A solid pet insurance plan covers major medical emergencies like getting struck by a vehicle, cancer treatment, torn ligaments and swallowed foreign objects. It also covers common health problems like digestive issues and ear infections. You’ll find that pet insurance companies offer a wide variety of coverage types and benefits.
How to Find the Best Pet Insurance Company
With all the variations in pricing and coverage details, it can be challenging to compare pet insurance plans in an apples-to-apples way. We found the best way to do it is by prioritizing the benefits that are the most important to you and then comparing prices among the policies that match your must-haves. Here’s how we chose the best pet insurance.
Decide on a Plan Type
The first thing we recommend looking at is the plan type. We recommend a comprehensive pet insurance plan that covers accidents and illnesses. Pet insurance can generally be broken down into these plan types.
Summary: 2024 Best Pet Insurance Ratings
| EDITORS’ TAKE | COMPANY | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  | 5.0  | |
| Best for healthy pet discount |  | 4.5 | |
| Great for short waiting period for accident coverage |  | 4.3 | |
| Best for choices of annual coverage |  | 4.3 | |
| Great prices for dogs and cats |  | 4.1 |
Best Pet Insurance Companies in Detail
According to our analysis of more than 20 pet insurance policies and 17 companies, the best pet insurance company is Pets Best. In our review, we evaluate key factors for selecting a pet insurance company, including cost, coverage, waiting periods, claim processing time, unique features, and overall customer satisfaction.
Pets Best »
Image Credit: Google
PROS:
- Cheapest sample rates among insurers in our study
- Policies include access to 24/7 emergency pet helpline
CONS:
- Only insures dogs and cats
App Available: Yes, Maximum Enrollment | Age: No limit | Money Back Guarantee:30 days
Summary: Pets Best is No. 1 in our rating of the Best Pet Insurance Companies. The insurer offers a range of choices for customizing a policy and has multiple plans that offer unlimited coverage. It’s available in all 50 states and has shorter waiting periods than some insurers we studied: three days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. All plans provide access to the insurer’s 24/7 Pet Helpline, which can provide answers to pet-related questions day or night.
Coverage and costs: Pets Best sells policies covering accidents and illnesses, and also has a plan that covers accidents only. Its accident-and-illness plans cover injuries related to accidents, illnesses such as cancer, hereditary conditions, and congenital conditions. Hospitalizations and surgeries, as well as some tests and scans, are covered as well.
Customizations: The accident-and-illness plans offer a number of deductible options, reimbursement rates from 70% to 90%, and annual coverage limits from $2,500 to unlimited. The accident-only plan has set terms: A $250 deductible, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $10,000 annual limit.
Embrace »
Image Credit: Google
PROS:
- Three levels of optional wellness coverage available
- Multiple discount opportunities available
CONS:
- When enrolling a pet over age 14, an accident-only policy is the only option
App Available: Yes, Maximum Enrollment | Age:14 years* | Money Back Guarantee:30 days
Summary: Embrace, which sells pet insurance policies for dogs and cats in all 50 states, is tied at No. 2 in our rating of the best pet insurance companies. It offers policyholders multiple options for customizing their premiums, and in addition to its plans covering accidents and illnesses, has an add-on for wellness care.
Coverage and costs: Embrace has accident-and-illness plans and policies that cover accidents only. Dogs and cats 14 and younger are eligible for the former; the latter is the only sign-up option for pets 15 and older. However, once a pet is signed up, the coverage they’re granted will be there for life.
Customizations: Reimbursement rate options for an accident-and-illness policy are 70%, 80%, and 90%, and annual deductible options are from $100 to $1,000. Annual coverage limits range from $5,000 to unlimited.
Accident-only policies have a $100 deductible, 90% reimbursement rate, and $5,000 annual limit.
Figo »
Image Credit: Google
PROS:
- No upper-age limits for coverage
- Figo does not cap the number of claims you can file per condition
CONS:
- Does not offer an accident-only policy
App Available: Yes, Maximum Enrollment | Age: No limit | Money Back Guarantee:30 days
Summary: Figo, the No. 8 insurer in our rating, sells policies that insure dogs and cats against injuries and illnesses. The company’s waiting period for injuries caused by accidents is one day, and for illnesses, the waiting period is 14 days. Figo pet insurance plans are available in every state. It does not have an upper-age limit for coverage.
Coverage and costs: Figo’s policies cover injuries resulting from accidents and a range of illnesses, including cancer. Policies also provide coverage for a number of other expenses, including prosthetics, hereditary conditions, and prescription medications. The company does not place any per-incident caps on the number of claims you can file. It offers optional coverage for vet exam fees, and there is an add-on for wellness coverage. In addition, the company offers an Extra Care Pack that covers things like boarding fees, and cremation and burial expenses.
Figo’s sample rates are $29.55 per month for dogs, and $16.74 per month for cats. It is No. 4 in our rating of the cheapest pet insurance companies for dogs.
Customization: Policyholders can choose deductible amounts from $100 to $750, and annual limits that range from $5,000 for some policies to unlimited for others. Figo is one of the only insurers in our study to offer a 100% reimbursement rate for some plans. Other options are 70%, 80%, and 90%.
Spot »
Image Credit: Google
PROS:
- Two optional wellness plans available
- Unlimited annual coverage options offered
CONS:
- Only covers dogs and cats
- Limited number of discounts available
App Available: Yes, Maximum Enrollment | Age: No Limit | Money Back Guarantee:30 days
Summary: Spot, which is tied at No. 2 in our rating, sells policies for dogs and cats that cover accidents and illnesses, and also has an accident-only option. It’s available in all 50 states, and its options allow policyholders to customize their premiums. It has a limited number of add-ons, but does offer optional wellness coverage, its Wellness Rewards plan.
Coverage and costs: Spot’s sample rates are in the middle of the pack among companies in our rating: $38.73 per month for a dog, and $17.18 for a cat. Its accident-and-illness plan includes coverage for exam fees, microchipping, and tests, and also covers cancer, dental illnesses, digestive illnesses, and infections, among other expenses. The accident-only plan covers a number of treatments and procedures related to injuries.
Customizations: Policyholders can choose from a number of annual deductibles, reimbursement rates up to 90%, and unlimited annual coverage if that’s what they’re looking for.
Lemonade »
Image Credit: Google
PROS:
- Multiple customization options and available add-ons
- Competitive sample rates
CONS:
- Not available in all states
App Available: Yes, Maximum Enrollment | Age:14 years | Money Back Guarantee:30 days
Summary: No. 4 Lemonade may be a good choice for pet insurance, but its plans are not available everywhere — it sells policies in 37 states. The insurer has a single plan that covers accidents and illnesses, and it offers a broader array of add-ons than most companies in our rating. It has a waiting period of two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.
Coverage and costs: Lemonade has one plan that covers accidents and illnesses for dogs and cats. It provides coverage for injuries, and illnesses like cancer and diabetes, as well as conditions like allergies and arthritis. Medications and diagnostic tests are among the other items covered by the base plan, and the company offers wellness coverage in the form of an add-on. Its sample rates are $31.01 per month to cover a dog, and $16.63 per month for cat insurance.
Customizations: Lemonade’s premiums can be customized by selecting a deductible amount, an annual benefit limit as high as $100,000, and reimbursement rates that range from 70% to 90%. It offers a number of optional coverages, including for vet visit fees and costs related to physical therapy and dental illnesses.
Ask About Pet Insurance Discounts
Pet insurance discounts are a good way to save. Here are discounts we found in our analysis, but they will vary by company:
- Multipet discount. Many insurers offer a discount if you insure more than one pet.
- Spay/neuter discount. Some insurers offer discounts to pet owners who have their pet spayed or neutered.
- Annual pay discount. You can often reduce costs if you pay your annual premium in one lump sum.
- Military discount. Some insurers offer discounts for military members and veterans.
- Group discount at work. Some employers offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit, which could get you a 5% to 10% discount.
- Bundle discount. You can get up to a 10% discount when you bundle Lemonade pet insurance with a Lemonade renters or homeowners insurance policy.
Consider These Other Factors
Here are two more factors we would look at when buying a pet insurance plan:
- Exam fees. When you take your pet to the veterinarian for an accident or illness, you pay an exam fee, costing $100 or more depending on your veterinarian and visit type. Make sure the policy covers these exam fees because not all do.
- Benefits. Look for extra benefits like a 24-hour vet helpline in case your pet gets sick at night. As another example, Nationwide pet insurance members have access to preferred pricing on pet prescriptions at any Walmart pharmacy.
Summary of Top-Rated Pet Insurance Companies in the US for 2024
- Pets Best – Best for Treatment of Mobility Issues
- Embrace – Best for International Coverage
- Spot – Best for Unlimited Coverage
- Figo – Best for Reimbursement Options
- Lemonade – Best for Fast Claims Processing