Pet Insurance

Animalia Pet Insurance Review: Pros, Cons, Coverage, vs Healthy Paws, vs Trupanion, & More

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Animalia is a pet insurance company with years of experience in Israel’s marketplace. In 2022, Animalia Pet Insurance began selling policies in the United States. Animalia is bringing many innovative features to the U.S. pet insurance market, making it stand out from competitors. I’ll teach you more about the company and point out some of Animalia’s key selling points.

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Animalia Overall Rating

Animalia Pet Insurance Review

Animalia Pet Insurance logo

Product Name: Animalia Pet Insurance

Product Description: Animalia offers pet insurance for dogs and cats.

Summary

Animalia is a newcomer to the pet insurance industry. It is available in 44 states and Washington DC and offers unique coverage for prescription food, dietary supplements, and ambulance services. 

Pros

  • No lifetime limits on any plan
  • Discounts available for multi-pets
  • Electronic claim filing
  • Covers the exam fees for accidents and illnesses
  • Covers virtual vet visits, prescription food, and dietary supplements
  • Shorter than average waiting period periods (5 days for illnesses, accidents, and hip dysplasia)
  • Up to $100 covered for ground pet ambulance transportation, something I haven’t seen from any other insurer in this industry

Cons

  • Pets aren’t eligible for enrollment after 15th birthday
  • No optional wellness plan
  • Additional cost for dental coverage
  • 30 day waiting period for cancer coverage
  • Only available in 44 states
  • Not covered when traveling with your pet outside of the U.S.

Key Features

  • Underwriter: State National Insurance Company
    • A.M. Best rating (a measure of financial stability): A
  • Covers curable pre-existing conditions that show no symptoms for 12 months (e.g., ear infections, urinary tract infections, etc.)
  • No exam is required at enrollment
  • No bilateral exclusions (a condition or disease that affects both sides of the body)
  • Claims process:
    • Must submit claims within 90 days of the expiration of the policy period
    • Animalia will notify you in writing whether the claim is accepted or rejected within 15 business days after your claim is received
    • 95% of claims are reimbursed in less than one week
    • Submit claims via phone, email, and online portal

Where Is Animalia Pet Insurance Available? (Map)

Animalia isn’t available in all 50 states. However, I had the opportunity to speak with members of Animalia’s team, including the CEO, Yoni Kiehl, and CMO, Noa Lifshitz, who informed me why this was the case. U.S. states have different requirements for insurance products and use various definitions for standard pet insurance terms like pre-existing conditions. Because of this, Animalia has chosen to only offer pet insurance in states where they can provide the same comprehensive coverage across the board.

Animalia pet insurance us coverage map as of August 2024.
Animalia Pet Insurance is only available in 44 states: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, FL, HI, IL, ID, IN, IA, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WV, WI, WY & Washington DC.

Customer Service Options

What Are Animalia’s Waiting Periods*?

  • Illnesses: 5 days
  • Accidents: 5 days
  • Cruciate Ligament: 6 months (can be reduced to 5 days if a vet examines the dog within 30 days of policy purchase and finds no knee and hip issues)
  • Hip Dysplasia: 5 days
  • Cancer: 30 days

*States are slowly adopting a Model Law for pet insurance. This Model Law attempts to standardize each state’s regulations, which includes a standard for waiting periods that all companies must follow. Waiting periods for California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Washington, Rhode Island, and Maryland are as follows:

  • Accidents – 0 days
  • Illnesses – 14 days
  • Cruciate Ligament Conditions – 30 days
  • Routine Care – 0 days

What Does Animalia Cover?

Please know that none of the providers in our pet insurance comparison cover pre-existing conditions, cremation and burial costs, pregnancy and breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.

All of them cover the following items when deemed medically necessary: emergency care, surgery and hospitalization, specialized exams and specialty care, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, cancer, chronic conditions, euthanasia, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, and prescription medications. However, this coverage may have limitations, so please review your policy carefully.

ConditionCovered By Animalia
Behavioral Therapies*
Alternative/Holistic Therapies
Accident & Illness Exam Fees
Rehabilitative, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage
Prescription Food & Dietary Supplements
Wellness Care
Ambulance Services**
*Up to $2,000 annually
**Up to $100 for emergency ground pet ambulance transportation

Optional Coverage: Dental

Animalia’s basic policy includes orthodontics treatment. However, you can add comprehensive dental care to your pet insurance for a monthly fee in addition to your premium. This add-on covers root canals, crowns, extractions, orthodontic, endodontic, periodontal, and anything deemed medically necessary by your vet regarding dental care.

How Is Animalia’s Pricing Determined?

Animalia has no one-time fees or transaction fees. Your monthly premium is based on the deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual payout options that you choose from the table below.

Deductible OptionsPayout OptionsReimbursement Options
$200
$350
$500
$5,000
$10,000
$25,000
70%
80%
90%

Pricing is also based on your pet’s details (age, breed, location, etc.). I recommend obtaining quotes from Animalia for your specific pet to get an idea of how much a policy would cost you.

You can also use our pet insurance quote form below to see how top providers compare for your actual pet.

Does Animalia Have Any Discounts?

Animalia offers the following discounts:

  • Multiple pets enrolled

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.

How Does Animalia Reimbursement Work?

Animalia uses a “deductible then copay” reimbursement method. This is calculated in the following way:

  • Actual vet bill amount – Remaining annual deductible – Copay = Reimbursement amount

So in the example below, the reimbursement is calculated the following way:

  • $4,800 (vet bill) – $500 (remaining deductible) – $860 (copay) = $3,440 (reimbursed amount)

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Animalia pet insurance from our readers.

Does Animalia Need My Pet’s Health Records?

Yes, giving Animalia access to your pet’s medical history allows them to determine any pre-existing conditions and communicate with your vet. It will also help speed up the claim approval process.

How Do I Cancel Animalia Pet Insurance?

You can cancel your policy anytime by notifying Animalia in writing via their live chat on their website or by emailing them at [email protected]. You may receive a pro-rated refund of your premium as well.

If you’d like a replacement for your Animalia insurance policy, take a look at our pet insurance reviews to see which pet insurance companies I recommend.

Animalia vs Other Companies

Interested in seeing how Animalia stacks up against other popular pet insurance companies? We’ve compiled a comparison table including Healthy Paws and Trupanion, two of the most commonly searched companies, compared against Animalia.

Healthy PawsAnimaliaTrupanion
Deductible TypeAnnualAnnualPer Condition
No Payout Caps On Any Plans
Behavioral Therapy Coverage
Coverage For Accident/Illness Exam Fees
Ambulance Transportation Coverage
Enrollment Ages8 Weeks – 14 Years2 Months – 15 Years0 – 14 Years
Prescription Food & Dietary Supplements Coverage
Extra Waiting Period For Cancer
Extra Waiting Period For Hip Dysplasia
No Bilateral Exclusions
Covers Curable Pre-Existing Conditions

Our Final Verdict On Animalia

Get Animalia Quote | Compare Quotes

Animalia offers unique coverage, including ambulance transportation, prescription foods, and dietary supplements. It’s a newer company in the U.S. marketplace, but its experience in Israel is encouraging. Find out how Animalia Pet Insurance compares against other top pet insurance providers in our pet insurance reviews article.

Methodology

We review each U.S. pet insurance company to provide an unbiased breakdown of providers’ performance in real claim situations. We use a 100-point scale for each pet insurance company to rank them.

Our In-Depth Research Includes:

  • Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We scrutinize every policy from top to bottom and read all the fine print, carefully noting each exclusion. We factor in any age restrictions, required add-ons for basic coverage, and whether a company is available nationwide. Insurers with fewer exclusions receive more points in this category than those with less coverage.
  • Pricing (15%) – We evaluate pricing by running thousands of sample quotes for dogs and cats of various breeds, sizes, locations, and ages. We analyze which companies charge extra fees and discounts and consider which companies nick and dime pet owners with add-on coverage. Providers with the lowest premiums, fewest extra fees, most discounts, and fewer add-ons receive more points in this category.
  • Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We assess hundreds of customer reviews, scope out the sign-up process, speak with representatives, and factor in company history and years in the pet insurance marketplace to determine the points in this category. Companies with an easy sign-up process, highly rated mobile apps, multiple ways to reach customer service, positive consumer feedback, and a seamless claim filing process score high in this category.
  • Financial Strength (10%) – Insurance is only beneficial if you can count on reimbursed claims. Companies with at least five years of nationwide experience and high A.M. Best and Demotech ratings receive high remarks in this category.
  • Customization Options (10%) – We consider customizations available to adjust your coverage to fit your budget. Companies with fewer restrictions based on breed, age, location, etc., multiple plan options, and more reimbursement rates, deductibles, and annual limits earn the highest scores.
  • Waiting Periods (5%) – Providers with the shortest illness and accident waiting periods and fewer additional waiting periods for other conditions merit high remarks.
  • Claim Processing (5%) – We share our firsthand experience submitting claims with companies and examine how long it takes to be reimbursed. Insurers with a vet direct pay option and short claim processing averages earn the most points.
  • Innovation (3%) – We meet with company representatives to discuss changes related to the industry, their company, and their offerings. Providers offering unique, comprehensive coverage and utilizing advanced technology receive more points.

Unbiased Pet Insurance Rankings: Putting Your Pets First

Unlike many other review sites, we refuse to let pet insurance companies pay for the top spot in our rankings. Companies must earn their position in our comparisons by performing well in the marketplace. We also highlight each company’s pros and cons in light of their competitor’s strengths. In doing so for over a decade, we’ve helped pet parents make more educated decisions among the top pet insurance options. Pet insurance providers read our reviews, regularly check them for accuracy, and value our input to help create positive industry changes and better protect your pets. We only recommend the best of the best because it’s what our readers deserve.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance since 2012, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly knows the subject so well that she can answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources.

Kimberly also consulted with Michelle Schenker, Canine Journal’s in-house licensed insurance agent, for additional expertise, to ensure accuracy, and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented. 

Kimberly Alt

Kimberly is a writer and content strategist for Canine Journal, specializing in pet insurance consulting. She has written and edited professionally since 2010. In 2014, Kimberly began researching dogs and discovered her passion for pet insurance. She strongly advocates for insuring pets and knows insurance is a complex subject for most. Kimberly has read hundreds of pet insurance policies (including the fine print), ran more than 3,000 pet insurance quotes, engages in frequent discussions with pet insurer representatives, and conducts mystery shopping to gain an unbiased perspective and explain how companies differ and their strengths. Her passion is teaching others about the pet insurance industry and helping them make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs. Kimberly has a B.A. in Multimedia Journalism from Simpson College. She is a Dog Writers Association of America member, and her work has appeared in many brands, including The New York Times’ Wirecutter, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, People, Woman’s World, and Huffington Post. Kimberly is the parent of a rescue Coonhound mix, Sally.
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