Rhode Island Moves to Leash Pet Insurers | Insurify

Pet parents in Rhode Island will soon be able to shop for pet insurance knowing their state has strict regulations on what pet insurance companies can and can't do.

The state's new Pet Insurance Act establishes disclosure requirements for pet insurance policies, maximums for waiting periods, a 15-day "free look" period, and a way for consumers to avoid waiting periods altogether.

"Our pets are members of our families, and with veterinary care becoming so costly, more people are opting to buy insurance policies to keep them safe and healthy," said act co-sponsor Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr. in an early July press release. "There is a tremendous need for regulatory standards in the pet insurance industry, and this legislation will protect pet owners by eliminating confusion by requiring insurers to provide detailed information about coverage."

The new law will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, making Rhode Island the 16th state to adopt specific pet insurance laws.

Rhode Island's law goes a step beyond

Like other states, Rhode Island modeled its pet insurance law after a template created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). But Rhode Island's legislation varies from the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act in a few significant ways.

Rhode Island's law bans pet insurance companies from marketing their wellness programs to consumers while selling, marketing, or negotiating a pet insurance policy. Insurers must clearly explain that any wellness program they sell isn't insurance and that it has separate terms and costs from their pet insurance policies.

The law also allows only a 15-day "free look" trial period for new policies; most states have a 30-day free look period.

Provisions of Rhode Island's law that follow the NAIC model include:

Pet insurers can't impose waiting periods for accident coverage.Waiting periods for illnesses and orthopedic conditions can't exceed 30 days.Insurers must disclose any waiting periods and how they work before a consumer buys a policy.Insurers must allow policy buyers to avoid waiting periods altogether by having the covered pet submit to a veterinary exam.Policies must clearly disclose exclusions for pre-existing conditions, hereditary disorders, congenital defects, and chronic conditions.Insurers must disclose whether claim history, pet age, or a change of location could affect premiums.If the underwriting company's name differs from the name an insurer uses to market and sell policies, companies must disclose the difference.

And pet insurance companies will no longer be able to charge up-front premiums before policies go into effect.

What's next: More states weigh pet insurance regulation

Because the law generally considers pets to be a type of property, most states regulate pet insurance under their property and casualty laws. But a growing number of states are considering legislation to specifically regulate pet insurance.

California, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington have pet insurance regulations based on the NAIC model act. Legislation is pending in New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Pet insurance regulation is catching on faster than most model laws, Rick Faucher, president of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, told Insurify in June.

"When pet insurers see the larger states adopting a model pretty much as is, they can see where the trend is going," he said. "Carriers look for consistency. It creates a better consumer experience and improves customer service."

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