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Pet insurance can give you peace of mind that an unexpected veterinarian bill won’t throw your finances into chaos. By having pet insurance, you can better budget for a pet’s healthcare and know you can get medical treatment when needed without worrying about the cost.
Let's explore 15 pet insurance plans to find the best pet insurance options for you. Below are the top pet insurers with four stars and above.
In this article:
Pet insurance rating: The full list
Compare pet insurance coverage choices
Compare pet insurance discounts
What does pet insurance cover?
How to find the best pet insurance
Best pet insurance frequently asked questions
Best pet insurance companies
Pets Best: 5 stars — best pet insurance overall
Pets Best provides the best pet insurance overall in our evaluation, gaining the top rating with its unmatched combination of low average costs and ample coverage.
Pets Best has three policies to choose from, with slightly varying costs and coverage: Essential, Plus, and Elite. The Elite plan earned five stars in our analysis, and the Plus and Essential policies were not far behind with ratings of 4.7 and 4.6 stars, respectively.
Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.
Pets Best pros and cons (Elite policy)
Pros
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Average cost is well below average compared to other pet insurers
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Unlimited annual coverage option available
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Low $50 deductible available
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Can pay the vet directly if the vet signs a Veterinarian Reimbursement Form
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Includes coverage for alternative therapies
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Behavioral therapy consultations and medication covered
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Claim payments can be reimbursed directly to a CareCredit credit card
Cons
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Excludes chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, Cushing’s, hyperthyroidism, and hip dysplasia
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Prescription foods and supplements not covered
More about Pets Best
Pets Best pet insurance basics
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Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, unlimited
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Deductible choices: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Multi-pet discount: 5%
Pets Best average cost examples (Elite plan)
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Mixed breed dog (medium-size), age 1: $27.50/month
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French bulldog, age 5: $105.82/month
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Labrador retriever, age 8: $119.10/month
Costs are for $5,000 in annual coverage, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement.
Pets Best waiting periods
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For accident coverage: Three days (in most states)
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For illness coverage: 14 days (in most states)
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Special waiting period: Six months for cruciate ligament issues
MetLife pet insurance: 4.6 stars — best for multiple pets
MetLife pet insurance scored well in our analysis with its below-average costs and wide range of coverage.
MetLife is notable for its unique Family Plan program for those insuring more than one pet. Unlike other pet insurers that require you to buy separate policies for each pet, MetLife lets you insure up to three cats or dogs under one policy. One advantage to this is there’s a shared deductible for the policy so you can meet the deductible faster when your pets need vet care. In addition, the annual limit is shared among the pets, so if one pet needs more vet care you can allot more of the coverage to that pet. MetLife’s Family Plan also includes a multi-pet discount.
MetLife pet insurance also has an unusual policy limit increase benefit: If your policy has at least $5,000 in annual coverage and you have an unused amount of $1,000 or more at the end of the policy term, MetLife will automatically increase the annual limit by $500 at renewal time for no additional cost.
MetLife pet insurance pros and cons
Pros
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Slightly below-average cost
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Wide range of coverage included
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No special waiting periods for conditions like cruciate ligament issues
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Covers alternative therapy like chiropractic care, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy as well as holistic care, such as herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and CBD oil, when prescribed
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Offers exotic pet insurance for pets such as rabbits, ferrets, birds, and reptiles
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Low $50 deductible available
Cons
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$10,000 maximum annual coverage choice
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Maximum annual benefit of $2,000 for older pets, which can be less than the annual premium
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Short window to submit claims: 90 days from treatment date
More about MetLife pet insurance
MetLife pet insurance basics
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Annual maximum limit choices: $2,000, $5,000, $10,000
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Deductible choices: $50, $100, $250, $500
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Multi-pet discount: Varies under MetLife’s Family Plan
MetLife average cost examples
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Mixed breed dog (medium-size), age 1: $41.34/month
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French bulldog, age 5: $89.46/month
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Labrador retriever, age 8: $112.35/month
Costs are for $5,000 in annual coverage, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement.
MetLife waiting periods
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For accident coverage: Coverage begins at midnight ET of the effective day of the policy
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For illness coverage: 14 days
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Special waiting period: None
Spot: 4.4 stars — best for range of coverage
Spot’s pet insurance included the widest range of coverage in our evaluation. Some pet insurers require add-ons at extra cost, but Spot gives you ample coverage up front in the base policy. While this results in monthly costs that are higher than average, Spot is worth a look from pet owners who want substantial coverage.
Spot pet insurance pros and cons
Pros
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Wide-ranging coverage included
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Ample choices for annual coverage limits
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Curable preexisting conditions are covered after 180 days without symptoms or treatment (except ligament and knee conditions)
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No special waiting periods for specific conditions
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Covers alternative and behavioral therapies
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Long window of 270 days to submit claims after treatment date
Cons
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Higher-than-average costs
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Does not cover smaller costs such as advertising or reward for lost and stolen pets
More about Spot pet insurance
Spot pet insurance basics
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Annual maximum limit choices: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, unlimited
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Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Multi-pet discount: 10%
Spot average cost examples
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Mixed breed dog (medium-size), age 1: $41.03/month
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French bulldog, age 5: $104.68/month
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Labrador retriever, age 8: $131.59/month
Costs are for $5,000 in annual coverage, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement.
Spot waiting periods
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For accident coverage: 14 days
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For illness coverage: 14 days
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Special waiting period: None
Embrace: 4 stars — best for discounts for healthy pets
Embrace pet insurance did well in our scoring with its below-average costs and solid coverage. You’ll have to buy add-ons if you want coverage for vet exam fees and prescription drugs, but overall, Embrace’s policy has extensive coverage.
Especially notable is Embrace’s Healthy Pet Discount Program. If you have claims that total less than $300 per pet in the previous year, you’ll get a 5% discount in the first year and then a 10% discount in the second year for each pet.
Embrace pet insurance pros and cons
Pros
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Below-average costs
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Unlimited annual coverage option available
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Covers behavioral therapy and alternative therapy, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and therapeutic laser treatments
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Preexisting conditions can be covered after a year with no symptoms or treatment
Cons
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Coverage for vet exam fees and prescription drugs requires buying add-ons
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No coverage for prescription food or supplements
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Six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions, which can be reduced to 14 days if the pet gets an orthopedic exam
More about Embrace pet insurance
Embrace pet insurance basics
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Annual maximum limit choices: $2,000, $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, unlimited
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Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
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Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
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Multipet discount: 10%
Embrace average cost examples
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Mixed breed dog (medium-size), age 1: $35.24/month
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French bulldog, age 5: $101.93/month
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Labrador retriever, age 8: $105/month
Costs are for $5,000 in annual coverage, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement.
Embrace waiting periods
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For accident coverage: Begins at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase a policy
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For illness coverage: 14 days
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Special waiting period: six months for canine orthopedic conditions, which can be reduced to 14 days with an orthopedic exam
Pet insurance rating: The full list
Pets Best’s three plans are the best pet insurance in our rankings. See our methodology at the bottom of the page for details on how we arrived at our ratings.
Compare pet insurance costs
Your own pet insurance cost will depend on factors like your location and the pet’s breed, size, and age.
Average pet insurance costs for a $5,000 annual limit
The typical monthly cost of pet insurance with $5,000 in annual coverage is about $87 a month.
Average pet insurance costs for unlimited annual coverage
The typical monthly cost of pet insurance with unlimited annual coverage is about $132 a month.
Factors in pet insurance costs
Your own pet insurance cost will depend on the following:
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Your location
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The pet’s breed and age
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The coverage options you choose for the annual limit, the deductible, and the reimbursement percentage
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The coverage the policy provides and add-ons you pick
Compare pet insurance coverage choices
When you buy a pet insurance policy you’ll make choices for coverage levels that will affect your premium. Choosing a lower annual limit, a higher deductible, and/or a lower reimbursement level will reduce your monthly premium.
Compare pet insurance discounts
One-third (35%) of pet owners have more than one pet, according to a 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center. If you’re buying pet insurance and have more than one dog or cat, snagging a multi-pet discount is a nice perk.
Multi-pet insurance discounts are generally 5% or 10% per pet. Here’s a look at discounts among the pet insurance companies we evaluated.
What does pet insurance cover?
The most common type of pet insurance policy covers accidents and illnesses, and many pet insurers also offer optional wellness plans for routine care.
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Accidents: Physical injury caused by an unexpected event, such as a broken bone or swallowing an object.
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Illnesses: A sickness, disease, or any other change to the pet’s normal health not caused by an accident. Examples include ear infections, skin infections, diabetes, cancer, and digestive issues.
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Wellness plans: Coverage for routine care costs such as wellness exams, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, dental cleanings, flea and tick prevention, and heartworm tests.
Pet insurance coverage highlights
Pet insurance companies can vary substantially in what’s covered by the base policy, what can be covered by paying for add-ons, and what’s excluded. Here’s a look at some add-ons and coverage options.
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Vet exam fee coverage: Not all policies cover the basic fee charged for a vet visit.
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Behavioral therapy: This can include treatments for behavior that is abnormal or dysfunctional, such as aggression, separation anxiety, and excessive chewing or licking.
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Alternative therapy: This can include a variety of treatments, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, laser therapy, massage, herbal therapy, and homeopathy.
How to find the best pet insurance
Decide on a budget
Determine how much you want to spend per month on pet insurance. Having a low budget doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to buy a poor-quality policy. For example, Pets Best offers good coverage at very competitive prices.
Determine what coverage features are must-haves
Coverage features vary substantially among pet insurance companies, so it can help to decide what coverage types are top priority for you and focus on policies with those features. For example, perhaps alternative therapy is important to you, but coverage for end-of-life expenses is not.
Look at waiting periods
All policies have some type of waiting period for coverage, but some pet insurance companies have shorter wait times than others. Among the pet insurance companies we evaluated, the range of waiting periods for accident coverage is next day to 15 days, and the typical waiting period for illness coverage is 15 days. Look out for special waiting periods for certain conditions, such as cruciate ligament issues. These special waiting periods are often six months, but some insurers have no special waiting periods.
Get pet insurance quotes
Compare quotes for similar levels of coverage for the annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage.
Look closely at the policy document
When you get a pet insurance quote, you should see a link to policy documents. Make sure to read the policy to confirm what treatments are covered and what’s excluded.
Best pet insurance FAQs
What is the best pet insurance company?
Pets Best is the best pet insurance company in our evaluation. It offers a superior mix of coverage and price, making it a great value. Its three policies — Essential, Plus, and Elite — grabbed the top scores in our analysis.
What kinds of pets does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance generally covers only dogs and cats. MetLife and Nationwide will cover exotic pets, such as birds, reptiles, and rabbits.
What is the best type of pet insurance to get?
An accident and illness plan is the best type of pet insurance policy to buy because it covers the broadest range of problems — from broken bones to ear infections to cancer. For additional coverage, many pet insurers sell wellness plans that help pay for routine care such as annual wellness exams and vaccinations.
What pet insurance pays the vet directly?
Healthy Paws, Pets Best and Trupanion have ways to pay a vet directly. Trupanion offers the easiest way to get direct vet pay because you won’t have to do anything. If your vet has Trupanion’s software, you don’t have to get a special form filled out or make a request in advance.
Other pet insurers may agree to pay a vet directly if the bill will be large and you ask in advance.
Methodology
We researched the coverage details and prices for 15 pet insurance plans. We then weighted categories and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the best pet insurance companies. Here are the factors we incorporated.
Coverage types: 40% of score. We examined the coverage provided by the base policy, without the extra cost of add-ons. This encompassed coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illness, euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, exotic pets, hereditary and congenital conditions, preexisting conditions, prescription food and supplements, veterinary exam fees, and advertising/reward for lost/stolen pets.
Average cost: 30% of score. We evaluated costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8).
Unlimited coverage option: 10% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered an unlimited annual limit (or a $100,000 limit), which gives pet owners the most robust financial protection possible in the event of a catastrophic pet medical issue.
Direct payments to the veterinarian: 5% of score. We gave points to pet insurers that state on their websites that they accommodate direct vet payments.
No special waiting periods for special conditions: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers have no waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament conditions.
Routine wellness plan: 5% of score. Companies that offer a routine wellness plan in addition to pet insurance received points.
Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered a discount for insuring multiple pets.
