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PetCoach began offering pet insurance under the Petco brand name in 2017. In 2024, Petco and Nationwide launched a co-branded pet insurance product. The key difference between Petco and Nationwide pet insurance is that Petco policyholders receive discounts and savings through Petco’s Vetco Total Care hospitals and mobile Vetco Vaccination Clinics. Learn about Petco’s policy, pricing, waiting periods, and more.
Petco Insurance Review
Summary
Petco specializes in many pet-related things, recently adding insurance to its options. Petco launched a co-branded pet insurance product with Nationwide in 2024, and it could become a key player in the pet insurance marketplace.
Our pet insurance experts read through each pet insurance company’s policy to provide detailed comparisons and information regarding how a provider fares against others in the industry. We also speak with customers, read online feedback, and communicate one-on-one with pet insurance companies to obtain a well-rounded, unbiased analysis of a company’s standings.
Our team rates pet insurance companies based on several factors, including A.M. Best ratings (an indicator of financial stability), claim processing reputations, contract coverage, customer service, pricing, plan customizations, and more.
Overall Score
Pros
- Track claims in real-time online and submit them through your smartphone
- One of the only pet health insurance companies to offer exotic pet insurance
- Covers your pet if they travel outside the U.S. with you
- Optional wellness plan
- 5% multi-pet discount for 2-3 pets (10% for 4 or more pets)
Cons
- Petco and Nationwide’s co-branded pet insurance is new and still working out some bugs (website doesn’t provide in-depth detail like other providers, customer service is lacking, etc.)
- $2 transaction fee for monthly payment
Alternatives To Petco Dog Insurance
Don’t like the score you’re seeing? Our experts have analyzed over a dozen pet insurance providers. Check out our pet insurance reviews to learn more about this year’s top-ranked companies or get multiple pet insurance quotes.
Key Features
- Provider: PetCoach, LLC, marketed as Petco Pet Insurance
- Underwriters: Nationwide Casualty Company (outside of CA), Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA only)
- A.M. Best rating: A+ (both companies)
- No bilateral exclusions (a condition or disease that affects both sides of the body)
- Claims process:
- Must submit claims within 90 days of your pet’s treatment
- Submit your claim online
- Claim processing averages 5 days, and direct deposit and check reimbursement are available
- Doesn’t offer pre-approval of estimates/procedures in advance of treatment
Customer Service
- Phone: 844-244-3649
- Monday – Friday: 5am to 7pm PST
- Saturday: 7am – 3:30pm PST
- Sunday: Closed
- Email: support.insurance@petco.com
What Are Petco’s Waiting Periods?*
- Accidents: 14 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Wellness: 1 day
*States are gradually adopting a Model Law for pet insurance, aiming to standardize regulations, including uniform waiting periods. In California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Washington, Rhode Island, and Maryland, waiting periods are:
- Accidents: 0 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Conditions: 30 days
- Routine Care: 0 days
What Does Petco Pet Insurance Cover?
The details below are for Petco’s accident and illness policy. Petco also offers an accident-only plan, which we discuss in more detail below.
Please know that none of the providers in our pet insurance comparison charts cover pre-existing conditions, cremation and burial costs, pregnancy and breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.
All of them cover the following items when deemed medically necessary: emergency care, surgery and hospitalization, specialized exams and specialty care, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, cancer, chronic conditions, euthanasia, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, non-routine dental treatment, and prescription medications. However, this coverage may have limitations, so please check your policy.
| Condition | Covered By Petco |
|---|---|
| Behavioral Therapies |  |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapies | |
| Exam Fees | |
| Wellness Care | Extra Fee |
What’s Petco’s Accident-Only Plan?
Petco is one of the few pet insurance companies that offer an Accident Only plan. It only covers accidents (as its name suggests) so things like broken bones, oral trauma, poisoning, heatstroke, foreign body ingestion, and more are covered. Accident-only plan options through Petco are listed below.
| Deductible Options | Payout Options | Reimbursement Options |
|---|---|---|
| $100 $250 $500 | $5,000 Unlimited | 50% 70% 80% |
Does Petco Insurance Offer Wellness Plans?
Petco also offers two optional wellness plans for an additional fee. Wellness plans are not insurance products. Included are the maximum amounts that Petco will pay for that specific routine care per year.
| Physical Exam (2 exams per term, $40 each) | $80 | $80 |
| Vaccination/Titer | $80 | $80 |
| Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test | $35 | $35 |
| Fecal Test | $30 | $30 |
| Heartworm Prevention | $30 | $30 |
| Deworming | $25 | $25 |
| Microchip | $50 | $50 |
| Health Certificate | $50 | $50 |
| Flea Control or Heartworm Prevention | $100 | $100 |
| One additional test: blood test, X-ray, or EKG | $100 | |
| Spay/Neuter/Dental | $250 | |
| Total Annual Benefits | $450 | $800 |
How Much Does Petco Insurance Cost?
Nationwide has no one-time enrollment fee but charges a $2 transaction fee. Your monthly premium is based on the plan, deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual payout options that you choose.
| Deductible Options | Payout Options | Reimbursement Options |
|---|---|---|
| $100 $250 $500 | $5,000 Unlimited | 50% 70% 80% 90% |
Pricing is also based on your pet’s details (age, breed, location, pre-existing conditions, etc.). We recommend obtaining quotes from Nationwide for your specific pet to get an idea of how much a policy would cost you.
You can also use our pet insurance quote form below to see how top providers compare for your actual pet.
Is Petco The Best Pet Insurance?
Petco’s pet health insurance has competitive coverage and various policy customization options to help it best fit your budget and needs. However, other pet insurance providers offer comprehensive coverage at a competitive price and have a more longstanding reputation in the insurance industry than Petco.
If you’re unsure about signing up for Petco Insurance, you can consider other options. Read our best pet insurance article to learn more about our top picks ranked based on coverage, customer service, price, and more.
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 writer 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.
