If your pet is suddenly injured or ill, an emergency visit to the vet can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars. By investing in pet insurance in South Dakota, you can better manage unexpected pet bills – and even cover your pet’s annual routine care.
To help you find the right policy in the Mount Rushmore State, we at Guides Home have reviewed the top pet insurance providers based on important factors like coverage, cost and customer service. See which companies made our list for pet coverage in South Dakota with this detailed review.
See our for more information Spot pet insurance review.
Get pet insurance
See our for more information Receive a pet insurance review.
Healthy Paws pet insurance
Check out our healthy Paws pet Insurance Review for more information.
ASPCA pet insurance
Read our to learn more ASPCA pet insurance review.
How much does pet insurance cost in South Dakota?
On average, between regular accident and illness coverage costs $38 to $56 per month for dog insurance And $20 to $30 for cat insurance South Dakota.
We’ve rounded up pet insurance rates for each of the four highlighted insurers to show how much monthly premiums in South Dakota can vary from provider to provider.
The following estimates are based on a 2-year-old pet – a medium-sized mixed breed dog or a domestic short-haired cat – living in Sioux Falls, SD. Sample health costs are based on very basic supplements.
How does pet insurance work in South Dakota?
Similar to most types of insurance, a pet insurance policy requires you to pay a monthly premium in exchange for coverage. Your premium will depend on where you live and the breed, age, breed and medical history of your furry family member to the insurance provider.
When you sign up for pet insurance, some companies allow you to adjust your premiums by setting annual coverage limits, deductibles, and return rates. Your payment will depend on these choices when you make a claim.
The main way to use your cover after a trip to the vet is by making a claim. In such cases, you will be responsible for paying the first animal bills or invoices in advance. After paying your vet, you can file a claim with your pet insurance provider for reimbursement. Most pet insurance companies require receipt of all relevant fees and any supporting documentation or medical reports at the vet appointment.
Some other providers, such as Healthy Paws, will bill your veterinarian directly. But not all pet insurance companies offer this option.
How to choose the best pet insurance in South Dakota
With so many pet insurance options in South Dakota, comparing providers can be challenging. We recommend that you narrow down your options from the beginning to ensure that you are only paying attention to reliable suppliers.
As a general rule, you’ll want to stick with reputable pet health insurance companies rather than small carriers. Smaller providers naturally have less cash flow, which means they are more likely to be financially unstable, which can affect whether or not you can get paid.
Once you’ve identified at least three providers that offer coverage that fits your pet’s needs and your budget, getting a free quote is your next step. Asking for a personalized pet insurance estimate can give you a better idea of average costs and how much you need to customize coverage options to find a favorable monthly rate. We recommend you start by requesting quotes from the companies on this list.
But don’t make final decisions based on price alone. Before choosing a provider, make sure you familiarize yourself with the fine print, especially coverage inclusions and exclusions. Going through a few verified customer reviews will give you an inside look at the company’s customer service and integrity. However, if you’re on a tight budget, check out our cheapest pet insurance policies.
Pet laws in South Dakota
Pet owners living in South Dakota should know and follow Pet ownership laws everywhere in the state. While state laws are universal, your pet may be subject to additional regulations depending on your city, town or county. So Rapid City residents have to follow different rules than Pierre.
- South Dakota allows each municipality to regulate or prohibit dogs from running at large. Still, most cities don’t allow dogs to run free in public spaces.
- Cruelty to animals is a scheduled felony in South Dakota, punishable by a $4,000 fine or up to two years in prison.
- All dogs and cats at least six months of age must be licensed and current on rabies vaccinations.
- South Dakota residents can legally keep one raccoon, skunk or jackrabbit as a pet.
- If you find a stray cat or kitten in South Dakota, it is illegal to keep the animal. You should call animal control to make sure the feline gets the proper medical care as soon as possible.
Bottom line: What is the best pet insurance company in South Dakota?
Investing in a pet insurance plan in advance can help you cover the cost of unexpected vet bills if your pet becomes seriously injured or ill. It also gives you the peace of mind that you won’t have to make difficult medical decisions because of veterinary expenses that are out of your price range.
Additionally, pet insurance can help you navigate health issues (or risks) that may arise as your pet ages. Most providers recommend enrolling your furry friend when they’re young, as coverage eligibility can vary depending on your pet’s age.
According to our research and evaluation We recommend Spot pet insurance For dog and cat owners in South Dakota. With multiple policy options and the ability to customize your plan, Spot offers the flexibility to find affordable coverage that meets your pet’s health needs.
Methodology: Our system for ranking the best pet insurance companies
Our rating of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, shopping quotes and the mystery shopping process, talking to representatives over the phone to evaluate customer service experiences, and examining 1,000 dogs and cats. Pet insurance coverage for owners nationwide to determine the most important factors.
Based on those elements, we scored each provider on a 100-point scale. We divided this final score by 20 to calculate the overall star rating out of 5.0 stars.
Here are more details about each condition and how it is measured:
- Monthly cost (25 points) The best pet insurance companies combine comprehensive coverage and plan options at affordable prices.
- Plans (15 points) The major pet insurance companies offer accident-and-sickness plans, accident-only plans, and wellness or preventive care add-ons, giving customers the option to choose the plan that’s best for their pets.
- Covered Treatments (15 points) Based on the treatments and procedures we cover companies. Companies with a wide range of covered treatments and specialty coverage earned more points than providers with more standard or comprehensive policies.
- Customization options (10 points) Providers with more annual-limit, deductible, and payment-rate options received the highest scores.
- Customer Care (10 points) We score companies on the accessibility and overall usability of their websites, customer service offerings, mobile applications (if available), money-back guarantees and veterinary options, providing insurers with additional customer experience offerings.
- Industry reputation (10 points) We reviewed current ratings and certification information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and ranked companies based on years of experience in the industry and state presence.
- Waiting time (10 points) Companies with shorter accident, pain, and bone waiting times between enrollment and coverage start date scored higher than companies with longer waiting times.
- Acceptable age (5 points) Some companies do not offer policies for pets over a certain age. We have deducted points from providers with age restrictions for covered pets.
To help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry, we use our ranking system to compare and contrast each company against major factors. Read our to learn more Complete pet insurance policy To evaluate and score suppliers.