Securing the top positions in pet insurance for 2024 are Pets Best, Fetch, Healthy Paws, Figo, Embrace Pet Insurance, Lemonade, Trupanion, AKC Pet Insurance, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Spot, and Nationwide. I recommend different providers based on your pet’s breed, health, age, and location.
My comparison process is comprehensive, covering plans, coverage, waiting periods, age limitations, pros and cons, and actual price quotes for several dog breeds. This way, you can be fully informed about how the best pet insurance companies vary and have a clear idea of how much a pet insurance policy might cost. I’ll also guide you through how pet insurance cost is determined and how the reimbursement process works, ensuring you feel confident in your decision.
| Pet Insurance Ranking | Company | Review |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall |  | Read Review |
| Best For Puppies & Kittens |  | Read Review |
| Best Unlimited Payouts |  | Read Review |
| Best Value |  | Read Review |
| Best Coverage |  | Read Review |
| Most Affordable |  | Read Review |
| Best Vet Direct Pay |  | Read Review |
| Best For Pre-Existing Conditions |  | Read Review |
| Best Accident-Only Plan |  | Read Review |
| Best For Customizable Plans |  | Read Review |
| Best For Exotic Pets |  | Read Review |
What You Need To Know About Pet Insurance
Before diving into the comparison tables below, ensure you understand pet insurance. Learn the essentials (along with some surprising statistics) by finding out how pet insurance works and whether it’s worth it.
Read about the top ranked pet insurance companies for specific needs. I go in-depth on 11 of the best pet insurers, including young pets, coverage, value, vet direct pay, pre-existing condition coverage, and more.
Pet Insurance Comparison Charts
The most helpful comparisons examine plans, coverage details, waiting periods, age limitations, pros and cons, and sample quotes. You’ll find all the tables below, with providers sorted in order of ranking and popularity from my pet insurance reviews.
What Pet Insurance Plans Are Available From Each Company?
The table below shows each company’s plan options, including deductible, reimbursement rate, and payout limit options. Please know that not all deductibles, reimbursement levels, and payout limits are available for every pet in every state.
†Reimbursement: The eligible percentage of a claim for repayment by the pet insurance company after paying the coinsurance.
‡Limit: The maximum amount a pet insurance company will reimburse during the policy period. A lower limit means you may be responsible for more costs if your pet needs expensive vet treatment.
Pet Insurance Company Coverage Comparison Tables
The tables below serve as a guide to help you navigate the differences in coverage among providers. By comparing policies, you can make an informed decision on the best pet insurance coverage for your pet and your budget, especially during difficult times. The items checked in the tables below indicate they are generally covered when prescribed or administered by a licensed veterinarian to treat a covered condition.
Procedures & Conditions Comparison Table
Generally, accident and illness pet insurance covers a range of conditions, provided they are not pre-existing and do not manifest symptoms before or during the waiting period. Examples of conditions eligible for coverage include cancer, hereditary conditions, allergies, chronic conditions, cruciate ligament tears, diabetes, urinary tract infections, arthritis, broken bones, and more.
AKC Pet Insurance is the exception and requires add-ons for hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions.
The table below displays how providers differ in coverage for procedures and conditions.
**Coverage for curable pre-existing conditions varies by provider. AKC Pet Insurance is the only provider to cover pre-existing conditions after 1 year of continuous coverage.
Diagnostics & Treatment Comparison Table
These policies also encompass a wide range of diagnostics and treatments for covered accidents and illnesses. This coverage includes, but is not limited to, X-rays, CT scans, blood tests, ultrasounds, emergency care, MRIs, surgery, hospitalization, and outpatient care. The table below displays how providers differ in coverage for more unique diagnostic and treatment options.
**Holistic treatment includes, but is not limited to, herbal therapy, naturopathy, and homeopathy.
What Are Waiting Periods*?
All pet insurers have waiting period requirements – the time between enrollment and when coverage kicks in. Companies generally have about a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and a 3-day waiting period for accidents. Additional waiting periods may exist for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) surgery, hip dysplasia, and other orthopedic conditions. These waiting periods can last six or twelve months, so check these details closely before signing up. All major pet insurers have waiting periods, but you can learn more about pet insurance without waiting periods.
*States are slowly adopting a Model Law for pet insurance. This Model Law attempts to standardize each state’s regulations, which includes a standard for waiting periods that all companies must follow. Waiting periods for California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington are as follows:
- Accidents – 0 days
- Illnesses – 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Conditions – 30 days
- Routine Care – 0 days
Are There Age Restrictions For Pet Insurance?
What are the age limits for pet insurance? The table below outlines age restrictions for some leading pet insurance companies. Once you’ve purchased and maintained a policy, these companies won’t end coverage as your pet ages.
Enrolling your dog in a pet insurance policy at a young age, ideally as a puppy, is a proactive and responsible step. It minimizes the risk of pre-existing conditions being excluded from your coverage, ensuring comprehensive protection for your furry friend.
†Lemonade Plan Restrictions: Some breeds have specific age limitations for enrollment.
‡AKC Pet Insurance: In NY, CA, FL, and WA pets must be at least 8 weeks old. Coverage can begin from birth in other states.
Pros & Cons Comparison Table
The table below highlights the most significant strengths and weaknesses, helping you understand the key differences between pet insurance providers.
How Much Is Pet Insurance? Compare Quotes
I ran quotes and created price comparison tables (below) to help show how pet insurance quotes can vary by provider. I tried to compare apples to apples, but sometimes, it’s impossible since only some offer the same payout limits, reimbursement percentages, and deductible amounts. The quotes listed have the fewest treatment and condition exclusions from each provider, and pets have no pre-existing conditions.
To create a broad range of quote examples, I chose locations and breeds based on the most popular geographic areas to own a pet insurance policy and the most popular breeds in those locations. All companies have annual coverage limits except for Trupanion (lifetime) and Nationwide (per condition annually). Please scroll down to see them all or jump to a specific quote below.
Labrador Retriever In Texas
- 6-month-old
- Female (not spayed)
- Houston, Texas (77005)
French Bulldog In California
- 1-year-old
- Male (neutered)
- Los Angeles, California (90016)
French Bulldog In New York
- 3-year-old
- Female (spayed)
- New York, New York (10005)
Printable Pet Insurance Comparison Charts (PDF)
Looking for a convenient, easy-to-reference version of the pet insurance comparison charts above? You’re in luck! I’ve created a condensed version for you, with all the charts neatly organized onto five pages (or just three if you print double-sided). Click here to view and print it. It includes:
- Plan Customization Comparison – shows each company’s plan options.
- Coverage & Exclusions Comparison – shows what’s included with coverage (everything from behavioral therapies to exam fees).
- Waiting Periods Comparison – lists each company’s waiting period requirements before your new pet insurance policy coverage takes effect.
- Age Limitations Comparison – shows new enrollment age restrictions. Once you’ve purchased and maintained a pet insurance policy, coverage won’t end as your pet ages if you stay current on payment.
- Pros & Cons Comparison – points out the most impactful strengths and weaknesses of the top 10 pet insurance companies.
How Is Pet Insurance Cost Determined?
The cost of each pet insurance policy is unique to your specific pet. It’s calculated based on many variables.
Plan Details
The type of plan you select (accident-only plan or accident and illness plan), as well as the annual payout limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage for that plan impacts your pet insurance premium.
Payout Limit
The payout limit is the most money a pet insurer will reimburse during the policy term or the pet’s insured lifetime. Plans with lower payouts are less expensive than those with higher or unlimited annual payouts. However, a lower payout limit also means you’re liable for more costs if your pet has expensive veterinarian treatment.
Deductible
The deductible is the portion of the vet bill you’re responsible for paying before the provider pays out or reimburses your claim. Typically, plans with higher deductibles are less expensive than those with lower deductibles. However, a higher deductible also means you must cover more vet costs before your pet insurance kicks in.
There are two deductible types: annual and incident.
Annual Deductible
Policies with an annual deductible require you to fulfill the deductible once per policy period. Most pet insurers use annual deductibles for their policies.
Pet insurance plans with annual deductibles are easier to budget for because you know the deductible only needs to be met once during the policy term.
Incident Deductible
Plans with a per-incident deductible require you to meet the deductible once for each new emergency your pet has. Trupanion and Nationwide are the only insurers we review that utilize per-incident deductibles.
Dogs who suffer from a chronic condition may benefit from a policy with an incident deductible because you only need to pay the deductible once for each condition. So once you’ve paid the deductible for your dog’s chronic condition, you won’t need to pay that condition’s deductible again.
Reimbursement
The reimbursement is the percentage of a claim eligible for repayment by the insurance company after your deductible. Plans with lower reimbursement percentages are less expensive than those with higher reimbursement percentages. However, a lower reimbursement percentage also means your copay is higher for each pet insurance claim you submit.
Pet’s Age
Younger pets typically have lower premiums than older pets. This is because older pets are at an increased risk of experiencing an accident or illness, resulting in more costly vet bills. Policyholders with older pets should expect higher pet insurance premiums to match the increased risk and an increase in premiums as your pet ages.
Pet’s Breed
Purebred dogs have a less diverse gene pool than mixed-breed dogs, resulting in an increase in hereditary condition diagnoses. Therefore, mixed-breed dogs tend to be healthier than purebreds. Because of this, mixed breeds typically have fewer vet bills than purebreds. Less veterinary expenses lead to lower risk for insurers and often are reflected in premium prices.
Pet’s Gender
Males are typically larger than females, so they often require higher doses of medication, larger medical equipment, and additional medical supplies. All of this increases the cost of male vet care over that for females.
According to NAPHIA‘s latest report, of the top ten claims paid for dogs in North America in 2023, seven of them were for males, totaling $315,922, and three were for females, totaling $125,477.
Your Location
Where you live (your zip code) influences your premium because the cost of supplies, office space, staff, etc., impacts your vet bill. This is why medical procedure costs vary from city to city and nationwide. Each vet office must determine the cost of the procedure, including equipment, personnel, prescription medication, etc. Just as living costs vary from the country to the city, so does the cost of vet care.
What Is The Average Cost Of Pet Insurance?
According to NAPHIA (North American Pet Health Insurance Association), the average monthly premium for an accident and illness dog insurance policy in the U.S. is $56.30 ($31.94 for cats).
You should expect annual increases in your premiums from most pet insurance companies. These rates and increases will vary based on your location, changes in vet care costs, inflation, and more. Since the price for your pet from one provider may differ significantly from that of competitors, I encourage you to get your own quotes from multiple companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our readers frequently ask these questions after reading our comparisons.
Which Pet Insurers Are Not Reviewed?
Are any pet insurance providers excluded from your comparison? The pet insurance market is proliferating, and new providers are continually entering. We only rank companies once they have a five-year history in the pet insurance industry due to frequent price fluctuations, and we want to ensure that they will still be around. However, we do review them.
Visit our alphabetical pet insurance company catalog for a comprehensive listing of all the providers we cover, along with basic stats, including their founding year, headquarters location, underwriter, customer service options, and support hours. We also list each company’s deductibles, payout limits, and reimbursement options so you can make a quick side-by-side comparison.
Is It Possible To Compare Insurers By Average Policy Cost?
The cost of each pet insurance policy is unique to your pet. It’s calculated based on many variables, including but not limited to your pet’s age, breed, location (i.e., where you live), health conditions, etc. You should get quotes from multiple companies with one form.
Do You Compare Pet Insurance For Exotic Pets?
It’s nice to get quotes for dogs and cats, but we have a pet boa constrictor we would like to insure. Can you help us out?
-Canine Journal Reader
Sure! We don’t want any pet to feel left out. Currently, only one company offers pet insurance for exotic pets in the US. Find out who it is and what’s covered in our exotic pet insurance comparison.
Are There Discounts Available For Pet Parents Of Multiple Pets?
Coverage for more than one pet (in the same household) varies by provider, but you can get a multi-pet discount in many instances. Find out which provider offers the most significant discount in our article on the best pet insurance for multiple pets.
Do You Cover Rabbit Pet Insurance?
We have a pet insurance rabbit comparison that explains how rabbit insurance works, your pet insurance options, how it’s different from dog insurance, how much it costs, and more.
Do You Compare Pet Insurance Plans In Other Countries (UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, etc.)?
My pet insurance comparisons only cover providers in the United States.
An example of a pet insurance brand that operates in several different countries is Petplan. It is the largest pet insurance provider in the UK, but it also licenses its name for use in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain. In January 2022, the company that formerly operated under the Petplan UK license in the U.S. changed its brand name to Fetch.
If there’s enough interest, we may expand our comparison of plans to include the UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Europe, and more.
Learn About Typical Costs And How Reimbursements Work
For those of you still on the fence, you’re probably wondering what kind of 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 frequent surgeries for dogs and can cost more than $1,000 each time (per incident).
That’s a lot of money you weren’t planning to spend, and many people only have a little cash. Getting pet insurance can lift that weight so you can focus on caring for and enjoying your time with your pets instead of worrying about the financial risk of paying for unexpected medical bills.
I break down pet insurance costs, including deductibles, reimbursements, premiums, extra fees, payout options, benefit schedules, and more, to help explain the ins and outs. I will also explain how (and how quickly) reimbursement works.
Methodology
We review each U.S. pet insurance company to provide an unbiased breakdown of providers’ performance in real claim situations. We use a 100-point scale for each pet insurance company to rank them. Our in-depth research includes:
- Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We scrutinize every policy from top to bottom and read all the fine print, carefully noting each exclusion. We factor in any age restrictions, required add-ons for basic coverage, and whether a company is available nationwide. Insurers with fewer exclusions receive more points in this category than those with less coverage.
- Pricing (15%) – We evaluate pricing by running thousands of sample quotes for dogs and cats of various breeds, sizes, locations, and ages. We analyze which companies charge extra fees and discounts and consider which companies nick and dime pet owners with add-on coverage. Providers with the lowest premiums, fewest extra fees, most discounts, and fewer add-ons receive more points in this category.
- Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We assess hundreds of customer reviews, scope out the sign-up process, speak with representatives, and factor in company history and years in the pet insurance marketplace to determine the points in this category. Companies with an easy sign-up process, highly rated mobile apps, multiple ways to reach customer service, positive consumer feedback, and a seamless claim filing process score high in this category.
- Financial Strength (10%) – Insurance is only beneficial if you can count on reimbursed claims. Companies with at least five years of nationwide experience and high A.M. Best and Demotech ratings receive high remarks in this category.
- Customization Options (10%) – We consider customizations available to adjust your coverage to fit your budget. Companies with fewer restrictions based on breed, age, location, etc., multiple plan options, and more reimbursement rates, deductibles, and annual limits earn the highest scores.
- Waiting Periods (5%) – Providers with the shortest illness and accident waiting periods and fewer additional waiting periods for other conditions merit high remarks.
- Claim Processing (5%) – We share our firsthand experience submitting claims with companies and examine how long it takes to be reimbursed. Insurers with a vet direct pay option and short claim processing averages earn the most points.
- Innovation (3%) – We meet with company representatives to discuss changes related to the industry, their company, and their offerings. Providers offering unique, comprehensive coverage and utilizing advanced technology receive more points.
Unlike many other review sites, we refuse to let pet insurance companies pay for the top spot in our rankings. Companies must earn their position in our comparisons by performing well in the marketplace. We also highlight each company’s pros and cons in light of their competitor’s strengths. In doing so for over a decade, we’ve helped pet parents make more educated decisions among the top pet insurance options. Pet insurance providers read our reviews, regularly check them for accuracy, and value our input to help create positive industry changes and better protect your pets. We only recommend the best of the best because it’s what our readers deserve.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance since 2012, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly knows the subject so well that she can answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources. Kimberly also consulted with Michelle Schenker, Canine Journal’s in-house licensed insurance agent, for additional expertise, to ensure accuracy, and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented.
