Pet insurance in Louisiana: what it costs and what to plan for

How much is pet insurance in Louisiana?

The average accident-and-illness policy in Louisiana costs $39 a month for a dog, according to Forbes Advisor, How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (2026).

Forbes Advisor's Louisiana figure is for a dog policy with a $5,000 annual limit, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement. An unlimited policy averaged $56 a month. The national averages on the same basis are $56 for a dog and $24 for a cat. Forbes gives no Louisiana figure for cats and no city spread.

Your own price depends on your pet's species, breed and age, your ZIP code (vet prices vary by city), and three choices you make: the deductible, the reimbursement rate and the annual limit. A higher deductible or lower reimbursement lowers the monthly premium. See how pet insurance deductibles work.

Louisiana pet insurance rules

Louisiana adopted the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act through Act 94 of 2023, now R.S. 22:1371 to 22:1375. It took effect January 1, 2024. Waiting periods for illnesses and orthopedic conditions are capped at 30 days, and accidents can't have one. You can waive a waiting period with a vet exam. You get 15 days from receiving the policy to return it for a full refund, if no claim was filed. Wellness programs can't be sold as pet insurance, and agents must complete pet insurance training before selling it.

Source: Louisiana R.S. 22:1373, Pet insurance policy conditions

Pet health risks to plan for in Louisiana

These are the local hazards Louisiana vets see often, and whether a typical accident-and-illness policy pays for treatment. Routine prevention (vaccines, flea, tick and heartworm medication) is only covered by an optional wellness add-on.

Vets and pet care in Louisiana cities

• New Orleans. Plan where your pet will go before a hurricane evacuation. Pet insurance pays for injuries, not boarding or travel.
• Baton Rouge. The LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital provides emergency and critical care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (source)
• Shreveport. North Louisiana shares the state's high heartworm burden, so year-round prevention matters here too. (source)
• Lafayette. Acadiana's long, humid summers keep mosquitoes active, which spread heartworm across the Southeast. (source)

How to get pet insurance in Louisiana

You can buy a policy online in a few minutes. Lemonade sells pet insurance for dogs and cats in Louisiana: you enter your pet's breed and age and your ZIP code, then choose your options, such as the deductible and a 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement rate. Illnesses are covered only after a waiting period, so it pays to start while your pet is young and healthy, before any condition counts as pre-existing (see waiting periods).

Whichever insurer you choose, read the sample policy for exclusions: pre-existing conditions, bilateral conditions, exam fees and how long the waiting periods are.

Tips for Louisiana pet owners

1. Compare quotes at the same settings. Forbes Advisor's $39 Louisiana dog average uses a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement and a $5,000 limit.
2. Give heartworm prevention every month, all year. Louisiana is a top-10 heartworm state, and a lapse can complicate a claim.
3. Save your vet records and policy number on your phone before hurricane season. Any licensed vet works with Lemonade, so you can claim for emergency care while evacuated.
4. Enroll before symptoms show. Louisiana caps illness waiting periods at 30 days, but signs noted before then can be excluded as pre-existing.
5. Use Louisiana's 15-day free look. Read the exclusions and return the policy for a full refund if it isn't right.