Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Americans love their pets. So we spend more than $100 billion annually on pet-related products and services. That isn’t surprising, given our pets are like family. We share our beds, food, and other essentials with them. Some people even buy them clothes and make social media accounts for their pets. So why wouldn’t you purchase pet insurance to protect your pet’s health the same way you do your own?
According to the ASPCA, the annual cost of owning a dog or cat is upwards of $1,400 annually. That includes food, routine medical care, toys, treats, and other pet-related expenses. That price can spike exponentially after even one major illness or accident. You could suddenly find yourself paying thousands for one surgery followed by hospitalizations, medications, and more.
It’s essential to have pet insurance to know your furry friend will be taken care of no matter what. While pet insurance companies don’t cover preexisting conditions, policy premiums are typically under $100 per month.
We looked at various key factors to find the best pet insurance providers, including cost, levels of coverage, and types of policies available. With this information, you’ll be able to decide which provider is best for you.
Take a look at our list of the best pet insurance providers below.
Best for waiting periods: ASPCA
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for no coverage limits: Trupanion
On American pet insurance company’s website
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for 100% reimbursement: Figo
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A-
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A-
Details
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A-
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for exotic pet coverage: Nationwide
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
859
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A+
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
859
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A+
Details
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
859
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A+
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for broad coverage: Spot
On Spot Insurance Services LLC’s website
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for preexisting conditions: American Kennel Club
American Kennel Club Pet Insurance
American Kennel Club Pet Insurance
On American Kennel Club’s website
Pros & Cons
Best for comprehensive coverage: Pumpkin
On Pumpkin Insurance Services’s website
Pros & Cons
Best for service dogs: TrustedPals
Pros & Cons
Best for unlimited annual coverage: Healthy Paws
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A++
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A++
On ACE American Insurance Company’s website
Details
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A++
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for affordable premiums: Lemonade
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
853
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
853
On Lemonade Insurance Company’s website
Details
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
853
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Compare the best pet insurance providers
Best for waiting periods: ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a famous nonprofit focused on animal rights. In addition to this critical work, the ASPCA lends its name to affordable pet health insurance plans with great benefits. At this time, the ASPCA does not sell or underwrite insurance, but it does receive royalties to add its name to this pet insurance plan.
Coverage is available for dogs, cats, and horses. But most importantly, its policies offer a shorter waiting period than most providers for cruciate injuries (14 days). Pets must be at least eight weeks old to qualify for ASPCA pet insurance, but there’s no upper age limit. So senior pets can enjoy coverage through ASPCA pet insurance.
Owners with multiple eligible pets also get a 10% discount per month, which can add up. Standard plans with the ASPCA cover things like congenital conditions, alternative therapies, and behavioral issues.
Best for no coverage limits: Trupanion
If you’re looking for flexible coverage to fit your budget, consider Trupanion. Its pet insurance provides illness and accident coverage for cats and dogs, including plans without limits and a per-incident deductible, saving you money if your pet has recurring health issues.
Pets over 14 years old are ineligible for coverage, and some services have a waiting period. But Trupanion also offers valuable add-ons that’ll cover boarding fees if a pet owner is hospitalized, behavioral and rehabilitative therapy, and coverage for unintentional property damage caused by a pet.
The most crucial distinction for Trupanion is the unlimited coverage limits. Some pet insurance companies offer lower monthly premiums, but your coverage is limited to $5,000-$10,000 per year. As many pet parents find out the hard way, you could spend that amount on one medical emergency. Trupanion’s coverage can be unlimited once you satisfy your annual deductible.
Best for 100% reimbursement: Figo
Figo is unique in that it offers a 100% reimbursement option. In short, under one of its plans, you’ll be covered for 100% of your eligible pet expenses after you meet your annual deductible. In addition, it offers plans with lower yearly reimbursement maximums. So depending on how much you’re willing to pay each month, you could pay nothing out of pocket for qualified expenses.
Its comprehensive pet insurance plans include coverage for nonroutine dental care, alternative treatments, and hereditary conditions. You can even add preventative coverage with wellness care and vet exam fees.
Added benefits of Figo pet insurance plans include a shorter than average 1-day waiting period for accident coverage, a 24-hour pet telehealth line, and its Pet Cloud app to make your pet’s vet records much more manageable.
Best for exotic pet coverage: Nationwide
Nationwide is a familiar name for home, auto, and life insurance. But did you know it also offers pet insurance? You can insure dogs, cats, birds, and some exotic pets, which many providers on this list do not cover. In addition, there are no age limits for pet coverage with Nationwide.
Preventive treatment isn’t included in the lower-cost pet insurance plans. So you may have to search elsewhere for pet wellness plans. But Nationwide’s comprehensive pet insurance covers the most common accident and illnesses for pets. Wellness coverage from Nationwide pet insurance includes things like certain vaccines and annual exams.
Nationwide pet insurance plans are available in every state. So whether you have a dog, lizard, horse, or iguana, you won’t have an issue finding pet insurance coverage.
Best for broad coverage: Spot
What’s excellent about Spot is that it offers a wide variety of policies, including coverage for both accident and illness, accident-only, and an optional wellness plan for an additional fee.
In addition, Spot pet insurance will reimburse exam fees (for select conditions) as part of its accident and illness coverage. Most pet insurance providers exclude exam fees from coverage. Qualified pet parents may also choose unlimited annual coverage. Spot has pet insurance for accidents, illness, and wellness add-ons for dental cleanings, wellness exams, certain vaccines, and more.
Spot pet insurance premiums are high compared to some other pet insurance competitors. But customer satisfaction is also higher.
Best for preexisting conditions: American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club’s pet insurance plans are available for all pets, not just registered purebred dogs. So you can sign your mixed breed dog or cat up for AKC’s pet insurance and choose from various optional add-ons. This includes coverage for exam fees, wellness care, and final expenses, to name a few.
You’ll get 30 days of free pet insurance if you register your new pup for an American Kennel Club membership. But pet parents with senior pets may want to consider other pet insurance companies. Pets 9 years old or older will only be eligible for accident coverage when you buy your policy. You’ll also need to sign up your pet before their second birthday to qualify for the AKC’s optional coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions.
American Kennel Club is unique because it covers preexisting conditions after a 12-month waiting period. By contrast, other pet insurance companies won’t cover preexisting conditions.
Best for comprehensive coverage: Pumpkin
If you’re looking for comprehensive pet insurance coverage, Pumpkin pet insurance could be a great choice. Unlike many other pet insurance providers, Pumpkin offers coverage for preventable diseases (excluding preexisting conditions) like Lyme or parvovirus.
In addition, Pumpkin only requires a 14-day waiting period for breeds with common hereditary conditions like hip and joint problems. In contrast, other providers may require waiting periods of up to 60 days. The waiting period is for current and future treatment. So if your pet presents with any of the listed health conditions within the waiting period, that condition and any related vet bills will not be covered in the future.
With Pumpkin, you can get a quote for your pet quickly and easily. You will have fewer options to choose from when it comes to coverage, but the available options are above average compared to other pet insurance providers.
Finally, the company won’t decline coverage based on a pet’s age. Specific policies also cover advanced treatments for things like behavioral therapy and acupuncture.
Best for service dogs: TrustedPals
TrustedPals pet insurance offers a 5% discount on premiums for service dogs. This discount is also extended to veterinary clinic workers, veterinary students, active military members, military veterans, and first responders.
TrustPals also offers coverage options with 100% reimbursement and a $0 deductible. You may have noticed that many pet insurance policies don’t include these features simultaneously. You can also add an optional wellness plan for your pet covering wellness exams, flea, tick, heartworm prevention, vaccinations, and more.
Best for unlimited annual coverage: Healthy Paws
If you’re looking for comprehensive pet insurance that will ease your financial worries, Healthy Paws pet insurance is a great choice. It’s one of the highest-rated companies by customers and doesn’t have any limits on how much it will pay per incident, annually, or over the lifetime of your pet.
There are coverage options for all stages of your pet’s life, from eight weeks to 14 years old, with the ability to choose from a few different deductibles and reimbursement levels.
Best for affordable premiums: Lemonade
Are you looking for pet insurance that won’t break the bank? Consider Lemonade pet insurance, which offers policies that start at just $12 per month. In addition, some of Lemonade’s cheaper wellness plans provide coverage for wellness checks, preventative care, and extended accident and illness coverage. Whether shopping for a new pet insurance policy or adjusting your current plan, Lemonade’s website and app provide easy-to-use quoting tools.
If you have other items to insure, you can save even more. Customers who bundle their pet insurance with coverage for, say, your car or rental will get a 10% discount. You can also get 5% off for paying a full year’s premium upfront and a 5% discount per policy for two or more pets. Unfortunately, Lemonade pet insurance is only available in some states. You can check its website or run a quote to find out if Lemonade pet insurance is available for your pets.
Why trust our recommendations?
At Insider, we know how hard it can be to find trusted financial resources. Especially when it comes to family, we know the “best” isn’t always as straightforward as we’d like it to be. So we gather information online, run quotes, and check out customer reviews. Then we compile the information we’ve collected to compare pet insurance companies.
Individual product reviews show the strengths and weaknesses so buyers can make informed decisions. Our top 10 pet insurance companies reflect our best efforts to help consumers find plans to offer the coverage needed and maximize individual customer satisfaction.
Our methodology
When it comes to pet insurance, there are a lot of providers from which to choose. So how do you know which one is the best for your pet?
The factors we considered included, but were not limited to:
- Coverage limits
- Exclusions (such as preexisting conditions or hereditary conditions) and exceptions
- Policy pricing
- Available add-ons
- Customer satisfaction
We started by looking at what type of coverage each provider offers. We wanted to find companies that provided good coverage options and rates, as well as customer service that was friendly and helpful. Finally, we compared rates to ensure these providers offered affordable coverage.
How to pick the best pet insurance company for you
When looking for pet insurance, comparing different providers is essential to find the best coverage and price. Some factors to consider include the cost of premiums, the amount of coverage offered, the waiting period for coverage of preexisting conditions, and the reimbursement percentage for veterinary care.
It’s also important to read the fine print to understand what is and isn’t covered. For example, many pet insurance policies don’t cover routine care such as vaccinations and annual checkups. If your pet needs expensive surgery or treatment, you may only receive a fraction of the cost back from the insurance company.
Pet insurance can be a great way to protect yourself from costly vet bills in an emergency. So, do your homework and shop around to find the best policy for your pet.
FAQs
The best pet insurance for you will depend on a multitude of factors, including things like your pet’s breed and age and the coverages for which you’re looking. Business Insider rated Lemonade pet insurance the “Best for Low-Cost Coverage.” So if it’s a low monthly cost you’re looking for, take a look at Lemonade. If you’re looking for more comprehensive coverage, coverage for senior pets, etc., check out our other top picks.
Your monthly premium for pet insurance is based on various things, including your pet’s age and species, where you live, and the coverage you choose. Most people can expect to pay between $30 and $50 per month for a decent pet insurance plan.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to every buyer’s question of cost vs. quality. Ultimately, the best decision for you and your pet depends on your circumstances. Some factors to consider include whether your pet is young or old, how likely it is to get sick or injured, and the cost of pet insurance premiums compared to potential pet care costs.
Related Post
Insider’s experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here’s how). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners, however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Americans love their pets. So we spend more than $100 billion annually on pet-related products and services. That isn’t surprising, given our pets are like family. We share our beds, food, and other essentials with them. Some people even buy them clothes and make social media accounts for their pets. So why wouldn’t you purchase pet insurance to protect your pet’s health the same way you do your own?
According to the ASPCA, the annual cost of owning a dog or cat is upwards of $1,400 annually. That includes food, routine medical care, toys, treats, and other pet-related expenses. That price can spike exponentially after even one major illness or accident. You could suddenly find yourself paying thousands for one surgery followed by hospitalizations, medications, and more.
It’s essential to have pet insurance to know your furry friend will be taken care of no matter what. While pet insurance companies don’t cover preexisting conditions, policy premiums are typically under $100 per month.
We looked at various key factors to find the best pet insurance providers, including cost, levels of coverage, and types of policies available. With this information, you’ll be able to decide which provider is best for you.
Take a look at our list of the best pet insurance providers below.
Best for waiting periods: ASPCA
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for no coverage limits: Trupanion
On American pet insurance company’s website
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for 100% reimbursement: Figo
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A-
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A-
Details
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A-
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for exotic pet coverage: Nationwide
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
859
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A+
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
859
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A+
Details
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
859
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A+
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for broad coverage: Spot
On Spot Insurance Services LLC’s website
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for preexisting conditions: American Kennel Club
American Kennel Club Pet Insurance
American Kennel Club Pet Insurance
On American Kennel Club’s website
Pros & Cons
Best for comprehensive coverage: Pumpkin
On Pumpkin Insurance Services’s website
Pros & Cons
Best for service dogs: TrustedPals
Pros & Cons
Best for unlimited annual coverage: Healthy Paws
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A++
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A++
On ACE American Insurance Company’s website
Details
AM Best Financial Strength Rating
A++
Pros & Cons
Additional Reading
Best for affordable premiums: Lemonade
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
853
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
853
On Lemonade Insurance Company’s website
Details
JD Power Customer Satisfaction Rating
853
Pros & Cons
Highlights
Additional Reading
Compare the best pet insurance providers
Best for waiting periods: ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a famous nonprofit focused on animal rights. In addition to this critical work, the ASPCA lends its name to affordable pet health insurance plans with great benefits. At this time, the ASPCA does not sell or underwrite insurance, but it does receive royalties to add its name to this pet insurance plan.
Coverage is available for dogs, cats, and horses. But most importantly, its policies offer a shorter waiting period than most providers for cruciate injuries (14 days). Pets must be at least eight weeks old to qualify for ASPCA pet insurance, but there’s no upper age limit. So senior pets can enjoy coverage through ASPCA pet insurance.
Owners with multiple eligible pets also get a 10% discount per month, which can add up. Standard plans with the ASPCA cover things like congenital conditions, alternative therapies, and behavioral issues.
Best for no coverage limits: Trupanion
If you’re looking for flexible coverage to fit your budget, consider Trupanion. Its pet insurance provides illness and accident coverage for cats and dogs, including plans without limits and a per-incident deductible, saving you money if your pet has recurring health issues.
Pets over 14 years old are ineligible for coverage, and some services have a waiting period. But Trupanion also offers valuable add-ons that’ll cover boarding fees if a pet owner is hospitalized, behavioral and rehabilitative therapy, and coverage for unintentional property damage caused by a pet.
The most crucial distinction for Trupanion is the unlimited coverage limits. Some pet insurance companies offer lower monthly premiums, but your coverage is limited to $5,000-$10,000 per year. As many pet parents find out the hard way, you could spend that amount on one medical emergency. Trupanion’s coverage can be unlimited once you satisfy your annual deductible.
Best for 100% reimbursement: Figo
Figo is unique in that it offers a 100% reimbursement option. In short, under one of its plans, you’ll be covered for 100% of your eligible pet expenses after you meet your annual deductible. In addition, it offers plans with lower yearly reimbursement maximums. So depending on how much you’re willing to pay each month, you could pay nothing out of pocket for qualified expenses.
Its comprehensive pet insurance plans include coverage for nonroutine dental care, alternative treatments, and hereditary conditions. You can even add preventative coverage with wellness care and vet exam fees.
Added benefits of Figo pet insurance plans include a shorter than average 1-day waiting period for accident coverage, a 24-hour pet telehealth line, and its Pet Cloud app to make your pet’s vet records much more manageable.
Best for exotic pet coverage: Nationwide
Nationwide is a familiar name for home, auto, and life insurance. But did you know it also offers pet insurance? You can insure dogs, cats, birds, and some exotic pets, which many providers on this list do not cover. In addition, there are no age limits for pet coverage with Nationwide.
Preventive treatment isn’t included in the lower-cost pet insurance plans. So you may have to search elsewhere for pet wellness plans. But Nationwide’s comprehensive pet insurance covers the most common accident and illnesses for pets. Wellness coverage from Nationwide pet insurance includes things like certain vaccines and annual exams.
Nationwide pet insurance plans are available in every state. So whether you have a dog, lizard, horse, or iguana, you won’t have an issue finding pet insurance coverage.
Best for broad coverage: Spot
What’s excellent about Spot is that it offers a wide variety of policies, including coverage for both accident and illness, accident-only, and an optional wellness plan for an additional fee.
In addition, Spot pet insurance will reimburse exam fees (for select conditions) as part of its accident and illness coverage. Most pet insurance providers exclude exam fees from coverage. Qualified pet parents may also choose unlimited annual coverage. Spot has pet insurance for accidents, illness, and wellness add-ons for dental cleanings, wellness exams, certain vaccines, and more.
Spot pet insurance premiums are high compared to some other pet insurance competitors. But customer satisfaction is also higher.
Best for preexisting conditions: American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club’s pet insurance plans are available for all pets, not just registered purebred dogs. So you can sign your mixed breed dog or cat up for AKC’s pet insurance and choose from various optional add-ons. This includes coverage for exam fees, wellness care, and final expenses, to name a few.
You’ll get 30 days of free pet insurance if you register your new pup for an American Kennel Club membership. But pet parents with senior pets may want to consider other pet insurance companies. Pets 9 years old or older will only be eligible for accident coverage when you buy your policy. You’ll also need to sign up your pet before their second birthday to qualify for the AKC’s optional coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions.
American Kennel Club is unique because it covers preexisting conditions after a 12-month waiting period. By contrast, other pet insurance companies won’t cover preexisting conditions.
Best for comprehensive coverage: Pumpkin
If you’re looking for comprehensive pet insurance coverage, Pumpkin pet insurance could be a great choice. Unlike many other pet insurance providers, Pumpkin offers coverage for preventable diseases (excluding preexisting conditions) like Lyme or parvovirus.
In addition, Pumpkin only requires a 14-day waiting period for breeds with common hereditary conditions like hip and joint problems. In contrast, other providers may require waiting periods of up to 60 days. The waiting period is for current and future treatment. So if your pet presents with any of the listed health conditions within the waiting period, that condition and any related vet bills will not be covered in the future.
With Pumpkin, you can get a quote for your pet quickly and easily. You will have fewer options to choose from when it comes to coverage, but the available options are above average compared to other pet insurance providers.
Finally, the company won’t decline coverage based on a pet’s age. Specific policies also cover advanced treatments for things like behavioral therapy and acupuncture.
Best for service dogs: TrustedPals
TrustedPals pet insurance offers a 5% discount on premiums for service dogs. This discount is also extended to veterinary clinic workers, veterinary students, active military members, military veterans, and first responders.
TrustPals also offers coverage options with 100% reimbursement and a $0 deductible. You may have noticed that many pet insurance policies don’t include these features simultaneously. You can also add an optional wellness plan for your pet covering wellness exams, flea, tick, heartworm prevention, vaccinations, and more.
Best for unlimited annual coverage: Healthy Paws
If you’re looking for comprehensive pet insurance that will ease your financial worries, Healthy Paws pet insurance is a great choice. It’s one of the highest-rated companies by customers and doesn’t have any limits on how much it will pay per incident, annually, or over the lifetime of your pet.
There are coverage options for all stages of your pet’s life, from eight weeks to 14 years old, with the ability to choose from a few different deductibles and reimbursement levels.
Best for affordable premiums: Lemonade
Are you looking for pet insurance that won’t break the bank? Consider Lemonade pet insurance, which offers policies that start at just $12 per month. In addition, some of Lemonade’s cheaper wellness plans provide coverage for wellness checks, preventative care, and extended accident and illness coverage. Whether shopping for a new pet insurance policy or adjusting your current plan, Lemonade’s website and app provide easy-to-use quoting tools.
If you have other items to insure, you can save even more. Customers who bundle their pet insurance with coverage for, say, your car or rental will get a 10% discount. You can also get 5% off for paying a full year’s premium upfront and a 5% discount per policy for two or more pets. Unfortunately, Lemonade pet insurance is only available in some states. You can check its website or run a quote to find out if Lemonade pet insurance is available for your pets.
Why trust our recommendations?
At Insider, we know how hard it can be to find trusted financial resources. Especially when it comes to family, we know the “best” isn’t always as straightforward as we’d like it to be. So we gather information online, run quotes, and check out customer reviews. Then we compile the information we’ve collected to compare pet insurance companies.
Individual product reviews show the strengths and weaknesses so buyers can make informed decisions. Our top 10 pet insurance companies reflect our best efforts to help consumers find plans to offer the coverage needed and maximize individual customer satisfaction.
Our methodology
When it comes to pet insurance, there are a lot of providers from which to choose. So how do you know which one is the best for your pet?
The factors we considered included, but were not limited to:
- Coverage limits
- Exclusions (such as preexisting conditions or hereditary conditions) and exceptions
- Policy pricing
- Available add-ons
- Customer satisfaction
We started by looking at what type of coverage each provider offers. We wanted to find companies that provided good coverage options and rates, as well as customer service that was friendly and helpful. Finally, we compared rates to ensure these providers offered affordable coverage.
How to pick the best pet insurance company for you
When looking for pet insurance, comparing different providers is essential to find the best coverage and price. Some factors to consider include the cost of premiums, the amount of coverage offered, the waiting period for coverage of preexisting conditions, and the reimbursement percentage for veterinary care.
It’s also important to read the fine print to understand what is and isn’t covered. For example, many pet insurance policies don’t cover routine care such as vaccinations and annual checkups. If your pet needs expensive surgery or treatment, you may only receive a fraction of the cost back from the insurance company.
Pet insurance can be a great way to protect yourself from costly vet bills in an emergency. So, do your homework and shop around to find the best policy for your pet.
FAQs
The best pet insurance for you will depend on a multitude of factors, including things like your pet’s breed and age and the coverages for which you’re looking. Business Insider rated Lemonade pet insurance the “Best for Low-Cost Coverage.” So if it’s a low monthly cost you’re looking for, take a look at Lemonade. If you’re looking for more comprehensive coverage, coverage for senior pets, etc., check out our other top picks.
Your monthly premium for pet insurance is based on various things, including your pet’s age and species, where you live, and the coverage you choose. Most people can expect to pay between $30 and $50 per month for a decent pet insurance plan.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to every buyer’s question of cost vs. quality. Ultimately, the best decision for you and your pet depends on your circumstances. Some factors to consider include whether your pet is young or old, how likely it is to get sick or injured, and the cost of pet insurance premiums compared to potential pet care costs.
