Best Pet Insurance Companies
Losing a pet can be a devastating emotional hit. But not being able to help them in their hour of need due to financial reasons is perhaps even harder to handle.
The most common way to ensure that this does not happen is to get pet insurance, and protect your pets with a policy that covers all the risks that they’re exposed to.
Choosing the right insurer for your furry family member, however, is not as easy as it sounds. You should be able to fully understand the quality of the product, and be sure that you and your pet are covered by a stable insurer with a great track record.
Our reviews are meant to help you with just that, while providing all the crucial information regarding coverage options, prices, and the quality of service that these companies exhibit.
Top Pet Insurers for December 2024
Lemonade
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Lemonade offers some of the best coverage options in the industry, and their prices are competitive. Plus, their customer service is top-notch. If you're looking for quality pet insurance, then Lemonade should be at the top of your list. Read more
Pets Best
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Pets Best Pet Insurance is praised by pet parents for offering highly-customizable and affordable coverage options. The provider allows you to create a policy for your individual needs, add treatments that your pet might need, and include routine care for an affordable price. Read more
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers full-coverage and accident-only policies for dogs, cats, and horses. This is a reputable provider with over 600,000 insured pets. The customer-oriented website, free mobile app, and the option to add preventive care coverage, make ASPCA a great solution for pet owners on a budget. Read more
Embrace
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Embrace is quite obviously one of the best possible choices you have for insuring your pets, with a long history and stellar reputation it earned over the years with its customers. With technological innovations, paperless claims processing and a highly-customizable insurance coverage, it is a true nationwide powerhouse. Read more
Trupanion
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
With almost no vet restrictions and payout limits, a nationwide coverage and world-class customer support, Trupanion represents a clear pet insurance leader. Read more
Healthy Paws
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Healthy Paws makes an incredibly strong case for being considered as one of the leading insurers on the market. Whether through customer-friendly coverage options and features like unlimited benefits and lightning-fast automated claims processing, it continues to lead the industry forward. Read more
Figo
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Figo provides one of the most complete policies available. Aimed more toward tech-savvy customers that can make use of its fantastic mobile app and its numerous features, this company leads the industry when it comes to innovation and customer service. Read more
Petplan
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
With stellar coverage and a state-of-the-art platform that provides high-quality customer service, Petplan remains at the peak of what the industry has to offer. Read more
5 Best Pet Insurance Companies - Our Picks for 2024:
- Lemonade - Best for physical therapy
- Pets Best - Best for wellness plans
- Embrace - Best for policy customization
- ASPCA - Best for preventive care coverage
- Trupanion - Best for no payout limits
How We Evaluate Pet Insurers
Our reviews are split into three key categories that we believe influence the quality of a pet insurance company the most. These are the things that largely influence the overall rating we give to the insurer, and are the pillars upon which the whole review methodology is built upon.
Coverage Options
Reliable insurers will provide their potential customers with a wide variety of insurance plans and coverage options. We will always rate more favorably the companies that offer you a highly-customizable service through which you can create a plan tailored to your personal needs.
Pricing & Discounts
The same goes for companies who feature competitive pricing plans and have a great variety of discounts that their customers can make use of. The more choices and offers the potential policyholders are given, the more favorably we will rate the company.
Customer Experience
The customer experience category focuses on all the details regarding the user experience while visiting these platforms. From customer support, to the overall usability of the websites, and the ratings that customers themselves have given out to the insurer, we value the companies that take that extra step in providing the best possible service to their policyholders.
In-Depth Reviews of Pet Insurance Companies
Lemonade Pet Insurance
- • No age or breed restrictions
- • Customizable coverage
- • Fast claims processing
If you’re on the hunt for reliable coverage, Lemonade Pet Insurance is an excellent option. This company is one of the best solutions available on the market, and they offer a wide range of coverage options that are suitable for different needs. Their services are affordable, and the customer service is excellent.
Coverage Options
The first thing you should know about Lemonade Pet Insurance is that it offers insurance for dogs and cats. There are no breed or age restrictions, making it an excellent option even for older pets.
Lemonade offers a standard insurance plan for both illnesses and injuries. These include general sicknesses, poisonings, broken bones, cancer, skin conditions, and heart diseases.
This insurance plan also covers additional costs, such as vet bills for surgery, hospitalization, diagnostics, and prescriptions.
In addition to the standard plan, Lemonade offers a wide range of add-on coverage options that include:
- Vet visit fees - this covers the cost of routine vet visits, such as check-ups, vaccinations, and flea/worm treatments.
- Preventive care - this add-on covers the cost of additional treatments, such as pet microchipping, vacination, sterilization and much more.
- Physical therapy - this covers the cost of physical therapy and rehabilitation in case of an injury.
- Behavioral conditions - this add-on covers behavorial therapy costs for treating destructive behaviors or separation anxiety.
Claims are processed relatively quickly, with injury claims taking up to two days. When it comes to illness, the waiting period is 14 days, and it can take up to six months for cruciate ligaments conditions.
Pricing & Discounts
Lemonade Pet Insurance is one of the better options thanks to its affordability. A policy for a cat or a dog starts from $10. The company's standard plan costs between $20 and $50 per month, depending on the pet's breed, age, and where it resides. The company also offers a 10% discount for policyholders who bundle their pet insurance with life, car or renters insurance. Also, multi-pet households can get a 5% discount when they enroll two or more pets.
Lemonade offers three reimbursement levels: 70%, 80%, and 90%. The minimum deductible is $100, while the maximum is $500.
Customer Experience
Lemonade Pet Insurance offers top-notch customer support with representatives available 24/7. You can contact them via live chat, email, or phone, and their support representatives are knowledgeable and eager to help.
The company claims that the average wait time is less than two minutes. Lemonade also provides its customers with a free pet health consultation service, which can include advice on nutrition and general well-being.
The company has an excellent customer rating on Trustpilot, with most customers praising Lemonade for its top-notch service. The company holds a B- BBB rating as well.
Final Words
Lemonade Pet Insurance offers excellent coverage options, customer service, and affordable pricing plans. Their services are customizable to meet your needs, and there are no age or breed restrictions. If you're looking for a reliable company that will support your furry friends through rough times, Lemonade is a great choice.
Pets Best
- • Low premiums
- • 24/7 pet helpline
- • Wellness plans
Founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, the veterinarian who launched the first pet insurance company in North America in 1981, Pets Best Pet Insurance is a reputable provider with thousands of clients across the US.
Pets Best has been around since 2005, offering affordable policies for dogs and cats.
In addition to illness and accident coverage plans, the provider also offers wellness care plans. Affordable prices, access to various online tools, and unlimited online emergency vet support for all clients place Pets Best among the market’s top insurers.
Coverage Options
One of the great things about Pets Best is the variety of coverage options. Not only does the provider have coverage for accidents and illnesses, but there are plans for routine care and special coverage.
The thing that you won’t like is a complex plan structure for the accident and illness coverage plans. There are four options that differ based on the treatments they cover, so you need to be well informed when choosing the policy for your pet. There’s a plan that covers only accidents, including broken legs, swallowed objects, and more.
Unlike many other providers, Pets Best offers routine care and pet wellness plans. You can add routine care to your coverage plan for an additional cost or buy it separately. The wellness coverage includes regular vet visits, dental care, vaccinations, and more. You don’t need to pay any deductible for this type of coverage.
When it comes to mortality expenses, burial costs are listed as exceptions in Pets Best documents.
Pricing & Discounts
Pets Best offers affordable accident-only policies. Although they don’t cover illnesses, it’s still worth paying for accident-only coverage. The price depends on where you live. For example, you’ll pay $9 per month for dogs or $6 per month for cats if you live in Washington. The annual policy limit is $10,000, and it comes with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement.
In addition, there are several accident and illness coverage options to choose from. The annual policy limits range from $2,550 to unlimited. The annual deductibles range from $50 to $1,000, while reimbursement options are 70%, 80%, or 90%.
The premiums are calculated based on your pet’s age, your place of residence, the annual limit, deductible, and the reimbursement option you choose. You can get a quote by filling an online form on the provider’s website. With a Pets Best policy, you can go to any licensed veterinarian you want.
According to information provided by the company, most claims are processed within a few days.
Customer Experience
As soon as you get a policy, you’ll be able to use all other benefits that this provider offers. First of all, there is a 24/7 pet helpline. You can speak with veterinarians via live chat, phone, or email and ask them anything you want. It’s an entirely free service as long as your policy is valid.
With Pets Best, filing a claim is a breeze. You can log in to your account through the online dashboard, complete the filling, submit the claim, and wait for the status update.
Final Word
In our opinion, Pets Best is a good solution for pet owners who are looking for affordable pet care. Several different illness and accident plans enable you to customize your policy, choose among different annual limits, and add treatment that you actually need. In addition, the company has an excellent online service, meaning that you can file claims directly through your account and ask for veterinarian help any time you need it.
ASPCA
- • Mobile app
- • Free online quotes
- • Horse insurance plans
ASPCA, or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was founded in 1866. ASPCA isn’t an insurer. It’s partnered with the Crum & Forster company, which administers the insurance. During the past twenty years, this partnership led to more than 600,000 pets being insured and the settling of over 2.2 million claims.
The team behind the Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group understands people’s attachment to their pets and is constantly working to improve the company’s service and provide the best pet care possible.
Coverage Options
ASPCA gives pet owners a choice between accident-only coverage and complete dog and cat insurance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer insurance for exotic animals and birds, but unlike a lot of its counterparts, it has a horse insurance plan.
The plans also cover everything from accidents and illnesses to hereditary conditions and behavioral issues. Of course, like other companies, ASPCA doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, breeding costs, and cosmetic procedures.
When it comes to accident-only coverage, it covers exam costs and procedures, as well as lab tests and medications. All sorts of accidents are covered with this policy, including broken bones, cuts, and swallowed objects. Exams like X-rays and MRIs are also included in this policy.
In addition, ASPCA offers preventive care coverage. This type of coverage helps you keep your pet healthy, covering annual exams and vaccines. It can be added to your standard health insurance policy.
Pricing & Discounts
ASPCA offers low monthly premiums, with flexibility when it comes to building your insurance policy. This is ideal for pet owners on a budget. You can customize your coverage with annual limits that range from $5,000 to $20,000. Most customers choose an annual limit between $5,000 and $10,000.
The deductibles start at $100 and go up to $500. You can choose between different options, depending on your budget and needs.
When it comes to reimbursement options, you can either choose a 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement percentage.
You can get a free quote by filling the form on the provider’s website. Of course, quotes vary depending on where you live and your pet’s age.
Customer Experience
The company's focus on transparency is evident as soon as you log onto the website. Everything is clearly displayed and well organized, enabling visitors to quickly get informed about the different types of insurance policies and coverage options.
Should you have additional questions, the Pet Parent Resources section contains articles on various pet health care questions. Additionally, you can find interesting articles about different breeds of dogs and cats.
Quotes are also available for all visitors without any obligation to purchase an insurance plan. And when you decide to get your pets insured, you can enroll online.
Another great aspect about the company is that you can manage your policy through a mobile app. The app enables you to find the closest veterinarian and submit claims quickly.
You have several options to file your claim. You can do it online through the ASPCA website or by using the mobile app. If you don’t want to file a claim electronically, you can get a paper claim via fax or postal mail.
As the name implies, the Vet Clinic Finder helps you find the closest veterinary clinic. This is a convenient tool in case your pet suffers a sudden injury and needs help. Since ASPCA doesn’t put any limits on where you can use the insurance, you can go to any licensed veterinarian in the US and Canada.
Final Words
With versatile and customizable policies, ASPCA stands as one of the best solutions for pets owners with a limited budget. In addition, ASPCA provides consumer-oriented services, including a practical website and mobile app. The website is loaded with tons of information regarding insurance policies and tips on how to take care of your pets.
The standard coverage price can be higher compared to other providers, but ASPCA offers additional options that are more affordable.
Embrace
- • Stellar mobile platform
- • Short waiting periods
- • Plenty of customization options
Embrace was founded in 2003, and it operates from Cleveland, Ohio. During the past two decades, this pet insurer has become one of the most respected names in the industry.
With a superior A+ rating from A.M. Best and a long partnership with American Modern Insurance group, the company is one of the most affordable options on the market, with some of the fastest claim payouts.
Coverage Options
Embrace utilizes the so-called nose-to-tail insurance coverage, that will cover for genetic and breed-specific conditions no matter how you choose to customize your policy.
The company’s accident and illness coverage includes chronic and congenital conditions, exam fees, dental trauma, allergy testing and much more.
Embrace insurance will also cover CT and MRI scans, lab test, biopsies, and will reassess for curable condition coverage if your pet remains symptom-free for a year.
Pricing & Discounts
Embrace offers annual deductibles that range from $100 to $1,000 and a program called Healthy Pet Deductible. This will reduce your deductible by $50 each year that you don’t submit an insurance claim. Reimbursement options range from 70% to 90%, providing you with even more customization of your policy.
With a lower reimbursement percentage you can see quotes as low as $10, but premiums vary depending on a number of additional factors like where you live and how old your pet is. Unlike some companies, however, Embrace does not offer unlimited coverage, and instead opts for a customizable annual limit that ranges from $5,000 to $30,000.
Embrace also provides a variety of discounts, but we must note that some of these are available only to the residents of New York. The company offers a 10% discount for multiple pets, a 10% employee-benefit discount, along with a 10% veterinary-practice discount, and a 5% discount for military members.
Customer Experience
The Embrace website is among the best-designed platforms we’ve seen, with an impressive amount of features that are all easily accessed through drop-down menus. There is also a great mobile app that helps you access your MyEmbrace account on the go.
From there, you can submit all claims, set up direct deposits for reimbursement, add a new pet, update payment details and contact customer support. The app works pretty much flawlessly and the waiting time for the processing of claims takes around five days for wellness and 10 days for accident and illness claims.
Embrace customer support staff is available six days a week, and can be contacted Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 8 PM. On Saturdays, the support staff is available from 9 AM to 1 PM.
You can reach out via email or phone call, and there is a wide array of useful posts regarding important health topics regarding dogs and cats to read through. Customers are highly satisfied with the service, as Embrace holds a fantastic 4.2-star rating on Trustpilot, coming from 331 customer reviews.
The company is also accredited by the BBB and has a superior A+ rating, meaning that it has a great history of fulfilling its obligations towards policyholders.
Final Words
Embrace has a long history and stellar reputation earned over the years with its customers. With technological innovations, paperless claims processing and a highly-customizable insurance coverage, it is a true nationwide powerhouse that should be considered by anyone looking to insure their pets.
Trupanion
- • No age restriction for hip dysplasia
- • 90% reimbursement rate with no payout limits
- • High customer satisfaction
Trupanion is a pet insurance company that originally started in Canada and expanded into the United States in 2005. It now operates from Seattle, Washington, and is a founding member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). Throughout the years Trupanion has become one of the most recognizable names in the industry.
Coverage Options
Trupanion has an impressive amount of insurance options, and claims to cover 90% of all approved vet clinic expenses. In addition to the commonly found services, the company’s comprehensive coverage plan adds things like prescription coverage, and may even cover certain hereditary conditions.
There is also an owner assistance coverage option that adds alternative therapies, third-party damage, breeding dog protection and other benefits.
Trupanion excludes certain things from its plans, like exam fees, preventive care, taxes and most pre-existing conditions. There are also some exclusions for pet supplements and food coverage, as well as fitness costs. The great thing about the company is that it does not feature many restrictions on choosing your veterinary clinic.
Pricing & Discounts
Trupanion is on the more expensive side of the spectrum, with monthly premiums for dog insurance starting from $59.21, while coverage for cats starts at $32.41. To counterbalance the higher cost, the company features no payout limits on either incident, annual or lifetime limits, which is not something that’s commonly found among the competition.
You also have the freedom to set your deductible anywhere in the $0-to-$1,000 range, giving you further control over how much you will spend on your pet insurance policy. As for discounts, there are none available at the time of writing this review.
Customer Experience
What it may lack in discount options, Trupanion more than makes up for with the overall quality of its service. The company’s website is easy to navigate and features all the important information right at the homepage, while subcategories are accessed from the drop menus at the top of the page.
You can contact the customer support staff 24/7, either via live chat, a toll-free phone call or by sending Trupanion an email.
Any claims are promised to be fulfilled within 30 days, which is about twice as long as some other carriers are promising, but the process itself is extremely simple and can be completed in its entirety online.
The customers themselves are highly satisfied with the overall quality of the service, as Trupanion has an excellent 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot. BBB gives the company a A- rating, and customer reviews are highly positive, accumulating at a 4-star rating from 2,150 reviews.
Final Words
With almost no vet restrictions and payout limits, nationwide coverage and world-class customer support, Trupanion represents a clear industry leader. Covering dogs and cats up to the age of 14, and providing great pet insurance plans, with a set 90% reimbursement rate means that almost anyone can be satisfied with what’s offered here.
What’s more, if you feel like the service does not satisfy you, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee that’s available to all customers.
Healthy Paws
- • Fully-automated claims processing
- • Lowest premiums available
- • Lifetime membership discounts
This Washington-based firm leads the industry with unlimited lifetime benefits, and is highly dedicated to helping pet rescues and shelters for animals, making donations to these institutions with each pet insurance quote submitted.
Coverage Options
Healthy Paws offers a single comprehensive plan that covers all accidents and illnesses, without restriction for congenital and hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia.
The only requirement to be eligible for this is to enroll your pet before the age of six, and before any symptoms show up. This approach simplifies the process of purchasing insurance. Alternative therapy coverage, surgeries, and advanced testing makes this a good pet insurance option for almost any dog or cat owner.
Pricing & Discounts
Healthy Paws has some of the lowest average premiums available, with quotes starting as low as $25 per month. The company allows you to further customize the premium by offering you three different annual deductibles and reimbursement levels to choose from (90%, 80%, and 70%).
The lower your reimbursement level of choice is, the lower your premium will be, and the fact that the company offers only an annual deductible means that you are required to meet it just once per year.
Other firms commonly provide per-condition deductibles which you will have to meet with every illness or accident your pet suffers, which makes Healthy Paws’ approach quite refreshing and customer-friendly.
If that wasn’t enough, the company also distinguishes itself by having unlimited benefits included in the standard price plan, a feature that is usually included only as an option in the most expensive plans among other competitors.
This means that as long as the conditions are covered by the plan, there is no limit to how much Healthy Paws will pay to treat your pet.
We must note that this carrier has an industry-standard fifteen-day waiting period that starts after midnight on the day that you enroll, meaning that no injuries or accidents that occur within those two first weeks will be covered by the policy.
Last but not least, Healthy Paws offers a variety of discounts, ensuring its status as one of the top pet insurers in the U.S. For instance, there is up to a 10% lifetime discount for membership groups such as AAA and AMAC, up to a 10% lifetime discount for association or alumni organizations and up to a 15% lifetime discount for employer-sponsored plans.
Customer Experience
The overall high level of quality of service extends to the Healthy Paws online platform as well, with a modern website and a stellar claims-processing rate of just two days on average.
This is way faster than what most other companies provide, and is made possible by the fact that Healthy Paws is one of the very few insurers that fully automate its claims procedures online. Filing a claim itself is rather easy, and it can be done via mobile app or on the website itself.
The customer support staff can be reached seven days a week, either via phone or email, with phone lines being open Monday to Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday to Sunday from 8 AM to 5 PM PST.
There is also an extensive FAQ section that features a variety of useful articles regarding the most common issues and guides about health insurance topics.
On Trustpilot, the company has an impressive 4.3-star rating, while BBB gives it an A rating and a 3-star customer score based on over 200 reviews.
Final Words
Whether through customer-friendly coverage options and features like unlimited benefits and lightning-fast automated claims processing, Healthy Paws continues to lead the industry forward.
Figo
- • Excellent mobile app
- • Variety of discounts
- • 100% reimbursement option
With a focus on innovative technology, and a cloud-based platform, Figo is leading the industry into a new, modern way of doing business. But how well does it stack against some of its competitors? Let’s find out.
Coverage Options
There are three different levels of coverage that Figo Pet Insurance offers to its customers: Essential, Preferred and Ultimate. The first is the standard, least expensive option available, covering all of the common issues found in pet insurance plans available on the market.
These include accident coverage, illnesses, along with exams fees (routine care is excluded), prosthetics, surgery, hip dysplasia, alternative treatments and prosthetics. Figo also covers hereditary or congenital conditions (as long as they are not considered pre-existing) as well as modern cancer treatments, stem cell therapy, and cardiology.
The two comprehensive plans are costlier, but they add coverage for lost pet advertising and reward, or vacation cancellation and mortality benefits.
Pricing & Discounts
Figo is a company with average or slightly above-average premiums. The Essential insurance plan with a $200 deductible and 80% reimbursement percentage can get you a quote of around $20 for a cat, and about $23 for a dog that’s under one year old.
The annual deductible choice ranges between $100-$1,500, while Figo sets itself apart from the competition by offering a 100% reimbursement option, so premium levels vary widely depending on your choice.
With a 100% reimbursement and a minimum annual deductible, for example, it is not unusual to see monthly premiums go up to a few hundred dollars, but the cost averages at about $50.
We must note that there is also a one-time service fee, which varies depending on your location. Figo also features annual limits of $10,000 in the Essential and $14,000 in the Preferred coverage plan. The most expensive, Unlimited insurance plan has no annual limits.
Last but certainly not least, Figo goes well beyond the industry standards with multiple discount options that can bring your premiums down if you qualify. If you are a veteran or an owner of a medical service or rescue/shelter dog, you can qualify for a discount, and the same goes for multi-pet owners and those that pay their annual premium upfront.
Customer Experience
Figo has easily the slickest website among the companies on our list, which is not that surprising considering its focus on innovation and modern technology. The layout is beautiful, and the user-friendly design will easily lead to finding exactly what you need.
What’s more, the company has a mobile app that tracks claims in real time, allowing you to access medical records and geolocate your pet if it runs away. This Pet Cloud app can also point out nearby dog parks and pet stores based on your current location, can connect you with other pet parents and even gives 24/7 access for contacting a licensed vet via live video chat.
The claims process is also completely automated and paperless, and takes, on average, 10 days to be completed, all using an AI-based assistant called Evie.
Once the claim is processed, you can just take a picture of the bill and submit it to the company via email, and you’re done. Like with most insurers, there is a waiting period before you can make a claim, with a five-day period from enrollment for injuries and 14 days for illnesses.
The only exclusion is knee problems that have a six-month waiting period since the day you enroll.
You can contact Figo customer support for any additional inquiries. The company offers live support services via phone, live chat, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, text and email. The staff is friendly and helpful, which is one of the main reasons why Figo has some of the highest ratings among customers.
The company holds a B+ rating with BBB and has an exceptional 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot, from 650 customer reviews.
Final Words
Overall, Figo provides one of the most complete services in 2024. Aimed more toward tech-savvy customers that can make use of its fantastic mobile app and high-tech features, this company leads the industry when it comes to innovation and customer service.
Figo also offers a rarely-found 100% reimbursement option and generally has one of the more affordable pet insurance plans available.
Petplan
- • No upper-age limits
- • 24/7 live customer support
- • Comprehensive coverage
Petplan Pet Insurance is a sister company of Petplan, a UK-based insurer that expanded to the United States in 2003. Based in Philadelphia, this American affiliate is the preferred provider of the AAHA, and it is the exclusive provider for AARP members.
Petplan offers insurance policies and a non-profit Petplan Fund which supports homeless pets, veterinary research and education projects across the country.
Coverage Options
The company does not put any restrictions for hereditary and congenital conditions, nor does it set age limits for your pets. Moreover, this insurer provides coverage for things like holistic therapies and hospitalization.
Petplan also covers behavioral treatments on all policies, including anxiety disorders, noise phobia and house soiling, as well as coverage for non-routine veterinarian fees. It is rare for an insurer to cover exam costs, but with Petplan you can save up to a few hundred dollars per each of your vet visits.
The policies themselves offer great flexibility in customizing the insurance plan to you and your pet’s needs. Petplan provides nationwide coverage and puts no restrictions on vet selection, so as long as you renew your policy you will have lifelong coverage for chronic, hereditary conditions and dental injuries, wherever you are.
Pricing & Discounts
Petplan offers highly competitive prices and customization in building your policy. The annual coverage limits range from $2,500 to unlimited, and the annual deductible goes from $250 to $1,000.
Choosing a lower limit and higher deductible will significantly lower your monthly premium, but it is advised to opt for higher or unlimited coverage. You can then further control your premium by choosing either a 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement percentage.
Quotes will vary depending on where you live and how old your pet is, but you can very well see rates that go from $17 and upwards.
Petplan also has a nice selection of possible discounts, most prominently the No Claims Credit which adds 2% credit up to 10% for each year during which your pet has gone without a paid claim.
Military personnel and medical service pets can get discounts on their policies as well, along with discounts for registering online and for strategic partners like AAHA, AARP and others.
Customer Experience
The dedication to keep up with modern technology is obvious as soon as you enter the Petplan website. it is a platform that offers the highest level of customer service. You can easily find all the information you need, whether you are using mobile or desktop versions of the platform, and Petplan does a great job explaining how the company processes claims.
This insurer has a quick claims turnaround time - claims are paid out within 30 days. In fact, the majority of claims are reimbursed after a single business week.The online claims and those submitted via the mobile app are usually processed faster, so keep that in mind when you need to file a claim.
Petplan has a five-day waiting period for accidents, 15 days for illnesses and six months for some issues with patellas and cruciates, which is pretty standard.
Where the company truly shines, however, is in its customer service. The support staff is available 24/7, and can be reached via toll-free phone call or email. Petplan advisers are extremely knowledgeable, and from our experience most of the issues get resolved rather quickly.
This is exactly why customers rate the company so highly, as Petplan currently holds a strong 4.1-star rating from 6,000 customer reviews on Trustpilot.
Final Words
With stellar coverage and a state-of-the-art platform that provides high-quality customer service, Petplan remains at the peak of what the industry has to offer. Add to this quick claims processing, a number of solid discounts and lifetime insurance for pets without any upper-age limits, and it’s clear that Petplan is one of the leading firms on the market today.
In-Depth Guide to Pet Insurance
To understand exactly what kind of pet insurance would best suit you and your pet, it is important to be aware of all the things that factor into the cost and type of coverage you are planning to get.
Choosing the right insurance plan can not only help you financially, but it can also ensure that you sleep better at night knowing you and your pet are protected from an emergency situation.
Common Pet Insurance Policies
Pet insurance is unique in that it represents a mixture of health and property insurance plans, seeing as pets are regarded as not only living beings but also personal possessions. Some of the most commonly found policies you’ll find are:
Basic Coverage
This is the least-expensive and most-common of all the policies that owners get, but it also comes with plenty of restrictive terms. The biggest detractor to a basic pet insurance coverage is the fact that the policy only helps pay for accidents, poisoning and serious illnesses.
Routine and preventive checkups are usually not covered, and there are caps on reimbursements per accident or illness, as well as on total reimbursements per policy term. Some of the basic coverage policies even have co-pay conditions, so make sure to do the research and pick the best option available if you are intent on choosing a basic policy.
Comprehensive Coverage
The more expensive option, comprehensive or full coverage pet insurance, comes with lower annual deductibles and a number of benefits that aren’t found in basic policies. Some of these include: reimbursement for accidental injuries and illnesses, and coverage for prescriptions, X-rays, lab fees and prescriptions.
Comprehensive coverage does, however, put caps on reimbursements per accident or illness, as well as on total reimbursements.
Wellness Rider
A wellness plan is not necessarily an insurance plan, meaning that it does not cover dental care and cleanings, injuries or illnesses. Pet insurance with wellness coverage is therefore usually available as an add-on in order to cover routine pet care such as heartworm tests, blood work, fecal screens, vaccines and more.
Wellness policies have even lower deductibles and copay costs than comprehensive coverage.
Third Party Liability Coverage
If your pet injures someone or damages cars or other properties owned by other people, you, as a pet owner, can be sued and considered liable. Third-party pet liability insurance coverage is therefore something that is often purchased as an optional add-on to an existing policy, in order to protect you financially.
This coverage generally only applies to dogs, as cats are considered “free spirits,” for whose actions their owners cannot be held accountable for.
Factors That Influence Pet Insurance Premiums
Because prices widely vary, finding the cheapest possible policy can be a challenge. You will not be able to know how much the coverage will cost you until you get a quote. Still, there are a number of key factors that influence the premium and that you should be aware of as you search for and compare pet insurance plans and quotes that are offered to you.
The age of your pet
Younger pets will have substantially lower premiums than older ones, as insurers calculate that the probability of a costly illness or injury increases with age.
The breed of your pet
The selective breeding of dogs has led to some breeds having a much higher chance of developing serious medical conditions, so the price of insuring them becomes substantially higher.
For instance, a policy for a Great Dane dog will cost you some 63% more than a policy for an average dog, making it the most expensive breed to insure. Some of the other high-cost breeds are English Bulldogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Caucasian Ovcharkas and Irish Wolfhounds.
The species of your pet
For the same reasons as above, dogs will usually be the most costly species of pet to insure. Cats and other animal companions have their own medical problems, of course, but prices for dogs are affected much more due to a large number of breeds that have hereditary medical issues.
Where you live
Your geographic location plays a big role in determining your insurance premium. From the least to the most expensive states, the difference between annual rates can amount to hundreds of dollars. This is mainly due to the average cost of veterinary fees that are much higher in large metropolitan areas like New York, while states like Kansas are among the cheapest in that regard.
Your deductible choice
As with all insurance policies, choosing a higher deductible will bring your premium down. There are two types of deductibles: annual and per-incident. The annual option is best-suited for pet owners who are opting for a high deductible of $250 and higher.
Your coverage level
This is also something that is affected by your choice, as policies with a narrow, base-level coverage will be the cheapest option. Comprehensive policies, on the other hand, have much higher premiums, but they provide a wider array of benefits.
The reimbursement rate
Another customizable feature that influences the cost of your insurance policy is the reimbursement rate, or the percentage of the vet bills that insurance will cover. Choosing a lower reimbursement rate will lower your premiums, but you will be expected to pay a percentage of the vet bill on top of the deductible.
What Pet Insurance Does Not Cover
There are certain things that most insurance providers will exclude from their policies, or provide them rarely through more comprehensive plans. The most-common exclusions are routine and preventive treatment coverage, pregnancy & giving birth, and coverage for a pre-existing illness or injury.
Likewise, dental diseases, hip dysplasia, hereditary conditions and behavioral issues are not covered by standard pet insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance policies will not necessarily save you money, but will protect you financially in the case of serious emergencies. Smaller health problems like infections do not cost more than a few hundred dollars to remedy, but more serious issues can cost you thousands.
This is the main reason that people opt to insure their pets, as it represents a safety net that can prevent them from being forced to put their pet down for economic reasons.
What is the average cost of pet insurance per month?
The cost varies widely, ranging anywhere from $10 to $100 per month. An average pet owner can, however, expect its premium to land somewhere in the middle, paying around $30 to $50 per month for a plan with a good coverage package.
Some factors that influence the quote are the age of your pet, its species and its breed. We must note that dogs are usually substantially more expensive to insure than cats,thus, if you're looking for pet insurance for cats, you can expect the premium to be below average.
What does pet insurance actually cover?
Pet insurance usually provides coverage for medical costs in the case that your cat or dog gets into an accident or develops a serious medical condition. Some insurers also provide coverage for rarer pet species like gerbils and frogs through what’s called “exotic pet insurance,” but the major focus of most is on those two most-common pet species.
Unlike health insurance for humans, however, pet insurance will not include routine care coverage and things like rabies shots, and will exclude any pre-existing conditions.
How do I save on pet insurance?
There are a couple of different things you can do in order to try and bring your insurance premium down. First and foremost, you should shop around and compare quotes that you get from different insurers in order to be sure that you are getting the best deal possible.
After a thorough comparison, you should purchase a coverage plan that suits your pet the most, without paying to cover the risks that the pet is not really exposed to.
Reducing potential exposure to risk is also very important, and creating a more secure living environment for your pet can go a long way in preventing the need for medical emergency care. The last way to save money is simply by using some of the many loyalty programs that these firms offer to customers.
What percentage of pet owners have pet insurance?
The number of insured pets in the United States is growing at a steady pace, with 5.7 million pets insured over the last year. This represented a 17% increase compared to the year before, but is still just a tiny part of all the pets in the country.
For comparison, more than 66% of households own at least one pet, meaning that the percentage of insured pets is still in low single digits.