Best Pet Health Insurance Providers

• Written by: Lisa Jo Rudy, M.Div.

If you own a pet, you know how important — and expensive — vet care can be. One way to offset those costs is to purchase pet health insurance. Like typical health insurance, pet insurance is available at many price points, and can cover all, most, or only some of your vet-related costs. 

It can be tricky to select the right insurance company, as there are quite a few options available. You can choose from specialized pet insurance companies, large insurance companies that offer a range of products, and organizations like the ASPCA that offer insurance as just one of their animal-related products.

There is no one best health insurance provider, but there are better choices depending on your needs, budget, and preferences. You can reduce monthly fees by taking a higher deductible and lower payout cap, but that will leave you with a higher overall vet bill if your pet needs expensive care.

In this article:

• Best pet insurance providers for pet owners
  • Best for unlimited payouts
  • Best for flexibility
  • Best for lower budgets
  • Best for dental coverage
  • Best for reliability
• Points to consider when choosing pet insurance

Best Pet Insurance Providers for Pet Owners

The following five companies are highly rated and offer a good combination of value and service. 

Best for Unlimited Payouts: Trupanion

A top-rated pet insurance company, Trupanion is affiliated with State Farm. Not only does it get good reviews for service and payouts, but it also offers unlimited payouts for your pet’s medical needs. This can be particularly important for larger pets like big dogs who may be prone to expensive medical issues such as hip dysplasia, which can cost thousands of dollars to manage. However, Trupanion’s policies are not quite as customizable as some, and it offers fewer discounts than many companies.

Best for Flexibility: Spot

If you’re looking for a customized plan, Spot is a highly-regarded pet insurance company that will likely meet your needs. It offers five different deductible options and five reimbursement options, so you can decide how much you want to pay monthly and how much you’re willing to spend in the event of an expensive medical emergency. In addition, while many companies offer only one type of insurance, Spot offers Accident & Illness, Accident-Only, and Routine Wellness options.

Best for Lower Budgets: Pets Best

Pets Best combines the best of both worlds: it gets great reviews and offers an unusual $9 per month option for accident-only insurance. This is a great price if you’re comfortable managing other vet-related costs, and may be particularly useful for dogs who are likely to be out and about in places where accidents can easily happen. Pets Best receives top marks for its pet helpline and is a well-established company, but be aware that pre-existing conditions are not covered.

Best for Dental Coverage: Fetch

While dental issues may not be top of mind for most pet owners, the cost of dental care can quickly add up if your pet’s teeth have issues. Fetch is among the very few pet insurance companies that covers dental care. It also received high reviews from most customers. Fetch does offer discounts for rescue animals, multiple pets, veterans, AARP members, and more. Unlike some insurers, however, Fetch does cap its payouts based on monthly payments and deductibles, and it has a waiting period of six months for hip and joint-related care.

Best for Reliability: MetLife

MetLife is a solid and well-respected insurance company with a wide range of products. Its pet insurance is equally solid and well-respected. Offering customized policies, multi-pet discounts, good customer service, and quick response to claims, it’s a good bet for reliable insurance at a fair price. Unlike most other pet insurance companies, MetLife doesn’t specialize in pet care but has a 24/7 help line and a dedicated customer care department.

Points to Consider When Choosing Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is not quite the same as health insurance, and it’s smart to educate yourself on exactly how it works. Before jumping in, it’s important to keep these buying tips in mind:

1. Full nose-to-tail coverage with routine care included can be very expensive. It’s important to compare the cost of coverage with the out-of-pocket cost of vaccines and well-animal checks to be sure you’re really saving money with those options.
2. Some companies include “alternative” care options in their plans, such as acupuncture and related therapies. Read your policy information carefully; if you’re not interested in such therapies, you won’t want to pay for them.
3. Most pet insurance reimburses you for out-of-pocket expenses, but doesn’t pay the vet directly. If you’re interested in direct-to-vet payment, check the small print carefully.
4. Many pet insurers will base fees on factors such as the breed and age of your pet and any pre-existing conditions. They may also have extended waiting periods before insurance coverage kicks in. If you have an older pet, a pet with an existing condition, or one prone to specific disorders or diseases, check to be sure you’re covered.
5. If you are buying insurance for more than one animal, you will get a discount from many insurers. In addition, some insurers offer discounts for veterans and other groups. Be sure to explore available discounts before buying.
6. Many insurers offer a tool that allows you to play around with different levels of monthly costs, deductibles, and coverages. It’s worth your time to explore options to see which option fits your needs and pocketbook best.

Pet insurance can be a lifesaver for pet owners, and there are plenty of good pet insurance providers. Be sure the company and policy you choose really meet your needs and budget, and check the small print before signing on the dotted line.