House passes Schlossberg pet insurance bill
Rep. Mike Schlossberg April 8, 2024 | 2:38 PM
HARRISBURG, April 8 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today unanimously passed state Rep. Mike Schlossberg’s legislation that would protect consumers who purchase pet insurance to address emergency medical costs should any arise.
“I am grateful my legislation was approved with bipartisan support. Republicans and Democrats own pets and care deeply for them,” said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. “I am hopeful the state Senate takes up this legislation so we can send it to Gov. Shapiro.”
For many Pennsylvanians, pets are chosen family who deserve all the love, affection, and care their human family receive.
“Lexi and Chrissy are as much Schlossbergs as Auron and Ayla and I often joke that the dogs get better treatment than I do,” Schlossberg said. “We’re no different than any proud parents: we go to great lengths to make sure the dogs and the kids are healthy and safe.”
As part of the family’s care for their two dogs, the Schlossbergs purchase pet insurance to ensure financial support to address emergency medical costs should any arise. They are not alone. Pet insurance has become a multi-billion-dollar industry and now covers nearly 4 million pets across the United States.
Despite this rapid growth, there are no Pennsylvania laws specifically addressing pet insurance contracts. While not Schlossberg’s experience, this sometimes leaves families holding the bag for expensive veterinarian bills due to unknown waiting periods or coverage exclusions buried in highly legalized language in the insurance policies.
Schlossberg introduced the legislation (H.B. 660) to better protect consumers to provide a framework for the sale, solicitation and negotiation of pet insurance policies in Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania offers consumer protections for a variety of insurance policies, whether it be health, life, homeowner or auto,” Schlossberg said. “Pet insurance provides valuable coverage, and consumers deserve to know what is in their policies, what care their pets will receive and the true costs.”