The mention of Massachusetts conjures images of quaint towns, cobblestone roads, colorful autumn foliage, and Ivy League colleges. From small-town living to the hustle and bustle of Boston, some people look for pets to live their lifestyles with them. Massachusetts is home to avid hikers who bring their dogs, families who just added new puppies to the mix, and Boston dwellers who love coming home to their cats.
However, the cost of living in Massachusetts, especially in Boston, continues to rise. According to MetLife’s Pet Parent Study, over half of all pet parents worry that they won’t be financially able to care for their pets.
MetLife Pet Insurance offers award-winning1, affordable pet insurance. Massachusetts pet owners: read on to learn how pet insurance can help you care for your furry family member.
Protect your Pets
Why Pet Insurance May Be a Good Idea If You Live in MA
Your pets deserve the best standard of care, whether they spend their golden years fetching sticks on Cape Cod’s beaches or snoozing the day away on a couch in Pittsfield. The best care can be expensive, though. Luckily, pet insurance can help you invest in your dog or cat’s health without forcing you to dip into your Mike’s cannoli fund.
Depending on what breed of dog or cat you have, all pets are predisposed to certain injuries and illnesses. Emergency vet bills vary for cats and dogs, but can easily climb into the thousands, which can make pet insurance worth it for many pet owners.
You can get started with a low premium monthly fee. Then, when your pet needs medical care for an injury or illness, you can be reimbursed for covered expenses.2
Why Choose a MetLife Pet Insurance Policy?
Pet owners have many options when it comes to choosing providers, but pet parents are likely looking for what they consider to be the best pet insurance. Massachusetts owners, look no further! The Pet Innovation Awards gave MetLife the “Pet Insurance of the Year” prize in the highly competitive pet care space for 2023.
Here are some of the potential perks of being a part of the MetLife Pet family:
- We cover up to three cats or dogs on the same policy with a shared deductible.3
- We process your claim and pay you back within 10 days.4
- We accept pre-existing conditions under certain circumstances.5
- We reimburse covered veterinary expenses from all licensed veterinary providers in the U.S.
- We have a short waiting period for accidents and illnesses coverage. 6,7
- We protect cats and dogs of all breeds and ages.
- We developed a mobile app that keeps all your pets’ insurance information in one place.
How MetLife Pet Insurance Works in Massachusetts
Visit the vet
Visit any licensed vet, clinic, or animal hospital in MA (or anywhere in the U.S.) to get your pet cared for.
Send MetLife Pet the bill
Once you’ve paid your vet, send MetLife Pet the bill and any vet records.
Get reimbursed fast
We’ll review your claim and reimburse you in less than two weeks for covered expenses.2,4
MetLife Pet Insurance Is Available in The Bay State. See What’s Covered
Whether you’re looking for cat insurance or dog insurance, MetLife Pet has you covered. We offer customizable policies to fit your lifestyle. You can put up to three cats and dogs onto the same policy, adjust the reimbursement rate and deductibles, and even add on additional coverage for specific needs.8,9 We offer a Preventive Care Plan to help cover parasite treatments and prevention and a Wellness Plan to help cover regular checkups.10 Whatever add-ons you choose, here’s what a plan can typically cover:
- Diagnostic tests like X-rays and ultrasounds
- Emergency care
- Accidents and illnesses
- Veterinary prescriptions
- Surgery
- Holistic care and therapy
See the list of MetLife Pet Insurance coverage and exclusions for full details.
How Much Is Pet Insurance in MA?
Wondering how much you’ll have to pay for pet insurance? Policies can start at $9 per month for a single cat and $15 per month for a single dog.11
That’s just the baseline insurance policy though. From there, you can add pets to the policy, adjust your coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage. You can also purchase additional coverage with our Preventative Care and Wellness Plan add-ons.
The actual cost of your policy will also vary based on your pets’ ages, breeds, genders,12 and pre-existing conditions. Finally, location matters, too. Pet insurance in bigger cities like Boston may cost more than in less populated areas like Lexington or Concord.
Claims We Paid in New England
MetLife Pet Insurance can cover a wide range of diagnosis and treatment options. Here are a few examples of claims we paid out across the state. Hopefully this helps you to better understand what types of claims MetLife Pet tackles and how much they could cost if it were to happen to your pet.13
- About $4,000 paid — This helped pay therapeutic treatment for a 6-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever with a lame leg in Cape Cod, MA.
- About $2,000 paid — This assisted paying for an examination for a 13-year-old cat who needed dental care in Boston, MA.
- About $800 paid — This helped fund a vet visit for a medium French bulldog puppy that fractured their tibia in Boston, MA.
- About $275 paid — This provided stitches for a 4-year-old small mixed dog with a laceration from an accident outside of Worcester, MA.
- About $250 paid — This supported an examination for a mixed puppy who swallowed a sock just outside of Boston.
Notable Claim in Boston
Three-year-old chihuahua, Zadie, was in a car accident with her pet parents this past fall. The chihuahua was rushed to the animal hospital, where a vet treated her for a blunt-force trauma.
The entire visit cost about $1,300, but Zadie’s parents had a MetLife Pet Insurance policy with a 100% reimbursement rate. Once Zadie was released from the hospital and they paid the bill, they submitted a claim to MetLife Pet. Her parents were sent a check for the entire bill amount just 10 days later.
The best part? Little Zadie is doing well and all healed from her car accident.13
Pet Injuries and Illnesses Typically Found in MA
Massachusetts may be nicknamed The Bay State, but most of its dangers to pets can be further inland. There are a few dangerous creatures, and of course, viruses that pet owners may want to watch out for.
- Ticks: There are some beautiful hikes and rail trails that wind through Massachusetts, but with any adventure comes a tick risk. The most common tick-borne diseases in the state are lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis. If you take your pets hiking with you, make sure you’ve done the right tick prevention before and check your dog for ticks after.14
- Black widow spiders: Black widows are delicate and dangerous creatures found both in the corners of homes as well as outdoors. Their bite has a powerful neurotoxin that affects cats and dogs alike. Pets bitten by the spider may show signs of muscle pain, tremors, paralysis, and vomiting. The venom can kill pets, so call a vet as soon as you suspect your pet has been bitten. Treatment for black widow bites includes an antivenom, IV fluids, and care for whatever symptoms your pet shows.15
- Venomous snakes: Massachusetts is home to two venomous snakes: the timber rattlesnake and copperhead. While both are listed as endangered within the state, you should still be wary. A snake bite from either could cause your pet severe pain or even death and your pet may need immediate antivenom treatment.16
- Kennel cough: Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRDC) is the name given to a number of respiratory viruses that circulate in high dog populations. Doggie vaccines are key in preventing infection. Often, the infection is like a common cold, but in some cases, a pet may need medical attention. If your dog has a severe infection, a vet may need to administer extra care.
- Dog flu: Canine influenza is another respiratory virus that is highly contagious. Similar to kennel cough, there is a vaccine that helps reduce the severity of the illness. Like the human flu, a severe case may result in hospitalization to administer IV fluids and antibiotics while addressing other complications.17
Poisonous Massachusetts Plants to Look Out for
There is an extensive list of local plants that can be toxic to cats and dogs in the state collected by an animal hospital in Framingham, MA.18 Cats and dog owners should also be wary of poison oak, sumac, and ivy, as those may irritate your pet’s skin as well as be toxic to ingest.
On top of that, there are common plants that are toxic to pets that aren’t necessarily native to Massachusetts. If your pet has ingested any plant, you should still monitor them for symptoms, regardless if the plant is toxic or not. Here is a list of some specific everyday plants you should keep your dog or cat away from, whether you live in Wooster, MA or some other part of the country:
- Giant hogweed
- Lilies
- Milkweed
- Azaleas
- Morning glory
- English ivy
- Crocus
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Mushrooms
Beloved Dog Breeds in New England
Which dog breeds do Massachusetts pet parents adopt the most? According to research by Top Agency, the loveable Labrador retriever is the most adopted dog in the state.19 It’s no surprise, since labs make incredible hiking companions and family dogs.
Here are the top five, as well as a few conditions pet parents may want to watch out for.
- Labrador retriever: Playful and loveable labs have genetic tendencies towards hip dysplasia, epilepsy, tumors, and heart disease.
- Chihuahua: Spunky and loud, Chihuahuas may be at a higher risk for otitis, urinary tract infections, intervertebral disc disease, and periodontal disease.
- Mutt: Depending on what breeds make up your mutt, they could be predisposed to a number of different health conditions.
- Beagle: Beagles are energetic and affectionate, but they may be at a higher risk for eye problems, dermatitis, hip dysplasia, and obesity.
- German shepherd: These protective and loyal dogs are predisposed to ear infections, otitis, dermatitis, gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, and skin growths.
Consider Rescuing a Pet in MA Today
Now that you have a better idea of what Massachusetts pet parents should watch out for and how pet insurance works, it’s your turn. There are over 7,000 cats and dogs looking for homes in the state, according to Petfinder. You can adopt your next pet with Petfinder’s tool today. One of them could be your next best friend.
Consider Insuring Your New England Pets
Whether you reside near the hustle of Harvard or the relaxation of Rockport, a MetLife Pet Insurance policy can help. Start your journey by getting a quote today.
There is no substantive difference between a MetLife Pet Insurance policy in Massachusetts 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 We do not cover all pre-existing conditions; just those covered by the previous provider. For group policyholders only.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 Deductible options range include: $0−$750 in $50 increments and $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500.
10 Available at an additional cost.
11 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.
12 For IAIC policies only
13 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife internal claims data from October 2022.
14 “Preventing ticks on your pets,” CDC
15 “Black Widow Spider” Pet Poison Helpline
16 “Snake Bites And Dogs,” PetMD
17 “Pet Owner Alert: Canine Influenza Hits Massachusetts and RI,” Anchor Animal Hospital
18 “Poisonous Plants,” Framingham Animal Hospital
19 “Americans Favorite Dog Breeds by State, Ranked,” TOP Data
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).
L1222027809[exp1224][All States][DC,GU,MP,PR,VI]