Best Pet Insurance Companies And Plans (September 2022 Ratings) – MarketWatch

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Maintaining your pet’s health is an important part of caring for your animal, and at some point, you may have to pay for expensive vet bills and any necessary medical or wellness treatments it may need.
An insurance policy for pets can offer relief from those unexpected expenses and protect your pet when it gets sick or injured.
To help you find the best pet insurance plan for you and your pet, we at the Home Media reviews team compiled a list of the best insurance coverage for pets on the market.
Here are the best pet insurance companies and plans:
We reviewed and compared each company on factors such as monthly pricing, industry reputation and covered treatments to determine which ones to recommend to readers. Keep reading for our reviews of the top pet insurance companies.
 
 
Lemonade provides renters insurance, homeowners insurance and pet insurance to customers across the country. Its pet insurance policies are more affordable than many competitors, making them particularly appealing to pet parents looking to spend less. Lemonade also features an impressive mobile app for managing your pet’s health, filing claims and keeping track of your policy coverage and billing.
The company’s pet insurance coverage is currently unavailable in 15 states, including Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Lemonade offers one pet insurance plan that covers treatments related to both accidents and illnesses, such as diagnostic tests, hospitalizations, surgery, cancer treatments, correcting broken bones or sprains, prescription medications and more. Lemonade doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, elective or cosmetic procedures and behavioral treatments.
Lemonade also offers a preventive care add-on to your policy for an additional monthly cost, which provides reimbursement for items like a wellness exam, heartworm test, bloodwork and three vaccines. You can also add coverage for vet visit fees and exam fees in addition to coverage for physical therapy treatments, including chiropractic care and acupuncture.
You can customize your plan’s coverage and pricing by selecting from the following choices:
Although Lemonade is facing a class-action lawsuit regarding its alleged practice of gathering biometric data, we still consider it to be one of the best pet insurance companies due to its charitable giveback initiative and the features highlighted here. You can learn more in our Lemonade review linked below.
To Learn More: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
 
 
Spot Pet Insurance is an ideal provider for pet owners who want a low-cost accident-only plan. Since its policies are more customizable than most competitors, with annual limit options ranging from $2,500 to unlimited, you can find the right amount of coverage at an affordable rate. Additionally, Spot’s policies cover a few items, such as exam fees and microchipping, that aren’t offered by many other pet insurance providers.
Spot uses the same underwriter as ASPCA Pet Health Insurance — United States Fire Insurance Company — so its overall coverage is similar. It offers an accident-only plan and an accident-and-illness coverage package for unexpected injuries or other conditions, including dental disease, cancer, heart disease and more. Like other pet insurance providers, Spot excludes pre-existing conditions from coverage.
Spot also has two preventive care options that can be added to your pet’s plan: the Gold Plan and the Platinum Plan. The Gold Plan comes with $250 of annual coverage for wellness treatments like dental cleanings, vaccines, fecal tests and more, while the Platinum Plan comes with $450 of annual coverage for everything in the Gold Plan plus spay and neutering, bloodwork and more.
Here are the options for customizing your accident-only or accident and illness plan:
Note: Spot’s Accident-Only Plan’s premiums don’t change based on your pet’s age or breed.
To Learn More: Spot Pet Insurance Review
 
 
Find the best pet insurance providers in your state:
 
 
Trupanion is one of the more well-known pet insurance companies, scoring an A+ rating with the BBB and landing positive customer reviews since its founding in 1998. Trupanion keeps it simple with one comprehensive pet insurance plan, offering accident-and-illness coverage to dogs and cats up to 14 years old.
Available to pet owners nationwide (plus Canada, Australia and Puerto Rico), Trupanion also offers unlimited annual caps, customizable deductibles and vet direct payments. If you choose a $0 deductible, these policy features make it so pet parents only pay their percentage of a bill when checking out at the vet’s office.
Trupanion offers pet owners one plan for dog and cat insurance, covering any injuries or sickness related to an accident, illness or emergency, as long as they are not pre-existing. It also covers certain conditions that could occur outside of an accident or illness, including congenital and hereditary conditions and other undiagnosed issues. 
There are several unique features of Trupanion, including its customizable deductible, in which pet owners can select a deductible (between $0 and $1,000) that works within their budget. Deductibles are per-condition (not annual), and once it is reached, it’s paid for the life of your pet. This provider reimburses 90% of vet costs after the deductible has been met and provides unlimited payouts for every pet. 
Trupanion offers several add-ons to their base plan for an additional monthly fee:
While slightly limited in its customization ability, a deductible selection feature is available. Details are as follows
 
 
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is on our list of best pet insurance companies because it is one of the most well-known providers in the pet insurance industry and has more than 15 years of experience. Its policies are serviced by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, which has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), through its partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers the Accident-Only Coverage Plan, which covers emergencies related to accidents and injuries, and the Complete Coverage Plan, which covers accidents, illnesses, dental diseases, behavioral issues, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions and more. Neither plan covers conditions diagnosed prior to enrollment, breeding or cosmetic procedures.
Customers can also add preventive care to their pet’s policy for dental cleanings, vaccines, deworming, wellness exams and more. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers two preventive care options: the Basic Plan, which includes $250 of coverage per year, and the Prime Plan, which includes $450 of coverage per year.
You can customize your policy with the following options:
To Learn More: ASPCA Pet Insurance Review
 
 
Fetch is our choice for cat and dog owners interested in therapies and treatments that other pet insurance providers don’t always cover. These can include holistic care, like acupuncture and homeotherapy, as well as stem-cell therapy. Fetch also provides extensive coverage of therapies related to behavioral issues such as separation anxiety or aggression.
Fetch’s combined accident and illness plan reimburses you for treatments, procedures and vet visit fees related to your cat or dog’s health issues such as hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, behavioral disorders, dental trauma, injuries and cancer. However, it doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, breeding and any preventive treatments for your pet’s wellness like vaccines, annual checkups or blood tests. Fetch also provides reimbursement for dental care.
Fetch also offers coverage for some pet-related care costs not typically covered by competitors. The company will pay up to $1,000 total for boarding if you are hospitalized for more than four days and cancellation fees if you can’t go on your planned vacation due to your pet’s accident or illness. Fetch will also give you up to $1,000 for advertising and rewards if your dog or cat is ever lost.
You can customize your policy with the following options:
To Learn More: Fetch by the Dodo Review
 
 
Embrace stands out for the additional savings it offers pet owners, including a 10% discount for each additional pet policy you purchase, a 5% military discount and an employee benefit program, which offers 10% off to employees of companies that offer Embrace pet insurance.
In addition to comprehensive pet insurance, Embrace also offers the Healthy Pet Deductible benefit, which credits pet owners with $50 toward your copayment each year you don’t file a claim. This benefit could bring your deductible to as low as $0 after your pet goes without getting sick or injured for multiple years. The low cost of Embrace is why it’s also highlighted in our guide for cheap pet insurance.
Embrace offers one plan for accident-and-illness plan coverage on your pet’s injuries, illnesses, chronic conditions, hip dysplasia and other conditions that result in necessary procedures or treatments, such as alternative therapies, cancer treatments, emergency care, surgery, diagnostic procedures, physical therapy and more. Embrace doesn’t give reimbursements for pre-existing conditions or elective procedures, among a few other items.
Embrace also offers an optional Wellness Rewards Plan for preventative care coverage of up to $250, $450 or $650 per year. It reimburses you for vet visits or procedures, such as routine check-ups, vaccinations, microchipping, grooming, spay or neuter surgery, anal gland expression and more.
Note: The Wellness Rewards plan is not available in Rhode Island.
Below are the options you can choose from to customize your policy’s coverage and premium:
To Learn More: Embrace Pet Insurance Review
 
 
Unlike pet insurance providers like Lemonade or Embrace, Healthy Paws includes unlimited annual and lifetime coverage caps with its policies. This benefit prevents policyholders from having to worry about going over a coverage limit and paying out of pocket for expensive vet bills. Healthy Paws’ monthly rates are also more affordable when compared with the monthly premiums of unlimited coverage plans from other competitors, such as Prudent Pet or Spot.
Healthy Paws offers one plan that covers accidents and illnesses. It offers unlimited reimbursements for veterinary treatments such as X-rays, lab tests, prescription medication, hospitalization, nursing care, necessary medical supplies and euthanasia. Exclusions include coverage for elective procedures, previously diagnosed conditions, boarding, microchipping and hip dysplasia (within the first 12 months of the policy).
Although Healthy Paws includes unlimited annual coverage caps with all of its policies, it doesn’t offer much customization for your plan. It also doesn’t provide a wellness coverage add-on, so it might not be the best fit for those who want preventive care coverage.
If your pet is over six years old, you won’t be able to customize your plan and it will come with either a 50% or 70% reimbursement rate and a $500 or $1,000 deductible co-payment. If your pet is under six years old, you’ll have the following customization options to choose from:
*Policies that cover pets over six years old come with lower reimbursement rates (50%–70%) and higher annual deductibles ($500–$1,000).
To Learn More: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
 
 
Figo is among our list of best pet insurance companies because of its total reimbursement option. While most companies limit the amount of a vet bill they reimburse to 90%, Figo gives you the option of choosing 100% reimbursement. The provider also offers unlimited annual benefits and a range of useful add-ons to make your plan truly comprehensive, such as liability coverage for damages or injuries your pet causes.
Figo offers three tiers of accident and illness coverage. The Essential plan provides $5,000 of coverage annually, while the Preferred plan offers $10,000 of coverage. As its name suggests, the Unlimited plan comes with no annual coverage caps, so your covered vet bills won’t exceed your policy. Each of Figo’s plans covers expenses related to emergency visits, diagnostics, surgery and other treatments for injuries and illnesses.
Figo also offers wellness coverage in some states, which pays for routine care costs like exam fees and dental care. You can choose between $135 or $250 of annual wellness, increasing your premiums accordingly.
Figo offers the following customization options:
 
 
Pumpkin is an ideal pet insurance provider for anyone looking for policies that cover unique items that aren’t typically covered by competitors, such as microchipping or exam fees. Pumpkin also stands out for offering a preventative care add-on that provides a full reimbursement on wellness care that your pet received before the policy starts (up to two weeks before the policy start date). It also includes a refund for up to four vaccines for puppies under six months old.
Pumpkin offers one plan that has a 90% reimbursement rate. It covers costs from your pet’s treatments after accidents and injuries, such as broken bones, swallowed objects, bite wounds, hereditary conditions, cancer, dental illnesses, behavioral issues and more. Exclusions include previously diagnosed conditions, anal gland expression, breeding, elective procedures, boarding fees and a few other items.
Pumpkin provides the Preventative Essentials Pack, which is its wellness care add-on. For dogs, this add-on covers one blood test for heartworms and tick disease, one annual check-up exam fee, one fecal test for worms and two vaccines (four for puppies). For cats, it covers one fecal test, one vaccine and one annual check-up exam fee.
Below are the customization options offered by Pumpkin:
To Learn More: Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review
 
 
While Pets Best offers coverage for pets of all ages (beginning at seven weeks), it stands out if you are a pet parent who needs coverage for your senior pet. Pets Best has no upper age limit, so you can enroll your older furry friend anytime.
Additionally, it offers coverage for prescribed prosthetic devices and wheelchairs. If your pet’s breed is prone to ligament or degenerative joint disorders, Pets Best may be the provider for you.
Pets Best is a trusted name in pet insurance, with an A+ rating with the BBB and more than 15 years in the industry. Its policies are highly customizable, with a multitude of options from which to choose. Pets Best offers three levels of accident-and-illness coverage, accident-only coverage and two routine care add-on options.
As we mentioned earlier, Pets Best has several coverage options. Its accident-and-illness coverage, called the BestBenefit plan, is available at three levels: 
Pets Best also offers an accident-only plan, with a $10,000 annual limit, $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. This plan covers broken bones, animal bites, swallowed foreign bodies, open wounds, or any injury sustained if hit by a moving vehicle. The accident-only plan is the most budget-friendly option, starting at $6 per month for cat insurance and $9 per month for dog insurance. Keep in mind that it does not cover illness, disease, cancer treatments, or pre-existing conditions.

There are two options for routine or wellness care add-ons you can tack onto your base policy for an added monthly fee:
Pets Best provides the following options to customize your BestBenefit policy’s coverage and premium:

 
 
 
 
Deciding on a pet insurance company can be a difficult task since there are multiple providers to choose from. We recommend looking at each company’s unique benefits to help narrow down your search and requesting free quotes from a few different insurers to compare plan pricing based on your pet’s information and location.
Lemonade is an ideal choice for pet parents who want a comprehensive policy and a hassle-free claims-filing and policy-management process. If you want emergency coverage, Spot offers a comprehensive accident-only plan at affordable rates. Embrace might be a better option for those who want to take advantage of discounts and the Healthy Pet Deductible benefit.
 
 
According to our 2021 survey of pet owners, 35% admitted to knowing very little about pet insurance, and therefore, hadn’t enrolled their pets in a healthcare policy. At the Home Media reviews team, we want to give you a detailed look into what pet insurance is, how much it costs, and the top providers, so you can make an informed decision about whether pet insurance is right for you and your loyal companion.
Similar to your personal health insurance, pet insurance is designed to relieve the weight of unexpected medical bills. While your health insurance provider pays your doctor directly for what’s covered under your policy, your pet insurance provider reimburses you for up to 90% of the vet bills from any licensed vet in the U.S. that you paid on behalf of your covered pet.
Each pet insurance policy comes with an annual limit, which is the maximum amount the provider agrees to pay over the course of a year for your pet’s veterinary expenses. Your policy’s deductible is the amount you owe out of pocket during a claim before your pet’s coverage kicks in.
Your pet insurance policy’s covered treatments vary depending on the company and the plan you choose, but no company will cover any pre-existing conditions your pet has before the policy’s effective coverage date. Additionally, each policy comes with dedicated waiting periods for accidents and illnesses between the time you sign up and the official coverage start date. This means you can’t claim coverage on any incidents or conditions that arise during that time.
 
 
 
Before purchasing a pet insurance policy, determine what type of coverage you need. Most companies offer accident and illness plans, and some also offer accident-only plans for a lower monthly premium. Some companies may also offer an optional wellness care plan that can be added to your policy for an extra monthly fee.
Here are more details about each pet insurance plan option:
 
 
The cost of pet insurance can be anywhere from $10–$100 per month and varies based on the following factors:
Your zip code can affect your policy’s premium in two ways: Your state has certain regulations for insurance that may affect how much each company charges in your area, and pet insurance companies will consider how much your local veterinarians charge for services to determine how much you’ll need to pay per month for a policy.
 
Your insurance premiums can vary depending on whether you’re insuring a dog or a cat. In general, cats are more affordable to insure than dogs due to their relatively predictable health.
Your pet’s breed will also influence the cost of its pet insurance policy. For example, golden retrievers are more expensive to insure than mixed-breed dogs due to their susceptibility to certain conditions like hip dysplasia and skin conditions.
Hepper’s pet expert and veterinarian Dr. Paola Cuevas reminds pet owners, “Being familiar with your pet’s genetic disease predispositions, and aware of the risks and costs of treatment, are good points to consider when choosing an insurance policy.”
Since older pets have a higher likelihood of getting sick or injured, they’re more expensive to insure than younger animals. Insuring your pet as early as possible is the best way to save on high premiums and ensure you get the most out of your pet’s coverage.
Learn More: Average Cost of Pet Insurance
 
 
Whether your puppy likes to roam around in your backyard or go on regular walks, there are lots of dangers that could unexpectedly leave your dog injured or sick.
Buying pet insurance for your dog is the best way to keep it happy, healthy and cared for without having to worry about paying for expensive vet bills. Most pet insurance providers also offer wellness or preventative care benefits to encourage the overall health and routine care of your dog or puppy.
While we recommend Lemonade for its combination of extensive customization options, high maximum coverage limit and easy-to-use mobile app, other providers may be a better fit depending on the needs of your dog or puppy.
For example, Embrace has a variety of unique savings opportunities, Prudent Pet provides extra coverage in its Ultimate Plan, and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has a long-standing reputation and years of experience. If you need unlimited coverage with total reimbursement, Figo or Trupanion can meet your needs.
We recommend comparing quotes and coverage options from multiple providers before you choose an insurer for your dog:
 
 
You never know when your cat may experience an unexpected health issue. Buying a pet insurance policy for your cat or kitten can protect it in case of accidents and illnesses and prevent you from paying expensive vet bills after an emergency.
If you want to manage your cat’s insurance policy with a mobile app that has a fast claims-filing process, we recommend Lemonade.
However, if savings and added benefits are important to you, Embrace might be a better pick. You also may lean toward Prudent Pet for its extra coverage for items like boarding fees and vacation cancellations.
Whichever company piques your interest, we recommend getting a free quote from multiple companies to compare plan prices based on your cat’s specific breed, age and location:
 
 

Pet insurance costs depend on several factors, including your pet’s age and breed. Pet insurance costs can also vary by state. Therefore, it’s critical to seek quotes from pet insurance providers using your pet’s specific details and your zip code. On average, though, you can expect to pay $30 to $50 per month in pet insurance premiums. Depending on the pet insurance company and plan you choose, monthly premiums can run as high as $100.
When determining a monthly premium, most pet insurance providers will consider your pet’s age and overall health. Similarly, under an existing plan, your premiums will likely increase as your pet ages. This is because the older your cat or dog is, the more likely it is to have specific health issues like arthritis and hip dysplasia. However, some pet insurance companies, such as Healthy Paws and Pawp, do not raise premiums as pets get older.
Most standard accident-and-illness plans do not include vaccine coverage. However, pet insurance companies have wellness plans that typically offer partial reimbursement on some required vaccines for puppies and kittens. It’s important to note that wellness plans come at an additional cost to your pet insurance policy.
Most standard pet insurance policies provide partial reimbursement for the cost of prescription medicine required as part of the treatment of an illness or injury. That can exclude items like prescription pet food recommended by veterinarians to treat a chronic gastrointestinal condition or food allergy. Adding a wellness plan to your pet insurance coverage will generally give you coverage on routine medications like flea and tick prevention.
It is worth shopping around for pet insurance to ensure you’re getting the best coverage for your pet and the best price for your budget. This is why we encourage getting multiple quotes from at least 3 different pet insurance companies.
Pet insurance with good coverage will typically cost between $24-$50 per month. Since good coverage can vary based on the needs of your pet, their breed, their age, and your location, we recommend getting multiple quotes to compare pet insurance plans, coverage, and cost.
All pet owners should consider getting pet insurance instead of just relying on their savings. While there is a cost to having good pet insurance coverage, it can potentially save you thousands of dollars on unexpected veterinarian bills if your pet becomes injured or sick. If you have multiple pets, the savings could be even more drastic.
 
 
While we’ve narrowed the list down to our top 10 picks, there are other pet insurance options out there to consider.
 
 
Here are the 10 best pet insurance companies for your pets’ health:
 
 
Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. We have scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements.
Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted:
We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.
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