6 Essential Tips for Your Maine Coon’s Pet Insurance

Almost 90% of the USA has pet insurance, but poor kitties comprise only 20 percent of the nearly 5 million insured pets. However, cat insurance sign-up rates have almost doubled since 2019, showing a trend in increased awareness of cat health and the ever-increasing costs of veterinary care.

The best pet insurance will provide comprehensive coverage and flexibility, allowing wellness add-ons such as routine care and diagnostics. Look for reimbursement percentage options that you can afford in an emergency. Seek a reputable agency with short waiting periods, low monthly premiums, and excellent customer service.

According to Forbes, annual cat veterinary costs rose 70% from 2020, which will continue with the rising costs of pet health care. No one wants an unexpected vet bill that they cannot pay and compromise the health and wellness of their beloved cat. So here are six essential steps you should take to ensure the best insurance for your Maine Coon.

Choosing a Pet Insurance Company for Your Sweet Maine

Vet care is expensive, and treatments are only getting more exorbitant. Imagine you were the owner of this Sphynx cat that claimed $40,057 last year for medical expenses! Imagine having to foot that bill without an insurance provider. Pet insurance seems a necessary evil when we pay more for our cat’s vet bills than for human health care…

With the rising cost of living, we no longer have the luxury of footing exorbitant vet bills, and it makes sense to seek an insurer to give us peace of mind. Here are six steps to ensure you make the right choice for your beloved Maine Coon.

#1. Consider Your Cozy Purr’s Needs

Firstly you should consider the needs of your individual Maine Coon and what you can comfortably afford to pay in monthly premiums. The price of your premiums can vary quite substantially due to factors such as the following:

1. The Age

Sadly, older cats are more likely to suffer from ill health. If you seek insurance when your cat is already advanced in years, you will struggle to find coverage and expect to pay exorbitant premiums.

2. The Breed

Unfortunately, insurance companies are savvy to purebred cats such as the Maine Coon and may exclude common breed-specific conditions. In the case of a Maine Coon they may exclude coverage for conditions such as:

• Hip dysplasia
• hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• spinal muscular atrophy

3. Pre-Existing Medical History

Most pet insurers will not cover a pre-existing medical condition for incurable conditions. Some insurers place a time frame on these prior medical conditions, such as if your pet does not require medical attention for a specific condition 12 months before your contract.

4. Where You and Your Cat Reside

There are state-based differences in your monthly premiums because of the highly regulated insurance industries on a state level. Each state has different requirements for insurance companies and their services, so your pet insurer needs to consider what plans and benefits your state allows.

The general cost of living factors into your monthly premiums because it also dictates the price of services such as veterinary care. If you live in LA or California, chances are you will pay higher veterinary fees, so your premiums will correspondingly be greater. Likewise, more rural states like Arkansas offer the lowest pet insurance premiums.

#2. Coverage Is Key: What Kind of Policy Do You Need?

Most pet insurance only covers the unexpected, such as sudden ill health, injury, and accidents. Some policies will leave you out of pocket for routine visits such as vaccines, preventative care, and checkups.

Pet insurance companies usually offer three main types of coverage such as the following:

Coverage Type	Coverage	Treatments
Accident Only (AO)	Limited coverage for emergencies	Accidents (such as car-related injuries)Foreign body ingestionCuts and lacerationsPoisoningLigament injuries
Accident and illness (A&I)	Comprehensive coverage for accidents and illness	Accidents and injuriesSerious and chronic illnesses (incl. cancer, infections, and digestive issues)InfectionsLab testing/diagnostic procedures)Prescription drugsEmergency care
Wellness Policies	Routine coverage and preventative care. Usually, riders to A&I policies	VaccinationsEarly preventative diagnosticsDental careNutritional consultationsAnimal behaviorists

Does Your Maine Coon Need Specialized Cover?

Most insurance companies allow pet owners to customize their policies to suit their individual needs. For instance, if you travel abroad often with your Maine Coon, you might want to look into customized coverage for overseas veterinary visits.

As most coverage is limited to illness or injury, you might want to add on what is called a “rider.” An insurance rider is an addition to the existing policy that adds specific insurance products to your primary coverage.

Some pet insurance companies offer the flexibility of the following riders:

1. Wellness Policy Add-Ons

A wellness rider takes care of routine health checks and preventive care to offset the costs usually not covered in a standard A&I contract. These typically include the following:

• Flea and tick treatments
• Dental cleaning
• Vaccinations

2. Alternative Therapy Riders

This addition to a standard policy includes holistic or alternative treatments not covered in standard policies. These treatments may include:

• Herbal remedies
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic treatments
• Physical therapies after injury

3. Behavioral Treatment Riders

Should your Maine Coon exhibit behavioral issues, these riders will cover the necessary professional behaviorist services. Animal behaviorist services can be expensive, ranging between 1,500 to $3,000 for a behavior modification course.

4. Breeding Rider

Most standard policies exclude the sometimes considerable costs of cat pregnancy and birth. Should you intend to breed your female Maine Coon, this would be an excellent option.

5. Travel Coverage Add-ons

If you intend your Maine coon to accompany you in your travels, this is a handy rider to attach to your basic pet insurance policy. Should your kitty suffer injury or illness abroad, this rider will cover vet bills and sometimes even diagnostics, medications, and emergency transportation for your cat.

#3. What Are the Overall Costs of Your Cat Insurance?

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), the average price of a monthly or annual premium for cats is as follows:

Pet Insurance Cats	A&I – Accident & Illness	AO – Accident Only
Average Monthly Cost	$32.25	$10.18
Average Annual Cost	$387.01	$122.19

When shopping for a pet insurer, you should take note of the following figures to ensure the best provider.

1. Annual Payout Limits

Pet insurance companies usually allow you to choose your yearly reimbursement for veterinary services. The higher the limit, the more you will have to fork out your monthly payments. Pet insurance annual limits can range from $5,000 to $20,000, or you may choose unlimited coverage but expect a hefty monthly payment.

2. Excess Payments

Your insurance excess refers to the amount you will pay toward your cat’s treatment. An excess is due when you use up your selected deductible for a calendar year. You should also prepare yourself to pay more as your pet ages in what insurers call “co-insurance excess.” This amount may vary from policy to policy, but generally, it is 10-20%, usually applied at your insurance inception or renewal.

3. Reimbursement Percentage

Your pet insurer’s reimbursement percentage can range from 70%-100% should your Maine Coon require veterinary care. This amount is what your company will pay you back after you have sought veterinary care and after you pay your deductible.

Deductibles are the minimum amount you must pay before your insurance kicks in. For example, if your Maine Coon requires a $1,000 treatment, if your reimbursement percentage is 80%, you will have to pay $200.

4. Yearly Deductible Options

When you take out a policy, you may choose an annual deductible amount. These amounts can range from $100 upwards, which you will agree to pay before your insurer will reimburse you. The higher your annual deductible amount, the less your monthly premiums will be.

Most pet insurers will allow you some leeway in adjusting your deductible and reimbursement to increase or decrease your monthly premium costs. It is a toss-up between paying more over time and less in case of a claim or vice versa.

#4. Research Your Cat Insurance Providers

Here are some tips for finding your perfect insurer. Look for the following features in your potential pet insurance.

1. Flexibility: Customized Cat Insurance Plans

Many pet insurers offer flexible terms so that you can customize your policy to suit your individual needs. The key areas of customization include:

• Deductibles: If you choose a lower deductible, your monthly premiums will decrease. However, you end up forking out more for the inevitable vet visit.
• Reimbursement rate: If you choose a high reimbursement rate, expect your copay amount to increase correspondingly.
• Maximum payout range: If you seek an unlimited payout amount, expect to pay heftier premiums, as the insurer carries higher risk in the process.

2. Look for Established and Reputable Pet Insurance Companies

The internet is rife with fly-by-night companies, and you should ensure that your intended insurer is on the up and up. It also helps to read customer reviews and reputable financial sites that support your chosen insurer, such as the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs USA, US News, and World Report.

3. Look for Excellent Customer Service

However good pet insurance looks on paper, it is essential to find a service that is streamlined and accessible. Look for companies that have live operators and a responsive team so that your dealings with the company don’t cause a headache.

Here’s what to look for in your customer service provider:

• Operating hours
• Contact options
• Availability of a customer service representatives
• How long the company takes to process a claim
• Options that allow you to track your claims online

4. Look for Benefits in Your Cat Insurance

Some pet insurance companies offer great benefits, and you should look for insurers that can provide the following benefits:

• Diagnostic care and treatment
• Coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions:
• Alternative therapies
• Behavioral therapies
• Prescription foods due to medical conditions
• Wellness coverage for routine care
• Telemedicine options
• Vet direct pay

5. Look at Waiting Periods for Coverage

Waiting periods are critical when considering insurers. The last thing you want to happen is for your cat to suffer an injury in the waiting period, and you can’t claim insurance. Check how long you must wait before the accident and illness coverage kicks in. Some insurers, such as Embrace, have only a 48-hour waiting period for accidents but a six-month wait for orthopedic conditions.

#5. Compare Your Potential Pet Insurance Companies

Always read your intended company’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) thoroughly, as it will help you understand your intended insurance coverage. A PDS is a document that insurance service providers must provide prospective clients that clarify:

• Key features
• Fees
• Commissions
• Benefits
• Risks
• Complaint handling procedures

Ultimately, you want to compare several pet insurance companies to find the best option. Look for companies with the fewest exclusions, the lowest premiums, and the most diverse benefits.

The key figures to focus on are the following:

• Your monthly/annual premiums. This amount involves your total monthly or yearly policy payment.
• Deductibles: How much you need to pay before your insurance benefits kick in, usually defined as a percentage or set dollar amount.
• Co-payments: Co-payments or “copays” kick in after you have met your deductibles. A copay is a fee for healthcare services such as a veterinary visit, and you may pay them after they provide the service, but usually, the co-payment applies immediately.
• Policy limits: Most insurers will provide you with the maximum amount they will pay for claims filed in a year of the policy’s lifetime. They will no longer reimburse your pet for medical services if you exceed this amount.
• Policy discounts: Some insurers offer discounts for multi-pet households, insurance bundles, or membership benefits.
• Enrollment fees: Some insurance companies require an enrollment fee to start your policy.
• Monthly service fees: Some insurers may hide monthly service costs in the fine print, which you must pay on top of your monthly premium.

#6. Read the Fine Print: Limitations and Exclusions

Insurance companies highlight their benefits and neatly tuck away the bad news in the fine print. The devil is in the details, and insurance companies can be pretty devilish with their exclusions and limitations. That is why taking your time and double-checking these details is so important.

Exclusions and Limitations

Exclusions pertain to embedded conditions in your contract that the insurance company will not honor, and you may find yourself out of pocket when you take your Maine Coon for veterinary treatments.

These exclusions often include the following:

Pre-existing Conditions

I got caught out so badly one time on this clause. My beloved older cat developed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and my pet insurance refused to pay. They reasoned that my cat was treated twice for stomach issues even though the treatments were before the disease diagnosis.

Many pet insurers typically exclude the following conditions:

• Organ transplant
• Elective procedures
• Artificial limbs
• Bi-lateral conditions

You should also ascertain if your insurer excludes the following:

Hereditary Disease

Some unscrupulous pet insurance companies also include exclusions for common hereditary diseases in pedigree cats. As a Maine Coon may be prone to several genetic conditions, your best bet is to find an insurer willing to cover these issues. Lemonade and Spot Pet Insurance are great companies covering hereditary diseases in cats and dogs.

Preventative Vet Visits and Routine Checkups

Although most insurance companies pay for accidents and illnesses, they don’t reimburse for general wellness visits such as boosters, vaccines, and routine checkups. These exclusions can often include costly vet visits for the following:

• Tick and flea treatments
• Dental visits
• Pregnancies and birth

Limitations pertain to contractually imposed reimbursement cut-offs, which may include several instances the company will not honor. In fact, some pet insurance contains more limitations than human insurance coverage. These limitations may include:

• Pet age cut-offs
• Annual payout limitations
• Policy lifetime payout limitations

Top 5 Pet Insurance Picks for Your Maine Coon in the US

We have done some research of our own, and here are our top picks of pet insurance companies for your Maine Coon.

Company	Type	Waiting Period	Standout features	Reimburse-ment Percentage	Deductible Options
PawProtect	A&I	14 days accident and injury; 6 months orthopedic	Virtual Patient Visa, interest-free, No credit checks	70-90%	$100,$250$500
Lemonade	A&I, Wellness	Accident 2 days, illness 14 days	Up to $100,000 annual cover. Easy claims process includes vaccines and preventive care	70-90%	$100, $250, or $500
Embrace	A&I, Wellness	Accident 2 days, illness 14 days	Includes hereditary conditions Pays for exam fees, diagnostics Can add a wellness plan No credit check is required	70-90%	$100,$250$500
Figo	1 day for injuries,  14 days for illness	No age limit for your cat. Option for 100% coverage	100% reimburse-ment coverage	70 – 100%	$100 – $1,500
Spot	14 days for injuries,  14 days for illness	Plans cover accidents & illness, surgeries, and prescription medication. Covers curable pre-existing conditions if symptom/ visit free for 180 days*	Best for annual coverage options $2,500 to $20,000 or unlimited	70%, 80% or 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000

Closing Thoughts

With the rise in veterinary treatment costs, it is best to be prepared for any eventuality to keep your Maine Coon healthy and happy. There are many different options that you can investigate to suit your particular kitty’s needs best. Don’t wait until your cat is already older; get them started young so that you can have peace of mind that your Maine Coon will always have access to the best medical care.