Best Pet Insurance in South Carolina (2024)
Pets Best, AKC, and Spot are a few of the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina, providing affordable premiums with excellent coverage.
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Written byErin Gobler
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Más de 5 años de experiencia en redacción financiera
Certificado de planificación financiera por la Universidad de Boston
Erin es escritora y periodista especializada en finanzas personales. Sus artículos exploran inversiones, tarjetas de crédito, hipotecas, seguros y mucho más.
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Edited bySara Getman
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Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.
Updated November 22, 2024
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Table of contents
As a pet owner in South Carolina, you want to provide your furry friend with the best possible medical care while also prioritizing your financial health. Pet insurance can save you thousands of dollars on your pet’s injuries or illnesses.
South Carolina pet owners pay an average of $30 per month for cat pet insurance and $59 for dog pet insurance. But your costs may vary depending on your pet’s characteristics and the type of policy you choose.
Here’s what you need to know about pet insurance in South Carolina.
Quick Facts
Pet insurance policies in South Carolina start at less than $25 per month for both cats and dogs.
The most common types of pet insurance plans are accident and illness, accident only, and wellness.
Pets Best provides the best overall value for South Carolina pet parents, but AKC and Spot are also top picks.
Best pet insurance companies in South Carolina
Many pet insurance companies operate in South Carolina, but we’ve narrowed the list down to a few of our favorites. The table below breaks down the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina, including average rates and key plan features.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Sample Monthly Quote for Dogs ▲▼ | Sample Monthly Quote for Cats ▲▼ | Deductible Options ▲▼ | Annual Limit ▲▼ | Reimbursement Options ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets Best | $20 | $13 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $5,000, $10,000, unlimited | 70%, 80, 90% |
| AKC | $30 | $20 | $100, $250, $300, $400, $500, $600, $750, $1,000 | $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, $10,000 | 70%, 80%, 90% |
| Spot | $32 | $17 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, unlimited | 70%, 80%, 90% |
Pets Best: Best overall value
Sample monthly quote for dogs: $20
Sample monthly quote for cats: $13
Plans available: Accident and illness, accident only, preventative care
Pets Best stands out as the best value for pet owners in South Carolina. It has among the lowest rates on the market without sacrificing coverage or quality.
It has flexible plan options — including both accident and illness and accident-only plans — with three different tiers of basic coverage and two tiers of preventative care. And while it has waiting periods for accidents, illnesses, and cruciate ligament conditions, it does cover curable pre-existing conditions.
Pros
Excellent value
Highly customizable plans
24/7 veterinary helpline
Cons
Low coverage limits for preventative care
Cheapest plan doesn ’t include exam fees
Long waiting periods for certain conditions
AKC: Best for coverage add-ons
Sample monthly quote for dogs: $30
Sample monthly quote for cats: $20
Plans available: Accident and illness, preventative care
AKC Pet Insurance offers more coverage add-ons than any other company. In addition to its basic accident and illness plan, you can purchase add-ons for exam fees, hereditary conditions, breeding and pregnancy complications, end-of-life emotional support for owners, and two tiers of preventative care.
There’s coverage for pre-existing conditions, but only after a one-year waiting period. Waiting periods also apply for injuries, illnesses, cruciate ligament conditions, and intervertebral disc diseases.
Pros
Many available add-ons
24/7 veterinary support
4-star Trustpilot rating
Cons
Basic plan doesn’t include exam fees
No coverage for dental disease
No unlimited coverage option
Spot: Best customer reviews
Sample monthly quote for dogs: $32
Sample monthly quote for cats: $17
Plans available: Accident and illness, accident only, preventative care
Spot has the best customer reviews of any company Insurify looked at — it has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 with more than 6,700 total reviews on Trustpilot.
Spot has flexible plan options, including accident and illness or accident-only plans, and many annual limit options, including unlimited coverage. It offers two tiers of preventative care, while its accident and illness plan covers more expenses than other companies, including exam fees, dental illnesses, microchipping, and more.
Pros
Excellent customer reviews
Comprehensive coverage without requiring upgrades
24/7 pet telehealth helpline
Cons
Long waiting periods for orthopedic conditions
14-day waiting period for illnesses (longer than many other companies)
Low coverage limits for preventative care
To choose the best pet insurance companies in South Carolina, we first collected quotes from all of the top insurers. For each quote, we used a South Carolina address.
For the sample quotes for dogs, we used a profile of a 2-year-old mixed breed medium-sized male dog. For cats, we used a profile of a 2-year-old American shorthair female cat. Quotes for both species were for accident and illness coverage with 80% reimbursement, a $500 deductible, and $5,000 or more in annual coverage.
When narrowing down our list, we considered each company’s average premiums, coverage options, deductible options, discounts, pets covered, waiting periods, and customer reviews.
Cost of pet insurance in South Carolina
The average cost of pet insurance in South Carolina is $30 per month for cats and $59 for dogs. South Carolina’s average pet insurance premiums are considerably lower than the national average. Additionally, based on the quotes we received, getting a policy for far less can be possible, depending on your pet’s characteristics.
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Why pet insurance is important if you live in South Carolina
Pet insurance can save you thousands of dollars on your pet’s healthcare, especially in accidents or illnesses.
The cost of veterinary care in an emergency can range from less than $100 for basic procedures to upward of $5,000 for emergency surgery.[1] If your pet is diagnosed with a chronic illness, the cost of medication could be thousands or tens of thousands of dollars over its lifetime. Pet insurance can ensure you aren’t responsible for paying the full amount out of pocket.
Some common perils in South Carolina that pet insurance can help cover include:
Heat stroke: During the hot summer months, it’s very easy for pets to overheat. If your pet gets heat stroke and you need to bring it to the vet, pet insurance may help cover the costs.
Poisonous plants: Common plants in South Carolina are poisonous to pets, such as the sago palm, elephant ear, and hostas. If your pet ingests any of these plants, it’s important to bring it to the vet for proper treatment.
Ticks: Ticks are a common pet peril. They can cause serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, that require expensive care. Pet insurance can take some of the financial burden off your shoulders.
South Carolina pet regulations and laws
Several laws regulate pet ownership in South Carolina — some of which may affect your veterinary costs. First, South Carolina law requires that all dogs, cats, and ferrets have an up-to-date rabies vaccination. While no current laws on the books require microchipping or spay/neuter surgeries, groups are lobbying for such legislation in the state.
South Carolina also has strict pet liability laws. For example, if your dog attacks someone else, you’re legally responsible for their injuries. You’ll be responsible for paying their vet bills and, in some cases, could even face criminal repercussions.[2]
Other pet laws in South Carolina exist at the local level. For example, it’s common for local governments to implement leash laws, which require dogs to be on a leash any time you aren’t on your property.
Types of pet insurance coverage
Three types of coverage are common in pet health insurance. Some companies offer both accident and illness and accident-only plans, while others only offer accident and illness together. Additionally, not all companies offer wellness plans, and they’re generally an add-on to an accident and illness plan rather than stand-alone plans.
Accident and illness plans are more expensive than accident-only plans because they provide more coverage. Adding wellness coverage to your pet insurance plan will come at an additional cost.[3]
Accident and illness plan
An accident and illness plan is exactly what it sounds like — it covers your pet’s accidents and illnesses. It’s the most comprehensive coverage. These plans cover the diagnosis and treatment of nearly any condition, including orthopedic conditions and other injuries, as well as both chronic and acute illnesses.
Some plans explicitly exclude certain conditions or have longer waiting periods for certain types of health issues. For example, it’s common for insurers to have six-month waiting periods for ligament or orthopedic conditions.
Accident-only plan
Accident-only plans cover unexpected accidents and injuries for your pet but don’t cover illnesses. The plan will pay for everything from X-rays to diagnose the injury to surgeries and other treatments to help your pet recover.
These plans tend to be more affordable and can still save you a lot of money in the case of a major injury. But they also exclude many common medical conditions and don’t cover many expensive or lifelong conditions.
Wellness plan
A wellness plan covers your pet’s preventative care. These aren’t typically stand-alone plans. Instead, they’re available as add-ons to accident and illness or accident-only plans. Wellness plans generally pay for routine care, including wellness exams, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, dental cleanings, and more.
Wellness plans generally have lower potential savings than accident and illness plans but can still save you some money, especially when your pet is a puppy and needs initial vaccinations.
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How to find the best pet insurance in South Carolina
With many pet insurers on the market, it can be difficult to choose the best option. Here are a few steps to take to find the right policy for your furry friend:
1. Decide on your coverage needs
Consider what type of coverage you want for your pet. Do you want accident and illness or accident only? Is a wellness plan important to you? Remember to also consider your ideal annual deductible, reimbursement rate, and coverage limit. Some people might be OK with a $5,000 annual coverage limit, while others might feel more comfortable with unlimited coverage.
2. Compare multiple quotes
Before signing up for a policy, get online pet insurance quotes from several different companies. Prices can vary significantly across different companies, and the cheapest company for you may vary depending on your pet’s characteristics.
3. Consider other policy perks
In addition to each policy’s coverage types and limits, pay attention to what other perks the policy offers. For example, some policies pay your vet directly for your pet’s care, while others require you to pay for care and seek reimbursement later. Additionally, some companies offer 24/7 veterinary support online or over the phone, which can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for unexpected vet bills.
4. Sign up for your policy
Once you’ve narrowed down your options and chosen the best policy, you can sign up online. Some policies offer different rates depending on whether you pay monthly or annually. Pay attention to your policy’s waiting periods so you know when your coverage will actually begin.
South Carolina pet insurance FAQs
If you’re in the market for pet insurance in South Carolina, here are a few more things you might want to know.
How much is pet insurance in South Carolina?
The average pet insurance cost in South Carolina is $30 for cats and $59 for dogs. But your premiums may vary depending on your pet’s breed, age, previous health conditions, and other factors.
Is pet insurance more expensive in South Carolina?
No. Pet insurance isn’t more expensive in South Carolina. On the contrary, South Carolina has lower average pet insurance premiums than the national average.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions in South Carolina?
Pet insurance generally doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, but exceptions exist. For example, many policies cover curable pre-existing conditions once a certain amount of time has passed since your pet last needed treatment.
Which level of pet insurance is the best?
It depends. The best level of pet insurance for you varies on factors like your monthly budget for premiums and how much you can afford to pay out of pocket if your pet needs veterinary care.
Generally speaking, higher coverage limits come with higher premiums but can also save you more money in the long run. It may be helpful to consider your pet’s breed, common conditions for that breed, and the price tag of those conditions.
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Erin Gobler
Erin Gobler is a personal finance writer and journalist based in Madison, Wisconsin. With more than five years of experience, Erin has covered topics such as investing, credit cards, mortgages, insurance, and more. Her work has been featured in major publications like Business Insider, Fox Business, and Time. Erin received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2013, studying journalism and political science. She also received a certificate of financial planning from Boston University in 2022.
Sara Getman is an Associate Editor at Insurify and has been with the company since 2022. Prior to joining Insurify, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in English Literature at Simmons University in Boston. At Simmons, she was the Editor-in-Chief for Sidelines Magazine (a literary and art publication), and wrote creative non-fiction.
Outside of work, Sara is an avid reader, and loves rock climbing, yoga and crocheting.