Looking for pet insurance for your best friend? Our experts have reviewed, tested, and ranked more than 40 pet insurance companies in the US to give you the answer for which company is the best one for you.
| Written by Aneta Mircevska Updated on October 31, 2021 |
Imagine a fun day hiking in the woods with friends and your trusty canine companion Baxter. Everything is smiles and jokes until you hear poor Baxter let out an unusual cry and limp towards you. You rush him to the nearest pet hospital where they inform you that Baxter broke his leg and they’ll need to operate to fix it.
Baxter is your best friend, and nothing would stop you from making him feel better, not even the $800 tab. That’s when you realize that $800 is a lot of money, and that you should have a way, much like your health insurance covers for your own issues, to pay for Baxter’s.
Luckily, pet insurance is very much a reality today, and there are hundreds of options for you to choose from. Pet insurance works the same way human insurance does—when you insure your dogs, cats, and other animal friends, you can cover a large portion of their medical expenses based on your choice of coverage.
Generally, you can choose from pet insurance plans that include illness, injury, and wellness coverage. You can mix and match your plans (although remember that not every company offers every type) or choose comprehensive coverage to ensure that your companion is always protected should the worst happen.
Even so, choosing the right pet insurance boils down to knowing both your pets’ health condition, and the type of insurance you’re seeking. Check out some of our top choices below, and keep reading our pet insurance reviews to learn everything you need to know about choosing the best pet insurance for all your furry, feathered, and scaly friends:
These pet insurance companies offer some of our favorite packages and plans for pet insurance. Read about them below and explore our expert pet insurance reviews to learn about each more in depth:
PetPremium stands out from the pack thanks to its awesome customer service and impressive coverage across all states. The company’s insurance plans include accidents and total coverage along with options for wellness. Wait periods are only one day and you can choose your own reimbursement level of 70%, 80%, or 90%. Also, they provide great flexibility for your maximum annual amount, with choices up to $20,000 and even unlimited options available. Some other standout features include:
Request a quote from PetPremium by clicking on the link here>>
Healthy Paws offers one of the top tier pet insurance plans on the market. The company is well-known for its no-cap payouts, meaning there’s no limit on how many claims you can make. Moreover, the company’s plans extend to your companion’s entire lifetime, along with hereditary and congenital health conditions.
It offers quick claim times and processes an impressive 99% of claims within just two days. Additionally, you can set up your insurance so that Healthy Paws pays out medical visits directly (though this may vary from vet to vet, so be sure to double check). Some of Healthy Paws’ key features include:
If you want to purchase a pet insurance from Healthy Paws, than click on the link.
Although this is not technically an insurance plan, Pet Assure’s discount plan offers its own value for pet owners whose pets are not eligible for coverage, or who prefer a simpler option that guarantees at least some costs will be covered. For $99 (for the single pet plan), you are eligible for a 25% discount on any in-house veterinary services for providers in the company’s network. If you have more than one pet, you can spend $199 for the unlimited plan.
Even though this may seem unorthodox, Pet Assure’s real selling point is that their discount is guaranteed on eligible services. There are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, or any age or breed restrictions. Moreover, there are no deductibles, so no matter the size of the bill, you’ll always be covered for at least a quarter of the price. Here are some other great benefits we liked about Pet Assure:
If you are intersted in PetAssure, than request a quote by clicking on the link.
Even though it works a lot like regular health insurance, pet insurance does have a few quirks that make it unique. You sign up your pets the same way you would yourself or your family. When you’re applying with an insurance company, they’ll ask you some questions about your furry friends such as their age, if they’ve had any conditions in the past, any congenital issues they may have, and more. Once you’ve selected a plan and signed up, however, the differences compared to regular insurance become more notable.
The best pet insurance for dogs and cats will usually cover injuries and accidents, illnesses, and in some cases wellness. When you sign up, most pet insurance companies will let you choose from one, two, or all three of those options (although wellness is usually considered an add-on for many companies), and you’ll also be able to select the guaranteed payout you want based on your claims.
Unlike health insurance for people, pet insurance is known for its quick payouts and for guaranteeing reimbursements as well as claim fulfillment times (for example, several of our top pet insurance reviews feature companies that guarantee 5-day claim resolutions for certain medical procedures). To get reimbursed, you simply need to pay your vet during your pet’s visit and ask for a duplicate itemized invoice. Once you submit that with your claim to your insurance provider, they’ll reimburse the funds within their guaranteed resolution period.
In terms of covering treatments, your insurance is usually covered by your monthly premiums. This means that no matter what, as long as your payments have been consistent, you’ll be able to get your puppy or kitten exactly the care they need and deserve.
It may seem like a silly expense, or like going overboard on useless purchases, but it’s never a question of if we’re going to give our furry friends the care they need. Pet insurance exists so that no matter what the situation, you can assure your pets can get the proper treatment when they need it, and you can rest easy knowing your wallet won’t suffer the consequences. These are just a few of the reasons why you should consider pet insurance:
Although they generally deliver similar coverage, many pet insurance companies offer their own combination of packages and service options (you can compare plans in our expert pet insurance reviews). Most plans provide coverage in these three major categories:
Let’s say you have a rainy-day fund for any emergencies that may come up, and you put in $50 a month. After 5 years, you have an impressive $3,000 saved before you learn that Baxter has torn his right knee ligament which requires therapy and surgery.
At that point, your brain may be doing mental summersaults trying to figure out how to pay bills. It turns out the x-rays and diagnostics were $400, while the surgery will cost you $3,000 and 6 months of therapy will run you another $40 a week. Just like that, you’re already tapping into your bank account, and wiped out your entire rainy-day fund.
Pet insurance lets you avoid that scenario by simply converting that payment into a premium that goes toward coverage. That way, you can always say yes to your pet’s treatments and avoid damaging your long-term finances.
Despite the varying degrees of coverage available, most pet insurance plans should cover some basic issues. Make sure you compare plans with our expert pet insurance reviews to find the plan that fits your pet’s needs best to avoid overpaying something you don’t need. These are some of the common health issues pet insurance should cover:
Bestpetinsurance.com is your guide to the country's best pet insurance. For the past 10 years we have been dealing with the pet insurance industry and for this purpose we have built up a lot of knowledge and expertise that we would like to share with you.
Do most pet insurance plans cover vet visits by default?
In general, no, they don’t. This doesn’t mean you can’t add it to your insurance, however, but the standard is for it to be an add-on. Most companies’ regular insurance plans will focus on the more expensive aspects of pet care (surgeries, accidents, chronic or acute illnesses), but will start extending coverage once the issue has been diagnosed. However, you can still get your pet insurance to cover routine visits if you add a “wellness” package to your insurance plan. Even so, there are some pet insurance companies, as well as some discount programs, which will cover regular vet visits, standard treatments, and diagnostic tests.
How much does pet insurance cost, in general?
Although there are several factors that could affect your monthly premiums—everything from your pet’s health history, age, and what deductible and reimbursement rate you choose—pet insurance plans in general don’t cost you very much month to month. On average, most pet insurance premiums run you between $20 and $50 a month. It is important to keep in mind, however, that pet insurance for dogs is slightly pricier than pet insurance for cats.
How quickly can I get reimbursed for my pet’s vet visit or treatment?
Pet insurance is well-known for having significantly faster resolution times than regular insurance claims, but it’s still not immediate. While most companies advertise how quickly they can complete a claim and reimburse you, they will generally have at least a two-day waiting period, with times ranging up to 6 months when dealing with orthopedic conditions. Usually claim resolution times will vary based on the type of claim you make—accidents get resolved the quickest, followed by illnesses, and lastly by orthopedic conditions such as arthritis or hip dysplasia.
Does pet insurance cover my pet’s preexisting conditions?
Even though it’s becoming more common for companies to do so, the prevailing trend is for preexisting conditions not to be covered under your standard pet insurance plan. This includes conditions like chronic illnesses or any major issues your pet may have had before you signed up for your pet insurance plan. Regardless, you can still find some pet insurance companies that will cover preexisting conditions, although they may be significantly pricier than your standard insurance package
My pet is already old, can I still cover them?
It’s becoming increasingly more common for companies to extend their coverage to older animals and not just the younger ones. You might find your insurance premiums are slightly higher than normal, whether you own a hamster, chinchilla, or even a snake, but this is due to older animals, much like older people, presenting more of a risk to lenders. Since they’re more prone to illness and disease, older animals cost more to insure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a company to provide coverage for your old reliable friend, allowing them to live out their golden years in comfort and care.
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