The Best Pet Insurance Companies

Health insurance for pets is not as exotic or rare as it might sound. If you have a pet, you know how expensive it can get at the veterinarian’s office. For those unexpected bills that happen in a pet’s lifetime, pet insurance plans help reduce how much money you dish out of pocket. Insurance companies for pets focus on reimbursement for after you have paid the vet bill, but many of them give back up to 90 percent on qualifying expenses.

Top Pick

Embrace

  • Optional add-on program for routine care
  • Up to 90 percent reimbursement
  • Diminishing deductible
  • Senior pets qualify for limited coverage

Rating 4.7

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Embrace Pet Insurance is our top choice for the best overall pet insurance plan. With a diminishing deductible and reimbursement up to 90 percent, Embrace offers you and your pets an affordable way to take care of them for life.

Finding the right pet insurance for your furry friend doesn’t have to be confusing. We compared numerous insurance plans to bring you the top pet insurance plans. We looked at the varying coverage pet health insurance plans offer, along with exclusions, limitations, deductibles, premiums, and discounts.

The Best Pet Insurance Plans

Editor's PicksBrandRating
Best Pet Insurance OverallEmbrace Pet Insurance 4.7
Runner-Up Pet InsuranceHealthy Paws Pet Insurance
4.6
Best Value Pet InsurancePetfirst Pet Insurance4.6
Best Pet Insurance for Nontraditional PetsPet Assure 4.5
Best Pet Insurance with Add-OnsTrupanion Pet Insurance4.6
Best Pet Insurance for Online Vet CarePet Plan Pet Insurance4.5

The Best Pet Insurance Plan: Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance
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on Embrace Pet Insurance secured website

Average Customer Rating

4.7

What we like:
Customizable insurance plans with a decreasing deductible


Monthly PremiumAverage of $23 for cats and $35 for dogs
Deductible$200 to $1,000
Coverage70 to 90 percent
Age RestrictionsEligible up to 14 years old
Accident-only coverage for 15 years and older

Visit the Embrace Pet Insurance website or get a quote for pet insurance


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Embrace Pet Insurance covers some of the cost of a wide range of unexpected accidents, injuries, and illnesses for dogs and cats up to, and including, the age of 14. Coverage includes dental injury, breed-specific conditions, chronic or congenital conditions, diagnostics, emergency and hospital care, surgery, prescription medications, and cancer. Other things that are covered include specialist care, mobility devices, alternative treatment, rehabilitation, and behavioral therapy. Though pets are accepted under the age of 15, senior pets 15 years of age and older are eligible for accident-only coverage, which includes problems like bloat, poisoning, car accidents, cuts, etc.

Embrace also offers additional coverage, which is entirely optional, to help with the costs of routine care. This optional coverage includes wellness exam fees, spay or neuter surgery, grooming, training, holistic care, cremation, burial, and more. But if you’re looking for a basic emergency plan, Embrace offers the choice of a low premium and high deductible. It’s referred to as “catastrophic pet insurance” because it’s for those few unexpected, really large vet bills, such as emergency surgery for ingesting a foreign object, treatment after a car accident, or long hospital stays.

Exclusions and limitations do apply for this pet insurance, and Embrace does not cover extra services such as DNA testing, cosmetic procedures, and breeding expenses. The health insurance also excludes preexisting conditions, unless the condition has resolved and your pet remains both symptom and treatment free for at least one year. The policy has a wait period of two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.

When you sign up with Embrace, you choose the deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual maximum amount to customize your pet’s insurance plan. Choose from 70, 80, or 90 percent reimbursement, $200 to $1,000 for a deductible, and $5,000 to $30,000 for an annual maximum reimbursement limit. Add coverage from $250 to $650 for the optional reward program as well.

The cost of this pet insurance depends on your choice of coverage. But prices range from about $9 to $60 per month. The average cost is about $35 per month for dogs and $23 per month for cats. If you have more than one pet, Embrace discounts 10 percent for each additional pet added to the insurance plan. For every year you don’t receive a payout from a claim, your deductible decreases by $50. You can change or cancel your policy at any time.

Important Features of Embrace Pet Insurance:

  • Up to 90 percent in reimbursement
  • Decreasing deductible
  • Optional program for routine care
  • Accident-only plan for seniors
  • Multi-pet 10 percent discount
  • Plans start at less than $10 per month
  • Customizable insurance plans

For more information, see our our full Embrace Pet Insurance Review

Runner-Up Pet Insurance Plan: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
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on Healthy Paws Pet Insurance secured website

Average Customer Rating

4.6

What we like:
Customizable insurance plans with fast claims processing


Monthly PremiumAs low as $15 for cats and $20 for dogs
Deductible$100, $250, or $500
Coverage70 to 90 percent
Age Restrictions8 weeks old up to 14 years of age

Visit the Healthy Paws Pet Insurance website or get a quote for pet insurance


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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance offers health insurance for pets, specifically cats and dogs, with plans starting at $15 per month for cats and $20 per month for dogs. Our runner-up choice, Healthy Paws covers accidents and illnesses for pets 8 weeks of age up to 14 years old. Coverage for this pet insurance includes things like emergencies, congenital or hereditary conditions, chronic illness, and cancer treatment. Your pet is also covered for surgery, x-rays, accidents, prescriptions, specialist care, or alternative treatment under Healthy Paws insurance plans.

Like most pet insurance companies, Healthy Paws does not cover preexisting conditions. Neither does the company cover exam fees, preventative care, dental health, boarding, spay or neuter surgery, training, or behavioral therapy. The pet insurance policy wait period is 15 days after the policy’s effective date. The majority of claims are processed within 10 days, but Healthy Paws allows you to submit a photo of your veterinarian bill as your claim form, for ease and convenience.

With no maximum annual or lifetime limit on its insurance plans, Healthy Paws gives you the option of 70, 80, or 90 percent reimbursement, and a choice of $100, $250, or $500 deductible, depending on the age of your pet. After you fill out the simple form to get a quote, Healthy Paws suggests a monthly plan, but you also have the option to change it. For example, a 5-year-old female dog that weighs about 50 pounds can be covered with either a 70 or 80 percent reimbursement schedule and either a $250 or $500 deductible for the cost of $33 to $43 per month. A 5-year-old male cat costs roughly $14 to $18 per month for coverage.

Important Features of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance:

  • Photo-enabled claim form
  • No maximum annual or lifetime limit
  • Customizable insurance plans
  • Donates to nonprofit animal organizations
  • Up to 90 percent reimbursement

Best Value Pet Insurance Plan: Petfirst Pet Insurance

Petfirst Pet Insurance
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on Petfirst Pet Insurance secured website

Average Customer Rating

4.6

What we like:
Customizable insurance plans with multi-pet discount


Monthly PremiumAs low as $9 for cats and $15 for dogs
DeductibleAs low as $100
Average is $250
Coverage65 to 100 percent
Age RestrictionsAs young as 8 weeks old
No maximum limit

Visit the Petfirst Pet Insurance website or get a quote for pet insurance


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If you’re looking for the best value when it comes to pet health insurance, consider Petfirst Pet Insurance. With insurance plans starting at $9 per month for cats and $15 per month for dogs, and the option of a multi-pet discount up to 30 percent, Petfirst gives you an easy and affordable way to cover your pet’s veterinarian bills. For cats and dogs 8 weeks of age and older – with no age limit, basic insurance plans cover things like chronic care, hereditary and congenital conditions, exam fees, accidents, illness, medications, emergencies, surgeries, diagnostic tests, X-rays, and alternative medicine and therapy.

Petfirst also offers optional wellness plans to attach to your comprehensive insurance plan to help with the cost of routine care. Choose from a range of coverage with the 5-tier plan, and your pets can be covered for things like routine exams and fees, vaccinations, routine teeth cleaning, spay and neuter surgery, and behavioral training. After six months, coverage expands to include intervertebral disc disease and cruciate ligaments as well.

Compared to all the other pet insurance plans we looked at, Petfirst gives you the most options when customizing your pet’s insurance plan. Choose from 65 to 100 percent in reimbursement, a variety of deductibles, and a range of annual limits from $2,000 to no annual limit at all. And don’t forget Petfirst offers a multi-pet discount, which can save you up to 30 percent if you sign up two or three pets under the age of 10 years. There’s a 14-day wait period for illness coverage after your policy is in effect, but only about 24 hours for accidents.

Easy to use, Petfirst makes using your kitty’s insurance plan fast and simple. Just go to the vet, pay the bill, and submit your claim with the bill information to receive your chosen reimbursement amount. Claims are typically processed within 10 days to two weeks. Petfirst’s insurance plans do not cover preexisting conditions, elective procedures, grooming, boarding, food, or supplements.

Important Features of Petfirst Pet Insurance:

  • Customizable insurance plans
  • Expanded coverage after six months
  • Multi-pet discount up to 30 percent
  • Optional coverage for routine care
  • No age limit

Best Pet Insurance Plan for Nontraditional Pets: Pet Assure

Pet Assure Pet Insurance
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on Pet Assure Pet Insurance secured website

Average Customer Rating

4.5

What we like:
Discount insurance plan for 25 percent off veterinarian services


Monthly Premium$10 for cats
$12 for dogs
$17 for up to four pets
$22 for more than four pets
DeductibleNone
Coverage25 percent
Age RestrictionsNone

Visit the Pet Assure Pet Insurance website or get a quote for pet insurance


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Just about every insurance company we looked at caters to either dogs or cats, or both, but what to do if your pet isn’t a dog or a cat? For nontraditional pets, such as rabbits, reptiles, and even goats, Pet Assure covers any type of animal you have as a pet, so long as your veterinarian is a participating veterinarian with Pet Assure.

Different when compared to other pet health insurance companies, Pet Assure is a discount pet insurance, as opposed to a comprehensive pet insurance, and offers 25 percent off veterinarian services. Discount insurance plans are $10 to $22 per month, and Pet Assure covers as many pets as you have. Choose from a single plan, family plan – up to four pets, or an unlimited plan – more than four pets. If you pay the annual policy in full, you’re eligible for another discount. No claims to file, and there are no deductibles for you to worry about, either.

Pet Assure has no waiting period – as you soon as you sign up, just show your card when you’re at the vet, and your discount is immediately applied. There is no age limit for your pet, and everything is covered, even preexisting conditions. As long as your veterinarian accepts Pet Assure, any type of situation is eligible for a discount. What isn’t covered are services that are outsourced from the veterinarian, such as lab work or specialist care.

Though this discount insurance plan covers everything, such as dental cleanings, wellness visits, surgeries, routine visits, and more, it can also be used in conjunction with a more comprehensive insurance plan, ensuring your pets are very well covered when they go to the vet. As a bonus, Pet Assure enrolls your pet for free in a lost pet recovery service.

Important Features of Pet Assure:

  • Can be used in conjunction with comprehensive insurance
  • 25 percent off veterinarian services
  • Multiple discounts for multiple pets
  • Works with participating veterinarians
  • No age limit or exclusions

Best Pet Insurance with Add-Ons: Trupanion Pet Insurance

Trupanion Pet Insurance
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on Trupanion Pet Insurance secured website

Average Customer Rating

4.6

What we like:
Multiple add-on insurance plans for extended coverage


Monthly PremiumAverage of $19 for cats and $35 for dogs
Deductible$0 to $1,000
Coverage90 percent
Age Restrictions14 years old

Visit the Trupanion Pet Insurance website or get a quote for pet insurance


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Some pet insurance plans only offer comprehensive coverage and exclude anything extra. Other plans offer you the option of picking up additional coverage beyond the main package. These insurance add-ons vary from company to company, and sometimes within the same company. Compared to all the health insurance packages we reviewed, we like Trupanion’s add-on options the best, due to the coverage options for a wide range of services beyond the basics.

Trupanion offers health insurance coverage for dogs and cats up to the age of 14 years. The insurance company offers one plan, and covers 90 percent of all eligible claims. Trupanion’s insurance plan covers hereditary and congenital conditions, unexpected costs such as illness or unidentified issues, injury, surgery, and diagnostic tests. Other things that are covered include wounds, diabetes, medications, kidney disease, cancer treatment, and herbal therapy. The main coverage does not include wellness care, exam fees, or preexisting conditions.

Optional coverage that you can add to the Trupanion insurance plan includes physical, rehabilitative, and behavioral therapy. This package also includes alternative practices such as acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and chiropractic care. Another additional insurance package to consider includes coverage of boarding fees should you find yourself hospitalized and needing to board your pet. Also under this package, cremation, burial, and other random services are covered.

Trupanion’s insurance plan doesn’t have a maximum limit for annual protection, and there’s a waiting period of five days for injuries and 30 days for illness. In comparison to other insurance policies, Trupanion features a condition-based deductible that can be adjusted at any time from zero to $1,000. A condition-based deductible means you pay a deductible for every new condition your pet is seen for. But once the deductible for that particular issue is fulfilled, it’s fulfilled for the life of your pet. An insurance plan for dogs costs roughly $28 to $139 per month depending on age and the size of the deductible you choose. For cats, the cost is about $19 to $61 per month.

Important Features of Trupanion Pet Insurance:

  • Direct pay to veterinarians available
  • 90 percent reimbursement
  • Condition-based, adjustable deductible
  • Optional physical and behavioral therapy coverage
  • No maximum annual limit

Best Pet Insurance for Online Vet Care: Petplan Pet Insurance

Pet Plan Pet Insurance
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on Pet Plan Pet Insurance secured website

Average Customer Rating

4.5

What we like:
Coverage includes online vet visits


Monthly PremiumAverage of $23 for cats and $50 for dogs
Deductible$200 to $1,000 for cats
$200 to $2,500 for dogs
Coverage70 to 90 percent
Age RestrictionsLimited coverage for 10 years of age or older

Visit the Pet Plan Pet Insurance website or get a quote for pet insurance


Visit Insurer WebsiteGet Quote

Veterinary care has come a long way in its services to our pets. It’s not just the extended products, procedures, or innovative care available. Now our pets can participate in online vet visits. Whether you use an online veterinarian to fill in the gaps of your pet’s regular care or your vet is only available online, now your pet can have health insurance to cover those online services.

Petplan covers pets of any age, but provides a limited policy coverage for pets 10 years or older. For dogs and cats six weeks of age and older, Pet Plan covers things like prescriptions, diagnostic tests, holistic care, alternative treatments, exam fees, and non-routine dental treatments – in real-time or online. After six months, coverage expands to include knee and soft tissue disorders. Pet Plan even covers up to $1,000 for behavioral conditions and boarding fees.

Pet Plan is a customizable pet insurance plan with a waiting period for injury and illness of 15 days. Choose from reimbursement rates from 70 to 90 percent, a deductible from $200 to $2,500 for dogs and up to $1,000 for cats, and an annual maximum amount of $2,500 to an unlimited amount. The cost of health insurance for dogs ranges from $20 to $100 per month and $20 to $43 per month for cats. The average price of an insurance plan for dogs is $50 per month, but the budget price is about $30 per month. The average price of an insurance plan for cats is $23 per month, and the budget price is about $20 per month.

Not covered under the Pet Plan insurance plan is routine care, preventative treatments, elective procedures, spay and neuter surgery, and preexisting conditions. As a stipulation under the preexisting condition rule, curable preexisting conditions are covered after 365 days of your pet being symptom and treatment free from said condition.

Important Features of Pet Plan Pet Insurance:

  • Covers online vet visits
  • Behavioral conditions and boarding fees are covered
  • Customizable insurance plans
  • Wait period of 15 days
  • Reimbursement up to 90 percent

How We Found the Best Pet Insurance Plans

To determine the quality of a pet insurance plan, we looked at a variety of features essential to health insurance for pets. We compared coverage, including the exclusions and limitations that might apply, deductibles, reimbursement rates, annual limits, optional add-on insurance coverage, and any discounts offered.

Coverage

Health insurance coverage for pets spans a range of scenarios, depending on which company you sign up with. Many of the health insurance plans for pets we looked at feature similar core packages – covering unexpected illnesses, injuries, and accidents. But beyond that, they all differ in the exact coverage offered in the core plan. Not all insurance companies define ‘unexpected illnesses, injuries, and accidents’ the same way. Therefore, the core package often differs in the coverage details. Core insurance plans typically cover things like:

  • Emergencies
  • Surgery
  • Non-routine dental care
  • Prescription medications
  • Cancer treatments
  • Congenital and hereditary conditions
  • Chronic conditions
  • Diagnostics
  • Hospital stays

To compare, Embrace Pet Insurance offers reimbursement for rehabilitation and behavioral therapy as part of the core package. Whereas, Healthy Paws does not offer coverage for these items under its main insurance plan.

Exclusions and Limitations

Along with a varying core package, exclusions and limitations regarding coverage may vary as well. Consider what you do and don’t want in your main insurance plan package. Compare the pet insurance plans we researched to determine the one that will fit closest to your needs. For example, all plans exclude preexisting conditions from being covered, but a few have stipulations attached to that rule. Perhaps your pet has a preexisting condition. In which case, this may be a feature you want to look into further.

Other limitations noted on pet insurance plans is age. The average cut-off age is 14 years old, but some plans do not even have an age limit. Other plans allow a limited policy for seniors over the age of 14 or 15 years. For instance, Trupanion and Healthy Paws accept pets up to 14 years old, while in comparison, Petfirst has no age limit for enrollment.

Deductible, Reimbursement, and Annual Limits

Pet health insurance policies usually require a deductible – the amount of money you pay out of pocket before the insurance company pays a claim, but that amount varies depending on the company. Typical deductibles are $100, $250, $500, $1,000, and up. But some insurance plans offer a zero deductible.

Reimbursement rates also vary across insurance companies. Most plans offer to cover eligible costs up to 90 percent, but many give you the option to choose. For example, Healthy Paws offers insurers 70, 80, or 90 percent in reimbursement rates. In comparison, Petfirst offers reimbursement rates as low as 65 percent and as high as 100 percent.

To understand how deductibles and reimbursement rates work together, consider the following:

  • A low reimbursement with a high deductible equates to a lower monthly premium. This means more money out of your pocket for the vet bill, but less in your monthly bills.
  • In comparison, a high reimbursement with a low deductible equates to a higher monthly premium. This means less money out of your pocket for the vet bill, but more in monthly bills.

Another feature to consider is the annual limit for your insurance plan. This is the maximum amount an insurance company will pay out on an annual policy. Most of the insurance companies we looked at don’t cap the annual amount, so your pet is covered for even the high unexpected costs.

Add-on Plans

The core package of pet insurance plans covers the unexpected costs associated with veterinarian bills. Many pet insurance companies also offer additional packages to help round out the cost of routine vet care, which isn’t typically covered under the main plan. These additional plans vary from company to company. So consider what else you might want your pet covered for.

For example, Trupanion offers a couple of different add-on plans that cover alternative treatments and therapies, which aren’t covered under the core plan. This way, you can expand your pet’s coverage so she’s insured for a number of situations. The cost of the add-on plans varies from company to company.

Discounts

Everyone likes a discount. And when you have more than one pet, discounts can be a huge help. Not all pet insurance companies offer discounts, but some do. If you’re looking to insure more than one pet, it would be wise to consider a pet insurance company that offers savings for insuring more than one pet at a time. For example, Petfirst offers up to 30 percent off for adding up to three pets on an insurance plan, and Pet Assure has a discounted unlimited plan for more than four pets.

How to Choose the Best Pet Insurance Plan for Your Pet

When selecting a pet health insurance plan, consider the variety of factors that each company offers in its insurance plans. Compare your most wanted features so you can determine the best fit for you and your pet. There’s no right or wrong type of coverage – it just depends on what is most important to you. Here are a few important factors to consider when evaluating different pet insurance companies.

Look at Covered Conditions and Exclusions

A pet insurance plan should have a list of covered conditions, such as illness, chronic disease, and injuries, as well as information on specific conditions that are not covered under the plan. Many pet insurance plans don’t cover genetic conditions, pregnancy and gestation, or regular wellness and preventative care, such as vaccinations, examinations, and spay/neuter surgery. However, some insurance plans do offer general wellness coverage with the purchase of a rider. Additionally, most pet insurance plans exclude pre-existing conditions, or conditions your pet has been diagnosed with or treated for within a certain time, such as six or twelve months before coverage began.

Look at Coverage and Deductibles

Not all pet insurance companies cover the same portion of veterinary expenses, although most offer 70 to 90 percent coverage of qualified expenses. Some pet insurance companies allow you to choose the coverage amount based on your needs, but higher coverage amounts mean higher monthly or annual premiums.

Deductibles, or the amount you’re responsible for paying before your pet’s insurance coverage kicks in, also vary from plan to plan. Some plans have annual deductibles that you’re responsible for paying each year, while others have per-incident deductibles or per-condition deductibles. In the case of a per-conditon deductible. you’d pay the deductible before the insurance company would begin to cover their percentage when your pet is diagnosed. A per-condition deductible applies to each new diagnosis, so if your pet has multiple health conditions, you’ll pay the deductible amount for each condition.

Consider Monthly Premiums

Pet parents purchase pet insurance coverage to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses if their pet gets injured or becomes ill. If you’re on a limited budget, the monthly premium – the amount you pay each month (or year) for pet insurance coverage is probably your biggest concern.

The monthly premium amount correlates to the portion of qualified expenses the pet insurance company will cover and your deductible. Unlike deductibles, which you only pay when your pet requires care covered under the insurance plan, your monthly premiums are a predictable expense. If you can fit a higher monthly premium into your budget but may not have the funds to pay a higher deductible if your pet is injured or sick, it may make sense to opt for a higher-premium, lower-deductible plan. A higher premium typically also means that your pet insurance plan will cover a larger portion of qualified expenses, such as 90 percent instead of 70 percent, which can also reduce the unexpected out-of-pocket costs you’ll need to pay if your pet requires care.

Your pet’s age, size, and breed also factor into your monthly premiums. Ultimately, you should find the right balance of a predictable monthly or annual premium that suits your budget with possible out-of-pocket costs you can comfortably afford should your pet require care.

The Final Verdict

The best pet insurance plan for your pet depends on your pet’s needs and overall health status as well as your family’s financial circumstances. Embrace Pet Insurance offers the best overall value for most families, but you may find that another pet insurance company offers a plan that better meets your needs. When evaluating pet insurance plans, you should carefully consider the potential costs – both regular monthly or annual expenses as well as deductibles and your portion of the qualified expenses (the 10 to 30 percent remaining after your pet insurance plan covers their portion), as well as what’s covered and any exclusions that may apply to your pet.