South Dakota Pet Insurance (2026): Costs, Laws & Best Providers

In South Dakota, an emergency vet visit usually means paying the hospital first and claiming later, and from many towns the nearest staffed 24/7 hospital is hours away by road. That can matter more than the monthly premium.

What it costs. At one Sioux Falls ZIP code (57101), accident-and-illness plans, mostly at a $10,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement, averaged $49.76 a month for a 1-year-old dog and $27.47 for a 1-year-old cat in U.S. News's May 2026 quotes. That's one ZIP code, not a state average.

Who sells here. Lemonade and Kanguro don't sell pet insurance in South Dakota; the state is missing from Lemonade's state list and Kanguro's (checked Oct. 4, 2026). Most other major brands do sell here.

What the law does. Unlike several states in our state-by-state guide, South Dakota has no pet-insurance law: the NAIC's Summer 2026 chart lists it as "NO CURRENT ACTIVITY." General law still gives you six years to sue over an unpaid claim, and a policy can't force arbitration or shorten that time.

At the ER counter. We found two staffed 24/7 small-animal ERs. All City Pet Care in Sioux Falls asks for its $158 exam fee at check-in, then half of the hospitalization estimate before admitting a pet; Animal Clinic of Rapid City publishes no fee or deposit. Most policies repay you only after you've paid.

What pet insurance costs in South Dakota (2026)

U.S. News priced four neutered pets in May 2026 with each insurer's own quote tool: a medium mixed-breed dog and a domestic shorthair cat, at ages 1 and 6, on accident-and-illness plans with a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement. Its Sioux Falls (57101) figures, a month:

The averages span at most 10 of the 12 insurers U.S. News rates: Lemonade doesn't sell here, and a few were quoted at other limits or deductibles. By the same method, the young dog's Sioux Falls average sits 16.6% above Fargo's ($42.69) and 9.2% below suburban Minneapolis's ($54.81) (our arithmetic).

What moves the price (our arithmetic; our guide to pet insurance prices explains why):

• Age: going from 1 to 6 adds 58.5% for the dog and 35.5% for the cat at $10,000.
• Insurer: Pumpkin costs 2.35 times Pets Best Essential for the same young dog.
• Breed: in PetPlace's March 2025 South Dakota quotes, a Labrador cost 50% to 57% more than a mixed breed, and a French Bulldog 121% to 130% more.
• ZIP code, a little: Pawlicy Advisor's price ranges match in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, with Pierre's top ends 9.8% to 26.7% lower, and MetLife prices "based in part on your zip code." Quote at your own address.

Watch the "South Dakota average." The often-repeated $47 dog and $26 cat from MoneyGeek's retired page are accident-only prices, per its own footnote; the same page put accident-and-illness cover at about $80 and $41. Spot's $50 and $29 also appear on its pages for other states. Compare quotes, not averages.

The same bill can pay differently. On $5,000 of covered treatment with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement, a policy that takes the deductible first pays ($5,000 − $500) × 80% = $3,600; one that applies the percentage first pays $5,000 × 80% − $500 = $3,500 (our arithmetic). Which insurers do which is in the policy table.

Fees and discounts. In South Dakota, any policy fee counts as premium, and an agent can't add fees on top. Pets Best adds $2.00 to each monthly payment here, $24 a year. Pumpkin gives 10% off each added pet, and Costco members get 15% off Figo; military discounts are in renewals, moving and military orders. On a tight budget, Pets Best's accident-only plans "start at" $9 a month for dogs and $6 for cats; see our guide to cheap pet insurance that still protects you.

Who sells pet insurance in South Dakota (checked Oct. 4, 2026)

Lemonade and Kanguro don't sell pet insurance here. South Dakota is missing from Lemonade's and Kanguro's own state lists, and Lemonade's insurer doesn't appear in the Division of Insurance's 2025 pet market report. Below, "sells" means the brand's own pages say it sells here or nationwide, or link South Dakota buyers to a South Dakota policy. Confirm at your ZIP code when you quote.

Some comparison pages still list Lemonade here; U.S. News's South Dakota page carries its national table naming Lemonade "Best Overall". The Division's figures count insurers, not brands, so they can't say which brand is biggest. The market is small: $3.24 million of premium in 2025, the smallest of the 50 states and DC by our ranking of NAIC's state totals.

Paying the vet in South Dakota: deposits, direct pay and the drive to 24/7 care

Plan on paying the hospital yourself and claiming the money back afterward. Our guide to how pet insurance works covers reimbursement step by step.

The two staffed 24/7 ERs we found

All City Pet Care Veterinary Emergency Hospital, 3508 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls (605-335-4004), treats dogs and cats only. It asks for its $158 exam fee (tax included) at check-in, half of the estimate before admitting a pet and the full estimate for diagnosed parvo; for scheduled surgical referrals, 75% of the estimate at check-in. It takes CareCredit and Scratchpay, with no in-house payment plans.

Animal Clinic of Rapid City Emergency Veterinary Hospital, 3713 East Anamosa St. (ER 605-721-0789), is open 24/7 and publishes no exam fee or deposit.

Elsewhere, "24-hour" care usually means an on-call vet or a clients-only line; Aberdeen's Northern Plains Animal Health, for one, forwards after-hours calls to the vet on call. No branded emergency chain, such as VCA or BluePearl, lists a South Dakota hospital. We found no public veterinary teaching hospital (SDSU's vet program finishes in St. Paul) and no veterinary MRI, so some specialist cases leave the state.

How far your nearest 24/7 hospital is

By our routing estimates, using OpenStreetMap data and the public OSRM router (Oct. 4, 2026), Brookings is 60 road miles from All City and Watertown 106. Aberdeen's nearest staffed 24/7 hospital is Red River Animal Emergency Hospital in Fargo, N.D., 184 miles away. Pierre is 188 miles from Animal Clinic of Rapid City, Pine Ridge 94 and Lemmon 205. Aberdeen, Pierre, Mission, Eagle Butte and Lemmon are all about three or more free-flow hours away, and free-flow times ignore traffic and weather, so call ahead.

What a deposit means in cash

Two illustrations on All City's published rules (our arithmetic), assuming a $500 deductible taken first, 90% reimbursement and every charge eligible:

• Scheduled surgery, $4,000 estimate: $3,000 at check-in and $1,000 at discharge. The policy later repays ($4,000 − $500) × 90% = $3,150, so you net about $850.
• Emergency admission, $4,000 estimate: the $158 exam plus half the estimate, $2,158, before admission, and $2,000 at discharge. The policy repays $3,150 if it excludes exam fees (net about $1,008), or $3,292 if it covers them (net about $866).

Either way, the money comes back after the claim is processed, which U.S. News reports "takes up to 25 days" at Pets Best; Healthy Paws says "most claims are processed in 2 days."

Who can pay the hospital directly

• At checkout: Trupanion, including Chewy CarePlus's Trupanion plans, can pay its share "while you check out" at partner hospitals.
• Arranged before treatment: Healthy Paws, during business hours, if the hospital agrees.
• After the claim is processed: Pets Best's Vet Direct Pay, if the hospital agrees to wait.
• Fast payment to you, not the vet: PumpkinNow, "in as little as 15 minutes" with real-time bank payments.

The only South Dakota clinic page we found on insurer direct pay is a 2019 Rapid City post about Trupanion, and Red River in Fargo "does not accept insurance as payment." Ask your clinic and nearest ER how they take payment before you need them.

If you can't pay tonight: CareCredit is widely accepted, though it's credit you repay whatever happens to a claim. Sioux Falls's nonprofit Pet Wellness Veterinary Hospital offers daytime care with payment plans, and Hobo's Healing Heart may pay up to half of an emergency bill, excluding the first visit fee and capped at $900, for qualifying Black Hills households. Get your pet the care it needs first; the claim can follow.

What South Dakota pet insurance policies actually say

Insurers don't all send South Dakota buyers the same paper: some post South Dakota forms or endorsements, others a generic or older document (AKC's South Dakota forms date from 2020, Healthy Paws' sample from 2018, Trupanion's from 2019). Samples aren't your policy; the declarations page issued with yours names the insurer and forms that govern.

The exam-fee column is real money: on a policy that excludes exams, you pay All City's $158 yourself at every emergency visit. Our guide to pet insurance fine print compares these terms nationally.

Three clauses to read before you buy:

• Repeat incidents. Figo stops covering a "repetitive activity" after "three (3) separate but similar incidents," naming porcupine quills. AKC covers no more than one illness or injury in a pet's life from "a repetitive and specific activity" that has happened before. Pets Best and Odie won't cover a third similar episode within 18 months.
• Bird flu. The Spot, ASPCA, Hartville and Pumpkin form, Embrace's V6 and the Figo, AKC and Fetch forms exclude avian influenza by name. The others don't name it, which isn't a promise to pay.
• Waivers. Figo waives its orthopedic wait if a vet's waiver form goes in within 30 days of the start, and Pets Best and Odie may waive waits at their discretion. Nothing shortens Embrace's 180-day orthopedic exclusion, and Healthy Paws' exam waiver isn't offered in South Dakota.

Pre-existing conditions

You can usually still buy a policy, but every South Dakota document excludes conditions your pet already has. Some let a cured condition back in: after 180 days free of symptoms and treatment on the Spot, ASPCA, Hartville and Pumpkin form, 12 months for Embrace's "Temporary Conditions," and 365 days at Figo and at Fetch (after an annual exam). AKC makes pre-existing conditions eligible after 365 days of continuous coverage. On the Spot-family and Figo forms, chronic, knee and ligament conditions never come back, and Healthy Paws', Pets Best's, Trupanion's, Chewy's and Odie's documents write no general recovery rule. More in our pre-existing conditions guide.

South Dakota pet insurance laws: what exists and what doesn't

South Dakota has no law written for pet insurance, and no law requires you to buy it. The NAIC's Summer 2026 model-act chart lists the state as "NO CURRENT ACTIVITY"; the Legislature's bill search returns no "pet insurance" bills for any regular session from 2021 through 2026; and the insurance code, Title 58, never uses the word "pet" (our search, Oct. 4, 2026).

Pet policies are still regulated under general property-and-casualty law. Rate filings take effect the day they're filed unless the insurer picks a later date, policy forms need the Division's approval, and an insurer "can not charge a cancellation fee."

The general law that protects a pet claim

• Six years to sue, and no forced arbitration. Contract suits can be brought within six years, and a policy clause requiring arbitration or limiting the time to sue is "void and unenforceable." The Division's Bulletin 98-5 adds that arbitration or appraisal "must be optional." Embrace's V6 (three years) and Nationwide's generic form (one year) carry no South Dakota fix, and by our reading those shorter limits are void here.
• Attorney fees for an unreasonable refusal. If you win a suit on a policy and the court finds the refusal to pay "vexatious or without reasonable cause," it must award a reasonable attorney fee, unless the insurer offered at least what you recovered before you sued. A refusal after "an inadequate investigation" qualifies (Fiechtner, 2025), and the fee isn't capped at a share of a small claim (Brooks, 2000). That it reaches pet policies is our reading.
• Claim-handling rules are the Division's to enforce. They grant no "private right of action," and the duty to act on claim communications within 30 days "does not obligate the companies to pay the claim" in that time. We found no deadline for paying a pet claim.
• Notice. By our reading, an insurer must give 20 days' notice, with reasons, to cancel, and at least 30 days before refusing to renew. Figo and Fetch promise 60.

If a claim is denied

About one in three South Dakota pet claims closed without payment in NAIC's 2025 data, but that count includes bills that didn't clear the deductible, so it isn't a denial rate. If yours is refused (general information, not legal advice):

1. Ask for the denial in writing, with the policy language it relies on, and use the insurer's appeal with your vet's records.
2. Complain to the Division of Insurance online or at 605.773.3563, choosing "Other," since there's no pet option. The insurer must answer the Division within 20 days, but by our reading the Division can't award you damages.
3. Small claims court takes claims up to $12,000, for $24.84 to $42.84 to file, with no appeal.
4. For a larger claim, talk to a South Dakota attorney. A separate bad-faith claim needs proof that the insurer had no reasonable basis for the denial and knew it.

South Dakota risks, by evidence, and what policies do about them

We found no South Dakota pet-claims data by cause, so each risk below is a documented hazard, not a claim rate. Whether a policy pays depends on its wording.

Rattlesnakes, porcupines and working dogs

The prairie rattlesnake is "South Dakota's only venomous snake," and porcupines are "located primarily in the western half" of the state. Both are accident claims once the accident wait passes, subject to the repeat-incident limits in the policy section. The rattlesnake vaccine is preventive care, which accident-and-illness cover leaves out.

GFP estimates about 140,000 pheasant hunters in 2025. No South Dakota document mentions hunting or herding; a working dog's cover turns on other wording:

• Broadest exclusions: AKC excludes "working," undefined; Fetch and Embrace exclude "occupational, professional or business" use; Healthy Paws, "any commercial use."
• An ownership test: Pets Best, Odie, Figo and Trupanion insure a pet "not owned for commercial reasons."
• Narrowest: the Spot, ASPCA, Hartville and Pumpkin form excludes a short list, such as coursing, guarding and racing.

By our reading, a household bird dog is unlikely to count as commercial; a paid guide's dog, a working ranch dog or a barn cat kept for mice may. Get the insurer's answer in writing. And don't insure a bird dog only for the season: each new policy brings new waits and treats anything from the gap as pre-existing.

Storms, rabies and boarding

Frostbite and storm injuries are ordinary claims, by our reading, but the disruption isn't covered: the documents we read exclude boarding, or pay it only while you're hospitalized (Fetch) or through an add-on (Figo, Trupanion), so none pays because a blizzard or a week-long outage put you out of your home. Nor do they pay for rabies confinement, which the state may order for at least six months, or three if the pet was properly vaccinated. Keep vaccinations current.

Ticks, heartworm and algae

Tested South Dakota dogs show far less parasite exposure than tested dogs nationally, in Companion Animal Parasite Council data for 2025: heartworm 0.34% vs 0.94%, Lyme 0.72% vs 4.16%.

Several forms still exclude parasites: AKC and Chewy's Trupanion plans outright, and Figo, Fetch, Trupanion's 2019 form and Healthy Paws where a preventive exists. Blue-green algae is the toxin with dates: DANR's 2026 advisories cover five eastern South Dakota lakes and warn the toxins can be "fatal to pets and livestock."

Cats: bird flu and tularemia

Outdoor cats carry the standout risks. Bird flu killed ten of about 20 barn cats on a Campbell County farm in 2024, while three kept in the house were unaffected, and five South Dakota documents exclude avian influenza by name. The state also had the second-highest human tularemia rate in 2011–2022, with human cases traced to cat bites or other exposures.

Best pet insurance in South Dakota, by situation

There's no single best policy here. The right one depends on whether you can front a big bill, what your dog does, your pet's age and where you might move. Most fits below come from the South Dakota documents compared in the policy section; a fit means the wording favors you, not that a claim will be paid.

U.S. News names Pumpkin "Best Overall" and Pets Best "Best Budget" for South Dakota. Those are its picks, not ours, and Pumpkin's young-dog quote ($66.87) ran well above the average ($49.76). Whatever your row, shortlist two or three insurers that sell here, quote the same pet at your ZIP code with the same limit, deductible and reimbursement, and read each one's South Dakota sample.

WhiskerCover is licensed as an insurance agency in South Dakota and never charges you a fee.

Renewals, moving and military orders

Expect your premium to rise at renewal: most insurers price partly on age, and any can revise its rates statewide, effective the day the filing is made. We found no South Dakota cap or notice rule for pet renewal increases, so your main warning is whatever the policy promises: at least 60 days at Healthy Paws; 30 at AKC, Trupanion and Odie; and no set period on the Spot, ASPCA, Hartville and Pumpkin form, where "You accept these changes by renewing your policy." Check any "locked-in price" claim against the policy itself.

Moving into or out of South Dakota

Moving here with Lemonade means switching: after a move to a state it doesn't serve, "you will need to cancel your policy." Kanguro doesn't sell here either, so ask it what happens before you cancel. Other insurers want to hear about a move, often within 30 days, and may re-rate or reissue the policy.

A new insurer usually restarts waits and reviews your pet's history; MetLife warns you "may lose coverage for conditions that are currently covered." So start the new policy before the old one ends, keep both until the new waits pass, and tell each insurer about the other. Our guide to switching pet insurance covers the steps.

Ellsworth AFB and PCS orders

The base Veterinary Treatment Facility handles routine care, is closed Thursdays and lists no weekend hours, and the Defense Health Agency says "most veterinary emergency cases are best served through a full service civilian veterinary hospital." Here that's Animal Clinic of Rapid City, about 8 road miles from Box Elder.

Before orders take you abroad, check that the insurer will keep your policy once you live overseas, and check the territory: US bases overseas are covered on Pets Best's, Trupanion's, Chewy's and Odie's forms, and Figo's covers care "anywhere in the world," but the Spot-family, AKC, Fetch and Healthy Paws documents stop at the US and Canada. MetLife gives a 10% military discount and Embrace 5%. USAA's pet insurance is Embrace's, sold through USAA's agency, whose page advertised up to 15% off, plus an extra 10% for military members, for at most 25% when we read it on Oct. 5, 2026.

Using a vet across the state line

Your premium follows your pet's home address, not the clinic. Most South Dakota documents cover any licensed US vet, so by our reading a clinic in Luverne, Minn., Sioux City, Iowa, or Chadron, Neb., is paid on the same terms as one at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pet insurance required in South Dakota, and is there a pet insurance law?

No. South Dakota doesn't require pet insurance and has no pet-insurance law; the NAIC's Summer 2026 model-act chart lists it as "NO CURRENT ACTIVITY." Pet policies are still regulated under general insurance law.

How much is pet insurance in South Dakota a month?

About $50 a month for a 1-year-old dog and $27 for a 1-year-old cat at one Sioux Falls ZIP code. In U.S. News's May 2026 quotes at 57101, accident-and-illness plans, mostly at a $10,000 limit, $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement, averaged $49.76 and $27.47, and $78.86 and $37.21 at age 6. The insurer matters too: for the young dog, Pets Best's Essential plan was $28.51 and Pumpkin's $66.87. See what it costs.

What is the best pet insurance in South Dakota?

It depends on your situation. If you couldn't front a large bill, look first at who can pay the hospital directly; for a large-breed dog, compare orthopedic waits; for a hunting or working dog, the working-use wording. Our situation table matches common South Dakota cases to the wording that decides them.

Is Lemonade pet insurance available in South Dakota?

No. Lemonade doesn't sell pet insurance in South Dakota, and neither does Kanguro; the state is missing from both companies' lists (Lemonade's, Kanguro's; checked Oct. 4, 2026). Most other major brands sell here.

Is Costco pet insurance available in South Dakota?

Probably. Costco's plans come through Figo, underwritten by Independence American, with 15% off for members. Figo links a South Dakota policy form dated for issue Feb. 10, 2026, and lists a South Dakota license, though no Figo page markets coverage here, so confirm at your ZIP code.

Do South Dakota vets take pet insurance?

Most policies pay toward care from any licensed US vet, usually by reimbursing you after you've paid. Trupanion can pay at checkout at hospitals set up for it. We found one South Dakota clinic page on direct pay, a 2019 Rapid City post about Trupanion. See paying the vet.

Is pet insurance worth it in South Dakota?

It's most worth it if one large vet bill would be hard to pay, and less so if savings could cover one. Deductibles bite first: one owner on r/SiouxFalls paid about $420 for two visits in a year and was still short of a $500 deductible. See whether pet insurance is worth it.

Does pet insurance cover rattlesnake bites, porcupine quills or hunting injuries?

Usually, as accidents, once the accident wait is over. Two clauses matter for field dogs: repeat-incident limits, such as Figo's cut-off after three similar incidents, naming porcupine quills, and working-use wording, such as AKC's "working" exclusion. Get the insurer's answer in writing; see South Dakota risks.

How do I complain about a denied pet insurance claim in South Dakota?

Ask the insurer for the denial in writing and appeal with your vet's records. Then complain to the Division of Insurance online or at 605.773.3563, choosing "Other" as the insurance type. Small claims court takes claims up to $12,000. See the laws section.

How we researched this page

We read every source we cite: insurers' state lists on Oct. 4, 2026, and hospitals' pages and the policy samples insurers link for South Dakota on Oct. 4 and 5. Prices carry the publisher's settings and dates, owners' posts are anecdotes, and we label our own reading or arithmetic. We didn't run quote engines, and we didn't read insurers' state filings, which SERFF Filing Access shows only after you accept a user agreement.

Samples aren't your policy. When yours arrives, check the insurer, form editions, deductible order, exam-fee cover and claim deadline in its declarations page and forms. More is in our methodology and editorial policy. This page is general information, not legal, veterinary or individual insurance advice.

Sources

1. Best Pet Insurance in South Dakota for 2026 (updated Sept. 25, 2026; May 2026 quotes, Sioux Falls ZIP 57101) — U.S. News & World Report
2. Pet Insurance by State: Lemonade's state availability hub (updated Sept. 23, 2026; South Dakota not listed when checked Oct. 4, 2026) — Lemonade
3. Pet & Renters Insurance by State: the states Kanguro serves, Iowa and Nebraska among them; eligibility by home ZIP code (South Dakota not listed when checked Oct. 4–5, 2026) — Kanguro Insurance
4. Pet Insurance Model Act (#633) state chart, NAIC Model Laws, Regulations, Guidelines and Other Resources, Summer 2026 edition — National Association of Insurance Commissioners
5. SDCL 15-2-13: actions upon a contract within six years after the cause of action accrues (South Dakota Codified Laws, read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
6. SDCL 21-25A-3: insurance policy provisions requiring arbitration or limiting the time to sue are void and unenforceable (South Dakota Codified Laws, read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
7. Emergency - For Patients: $158 emergency exam fee (tax included) at check-in, half of the hospitalization estimate before admission (read Oct. 4, 2026) — All City Pet Care Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Sioux Falls
8. Emergency Veterinary Care: Emergency Veterinary Hospital open 24/7, no exam fee or deposit published (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Animal Clinic of Rapid City
9. Best Pet Insurance in South Dakota for 2026, Internet Archive copy of Oct. 2, 2026 (page updated Sept. 25, 2026; method notes on MetLife, Healthy Paws and Fetch quotes) — U.S. News & World Report (via Internet Archive)
10. Best Pet Insurance in North Dakota for 2026 (updated Sept. 18, 2026; May 2026 quotes, Fargo ZIP 58102) — U.S. News & World Report
11. Best Pet Insurance in Minnesota for 2026 (updated Aug. 28, 2026; May 2026 quotes, Lakeville ZIP 55044) — U.S. News & World Report
12. Best Pet Insurance in South Dakota (published April 3, 2025; quotes March 1–7, 2025, at ZIPs 57104 and 57783, $250 deductible, 80%) — PetPlace
13. Best Pet Insurance in South Dakota 2026: city price ranges at 80% reimbursement, unlimited limit, $500 deductible (undated) — Pawlicy Advisor
14. MetLife Pet Insurance FAQs: deductible applied first; premiums 'based in part on your zip code'; vet visit exam fees covered; 'no upper age restrictions' (read Oct. 4–5, 2026) — MetLife Pet Insurance
15. How Much Is Pet Insurance in South Dakota? (retired page; Internet Archive copy of June 10, 2026, page dated April 28, 2026; headline figures footnoted as accident-only) — MoneyGeek (via Internet Archive)
16. Pet Insurance in South Dakota: '$50 per month' for dogs and '$29' for cats (Jan. 2019–Aug. 2024 policy administrator data); 'Premium may change based on your home address' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Spot Pet Insurance
17. Pet Insurance in Iowa: the same $50 dog / $29 cat figures (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Spot Pet Insurance
18. SDCL 58-11-1: any fee or charge in consideration for an insurance contract is part of the premium (South Dakota Codified Laws, read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
19. Guidance for producers: 'South Dakota law does not permit a producer to charge fees in addition to a premium' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Division of Insurance
20. Frequently Asked Questions: $2.00 processing fee on monthly, quarterly and semi-annual payments, except in AK, MD and NH; renewal notification '30-90 days prior to your policy renewing' (read Oct. 4–5, 2026) — Pets Best
21. Pet Insurance FAQs: 10% multi-pet discount for each additional pet; annual limits of $5k, $7k, $15k or unlimited for cats (read Oct. 4–5, 2026) — Pumpkin Pet Insurance
22. Pet Insurance — Costco member program through Figo: 15% member discount, not available in Washington (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Costco Wholesale
23. Pet insurance coverage: accident-only plans 'start at' $9 a month for dogs and $6 for cats, regardless of age and breed; 'no upper age limits for enrollment'; accident coverage 'extends to injuries that occur while hunting' (read Oct. 4–5, 2026) — Pets Best
24. Lemonade FAQ: the 'Where is Lemonade pet health insurance available?' answer omits South Dakota; the renters and term life answers include it (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Lemonade
25. Market Share by Line of Business, Pet Insurance, South Dakota, 2025 data (PDF created June 9, 2026): 25 companies, $3,238,737 direct premiums written, no Lemonade Insurance Company row — South Dakota Division of Insurance
26. Independence American Insurance Co., South Dakota sample policy PET-P-20000-1024 with endorsement PET-AE-20000-SD-0723 (Spot sample; PDF created May 22, 2025) — Spot Pet Insurance / Independence American Insurance Company
27. Independence American Insurance Co., South Dakota sample policy PET-P-20000-1024 with endorsement PET-AE-20000-SD-0723: the copy ASPCA's and Hartville's state-documents pages link for South Dakota (V47 multi-brand file; read Oct. 5, 2026) — Hartville Pet Insurance / Independence American Insurance Company
28. Independence American Insurance Co., Pumpkin South Dakota sample policy PET-P-20000-1024 with endorsement PET-AE-20000-SD-0723 (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Pumpkin Pet Insurance / Independence American Insurance Company
29. Download a sample policy: state selector with South Dakota accident-and-illness and accident-only samples (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Pets Best
30. Independence American Insurance Co., Figo South Dakota policy IAIC FPI POL SD 1025 (for issue Feb. 10, 2026) — Figo Pet Insurance
31. What are Figo's terms of use? 'Figo is authorized to operate in each of the following jurisdictions and possesses the department of insurance license numbers provided below', including 'South Dakota - 10017414' (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Figo Pet Insurance
32. Pre-existing conditions: 'AKC Pet Insurance is available in all 50 states' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — AKC Pet Insurance
33. Pet Insurance Coverage in South Dakota: average $32 a month for dogs and $17 for cats (July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025 data; read Oct. 4, 2026) — Fetch Pet Insurance
34. South Dakota Pet Insurance: ballpark premiums 'based on quotes'; 'Premium may change based on your home address' (undated; read Oct. 4, 2026) — Embrace Pet Insurance
35. Is your pet eligible? Cats and dogs under 14 years of age; pets living in the US, Canada or Puerto Rico, or at any US military base worldwide; policies underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company or ZPIC Insurance Company (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Trupanion
36. Chewy CarePlus insurance documents and licenses: 'South Dakota - License # 19685062'; South Dakota in the Trupanion sample-policy group; underwritten by APIC or ZPIC (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Chewy
37. South Dakota Pet Insurance: 'Solid pet insurance for the Mount Rushmore State' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
38. Pet insurance in South Dakota: 'There is no substantive difference between a MetLife Pet Insurance policy in South Dakota and a MetLife Pet policy in another U.S. state'; policies issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company (read Oct. 4, 2026) — MetLife Pet Insurance
39. South Dakota pet insurance by Nationwide; products underwritten by National Casualty Company outside California (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Nationwide Pet Insurance
40. Licensing disclosures: 'Policies underwritten by Trisura Insurance Company are available nationwide' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Odie Pet Insurance
41. 2025 Market Share Reports for Property/Casualty Groups and Companies by State and Countrywide (August 2026), line 09.2 Pet Insurance: South Dakota $3,246,000 direct premiums written, the smallest state total, and loss ratio 44.20%, lowest of the 50 states and DC by our ranking; Internet Archive copy of Sept. 20, 2026 — National Association of Insurance Commissioners (via Internet Archive)
42. Emergency: open 24/7 for dog and cat emergencies only; 'Certain levels of care may be unavailable during certain time periods based on case load' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — All City Pet Care Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Sioux Falls
43. Surgery referrals, for patients: 'At check-in, 75% of the estimate will be required to be paid as a deposit,' the remainder at discharge (read Oct. 4, 2026) — All City Pet Care Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Sioux Falls
44. Frequently asked questions: after-hours calls forwarded to the veterinarian on call (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Northern Plains Animal Health, Aberdeen
45. Location directory: VCA hospitals by state, none in South Dakota (checked Oct. 4, 2026) — VCA Animal Hospitals
46. Find a hospital: no South Dakota location (checked Oct. 4, 2026) — BluePearl Pet Hospital
47. Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine: the first two years at SDSU in Brookings, the final two at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, ending with 13 months of clinical rotations (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota State University
48. OpenStreetMap copyright and license: the map data behind our road-mile estimates (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL; routes run Oct. 3 and re-run Oct. 4, 2026) — OpenStreetMap Foundation
49. Open Source Routing Machine (OSRM): the public router behind our road-mile and free-flow time estimates (routes run Oct. 3 and re-run Oct. 4, 2026) — Project OSRM
50. Pet insurance claims: 'most claims are processed in 2 days'; the Direct Pay team (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
51. American Pet Insurance Company, Trupanion policy TRU (D) 00001 (V10.201902), the default sample Trupanion's selector shows for South Dakota (February 2019 edition) — Trupanion
52. Healthy Paws frequently asked questions: reimbursement applied before the deductible; rates reflect claims 'within the region where the pet resides' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
53. Vet Direct Pay: eligible reimbursement sent 'straight to your vet's office' once the claim is processed (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Pets Best
54. Veterinarian Reimbursement Release Form: 'Use this form only if you have not paid for your services' (veterinarian signature required); the clinic's 'decision to extend credit' is 'made without any such warranty or promise' (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Pets Best
55. PumpkinNow terms: approved amounts sent to the pet owner's bank account; 'PumpkinNow does not support direct payments to hospitals' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Pumpkin Pet Insurance
56. Announcing our new partnership with Trupanion Pet Insurance: 'Trupanion pays the care provider (in this case, the veterinarian) directly' (April 22, 2019; still online Oct. 4, 2026) — Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic, Rapid City
57. Resources: 'does not accept insurance as payment'; Cherry, CareCredit and AllPet accepted (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Red River Animal Emergency Hospital & Referral Center, Fargo, ND
58. Pet Wellness Veterinary Hospital: two Sioux Falls locations and hours, Cherry financing and Varidi payment plans; 'South Dakota's first nonprofit veterinary hospitals' (its own description; read Oct. 4, 2026) — Hanson Family Foundation
59. Emergency/diagnostic testing assistance: up to 50% of an emergency bill, $900 maximum per household and pet; eligible counties (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Hobo's Healing Heart
60. Independence American Insurance Co., Pets Best South Dakota sample policy booklet IAIC-PB10001-ILL with endorsement IAIC-PB10001-AE-SD (no edition printed; file modified Sept. 2026) — Pets Best
61. Independence American Insurance Co., AKC South Dakota CompanionCare accident and illness policy IAIC PPI AI POL 007 SD 1120 (November 2020 edition; file generated November 2024; read Oct. 4, 2026) — AKC Pet Insurance / Independence American Insurance Company
62. AXIS Insurance Company, Fetch policy GPTM 050 1125 A with South Dakota amendatory endorsement GPTM 100 SD 0124 A (sample dated Jan. 9, 2026) — Fetch Pet Insurance
63. Embrace Pet Insurance policy terms V6, the terms Embrace's selector routes to South Dakota (no form number or edition printed; read Oct. 4, 2026) — Embrace Pet Insurance / American Modern Home Insurance Company
64. American Pet Insurance Company, Chewy CarePlus Essential (Trupanion plan) policy TRUCP (D) 00001.2 (V.03202401) — Chewy / American Pet Insurance Company
65. American Pet Insurance Company, Chewy CarePlus Complete (Trupanion plan) policy TRUCP (D) 00001.3 (V.03202401): 'Exam fees' listed under 'Here's What Your Plan Will Cover' (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Chewy / American Pet Insurance Company
66. South Dakota sample policy and disclosures: Westchester sample policy LD-50812 (07/18) with South Dakota amendatory endorsement LD-50792 (07/18) (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
67. National Casualty Company, Modular Pet Insurance Coverage Form VS-G-15 (9-24), one of five coverage forms Nationwide lists for South Dakota — Nationwide / National Casualty Company
68. Trisura Insurance Company, Odie sample policy TRSA-OPI-PC101-ILL (03-23) (sample dated Jan. 1, 2026) — Odie Pet Insurance
69. Bill search for "pet insurance" across the 2021-2026 regular sessions (session IDs 44, 64, 68, 69, 70, 71): no bills returned; control search "insurance" returned 31-46 bills a session (run Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
70. South Dakota Codified Laws Title 58, Insurance: full text contains no "pet," "dog" or "cat" (searched Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
71. SDCL 58-24-10: a rate filing takes effect on the filing date unless the insurer proposes a later date (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
72. SDCL 58-11-12: policy, endorsement and rider forms must be filed with and approved by the director (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
73. Property and casualty filing requirements: all filings via SERFF; no cancellation fee; binding arbitration and appraisal prohibited under Bulletin 98-5; SDCL 58-1-14 listed under its sixty-day heading (undated page, read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Division of Insurance (Department of Labor and Regulation)
74. Bulletin 98-5: Arbitration Clauses (May 27, 1998) — South Dakota Division of Insurance (Department of Labor and Regulation)
75. SDCL 58-12-3: attorney fees when an insurer's refusal to pay is vexatious or without reasonable cause (last amended 2011; read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
76. Fiechtner v. American West Insurance Co., 2025 S.D. 60 (opinion filed Nov. 5, 2025) — South Dakota Supreme Court (Unified Judicial System)
77. Brooks v. Milbank Insurance Co., 2000 S.D. 16 — South Dakota Supreme Court, via CourtListener
78. SDCL 58-33-69: no private right of action under SDCL 58-33-66 to 58-33-69 (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
79. Filing a claim: the 30-day response rule does not obligate insurers to pay within 30 days (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Division of Insurance (Department of Labor and Regulation)
80. SDCL 58-33-60: notice of cancellation at least twenty days before the effective date, with a written explanation of the specific reasons (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
81. SDCL 58-1-14: notice of nonrenewal, sixty days, or thirty days for other personal lines policies (last amended 2003; read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
82. MCAS State Ratio Distribution Report, Pet, data year 2025: South Dakota claims closed without payment 32.91%; non-renewals 3.83% of policies in force (published Aug. 3, 2026) — National Association of Insurance Commissioners
83. Market Conduct Annual Statement Pet Insurance Data Call & Definitions, 2025 reporting year (version 2025.0.2): 'Claims Closed without Payment' include 'Claims that are closed because the amount claimed is below the insured's deductible' (Internet Archive copy of Apr. 17, 2026; read Oct. 5, 2026) — National Association of Insurance Commissioners (via Internet Archive)
84. Filing a complaint and your rights: file online or call 605.773.3563 (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Division of Insurance (Department of Labor and Regulation)
85. SDCL 58-33-66: insurers must respond to Division inquiries within twenty days (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
86. SDCL 15-39-45.1: small claims limit of twelve thousand dollars (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
87. Small claims filing fees: $24.84 to $42.84 by claim amount, including certified-mail postage (fee schedule dated July 12, 2026) — South Dakota Unified Judicial System
88. SDCL 15-39-57: 'No party may appeal any decision entered under this procedure'; the defendant may petition to move a small claims case to the regular civil docket (South Dakota Codified Laws, read Oct. 5, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
89. In re Certification of a Question of Law (Champion v. U.S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co.), 399 N.W.2d 320 (S.D. 1987) — South Dakota Supreme Court, via CourtListener
90. Prairie Rattlesnakes in the Badlands (last updated April 16, 2021): "South Dakota's only venomous snake," active again "in April or May" — National Park Service, Badlands National Park
91. Other wildlife: porcupines "located primarily in the western half of South Dakota" (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
92. Pheasant harvest projections for 2025: 57,076 resident and 82,574 nonresident pheasant hunters; 399,495 pheasants on private shooting preserves (table revised April 20, 2026) — South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
93. December 17-18, 2025 Historically High Winds (event summary: gusts to 101 mph; week-long Black Hills power outages) — National Weather Service, Rapid City
94. SDCL 40-12-6: confinement of a pet bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies (South Dakota Codified Laws, read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Legislature
95. Parasite prevalence maps: 2025 test results for South Dakota and U.S. dogs and cats, tested animals only (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Companion Animal Parasite Council
96. Harmful Algal Blooms: 2026 whole-lake advisory list (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
97. Cat Death Losses Due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in South Dakota (updated Jan. 13, 2025) — SDSU Extension
98. Tularemia - United States, 2011-2022 (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Jan. 2, 2025) — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
99. South Dakota Public Health Bulletin, June 2025: tularemia, including human cases from bites or other exposures to domestic cats — South Dakota Department of Health
100. Commonly asked questions: 'Pets 8 weeks and older can be enrolled at any time'; 'no upper age limit and no enrollment periods' (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Spot Pet Insurance
101. Dog insurance: 'Pet insurance plans through Figo have no upper age limit' (read Oct. 5, 2026) — Figo Pet Insurance
102. FAQ: 'There is no maximum age for enrollment'; pets over nine 'are only eligible for Accident coverage' (read Oct. 5, 2026) — AKC Pet Insurance
103. Lemonade Pet insurance FAQ guide: states served, the cancel-on-move rule and coverage while traveling; South Dakota not listed (updated Sept. 1, 2026; read Oct. 4–5, 2026) — Lemonade
104. Switching Pet Insurance Providers: 'You may lose coverage for conditions that are currently covered'; 'Your deductible resets' (Sept. 30, 2026; read Oct. 5, 2026) — MetLife Pet Insurance
105. Veterinary Treatment Facilities: Ellsworth Air Force Base clinic hours (closed Thursdays, no weekend hours); 'most veterinary emergency cases are best served through a full service civilian veterinary hospital' (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Military Health System, Defense Health Agency
106. Pet insurance discounts — 10% military discount, not in NY or TN; combined discounts capped at 30% (updated Sept. 8, 2026; read Oct. 4, 2026) — MetLife Pet Insurance
107. What discounts could I get for my Embrace policy? — 5% military discount (not in NY and TN), on the accident-and-illness portion only (read Oct. 4, 2026) — Embrace Pet Insurance
108. Pet Insurance: 'up to 15% off' through the USAA Insurance Agency, 'an extra 10% off' for military members and members with service dogs or multiple pets, 'a maximum discount of 25%'; 'Not all discounts approved in all states' (USAA Insurance Agency, works with Embrace; read Oct. 5, 2026) — USAA
109. who here has pet insurance? how does it work? (r/SiouxFalls, May 6, 2025; owner reports, not prices) — Reddit
110. Rate and form filing access: SERFF Filing Access for South Dakota filings (read Oct. 4, 2026) — South Dakota Division of Insurance