Others complain that their out-of-pocket
costs have risen despite assurances that they wouldn’t. Objections have also
come up that the company doesn’t cover wellness expenses such as vaccinations,
annual visits and routine tests. State Farm is not the only pet health
insurance carrier that carries these limitations.
Is State Farm Pet Health Insurance right for my dog?
It’s up to the consumer
to research State Farm and any other pet health insurance companies they’re
considering so that they purchase the right plan for themselves and their pets.
State Farm offers what some consider generous payouts and flexible plans,
especially plans that carry discounts for bundled insurance services. For some,
the higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs are worth it.
If your pet has a
condition that could be considered pre-existing, it’s a good idea to search for
a company that doesn’t take that into consideration. If your pup is a senior,
there are policies designed just for them.
It’s considered
best practice to purchase pet health insurance early in a dog or cat’s life, if
possible. That’s when you’ll benefit from the best rates and will be covered
for those unexpected health problems that inevitably come along in every pet’s
life.
Looking to secure pet health insurance for your dog or cat? Check out our pet insurance comparison tool on our Wellness page.
Want more info on pet health insurance? Check out our guide to pet insurance 101.
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