Pet insurance by state
Pet insurance in Minnesota: what it costs and what to plan for
Pet insurance in Minnesota costs about $55 a month for a dog and $30 for a cat on average, according to MoneyGeek. Lemonade sells pet insurance in Minnesota, and you can get a quote online in minutes. The local risk to plan for first is lyme disease and other tick-borne illness.
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Minnesota sits in the Upper Midwest, one of the regions where dogs face the highest Lyme disease risk. Northeastern counties also see blastomycosis, a soil fungus that sickens more animals than people. Pet insurance here averages $55 a month for a dog and $30 for a cat.
How much is pet insurance in Minnesota?
The average accident-and-illness policy in Minnesota costs $55 a month for a dog and $30 a month for a cat, according to MoneyGeek, How Much Is Pet Insurance in Minnesota? (2026).
MoneyGeek priced a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and a 7-year-old Ragdoll. Both had a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and a $5,000 annual limit. Cat rates were nearly flat by city: $359 a year in Duluth, $360 in Minneapolis and $361 in Saint Paul.
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.
Minnesota pet insurance rules
Minnesota has not adopted the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act or its own pet insurance statute, as far as we could find. A 2023 bill, HF 780, would have required pet policies to cover pre-existing conditions, but it never left committee. Pet insurance is regulated by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Its guide tells you to confirm the company and agent are licensed and to compare exclusions and reimbursement terms.
Source: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Pet Insurance
Pet health risks to plan for in Minnesota
These are the local hazards Minnesota 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.
- Depends on policyLyme disease and other tick-borne illnessCAPC's 2026 forecast calls the Upper Midwest a high-risk region for Lyme in dogs. Treatment is usually covered after the illness waiting period; tick prevention needs a wellness add-on.
- Usually coveredBlastomycosisA fungal infection from inhaled soil spores, most common in northeastern Minnesota. The state health department says more animals than people are affected each year.
- Usually coveredWinter hazardsAntifreeze poisoning, road-salt paw burns and frostbite are treated as accidents or illnesses. Emergency visits for them are covered after deductible.
- Usually coveredBlue-green algae in lakesBlooms usually appear in summer and early fall. The state pollution agency says dogs can show symptoms within minutes, and some have died. Emergency treatment is covered as an illness.
Vets and pet care in Minnesota cities
- Saint Paul. The University of Minnesota's Lewis Small Animal Hospital runs emergency and critical care, though hours are reduced on some weekdays. Check the schedule before you drive. (source)
- Minneapolis. MoneyGeek found cat policies here cost about $360 a year, the same as Saint Paul within a dollar. (source)
- Duluth. Duluth is in the northeast, where the state health department says blastomycosis is most common. (source)
- Rochester. Rochester owners are about 90 minutes from the University of Minnesota's teaching hospital in Saint Paul for specialty referrals.
How to get pet insurance in Minnesota
You can buy a policy online in a few minutes. Lemonade sells pet insurance for dogs and cats in Minnesota: 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 Minnesota pet owners
- Compare at a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement. That is what MoneyGeek's $55-a-month dog average assumes.
- Ask how a policy treats tick-borne disease. Lyme treatment is usually covered, but tick prevention needs a wellness add-on.
- If you hunt or hike in the northeast, tell your vet. Early tests for blastomycosis help, and illness cover only works after the waiting period.
- Enroll before spring tick season. A sign of illness during the waiting period can count as pre-existing. See pre-existing conditions.
- Know that the U of M's Saint Paul emergency service has reduced hours some nights. Save a second 24-hour hospital's number too.
Minnesota pet insurance FAQ
How much is pet insurance in Minnesota?
MoneyGeek puts the average at $55 a month for a dog and $30 for a cat. That assumes a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and a $5,000 limit. Cat rates in Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Duluth were within a few dollars a year.
Is pet insurance worth it in Minnesota?
It depends on whether you could cover a sudden vet bill. Minnesota risks like Lyme disease and blastomycosis can need long treatment. A dog policy runs about $664 a year on MoneyGeek's figures.
Does Minnesota have a pet insurance law?
Not a dedicated one that we could find. A 2023 bill, HF 780, on pre-existing conditions did not pass. The Department of Commerce regulates pet insurers and takes complaints.
Is pet insurance more expensive in Minneapolis?
Not by much. MoneyGeek found cat policies cost about $360 a year in Minneapolis, $361 in Saint Paul and $359 in Duluth.
Does pet insurance cover Lyme disease in Minnesota?
A typical accident-and-illness policy covers Lyme treatment once the illness waiting period ends. Vaccines and tick medication need a wellness add-on.
Can I buy Lemonade pet insurance in Minnesota?
Yes. Lemonade sells pet insurance in Minnesota, though it does not sell renters insurance there.
Nearby states
Sources
- MoneyGeek, How Much Is Pet Insurance in Minnesota? (2026) (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, Pet Insurance (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Minnesota Legislature, HF 780 (2023), pet insurance and preexisting conditions (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Companion Animal Parasite Council, CAPC 2026 Pet Parasite Forecast (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Minnesota Department of Health, About Blastomycosis (accessed 2026-10-04)
- University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center, Emergency and Critical Care (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Lemonade, Pet Insurance for Dogs & Cats (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Lemonade, The Ultimate Lemonade Pet FAQ (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Lemonade, where Lemonade is available (accessed 2026-10-04)
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Blue-green algae and harmful algal blooms (accessed 2026-10-04)