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Owning a pet in the Buckeye State could lower your blood pressure and make gloomy winters more manageable. Pets in Ohio could face a number of health issues, such as allergies, tiny bug bites and extreme weather conditions that can cause injuries. Protecting a furry friend with pet insurance can help you give them the care they need without breaking the bank.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the best pet insurance in Ohio.
| Company | Monthly cost in Ohio |
|---|---|
|
Lemonade
|
$19
|
|
Pets Best
|
$23
|
|
Figo
|
$26
|
|
TrustedPals
|
$31
|
|
Embrace
|
$40
|
|
Spot
|
$43
|
|
ASPCA
|
$43
|
|
Petplan
|
$46
|
| Company | Monthly cost in Ohio |
|---|---|
|
Lemonade
|
$22
|
|
ManyPets
|
$23
|
|
Pets Best
|
$26
|
|
Figo
|
$35
|
|
Healthy Paws
|
$45
|
|
Prudent Pet
|
$48
|
|
Trumpion
|
$49
|
|
Nationwide
|
$57
|
|
TrustedPals
|
$58
|
|
Embrace
|
$65
|
|
Spot
|
$83
|
|
Petplan
|
$90
|
Whether you’re concerned about a pet’s allergies or broken bones, there’s a pet insurance plan for your situation. Pet insurance plans usually fall into these three buckets.
Accident and illness plans are the most common type of pet insurance. They can cover a broad range of expenses resulting from injuries and illnesses, such as:
This type of plan offers limited benefits by only covering costs associated with accidents. Accident-only pet insurance plans cover emergencies, such as:
Pet insurance companies sometimes offer wellness and routine care add-ons that pay for expenses related to a pet’s preventive care needs. For an additional cost, you can add these plans to help pay for things like:
Price is usually an essential factor if you’re shopping for the best pet insurance in Ohio. Understanding how each pricing factor plays a role in the cost of a plan can help you make a choice that fits your budget.
Are components of a pet insurance policy that affect your monthly premium.
A deductible is an amount you pay out-of-pocket before the insurance starts to pay. For example, if you have a $250 annual deductible and you end up with a $250 vet bill, you have to pay the entire bill yourself. But if you revisit the vet within the year, your insurer will reimburse you for costs, up to the policy limits. Selecting a higher deductible helps lower your premiums. But you have to pay more out-of-pocket up-front.
Depending on the insurer, you might also select a reimbursement level, which is the portion your insurance company pays of a vet bill after you’ve met your deductible. Common reimbursement level options can range between 50% and 100%. Choosing a lower reimbursement percentage will lower your premium.
Some pet insurance companies let you select a coverage cap, which is the annual limit they will pay out for claims. Some pet insurance companies offer unlimited coverage caps, while others offer specific amounts, such as $5,000 or $10,000.
In addition to the choices above, these factors can influence the amount you pay for coverage:
While you may not have control over the characteristics of your pet and your location, you can usually choose the components of a plan so that you pay lower premiums or have higher reimbursement.
Price isn’t the only factor to consider if you’re shopping for the best pet insurance in Ohio. Other considerations should include:
Typically, pet insurance plans apply a waiting period, which means you must wait for the coverage to begin. Waiting periods can range between a day or two to several weeks.
Since waiting periods vary by the insurance company, it’s wise to identify companies with shorter waiting periods. After all, you’re paying for coverage; you want to be able to use it as soon as possible. For example, Figo has a one-day accident waiting period, while Healthy Paws has a 15-day accident waiting period.
Also, watch out for extended waiting periods for conditions like hip dysplasia. If your pet is prone to these issues, you could have to wait months before coverage will pay for the costs associated with these conditions.
You can save money on your pet insurance policy with companies that offer discounts. Common discounts include military discounts, annual payment discounts and multi-pet discounts when buying insurance for more than one pet. For example, Nationwide offers a 5% multi-pet discount and Prudent Pet provides a 10% multi-pet discount.
This protection helps pay for preventive costs and wellness care, such as an annual vet check-up.
Typically, you will pay the entire vet bill first when you visit the vet. Then you submit a claim and your pet insurance company reimburses you for its portion of the cost. However, some pet insurance companies like Trupanion will pay the vet directly if the vet has the compatible software installed. Buying insurance from a company that gives you this option will help minimize your initial out-of-pocket cost.
From 24/7 vet helplines to special pricing at the pharmacy, pet insurance companies may offer a variety of free perks. For example, selecting a company with a 24/7 vet helpline will be valuable if your pet gets sick in the middle of the night.
Ohio law requires dog owners to keep their pets under control, including using leashes when in public.
Most Ohioans can own dogs, but there are exceptions. The state forbids any person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony offense of violence from owning certain dogs for up to three years after release from prison or upon the person’s final release from other sanctions. The dogs forbidden include unspayed and unneutered dogs age 12 weeks and older, or a dog deemed dangerous.
Beyond state statutes, municipalities also have their own pet-related laws. Here are some of those regulations in Ohio’s four biggest cities.
Franklin County, which includes Columbus, requires owners to license dogs age 3 months and older. You must also vaccinate dogs for rabies before you can purchase a license. Violators may be fined and could be imprisoned for up to 30 days.
Dog owners in Columbus must have their pets securely leashed or under “direct control.” Direct control means your pet will come, sit and stay on command. An owner isn’t allowed to let their pet loose on other people’s property.
Columbus also limits how long a dog can be tethered outside. Dogs should not be tethered outside alone between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. or if the National Weather Service or government authority issues a heat or cold advisory. The regulation also limits the types of collars and chains pet owners can use to tether their dog.
The county has dangerous, vicious and nuisance dog regulations that take effect depending on the incident. Dangerous and vicious dogs must also be confined on the owner’s property and the person must get a dangerous dog tag from the county’s auditor’s office. Failing to get a dangerous dog tag is considered a fourth-degree misdemeanor on a first offense with a $250 maximum fine and 30 days imprisonment.
Owners of dogs deemed “vicious” must have at least $100,000 of liability insurance coverage. Owners of dogs deemed “dangerous” may be required to have at least $100,000 of liability insurance.
Cleveland regulations limit homes to no more than two dogs (excluding puppies age 3 months and younger).
Dog owners must license dogs age 3 months and older. Owners should keep their pets leashed on public property and in parks. Your dog must be under control at all times.
Cleveland also limits when and how long a person can leave a tethered dog alone outside. For example, you cannot tether a dog outside for more than six hours in a 24-hour period and no more than two consecutive hours with no less than one hour between tetherings. You also cannot tether a dog outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m or if a state or local authority or National Weather Service implements a heat or cold advisory or severe weather warning.
The city also has regulations for specific dog breeds, including American pit bulls, pit bull terriers and Staffordshire terriers. If you own one of those dogs, you have to register it with the city and show proof of at least $50,000 in liability insurance.
Cincinnati dog owners must register dogs age 3 months and older. Hamilton County offers annual, three-year and permanent dog licenses.
Dog owners must clean up after their dog when on public property or another person’s property.
Cincinnati forbids pets being tethered outside between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., if the owner is not home or for no more than six hours in any 24-hour period. Dogs cannot be kept outside for more than one hour when the temperature is above 90 or below 20 degrees, during severe weather warnings and without adequate shelter, food and water.
Toledo residents must register dogs age 3 months and older. You can get a one-year, three-year or permanent dog license.
Toledo regulations say a public nuisance can include a barking dog who barks continuously for at least 15 minutes or repeated barking for 30 minutes. A dog left unattended for 24 hours may also be deemed a nuisance.
Dog owners in Toledo cannot tether their dog unattended for more than 30 minutes and must tether dogs separately. Dogs can be tethered for more than 30 minutes if the dog owner or caretaker is present in the yard where the dog is tethered.
Tethers must prevent dogs from being at least 10 feet from the edge of any public street, alley, sidewalk or right of way. You cannot tether your dog within 500 feet of a school within one hour before school starts or within one hour of the end of the school day (or any time children would reasonably be traveling to and from school).
The municipal or county court that has jurisdiction over the residence conducts any hearing about a designation of nuisance, dangerous or vicious dog. This might happen after a dog bites a person or another animal.
We used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following.
Average plan prices: Up to 40 points. We averaged pet insurance quotes for each insurer for a mixed-breed dog at two ages in Ohio.
Plan benefits: Up to 60 points. We scored plans based on the following important features: Annual coverage choices, whether the plan can pay a veterinarian directly, access to a 24/7 vet line, availability of routine wellness coverage, whether the plan pays the vet exam fee, pet dental illness coverage, end of life coverage, and multipet discount.
