Unexpected veterinary care for dogs and cats can cost between $800 and $1,500 on average depending on where you live, making financial planning an essential part of pet ownership.
Like any other type of insurance, pet insurance coverage and costs vary based on your situation. Knowing this, our team compared providers to identify the best insurance for different needs. This way, all pet owners can find the policy and financial protection they need—an affordable premium or broader coverage.
Several factors, such as type of pet, breed, age, location, and policy terms, determine your premium. Most providers allow for some form of customization to the policy, so you can customize your coverage for your budget. We obtained multiple quotes from the providers featured here, and prices varied from under $20 to over $130 per month. However, some providers claim to offer policies with even lower premiums than we received.
Reviews of the 9 best pet insurance companies
- Best for fast claims: Lemonade
- Best coverage: Fetch
- Best selection of terms: Spot
- Best for reliability: ASPCA
- Best for direct vet payment: Trupanion
- Best for quick coverage: Embrace
- Best for unlimited coverage pricing: ManyPets
- Best for preventative care: Pumpkin
- Best family plan: MetLife
Lemonade
Why we picked Lemonade
Lemonade is an insurance company that sells policies online through its website and mobile app. Policyholders are required to download the app to manage their policy and file claims.
With an AI-powered claims process, Lemonade is able to pay out around 50% of pet insurance claims instantly. For more complex claims, you may have to wait a few days, but the company will keep you updated along the way.
Lemonade’s base premiums are as low as $10 per month and are highly customizable.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, or $100,000 |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $100, $250, or $500 |
| Waiting period | 2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least eight weeks old.
– Medical exam: Requires a medical exam on file from the 12 months prior to your policy’s start date, or from the first two weeks after you sign up.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Chronic conditions
– Hereditary or congenital conditions
– Cancer
– Surgery and hospitalization
– Behavioral conditions (optional)
– Physical therapy (optional)
– Exam fees (optional)
– Dental illness (optional)
– End of life & remembrance (optional)
What’s not covered
– Alternative therapies
Preventative care
– Wellness exam
– Fecal or internal parasite test
– Vaccines
– Heartworm or FeLV/FIV test
– Blood test
– Spay/neuter
– Microchip
– Flea/tick or heartworm medication
Key takeaways
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Choose to add up to six additional pet insurance coverages to your policy
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Discount if you bundle pet insurance with another policy
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Fast, AI-powered claims process
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Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot by its customers
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Accidents covered just two days after your policy start date
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Six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries
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Not available in all 50 states
Get a free quote in just a few steps by clicking here.
Fetch
Why we picked Fetch
Fetch’s pet insurance policy offers the best coverage of any of the companies we reviewed. It covers over 23 categories of accidents, illnesses, diagnostics, and emergency treatment.
Unlike some other providers, Fetch doesn’t make you choose between a list of optional coverage add-ons. It includes everything it believes you need in its policy so you can visit any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada and be covered.
Fetch advises its premiums average $35 per month for dogs and $25 per month for cats.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $300, $500, or $700 |
| Waiting period | 15 days for accident and illnesses |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least six weeks old.
– Medical exam: Must take your pet to the vet for a checkup every year.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Prescription medications and supplements
– Emergency vet visits
– Virtual, in-home, and office visits
– Hospital stays
– Physical therapy
– Allergies
– Surgeries
– X-rays and CT scans
– Ultrasounds
– Blood tests
– Breed-specific issues
– Specialists
– Exam fees
– Laboratory tests
– Vomiting and diarrhea
– Hereditary and congenital issues
– Swallowed objects and toxins
– Dental accidents
– Gum disease
– Acupuncture and chiropractic care
– Diabetes and insulin
– Cancer treatment
– Treatment for aggression and separation anxiety
What’s not covered
– Pre-existing conditions
– Prescription food
– Grooming and cosmetic procedures
Preventative care
– Annual exam
– Canine Bordetella / Feline FELV vaccines
– Canine Canine DHLPP / Feline FVRCP vaccines
– Canine Rabies / Feline Rabies vaccines
– Canine Lyme / Feline FIP vaccines
– Heartworm, flea, and tick prevention
– Heartworm tests
– Dental cleaning
– Spaying or neutering
– Blood test
– Urinalysis
– Fecal test
– Microchipping
– Anal gland expression
– Behavioral exam
– Health certificate
– Activity monitor
Key takeaways
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Use any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
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30-day money-back guarantee
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Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot by its customers
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Receive $1,000 each for online vet visits, boarding fees, and advertising for missing pets
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Access Fetch Forward™ to make more informed decisions for your pet
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Annual check ups are required to keep your coverage
Customize your policy with a free quote by clicking here.
Spot
Why we picked Spot
While most pet insurance companies allow you to customize your policy to find the coverage you need at an affordable cost, none offer more customization than Spot.
Spot lets you choose between five deductibles, three reimbursements, and seven annual coverage limits. This gives you 105 different combinations for your policy.
Spot advertises monthly premiums as low as $16 for dogs and $10 for cats.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, or unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 |
| Waiting period | 14 days for accidents and illnesses |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least eight weeks old.
– Medical exam: Not required to enroll.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Hereditary conditions
– Congenital conditions
– Behavioral conditions
– Cancer treatment
– Dental illnesses
– Chronic conditions
– Alternative therapies
– Exam fees
What’s not covered
– Preventative care (reimbursement available with optional wellness package)
– Breeding
– Boarding
– Cosmetic procedures
– Experimental treatments
– Herbal treatments
– Training
Preventative care
– Dental cleaning or spay/neuter ($100 or $150)
– Wellness exam ($50 for both)
– Flea/heartworm prevention ($0 or $25)
– DHLPP or FVRCP ($20 or $25)
– Rabies, Lyme, or FIP ($20 or $25)
– Bordetella or FELV ($0 or $25)
– Fecal test ($20 or $25)
– Heartworm or FELV test ($20 or $25)
– Blood test ($0 or $25)
– Urinalysis ($0 or $25)
– Deworming ($20 or $25)
– Health certificate ($0 or $25)
Key takeaways
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Choose between 105 different policy term combinations
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30-day money-back guarantee
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24/7 pet helpline
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10% discount for multiple pets
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$2 transaction fee if paying monthly
Customize your pet’s policy for free by clicking here.
ASPCA
Why we picked ASPCA
Founded in 1866, ASPCA, also known as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, is most widely known for its efforts to prevent animal cruelty. However, starting in 2006, a strategic partnership with United States Fire Insurance Company created ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.
United States Fire Insurance Company has, over the last 20 years, insured more than 400,000 dogs and cats while processing more than 1.6 million claims. So, experience is certainly not lacking from this team of over 1,000 employees.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $2,500, $3,000, $5,000, or $7,000 |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $100, $250, or $500 |
| Waiting period | 15 days for accidents and illnesses |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least eight weeks old.
– Medical exam: Not required to enroll.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Hereditary conditions
– Congenital conditions
– Alternative therapies
– Behavioral conditions
– Chronic conditions
– Cancer treatment
– Exam fees
– X-rays, MRI, ultrasounds
– Surgery and hospitalization
– Prescription medications, food, and supplements
– Microchip implementation
What’s not covered
– Cosmetic procedures
– Breeding
– Preventative care (optional wellness plan)
Preventative care
– Dental cleaning or spay/neuter ($100 or $150)
– Wellness exam ($50 for both)
– Flea/heartworm prevention ($0 or $25)
– DHLPP or FVRCP ($20 or $25)
– Rabies, Lyme, or FIP ($20 or $25)
– Bordetella or FELV ($0 or $25)
– Fecal test ($20 or $25)
– Heartworm or FELV test ($20 or $25)
– Blood test ($0 or $25)
– Urinalysis ($0 or $25)
– Deworming ($20 or $25)
– Health certificate ($0 or $25)
Key takeaways
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Insured over 400,000 dogs and cats, processing more than 1.6 million claims
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Plans include an accident and illness or accident-only policy and optional wellness coverage
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All plans include access to Anytime Pet Healthline to consult a veterinary professional in an emergency
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10% discount for multiple pets
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30-day money-back guarantee
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Its annual coverage is lower than some other providers
Get a free quote by clicking here.
Trupanion
Why we picked Trupanion
Trupanion aims to eliminate the traditional reimbursement model by paying select veterinarians at the time of checkout. This keeps money in your pocket and removes the stress of waiting for claims to be processed.
You can check to see if your vet accepts direct payment through Trupanion’s website.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | Unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 90% |
| Deductible | $0, $200, $500, or $700 |
| Waiting period | 5 days for accidents and 30 days for illnesses |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be enrolled by the age of 14.
– Medical exam: Not required to enroll.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Hereditary and congenital conditions
– Diagnostics and imaging
– Surgeries and hospital stays
– Medications
– Veterinary supplements
– Herbal therapy
– Physical therapy
– Advanced dentistry
– Prosthetic devices and carts
What’s not covered
– Wellness and routine care
– Pre-existing conditions
– Preventable conditions
Preventative care
-
All policies come with unlimited coverage
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No minimum age requirements
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Never raises rates just because your pet gets older
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30-day money-back guarantee
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Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot by its customers
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Can pay the vet directly
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Illnesses have a 30-day waiting period
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No optional add-on for preventative care
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No discounts
Get a free quote by clicking here.
Embrace
Why we picked Embrace
Embrace sold its first policy back in 2006 and has been an industry leader ever since. The company only offers pet insurance, ensuring that its customers and their pets get its full support.
Coverage for accidents begins after just two days which is much shorter than the traditional waiting period of 14 days from other providers.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, or unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $100, $250, $500, $750, or $1,000 |
| Waiting period | 2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for orthopedic injury (14 days with a waiver) |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least six weeks old and enrolled by the age of 14.
– Medical exam: Requires a complete medical exam from within the last 12 months, or you can visit your veterinarian within the first 14 days of your pet’s policy before coverage begins.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Dental illnesses
– Breed-specific and genetic conditions
– Cancer treatment
– Chronic conditions
– Exam fees
– Alternative therapies (physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, and more)
– Behavioral therapy
– Emergencies
– Specialist care
– Diagnostic testing
– Hospitalization and surgery
– Prosthetics and mobility devices
– Prescription drug coverage
What’s not covered
– Pre-existing conditions (can be covered if deemed curable)
– Breeding
– Injury caused deliberately by you or any other person in your home
– DNA testing or cloning
– Injury or illness from fighting, racing, cruelty, or neglect
– Cosmetic procedures (tail docking, ear cropping, etc.)
– Avian flu or nuclear war
Preventative care
– Wellness exam fees
– Vaccinations and titers
– Flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives
– Spay/neuter surgery
– Fecal and routine blood tests
– Microchipping
– Nutritional supplements
– Grooming
– Medicated shampoos
– Toenail trimming
– Routine anal gland expression
– Wearable pet activity monitors
– Cremation or burial
– Gastropexy
– Preventative teeth cleaning
– Prescription diet food
– Training
– Routine chiropractic care
– Reiki, massage therapy, acupunture
– Hip dysplasia exams, radiographs, or other OFA testing
Key takeaways
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Accidents are covered just two days after your policy begins
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Highly customizable policies
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10% discount for multiple pets
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30-day money-back guarantee
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Free 24/7 pet helpline
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Pets must be enrolled by 14 years of age
Get a free quote by clicking here.
ManyPets
Why we picked ManyPets
With its combination of affordable premiums and comprehensive coverage, ManyPets was our selection as the best pricing for unlimited coverage.
Of all the companies we reviewed that offered unlimited annual coverage, ManyPets policies were the most affordable.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | Unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $500, $750, or $1,000 |
| Waiting period | 14 days for accidents and illnesses |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least eight weeks old and enrolled by 14 years.
– Medical exam: None
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Veterinary examinations
– Diagnostic testing (X-rays, lab tests, etc.)
– Prescription medications
– Treatment of injury or illness
– Surgeries
– Medical supplies
– Hospitalization
– Euthanasia and cremation
– Hereditary conditions
– Congenital conditions
– Behavioral issues
– Cancer treatment
– Chronic conditions
– Alternative therapies
– Dental injuries and periodontal disease
What’s not covered
– Pre-existing conditions (curable pre-existing conditions may be covered)
– Cosmetic or elective services
– Non-FDA approved medications and treatments
– Behavioral medication or therapy
– Daycard or boarding costs unless related to an illness or injury
Preventative care
– Exams and vaccinations (up to $150 per year)
– Dental cleanings (up to $150 per year)
– Fleas, ticks, and heartworm prevention (up to $150 per year)
– Holistic care (up to $150 per year)
Wellness claims are covered 24 hours after the start of your policy.
Key takeaways
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All policies come with unlimited coverage
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Affordable premiums
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No enrollment fees
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No condition-specific waiting periods
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Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot by its customers
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Not available in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Idaho
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No discounts
Get a free quote by clicking here.
Pumpkin
Why we picked Pumpkin
Pumpkin offers preventative care coverage as an optional add-on to its standard pet insurance policy. This coverage is designed to assess your pet’s current health, prevent diseases, and detect parasites early.
There are no set limits on how much you can be reimbursed for the covered items each year and Pumpkin will send a welcome box and toy for your pet once enrolled.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $10,000, $20,000, or unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 90% |
| Deductible | $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 |
| Waiting period | 14 days for accidents and illnesses |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least eight weeks old.
– Medical exam: Not required.
What’s covered
– Illnesses
– Exam fees
– Hereditary conditions
– Behavioral issues
– Dental illnesses
– Virtual vet visits
– Alternative therapies
– Prescription food and supplements
– Cancer
– Orthopedic injuries
– Diagnostics and treatments
– Emergencies and hospitalization
– Surgery and specialized care
– Advanced care
– Microchipping
What’s not covered
– Some dental cleanings and services
– Cosmetic and elective procedures
– Routine care
Preventative care
– Wellness exam
– Vaccines
– Blood test for heartworm and tick diseases
– Fecal test for intestinal worms
Key takeaways
-
Visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
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10% discount for multiple pets
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30-day money-back guarantee
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Rated “Excellent” on Trustpilot by its customers
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Doesn’t offer 24/7 virtual vet support
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Premiums tend to be above average
Get a free quote by clicking here.
MetLife
Why we picked MetLife
MetLife offers the best pet insurance plan for pet owners looking to enroll up to three pets on a single policy. There’s one deductible for this policy instead of one for each pet enrolled.
What you should know |
|
|---|---|
| Annual coverage | $2,000, $5,000, or $10,000 |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% |
| Deductible | $50, $100, $250, or $500 |
| Waiting period | Next day for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries |
Eligibility requirements
– Age restrictions: Must be at least eight weeks old.
– Medical exam: Not required to enroll.
What’s covered
– Illnesses (including hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions)
– Hospitalizations
– Surgeries
– Diagnostic tests
– Exam fees
– Cruciate ligaments
– X-rays
– Ultrasounds
– Medications
– Holistic care and alternative therapies
– Emergency care
What’s not covered
– Breeding or conditions related to breeding
– Vitamins or mineral supplements
– Grooming costs
– Organ transplants
Preventative care
Key takeaways
-
Allows up to three pets to be included on a single policy
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24/7 tele-health concierge chat
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Accidents covered as soon as the next day
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Limited details on its wellness plan
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Six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries
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No money-back guarantee
Get a free quote by clicking here.
How we determined the best pet insurance companies
Our team conducted over 40 hours of research to compare companies based on eligibility, policy terms, coverage inclusions and exclusions, quotes we received, added benefits, user experience, financial strength, and customer reviews to determine the best pet insurance companies.
Here is a brief breakdown of what we looked at and what we valued within these categories.
- Eligibility: Factors included age limits and state availability. We valued companies that offered coverage to young and old pets while being available nationwide.
- Policy terms: Some factors we considered included waiting period, deductibles, reimbursement rates, benefit limits, and discounts. We valued customization and pet insurance plans that clearly outlined what a policyholder could expect if they enrolled.
- Coverage inclusions and exclusions: This was where we dove into sample policies and company resources to identify what would and wouldn’t be covered for your pet. We valued comprehensive coverage.
- Quotes we received: We submitted quotes to gather a picture of how affordable each company’s premiums would be. We valued companies with fair pricing and premiums that wouldn’t break the bank.
- User experience: We went through the enrollment process to see how each company explained complicated terms to pet parents to make sure the experience on the company’s website was a good one.
- Financial strength: We checked the AM Best rating for each company to ensure that they had excellent financial strength ratings. Financial strength ratings are used to rate a company’s ability to pay claims made by policyholders.
- Customer reviews: We primarily used Trustpilot to see how customers felt about each company, the customer service experience, and the policies they offered. We valued positive customer reviews as happy customers are a good sign for any product.
Now that you can better understand what we looked at when determining which companies were the best, here is a full list of the pet insurance companies considered in our review.
Helpful tips for taking the next step
Insurance companies typically avoid disclosing pricing information because it’s tough to accurately present pricing to all potential customers when each policy is designed uniquely for your needs and background.
For this reason, we recommend identifying the companies on this list that stand out to you and submitting a free quote with each so that you can get an accurate understanding of what coverage your pet will receive and what a policy will cost.
Nearly all of these companies allow you to customize the terms of your policy once you receive your quote so that you can find a monthly premium that meets your budget and offers maximum financial protection at that price.
We submitted several online quotes with each provider listed above, and each form took less than two minutes to complete. There were no accounts to set up, no verification requirements, and no obligations.
Pet insurance FAQs
How does pet insurance work?
Pet insurance reimburses you for unexpected accidents and illnesses suffered by your pet. Its purpose is to help pet owners avoid significant financial loss from hefty unanticipated veterinary bills. It’s also a way to avoid having to make a difficult decision on whether or not you can afford to treat your pet in an emergency.
Following enrollment and the completion of your waiting period, you’ll be responsible for all costs until you meet your deductible. Your deductible is a customizable term on your policy and typically varies between $50 to $1,000 per year. Those who choose a higher deductible will normally pay a lower premium.
Regardless of whether you’ve met your deductible requirement, always file claims for vet bills you receive.
Once your deductible has been met, you’ll start being reimbursed for vet bills incurred for conditions covered by your policy. These reimbursement rates are customizable and typically vary between 70% to 90% but can go up to 100% in some cases. If you have a reimbursement level of 80%, your provider will cover 80% of the vet bill, and you’ll be responsible for the other 20%.
The final customizable piece of your policy is your benefit limit. This limit is the maximum amount your provider will pay out in claims. Coverage limits are typically annual but can be per-incident or set for the life of your policy as well. These payout limits generally are between $5,000 and $20,000 but can be unlimited.
What is the best pet insurance?
Most pet insurance companies offer quality coverage with a few differences from the rest. These differences can be significant when it comes to lifetime costs for your pet’s care.
In our most recent evaluation of pet insurance companies, ManyPets and Embrace received a rating of 4.9 out of 5, which was the highest of all companies reviewed.
Is the best dog insurance different than the best cat insurance?
All of the pet insurance companies we reviewed offered coverage to both dogs and cats. For that reason, our picks for the best pet insurance companies would remain the same for either a dog or cat.
It’s worth noting, however, that one difference we noticed was specific to preventative care options. Certain plans had benefit limits for vaccinations that, while the same in value, were reserved for different types of vaccinations (rabies vs. feline, for example).
When is the best time to take out pet insurance?
For the full benefits of pet health insurance, it’s recommended that you insure your pet when they are still a puppy or kitten. This is because younger pets are deemed to be at less risk for accidents or illnesses when compared to older pets. For an insurer, less risk is better, often leading to more affordable premiums.
Another benefit for younger pets is that they usually haven’t developed any pre-existing conditions yet. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by pet insurance providers, limiting the coverage options you can receive. Getting ahead of these risks is essential to maximize the value of a policy.
>> Read More: Is there pet insurance with no waiting period?
What does pet insurance cost?
The price of pet insurance is determined by several factors such as type of pet, breed, age, location, policy terms, and more. Nearly all providers allow for some form of customization to the policy, allowing you to receive different prices while many of the factors mentioned remain the same.
We received several quotes from the providers mentioned above, and prices varied from under $20 to over $130 per month. However, some providers do claim to offer policies with even lower premiums than what we received.
What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance is intended to cover unexpected accidents and illnesses. Coverage can vary by company, the type of policy selected, and any inclusion of optional add-ons.
Generally speaking, policyholders are reimbursed for accidents, illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions, alternative therapies, behavioral issues, chronic diseases, cancer treatment, diagnostic testing, exam fees, prescriptions, specific dental work, hospitalization, surgery, and more.
>> Read More: What does pet insurance cover?
What does pet insurance not cover?
Excluded treatment will vary by company, but generally, most exclude the same things. Some of these items include pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, experimental therapies, breeding costs, and preventative care.
To better understand how pre-existing conditions and preventative care are handled, check out the questions below.
What happens if my pet has a pre-existing condition?
Pre-existing conditions are excluded from nearly all pet insurance providers’ policies. The reason for this is simple. Providers don’t want pet owners to sign up for coverage only after their pet has suffered an unexpected injury or illness.
These pre-existing conditions won’t restrict your ability to enroll in a plan; it’ll just limit what claims your provider will payout. However, a new trend is growing in the pet insurance industry. Several providers have started to distinguish pre-existing conditions between incurable and curable.
A curable pre-existing condition is free of treatment and symptoms for a certain number of days. Once that period is met, the provider will begin offering coverage for that condition.
Learn more about how pre-existing conditions impact pet health insurance.
Does pet insurance cover routine care?
Pet insurance does not cover routine care. Providers offer this as an optional wellness plan that can be attached to your pet insurance policy. It typically comes with an added monthly cost, no deductible, and usually a set benefit limit each year.
Some preventative care items that can be covered with a wellness plan include an annual exam, vaccinations, blood screening, fecal tests, urinalysis, heartworm/flea prevention, spaying/neutering, and more.
>> Read More: Pet wellness plans vs. pet insurance