With the cost of living consistently rising, pet parents are turning to different avenues to help them afford pet care. According to MetLife’s Pet Parents Study, 34% of pet parents are cutting back on groceries, and 32% are cutting back on savings in order to afford pet ownership costs.
But having pet insurance can help when it comes to budgeting and affording your pet’s medical expenses. MetLife Pet offers award-winning,1 customizable coverage for accidents and illnesses, a highly-praised Preventive Care add-on that can cover up to 90% of covered routine pet care like dental cleanings, a multi-pet policy if you have a pack of fur babies,2 and more.
So if you’re looking for pet insurance in New Jersey, MetLife Pet may be a great choice for you. Keep reading to learn more about our coverage and how it can help your Jersey pets.
Looking for Pet Insurance in New Jersey?
Why MetLife Pet Insurance May Be a Good Idea if You Live in Jersey
Pets may face harsh city winters and sunny summers on the hot, sandy beaches along New Jersey’s shore. Metropolitan areas can be home to traffic accidents and contagious pet viruses — like parvovirus or leptospirosis — and grassy or wooded areas can be home to ticks that may pose the risk of Lyme disease. Whether your pet experiences antifreeze poisoning during the winter, burns their paws on hot surfaces in the summer, or gets sick, they may need immediate medical attention.
However, emergency medical bills can be expensive, and that alone could make pet insurance worth it. Not only can MetLife Pet help make emergency vet visits more affordable through reimbursements, but we can typically help cover vet expenses for all of the above — illness, trauma from accidents, treatment for poisoning, and wounds or burns.
MetLife Pet can help reimburse vet bills for injuries and illnesses in New Jersey. Get your free pet insurance quote.
Why Choose a MetLife Pet Insurance Policy?
Looking for the best pet insurance? Luckily, the Pet Independent Innovation Awards help pet parents sift through the competition. They gave MetLife Pet the "Pet Insurance of the Year" award in 2022 and 20231 — which could mean we’re a good choice for you.
Here are a few of the stand-out benefits we offer policyholders:
- We allow up to three cats or dogs on a single policy with a shared deductible on our family plan — the only one on the market.2,3
- We have one of the shortest waiting periods among providers — including a 0-day waiting period on accidents and Preventive Care coverage.4
- Cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are able to enroll.
- Some pre-existing conditions may be covered if you’re switching from a different insurance provider.5
- Our optional Preventive Care add-on can reimburse you for up to 90% of covered routine expenses, like vaccinations and parasite prevention.
How Does MetLife Pet Insurance Work for New Jerseyans?
Treat your pet
Take your cat or dog to an animal hospital or any licensed vet in New Jersey (or anywhere in the U.S.) for treatment. You’ll need to pay the vet bill, but make sure you keep the receipt.
Submit your claim
Gather your vet bill and any medical records, and submit your claim to MetLife Pet.
Get reimbursed fast
We’ll quickly process your claim and send you any approved reimbursement via check or direct payment, like Zelle®.
MetLife Pet Insurance Is Available in the Garden State. See What’s Covered
At MetLife Pet, we recognize that every pet family has different needs. So we designed our dog insurance and cat insurance policy options to reflect that. While you can customize your annual benefit limit6 — and exact coverage depends on your policy — here are a few of the pet health expenses we can typically cover:
- Emergency care, hospitalizations, and surgeries
- Accidents and illnesses
- Diagnostic tests and imaging (like ultrasounds and X-rays)
- Examinations
- Prescription medications
- Alternative and holistic therapies
Head over to our Coverage and Exclusions page, or download a sample policy, for more details.
An additional coverage option we offer is our Preventive Care add-on, which can reimburse up to 90% of routine care expenses. Vaccinations, spaying and neutering, parasite prevention and treatment, as well as routine dental care can all be covered under this optional plan.
MetLife Pet can help cover vet costs related to injuries and illnesses. Our Preventive Care add-on can help reimburse routine wellness costs. Get your free pet insurance quote.
How Much Is Pet Insurance in NJ?
New Jersey pet insurance premiums don’t have to break the bank. MetLife Pet offers policies that start at $7 a month for one cat and $16 a month for one dog.7 However, since MetLife Pet’s policies are highly customizable, the actual cost of pet insurance varies based on factors including your pet’s age, gender, breed, and any pre-existing conditions they may have, as well as your zip code.
Policy premiums may be higher in larger cities, like Trenton, than in smaller areas, like Hammonton. If you decide to customize your reimbursement rate and deductible, choose a family plan, or add Preventive Care coverage, this can also impact your premium.2,8,9
Pet Insurance Claims We Paid in Jersey
To help you get an idea of how MetLife Pet Insurance has helped New Jersey families and their pets with vet bills, take a look at these real-life claims.
- Almost $4,000 paid — This was for surgery to stabilize the leg joints of a 4-year-old mixed-breed pup with osteoarthritis in Northern New Jersey.10
- Over $600 paid — This helped cover an examination for an 8-year-old maltipoo who got bit by another animal outside of Bernards, NJ.11
- Nearly $400 paid — This assisted with diagnostics for a 15-year-old tabby cat who was urinating all over their home outside of Newark, NJ.12
Notable claim in NJ
Puppies love to play, and curiosity can put them in situations where they may endanger themselves. A French bulldog puppy named Parker, from outside of Newark, NJ, was no different. His adventure-seeking human brothers love to play outside, and they tend to get scrapes that need wound care. One day when the boys needed to be bandaged up, Parker decided the gauze and bandages looked fun to play with. He accidentally ate some gauze and eventually showed signs of constipation, lethargy, and lack of appetite.
When his pet parents took him to the vet, Parker received intravenous (IV) fluids, had X-rays, and was given medications to help him pass the gauze. After doing so, he went home to recover and was back to playing with his brothers in no time. Parker’s vet bill totaled nearly $4,000, but MetLife Pet Insurance was able to reimburse his pet parents over $3,500.13
Garden State Plants That Can Be Toxic to Pets
Adventuring with your furry friend can be fun, but it can also turn sour quickly if they come into contact with a poisonous plant. Pets could get sick by ingesting or even brushing up against certain plants and may need emergency medical care. A MetLife Pet policy can help cover hospitalizations, emergency care, and treatment costs related to plant toxicity.
Dangerous plants can be found anywhere from residential areas and beaches to parks and the woods. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a list of toxic plants to dogs and cats.14 Here are some common poisonous plants pet parents should watch out for in New Jersey:
- Lily of the Valley
- Chinaberry tree
- Foxglove
- English ivy
- Primrose
MetLife Pet can help cover emergency vet costs if your pet ingests a toxic plant. Get your free pet insurance quote.
Jersey’s Most Popular Insured Dog Breed
According to our internal data on the most popular insured dog breeds in each state, New Jersey loves the French bulldog. This breed is small with a big personality. But their easy-going demeanor can come with some potential health risks that might be anything but easy for them and your wallet.
Frenchies may be prone to brachycephalic syndrome (which can cause breathing problems, coughing, and overheating), cherry eye, elbow and hip dysplasia, and dermatitis. But if you have a MetLife Pet policy, you can typically be reimbursed for all of these — as long as they’re not pre-existing conditions.
Adopt Your Next Pet in NJ
New Jersey may be small, but there are thousands of dogs and cats just waiting to be adopted in the state. Now that you understand how pet insurance works and know some of the state’s risks to pets, it may be time to take the next step and adopt a pet today.
Dog breeds New Jerseyans adopt
From smaller suburbs, like Montclair, to bustling cities, like Newark, NJ, residents of the Garden State love their dogs. Read on for a list of the top three dog breeds adopted in Jersey and some of the health conditions owners should be on the lookout for:15
- Labrador retriever: These loveable and energetic dogs can be predisposed to tumors, hip dysplasia, and heart disease.
- German shepherd: Hard-working and loyal, German shepherds may be prone to gastroenteritis, skin conditions, and growths.
- Golden retriever: Friendly, active, and social goldens may be predisposed to colitis, bloat, and lipomas.
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.
With our Preventive Care add-on, we can help cover DNA test costs.16 Get your free pet insurance quote.
MetLife Pet works with adoption shelters
MetLife Pet works with shelters across the country to help dogs and cats find fur-ever homes. These shelters may offer adopters the opportunity to enroll in a MetLife Pet Insurance policy on the spot. This may help relieve some of the worries that can come with adopting a pet who has an unknown health history.
If you enroll in a MetLife Pet policy through some of the shelters we work with, you may be able to get the 14-day illness waiting period waived. This means covered illnesses would be reimbursable starting at midnight the day you enroll in your policy — the same as accidents, as well as expenses covered under our optional Preventive Care plan.
If You Live in New Jersey, Consider Insuring Your Pet
Pet parents may struggle to bear their veterinary bills, regardless of where they live. If you identify with this, consider enrolling in pet insurance in New Jersey. Get a quote for your own customized MetLife Pet policy today, so unexpected vet costs won’t prevent you from getting your pet the care they need.
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 New Jersey 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 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.
3 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 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.
5 We do not cover all pre-existing conditions; just those covered by the previous provider.
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 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.
8 Reimbursement options include: 50%, 70%, 80% and 90%. Pet age restrictions may apply.
9 Deductible options range include: $0 – $750 in $50 increments and $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500.
10 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from August 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.
11 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from August 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.
12 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from August 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $500 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.
13 All claims paid amounts are based on MetLife Pet internal claims data from August 2023. This example is for illustrative purposes only. This is based on a policy with a $500 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.
14 “Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List,” American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
15 “Most Popular Dog Breeds by State in 2024 (With Pictures),” Dogster
16 Covered only if recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention
Coverage issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company , 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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