Progressive Pet Insurance Review 2024

Progressive Coverage

The range of conditions covered by Progressive is pretty impressive. The company offers a comprehensive accident-illness plan that covers accident and illness exam fees for almost any minor or serious injury or disease, cancer treatments, hereditary and congenital conditions, acupuncture, rehabilitative and chiropractic treatments, hospitalization and surgeries, emergency care, specialist care, outpatient care, diagnostic testing such as MRI, CT scans, and X-rays, lab tests, medication injections, and prescription medications.

Progressive also has an accident-only plan that covers expenses for medical problems attributable to an accidental injury such as a car accident, trauma, poisoning, snake or insect bite, bone fracture, wound, torn nail, foreign body ingestion, laceration, cut, or abrasion.

The company lets you add wellness and routine care to your plan as well. The wellness add-on covers certain amounts on treatments such as spaying/neutering, teeth cleaning, flea/tick prevention, heartworm prevention, rabies, vaccinations/titer, wellness checkups, blood, fecal, and parasite exams, urinalysis or ERD, microchips, and deworming.

Progressive pet insurance is meant to help you with your furry companion’s future medical needs, so it doesn’t cover your cat’s or dog’s pre-existing conditions. These are defined accidents or illnesses that either occur or show symptoms prior to your policy’s start date or during the three-day waiting period for accidents or the 14-day waiting period for illnesses.

Prescription food, boarding, grooming, elective, preventive and cosmetic procedures, end-of-life costs, and other non-medical expenses are also excluded from all of Progressive’s plans.

Is Your Pet Eligible?

As far as eligibility qualifications go, a cat or dog of any breed that’s at least seven months old can apply for insurance via Progressive. Considering that some carriers insure pets as young as six weeks, while others will only provide coverage for pets that are at least eight weeks old, Progressive’s policies fall right in the middle.

Another great thing about this pet insurance provider is that it doesn’t set upper-age limits. You can get coverage even if your cat or dog is 20 years old. However, keep in mind that enrolling your pet while it’s still young is a much smarter option as premiums for older pets tend to be much higher, and geriatric pets are more likely to have pre-existing conditions that will be excluded from the policy.

Also note that, while Progressive offers coverage for pets located anywhere in the United States, the cost of your furry companion’s insurance may vary based on the state you live in.

Progressive Policy Plans

The company's pet insurance policies come with quite a few customization possibilities. Pet parents can opt for accident and illness coverage, accident-only policies, or wellness and routine care for cats and dogs of any breed.

The insurer’s most comprehensive and most popular option, the accident-illness coverage, comes in the form of three different plans. The differences between the Essential, Plus, and Elite plans are minor, both in respect to cost and policy features. The Essential package is the most affordable one of the three and covers fewer types of treatment. For a slightly higher premium, you can get the Plus or Elite plans which include coverage for accident and illness exam fees and holistic care.

If you request a quote from Progressive, you’ll also be presented with an accident-only option. Designed for pet parents on a tight budget, this policy type is the most convenient way to ensure that your pet will get adequate emergency care should an accident occur.

Accidents can happen anytime and the treatments for injuries such as bite or claw wounds, lacerations, foreign body ingestion, or broken bones can be very expensive. For a low monthly premium, Progressive’s accident-only coverage will give you peace of mind knowing that your wallet will be protected from unexpected vet bills.

Progressive’s wellness coverage is available as a standalone policy and as an optional rider that can be added to accident-illness policies. There are two options, the EssentialWellness and the BestWellness plan. Both versions cover the same range of routine and preventive care treatments.

The only difference between the two options is the amount of total annual benefits per treatment type – the EssentialWellness plan is cheaper and comes with lower reimbursement amounts.

Another way to modify your policy is by adjusting coverage levels. In addition to choosing a reimbursement rate and an annual deductible, you can also set your annual limit.

Progressive Policy Details

Much like policies offered by other carriers, Progressive pet insurance plans have waiting periods, age limits, and exclusions. Here’s an overview of the key features you should know about before applying for pet coverage by this provider:

• The company reviews the applications, but American Pet Insurance Company underwrites the policies.
• Cats and dogs of any breed as young as seven weeks can enroll and there are no upper age limits.
• Reimbursement rates range from 70% to 90%.
• Annual deductibles range from $50 to $1,000.
• There are no per-incident limits on accident- and illness-related claims.
• The maximum reimbursement amount can either be unlimited or capped at $5,000.
• You can adjust your coverage levels or cancel the policy altogether anytime.
• There are three types of discounts: the multi-pet discount, the multi-policy discount, and the military discount.
• The waiting period starts on day one of your policy effective date; there’s a three-day period for accident coverage, a 14-day waiting period for illness coverage, and a six-month period for cruciate ligament conditions.
• All Progressive claims are filed directly with Pets Best, the insurance company that services these policies. The filing process takes no more than a few minutes if it’s done online or via the Pets Best mobile app. Claims can also be submitted via email, snail mail, or fax. Reimbursement takes two to five business days on average.
• Vet Direct Pay: This optional service reimburses your veterinarian directly up to five days after the treatment, rather than reimbursing you for the vet bill.
• Progressive insurance is accepted at any licensed veterinary office located in the United States or Canada.

Progressive Pricing & Discounts

When shopping for health insurance for pets, you should be aware of all the variables that will affect the overall cost of your policy. In addition to the coverage type that you decide to go for, the cost of medical insurance for your furry companion will also be determined by your location; your pet’s species, breed, and age; the deductible amount you can afford; and the reimbursement rate that you opt for.

Considering that Progressive pet insurance cost averages at $1 a day, it’s safe to say that this provider offers some of the industry’s most cost-effective coverage options. The carrier also provides a variety of deductible options ($50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000) and a solid range of reimbursement rates (70%, 80%, and 90%).

Unlike some of its competitors, Progressive offers its full range of deductible and reimbursement options to all applicants, regardless of the pet’s age, breed, and location. The last variable that can affect the overall cost of your policy is the annual limit. You can either opt for a $5,000 limit or go with the unlimited option.

As far as discounts go, Progressive’s insurance comes with three different ways to lower your premiums. First, you can save by bundling your pet coverage with other insurance products. Second, you can get a 5% discount if you purchase coverage for multiple pets. Third, if you are a military member or veteran, you can get an additional 5% discount.

Payments can be done on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual basis. Note that you can save on premiums if you opt for the annual payment options.

The insurer charges a flat $9 monthly rate for an accident-only policy, while wellness coverage options can either cost you $16/month (EssentialWellness) or $26/month (BestWellness). Here are a few quote examples for accident-illness policies:

• For a two-year-old male Labrador Retriever located in Illinois (ZIP code 60290), the Plus accident-illness plan would cost $50.21/month if you opted for a $5,000 annual limit, a $200 annual deductible, and a reimbursement rate of 90%.
• For a three-year-old female French Bulldog located in California (ZIP code 90001), the Essential accident-illness plan would cost $70.86/month with the 5% military discount, a $500 deductible, an 80% reimbursement rate, and no annual limits.
• For a mixed-breed cat that’s less than a year old and located in New York (ZIP code 10001), the Elite accident-illness plan would cost $26.94/month if you chose a $250 annual deductible, a reimbursement rate of 70%, and no annual limits.

Progressive Customer Service

Should you need assistance regarding your policy, you’ll be redirected to Pets Best’s support team. For policy-related questions, customer service is available Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. MST and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST.

Ways to get in touch with support include phone and chat. For pet health-related questions, a line staffed with veterinary experts is available round the clock.

Claims Procedure

All claims are also processed by Pets Best insurance. The fastest way to submit a claim is via the company’s website or mobile app. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with digital filing, you can also submit your claim via email, fax, or even snail mail.

The Bottom Line

Backed by an industry giant and serviced by a dedicated and experienced animal insurer, Progressive has a lot to offer: comprehensive coverage, flexible policy options, and price points we simply cannot argue with.

Given that the company reviews your application and extends a customizable offer immediately, finding the right level of coverage is quick and easy. Still, its policy customization options fall slightly short of those by direct competitors.

In conclusion, if your plan is to go beyond the basics of accident-illness coverage, Progressive is pet insurance company to go for, especially if you take into account that its rates on wellness and accident-only coverage won’t change as your four-legged companion grows older.