Pet Insurance in Massachusetts
Pet insurance Massachusetts residents use requires a close read of the policy contract, since state law has no special pet coverage rules.
- Pet insurance law: No pet-specific statute exists.
- The regulator is the Division of Insurance.
- For complaints, File a complaint.
Reference material: Massachusetts Legislature: Bill H.1186, Division of Insurance: file a complaint, Division of Insurance home page, state page chart for the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act (#633), and NAIC white paper: Pet Insurance (publication-pin-op-pet-insurance).
Under general property and casualty insurance law, state regulators at the Division of Insurance supervise pet policies. With no pet-specific statute in place, each insurer establishes its contract's waiting period and cancellation rules.
National figures put dog accident-only plan costs at an average of $190 yearly ($16 a month), compared with $112 yearly ($9 a month) for cats. For dogs, wellness coverage plans cost an average of $1,414 each year, or $118 each month. For cats, these plans average $859 yearly, or $72 monthly.
Massachusetts pet insurance laws
State law has no dedicated pet insurance statute, and the NAIC model act chart shows no current activity here. General property and casualty law applies to carriers, and pet policies fall within inland marine coverage under regulators' classifications. Lawmakers put forward H.1186 during the 194th session. Its title was An Act relative to pet insurance, and the House Committee on Ways and Means received the referral.
Check these rules before you buy, because the written policy controls your coverage when state law has no pet-specific terms:
- Waiting period: the days between purchasing a policy and when it begins covering veterinary care.
- Free-look period: right after buying, you can cancel within a set window and get your money back.
- Pre-existing condition: an illness or injury for which your pet showed signs before your coverage began.
- Deductible: the amount of covered vet bills you must pay before claim coverage starts.
Massachusetts pet insurance companies
Several national providers say their plans are available in all 50 states:
- Plans from Embrace and Fetch are sold nationwide.
- Coverage in Washington, D.C., is also offered by Nationwide.
- Coverage from Trupanion also includes D.C. and Puerto Rico (not every person in every state may have access to products and discounts).
- Plans from AKC Pet Insurance are sold nationwide; some features aren't available in every state.
Since no official state average prices exist, a baseline comes from national data provided by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. National figures place dog accident and illness plans at an average of $836 yearly ($70 a month) and cat plans at $435 yearly ($36 a month). Residents here make up 3.8% of the nationwide pet insurance premium total. Your quote also depends on the kind of pet you have, its age and breed, plus its ZIP code.
What is the number of insured pets in Massachusetts?
The North American Pet Health Insurance Association's member data places Massachusetts at number 8 of the top 10 published states. Among insured pets across the U.S., 3.4% belong to local pet parents. Nationwide, families insure 4.27% of pets. The rate is 5.99% for dogs and 2.29% for cats. Coverage spans 7.6 million insured pets throughout North America.
How do I make a pet insurance complaint in Massachusetts?
First, appeal any claim or billing dispute directly to your insurance company in writing. If a problem remains unresolved, you can submit a report through the state insurance complaint page. Licensed property and casualty insurers face consumer complaint reviews conducted by the Division of Insurance.
Request plan pricing for your pet.
We do not sell insurance, and we don't quote or bind it; your request goes to an insurance agency.