Pet insurance in Arkansas

Which rules have been established

As of 11 November 2026, this review found no pet insurance law in Arkansas. All six specific guarantees in our state data remain unknown. General insurance rules and the terms of the contract apply.

The NAIC Summer 2026 chart shows “No current activity” for Arkansas. A search of the legislature’s website for the exact phrases “pet insurance” and “pet insurer” across the 2009–2025 regular sessions and the 2016–2026 fiscal sessions found nothing; a control search for “travel insurance” finds the 2013 and 2019 laws. Extraordinary sessions were not included. This is a website search, not a full review of the Code.

In the texts we checked, pet insurance is not named or assigned to any kind of insurance. By comparison, the law expressly calls travel insurance marine insurance and requires its rates and forms to be filed as marine insurance, while travel sickness and accident coverage may also be filed as accident and health (Act 698 of 2019). There is no such rule for pets. The Arkansas Insurance Department’s (AID) list of lines of insurance (file name dated 1-20-21) includes personal inland marine and animal mortality, but not pet insurance. How AID classifies pet filings has not been established.

The official Arkansas Code is published on the Lexis website, which we did not open. We read the statutes in the acts that amended them and in a decision of the state Supreme Court. Using the legislature’s tool, we checked whether those sections were amended in the 2013–2026 sessions. Amendments before 2013 were not checked.

Rates are, by our reading, filed 20 days before use

The procedure is set by the Department’s rule 23 CAR §200-105. In a competitive market, an insurer files a rate with a proposed effective date no earlier than 20 days after the filing and all required information are received; earlier only with the commissioner’s approval. An incomplete filing is disapproved. If an insurer’s rates require closer supervision, the period is 60 days; in a noncompetitive market it is also 60 days.

The rule covers the insurance described in §23-67-203 (23 CAR §200-102). We did not read that section, so whether pet insurance falls within it has not been established.

AID’s filing requirements page says the same for personal lines: file at least 20 days before the effective date. It adds that a rate may be disapproved if it is “excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory, or violates state rating laws.”

The exemptions (Act 458 of 1999, §23-67-206) cover commercial risks in a competitive market and risks not rated according to manuals, rating plans or schedules. By our reading, an ordinary policy on a household pet does not fall within them. The commissioner may exempt any market by order; we did not review AID’s orders. Whether the pet insurance market has been found competitive has not been established. We did not read the official text of §23-67-211 itself.

What this means for an owner:

• a rate is not approved in advance, but, according to AID, the Department may disapprove it, including as excessive;
• the requirement to tell the policyholder at least 30 days in advance of a renewal premium increase of 25% or more (§23-79-307(a)(6)(A), as amended by Act 22 of 2025) sits in the subchapter on commercial risks; we found no such rule for pet insurance;
• AID’s rate change register has 2,372 entries and 14 coverage types: homes, autos and medical professional liability. Pets are not among them.

No individual filing, pricing factors or size of any increase was established in this review.

Policy forms are approved in advance

Under §23-79-109(a)(1)(A)(i) (Act 1339 of 2013), a policy, application, rider, endorsement or renewal form may not be issued or used until it has been filed with and approved by the commissioner. The exceptions in §23-79-102 (Act 689 of 2019) are reinsurance, policies outside the state, wet marine and foreign trade, and, in part, title insurance. Inland marine and pet insurance are not on that list. §23-79-109 itself also exempts forms for large commercial risks, several commercial lines, surety bonds and forms of unique character designed for a particular subject (Act 458 of 1999; surety bonds and unique-character forms are also named in 23 CAR §200-106(a)(2)). By our reading, a mass-marketed pet policy falls into none of these groups, so pet policy forms go through prior approval even if they are treated as inland marine.

Under 23 CAR §200-106(d), a form is filed at least 30 days in advance. If the Department has neither approved nor disapproved it within 30 days, it is deemed approved. The review may be extended by another 30 days.

Under §23-79-110(a) (Act 1187 of 2013, with 2015 amendments), a form is disapproved if it violates state law; contains an inconsistent, ambiguous or misleading clause, or an exception and condition that deceptively affect the risk assumed; has a misleading title; or is printed illegibly.

An owner can rely on §23-79-118 (Act 1210 of 2015). A policy provision that does not comply with state law does not make the policy invalid: the policy is construed and applied as if it complied with the law.

The plain-language rule for policies (23 CAR pt 202: table of contents, type size, readability test) applies only to home and auto policies. It does not cover pet policies.

Cancellation and nonrenewal: we found no general rule for a pet policy

The Code’s subchapter on cancellation and nonrenewal (§23-79-301 et seq.) by its scope applies to property and casualty insurance on commercial risks (§23-79-303, as amended by Act 458 of 1999). That subchapter contains, for example, the rule that a policy is renewed unless written notice of nonrenewal is mailed 60 days in advance (§23-79-307(a)(7), as amended by Act 689 of 2019). By our reading, a policy on a household pet is not a commercial risk. We found no general rule on cancelling personal policies other than auto and home; whether the home rules reach pet insurance was not checked. The contract therefore sets the notice periods and the reasons for cancellation.

One general rule covers transfers to an affiliated company. Under §23-79-162 (Act 689 of 2019), it applies to all forms of property and casualty insurance:

• no nonrenewal notice is required if the policy moves to an affiliated insurer with substantially similar or broader coverage;
• the notice of renewal with the affiliate must state the reason for the change, the owner’s right to seek coverage from an insurer outside the group, and the changes to the deductible, provisions and premium;
• the insurer tells the commissioner about a bulk transfer 90 days in advance.

By our reading, the rule also applies to pet insurance. For the timing of the notice itself, it refers to the renewal notice rules for the type of policy; no such period has been established for pet policies.

Some insurers have added their own limits on cancellation to their Arkansas policies; see the sample policies below.

Claims: the 23 CAR pt 15 deadlines and a 12% penalty

Rule 23 CAR pt 15 applies to all insurance policies except workers’ compensation and employer’s liability (§15-102). Some of its deadlines do not apply to health carriers: by definition (§15-103(b)(8)), these are HMOs, hospital medical service corporations and disability insurers issuing health insurance contracts. By our reading, a pet insurer is not one of them. Violating the standards with such frequency as to indicate a general business practice is an unfair claims settlement practice (§15-101).

A monetary sanction applies separately. Under §23-79-208 (text as quoted by the state Supreme Court in Gafford v. Allstate, 2015 Ark. 110; according to the legislature’s tool, the section was not amended in 2013–2026), if a property, marine or certain other insurer fails to pay a loss “within the time specified in the policy after demand is made,” it must pay, in addition to the loss, 12% damages and reasonable attorney’s fees. If the owner recovers less than demanded, the right to the 12% and fees survives when the amount recovered is within 20% of the amount demanded, that is, at least 80% of it (§23-79-208(d)(1)). This is a remedy through the courts, not an automatic surcharge. By our reading, it extends to pet insurers.

Payment periods in the samples: Healthy Paws pays within 60 days after the claim form is completed, “unless applicable state law provides for a shorter period”; Figo within 30 days after it receives all documentation.

AID takes complaints through an online form, by email, by fax and by mail.

Under the FOIA, only Arkansas citizens have a right to records

The general public records law is the Arkansas FOIA. §25-19-105(a)(1)(A) opens records to inspection and copying “by any citizen of the State of Arkansas.” The text of the section, with the 2025 amendments, is printed in the Attorney General’s 2026 handbook. The handbook also says:

• “Citizen” includes corporations; the purpose of a request is irrelevant;
• “Nothing in the FOIA restricts the subsequent use of information obtained under the act”;
• a request may be made in person, by telephone, by mail or by email;
• records must be provided immediately or, if in active use or storage, within three working days;
• the fee is the actual cost of copies; above $25, prepayment may be required;
• exempt records include files that, if disclosed, would give advantage to competitors (§25-19-105(b)(9)(A)).

AID’s Legal Division takes requests at [email protected]. According to AID’s page for insurers, forms and rates filed since 1 July 2002 are searchable in SERFF. We did not open SERFF.

AID’s SERFF page (in the life and health section) carries a notice: the companies that make filings reserve all rights under copyright law, and material viewed on the site “may not be used or transferred … for private purposes” or passed to anyone else; use is limited to review. The notice cites sections of the same FOIA. How it fits with the Attorney General’s statement that later use is unrestricted has not been established. The state portal’s terms forbid framing its pages or presenting their content as your own.

Whether the Insurance Code gives any person a separate right to copies of rate filings, as Kentucky’s does, has not been established: we did not read the official text of those sections. We sent no requests.

The market

According to the NAIC 2025 market share report, page 244, direct written premiums for pet insurance in Arkansas were $10,514 thousand and direct earned premiums $10,053 thousand. Direct losses incurred were 52.83% of earned premium, against 68.07% for the industry total in the same report (states, territories, Canada and aggregate other alien; 68.10% for states and territories). NAIC notes that these loss ratios are calendar-year results, not measures of profitability. The three largest groups, JAB Holding Co Grp (22.72%), Trupanion Grp (18.89%) and Nationwide Corp Grp (17.27%), wrote 58.88% of premium together. NAIC is an association of regulators; these are not AID’s own figures. As far as we found, AID publishes no pet insurance figures of its own.

What the sample policies show

On 11 November 2026 we opened five brands’ sample-policy pages for Arkansas. Three of them include an Arkansas amendment.

Healthy Paws’ Arkansas page names several Chubb companies as underwriters; the sample and the amendment are Westchester Fire forms. Embrace names one of the American Modern Insurance Group companies as the insurer; Pets Best, Figo and ASPCA name Independence American Insurance Company.

What the Arkansas amendments and Figo’s Arkansas form change:

• Healthy Paws (LD-50774). A dispute goes to the insurer’s veterinarian only if both sides agree. The “independent” veterinarian is still appointed by the insurer, but the decision is now binding on neither party; in the general sample it is final (see disputes decided by the insurer). Suit may be brought within five years from the date of loss, but not until 30 days after proof of loss is filed and the amount determined; the general sample allows one year.
• ASPCA (PET-AE-20000-AR-0723). In the first 60 days the insurer cancels with 20 days’ notice, 10 days for nonpayment. After that, only for five reasons: nonpayment; fraud or material misrepresentation in obtaining or continuing the policy or in a claim; a material change in the risk; violation of local fire, health, safety, building or construction regulations with respect to insured property; a material violation of a material provision of the policy. The time to sue is five years from claim settlement instead of 24 months. By our reading, the amendment replaces the whole “When We Cancel” provision, and in the general sample that provision also contains the paragraph on backdated rescission; the new text does not repeat it. But the insuring agreement on page 1 still says that if you intentionally misrepresent or conceal a material fact, the insurer may “cancel, invalidate or rescind coverage.” Only the express “backdated” wording and the same right without an intent requirement are gone. How the insurer applies this has not been established.
• Figo (IAIC FPI POL AR 1025). After 60 days, only four reasons for cancellation: nonpayment, fraud or material misrepresentation, a material change in the risk, and a material violation of a material provision. Figo’s general form also lists noncompliance that prejudices its ability to evaluate a claim. The Arkansas form adds an exclusion: osteosarcoma diagnosed or showing clinical signs within the orthopedic waiting period. The insurer may recover from responsible third parties only after the owner has been fully compensated.
• Pets Best (IAIC-PB10001-AE-AR). How to submit a claim, and the right to complain to AID, with telephone numbers and address.

Which Arkansas rules these amendments implement has not been established. A sample does not establish that such a policy is issued today or that a new policy can be bought. Check your issued set: the declarations, the form and every endorsement.

What these samples show:

• Without a law, injury waits in these five samples run from none to 15 days. Embrace has none, Figo 1 day, Pets Best 3 days. An injury on day 10 is covered neither by ASPCA (14 days) nor by Healthy Paws (15 days).
• Bone cancer counts as orthopedic. Figo includes osteosarcoma among orthopedic conditions with a six-month wait for dogs, and the Arkansas form separately excludes it if signs appear in that period. See lifetime orthopedic exclusions.
• One side of the body rules out the other. Embrace V6: if a dog had cruciate ligament disease in one leg during the first 180 days, the same disease in the other leg is a pre-existing condition; after IVDD before enrollment or in the first 180 days, IVDD in any disc is excluded. See bilateral conditions.
• Healthy Paws can still cancel without a reason. The Arkansas amendment leaves item IV.2 untouched: 90 days’ notice, no reason needed. We found no general law that limits this. See cancellation without cause.
• The sample’s payment period is longer than the rule’s deadlines. Healthy Paws promises payment within 60 days after the claim form is completed, “unless applicable state law provides for a shorter period.” The rule requires a decision within 15 working days after proof of loss and a check sent within 10 working days after processing. The rule is a standard of practice, not a guaranteed payment date; how it relates to the 60 days has not been established.
• Terms change at renewal, and the notice period is often unstated. Embrace will notify you in writing; Figo reports changes “within the renewal notice” and allows premium changes during the term for changes in your address, your pet’s details or “other Policy parameters”; ASPCA says you accept the changes by renewing. Healthy Paws promises 60 days’ notice of a premium change. See renewal changes.
• No exam record, no illness cover. The Healthy Paws CPE moves the end of the waiting period if you do not provide the enrollment-exam record. Without an exam in the 12 months before the start or within 14 days after it, Embrace V6 turns the policy into accident-only cover, and it treats a veterinary provider left undisclosed from the prior 12 months as concealment. See missing records move the waiting period.
• Raising coverage restarts the waiting period. For a higher limit Pets Best issues a new policy; Embrace and Figo apply the waiting period again. See plan changes.
• Claim deadlines differ. Pets Best and Figo: 180 days from treatment (Figo adds “or as soon as reasonably practicable”). Embrace: 60 days after the policy ends or renews. See claim deadlines.
• A claim in the first month costs the refund. At Embrace and Figo, the first month’s premium is not refunded after a claim; at Pets Best a refund is available only if no claims have been paid and voids the policy together with pending claims. See refund lost after an early claim.

What to do

• Keep the date you sent the claim with all documents. If the insurer misses the deadline in its own policy, write to it citing §23-79-208, which by our reading applies to pet insurers; the 12% and fees are recovered through the courts, and only if you recover at least 80% of what you demanded.
• If the insurer has not acknowledged your claim within 15 working days, or within 15 working days after proof of loss has neither decided it nor told you in writing why it needs more time, complain to AID. A denial must be in writing and cite the specific policy provision.
• If a policy term conflicts with Arkansas law, cite §23-79-118: the policy is applied as if it complied with the law.
• If your policy is moved to another company in the group, check the notice: by our reading of §23-79-162, it must show changes to the deductible, provisions and premium.
• Arkansas citizens, including companies, can request filings under the FOIA at [email protected]: name the insurer, its NAIC code and the years.
• Before buying, ask in writing which form and which endorsements your policy will be issued on, including the Arkansas amendment.