Takeaways
- Pet insurance provides coverage for your pet’s medical expenses.
- The best pet insurance plan for you will have the deductible, reimbursement level, and coverage you desire — or at least as close to it as possible.
- It is far better to be insured than to be uninsured, so make sure to consider pet insurance options as soon as possible.
- Select your insurance provider carefully — if there are certain features you desire, such as the ability to pay the vet directly or a specific waiting period, make sure they have it.
Choosing the best pet insurance for your pup is a big decision, and we’re here to make it simpler. Below, you’ll find the information you need to pick the best pet insurance, along with a list of pet insurance companies we’d recommend for your furry friend.
List of Pet Insurance Companies
The good news: there are a variety of pet insurance companies to choose from. The not-so-great news: weeding through them can be a hassle.
Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of pet insurance companies, followed by our top recommendations to save you from a lengthy search process.
Pet Insurance Companies:
- AKC Pet Insurance
- ASPCA Pet Insurance
- Doggo
- Embrace
- Figo
- Hartville
- Healthy Paws
- Lemonade Pet Insurance
- MetLife
- Nationwide
- Odie
- Petco
- PetPartners
- PetPremium
- Pets Best
- Pets Plus Us
- Physicians Mutual Pet
- Prudent Pet
- Pumpkin
- Spot
- Toto
- Trupanion
- TrustedPals
- Wagmo
ASPCA
- Standard plan covers alternative therapies, treatment for behavioral problems, and congenital conditions
Figo
- Offers three standard plans with three optional add-ons for more coverage on wellness expenses, end-of-life care, and veterinary exam fees
- Complete with 24/7 vet access and a custom Pet Tag that tracks your pup should they go missing
Hartville
- Basic plans cover items other pet insurers often don’t cover such as end-of-life expenses, stem cell therapy, microchip implantation, and alternative therapy
Lemonade
- Offers incredibly customizable coverage with one standard policy and five optional preventative care add-ons, allowing you to select coverage based on the potential needs of your dog’s breed
MetLife
- Offers a comprehensive accident-illness plan that also covers holistic and alternative therapies with an optional preventative care add-on
Odie
- Offers a basic accident-illness plan with two option wellness add-ons, complete with a wide range of deductible options and more-affordable-than-average premiums
Pets Best
- Offers two standard plans — accident-only and accident-illness — along with an optional routine care coverage package, which is great for microchipping, deworming, and rabies treatment
Pumpkin
- Offers one accident-illness plan and one optional preventative care add-on
- Offers 90% reimbursement on all plans
Spot
- Offers both accident and accident-illness coverage, with optional personalized Wellness packages
What Is Pet Insurance, And Why Should You Get It?
Pet insurance — much like human health insurance — provides coverage for certain medical expenses your pet may incur. While paying a premium each month for a four-legged friend may seem strange, it can save you thousands on medical costs.
As with ourselves, it can be challenging to predict if and when your pet will need medical care. Reality is, we don’t plan to break a bone or develop a hereditary condition, and neither do our pets. In the event that they do, however, pet insurance is there to help you cover the costs.
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
Pet insurance plans come with a unique deductible, reimbursement level, and annual maximum.
Deductible: The amount you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage kicks in. For example, if your pet insurance plan has a deductible of $500, you’d be expected to pay $500 worth of medical expenses before your pet insurance provider foots any of the bill.
Reimbursement Level: The percentage of an expense your plan will cover. For example, if your pet insurance plan has a $500 deductible and a 90% reimbursement level, and you get hit with a $5,000 vet bill, you’d only be expected to pay $950. Here’s the math:
$5,000 bill – $500 deductible = $4,500
$4,500 x 90% reimbursement level = $4,050
In this case, the insurance company will cover $4,050 of the total, and you’ll be responsible for $950.
Annual Maximum: The highest amount your plan will reimburse you each year. Unfortunately, it’s possible for pets to rack up vet bills left and right, and pet insurance companies can’t cover everything. Instead, they give you a maximum amount they will cover, ranging from as low as $2,500 to upwards of $15,000 per year. So, even if Fido incurs more expenses, you’ll only be reimbursed up to that maximum.
Pros Of Getting Pet Insurance
Without pet insurance, you’re more likely to rely on low-cost clinics, your personal savings, and loans to cover your pet’s medical care. While that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, being insured is a far better option.
With pet insurance, you’re guaranteed coverage for certain conditions, making seeking care more affordable and less stressful. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about dipping into your savings or winding up in debt to cover your pet’s care.
If you’re concerned about the cost of paying a premium, don’t be — pet insurance has proven to be financially worthwhile in cost-benefit analyses.
What To Look Out For When Deciding On Pet Insurance
When picking a pet insurance provider, you’ll want to consider elements such as:
The reimbursement level. The higher the reimbursement level, the less you’ll have to pay when a vet bill comes your way. However, plans with high reimbursement levels tend to have higher premiums. Determine your ideal premium amount and reimbursement level, then use the information to find a plan that’s as close to your ideal as possible.
The waiting period. After you purchase a pet insurance policy, there will be a certain amount of time before your coverage kicks in. For some companies, the waiting period is short, and for others, it’s fairly long. Review the company’s waiting periods before purchasing a policy to make sure it’s in line with what you’re looking for.
What they do and don’t cover. Each pet insurance plan comes with a different level of coverage. For example, some plans only cover accidents, while others cover both accidents and illnesses. Make sure to read the fine print carefully to get the coverage you’re looking for.
Whether they pay the vet directly. Some pet insurance companies will send payment directly to the vet. This means you won’t have to pay the bill upfront and wait for reimbursement. If you prefer this method, make sure it’s something they provide.