We evaluated important coverage areas, including how much the pet insurance costs, whether you can pay the vet directly, if there is a 24/7 vet health line available, and the ability to add on a wellness plan. Our editors promise to provide accurate ratings and information. We use data-driven practices to ensure all companies are measured fairly against their competitors. You can read more about our methodology for the ratings below.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies in More Detail
Pets Best
We’re impressed by Pets Best’s range of deductible choices combined with costs that are well below average among the companies we analyzed. It provides solid basic coverage, and you can add a wellness plan to cover routine pet care expenses.
Our rating is based on Pets Best’s Plus plan. If you want wider coverage with a higher cost, consider the Pets Best Elite plan.
Pros
- Only a 3-day waiting period for accident coverage.
- Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
- Can pay the vet directly if the vet agrees.
- Covers vet exam fees.
Embrace
Image Source: Embrace
We like Embrace because it offers unique ways to cut costs on accident and illness plans through its Healthy Pet Discount Program. If your reimbursements of claims are less than $300 for each pet in the year preceding the discount period, you will receive a 5% discount in the first year and 10% in the second year for each pet. Embrace automatically applies the savings to your annual payment or monthly bill.
- Accident coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase your policy.
- Vet exam fees covered
- 24/7 pet telehealth line and optional wellness plan
- Can pay vet hospitals directly
ManyPets
ManyPets differentiated itself in our review by reducing the accident and illness waiting period down to 24 hours if you’re coming over from another pet insurer. Many Pets also don’t have a special waiting period for orthopedic conditions, like cruciate ligament issues, which is anywhere from six to 12 months at other insurers.
Pros
- Below average prices among the companies we reviewed.
- Coverage includes vet exam fees.
- Optional wellness plan available.
Figo
We chose Figo because it has the shortest waiting period we found for accident coverage, at just one day. It also offers a range of coverage, reimbursement, and deductible options, allowing you to work within your budget.
Pros
- Offers a 100% reimbursement option.
- Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
- Routine wellness plan available.
Lemonade
We like Lemonade due to its very competitive rates for dogs and cats. But you will give up some things like a 24/7 vet helpline, and coverage of the vet exam fee is available only by buying an add-on.
Pros
- Lower-than-average prices.
- Accident coverage begins the day coverage starts in most states.
- Optional wellness plan available.
- Has a live chat for pet health questions seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET.
AKC
We like that AKC offers a good number of add-on coverage options, including a wellness plan, exam coverage for vet fees, breeding coverage for dog breeders, and final respects coverage for cremation, burial, and memorial expenses for your pet.
Pros
- 24/7 pet telehealth line.
- 2-day waiting period for accident coverage.
- Covers curable conditions like allergies and ear infections after a 12-month waiting period.
Healthy Paws
We selected Healthy Paws for its unlimited annual coverage in return for lower-than-average costs compared to other top competitors. However, vet exam fees are excluded, and pets enrolled at age six and older will not be covered for hip dysplasia.
Pros
- No annual coverage limit on claim payouts.
- Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
- Pay the vet directly if you request Healthy Paws in advance of treatment.
Coverage Levels
Most pet insurance policies offer several annual maximums, deductibles, and reimbursement levels from which you can choose.
- Annual maximum coverage: This is the maximum amount payable for any pet insurance claims during the period of the policy. Some common annual maximum coverage amounts include $5,000, $10,000, and unlimited.
- Deductible: This is how much you pay toward vet bills before your coverage kicks in. Common deductible options include $100, $250, and $500.
- Reimbursement percentage: This is how much you’ll get back if you file a claim on your pet insurance. Common reimbursement levels include 70%, 80%, and 90%.
Pet Insurance Discounts
Here are the discounts we found in our analysis, but they will vary by company:
- Multipet: If you cover more than one pet, most insurers will give you a discount.
- Discount for spaying or neutering: Owners who get their dogs spayed or neutered may receive a discount from some insurers.
- Annual pay discount: If you pay your annual premium in one single sum, you can frequently get a better deal.
- Military discount: A few insurance companies provide discounts to veterans and active duty members.
- Workgroup discount: Some employers offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit and might receive a discount of 5% – 10%.
- Bundle discount: You can bundle the pet insurance with Lemonade renters or homeowners insurance policy and receive a discount of up to 10%.
Conclusion
All the variances in pricing and coverage details make it sometimes impossible to compare pet insurance plans on an apples-to-apples basis. We found the best way to do it is by prioritizing the benefits that mean the most to you and then comparing prices among the policies that match your must-haves. Here’s how we chose the best pet insurance.