Minnesota (MN) Cat Insurance FAQs

What exactly is cat insurance?

Cat insurance is a little like human health insurance in that it helps with the costs of medical care. Plans are usually offered in three types of coverage – accidents and illnesses, accidents only, and some companies offer a wellness plan. Accidents include things like swallowed objects, sprained/broken bones, toxic ingestion, surgery, x-rays, and hospitalizations. Sickness could be diagnostic tests like bloodwork, prescription medication, cancer treatment, dental trauma (not not routine exams), heart disease, diabetes care, or respiratory issues. If an insurance provider offers a wellness plan, this is to help out with items considered “maintenance” – annual exams, vaccinations, dental cleaning, or grooming.

Are certain things covered under cat insurance? Do I need to be aware of exclusions?

No cat insurance policy will cover pre-existing conditions, which are symptoms, injury, or illnesses that occur before the waiting period. All plans will have a waiting period of 2-15 days on average after you purchase a policy but before the plan benefits begin. There are also typical exclusions to any cat insurance plan such as cosmetic surgery, birth/pregnancy, and spay/neuter procedures. It is best to review possible exclusions before you buy a plan to be aware of the coverage.

How does cat insurance work?

Unlike health insurance for people, you have to pay for all of the services during a vet visit up front and then submit a claim for reimbursement. Most providers allow you to choose any licensed veterinarian so you don’t typically have to deal with networks.

You pay a monthly fee (premium) and can usually choose your deductible, often in the amounts of $250, $500, $700 or $1,000. A deductible is an amount you pay out of pocket before insurance benefits begin. Once you reach the deductible limit, then you can begin submitting invoices for reimbursements. Plans allow you to select a reimbursement rate-commonly 70, 80, or 90%. There is also a maximum annual limit beyond which the provider will not reimburse. You can choose an unlimited annual limit, which will increase your monthly payment. Likewise, if you choose a lower deductible amount, you will pay more per month, too.

Say you chose a deductible of $500, with an 80% reimbursement rate, and the first procedure at the vet once you purchase insurance costs $1,000. You could then submit a bill to be reimbursed $400, which is 80% of the balance ($500) after you pay your $500 deductible.

Can I sign up for cat insurance at any time?

Most insurance providers want a kitten to be at least 6 weeks old, some may even look for them to be at 8 weeks. As your cat gets older, the insurance premiums will increase because senior pets have more health issues. Some of the plans we reviewed would not offer coverage if a cat was older than 16, while a few gave very limited options when a cat was 14 years or older.

5 Useful Strategies to Keep Your Cat Safe & Healthy in Minnesota

1. Always Mind Your Cat’s Location

Brutally cold Minnesota winters should be reason enough to keep your cat indoors but if you have a nature-loving feline, keep a few things in mind. Cats are notoriously curious and will find items like antifreeze in the garage, which is toxic. Outdoor cats are more likely to pick up fleas, ticks and other parasites so stay up to date on their vaccines and use flea and tick prevention. Roaming the streets puts cats at additional risk of injuries from cars so be diligent about how long and how far they go.

2. Feed Your Cat The Best Quality Food You Can Afford

A key to a cat’s health is their diet. Dry or canned food that is high in protein is ideal. Check the ingredients list to make sure there aren’t a lot of by-products or fillers. Limit treats which tend to be high in calories, leading to obesity. Kitties have never been fond of water so dehydration is a real concern. Multiple water bowls around the house are good, and a water fountain bowl will attract their attention. Canned food is known to have a fair amount of water in it as well.

3. Keep A Clean Litter Box

Maintain your cat’s litter box for a healthy, sanitary area. A dirty litter box may prompt your cat to relieve itself out of the box. A clean box will also allow you to monitor any blood in their stool or irregular urine. If you have more than one cat, the general rule is to have one more litter box than cats.

4. Keep Your Cat Brushed and Nails Trimmed

Grooming your cat is a great way to pamper them and help prevent issues. While cats are good groomers themselves, it wouldn’t hurt to take a brush to them once a week. It’s best to avoid hairballs ending up in their digestive tract. Cats’ nails need to be trimmed regularly as well to prevent them from curling into the paw pad.

5. Playtime is Crucial

Indoor cats can become sedentary and start to take on weight. Get your cat moving around by playing with them. There are many pet toys on the market for cats to chase such as feathers, tiny balls with bells, and fake mice. Put up a cat “tree” for him to climb, which also serves as a nice perch away from the usual household sounds that can sometimes be loud.

Conclusion

Whether you have just adopted a new kitten or have been sharing a home with your feline companion for many years, helping them live healthy and happy lives is important. Choosing the right cat insurance to fit your needs can go a long way in extending their quality of life. The sooner you buy a plan, the quicker you can receive aid with the financial costs of owning a pet.

Ready to get started? After countless hours of research, we’ve found that Figo cat insurance consistently performs the best with the lowest monthly premiums.

SwiftScore Ranking Methodology for Minnesota (MN) Cats

We ranked the best pet insurance policies for Minnesota (MN) Cats based on a variety of important factors including the following:

• Average monthly price for a 2-year-old Minnesota (MN) Cat with a $500 deductible located in the 55414 zip code (Please note: prices will vary greatly based on your location)
• Coverage and benefits
• Key policy details including accidents and illnesses, surgeries, annual check-ups, cancer treatment, lab tests, and more
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Reimbursement percentage
• Annual benefit amount
• Technology and user experience
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews

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