Best Pet Insurance Companies (2023 Guide)

by | 03/14/2023

Your pet means the world to you, and naturally, you want to make sure that it can always receive the best veterinary care. Pet insurance is an excellent way to give yourself peace of mind that your pet will receive the best treatment after an emergency while protecting yourself financially from expensive vet bills. The best pet insurance plan should give you the personalized coverage your pet needs while considering your budget and communication preferences.

We at 365 Pet Insurance took a detailed look at the best pet insurance providers on the market and compared the company’s pros and cons, pricing, benefits, and more so that you can make the best decision for you and your pet. 

Continue reading to learn more about the following pet insurance providers so that you can choose the best one for your needs: 

 

Provider Waiting Period Money-back Guarantee Maximum Enroll Age BBB Rating
Spot 14 days* Yes No age limit A
Lemonade 14 days for illnesses*, 48 hours for accidents No 14 years old N/A
Embrace 14 days for illnesses*, 48 hours for accidents Yes 14 years old A+
Healthy Paws 15 days* Yes 14 years old A-
ASPCA 15 days* Yes No age limit N/A
Prudent Pet 5 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses* Yes No age limit A+
Figo 1 day for injuries, 14 for illness* Yes No age limit B
Wagmo 15 days for accidents and illnesses* No 15 years old N/A
Trupanion 5 days for injuries, 30 days for illnesses* Yes 14 years old A+
*Certain conditions, such as cruciate ligaments or orthopedic conditions, may have longer waiting period times, usually six months to a year. This is common among many pet insurance providers, but most illnesses will be covered after the waiting period listed above.

The Best Pet Insurance Companies

Spot Pet Insurance

Our team at 365 Pet Insurance gives Spot pet insurance the “Best Overall” award for its comprehensive preventative care and wellness plan add-ons. With Spot’s wellness package, you can be reimbursed for costs related to veterinary care costs that prevent your pet from becoming sick, such as regular veterinary appointments, spaying/neutering, exam fees, routine teeth cleanings, and more. Many pet insurance providers do not offer a wellness plan or offer one with far less coverage, so Spot has a significant edge over its competitors regarding preventative care options. 

In addition to this, we gave Spot a 4.9 out of 5 star rating for its multiple pet discounts, customizable pet insurance plans, and comprehensive coverage for accident, illness, and wellness veterinary costs. Spot was founded in 2019, and its insurance is provided by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance which has been around since 2006. Cesar Millan, the best-selling author and TV star who shares techniques about dog training, has partnered with Spot and works with the company to educate pet parents on the importance of routine pet care and training.

Spot’s plans start at $10 for accident-only and $16 for accident and illness coverage. However, you can expect to pay $30 to $50 per month for dogs and $18 to $25 for cats in most cases. Spot’s pet insurance plans cover many situations, including emergency care, poison control consultation fees, dental diseases, behavioral issues, hereditary conditions, and more. Like most pet insurance providers, Spot does not cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, or breeding costs. Cats and dogs are currently the only animals covered for Spot pet insurance plans. 

Spot’s wellness plan package is offered in two tiers, the Gold tier at $9.95 per month and the platinum tier at $24.95 per month. Its wellness package includes significant coverage, including dental cleanings, vaccines, fecal tests, heartworm, urinalysis, blood tests, and more, depending on the plan you choose.

Read more in our Spot Pet Insurance review. 

Pros

  • Offers comprehensive wellness plans
  • No upper age limits
  • 30-day money-back guarantee 
  • Excellent coverage for both accident and illness-related costs

Cons

  • Prescription pet food is not covered
  • Does not cover exotic animals

Lemonade Pet Insurance

Our team has given Lemonade “Most Affordable” and an impressive score of 4.8 out of 5 stars for its wide variety of pet insurance plans, user-friendly online interface, and affordable pricing. Lemonade provides its customers with a considerable number of choices regarding reimbursement percentages, coverage limits, and annual deductible options, as well as the option to add coverage boost add-ons for specific vet expenses, such as therapy and acupuncture. 

Lemonade also has a fast claim approval process. Unlike many pet insurance companies that often have a waiting period of several weeks for claim approval, Lemonade can approve claims in minutes when you submit your claim through its exclusive app, which uses artificial intelligence. 

Pet insurance policies with Lemonade cover many vet treatments, ranging from diagnostic testing to emergency care to medications. In addition to this, it offers preventative packages that provide you with coverage for everyday veterinary costs, such as heartworm tests, vaccines, wellness exams, and more. Like most pet insurance providers, Lemonade does not cover pre-existing conditions. It also has exclusions for behavioral treatments, dental care, and elective cosmetic procedures. Exotic pets, such as reptiles and birds, are also not covered. 

Another factor to consider is that Lemonade is currently only available in 36 states, so we recommend double-checking that your state is covered before you choose Lemonade for your pet insurance coverage. 

As a whole, Lemonade offers very affordable pet insurance plans. Lemonade pet insurance plans start at $10 per month. Like all pet insurance providers, its insurance premium cost will vary based on the coverage you choose, your pet’s age, location, and more. Lemonade is unique among pet insurance companies because any premium money not used to pay for your claims is given back to policyholders’ important causes. When you sign up for a pet insurance plan with Lemonade, you choose a nonprofit you care about, and any unclaimed money (up to 40%) will go back to the nonprofit organization you picked. As of 2021, Lemonade has given over 2.3 million dollars back to nonprofits from its Giveback program. 

Read more in our Lemonade review. 

Pros

  • Completely online experience
  • Special preventative care package for kittens and puppies
  • 48-hour wait period for accidents
  • 5% discount for multiple pets insured 

Cons

  • Only available in 36 states and Washington, D.C.
  • Newer to the market

ASPCA Pet Insurance

ASPCA is our “Most Customizable” pet insurance provider due to its many personalizable annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates. It has also partnered with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, making it one of the most well-known and respected pet insurance providers. We also like that its Member Center app allows you to submit and track claims, contact them, review your benefits, and pay your bill quickly. Overall, we’ve given the company a 4.5 star rating out of 5 stars because of its 30-day money-back guarantee, multiple pet discounts, and many coverage options. 

ASPCA pet insurance includes coverage for many accidents and illnesses, such as hereditary conditions, dental diseases, behavioral issues, and more. Our team particularly likes that ASPCA covers behavioral issues and some alternative therapies, like physical therapy, because many pet insurance plans do not cover these treatment types. 

ASCPA will not cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, and breeding-related costs, such as whelping and pregnancy. While ASPCA policies cover dental diseases, its plans covered notably fewer dental issues than other pet insurance providers that cover dental problems. Pre-existing conditions may be covered, but only if a condition is curable and your pet remains symptom-free for a minimum of 180 days. 

ASPCA currently offers pet insurance and preventative care options for dogs and cats. Unlike some pet insurance providers, ASPCA does not require an exam before enrollment, which we consider a plus for many pet parents. 

On average, ASPCA pet insurance plans cost about $49 per month for dogs and $29 per month for cats. However, this cost will vary significantly based on your location, your pet’s age and health, and other factors. With ASPCA, you have the option of choosing to pay monthly or annually and may receive reimbursement via check or direct deposit.

Read more in our ASPCA Pet Insurance review. 

Pros

  • Partner of American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • Member Center app that allows you to submit and track claims
  • Offers an accident-only plan as a low-cost option covering accidents and injuries
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • No website chat feature
  • Coverage waiting period is longer than most

Embrace Pet Insurance 

We’ve given Embrace our “Best for Deductibles” award due to its unique healthy pet deductible feature, which reduces your deductible by $50 each year that you don’t file a claim. To date, it’s the only pet health insurance company we are aware of that offers this discount. In addition, we’ve rated Embrace at a strong 4.7 out of 5 star rating because of its 30-day money-back guarantee, coverage for curable pre-existing conditions, and military and multiple pet discounts. 

Embrace has been around since 2003 and has been underwritten by the American Modern Insurance Group since 2012. It also writes policies for Geico Insurance and works with several companies to offer pet insurance benefits to their employees. Embrace’s pet insurance plans are currently available for only dogs and cats. We also like that Embrace has a passion for giving back to the community. Embrace donates $2 from every policy and matches employee charitable donations. In 2020 alone, the company donated $50,000 through its EmbraceCLE Community Challenge. 

Embrace offers nose to tail coverage, which covers your pet for all breed-specific and genetic conditions that are not pre-existing. In 2020, Embrace covered 93% of submitted claims, which is an excellent indication of its commitment to being there for pet parents. Embrace’s service and thorough coverage give its clients the ultimate peace of mind that their pets are covered. 

Currently, Embrace covers many procedures, chronic conditions, congenital conditions, dental trauma, exam fees, and more. On top of this, Embrace offers plans which cover medication, prescription pet foods, grooming, and preventatives, like heartworm or tick medications. Embrace will also reassess your pet if a pre-existing condition is cured and remains symptom-free for 12 months, which is a notable benefit to pet parents. Otherwise, Embrace will not cover pre-existing conditions, breeding or pregnancy-related costs, DNA testing or cloning, and cosmetic procedures. 

Typically, Embrace pet insurance plans start around $20-$25 per month and can be over $100 per month depending on which plan you choose, your pet’s age, location, and any add ons you choose. 

Learn more in our Embrace Pet Insurance review. 

Pros 

  • 24/7 pet health line
  • Covers curable pre-existing conditions after 12 months symptom-free
  • Features unique healthy pet deductible
  • Comprehensive coverage, including orthopedic conditions and dental illnesses

Cons

  • Strict pre-existing conditions policy
  • More expensive than most pet insurance providers

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

If giving back is important to you, Healthy Paws pet insurance is a great choice. We’ve also given the company our “Best for Chronic Conditions” award. In 2009, Healthy Paws started a foundation to give back and has donated over a million dollars as of April 15, 2020. Healthy Paws continues to donate with each pet insurance quote and has contributed to over 300 nonprofit pet organizations.

In addition to its charitable giving, Healthy Paws offers unlimited maximum payouts, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and fast claims processing with its mobile app, earning them a strong 4.6 stars out of 5 star rating from us. We also like that it’s underwritten by the Chubb Group, an A+ rated insurer that financially backs Healthy Paws pet insurance. 

When it comes to coverage, Healthy Paws pet insurance is lacking in wellness and preventive care plans. Unlike most of its competitors, it does not offer any wellness or preventative care package. Healthy Paws also doesn’t offer a multiple pet discount to pet parents interested in insuring multiple pets.

Healthy Paws does cover accidents and illnesses, such as hereditary conditions, cancer, chronic conditions, surgery, and emergency care, for both cats and dogs. Its prices are competitive and average $39 per month for dogs and $12 for cats. We also like that Healthy Paws offers customizable coverage, which allows you to choose from multiple reimbursement and deductible options for your dog or cat. Like many pet insurance providers, Healthy Paws does not cover pre-existing conditions. Healthy Paws processes claims within 10 days and reimburses you within 24 hours once you’ve submitted a picture of the vet bill and uploaded it to the mobile app or website.  

Learn more in our Healthy Paws Pet Insurance review. 

Pros

  • No maximum annual or lifetime coverage
  • Underwritten by the Chubb Group, an A+ rated insurer
  • Donates to over 300 nonprofit pet organizations 
  • Mobile app allows you to take pictures of your vet bill and submit your claim easily

Cons

  • Does not offer multiple pet discount
  • One time new customer fee of $25

Prudent Pet Insurance

Prudent Pet earned 4.4 stars out of 5 stars and the “Best Comprehensive Plans” award for offering plans with unlimited annual coverage, along with a variety of other choices to fit your needs. Prudent’s plans include accident-only pet insurance plans, along with an essential plan for when your pet is hurt or sick. Prudent Pet’s ultimate plan caught our attention with its unlimited annual benefit, which gives you peace of mind should your pet need a series of emergency treatments or ongoing care for an illness. In addition to its accident and accident and illness plans, Prudent Pet also offers wellness coverage, which covers routine care costs like vaccinations, and veterinary exam fee coverage, which covers the cost of exam and consultation fees. 

Prudent Pet does not cover pre-existing conditions, which are defined as any illness, injury, or health problem that occurred before your pet insurance policy became active. Prudent’s plans also won’t cover herbal or natural therapies, cosmetic procedures, grooming, boarding fees, and food and prescription diet costs. Currently, Prudent Pet’s insurance covers dogs and cats, so you’ll need to look elsewhere if you have an exotic pet. In addition, Prudent Pet’s plans start as low as $13 per month for limited coverage options to over $100 per month for unlimited coverage choices. 

Some of our favorite things about Prudent Pet are its incredibly high customer satisfaction ratings, including an A+ score from the Better Business Bureau and its rating as the number one pet insurance provider on Trustpilot. Prudent Pet also processes pet insurance claims with artificial intelligence, which is faster than traditional claim processing. It even offers the choice of being reimbursed through check or direct deposit to best suit your preference.  

Learn more in our Prudent Pet Insurance review. 

Pros

  • 24/7 telehealth line with access to veterinarians 
  • Wellness plans are available
  • Unlimited annual benefit plans available
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Does not have a mobile app available for filing claims easily
  • Plans have set annual coverage caps, with no adjustable options

Find the best pet insurance provider in your state:

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What is Pet Insurance? 

Pet insurance is health insurance for your pet that reimburses you for part of your pet’s vet bills based on your specific plan’s coverage. Unlike human insurance, pet insurance providers do not pay for your pet’s medical bill at the vet clinic or animal hospital. Instead, your pet insurance provider will reimburse you directly after you’ve submitted your claim. Most pet insurance plans will reimburse you for between 50 to 90% of the total vet bill. This means that you’ll pay out of pocket for your dog or cat’s medical bill at the time of the visit, then submit your claim to your pet insurance provider, which will then reimburse you for the cost up to your plan’s reimbursement rate. 

Pet insurance should be purchased as a safety net for unexpected future accidents or illnesses, not because you anticipate a large number of vet visits due to a current condition or illness. No pet insurance providers cover pre-existing conditions, so pet insurance should always be viewed as a safety net for your pet’s future health.  

What Does Pet Insurance Usually Cover? 

Pet insurance comes in two primary plan types: accident-only and accident and illness coverage. As the name suggests, accident-only pet insurance solely reimburses you for accident-related vet costs, such as emergency hospitalization, surgery, X-rays, bloodwork, and more. Accident and illness coverage will typically cover you for accident-related expenses, as well as illness-related costs, such as prescription medications, chemotherapy, dialysis, and injections. 

Some pet insurance providers also offer wellness or preventative care plans, which help you with the cost of routine veterinary care, such as vaccinations, veterinary exam fees, routine blood work, and more. 

No pet insurance provider will cover pre-existing conditions, which are illnesses or injuries that your pet sustained before your pet insurance plan became active. Other commonly excluded conditions include behavioral issues, hip dysplasia, grooming, and dental diseases. However, pet insurance will provide you with a safety net in the event of an unexpected accident, such as a broken bone or car accident, or a developed illness, such as diabetes or cancer. Your coverage will vary based on your pet insurance plan, so always make sure to slow down and review coverage details before choosing a plan. 

Do You Need Pet Insurance? 

Pet insurance helps offset unexpected treatment costs for accidents and illnesses your pet may need. While pet insurance isn’t mandatory for owning a pet, it’s a critical investment that allows you to provide your pet with excellent veterinary care no matter what the cost may be. Most pet parents don’t have thousands of dollars to pay for expensive veterinary treatments or surgeries out-of-pocket, which is why pet insurance is an important step that protects your pet’s health and your finances. 

In addition, pet insurance gives you and your veterinarian the freedom to choose the most beneficial treatments for your pet, rather than focusing on the cost of the treatment. No pet owner should have to say no to necessary veterinary treatments for their pet. By having a pet insurance plan in place, you’re ensuring that your pet can always receive the best treatment, especially as it continues to age and become more susceptible to different illnesses. 

How to Choose the Right Pet Insurance Company 

Choosing the best pet insurance company for you and your pet is a key step in having an ideal experience with your pet insurance provider moving forward. There are many factors to consider when choosing the right pet insurance company, including the type of plan. 

Standard pet insurance plan types: 

  • Accident-only: Includes emergency care, such as treatment for broken bones, ingested foreign objects, snake bites, etc. Does not include coverage for illnesses or preventative care. 
  • Accident-illness: Covers emergency care related to accidents as well as the cost of treatments and diagnostic testing for unexpected illnesses. Does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions or routine care costs. 
  • Wellness care plans: Often offered as an add-on to an accident or accident-illness pet insurance plan, wellness plans cover the cost of routine care, such as vaccinations, routine vet exam fees, checkups, regular blood work, etc. On its own, this plan will not cover accidents or illnesses. 

After deciding what kind of coverage you would like for your pet, rule out any pet insurance providers that do not offer this kind of plan. For example, Healthy Paws pet insurance does not offer a wellness plan add-on, so you need to look at other pet insurance providers if you want a wellness plan. 

Other essential factors to consider when choosing the best pet insurance company for you: 

  • Communication: Does this provider offer a live chat, phone number, or email address that you can reach them at? Consider your preferred way to communicate when choosing a provider. 
  • Mobile app: Some pet insurance companies have mobile apps that allow you to quickly snap a photo and upload it to an app, making submitting a claim faster. Other mobile apps will even allow you to communicate with the company directly, view your benefits, and make payments. 
  • Maximum limits: Depending on the pet insurance provider and plan, you may have a maximum limit for how much your provider will pay out in one year or throughout your pet’s lifetime. If it’s important to you that your pet is covered extensively, look for providers that offer high or unlimited maximum limits so that you have peace of mind knowing you won’t be cut off at a certain point. 
  • Reimbursement time: Some pet insurance companies will reimburse their clients within days of receiving a claim, while others may take several weeks. If being reimbursed quickly is important to you, review which companies offer faster reimbursement before choosing a plan. 
  • Customization: Some companies have set plans that you can choose from, while others allow you to customize your coverage, deductible, limit, and more. Depending on your needs, a personalized plan may be the best choice for you. 

Remember that all of the pet insurance providers in this guide offer free personalized quotes after you provide them with basic information about your pet, such as your pet’s age, breed, location, etc. We recommend gathering several quotes from multiple pet insurance companies before deciding which company to insure your pet through. 

Final Thoughts 

Pet insurance is a crucial choice that protects you and your pet by giving you a financial buffer should your pet need unexpected veterinary care. Unfortunately, it can be overwhelming to choose between the many pet insurance providers on the market. While most pet insurance providers offer similar plan options, there is a lot to consider when deciding between different details like your deductible, monthly premium, coverage, wellness plans, and more. 

We hope our in-depth guide on the best pet insurance companies helps you understand the nuanced differences between various pet insurance providers and the plans that they offer better. We know you can ultimately make the best decision for you and your pet with this information. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is buying pet insurance worth it? 

For most pet owners, pet insurance is absolutely worth it. We never know when our pet could have an unexpected accident or develop an illness, so having a backup plan in place to help pay for your pet’s vet bills is beneficial for most pet parents. Vet bills can quickly add up to hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, which many pet parents don’t have readily available. 

Having pet insurance protects you financially and gives you peace of mind that you won’t have to say no to recommended treatments to benefit your pet’s health and happiness. 

Do all vets take pet insurance? 

In short, yes. Your pet insurance provider doesn’t work with your vet, so you don’t have to worry about your vet being in-network like a human health insurance plan. Instead, you submit your claim directly to your pet insurance provider, which will reimburse you based on your coverage. This allows you to go to any licensed veterinarian, whether they are at a clinic or animal hospital, to get your pet the care they need. As long as the treatment is covered under your plan, you’ll be covered.  

Does pet insurance only cover dogs and cats? 

Most pet insurance providers only cover dogs and cats. To date, the only pet insurance provider that covers birds and exotic pets in the United States is Nationwide Insurance. Nationwide can cover your pet pig, lizard, parrot, chinchilla, and other exotic animals. Exotic pets need excellent veterinary care just as much as dogs and cats, so consider looking into a pet insurance plan for them today if you have an exotic pet. 

How much does pet insurance cost? 

Pet insurance costs will vary based on your pet insurance provider, location, your pet’s breed, your pet’s age, and more. Other factors that will influence the cost of pet insurance include the type of plan you choose, especially if the plan has extensive coverage and if you opt for preventative care add-ons. The more coverage your plan has, the higher the cost is likely to be. 

To give you a general idea of pet insurance costs, we’ve researched the following numbers for you. Currently, most dog insurance plans cost $28 per month on average, and cat insurance plans can cost as little as $11 per month. Depending on the plan, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10 per month to $90 per month in most cases.

Our Methodology

To determine the best pet insurance providers, we conduct a detailed analysis of 38 different pet insurance companies operating in the United States and Canada. We put data from each provider through the same rigorous test, examining how each company performs in key areas that are relevant to pet owners. Our seven criteria are then weighted to produce a total score.

  • Price: 20%
  • Coverage: 20%
  • Customer service: 15%
  • Reliability: 15%
  • Choice: 10%
  • Plan features: 10%
  • Transparency: 10%

The best pet insurance providers offer coverage for a wide range of conditions at an affordable price. They also feature flexible customer service, a long reputation of excellence, transparent policies and the ability  to customize your pet insurance plan to your individual needs. You can read more details about our ratings and review methodology here.

Additional Pet Insurance Reviews

 

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