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Fact Checked
From the rustic slope sides of the Great Smoky Mountains to the sandy beaches of the Outer Banks, North Carolina is the perfect place to explore with your pet. Whether your pup enjoys running on the beach or your outdoor cat loves climbing trees, the Old North State has a lot to offer your furry companion.
But there are some problems to look out for in the Tarheel State. North Carolina has health hazards such as ticks and toxic algae, not to mention the risk of injury from an outdoor lifestyle.
If your pet suffers an accident or illness, your vet expenses can be costly. Here’s how to find the best pet insurance in North Carolina.
Here are the best pet insurance companies in North Carolina:
| Company | Monthly pet insurance cost in North Carolina |
|---|---|
|
Lemonade
|
$17
|
|
Pets Best
|
$22
|
|
Figo
|
$28
|
|
TrustedPals
|
$33
|
|
Fetch
|
$40
|
|
ASPCA
|
$41
|
|
Spot
|
$41
|
|
Embrace
|
$49
|
| Company | Monthly cost in North Carolina |
|---|---|
|
Lemonade
|
$20
|
|
ManyPets
|
$22
|
|
Pets Best
|
$25
|
|
Figo
|
$37
|
|
Healthy Paws
|
$45
|
|
TrustedPals
|
$47
|
|
Nationwide
|
$49
|
|
Trupanion
|
$60
|
|
Prudent Pet
|
$63
|
|
Embrace
|
$70
|
|
Spot
|
$79
|
|
Fetch
|
$80
|
When you are shopping for pet insurance in North Carolina, you’ll have a few options to choose from. Here are the main types of pet insurance plans.
Related: What does pet insurance cover?
This type of plan covers vet bills for accidents (like a torn ligament) and illnesses. For example, if your Boston Terrier has a skin infection, this plan would cover your vet expenses.
Expenses covered by an accident and illness plan include:
This type of plan only covers accident-related expenses. For example, let’s say your kitty jumps from the top of the kitchen cabinet and sprains their hind leg. An accident-only plan would reimburse you for your cat’s veterinary expenses. But if your cat gets sick, this plan won’t cover vet bills related to the illness.
Expenses covered by an accident-only plan include:
Some pet insurers offer wellness coverage as an add-on to help pay for preventative care, such as:
Pet insurance plans are reimbursement-based. Generally, you will pay up front for your pet’s vet bills, then submit a claim for reimbursement. Many insurers will offer a variety of reimbursement options.
Here’s what to look for when shopping for the best pet insurance in North Carolina.
Pet insurance companies use several factors for calculating how much you pay for coverage. Some factors include:
Before your pet insurance company starts covering vet expenses, you must pay your annual deductible, which is a set amount. Common deductible options are $100, $250 or $500. Choosing a lower deductible typically increases your premium since your insurer will be paying more if you file a claim.
Your pet insurance company may also allow you to select a reimbursement level, which is the portion of your vet bills they cover. Common options include 70%, 80% or 90%.
Selecting a lower reimbursement percentage means you have to pay more out of pocket for your vet bills, but your monthly premium payments will likely be lower than if you select a higher reimbursement level.
For example, if you already met your deductible and have a 70% reimbursement level and a $1,000 vet bill, you will be reimbursed $700 ($1,000 x 70% = $700).
The annual coverage limit is the total amount your pet insurance company will pay for each year. Annual maximum limits can range from $5,000 to unlimited, depending on your insurer.
Now that you know how pet insurance plans work, you’ll want to become familiar with the other options that some insurers offer. Here are some tips for finding the best pet insurance in North Carolina.
With most pet insurance plans, you’ll need to pay your vet and then submit a claim for reimbursement. But paying a significant amount up front might not be feasible for some pet owners. Some pet insurance companies, such as Trupanion and Pets Best, may be able to pay your vet directly and help minimize your out-of-pocket costs.
Many pet insurance companies offer discounts to help you save money. Here are some examples of pet insurance discounts:
Some insurance companies like Embrace also offer a Healthy Pet Deductible, which reduces your deductible by $50 every year you don’t submit a claim.
When your pet is sick in the middle of the night, you might feel conflicted about heading to the emergency room. Some pet insurance companies offer complimentary access to a 24/7 vet helpline to guide you through pet health-related questions.
The annual cost of routine care and wellness exams can add up. Some insurance companies offer optional routine and wellness care coverage to help reduce these expenses.
Some pet insurance companies may not cover accident and illness exam fees, which is the cost you pay to see your vet. If you don’t want to pay for an exam fee, look for an insurer that covers this cost.
Every pet insurance company has a waiting period. It’s the amount of time you must wait after you purchase your plan until your pet insurance coverage begins. Some pet insurance companies have shorter waiting periods than others. Choosing a plan with a shorter waiting period might be beneficial since you never know when an accident might happen.
For example, Embrace has a two-day waiting period for accidents compared to Spot which has a 14-day waiting period for accidents.
Some pet insurance companies have an extended waiting period for certain conditions. For example, Pets Best has a six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues, while ASPCA pet insurance does not have a waiting period for certain conditions.
North Carolina law prohibits dogs from running at large at night, and local communities usually have additional regulations that require dogs to be leashed when they’re off the owner’s property. Here is a sampling of local pet laws in North Carolina.
Charlotte dog owners must license dogs, cats and ferrets that are age 4 months or older. The animals must also be vaccinated against rabies. Dog, cat and ferret license fees are $30 for fertile pets. Dog, cat and ferret license fees are $10 per year or $25 for three years for sterile pets. Pet owners age 62 and older with sterilized animals can get free licenses.
Dogs in Charlotte must be on a leash or contained within a fence, which could be an operable and marked invisible fence. You must also leash a dog in city parks except for designated off-leash areas. An animal may be loose in its yard if an adult is next to the pet and the animal responds to direct verbal commands.
Violators may be cited $50 for the first violation and up to $500 and permanent seizure of the pet for a fifth violation.
You cannot drive with your pet on your lap. If you violate this law, you could be fined $100.
Any Charlotte resident with a dog deemed dangerous must install privacy fencing or secure fencing with a top, buy liability insurance, muzzle the dog when it’s off property, tattoo the dog identifying it as dangerous and place warning signs on the property.
You must inoculate dogs and cats age 4 months or older against rabies.
Raleigh dog owners cannot tether a dog outside for more than three hours within a 24-hour period. That includes using a rope, chain or other line to restrain a dog. The ordinance is in place to prevent a dog from becoming injured or being left in harsh conditions without access to shelter, food and water.
You must pick up after your dog when you are not on your property unless you have permission from the owner of the property.
Animal Control may deem an animal a nuisance for the following reasons:
Pet owners in Greensboro must keep their dogs and cats that are age 4 months or older current on their rabies vaccinations. If your dog or cat is not up to date on their vaccinations, you may be required to produce a rabies vaccination tag or form within 72 hours. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
An animal considered a nuisance, such as a dog running at large, may result in a citation for the owner. Fines are between $100 and $500, depending on the violation.
Guilford County considers it illegal to own an “inherently dangerous animal.” That includes lions, tigers, bears and wolves. Owners of exotic animals must obtain a permit to let animal control know of their whereabouts.
North Carolina has its share of natural disasters, including hurricanes. Greensboro officials recommend you transport your pet in a carrier or keep them leashed during an emergency. They also suggest you have an emergency kit and go bag, including a recent photo of your pet, leashes and/or carriers, pet food, water, bowls, veterinarian contact information, medical records, plastic bags and pet toys.
Related: Guide to disaster preparedness for pet owners
Durham County pet owners must keep their furry friends under restraint when off their property. One exception is off-leash dog parks, including Downtown Durham Dog Park, Northgate Dog Park, PetSafe Dog Park and Piney Wood Dog Park.
Dog park fees for city residents are $17 for the first dog and $15 for each additional dog. Non-residents pay $22 for the first dog and $20 for each additional dog. You must register your dogs with Durham Parks & Recreation annually and show proof your dog has vaccinations for rabies, distemper/parvo and bordetella, and have negative fecal exam results.
Dog owners must pick up after their pets on public property, public right of way and private property without permission of the property owner. Violators will be fined between $50 and $150, depending on the number of violations.
You cannot leave an unsupervised pet tethered in an open yard or space. If you do so, Animal Services may contact you and recommend keeping your pet indoors or in a fenced-in area. If you cannot afford a fence, you may be able to have a fence installed free of charge through community partners. Repeat violators could face civil penalties and criminal charges.
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 North Carolina.
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.
