You may think of pet insurance as more of a luxury than a necessity, especially with the high cost of living in California. With a higher cost of living may come high veterinarian bills. Pet insurance can help relieve that burden and let you focus on caring for your pet instead of stressing about medical bills.
From San Diego to Crescent City, California pet owners are looking for ways to ease the cost of pet ownership. A potential way to combat that stress is by getting pet insurance. California pet parents can read on for a rundown of how award-winning1 MetLife Pet Insurance may work for them.
Looking for Pet Insurance in California?
Why MetLife Pet Insurance May Be a Good Idea if You Live in California
The Golden State spans nearly 900 miles of Pacific coastline, from the Mexican border all the way to the snowy Cascade Mountain Range. The vastness of California can lend to various injuries and illnesses your pet may experience. Depending on where you live, your pets could experience anything from frostbite to heat stroke.
Additionally, California’s wildfire season can cause respiratory distress in pets who are exposed to smoke. Even if you’re away from the fire’s path, wind patterns may put your pets at risk for smoke inhalation.
Other potential hazards include valley fever lung infections, earthquakes, snake bites, and gila monsters — the only venomous lizard in California.2 Their bites may cause bleeding, swelling, and intense pain in cats and dogs necessitating a vet visit.2
With so many risks, a MetLife Pet insurance policy can go a long way toward helping protect your pet (and your wallet) and providing you with peace of mind. Plus, with our Preventive Care plan add-on, you could get reimbursed for the routine wellness care that pets need every year.
MetLife Pet can reimburse vet bills for injuries and illnesses in California. Get your free pet insurance quote.
Why Choose a MetLife Pet Insurance Policy?
California’s unique challenges may feel overwhelming when choosing the best pet insurance. We can help! MetLife Pet Insurance was awarded "Pet Insurance of the Year" in the 2023 Pet Independent Innovation Awards.1
We aim to empower and enable you to be financially prepared to care for your cat or dog in any situation. Here are a few of the things pet owners may find outstanding about MetLife Pet:
- We have some of the shortest waiting periods on the market — including 0-day accident and Preventive Care coverage.3
- We’re the only pet insurance offering a family plan that covers up to three pets (you can mix and match cats and dogs) on the same policy.4,5
- We offer a Preventive Care plan add-on to help assist with expenses related to routine care — such as vaccinations, dental cleanings, and spaying and neutering.
- We can cover all breeds of dogs and cats, and all ages.
- We extend coverage to some holistic treatments — such as hydrotherapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care.
How MetLife Pet Insurance Works for Californians
Get your pet treated
Take your pet to any licensed vet in California (or outside the state) to get a checkup, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, or medication.
Send MetLife Pet your claim
You’ll need to pay the bill upfront, then submit a claim with the invoice and any vet records.
Get reimbursed
We’ll process your claim and send a reimbursement for covered expenses via check or direct payment like Zelle®.
MetLife Pet Insurance Is Available in California. See What’s Covered
Different policies are designed to cover different things. Our policies have customizable limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.6,7,8 It all depends on what you think your dog or cat will need.
Here are a few things our pet insurance policies can typically cover:
- Diagnostic tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds
- Exam fees
- Hospitalization, emergency care, and surgery
- Accidents and illnesses
- Holistic care and alternative therapies
- Special diet pet foods
Our optional Preventive Care plan add-on is designed to complement your standard coverage with coverage for routine and wellness expenses. This additional policy can help cover parasite prevention and treatment, vaccinations, routine checkups, dental cleanings, and more.
Check out our dog insurance and cat insurance pages, or download a sample policy, for even more details on how our Metlife Pet Insurance plans can help protect your pets.
MetLife Pet can help cover vet costs related to injuries and illnesses. Our Preventative Care add-on can help reimburse routine wellness costs. Get your free pet insurance quote.
How Much Is Pet Insurance in California?
To see your exact rates, get a free pet insurance quote.
MetLife Pet Insurance policies are designed with you in mind. You can customize your pet insurance policy to start at $7 per month for one cat and $16 per month for one dog.9
The cost of pet insurance in Cali will vary. You may find that a Los Angeles pet insurance policy costs more than a Guerneville policy. Your premium is also determined by which deductible options and reimbursement packages you choose, how many pets you have on the plan, as well as your pets’ ages, breeds, sex, and species.
Pet Insurance Claims We Paid in California
Let’s pull back the curtain on a few of the pet insurance claims we’ve paid out in the state and explore what makes our pet insurance potentially worth it:
- About $8,200 paid — This helped cover a hospitalization for a femur fracture of a 1-year-old small cat outside of San Jose, CA.10
- About $5,600 paid — This went toward a surgery to remove a dermal cyst from a 12-year-old medium dog in Encinitas, CA.11
- About $900 paid — This helped reimburse an exam to treat environmental allergies in a 9-year-old Siberian husky in Sacramento, CA.12
Notable claim in the Golden State
While exploring the neighborhood during a walk, Marley, a curious Labrador retriever puppy, ingested a portion of a sago palm plant from a neighbor's front yard. Sago palms pose a serious toxicity risk to pets, potentially causing stomach upset or liver or nerve damage.13
When Marley started severely vomiting and having diarrhea, her pet parents rushed her to an emergency vet, where she was hospitalized for a couple of days. The entire vet visit cost Marley’s family $2,100, but their MetLife Pet Insurance policy covered about $1,900. Thankfully, Marley recovered from her treatment and has stayed clear of sago palms since then.14
California Plants That Can Be Toxic to Cats and Dogs
From the sunny coasts of SoCal to the foggy Pacific Northwest, the Golden State is home to a diverse range of plant life. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), many of these plants are toxic to cats and dogs, potentially leading to serious health complications and even death.15 If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested one, you may want to take them to a vet immediately. Having pet insurance can help alleviate some of the financial burden during emergencies like this, so you can focus on your pet's recovery.
Here are a few toxic plants for pet owners to be wary of:15
- Azaleas
- Tulips
- Sago palm
- Lilies
- Daffodils
MetLife Pet can help cover emergency vet costs due to plant toxicity. Get your free pet insurance quote.
The Most Popular Insured Dog Breed in the Gold Rush State
According to our internal data on the most popular dog breeds in each state, California favors the French bulldog. While adorable and lovable, the French bulldog is prone to several health issues. One common problem — that’s largely due to their flat faces — is brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), which can lead to breathing difficulties.
Some other ailments Frenchies may be predisposed to include patellar luxation, corneal ulcers, and hip and elbow dysplasia. If you have — or are thinking of adopting — a French bulldog, MetLife Pet insurance may be able to help cover the costs of these medical issues.
Adopting a Pet in California
Whether you're considering adding a dog or cat to your family, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of the most common pups adopted in the Golden State and which shelters we work with, so you can find your newest best friend.
Dog breeds Californians adopt
Everyone has their favorite dog breeds, and Californians are no exception. With so many different lifestyles also comes a variety of beloved dogs. Some pet parents live in Beverly Hills with designer pooches, while others are die-hard surfers who take their dogs surfing in Huntington Beach.
Let’s look at the top three adopted dog breeds in the state and some of their most common ailments.16
- Labrador retriever: This friendly breed is susceptible to tumors, epilepsy, obesity, hip dysplasia, and eye diseases.
- French bulldog: Energetic and playful, Frenchies may be predisposed to breathing problems, otitis, and skin infections.
- German shepherd: This courageous breed is susceptible to otitis, pyoderma, dermatitis, allergies, and gastroenteritis.
Don’t know what breed your adopted dog is? A dog DNA test can help you determine your pup’s breed, but also potential health issues they might have through genetic markers.
Adoption shelters we work with in CA
MetLife Pet works with shelters across the country to help loving adopters find their perfect furry companions. These shelters may provide new pet parents with the opportunity to enroll in MetLife Pet Insurance, which can help ease concerns that could arise when adopting a pet with an unknown health history.
Check out some of the shelters we work with below, and be sure to stop in to see the pets ready for adoption.
Friends of Upland Animal Shelter
1275 San Bernardino Rd, Upland, CA 91786
361 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
5500 Gaines St, San Diego, CA 92110
875 Oklahoma Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
If You Live in Cali, Consider Insuring Your Pet
Between the earthquakes and wildfires, Californians need to be prepared for anything when it comes to their pets. MetLife Pet Insurance can help residents of the Golden State feel prepared by providing them with a financial safety net when it comes to expensive vet bills. Sign up today to start protecting your pets ASAP — get a free quote for pet insurance in California now.
Pet Insurance Can Help Cover Pet
Injury & Illness Costs
Want to learn more?
There is no substantive difference between a MetLife Pet Insurance policy in California and a MetLife Pet policy in another U.S. State
**As with any insurance policy, coverage may vary. Review our coverage and exclusions.
1 “2023 Pet Insurance of the Year Award” Winners, Pet Independent Innovation Awards
2 “Alligator, Crocodile, Iguana, and Venomous Lizard Bites,” Merck Manual
3 Accident and optional Preventive Care coverage begins on midnight EST of the effective day of your policy compared to a wait time of 2 to 15 days for many competitors; Illness coverage begins 14 days from the effective day of your policy compared to 14 to 30 days for many competitors. Based on a March 2024 review of publicly available summary information. 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 Family plan policies are limited to dogs age 12 and under and cats age 14 and under. Multi-policy discount is not available with Family Plans.
5 Based on a March 2024 review of publicly available summary information. 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.
6 Annual limit options range from $500 - $25,000 in $1,000 increments. Unlimited benefit option subject to availability. Pet age restrictions may apply.
7 Deductible options range include: $0 – $750 in $50 increments and $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500.
8 Reimbursement options include: 50%, 70%, 80% and 90%. Pet age restrictions may apply.
9 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.
10 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from October 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
11 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from October 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
12 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from October 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
13 “Sago Palm Poisoning,” VCA Animal Hospitals, Last accessed June, 2024
14 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from October 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. The pet policy issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company is the governing document with respect to all matters of insurance. The specific facts of each claim must be evaluated in conjunction with the provisions of the applicable Policy to determine coverage in each individual case.
15 “Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List,” American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Last accessed June, 2024
16 “Most Popular Dog Breeds by State in 2024 (With Pictures),” Dogster
Coverage issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886. Availability is subject to regulatory approval. Coverage subject to restrictions, exclusions and limitations and application is subject to underwriting. See policy or contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC (“MetLife Pet”) for details. MetLife Pet is the policy administrator. It may operate under an alternate or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), and MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois).
Disclosure for Maine Residents
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