Best Pet Insurance Companies
Adopting a pet is a big decision, not only in terms of responsibility, but financially as well. Pets are expensive, but pet insurance can help mitigate some of the costs. Just like health insurance, not all pet insurance is created equal. It’s important that you review several pet insurance plans and select the best pet insurance for your pet. Make sure to not only review the policies and costs but also the pet insurance reviews on consumer report sites and other review sites such as Yelp.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Similar to personal health insurance, pet health insurance is a health care policy for pets that reimburses owners for certain medical expenses and veterinary visits. Costs vary based on your pet’s age, breed and location.
Pet insurance is not all-inclusive, and plans vary by company and policy. Deductibles, reimbursement levels and annual maxes vary as well. Learn more about how pet insurance works.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
At their core, most pet insurance policies cover the following, although there are some exceptions:
- Accidents
- Illnesses
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Cancer
- Prescription medications
- Emergency care
What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?
Most pet insurance policies exclude the following, but there are some exceptions:
- Routine check-ups
- Pre-existing conditions
- Hereditary conditions
- Dental disease
- Behavior issues
- Hip dysplasia
- Grooming
What Should You Look at When Choosing a Pet Health Insurance Company?
You’ll obviously want to look at price, as pet insurance costs vary based on your pet’s age, location and breed. You’ll also want to look at reimbursement levels and annual deductibles and whether or not your policy has a yearly maximum. Most importantly, however, you’ll want to look at pet insurance reviews. Look to see what existing customers have to say: Is the company providing on-time reimbursements? Do they rank well with customer service? While you can learn a lot about a pet insurance company based on its website, nothing will be more honest than pet insurance reviews from real customers.
Top 5 Pet Insurance Companies
Healthy Paws is a pet insurance provider that covers dogs and cats for new accidents and illnesses, including cancer, emergency care, genetic conditions and alternative care. Highlights include:
- Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau
- 99 percent of claims are processed in two days.
- History of excellent customer service
- Allows for an annual deductible
- Unlimited lifetime benefits. If anything happens to you, your pet’s coverage will not end.
Trupanion is a pet health insurance company that covers both dogs and cats. It differentiates itself from other pet insurance companies in its payment structure: The company pays 90 percent of veterinary costs for eligible claims (once the deductible for that condition is met). They also have the option to pay your veterinarian directly so you don’t even have to worry about filing a claim later. Additional benefits include:
- Optional add-on benefits that cover acupuncture, physical therapy, hydrotherapy, behavioral therapy and more
- Deductible options $0 to $1,000 and unlimited annual limit
- Hip dysplasia has no waiting period and no age restrictions.
PetFirst is a pet insurance company that was founded in 2004 and is based in Jefferson, Indiana. The company is known to have an easy enrollment process and offers customizable plans. Highlights include:
- No vet exam necessary prior to coverage
- Accident coverage begins within 24 hours of registration.
- No upper age limit
- Discount offered for every year that you do not make a claim
Nationwide Pet Insurance (formerly known as VPI) is one of the only pet insurance providers that doesn’t limit its coverage to just dogs and cats. In fact, they cover everything from birds to snakes! The company offers three key plans in addition to its exotic animal plan:
- Whole Pet with Wellness
- Major Medical
- Pet Wellness
Petplan offers insurance plans for both dogs and cats and is the largest pet insurance provider in the world. Highlights include:
- BBB rating: A+ (under its incorporated name, Fetch, Inc.)
- Claims are typically paid within 5-14 days (but can take as long as 30 days).
- No lifetime or per condition claims limit
- Annual deductible option available
