Alexis Kestler
Pet ownership in the United States has been steadily rising over the past few decades. As of 2021, 70% of U.S. households own at least one pet, up from 56% in 1988 according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Association. With more pets comes more veterinary care needed to keep our furry friends healthy and happy. But vet bills can add up quickly, especially for emergency visits or chronic conditions. This is where pet insurance comes in.
Pet insurance helps pet owners budget for surprise vet bills by reimbursing a portion of costs like exams, lab tests, medications, surgeries and more. The right pet insurance plan can be a lifesaver if your pet has an accident or illness that requires expensive treatment. With so many options out there, it can be tricky to choose the best pet insurance for your needs. We‘ve researched the top pet insurance providers to highlight key features, coverage and pricing to make your buying decision easier.
What Should You Look For in Pet Insurance?
When evaluating pet insurance plans, there are a few key factors to consider:
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Comprehensive coverage: Look for plans that cover more than just accidents or injuries. Illness coverage is important as pets age. hereditary conditions, prescriptions, specialty care and more should also be covered.
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Affordable premiums: Monthly premium costs vary widely based on factors like your pet‘s breed, age, pre-existing conditions and the level of coverage selected. Compare pricing across multiple providers.
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Reimbursement percentage: Most plans reimburse 70% to 90% of eligible vet costs after your deductible. Higher reimbursement means more money back in your pocket.
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Annual limits: Some plans cap annual payouts per incident, year or pet‘s lifetime. Higher limits give you more protection.
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Deductible amount: You‘ll pay out of pocket until meeting a per-incident or annual deductible. Choose a deductible you can afford. Low deductibles cost more in premiums.
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Exclusions: Understand what isn‘t covered like pre-existing conditions, exam fees, dental disease, routine care and other exclusions.
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Claims process: Look for easy claim filing with quick direct deposit reimbursements. Mobile apps streamline filing for some providers.
Now let‘s dive into the top pet insurance options based on plan features, affordability, coverage and policyholder reviews.
1. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a top choice with comprehensive accident and illness coverage options plus preventative care add-ons if desired. ASPCA also offers specialized plans tailored for birds and exotic pets.
Key features:
- Reimbursement options of 70%, 80% or 90% of covered costs
- $250 to $5,000 annual coverage limit options
- Deductible options of $100, $250 or $500
- Optional wellness plan for spay/neuter, dental cleaning, checkups and more
- Mobile claims filing with most reimbursements in 2-7 days
- Covers hereditary conditions, chronic illnesses, specialty care
- Accident coverage with no waiting period
ASPCA policies appeal to pet owners who want robust accident and illness protection. Higher premiums earn you higher payout limits and reimbursement rates. Quick direct deposit claims reimbursements are a major perk.
2. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is consistently rated as a top pet insurance provider for comprehensive accident and illness coverage with excellent customer service.
Why it‘s great:
- No annual or lifetime payout limits
- Reimbursed up to 90% of eligible costs
- Low $100 deductible with optional $250 or $500 deductible
- Claims processed in just 2 business days on average
- Mobile app makes filing claims easy
- Chronic condition coverage with no extra premium
- Accident coverage starts day 1
Healthy Paws offers unlimited payouts per incident, per year and over your pet‘s lifetime – a unique perk not offered by most competitors. Quick reimbursements and excellent customer service also make this a top choice.
3. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pumpkin Pet Insurance (formerly known as Pumpkin Insurance Services) is a newer pet insurance provider that‘s quickly gaining popularity for affordable premiums and robust coverage.
Why choose Pumpkin?
- Exam fees covered with no deductible to meet
- Reimbursed for 80% of covered costs
- Low premium rates, often cheaper than competitors
- Mobile app makes filing claims easy
- Optional wellness coverage available as an add-on
- Chronic condition coverage with no extra premium
- 24/7 pet help hotline for urgent questions
Pumpkin shines for its affordable premiums and coverage of exam fees with every incident. Optional wellness plans are also competitively priced compared to alternatives.
4. Lemonade Pet Insurance
Lemonade Pet Insurance is known for affordable premiums, fast claims and a seamless digital experience through its mobile app.
Why it stands out:
- Reimbursed for 90% of covered costs
- 14-day wait for accident coverage, 6 months for illness
- $250 deductible with options up to $1000
- Payout caps from $5,000 up to unlimited annual coverage
- Preventative wellness plans available
- Pay monthly or pay annually for 8% discount
- Quote to claim handled through user-friendly app
Lemonade is one of the most affordable pet insurance options with premiums up to 80% less than some competitors. The entire process from getting a quote to filing claims happens in minutes via the Lemonade app.
5. Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion is a popular choice with pet owners and vets for its 90% reimbursement rate, simple plan options and ability to pay vets directly in many cases.
What makes Trupanion unique:
- 90% reimbursement rate
- $0 to $1,000 deductible options
- Ability to pay vets directly in many cases
- No payout limits per incident, year or lifetime
- Coverage includes hereditary conditions
- Optional recovery/lost pet tracking add-on
- Available for exotic pets and birds
Trupanion only offers one simple accident and illness plan. Higher deductibles earn you lower premiums. Trupanion shines for its high 90% reimbursement rate and direct vet pay feature.
6. Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace Pet Insurance allows lots of customization from deductible to reimbursement percentage. It covers both accidents and illnesses with some unique exclusions.
Policy highlights:
- Choose 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement
- $200 to $1000 annual deductible options
- $5000 to unlimited annual payout maximums
- Reimbursed in 7-10 days on average
- Exam fees covered with eligible claims
- No coverage for pre-existing conditions
- Extra pricing for higher-risk breeds
Embrace lets you really dial in your ideal plan with the deductible, reimbursement rate and benefit limits that fit your budget. Just keep in mind it excludes coverage for pre-existing and congenital conditions.
7. Petplan Pet Insurance
Petplan is a popular pet insurance choice thanks to its comprehensive coverage options at multiple price points.
Petplan policy perks:
- Choose 70%, 80% or 100% reimbursement
- $200 annual deductible for lowest premium
- Exam fees reimbursed for covered conditions
- Optional wellness coverage for routine care
- Chronic condition coverage with no lifetime limits
- Hereditary condition coverage
- Mobile claims processing in 2-3 days
Petplan shines for its variety of deductible and reimbursement choices to find an affordable fit. Quick claims processing and comprehensive accident/illness coverage makes it a solid choice all around. Just know exam fees are only covered when tied to an eligible diagnosis.
8. Figo Pet Insurance
Figo Pet Insurance keeps premium costs low with set limits on annual payouts. Its budget-friendly plans and fast claims make Figo worth a look.
What Figo offers:
- Set payout limits per year: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
- 80% reimbursement of covered costs
- $100 annual deductible
- Optional wellness plans available
- Exotic pets covered including birds, reptiles and more
- Claims processed via mobile app in 2-3 days
For pet owners who don‘t expect extremely high vet bills, Figo provides affordable protection. Just pay close attention to its annual payout limits when choosing your plan.
9. Pets Best Insurance
Pets Best offers a straightforward suite of accident-only and accident & illness coverage options. It‘s earned high marks for customer satisfaction and transparent pricing.
Why Pets Best stands out:
- Accident plans from $6/month
- Choose 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement
- $50 to $1000 annual deductible options
- $2,500 to unlimited annual coverage maximum
- Hereditary and congenital condition coverage
- Recurring condition coverage
- Easy online and mobile claims filing
Pets Best keeps pricing transparent with deductibles and reimbursement clearly displayed. Claims processing is also quick and straightforward either online or via its mobile app.
10. Nationwide Pet Insurance
Nationwide offers a nice selection of customizable accident and illness plans. Its companion wellness coverage for routine care is also very affordable.
Nationwide‘s plan highlights:
- Choose 50% to 100% reimbursement
- $100 to $1000 annual deductible options
- $2500 to unlimited annual benefit maximums
- Wellness coverage from $16 per month
- Exotic pet plans available
- Mobile claims filing reimbursed in 2 weeks
Nationwide appeals to pet owners who want the option to add wellness coverage at a reasonable price. Just know its maximum payouts per incident are lower than some competitors.
11. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pumpkin (formerly Pumpkin Insurance) offers budget-friendly accident & illness coverage focused on essentials. Its preventive care coverage is also very affordable.
What you get with Pumpkin:
- $15,000 annual coverage maximum
- 80% reimbursement on eligible costs
- Low $250 deductible
- Preventive care plans from $11/month
- Coverage for hereditary conditions
- Mobile app for easy claims filing
- Affordable pricing with essential coverage
For pet owners who want solid protection on a budget, Pumpkin delivers. Just know its annual payout maximums are lower than some competitors. But its pricing is hard to beat.
12. ManyPets Pet Insurance
ManyPets offers comprehensive accident and illness plans with pricing to fit any budget. Its extensive policy options make it easy to customize your coverage.
ManyPets plan highlights:
- Choose any annual limit $1,000 to unlimited
- Pick 50% to 100% reimbursement
- $100 to $1000 annual deductible options
- Coverage includes exam fees, lab work, surgeries
- Chronic condition coverage
- Hereditary condition coverage
- Preventive care add-ons available
ManyPets offers endless combinations to tailor your ideal plan. Compare pricing on the deductible and payout limits you prefer most.
13. USAA Pet Insurance
USAA Pet Insurance offers comprehensive coverage for accidents, injuries and illnesses tailored for military members and their families.
USAA policy highlights:
- 50%, 70% or 90% reimbursement options
- $100 to $500 annual deductible choices
- $2,500 to unlimited annual payment limits
- Optional wellness rewards program
- Coverage includes hereditary conditions
- Mobile claims filing and direct deposit
- Discounted rates for military members
USAA offers special pricing and benefits for military members and eligible family. Its accident and wellness plans provide comprehensive coverage similar to leading pet insurers but with added military-focused perks.
Finding the Right Fit
With so many options for pet insurance these days, take your time researching different providers to find the best fit. Make sure to compare pricing across multiple companies for your pet‘s breed, age and the level of coverage you want. Finding an affordable deductible that won‘t break your budget if you need to file a claim is also key.
Aim for comprehensive accident and illness coverage with robust payout limits. But also look for exclusions that may impact common claims like hip dysplasia in larger dog breeds. For the highest protection, consider adding preventive wellness coverage as well to have help paying for routine vet costs.
