Alabama is rich with history and diverse landscapes — and adventures may get even better when you can bring along your furry best friend. There’s plenty for you and your pet to explore in the Yellowhammer State, from the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park to the Cumberland Plateau. Unfortunately, explorations can come with the risk of injuries or illnesses for your pet.
Even if you and your pet aren’t the adventuring type, they may be predisposed to certain health conditions that could require trips to the veterinarian throughout their life. A pet insurance policy from award-winning1 MetLife Pet Insurance could help you save on routine and unexpected vet bills.2 Pet parents, read on to learn more about how you may benefit from having pet insurance in Alabama.
Looking for Pet Insurance in Alabama?
Why Pet Insurance May Be a Good Idea if You Live in Alabama
No matter where you live in Alabama, your dog or cat may be exposed to different risks that put their health and well-being in danger. You could come across a venomous copperhead snake while hiking around Lake Guntersville State Park with your dog or your cat could get infected with parasites while spending time with you in your backyard near Jackson, AL.
Add on extreme heat, flooding, dense forests, grassy plains, and swamps, and there are a host of potential risks that could result in a vet visit for your ‘Bama pet. But your wallet doesn’t have to take a hit when vet bills come rolling in. For a low monthly premium, you could get up to 100% of covered expenses reimbursed with a MetLife Pet Insurance policy.2 With some pet care costs stretching into the thousands, you may find that pet insurance is worth it.
Why Choose a MetLife Pet Insurance Policy?
Pet parents have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to pet insurance for their beloved companion. Your pet deserves the best coverage, and MetLife Pet — winner of the 2023 “Pet Insurance of the Year” award at the Pet Innovations Awards Program — can help. We do our best to provide the most coverage while limiting exclusions and keeping costs affordable.2
Here are some of the reasons you may find MetLife Pet to be a great option for the best pet insurance in Alabama:
- Family plans allow you to add up to three pets on one policy with a shared deductible.3
- There are no age or breed exclusions.
- Claims are processed quickly, typically within 10 days.4
- You can visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. to get your pet the care they need.
- We have some of the shortest waiting periods for illnesses and accidents coverage.5,6
How MetLife Pet Insurance Works in Alabama
Head to the vet
Visit any licensed veterinarian in Alabama, or across the country, to receive the care your pet needs.
Send us your claim
Pay your vet bill, then submit a claim along with any required documents to MetLife Pet.
Get money back quickly
We’ll process your claim quickly — typically within 10 days — and reimburse you up to 100% of covered expenses.2,4
MetLife Pet Insurance Is Available Alabama. See What’s Covered
MetLife Pet offers both cat insurance and dog insurance policies that you can customize to fit your budget, lifestyle, and pet’s needs. Here’s a list of what we can typically cover under one of our pet policies:
- Examinations
- Hospitalizations and emergency care
- Accidents and illnesses
- Surgeries
- Veterinarian prescriptions
- Diagnostic testing (including ultrasounds and X-rays)
If you want to customize your coverage, you can adjust your deductibles and reimbursement rates as well as add more pets onto one policy.7,8 You can also opt for add-on coverage like Wellness Plans to help cover routine vet visits and vaccinations or Preventative Care Plans to help cover parasite prevention and treatment.9 Head to our coverage and exclusions page for more details.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost in Alabama?
The cost of pet insurance will vary depending on a few factors, but our policies can start as low as $9 per month for one cat and $15 per month for one dog.10 Adjusting your deductible and reimbursement rates, as well as adding more coverage (or additional pets), will also affect the monthly premium you pay.7,8
The cost of a policy can also vary based on the species, breed, age, and sex11 of your pet. You may also find that pet insurance costs more living in densely populated areas like Huntsville or Birmingham than in smaller towns like Dayton or Gaylesville.
Pet Insurance Claims We Paid in Alabama
How do you know if pet insurance is the right move for you and your pets? Take a look at some real claims MetLife Pet paid out to ‘Bama pet parents so you can get a better sense of what we might cover.12
- About $4,200 paid — This covered a cruciate rupture surgery in a Rottweiler puppy outside of Mobile, AL.
- A little over $900 paid — This paid for an exam in a Basset hound puppy who was in a car accident in Birmingham, AL.
- About $800 paid — This helped cover an exam for a kitten with pleural effusion in Huntsville, AL.
- More than $200 paid — This went toward an exam for a 2-year-old cat with an upper respiratory infection in Birmingham, AL.
- Over $100 paid — This covered a toxicity exam for a miniature German schnauzer puppy who ingested something they shouldn’t have in Mountain Brook, AL.
Notable claim in Huntsville, AL
Graham, a miniature dachshund, was diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease three years ago. This year, Graham needed surgery. The surgery cost about $4,200, but Graham’s pet parents had a MetLife Pet Insurance policy. We covered $2,400 of the vet bill and Graham is doing much better now. He’s back on his feet and digging right into mischief again!12
Pet Injuries and Illnesses Typically Found in Alabama
Whether you’re living the coastal Alabama life in Mobile or on a ranch in Huntsville, your pets may be at risk for different kinds of injuries and illnesses. Here are a few things Alabama pet parents may want to watch out for:
- Canine flu: Did you know that dogs can get the flu? Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection with two strains. Alabama has both strains in the state. Some cases of the flu run their course with lots of rest and hydration, while others may turn into pneumonia.13
- Snakes: Many venomous snakes call Alabama home and may pose a risk to your dog or cat. While the copperhead is the most common in Alabama, there are also watersnakes, rattlesnakes, and coral snakes throughout the state.14 If your dog is bitten by any of these snakes, you may need to treat it as a medical emergency and get them veterinary care.
- Spiders: Alabama is home to five species of venomous spiders: the black widow, northern black widow, brown recluse, Chilean recluse, and Mediterranean recluse.15 Their toxins range from neurotoxins that affect the nervous system, hemotoxins that attack the blood, and toxins that are intense skin irritants. If you think your pet has been bitten by a spider, you may want to take them to the vet for treatment.
- Heatstroke: While you may love to soak in the Alabama sun, it can be dangerous for your pets. Heatstroke can cause brain damage, fainting, and even death in pets. Those with higher risk factors may have a harder time regulating their body temperature. So even though all pets can be subject to heatstroke, it’s the puppies, kittens, older pets, and obese pets that may be affected more easily or severely.
Alabama Plants That Can Be Poisonous to Pets
Living in Alabama, you may like to spend time at the Noccalula Falls campground with your pup or just have a backyard sunbathing session with your cat near the Tennessee River. No matter what outdoor activities you enjoy with your pet, there are potentially toxic plants all around that could result in a trip to the vet. A local vet’s office in Dothan, AL put together a list of plants to avoid — here are a few of them:16
- Burdock
- Elderberry
- Ground cherry
- Honeysuckle
- Lupine
- Privet
- Wisteria
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (ASPCA) has a detailed list of toxic plants that you may find helpful no matter where you live.17
Most Popular Dog Breeds in the Yellowhammer State
Ever wonder what dog breeds Alabamians adopt the most? Check out this list of the top three breeds and some health conditions they may be predisposed to:18
- Labrador retriever: Playful, loyal, and a bit of a chewer, this breed may be prone to hip dysplasia, obesity, heart conditions, and cancer.
- Golden retriever: Smart and friendly, Goldens may be prone to hypothyroidism, growths, hot spots, and colitis.
- Beagle: Patient and a close companion, the beagle may be predisposed to luxating patella, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism.
Adoptable Dogs and Cats in Alabama
Now that you’ve got a better idea of how to protect your Alabama pet, are you ready to adopt your first (or next) furry family member? Check out online tools like Petfinder for adoptable dogs and cats to help you in your search.
Adoption shelters in AL
If you’re looking for other adoption options, animal shelters in Alabama are ready to help! Check out one below, and stop in if you’re nearby to see all the pets ready for their forever home.
Greater Birmingham Humane Society
300 Snow Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209
If You Live in Alabama, Consider Insuring Your Pet
Help your pet live their best life by getting them the care they need when they need it — whether it’s a routine checkup, an emergency visit, or preventative care. MetLife Pet can help keep the cost of care lower with pet insurance in Alabama, so you can better protect your budget and your pet.2 You can get a free quote today.
We Can Help Cover Vet Bills While You Focus on Your Pet’s Care
There is no substantive difference between a MetLife Pet Insurance policy in Alabama and a MetLife Pet policy in another U.S. State.
1 “2023 Pet Insurance of the Year Award” Winners, Pet Independent Innovation Awards
2 Provided all terms of the policy are met. Application is subject to underwriting review and approval. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies issued by IAIC and MetGen contain certain deductibles, co-insurance, exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC.
3 Based on a January 2022 review of publicly available summary information about competitors’ offerings. Competitors did not furnish copies of their policies for review. If you have questions about a particular competitor’s policy or coverage, please contact them or their representative directly.
4 Approximately 80% of claims are processed within 10 days or less.
5 Wait period for accident coverage is midnight EST compared to 2 to 15 days for competitor's; wait period for illness coverage is 14 days compared to 14 to 30 days for competitor's, based on a January 2021 review of publicly available summary information about competitor's offerings.
6 Accident coverage and Preventive Care coverage (for those who select it) begins on the effective date of your policy. Illness coverage begins 14 days later.
7 Reimbursement options include: 70%, 80%, 90% and 100%. In addition, there is also a 50% option for MetGen underwritten policies only and a 65% for IAIC underwritten policies only.
8 Deductible options range include: $0−$750 in $50 increments and $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500.
9 Available at an additional cost.
10 Calculation based upon select plans and coverages. Actual rates may vary based on pet age, breed, location, deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limits you choose.
11 For IAIC policies only
12 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife internal claims data from October 2022.
13 “Dog Flu Outbreak Map,” DogFlu.com
14 “A Guide to Alabama’s Venomous Snakes,” Alabama A&M University & Auburn University
15 “Venomous (Poisonous) Spiders in Alabama,” A-Z Animals
16 “Poisonous Plants To Avoid,” Southeast Alabama Veterinary Hospital
17 “Poisonous Plants,” American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
18 “Most Popular Dog Breeds by State in 2023,” Pet Keen
Coverage underwritten and issued by Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 11333 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 or Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886. Coverage subject to restrictions, exclusions and limitations. Application is subject to underwriting review. See policy or contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC for details. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator for this coverage. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois).
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