Maine pet parents pay relatively average pet insurance rates that are on par with the rest of the country: $37 per month for a cat and $69 per month for a dog. Nationwide, people pay an average of $37 and $71 per month, according to Insurify data.
If expensive emergency care or ongoing conditions put a strain on your budget when you take your pet to the vet, a pet insurance plan can help. Here’s a look at the best insurers in the state so you can learn more about your pet insurance options in Maine.
Best pet insurance companies in Maine
Coverage details and costs vary widely among insurers based on different factors like your ZIP code, your pet’s breed, and age. Here, you can compare the best pet insurance companies in Maine from a number of excellent choices.
Pumpkin: Best for easy claim process
Sample monthly quote for dogs: $31
Sample monthly quote for cats: $14
Plans available: Accident and illness, wellness
Pumpkin gives you more flexibility to plan your costs in advance even after you’ve purchased coverage. You’ll find a “Get an Estimate” option within your online account with which you can submit your vet’s proposed treatment plan in order to see what costs it’ll cover. You can also choose from two reimbursement options with its main plan: paper check or direct deposit.
Pets Best: Best for customizable coverage
Sample monthly quote for dogs: $24
Sample monthly quote for cats: $16
Plans available: Accident only, essential, plus, elite, wellness
Even the best pet insurance companies often funnel you into a narrow set of coverage options. Pets Best gives you more flexibility than its competitors to dial in on the exact coverage you need without paying a penny more than you have to. That’s especially important as your pet ages because you can change your policy to meet the needs of your budget and your senior pet.
Figo: Best for money-back guarantee
Sample monthly quote for dogs: $27
Sample monthly quote for cats: $11
Plans available: Accident and illness, wellness, exam fees
Most pet insurers don’t flag pre-existing conditions until after you file a claim — a common (and understandable) source of disappointment. But Figo offers a full medical records review for all new customers within the first 30 days. It’ll tell you what it considers a pre-existing condition so you know up front, and you can decide whether to keep your policy or get your money back.
For each quote, we used a Maine address. For the sample quotes for dogs, we used a profile of a 2-year-old mixed-breed medium-sized male dog. For cats, we used a profile of a 2-year-old American shorthair female cat. Quotes for both species were for accident and illness coverage with 80% reimbursement, a $500 deductible, and $5,000 or more in annual coverage.
We also researched each company’s full range of options for coverages, deductibles, reimbursement rates, discounts, waiting periods, customer reviews, and more.
Cost of pet insurance in Maine
The good news is that pet insurance coverage in Maine is affordable, costing about the same as the national average. Maine residents typically pay $37 per month for cat insurance and $69 per month for dog insurance, according to Insurify data.
Nationwide, pet parents pay $37 and $71, respectively, for the same coverage.
Why pet insurance is important if you live in Maine
Pet insurance is one of the best ways you can keep your pets healthy even when they incur big vet bills, and that’s true wherever you live. But pet insurance might be especially important for residents of the Pine Tree State for the following reasons:
Rabies: More cases of rabies cropped up in wild Maine animals in the first half of 2023 than in all of 2022 combined.2
Ticks: Cases of tick-borne diseases, like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, may increase by up to 100% in 2024.
Avian influenza: Pets may be susceptible to a dangerous avian influenza virus first detected in the state in 2022.3
Maine pet regulations and laws
Maine law governs pets in many ways, but some of the most relevant laws for pet parents living in the state include:
Off-leash dogs: Dogs must be under control at all times when outside unless they’re used for hunting. In some local areas, this means you’ll need to keep them on a leash.4
Rabies vaccination: Cats and dogs older than 3 months must be up to date on their rabies vaccination.
Dangerous or nuisance pets: If someone reports your pet to animal control, you could face fines, penalties, and court orders depending on the severity of the situation.
Low-income spay and neuter program: If your household income is less than 133% (or 150% in some years) of the federal poverty level, you only have to pay a reduced fee to have your pet spayed or neutered by a participating veterinarian.
Types of pet insurance coverage
It’s important to know that pet health insurance works very differently from human health insurance. For starters, you’ll generally have to pay all vet bills out of pocket first, and then file for reimbursement with your pet insurance company.
Most insurers offer the following different types of coverage options.
Accident and illness plan
Accident and illness plans offer comprehensive coverage against many health issues, including:
Cancer treatments
Hip dysplasia
Injuries
Other chronic conditions
Urinary tract infections
These policies typically come with the highest pet insurance costs because the coverage is so extensive. But they still have some coverage gaps, including:
Breeding-related medical care
Pre-existing conditions
Routine veterinary care
Accident-only plan
Many pet owners opt to save money by choosing an accident-only policy that only covers certain costs related to emergencies rather than illnesses. This could cover injuries from accidents such as:
Ate something they weren’t supposed to
Attacked by a loose dog
Hit by a car
It’s important to read the fine print for your policy for an accident-only plan, too. Look for exclusions that may apply. In general, accident-only plans also don’t cover routine care costs.
Wellness plan
Pet insurance policies are designed to help with emergency vet care, not preventative health costs. You’ll need to pay those costs on your own unless you opt to pay extra for a wellness plan.
A wellness plan could help reimburse you for regular expenses such as:
Dental cleaning
Exam fees
Parasite tests
Periodic blood work
Routine vaccinations
Spaying or neutering
It’s a good idea to ask your vet for a list of all recommended yearly preventative charges and compare that to the annual cost of wellness coverage to make the best financial decision.
How to find the best pet insurance in Maine
Pet insurance is one of the most important investments pet owners will make. You want to make sure you get the best pet insurance possible, but you also don’t want to overspend.
Here are some tips to help you navigate that tricky line:
Maine pet insurance FAQs
You’re busy, and pet insurance can be complex. To help, here are answers to some of the most commonly asked pet insurance questions in Maine.
Is pet insurance more expensive in Maine?
No. Maine pet parents pay average pet insurance costs on par with the rest of the country as a whole.
What is the average cost of pet insurance in Maine?
The average monthly premium in Maine is $37 for cat insurance and $69 for dog insurance, compared to $37 and $71 nationwide, respectively.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions in Maine?
It depends on the company offering the insurance policy. Most pet insurance policies don’t cover pre-existing conditions in Maine or any other state, but some of the top pet insurance companies will cover these conditions under unique circumstances.
What is the best level of pet insurance?
An accident and illness plan with unlimited coverage offers the best level of pet insurance coverage, but these policies can be rather expensive. A good general idea is to choose a policy offering the highest coverage amount for the out-of-pocket cost that you’re able to pay if you need to file a claim.
What are the three types of pet insurance?
Pet insurance is generally available as three separate insurance products: accident and illness, accident only, and wellness. Each option covers various types of medical treatments.