Mason Passes Bill Regulating Pet Insurance in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, introduced, sponsored, and passed legislation adding pet insurance to the Illinois Insurance Code, regulating the requirements and responsibilities of pet insurers and pet insurance policies.

“As a pet owner, I know how important our pets are. I also know how expensive visits to the vet can be, especially without pet insurance,” said Mason. “Pet insurance is one of the fastest growing insurance products, but right now, pet insurers don’t follow specific guidelines, so insurance policies can be vastly different from one another. With the inclusion of the pet insurance article, we hope to make pet insurance as efficient as any other kind of insurance, as well as more accessible for pet owners.”

House Bill 3595 adds a Pet Insurance Article to the Illinois Insurance Code. This bill establishes that a pet insurer must disclose coverage exclusions, limitations, waiting periods, and other information relevant to the pet insurance applicant. Under current law, there are no regulations or requirements for pet insurers; pets are categorized as personal property, and therefore any insurance policies are governed under property insurance. 

Regular veterinary care can be extremely costly for any pet owner, potentially putting pets a risk due to unaffordability. Establishing efficient, thorough pet insurance guidelines increases access to pet insurance and protects pet owners from paying high out-of-pocket costs. It’s why the pet insurance market has experienced rapid and widespread growth in the past few years/ Multiple states throughout the U.S. have recently passed similar laws, with several more expected to follow.

“Taking our pets to the veterinarian can be anxiety-inducing, both for the pet and the pet owner. If your dog or cat is sick or injured, it’s even worse. We want the focus to be on the well-being of your pet, not on the bill you get afterwards,” said Mason.

House Bill 3595 now heads to the Senate for consideration.