Compare Pet Insurance Providers in the USA
Pet insurance offers a financial safety net that helps owners manage unexpected expenses while providing peace of mind. Keep reading to compare popular pet insurance providers, and review important factors to keep in mind when selecting the right policy for your furry family member.
Top Pet Insurance Providers
1. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws offers comprehensive coverage for accidents, illnesses, emergency care, surgeries, prescription medications, specialty care and chronic conditions. They notably do not impose caps on payouts, whether per incident, annual or lifetime. Their standout features include unlimited lifetime benefits, quick claim processing (often within 2-10 days) and a user-friendly mobile app for submitting claims. They also donate to help homeless pets with every quote given.
Monthly premiums typically range from $20 to $90 depending on your pet's age, breed, location and selected deductible/reimbursement levels. They offer annual deductible options ranging from $100 to $500 and reimbursement rates of 70%, 80% or 90%.
2. Nationwide
As one of the oldest pet insurance providers, Nationwide offers several plan options including Whole Pet (their most comprehensive plan covering accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions and wellness care), Major Medical (for accidents and illnesses) and Pet Wellness (preventative care only). They stand out for offering coverage for exotic pets beyond just cats and dogs, including birds, reptiles and small mammals. Their policies also include access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline.
Monthly premiums range from $25 to $100+ depending on the plan selected and pet details. The Whole Pet plan typically offers 90% reimbursement after deductible.
3. Embrace
Embrace offers comprehensive accident and illness coverage that includes breed-specific conditions, dental illnesses, chronic conditions, cancer treatments, diagnostic testing, emergency care and specialist care. Their Wellness Rewards program functions as a flexible health savings account for routine care. They also offer a diminishing deductible feature that reduces your annual deductible by $50 each year you don't receive a claim reimbursement.
Monthly premiums typically range from $15 to $60 for accident and illness coverage. Deductible options range from $100 to $1,000 with reimbursement rates between 70% and 90%. Annual limits range from $5,000 to $30,000.
4. Pets Best
Pets Best offers tiered plans including Essential, Plus and Ultimate packages for accident and illness coverage. All plans cover accidents, illnesses, cancer treatments, hereditary conditions, emergency care and specialist treatments. They offer optional wellness plans for routine care, a 24/7 pet help line and direct vet payment in some cases. They also have no upper age limits for enrollment.
Premiums start around $9 monthly for accident-only coverage and $16 for comprehensive plans. Deductible options range from $50 to $1,000 with reimbursement options of 70%, 80% or 90%. Annual coverage limits range from $5,000 to unlimited.
5. Trupanion
Trupanion offers a single comprehensive plan covering accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, diagnostic tests, surgeries, medications and hospital stays. Their unique feature is a 90% reimbursement rate on actual veterinary costs with no payout limits. They also offer direct payment to veterinarians in many cases, eliminating the need for out-of-pocket payment and reimbursement wait times.
Monthly premiums average between $30 and $100 based on pet age, breed and location. They use a lifetime per-condition deductible rather than an annual deductible, ranging from $0 to $1,000.
6. Lemonade
As a newer entrant to the market, Lemonade offers a base plan covering accidents and illnesses plus optional add-ons for wellness, physical therapy and vet visit fees. Known for their technology-driven approach, Lemonade offers a user-friendly app and claims to process many claims instantly. They donate unused premiums to charitable causes selected by policyholders.
Their premiums start as low as $10 monthly for younger pets, making them one of the more affordable options. They offer various deductible, reimbursement and annual limit options to customize coverage.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Pet Insurance
When selecting a pet insurance provider, consider these important factors:
- Coverage inclusions and exclusions. Pay close attention to what's covered and what's not, particularly regarding hereditary conditions common to your pet's breed.
- Waiting periods. Most policies implement waiting periods before coverage begins, typically 14 days for illnesses and 2-14 days for accidents.
- Reimbursement method. Some companies use a benefit schedule with fixed payout amounts while others reimburse based on actual vet bills.
- Deductible type. Understand whether the deductible is annual or per-incident, as this significantly impacts out-of-pocket costs.
- Price increases. Premiums typically increase as your pet ages, so inquire about the company's history of rate increases.
- Customer service and reputation. Research customer reviews regarding claim processing times and dispute resolution.