For most people, deciding which (if any) pet insurance plan to purchase is a cost-benefit analysis. It's weighing the average cost of common pet procedures against monthly premiums. It's calculating deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. It's considering whether you ever want to be in the position where you need to choose between a life-saving procedure for your best friend and going broke... or if paying $70 a month for a whole year while your pet remains healthy and thriving will send your budget over the edge.
Pet health insurance can either be too expensive or a total lifesaver depending on who you talk to, and this should highlight how difficult it is to provide a blanket yes or no solution. Deciding whether or not you should get pet insurance is a difficult decision, but we've broken down that choice for you here.
If you are interested in pet insurance, the next hurdle is picking the best provider. It's a cliché to say every pet is unique (we're all snowflakes!) and that every insurance provider is different, but it's true. Getting an accurate quote means inputting your pet's age, their breed, location, and weight.
Pet insurance certainly isn't one size fits all and that's why we've broken down the best providers into specific categories to provide a more accurate rating system for every type of dog or cat, at every age. In order to come to these choices, we analyzed 12 different popular insurance providers, comparing plans, what they cover, and sample monthly premiums with multiple pets of different breeds, health levels, and sizes to get a better idea of how much each plan costs vs. how much it offers.
Before we get into our results, we thought we'd identify some of the most important factors we considered in choosing these pet insurance providers and offer a little explanation for each so you feel as informed as possible when making this important decision.
Deductible
This is the amount of a vet bill that you're responsible for paying before any pet insurance provider reimburses you. A lower deductible means paying less out of pocket, but more on a month-to-month basis. Some insurance companies have annual and lifetime deductibles, so make sure to read the fine print.
Annual Coverage Limit
This is the total amount you can be reimbursed by your provider in a 12-month period. A lower coverage limit means a lower monthly premium, but if you reach this cap, you're responsible for the full amount of any healthcare bills that exceed it.
Reimbursement Rate
This is the percent amount of your veterinary bills your pet insurance provider will cover after your deductible. This number ranges from 60%-100%, meaning insurance will only cover that portion of the bill until you reach your coverage limit. The lower the rate, the lower your monthly premium, but the more you may owe in bills.
What's Covered
There is no one-for-one breakdown of what's covered between any insurance providers, so pay close attention to each term sheet. Before agreeing to any rate, research your breed and make sure that the most common conditions related to your dog or cat are covered. Unfortunately, no pet insurances cover preexisting conditions.
Now that you have a good idea of what you'll be looking at when you compare plans, you can take a look at some of our favorite providers below.
Best Pet Insurance For Puppies
We tested three 8-month-old dogs of different breeds — small, medium, and large — across 12 pet insurance providers to determine which offers the most for the least amount of money.
Healthy Paws
With just one simple plan offering comprehensive coverage, Healthy Paws stands out. There's no limit, annual or lifetime, for how much Healthy Paws will reimburse you, meaning it's a great choice for people who own younger dogs and are looking for a lifetime of coverage. If you have a big dog, this may not be your best bet as they do not cover hip dysplasia, which is common in larger dog breeds.
Annual Coverage Limit: Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $100 to $500 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
Pet Plan
Pet Plan provides comprehensive coverage with varying annual limits that reach up to unlimited. With this provider, you can choose a plan that fits your lifestyle best. Unlike some other providers, Pet Plan also covers non-routine vet exam fees. And when you have a younger dog, hopefully with very few health problems, these exam visits can be the bulk of what you're using your insurance for.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $250 to $1,000 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
Best Pet Insurance For Small Dogs
We tested three 5-year-old dogs of different breeds — all small — including one with breed-specific health conditions, across 12 pet insurance providers to determine which provider offers the most for small dogs.
Figo
Figo has three different insurance plans — Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate — all with comprehensive medical coverage. Choosing between them means determining how much you'd like the annual payout limit to be. A lot of pet insurance providers cut out various care elements when you're looking at cheaper plans, but Figo offers a high standard for all three tiers. This insurance also waives your deductible if your dog is ever in need of immediate life-saving care.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $100 to $750 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 100%
Nationwide
Nationwide offers varying plans with varying benefits, so it's important to read all the terms carefully when signing up. It has Major Medical, which covers accidents and illnesses but only some hereditary conditions. It has Whole Pet, which covers most everything any other provider on this list does, but has a $10,000 annual limit. And, finally, it has Whole Pet with Wellness, which has an unlimited annual limit and covers all accidents and illnesses, as well as wellness exams and ER visits. It's the most comprehensive of the three and, as expected, the most expensive.
Annual Coverage Limit: Up to Unlimited Annual Deductible: $250 Reimbursement Rate: Up to 90%
Best Pet Insurance For Large Dogs
We tested three 5-year-old dogs of different breeds — all large — across 12 pet insurance providers and these are the two that had the most bang for their buck.
Trupanion
Trupanion is another pet insurance provider that offers one simple plan over many so you know for sure you're not choosing between reduced price plans and covering different medical exceptions. It's comprehensive and has some of the best coverage across the board. It comes in a little pricier than some of the other options, but also covers hip dysplasia, which is important for larger dog owners. You can add on recovery and complementary care for an extra fee per month.
Annual Coverage Limit: Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $0 to $1,000 Reimbursement Rate: 90%
ASPCA
When it comes to budget options, ASPCA tops the list. It consistently provides low, if not the lowest, monthly rates, across all breeds and sizes. It offers two major plan options — Complete Coverage and Accident-Only coverage — with an optional preventative care add-on. Although some other insurance providers cover more, they can quickly become pricier the larger the dog you have. This is a solid budget option.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $100 to $500 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
Best Pet Insurance For Older Dogs
We tested three different 10-year-old dogs of different breeds — small, medium, and large — across 12 different pet insurance providers to determine which is best for older dogs.
Embrace
When it comes to personalizing your pet insurance plan, Embrace makes it easy. You can toggle between reimbursement rates, annual limits, and deductibles to customize the plan that makes the most sense for you. It also has an optional wellness plan if you want to include healthy visits. Embrace works well for older dogs because its rates don't seem to punish your pet for not getting insurance sooner (like some of the others). While it doesn't offer any unlimited reimbursement plans, the coverage is comprehensive and relatively inexpensive for older dogs.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to $15,000 Annual Deductible: From $300 to $750 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
ASPCA
Coverage plans for older dogs are daunting; the older your dog is, the more expensive it becomes. When comparing the average cost of common veterinary expenses, it may even come out cheaper not to cover your dog at all. That's why we suggest one of the better budget options for older dogs: ASPCA. It covers all the most important basics (although there are always exceptions, so please read the terms) without a sky-high price.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $100 to $500 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
Best Pet Insurance For Kittens
We tested two different 8-month-old kittens across 12 different pet insurance platforms to determine which has the best value for young cats.
Healthy Paws
When it comes to younger pets, both cats and dogs, Healthy Paws is consistently on the top of the list for good coverage with low monthly premiums. This is a great insurance company to get your pet involved with when they're still young, as there are more coverage exceptions for cats (or any pets) of certain ages. It offers one flat, comprehensive plan and no per-incident, annual, or lifetime caps on payouts.
Annual Coverage Limit: Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $100 to $500 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
PetsBest
As is important when you're insuring a younger animal, Petsbest doesn't have lifetime limits on any of its plans. It also consistently remained in the cheaper plan options for nearly every test we ran. It offers three plans with varying levels of coverage, some including wellness. Customizing your plan to fit your cat is simple and affordable.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $50 to $1,000 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
Best Pet Insurance For Adult Cats
We tested two different 5-year-old cat breeds across 12 different pet insurance platforms. These are the results.
Figo
With Figo, you can choose between three plans — Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate — which vary based on their annual payout limit, not on their offerings or what they cover. If you're looking for something super comprehensive, but also customizable, this is a great plan. You can add on vet exam fees or wellness visits for a small monthly surcharge.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $100 to $750 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 100%
Embrace
Although it's not the cheapest option (nor the most expensive), Embrace offers great, comprehensive benefits to ensure your cat gets all the care they need. Embrace is also the only company on this list to offer a diminishing deductible. Every year your pet goes without receiving a reimbursement claim, your annual deductible is lowered by $50 for the year following.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to $15,000 Annual Deductible: From $300 to $750 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%
Best Pet Insurance For Older Cats
We tested two different 10-year-old cat breeds across 12 different pet insurance providers to see which offers the most for our older feline friends.
Figo
Figo has made this list a few times, and it's because the medical coverage it offers isn't predicated on how much you're spending. It has three plans that vary based on what your annual coverage limit is, which is what affects your monthly premium. It's the first cloud-based insurance provider and using its app makes life a lot easier. Its deductible range does change for older cats, but the prices are still affordable.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $500 to $1,500 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 100%
PetsBest
Offering consistently affordable rates for cats (and dogs too), PetsBest allows you to personalize your plan for your pet. It offers three tiers of coverage — Essential, Plus, Elite — that offer varying lists in terms of what's covered. When choosing a plan for an older animal, you already have a pretty good indication of what you're looking to get covered, so check out each list to decide which plan suits you best.
Annual Coverage Limit: From $5,000 to Unlimited Annual Deductible: From $50 to $1,000 Reimbursement Rate: From 70% to 90%