Award-Winning Pet Insurance in Massachusetts

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.

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.

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.

1. Labrador retriever: Playful and loveable labs have genetic tendencies towards hip dysplasia, epilepsy, tumors, and heart disease.
2. Chihuahua: Spunky and loud, Chihuahuas may be at a higher risk for otitis, urinary tract infections, intervertebral disc disease, and periodontal disease.
3. Mutt: Depending on what breeds make up your mutt, they could be predisposed to a number of different health conditions.
4. Beagle: Beagles are energetic and affectionate, but they may be at a higher risk for eye problems, dermatitis, hip dysplasia, and obesity.
5. 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.