Pet Insurance in Maryland

Maryland pet insurance laws

State law sets clear limits on policies and requires sellers to tell you certain information before you buy. A waiting period means the number of days between buying a plan and when coverage starts paying claims. Accidents cannot have a waiting period under section 19-1105. Waiting periods for illnesses and orthopedic problems cannot exceed 30 days.

The law also includes consumer rules for routine care, cancellations, and old health issues:

• Returning a new policy: You may cancel a new policy by surrendering it within 10 days after delivery, as section 19-1104 provides.
• One definition: Section 19-1101 establishes a single meaning for a pre-existing condition. Signs, advice from a vet, or vet treatment count when they occur before coverage or during a waiting period.
• Denied claims: If a company rejects a claim because it calls the condition pre-existing, the statute requires the insurer to prove that the exclusion applies.
• Exclusion notices: Insurers must disclose exclusions. Examples include pre-existing, hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions. A hereditary condition is inherited, and a congenital condition exists from birth; a chronic condition lasts for a long time.
• Separate routine care: Wellness plans cover routine vet visits, not unexpected injuries or illness. Under section 19-1106, wellness plans may not be marketed as pet insurance. You also cannot be required to buy a wellness plan as a condition of purchasing a policy.

Insurers offering pet insurance in Maryland

Large national providers offer policies throughout Maryland. The following insurers publish their nationwide availability:

• Nationwide serves every one of the 50 states, plus DC.
• Spot and Embrace provide plans throughout the 50 states.
• Trupanion serves the U.S., DC, and Puerto Rico. Some people in some states may not have access to products or discounts.
• Policies from AKC Pet Insurance are sold nationwide, with some features not available in all states.

When owners compare dog insurance Maryland providers offer or look for a cat policy, public reports show only national price averages. Compiled by Willis Towers Watson, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association's State of the Industry report tracks national averages instead of Maryland figures. For dogs, the national average for U.S. accident and illness coverage comes to $836 each year, or $70 monthly. For cats, nationwide accident and illness plans average $435 each year, or $36 monthly. For dogs, accident-only plans average $190 each year, or $16 monthly; for cats, they average $112 yearly, or $9 monthly. The quote for your pet depends on its species, age, breed, and ZIP code.

Filing a pet insurance complaint in Maryland

The state regulator can receive your report when you dispute a denied claim, billing, or the sale of a plan. Consumer issues involving insurance companies and agents are handled by the Maryland Insurance Administration. The online consumer complaint page lets you send your complaint and policy documents.