Best Pet Insurance In Michigan Of 2024

Here are Forbes Advisor’s picks for the best pet insurance companies in Michigan of May 2024:

• Pets Best – Best Overall
• ManyPets – Best for Cost
• Embrace – Best For Healthy Pet Discount
• Figo – Best For Short Waiting Period For Accident Coverage
• Paw Protect – Great for Superior Benefits
• Spot – Best For Choices of Annual Coverage

Company	Company - Logo	Forbes Advisor Rating	Forbes Advisor Rating	Reimbursement Choices	Deductible Choices	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text	View More
Pets Best		5.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
ManyPets		4.5		70% or 80%	$500, $750	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Embrace		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Figo		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%, 100%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Paw Protect		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Spot		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website

Reimbursement and deductible choices may vary by state.

The average cost of pet insurance in Michigan is $45 per month, according to our analysis. That’s for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The cost for a policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level is $63 per month.

Your pet insurance costs in Michigan will depend on several factors, including:

• The pet’s age, breed and gender.
• Your location (vet costs vary based on location).

The Cost of Pet Insurance for Dogs in Michigan

The average cost of pet insurance for a medium sized mixed breed dog in Michigan is $45 per month for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. A similar policy with unlimited annual coverage cost $63 per month.

The Cost of Pet Insurance for Cats in Michigan

The average cost of pet insurance for a mixed breed cat in Michigan is $23 per month for a policy with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The cost for a policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level is $35 per month.

Costs for Michigan Pet Insurance With $5,000 Annual Maximum Coverage

Company	Monthly cost in Michigan
Fetch	$32
Figo	$32
Lemonade	$32
Pets Best	$35
Spot	$47
Embrace	$53
Paw Protect	$54
Pumpkin	$74
Average	$45

Costs are based on a plan with $5,000 of annual coverage ($10,000 for Pumpkin), a $250 deductible ($300 for Fetch and $500 for ManyPets) and 80% reimbursement level for mixed breed dogs in Michigan. Source: PetInsurer.com

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Costs for Michigan Pet Insurance With Unlimited Annual Maximum Coverage

Company	Monthly cost in Michigan
ManyPets	$20
Pets Best	$39
Fetch	$43
Lemonade	$45
Figo	$50
Healthy Paws	$53
Spot	$91
Embrace	$94
Paw Protect	$95
Pumpkin	$100
Average	$63

Costs are based on a plan with unlimited annual coverage ($15,000 for Fetch and $100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductible ($300 for Fetch and $500 for ManyPets) and 80% reimbursement level for mixed breed dogs in Michigan. Source: PetInsurer.com

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The best pet insurance companies sell policies that cover problems such as common illnesses (like allergies), major illnesses (like cancer), minor injuries (like a lacerated paw) and serious injuries (like swallowing a foreign object). Here are the main types of pet insurance plans.

Accident and Illness Pet Insurance

This type of plan covers a broad range of accidents and illness-related expenses. Some expenses that could be covered in a plan like this include:

• Accidents like poisonings or ACL ruptures.
• Chronic illnesses like allergies.
• Illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea.
• Severe illnesses like heart disease.
• Hereditary conditions.
• Testing and diagnostics like X-rays and MRIs.
• Chemotherapy.

Great Danes, for example, are prone to a variety of illnesses, including eye and cardiac diseases, hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Not only that, but also their size makes them an injury risk. With that in mind, an accident and illness plan might be a good fit for this breed of dog.

Note that some pet insurance companies have age limits on pets that qualify for accident and illness plans.

Accident-Only Pet Insurance

This type of plan covers only accident-related care expenses. Expenses that qualify as accidents include:

• Skin lacerations.
• Fractured or broken bones.
• Toxic ingestion.

German shorthaired pointers, for example, are usually a healthy dog breed since they commonly spend their time outdoors and receive a lot of exercise on hunting retreats. However, since they live an active lifestyle, injury risk could be higher. An accident-only plan may make sense if you’re willing to pay for illnesses on your own.

Wellness and Routine Care Pet Insurance

The best pet insurance wellness plans for routine care cover wellness-related expenses like annual check-ups, vaccinations, and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. A wellness plan can typically be added to an accident and illness policy, but not an accident-only policy. These types of plans are usually reimbursement based, meaning you’ll pay upfront at the vet then submit a claim to your insurer for reimbursement.

Once you identify the type of coverage suitable for your pet, you’ll want to compare your options. Try to select the same (or similar) annual maximum, reimbursement level and deductible amount when comparing pet insurance quotes.

Check out whether the plans you’re considering have important benefits such as the ones below.

Can the Pet Insurance Plan Pay the Vet Directly?

Pet insurance plans usually work like this:

• You visit the vet.
• You pay the total upfront either during the visit or after receiving a bill.
• You submit the claim to your pet insurance company.
• Your insurance company reimburses you for the portion they cover.

While the process is simple, you have to pay out-of-pocket for all of the vet bill before you’re reimbursed. If you’re on a tight budget, this might put a strain on your finances. Examples of pet insurance companies that pay the vet directly include Pets Best and Trupanion.

Are There Discounts?

Insurance companies often offer multi-pet discounts when you insure more than one pet at once. In addition, companies like Embrace offer other ways to save, such as a vanishing $50 deductible when you go a year without submitting a claim.

Does the Plan Provide a 24/7 Vet Helpline?

As an additional perk, some pet insurers offer 24/7 vet helplines to assist you during all hours of the day and night. So if your new kitten is vomiting in the middle of the night, the vet helpline can advise you to head to the emergency clinic or wait it out.

Can I Add a Wellness and Routine Care Plan?

If preventive care coverage is essential to you, look for pet insurance plans that offer wellness and routine care as an add-on. For example, Pets Best offers preventive care plans ranging from $16 to $26 a month.

Know the Waiting Periods for Coverage

When you buy a pet insurance policy, you must wait a set period of time before the plan will start paying for vet costs. This amount of time is referred to as a waiting period. Pet insurance companies apply different waiting periods depending on the plan. Since your pet can get sick or injured at any time, it’s advantageous to select a plan with a shorter waiting period. For example, Figo has a one-day waiting period for accidents, compared to 15 days for Healthy Paws.

Also, some pet plans have extended waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament issues or hip dysplasia. These waiting periods can range between six months and a year. If your pet is susceptible to these issues, look for a policy without these extended waiting periods.

Dog owners in Michigan must license their dogs that are age six months and older. You can get a license starting at four months. Dogs should be vaccinated against rabies.

Pet laws may also differ by community. Here are some of the pet-related laws in municipalities in Michigan.

Detroit Pet Laws

It is unlawful to keep more than four dogs age four months and older and four cats age four months and older in your home. If you violate this regulation you can be fined up to $500 and sentenced to up to 90 days in jail.

It is your responsibility to keep your dog on your property unless your dog is leashed and under restraint.

Your dog could be deemed a public nuisance for several reasons, including:

• Biting a person.
• Disturbing the quiet and comfort in the vicinity, such as excessive barking.
• Defecating, urinating or digging on public property or private property that is not your own.
• If your dog is unclaimed after being picked up by or delivered to the care and control of theAnimal Control Division.

Detroit has rules on tethering your dog, including:

• You cannot continuously tether your dog for more than three hours per day.
• You cannot tether a dog age four months or younger.
• You must offer your dog “proper shelter.”
• Food and water must be secured so it cannot be tipped over.
• You must tether your dog with either a collar or harness.
• Your tether must be a coated steel cable, be no more than 10% of your dog’s body weight, it cannot inhibit your dog’s movements, and must have a swivel attached to both ends of the tether.
• Your tether cannot allow your dog to come within five feet of a property line.
• You cannot tether your dog in an area composed entirely of bare earth.
• The area you tether your dog must provide protection from being attacked by other people and animals.

Grand Rapids Pet Laws

Grand Rapids residents can own up to three dogs, which doesn’t include puppies age six months or younger born to a female dog under your care.
You cannot allow “loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling” that would be an annoyance to the neighborhood.

When your dog is off of your property it should be leashed with a restraint of six feet in length or less.

Lansing Pet Laws

You cannot allow your dog to run at large in Lansing. Any dogs that violate the ordinance at least twice within a continuous six-month period is considered a nuisance. Violators may face a fine up to $500.

Dogs should be tethered on a leash and under you or a caretaker’s control when your dog is not on your property.

Ann Arbor Pet Laws

Dogs must be on leash and under control when in public spaces in Ann Arbor and you must immediately remove a dog’s feces.

Owners should not allow loud, frequent or habitual barking, yelping, growling or howling, or the dog may be deemed a nuisance, which could result in a fine.

Severe winter weather, poisonous plants and wildlife encounters can be dangerous to your pet. Here are some common pet risks in Michigan to be aware of:

• Frostbite. Pets can get frostbitten ears, paws and tails. Frostbite signs may not be obvious or show for several days. Symptoms of frostbite include white, waxy or pale appearance to extremities, sloughing or shedding skin, or the skin is cold and numb with a loss of feeling.
• Hypothermia. Pets can become hypothermic after being in cold temperatures or being wet in cold temperatures for long periods of time. Symptoms of hypothermia include extreme shivering, slow shallow breathing, pale or blue gums, and being unresponsive.
• Plants. Toxic plants your pet might encounter in Michigan include aloe vera, baby’s breath, daffodils, tomato plants and tulips. Here’s a list of toxic and non-toxic plants from the ASPCA.
• Wildlife. The types of wildlife your pet might encounter in Michigan include black bears, coyotes, foxes, snakes and skunks. You can help minimize the risk of harm to your pet by staying on trails and keeping your dog on a leash while hiking.

Veterinary Costs in Michigan

The average vet visit cost in Michigan is $58, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis of vet visit costs. If your pet has additional health care needs like prescription medications, medical treatment or vaccines, your vet costs will be higher.

Here’s a look at vet visit costs in different cities in Michigan:

City	Average cost for a veterinary visit for one pet	Average cost for a veterinary visit for additional pet	Total cost for a veterinary visit with two pets
Saginaw	$55	$43	$98
Ann Arbor	$58	$45	$103
Brighton	$58	$45	$103
Lansing	$58	$45	$103
Livonia	$58	$45	$103
Northville	$58	$45	$103
Roseville	$58	$45	$103
Southfield	$58	$45	$103
Troy	$58	$45	$103
Utica	$58	$45	$103
Average	$58	$45	$102

Source: Banfield Pet Hospital

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Your pet insurance costs will vary depending on where you live in Michigan. Here’s a look at the cheapest pet insurance companies by city in Michigan.

City	Cheapest company and average monthly cost
Dearborn	$5,000 annual coverage: Figo, $31 Unlimited annual coverage: Pets Best, $38
Dearborn Heights	$5,000 annual coverage: Figo, $31 Unlimited annual coverage: Pets Best, $38
Grand Rapids	$5,000 annual coverage: Pets Best, $33 Unlimited annual coverage: Pets Best, $37
Sterling Heights	$5,000 annual coverage: Lemonade, $22 Unlimited annual coverage: Pets Best, $43
Warren	$5,000 annual coverage: Figo and Lemonade, $31 Unlimited annual coverage: Pets Best, $37

Costs are based on a plan with $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible ($300 for Fetch) and 80% reimbursement level for mixed breed dogs in Michigan, or unlimited annual coverage ( $100,000 for Lemonade), a $250 deductibles and 80% reimbursement level for mixed breed dogs in Michigan. Source: PetInsurer.com.

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To find the best pet insurance in Michigan we used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following:

• Pet insurance rates (40% of score): We calculated average rates for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
• Special waiting period (10% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.
• Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.
• 24/7 vet health line (10% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line scored in this category.
• Routine wellness plans (10% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
• Pays veterinary exam fees (10% of score): Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit. Plans that cover the vet exam fee scored in this category.
• Euthanasia or end of life expenses (5% of score): Insurers that cover end of life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, scored in this category.
• Multipet discount (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.