The Best Pet Insurance: A Pet Parent’s Guide

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Health insurance is the one thing in life you need but hope you never have to use: It’s the best safeguard against unforeseen illness, injury, and all the other potential pitfalls of being alive.

For a growing number of pet insurance customers, the sentiment holds true for our beloved companion animals. But the pet insurance space, which seems to add more companies and options to choose from by the day, can be confusing and overwhelming to navigate.

If you’re considering pet health insurance but unsure of where to start your research, this article can help.

Over the last four months, Rover conducted a series of extensive surveys of customers with and without pet insurance, exhaustive polls of pet insurance companies, and hours and hours of research to examine the benefits, costs, and considerations of pet insurance for the average pet parent. This article evaluates and compares eight major companies that offer pet insurance.

Read on for frequently asked questions about pet insurance, a glossary of commonly used terms, how we conducted the research, and to see how each of the eight companies profiled here compare.

Click here to skip ahead to the list of companies and how they compared.

What Is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is health insurance for pets, primarily intended to help you pay unexpected expenses for illness and injury. Similar to human insurance, you make a monthly payment (called a premium). Your veterinary expenses will then be at least partly reimbursed (that amount differs by plan). Reimbursement generally starts after you have paid out a certain amount on your own (the deductible).

The details of what expenses are covered can differ greatly, but typically, the basic plan doesn’t cover routine vet visits and preventative care, such as yearly exams, vaccinations, or spaying and neutering—just surprise medical expenses. However, many companies also offer add-on coverage options for routine and wellness care. 

Illness and injury coverage is a huge selling point for our survey respondents. “My favorite part about having pet insurance is that I don’t have to panic about money when there’s something wrong with my dog,” says one pet parent. Veterinary care nowadays is extremely sophisticated and can treat many more illnesses and conditions than it could in the past, but it can be expensive. While you have infinite love for your pet, you probably don’t have infinite funds, and insurance can help you afford medical care without worrying about the expense.

The majority of companies only insure cats and dogs; if you also have exotic pets (birds, rabbits, reptiles, etc.) only one company in our survey, Nationwide, offers plans to cover those as well.

Click here to skip ahead to the list of companies and how they compared.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

The cost of pet insurance premiums are based on a number of factors that differ depending on the company, but these generally include the species and breed of the pet, her/his sex, her/his age, and your location (because the costs of veterinary care differ in different places). Some companies offer choices that customize coverage to your needs, which also affects the price: for example, a plan that only covers emergencies will cost less than one that also covers wellness care.

Your cost will also depend on choices you make about the coverage terms. You may be able to choose from a range of deductibles (the amount you have to pay for care before your insurance company will start paying you), a yearly or lifetime maximum payout, and a reimbursement rate, that is, what percentage of the bill will be covered (once your deductible is met).

As you might expect, you get more if you pay more: A lower deductible generally will cost you a higher monthly premium; a plan with a $5000 maximum payout will cost less than one with an unlimited payout.

(Because of these complexities, no article can tell you exactly what your own insurance will cost, since it depends on your individual pet, where you live, and what choices you make. However, for each company we try to give you some sample costs.

Typically you will make your own claims directly with the insurance company and be reimbursed directly. Different companies have different methods for filing but nowadays they generally involve apps and/or online forms. 

You can choose your own vet, and all companies cover emergency care, so it isn’t like human insurance where a trip to an out of network provider in an emergency can become a financial calamity. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that customers generally seem to have a positive attitude toward their pet insurance. Some respondents to our survey made comments like, “I’m just so in love with my insurer”—feedback one rarely hears people make about their own health insurance.

However, there are some important limitations to be aware of. The biggest one is that pre-existing conditions are not covered. You will need to pay the full cost of care for any problem that was apparent before you purchased your policy. This is a clear source of frustration for customers, and disputes sometimes arise over whether something meets the definition of “pre-existing.”

Also be aware that like most human health plans, most plans don’t provide coverage for routine dental care, which is unfortunate since neglected dental care can lead to serious health problems. Additional coverage can sometimes be purchased.

Beyond that, there are a lot of options and differences, which can make it hard to compare companies and plans. This article will help with that, but be sure to also think about your own situation and do your own research as well. It’s fairly common to see online reviews where customers are unhappy that their policy didn’t cover something when it was clearly something that the policy they bought didn’t cover. 

It’s easy to avoid being that sort of dissatisfied customer: know what you’re buying. Don’t assume that something will be covered simply because it’s something you think of as medical care, or is similar to what your own human health insurance covers—exam fees, say, or immunizations. Think about what’s important to you and what problems your individual pet is prone to, read the company’s website—some are quite informative—and read the actual policy. There are enough options available in pet insurance nowadays that you can probably find something that will satisfy you, but don’t assume that what your friend (or an article!) calls “best” is necessarily best for your own situation.

Click here to skip ahead to the list of companies and how they compared.

Do I Need Pet Insurance?

Ask pet owners about insurance and one phrase comes up repeatedly: “Peace of mind.” Routine care, which isn’t covered by most plans, is a predictable expense that you can budget for. But when faced with an unexpected illness or injury, costs can balloon rapidly. Having insurance means you can worry about your pet rather than the price of care.

Even if your pet is currently young and healthy, it’s a good idea to consider insurance earlier rather than later. Accidents, of course, can occur at any age. And while older pets tend to need more care, some companies and plans have an upper age limit at which you can begin a plan. 

All companies base the cost of your monthly premium at least partly on the age of your pet. So if your pet is already older, your cost will be higher. For an elderly pet, you may need to consider more carefully whether the expense of a new insurance policy seems worth it, compared to putting aside the same amount of money in a savings account; however, remember that a savings account can be drained, whereas an insurance policy may end up paying out more than you paid into it.

Also remember that no plans cover pre-existing conditions. If your pet already has a diagnosed medical issue before you purchase your policy, it will not be covered. This is another reason to consider obtaining coverage when your pet is young and before any long-term problems have developed.

If you have a breed that may need treatment for a breed-specific hereditary or congenital problem—say, airway surgery for a French Bulldog—you should choose your plan particularly carefully, because not all plans cover this. Be aware that even the plans that do cover congenital and hereditary conditions will still not cover them if they are pre-existing. What does that mean? Even though a congenital condition is by definition one that is present at birth, what matters is whether the pet has shown evidence of the problem before the policy goes into effect—symptoms of the condition, for example, or an actual diagnosis. If so, it’s preexisting, and not covered.

If your cash flow situation is very tight, be aware that payout times differ; companies cited a range from three to seven days to over three weeks. So if fast reimbursement is important to you, pay attention to this detail when choosing a plan. One company, Trupanion, offers immediate reimbursement if your veterinarian uses their proprietary software; with other companies you may also be able to choose direct deposit instead of getting a check mailed, which will also speed things up.

Click here to skip ahead to the list of companies and how they compared.

Glossary of Commonly Used Pet Insurance Terms

Benefits: Full or partially covered services and treatments provided by your pet insurance policy.
Deductible: The amount of money set by your pet insurance company for provided services that must be paid out of pocket before your pet insurance plan will pay for services. 
Exclusions: Provisions in your pet insurance policy that exclude coverage for illness or injury, for reasons explained in your policy. 
Payout: The amount of money paid to you once a claim has been approved and processed.
Pre-existing condition/s: Health conditions in your pet that exist or are apparent before you applied for pet insurance that are almost never covered by pet health insurance (none of the companies profiled here, for example, offer this kind of coverage). 
Premium: Your monthly payment for your pet insurance policy.
Waiting period: The amount of time that must elapse before your pet insurance policy goes (or parts of your policy go) into effect.

How We Reviewed and Compared Providers

To determine the best pet insurance, we first polled Rover staff willing to share their experience with pet insurance. Then we surveyed, via a third party polling platform, approximately 2,000 participants for their experience with pet insurance.* We then polled a similar set of pet parents without pet insurance.

Next, we sent an exhaustive form requesting specific plan information to the top 10 pet insurance providers in the nation—Embrace, Trupanion, Nationwide, ASPCA, Petplan, Pet First, Figo, AKC, Pets Best, and Healthy Paws—and of these, Embrace, Trupanion, Nationwide, ASPCA, Petplan, Pet First, Figo, and AKC responded to our requests for plan information.** This article compares the qualities of those eight companies.

We took this enormous set of company and customer data and then compared it to existing online public reviews and the company’s overall business rating; this helped us develop a ranking system through the lens of the following criteria:

• Overall customer satisfaction with the plan
• General customer satisfaction with plan value
• Quality of customer service
• Ease of use of plan

The companies listed below each are categorized according to how they compared when all those qualities were considered in aggregate.

The Best Pet Insurance Companies: Our Comparative Review

About the company

PetFirst was founded in 2004 and was acquired this year by MetLife, a major corporation that provides insurance and other financial services. According to their website, PetFirst has provided insurance to tens of thousands of dogs and cats since their inception. Over 15 years of history and the backing of a major financial corporation make this a solid choice for experience and likely future stability.

What they get right

PetFirst comes out at or near the top of our survey on questions about how likely customers are to recommend it to others—an indication of general satisfaction—and how strongly they feel that they get value for their money. Comments on customer service are enthusiastic and use words like “caring” and “compassion;” one commenter says they “truly care about the wellbeing of my animals.” While their speed of reimbursement is only middling, and they don’t currently have an app for submitting claims, they do offer other online options, and commenters seem satisfied with the ease of the process. 

What sets them apart

While getting high marks for satisfaction and value, their average premium costs are on the low end of companies included here. Exam fees and prescriptions are covered, and you can purchase additional coverage for wellness care. They cover hereditary and congenital conditions, although note that there is a longer wait period before coverage kicks in for certain orthopedic conditions (see below). 

Plan at a glance

• Any age restrictions: No
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: No specific answer, but age is one factor that determines premium cost
• Cost per month: Plans start at $15 for dogs and $9 for cats. The company did not provide an average, but an average of sample quotes was $15 for cats and $30 for dogs
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Pre-existing condition; claim is missing information
• Average payout time: 80% of claims are processed in 10 days or less
• Dental covered? Routine dental cleaning is not covered, only treatment of periodontal disease
• Alternative treatments covered? Yes
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: Accident coverage begins at midnight; waiting period for illness, 14 days; for conditions such as Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and cruciate ligaments, six months
• Free telehealth services offered? No
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? Additional coverage can be purchased
• Exam fees covered? Yes
• Senior, military, student discounts? No
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: Available choices include an unlimited plan 
• Multi-pet discount? Yes
• Claims process: Claims can be submitted via online portal, email, fax, or standard mail

PetFirst is legally obligated to state the following: Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”) is the insurance carrier for this product. PetFirst Healthcare, LLC, a MetLife company, is the policy administrator authorized to offer and administer pet insurance policies. Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company, is headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact PetFirst Healthcare, LLC. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies issued by IAIC contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force.

About the company

Founded in 2002 as PetPartners, Inc. and doing business as the AKC brand since 2003, they offer a range of options to customize your plan in addition to the more usual choices of payout limits and deductibles. The base plan covers illness and injury, and you can purchase additional coverage for exam fees, hereditary conditions, wellness/preventative, and dental.

What they get right

Like PetFirst, AKC Pet Insurance gets consistently high marks in our customer survey for how likely their customers are to recommend it, and how strongly they feel that they get value for their money. The biggest difference between the two is simply that we had far fewer respondents who were their customers, so the numbers may be statistically less reliable; however, if the scores turned out to be consistent over a larger sample, AKC Pet Insurance might actually come out on top.

Their premium for basic coverage is likewise at the low end of companies surveyed—the average over our requested sample quotes was $12 for cats and $21 for dogs. (The average supplied by the company below is presumably higher since that would include customers who have purchased additional coverage, such as for wellness or congenital conditions).

What sets them apart

One advantage over our top pick that might matter to some customers is that they do have an app for submitting claims. One disadvantage is that coverage for older pets (9 and up) is more limited. Respondents seemed equally satisfied with the service.

Plan at a glance

• Any age restrictions: Pets newly enrolled at 9 or older can only get accident-only coverage. Inherited and Congenital coverage must be added before age 2 and SupportPlus (covers cremation and burial expenses) before age 5
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: Age does factor into premium cost, although premiums may either increase or decrease with age depending on changes in the other factors
• Average cost per month: $30–$50 per month for dogs and $20–$40 per month for cats
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Claim for something that is not covered.
• Average payout time: three to seven days
• Dental covered? $150 reimbursement for dental cleanings with the additional DefenderPlus wellness care coverage
• Alternative treatments covered? Alternative and holistic treatments are included in the accident and illness base plan coverage
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: 14 days for illnesses, two days for accidents, 180 days for Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) and cruciate ligament conditions. Supplemental plans have their own waiting periods, eg. 30 days for Hereditary coverage
• Free telehealth services offered? Yes
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? Covered with the additional Wellness Care plan
• Exam fees covered? Covered with the additional Exam Care plan
• Senior, military, student discounts? None mentioned specifically, but discounts for responsible breeders are available
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: Can choose annual limit from $2,500 to unlimited
• Multi-pet discount? Yes
• Claims process: App

About the company

Trupanion was founded in 2000 and claims to have paid out over $1 billion for medical claims for thousands of pets, so this is an established company with a long track record. If a fast payout is your top priority, choose Trupanion and the right vet: If your vet participates, their proprietary software can reimburse your claim in as little as five minutes at checkout.

What they get right

Trupanion states that they will never penalize or cancel coverage for filing claims. They cover hereditary and congenital conditions. While we have relatively fewer respondents with this insurance, a large majority of them say they would recommend it.

What sets them apart

Instead of an annual deductible, Trupanion’s deductible is, according to the website, “per-condition (as opposed to an annual deductible).” So, once you meet your deductible for one condition, you never have to pay it again, which they say is unique in the industry; this could be valuable if your pet develops a chronic condition. 

While many other companies tend to emphasize the range of customizable options they offer, Trupanion touts their “one simple plan.” While they do offer a choice of deductibles, they only offer one reimbursement rate, 90%. They do also offer a couple of kinds of additional coverage, such as for alternative medicine, but not wellness care. If you feel overwhelmed by choices and want simplicity, Trupanion may be the way to go.

Plan at a glance

• Any age restrictions: Can enroll pets from birth until their 14th birthday
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: None; rate changes determined by changes in the cost of local vet care 
• Average cost per month: $50 for dogs and $25 for cats
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Pre-existing conditions
• Average payout time: 7 days, but in hospitals with their proprietary software, as little as 5 minutes  
• Dental covered? Only accident or illness
• Alternative treatments covered? Yes
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: 5 days for accidents and 30 days for illness 
• Free telehealth services offered? No
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? No
• Exam fees covered? No
• Senior, military, student discounts? No
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: No maximum
• Multi-pet discount? No
• Claims process: Online claim form

Trupanion is legally obligated to state the following: Terms and conditions apply, please see Trupanion.com for full coverage details. Policy options and details vary by state, please review your state’s specific coverage. Trupanion is a registered trademark owned by Trupanion, Inc. Underwritten in Canada by Omega General Insurance Company and in the United States by American Pet Insurance Company.

About the company

Figo was founded in 2015, so it’s a relative newcomer compared to some of the other companies in our survey. Policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance company, part of Independence Holding Company, which was formed in 1980. Their plans cover accidents and illness, including hereditary, congenital, and chronic illness, as well as holistic treatments, but they do not offer wellness coverage.

What they get right

While we have relatively fewer respondents with this insurance, the majority are satisfied with the value and comments about the service are positive. The average cost of premiums quoted was in the middle range.

What sets them apart

Their Pet Cloud app for submitting claims uses an AI chat bot, Evie, that helps you to store and access vet records, provides 24/7 access to veterinary advice, and has a reminders function; it has a social platform that allows you to connect with other pet parents nearby as well as other location-based features that allow you to find nearby pet-friendly places, restaurants, dog parks, and other pet services.

Plan at a glance

• Effect of pet age on premium increases: No answer provided, but age is one of the factors determining premium cost
• Average cost per month: $40 dogs, $20 Cats
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Wellness claim, which is not covered
• Average payout time: seven to 10 days
• Dental covered? Yes, if related to accidents
• Alternative treatments covered? Yes
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: 3 days accidents, 14 days illness, 6 months knee problems
• Free telehealth services offered? Yes
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? No, but exam fee coverage can be added as an optional add on
• Exam fees covered? Optional coverage can be purchased
• Senior, military, student discounts? No answer provided; according to their website, available discounts vary by state
• Lifetime maximum payout: Choice of $100K/$150K/unlimited
• Maximum annual payout: Choice of $5,000K/$10,000K/unlimited
• Multi-pet discount? Yes
• Claims process: App 

About the company

Nationwide has been in the insurance business for 90 years and has been offering pet insurance since 1981, the longest of all in our survey. They claim to have insured more pets than any other, and to be the only company in the US that offers coverage for birds, rabbits, reptiles and other exotic pets. 

What they get right

Nationwide offers a relatively quick payout time. Their Whole Pet with Wellness plan is one of the most comprehensive available. Comments about customer services are generally positive and a very high percentage of our survey respondents feel they get value for what they pay.

What sets them apart

The obvious thing that sets Nationwide apart is that they offer coverage for pets other than cats and dogs. Since they also offer a multi-pet discount, if you have both exotics and cats or dogs, it may make sense to insure all your pets with them at the same time. Be aware that only the Whole Pet with Wellness plan offers full coverage for hereditary conditions.

Plan at a glance

• Age restrictions depend on choice of plan: minimums are 8 or 10 weeks; the upper limit for their Major Medical is 10, no upper age limit for Whole Pet plan
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: Most plans start to increase from age 3
• Average cost per month: Dogs: $60 Cats: $35 Avian: $15 Exotic: $20
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Pre-existing condition or incomplete information submitted
• Average payout time: Less than five days
• Dental covered? If you choose the Whole Pet With Wellness plan
• Alternative treatments covered? Acupuncture, massage, physical therapy and other holistic and alternative care provided by a licensed veterinarian are covered
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: 14 days 
• Free telehealth services offered? Telehealth services are covered under office exam/consultation coverage. Also includes access to a 24/7 online service staffed by veterinary professionals
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? Available depending on plan
• Exam fees covered? Yes
• Senior, military, student discounts? 5% discount for memberships including AAA and AARP
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: Depends on plan: No maximum annual payout for the Major Medical plan; Whole Pet with Wellness plan, $10K 
• Multi-pet discount? 5% for two or three, 10% for four or more
• Claims process: App and online portal

About the company

Petplan was founded in 2003. Policies are underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company. They provide pet health insurance to over 200,000 customers in North America. They do not offer wellness coverage.

What they get right

Petplan is the insurance provder that covers the largest number of respondents in our survey. The majority feel that it is a good value. Hereditary and congenital conditions are covered, as well as behavioral.

What sets them apart

Petplan offers coverage for things in addition to health care, including up to $1000 per year for boarding fees for if the owner is hospitalized, advertising and reward for lost or stolen pets; loss of a pet due to theft or straying, death from injury or illness, and vacation cancellation if a pet requires lifesaving treatment.

Plan at a glance

• Any age restrictions: Newly enrolled pets age 10 and older may have limited reimbursement options available 
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: No answer provided; age is one of the factors that determine premium cost
• Average cost per month: The company did not provide an average, but the average of requested sample premiums was $18.25 for cats and $40.14 for dogs
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Claim for wellness care, which is not covered
• Average payout time: 22 days
• Dental covered? Yes if for dental injury or illness “and all conditions pertaining to dental coverage have been met.”
• Alternative treatments covered? Yes
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: 15 days for injuries and illnesses; six months for cruciate ligaments and hip dysplasia, unless you get vet certification that the pet’s knees are healthy within the first 30 days.
• Free telehealth services offered? Telehealth services reimbursed up to 1K annually for covered injuries and illnesses with no deductible or copay applied
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? No
• Exam fees covered? Yes
• Senior, military, student discounts? Discounts for AARP; Military and veterans; medical services pets
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: Between $2,500 and unlimited available
• Multi-pet discount? No
• Claims process: App

About the company

Embrace was founded in 2003. They pride themselves on how customers can personalize their policies, and point to their “diminishing deductible” feature: each year a customer goes without being reimbursed for a claim, their deductible is reduced by $50. 

What they get right

While we have relatively few respondents that are customers of this company, the majority of them feel they get value for their money and seem satisfied with the customer service. They cover behavioral conditions. Additional options for wellness are available.

What sets them apart

Every policy covers congenital, hereditary, and breed-specific conditions, and they pride themselves on this to the extent of including relevant owner stories on their website. While our survey didn’t ask about this, I found a number of people in an online brachycephalic dog owners’ group who confirmed that Embrace had covered various kinds of airway surgery for their dogs. While no company covers pre-existing conditions, they say their definition is fairer, distinguishing between curable and incurable conditions: after 12 months with no symptoms or treatment for a curable condition, future occurrences of that illness will be covered.

Plan at a glance

• Any age restrictions: Full accident and illness coverage must be obtained before the pet’s 15th birthday; afterwards, only an accident-only policy is available
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: Premiums start increasing due to age at first renewal
• Average cost per month: $40–60/month for dogs, $20–35/month for cats
• Most common reason a claim is denied: Pre-existing conditions
• Average payout time: 10–15 days to process; reimbursement via direct deposit takes two business days; via check can take 10 business days
• Dental covered? Dental accidents covered up to the policy limit; Dental illnesses covered up to $1,000K/year; Routine dental care, only with additional Wellness Rewards plan
• Alternative treatments covered? Yes
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: Accident: Two days; Illnesses: 14 days; Orthopedic conditions: Six months (dogs only, with an option to reduce to 14 days with a vet exam to complete their Orthopedic Report Card)
• Free telehealth services offered? Free 24/7 access to PawSupport
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? Can purchase additional Wellness Rewards plan
• Exam fees covered? Yes
• Senior, military, student discounts? Military: 5%
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: $30,000
• Multi-pet discount? 10%
• Claims process: App

About the company

Crum and Forster, the agency that provides ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, was founded in 1997. They offer accident-only and accident and illness plans, as well as an optional wellness care plan in two versions that provides some coverage for routine care like dental cleanings and some vaccinations. Deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement percentage are customizable.

What they get right

While a number of the companies in our survey are praised for their customer service, the comments about ASPCA seem particularly heartfelt, using words like “friendliness,” informative,” and “kind.” One customer said, “They talk to you like a human with feelings and they always manage to make a rough situation better with just the kindness,” and others, “They truly make me feel like a valued customer” and “they won’t let you down.” They cover hereditary and behavioral problems.

What sets them apart

Prescription food and supplements to treat diagnosed conditions are covered under the basic plan; most other plans exclude or restrict coverage for this or it is only available as an add-on.

Plan at a glance

• Any age restrictions: No
• Effect of pet age on premium increases: No specific answer provided; age is one of the factors that determines premium cost
• Average cost per month: The company did not provide an average, but the average of requested sample premiums was $22.90 for cats and $61.19 for dogs
• Most common reason a claim is denied: No answer 
• Average payout time: Within 10 days
• Dental covered? Optional coverage available
• Alternative treatments covered? Some 
• Waiting period for coverage to take effect: Base plan: 14 days; Preventive Care starts the day after the policy effective date
• Free telehealth services offered? Yes
• General wellness and/or annual exams covered? Optional coverage available
• Exam fees covered? Yes
• Senior, military, student discounts? No 
• Lifetime maximum payout: No maximum
• Maximum annual payout: Unlimited option available
• Multi-pet discount? Yes
• Claims process: App

If You Cannot Afford Pet Insurance

Whether you have insurance or not, don’t be afraid to discuss the cost of treatment with your vet. Being concerned about the cost doesn’t mean you don’t love your pet! There is often more than one possible treatment option for a problem, so if price is an issue, let your vet know, so you can discuss all the alternatives. If your vet doesn’t make you feel comfortable about such conversations, you may want to consider finding another vet.

And speaking of finding a vet, the cost of treatment can in fact vary among vets even in the same city. So along with whatever else you’re doing when you’re looking for a vet— whether it’s asking friends for recommendations, reading reviews, etc.—also call around and ask the prices of basic things you know you will need, such as exam fees and vaccinations.

While few vets offer their own payment plans, some accept CareCredit, a kind of credit card for veterinary care. You do need to be approved for this, as you would with a regular credit card. The benefit over a regular credit card, however, is that under the right circumstances—if you meet certain requirements and make your payments on time—you may not pay any interest.

You’ll sometimes see it suggested that if you can’t afford insurance, you should put money into a savings account for vet care. While this suggestion is well-meaning, the math isn’t encouraging. The costs for some basic plans are so low that if you can’t afford those monthly premiums, it’s unlikely that you could set aside enough money for a major illness or injury. Of course it’s always a good idea to save for a rainy day—even if you do have insurance, you’ll have to pay down your deductible before it kicks in. But if you’ve paid a year’s worth of, say, $20 premiums, you might get a lot more than $240 in benefits. On the other hand, a year’s worth of $20 a month deposits in a savings account is unlikely to earn enough interest to be comparable.

If you can’t afford vet care for your pet, check with your local humane society. Especially during the pandemic, more and more animal welfare organizations are setting up programs to help people keep their pets in the face of financial difficulties, recognizing that an important way to keep pets out of shelters is to help keep them with loving families that may be going through hard times. So they may offer low-cost care or be able to refer you to a program that does.

Pet Insurance: Final Thoughts

Pet insurance has come a long way in the last couple of decades, with more companies in the business and a wider variety of options to choose from than ever before, and customers seem largely positive about its value. If you’re a long-time pet owner who looked at pet insurance some time ago and decided against it, it might be worth reconsidering.

Vet care is also constantly advancing, offering more treatments for serious conditions, but these are only an option if you can afford them. More and more, we feel like pets are part of the family, so no one wants to be in the position of euthanizing a pet with a serious illness that could be treatable. A good, carefully chosen insurance plan can keep you from finding yourself in that position. The good news is, from the evidence of our customer survey and research, there are a number of solid options to choose from. 

In addition to accident and illness coverage, some plans now offer coverage for routine care. Since routine exams and wellness care are predictable expenses, setting aside a budget for these is probably sufficient for most people. However, also because they are predictable, you can easily do the math to decide whether the additional cost of a wellness plan works out for you financially.

*A survey conducted of 2,000 US dog owners with pet insurance and 500 US dog owners without pet insurance via Attest.

**Before publishing, we agreed to send the participating companies an unranked copy of their listing for accuracy purposes only; this article reflects that feedback checked against our own research.

Further Reading