Pet Insurance Breakdown by State [Original Research]

Where you live determines your overall cost of living, including your average veterinary costs.

Naturally, this factors into how much you’ll end up paying for pet insurance coverage.

Here’s a look at why location matters when buying a pet insurance policy, how much you can expect to pay for pet insurance based on the state you live in, and a few ways we’ve found to reduce your coverage expenses.

Average cost of pet insurance by state

We conducted our own research to figure out how much pet insurance premiums cost on average based on state.

Process: The quotes in the table below were collected from three highly-rated pet insurance providers. Quotes for each state were based on a single zip code from within the capital of that state. All other details submitted to receive a quote were left the same.

Results: The average monthly premium of all quotes received was $58.74. We also observed that the average premium varies greatly based on where you live—the difference can be as much as $54 per month!

Here are the quotes we received from each provider:

State	Embrace	Spot	ASPCA
Alabama	$35.84	$74.09	$74.09
Alaska	$43.29	$65.83	$65.83
Arizona	$57.06	$88.87	$88.87
Arkansas	$38.94	$61.28	$61.28
California	$41.78	$56.49	$56.49
Colorado	$68.24	$63.56	$63.56
Connecticut	$85.03	$74.09	$74.09
Delaware	$61.08	$63.56	$63.56
Florida	$37.55	$68.87	$68.87
Georgia	$44.92	$58.61	$58.61
Hawaii	$49.07	$65.58	$65.58
Idaho	$45.89	$63.56	$63.56
Illinois	$38.44	$53.17	$53.17
Indiana	$44.32	$59.49	$59.49
Iowa	$39.59	$53.17	$53.17
Kansas	$44.54	$48.33	$48.33
Kentucky	$48.09	$48.33	$48.33
Louisiana	$38.86	$49.34	$49.34
Maine	$49.71	$47.55	$47.55
Maryland	$64.69	$88.87	$88.87
Massachusetts	$81.82	$80.56	$80.56
Michigan	$56.58	$48.33	$48.33
Minnesota	$64.11	$67.36	$67.36
Mississippi	$51.43	$48.33	$48.33
Missouri	$59.54	$43.70	$43.70
Montana	$36.95	$63.50	$63.50
Nebraska	$43.28	$63.56	$63.56
Nevada	$63.56	$60.74	$60.74
New Hampshire	$55.06	$74.09	$74.09
New Jersey	$45.55	$64.29	$64.29
New Mexico	$68.36	$63.56	$63.56
New York	$78.68	$86.77	$86.77
North Carolina	$72.18	$70.17	$70.17
North Dakota	$35.75	$74.09	$74.09
Ohio	$55.64	$61.58	$61.58
Oklahoma	$44.37	$53.17	$53.17
Oregon	$52.71	$53.17	$53.17
Pennsylvania	$51.19	$53.22	$53.22
Rhode Island	$31.03	$63.56	$63.56
South Carolina	$48.90	$62.01	$62.01
South Dakota	$45.29	$48.33	$48.33
Tennessee	$39.99	$63.56	$63.56
Texas	$56.89	$46.88	$46.88
Utah	$60.03	$63.56	$63.56
Vermont	$53.24	$48.33	$48.33
Virginia	$52.11	$88.87	$88.87
Washington	$41.25	$49.80	$49.80
West Virginia	$53.30	$63.56	$63.56
Wisconsin	$50.18	$63.56	$63.56
Wyoming	$55.22	$48.33	$48.33
Washington, D.C.	$81.77	$68.87	$68.87

It’s important to note that, when pet insurance companies consider your location, they are primarily considering your zip code, not your state. That being said, a state breakdown can still be useful to see which states are generally viewed as riskier or more expensive for pet owners.

In the following table, we’ll look at how each state compares to the average of all quotes received ($58.74 per month).

Here are the results:

State	Average Premium	Difference from Average
Alabama	$61.34	4%
Alaska	$58.32	-1%
Arizona	$78.27	25%
Arkansas	$53.83	-9%
California	$51.59	-14%
Colorado	$65.12	10%
Connecticut	$77.74	24%
Delaware	$62.73	6%
Florida	$58.43	-1%
Georgia	$54.05	-9%
Hawaii	$60.08	2%
Idaho	$57.67	-2%
Illinois	$48.26	-22%
Indiana	$54.43	-8%
Iowa	$48.64	-21%
Kansas	$47.07	-25%
Kentucky	$48.25	-22%
Louisiana	$45.85	-28%
Maine	$48.27	-22%
Maryland	$80.81	27%
Massachusetts	$80.98	27%
Michigan	$51.08	-15%
Minnesota	$66.28	11%
Mississippi	$49.36	-19%
Missouri	$48.98	-20%
Montana	$54.65	-7%
Nebraska	$56.80	-3%
Nevada	$61.68	5%
New Hampshire	$67.75	13%
New Jersey	$58.04	-1%
New Mexico	$65.16	10%
New York	$84.07	30%
North Carolina	$70.84	17%
North Dakota	$61.31	4%
Ohio	$59.60	1%
Oklahoma	$50.24	-17%
Oregon	$53.02	-11%
Pennsylvania	$52.54	-12%
Rhode Island	$52.72	-11%
South Carolina	$57.64	-2%
South Dakota	$47.32	-24%
Tennessee	$55.70	-5%
Texas	$50.22	-17%
Utah	$62.38	6%
Vermont	$49.97	-18%
Virginia	$76.62	23%
Washington	$46.95	-25%
West Virginia	$60.14	2%
Wisconsin	$59.10	1%
Wyoming	$50.63	-16%
Washington, D.C.	$73.17	20%

Based on the quotes we received, the state with the most expensive premiums was New York, with an average premium of $84.07 per month, which was 30% more expensive than the country’s average.

The state with the least expensive premiums was Louisiana, with an average premium of $45.85, which was 28% less expensive than the country’s average.

How your state affects your pet insurance

It can be easy to see why location impacts auto insurance or even homeowner’s insurance premiums. But when we are talking about pet insurance, why does your zip code matter?

Well, there are a few big reasons why your state—and even your specific city—can play a role in your pet insurance premiums.

Factor	Impact on cost
Costs fluctuate by area	Premiums adjust based on cost of care in zip code
Some areas pose higher risk	Riskier locations to pet’s health cause premiums to rise
Access to care can vary	Higher premiums in areas where care is limited

Cost of care

A downtown New York City veterinarian is likely to charge more for his or her services than a small vet outside of Tulsa. Therefore, pet insurance carriers will often adjust premiums according to your city, state, or zip code to account for a difference in the cost of care.

This premium adjustment ensures that the carrier can cover the costs that your pet may incur and provide you with the best possible coverage for your unique location.

Greater risk of injury or illness

A house cat in the quiet suburbs may not encounter as many risks as one living in a bustling metropolitan area. A pup with its own backyard might not be exposed to as many illnesses as one who lives in a city and visits busy dog parks.

The less risky your location is regarding your pet’s health and safety, the less your pet insurance premiums might be.

Access to care

Some cities may have a vet on every block and be readily available whether your pet needs routine care or emergency treatment. Because of this easy access, you’re more likely to take your pet in for regular check-ups and can reach the vet quickly when care needs arise.

If you live in other areas, however, accessing a vet or animal hospital might mean traveling a far distance or navigating public transportation. Pet owners in these areas might find it more difficult to obtain routine care for their pet(s), or quickly access care in an urgent situation. As a result, premiums can rise.

Ways to lower the cost of pet insurance if your state has high premiums

Short of moving, there’s not much you can do about pet insurance policy costs related to your location. But just because the impact of your state (or city) on your premiums is out of your control doesn’t mean that there aren’t other ways you can lower your pet insurance costs.

Here are some ways to lower the cost of a pet insurance policy, especially if you live in a state with high locality-based premiums.

Shop around for a more affordable provider

If you’re not happy with the premiums you’re paying (or being quoted), shop around and see if there’s a more affordable policy that still meets your needs. This can often be the key to not only getting the coverage you want but also finding a cheaper price tag.

A good place to start is our guide on the best pet insurance carriers. There, you’ll find a list of pet insurance companies with various coverage options, plans, and, of course, premiums.

Choose your plan wisely

If your pet insurance company offers more than one plan option, consider whether a different plan will save you money. For instance, if you don’t need coverage for preventative care costs, avoid the wellness add-on to reduce the cost of your policy. This way you can stick with emergency coverage and put the savings toward other expenses.

Adjust your policy’s deductible

Your deductible is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your policy kicks in. Most carriers allow you to choose your deductible so that you have control over the final cost of your policy. By selecting a higher deductible, you can lower your premium. This is because you’re taking additional costs away from the insurer and making them your responsibility.

Pick a lower reimbursement percentage

Another option is to decrease your pet insurance plan’s reimbursement percentage. If your carrier offers more than one reimbursement option—such as your choice of 70%, 80%, or 90%—choosing a lower percentage will usually result in lower premiums.

It’s important to remember that this will mean a higher out-of-pocket cost for you if you need to file a claim against the policy. However, until then (or if you never end up needing emergency care), you’ll save money on your monthly premiums.

Opt for a smaller benefit limit

Most policies have a built-in benefit limit, which is the maximum amount that the carrier will contribute toward your pet’s care each year or sometimes for life. Once you hit that limit, the insurance company will stop paying for that type of care until the following year or forever if you have a lifetime limit.

If you can choose your benefit limit amount, opting for a lower limit can mean lower pet insurance premiums. Just know that if your pet needs care that exceeds your new lowered limit, you’ll be on the hook for anything over that limit.

Take advantage of discounts

Discounts can be a great way to purchase the policy you want—without compromise—at a price that makes you happy.

Depending on the pet insurance carrier you choose, various discount options may be available. These could include multiple pet discounts, discounts for purchasing additional coverage options, military discounts, discounts for going claim-free for a certain period, and so on.

Be sure to ask which discounts are offered before buying a policy to see what you qualify for and how much you could save.

Consider whether monthly or annual premiums are cheaper

Your carrier may offer a discount for paying your premiums annually rather than monthly. If this is an option, consider whether you can afford to pay an entire year’s worth of premiums upfront and how much you’ll save.