90% coverage
No payout limits
Three additional elective care packages
Direct vet payments
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
$0-$1,000
REIMBURSEMENT
90%
CLAIM LIMIT
No claim limit
TERM
Lifetime
PETS COVERED
Dogs, cats
VET SELECTION
Any licensed veterinarian in the US, PR or CA
BBB RATING
A-
TRUSTPILOT
4.2
No upper-age limits for enrollment
Coverage in the United States and Canada
Optional direct vet payments
Fast claims processing times
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000
REIMBURSEMENT
70%, 80%, and 90%
CLAIM LIMIT
$5,000/year or unlimited
TERM
Annual
PETS COVERED
Dogs and cats
VET SELECTION
Any licensed US or CA veterinarian
BBB RATING
A+
TRUSTPILOT
4.1
Annual deductible (not per incident)
No network limitations
High client satisfaction rates
30-day money-back guarantee
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
$100, $200, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500
REIMBURSEMENT
70%, 80%, 90%, 100%
CLAIM LIMIT
$5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
TERM
Annual
PETS COVERED
Cats and dogs
VET SELECTION
Any licensed vet in US, Canada, Puerto Rico
BBB RATING
B+
TRUST PILOT
4.3
Lifetime coverage
Customizable pricing
Plan for pets 15 years of age and older
Submit a claim on the MyEmbrace app
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
$200 - $1,000
REIMBURSEMENT
70% - 90%
CLAIM LIMIT
$5,000 - $30,000
TERM
Annual
PETS COVERED
Dogs, Cats
VET SELECTION
No restrictions
BBB RATING
A+
TRUSTPILOT
3.7
Multiple discounts available
Annual deductible (not per incident)
No upper-age limits for enrollment
24/7 hotline for pet health-related questions
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000
REIMBURSEMENT
70%, 80%, and 90%
CLAIM LIMIT
$5,000/year or unlimited
TERM
Annual
PETS COVERED
Dogs and cats
VET SELECTION
Any licensed veterinarian
BBB RATING
A+
TRUSTPILOT
4.1
Annual deductible (not per incident)
High client satisfaction rates
Customizable rates
30-day money-back guarantee
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
$100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000
REIMBURSEMENT
70%, 80%, 90%
CLAIM LIMIT
Unlimited
TERM
Monthly
PETS COVERED
Dogs and cats
VET SELECTION
Any licensed US veterinarian
BBB RATING
A+
TRUSTPILOT
4.7
No deductible required
Pre-existing conditions accepted
45-day money-back guarantee
No limit for coverage
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS
No deductible
REIMBURSEMENT
25%
CLAIM LIMIT
Unlimited
TERM
Monthly and annually
PETS COVERED
All
VET SELECTION
USA, Puerto Rico, and Canada
BBB RATING
A+
TRUSTPILOT
3.9
30-day Free Look
Highly customizable plans
Multi-pet discount
Affordable premiums
DEDUCTIBLE OPTIONS:
$100 - $1,000
REIMBURSEMENT:
70%, 80%, and 90%
CLAIM LIMIT:
$2,500/year - unlimited
TERM:
Annual
PETS COVERED:
Dogs and cats
VET SELECTION:
No restrictions for any licensed veterinarian in the US and Canada
BBB RATING:
A+
TRUSTPILOT:
4.6
Healthcare costs keep rising, and pet medical care is no exception. The main purpose of pet insurance is simple – it covers the costs of treating unexpected illnesses or severe injuries so you don’t have to make difficult financial decisions when your pet needs immediate medical assistance. This type of insurance can also help you save lots of money on everyday preventive care and routine vet visits.
Before diving into pet insurance reviews, let’s take a look at what to expect from this type of coverage for your beloved animal companion.
If you’re new to pet insurance, you should know that its mechanisms are somewhat different from those of human health insurance. To receive coverage from their policy, humans must visit a doctor or a medical care center that is within their insurance plan’s network, while pet insurance can be used at any licensed vet clinic in the US.
There’s no co-pay or network issues to worry about. However, most carriers – even those offering the best pet insurance plans – will require you to pay for treatment upfront. After paying your pet’s vet bill, you’ll need to ask for a copy of the itemized receipt and forward it to your insurance provider along with a completed claim form.
You’ll receive reimbursement based on the amount of the veterinary bill and the terms of your policy within a week to a month. Some carriers also guarantee quick turnaround times for payouts as an additional benefit, while with others you can get pre-approved for upcoming procedures and receive your reimbursement in a matter of days.
To put it simply, here’s how pet insurance for cats and dogs works:
There are four main types of pet insurance plans offered by most providers. These include accident-only coverage, accident-illness coverage, wellness coverage, and accident-illness plans with additional wellness coverage.
Before we dive into the specifics of each plan, let’s take a look at the main differences between the terms “illness” and “accident.” In this context, an accident is defined as an incident in which a pet is physically injured with consequences like bone fractures, cuts, burns, or similar physical injuries. As far as illnesses go, pet insurance covers treatments for conditions such as viral infections, hip dysplasia parasites, and, in some cases, tooth extractions as a part of dental disease treatments.
While it’s impossible to predict accidents, there’s a way to create a safety net that will protect you from spending a fortune should an unfortunate incident occur. All pet insurance carriers offer accident-only plans that reimburse you for emergency care related to accidents that have resulted in injuries like broken bones, torn ligaments, or bite wounds. If you decide on this type of pet insurance, keep in mind that it doesn’t cover illnesses or breed-specific issues.
Given that it provides coverage for both accidents and sudden illnesses, an accident-illness plan is the most comprehensive form of pet insurance you can get without adding the wellness option. This form of coverage is also the most common; accident-illness policies represent 98% of plans issued by pet insurance companies.
This type of plan won’t cover pre-existing conditions or preventive care, but it will provide reimbursements for almost everything else (diseases like cancer, allergies, arthritis, UTIs, and all kinds of accident-related injuries). It’s smart to get accident-illness coverage when your pet is still young. That way, you’ll be able to lower your monthly costs and avoid policy exemptions.
Commonly offered as an add-on feature with other types of health insurance, wellness coverage offers reimbursement for yearly vaccines, preventive care, checkups, and routine care such as flea treatment and teeth cleaning. Emergency treatments for illnesses and accident-related injuries are not covered with this type of insurance.
This type of coverage is always optional. According to pet insurance reviews, some pet owners prefer to invest a little every month with an insurer to avoid paying for routine vet visits all at once, while others don’t mind taking care of wellness expenses as they come.
Lastly, most providers offer accident-illness plans with additional wellness insurance. This is the most comprehensive form of coverage that you can get for your pet, but it’s also the most expensive. Should you decide to purchase this type of insurance, note that the only health issues it won’t cover are your pet’s pre-existing conditions, which is another reason to start when your pet is young.
Severe injuries and sudden illnesses can take a financial toll even when the patient is a cat or a dog. With a good pet insurance plan, you’ll never have to choose between your own financial concerns and your four-legged friend’s health. That’s why it’s crucial to choose your insurance provider wisely. Here are the most important steps you should take when shopping for pet insurance.
As is the case with any other type of insurance, it’s worth shopping around and requesting quotes from multiple pet health insurance providers before deciding on the best option for your needs. Considering that prices may vary widely not only based on your furry companion’s breed, age, and geographic location, but also depending on certain provider-specific factors, shopping around is a must.
Weighing what you’re paying against what you’re getting by comparing different coverage options, features, and prices is another important step. Protecting your pet with health coverage can help put your mind at ease knowing that you won’t have to pay unexpected vet bills all at once. However, there’s no point in buying a pet insurance policy just because it’s affordable if it doesn’t provide the coverage you need.
You should also look at deductibles, reimbursements, and limits when determining whether a plan is worth the cost. Here’s what these insurance terms mean in this context:
Taking the time to read through online pet insurance reviews and consumer reports is one of the most important steps you should take when looking for the most suitable provider.
Many pet insurance companies have come and gone. The key to choosing the one you can depend on is to go with a stable and experienced provider with positive customer feedback. Before you make a decision, you should find out what the customers think of the company and whether there have been many complaints about its operations to the Better Business Bureau.
In comparison with human health coverage, pet insurance is generally quite affordable. However, it’s important to understand what factors will affect the quotes you receive from insurance companies. Here are the most common determining factors for the cost of pet insurance:
In addition to the aforementioned factors, pet insurance premiums may vary widely depending on the level and type of coverage you choose for your pet. According to Today’s Veterinary Business, the North American Veterinary Community’s official journal, annual premiums for accident-illness plans in the US average $354 for cats and $566 for dogs. Based on the same publication, the average annual cost of accident-only pet insurance policies is $141 for a cat and $190 for a dog.
If you’re looking for ways to lower your premiums, we suggest you apply for insurance while your pet is still young and opt for annual payments instead of monthly charges. Additionally, you can reduce the cost by choosing a plan that comes with a higher deductible. Just bear in mind that you’ll have no other choice but to reach that deductible with out-of-pocket payments before your insurer starts reimbursing veterinary costs.
Alternatively, you can keep the costs of pet insurance down by agreeing to a plan with a lower reimbursement percentage or a lower annual coverage limit. If you decide to go with this option, remember that this will cap the amount you get from your insurance company should your pet get seriously injured or ill.
Much like with other types of policies, when something really bad happens, insurance proves to be worth the premiums you’ve been paying for years.
Instead of having to deal with an $8,000 veterinarian’s bill because your dog needs cancer treatment, you can have a large portion of it covered through insurance for dogs. The worst scenario is finding out that your pet has a severe disease but having to turn down treatment because you simply can’t afford it. When an emergency arises, pet medical insurance lets you opt for the best treatment instead of the least expensive one.
However, for routine checkups and relatively minor health problems, you’ll probably be better off putting the monthly premium aside into an emergency fund for unexpected bills. If you decide to get pet insurance for catastrophic care, we suggest you opt for the highest deductible you can easily afford.
The average monthly pet health insurance cost is $29.54 for cats and $47.20 for dogs for accident-illness plans. Based on our research, monthly charges for cat insurance range between $10 to $40, while dog insurance policies range from $25 to $70. Most pet insurance providers offer a slight discount if you opt for annual payments instead of monthly premiums.
Pet insurance works as a safety net that protects you against unexpected pet-related costs. Although it can be very useful when an emergency strikes, many pet owners see this type of coverage as an unnecessary expense. So, is pet insurance worth it? To answer this question, we suggest you consider how comfortable you would be dealing with an unexpected vet bill.
There are a few things that usually aren’t covered by pet insurance, regardless of the provider. Pre-existing conditions (health conditions that occurred before the policy’s effective date), routine care, and wellness are usually excluded from standard accident-illness policies.
If you have a pet bird or an iguana, for example, your choice of insurers may be scarce. Exotic pet insurance represents fewer than 1% of all pet policies, while dogs account for almost 90% of all pet insurance policies in the US. According to pet insurance reviews, only a couple of the largest insurers have comprehensive insurance options for pet lizards, snakes, parrots, and tortoises.