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When a copperhead snake snuck up and bit Alyssa’s Doberman, Miles, on the muzzle, she didn’t think twice about rushing her pup to the vet. But the $600 vet bill stopped her in her tracks. Miles was fine after a dose of antivenom and some TLC, but Alyssa’s bank account is still recovering.
Melissa’s Bichon Frise, Fenway, needed not one but two knee surgeries to repair subluxated patellas, a relatively common orthopedic problem in the breed. Melissa ended up shelling out more than $4,000 to get Fenway back up and running again.
Looking back, Alyssa and Melissa wish they had considered pet insurance more seriously before their dogs experienced such costly vet bills. While both chose to move forward with shelling out the money for the expensive procedures, other parents don’t have this option.
Article Overview
Pet Insurance Checklist
Want to understand pet insurance? We’ve put together a checklist for you:
- Use our quote form widget to get free price quotes from several top pet insurance carriers. You can also open our pet insurance quotes to see examples of pricing.*
- See how others compare to our top three pet insurance picks by reading about the rest of the pack.
- Become an expert on pet insurance yourself by learning more.
- Choose the best pet insurance for your pet based on specific characteristics and needs (older dogs, dental needs, wellness, value, etc).
- Read some surprising pet insurance statistics.
- Still confused? Get to know the pet insurance lingo with our terminology cheat sheet.
*You should expect annual increases on your premiums from any pet insurance company. These rates and increases will vary based on your location, changes in vet costs, and more.
Ratings Of Policy Pricing
Get Free Pet Insurance Quotes
We calculate our “price of policy” ratings based on quotes we run in addition to reader and consumer feedback. Since the price for your pet may vary significantly from that of others for any given provider, we encourage you to get quotes from multiple companies.
Plan Comparison Table
The table below shows some of the deductible, reimbursement, and claim options for each company. Please know that not all deductibles, reimbursement levels, and claim limits are available for every dog in every state.
| Company | Review | Deductible* | Reimbursement** | Claim Limit Options*** | Limit Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Read Review | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | 80% | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 | Annual |
 | Read Review | $100, $250, $300, $400, $500, $600, $750, $1,000 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, Unlimited | Annual |
 | Read Review | $100, $250, $500 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $3,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000 | Annual |
 | Read Review | $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 (Unlimited available via phone) | Annual |
| Read Review | $100, $200, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500 | 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, Unlimited | Annual |
 | Read Review | $100, $250, $500, $750 | 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% | Unlimited | Annual |
 | Read Review | $250 | 50%, 70%, 90% | Limited Per Condition, Unlimited | Annual & Per Condition Annually |
 | Read Review | $0, $50, $100, $250, $500, $2,500 | 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Annual |
 | Read Review | $250, $300, $350, $400, $450, $500, $550, $600, $650, $700, $750, $800, $850, $900, $950, $1,000 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000, $25,000, Unlimited | Annual |
| Read Review | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $5,000, Unlimited | Annual |
 | Read Review | $0-$1,000 (in $5 increments) | 90% | Unlimited | Lifetime |
*Deductible: The amount of money you must pay for vet treatment before your policy will begin to reimburse you and after coinsurance has been applied. For most companies, you must pay this deductible annually rather than per incident. Be sure to understand your policy, as the annual vs per incident deductible can vary greatly.
**Reimbursement: The percentage of a claim that you’re eligible for repayment by the pet insurance company after you’ve paid the coinsurance.
***Claim Limit Options: The highest amount a pet insurance company will reimburse during the policy period. A lower claim limit means you may be liable for more costs if your pet experiences expensive vet treatment(s).
Pet Insurance Comparison Chart: Coverage & Policy Details By Company
Want to know if pet insurance will cover what you need and which are better suited for your unique needs? The table below helps you see which company will best protect your pet and your wallet during the darkest times.
Please know that none of the pet insurance providers in our comparison cover pre-existing conditions. All of them cover x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, specialized exams, surgery, hospitalization, emergency care, specialty care, hydrotherapy, chronic conditions, cancer, diagnostic treatment, alternative/holistic therapy, and euthanasia. However, there may be limitations to this coverage, so please check your policy and it is wise to call and verify before scheduling a pricey vet procedure.
| 1st: Healthy Paws | 2nd: Pets Best | 3rd: Figo | 24PetWatch | AKC | ASPCA/Hartville | Embrace | Nationwide | PetFirst | Petplan | Trupanion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | |
| Exam Required to Set Health Baseline |  | | | | |||||||
| Behavioral Therapies | | | | | | | | | |
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| Exam Fees | Extra Fee | Extra Fee | | Extra Fee | | | | | |||
| Preventative Care Available For An Extra Fee | | | | | | | | ||||
| Non-Routine Dental Treatment | | | | | | | | | |
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| Illness Waiting Period | 15 Days | 14 Days | 14 Days | 14 or 30 Days | 14 Days | 14 Days | 14 Days | 14 Days | 14 Days | 15 Days | 30 Days |
| Accident Waiting Period | 15 Days | 3 Days | 3 Days | None | 2 Days | 14 Days | 2 Days | 14 Days | 1 Day | 15 Days | 5 Days |
| Hereditary Conditions | | | | | HereditaryPlus Plan | | | | | | |
| Congenital Conditions | | | | | HereditaryPlus Plan | | | | | | |
| Prescription Medications | | | | | | | Extra Fee | | | | |
| ACL Surgery Waiting Period | 15 Days | 6 Months | 6 Months | 14 or 30 Days | 180 Days | 14 Days | 6 Months | 12 Months | 6 Months | 6 Months | 30 Days |
| Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period | 12 Months | 14 Days | 14 Days | 14 or 30 Days | 30 Days | 14 Days | 6 Months | 14 Days | 14 Days | 6 Months | 30 Days |
| Claim Limits | Unlimited | $5,000 or unlimited | $5,000 to unlimited | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 | $2,500 to unlimited | $3,000 to $10,000 | $5,000 to unlimited | Limited per condition or unlimited | $1,000 to Unlimited | $2,500 to unlimited | Unlimited |
| Average Claim Repayment | 2 days | 25-40 days | 5-7 bus. days | Allows 60 days | 7 days | 8-9 days | 10-15 bus. days | Allows 30 days | 5-10 days | 5-14 bus. days | Allows 60 days |
HereditaryPlus endorsement is only available for enrolled dogs who are two-years-old and younger.
TRUPANION FLORIDA RESIDENTS: The plan reviewed here is not available for new customers in Florida. Contact Trupanion to learn more about what is available in your state and read the policy carefully for details.
Compare All Pet Insurance Companies
Get Free Pet Insurance Quotes
What Is Pet Insurance & Is It Worth It?
Still not sure whether you need or understand pet insurance? We created a pet insurance 101 guide, which includes:
- What Is Pet Insurance?
- How Does It Work?
- Why Do I Need It?
- How Much Is Pet Insurance?
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
- Real Reimbursement Stories
Pet Insurance Facts & Stats (Infographic)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions we get asked frequently by our readers regarding our pet insurance comparisons. Don’t see yours? Ask us in the comments.
Which Pet Insurers Are Not Covered?
Are there any pet insurance providers that are not included in your comparison? The pet insurance market is growing rapidly, and there are new providers showing up constantly. We don’t rank companies until they have a five year history because of price fluctuations and we want to ensure that they will still be around. However, we do review them.
Visit our alphabetical company listing for a comprehensive listing of all the pet insurance companies we cover, along with basic stats such as the year they were founded, where they are headquartered, customer service options, and support hours. We also list deductible, claim limit, and reimbursement options for each company so you can do a quick side-by-side comparison.
Is There A Way To See Insurers Sorted By Average Policy Cost?
The cost of each pet insurance policy is unique to your pet. It’s calculated based on a vast number of variables, including but not limited to your pet’s age, breed, location (i.e., where you live), health conditions, etc.
We calculate our “price of policy” ratings based on quotes we run in addition to reader and consumer feedback. Since the price for your pet may vary significantly from that of others for any given provider, we encourage you to get quotes from multiple companies.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
For those of you still on the fence, you’re probably wondering what kind of common scenarios your pup might get into when pet insurance would apply. Check out our list of common dog health issues to get an idea. For example, removing lumps and bumps is one of the most common surgeries for dogs and can cost more than $1,000 each time.
That’s a lot of money that you weren’t planning to spend, and many people don’t have that amount of cash lying around. Insuring your pet can lift that weight off you so you can focus on enjoying your time with your pets instead of worrying about having to pay for unexpected medical bills.
Can you share your good (or bad) experience with pet insurance?