Top 5 Pet Insurance Companies of 2022

(Ad) Pet health insurance and wellness plans have grown exponentially over the past decade, and the options are becoming more and more plentiful. There are a variety of options that can help provide care for your pet and provide you with peace of mind.

We’ve reviewed the best pet insurance companies to help you find a reliable company that is trustworthy, affordable, and reliable. All of the companies listed offer free quotes and many different coverage options to help suit your furry friends’ health needs and your budget. But first, the question on everyone’s mind…

What Is Pet Insurance?

Many of us have heard bad stories about a friend of a friend having pet insurance, and their claim wasn’t covered or they still had to shed out a ton of money up front, but the truth is, pet insurance is INSURANCE – which means it has coverage limitations, deductibles, exclusions, max pay-out limits, and all that other insurance jargon!

But in reality, the top pet insurance companies offer health insurance policies for your pets to help pay for medical expenses and other costs. Pet insurance plans are typically reimbursement-based, meaning you pay your pet’s vet bills up front and submit a claim to the insurance company. A few companies can pay the vet directly, which helps keep your out-of-pocket payments low.

There’s usually a deductible before coverage starts. For example, you might pay the first $300 in vet bills before the pet insurance starts to pay. Even after your deductible is paid, the insurance company may not pay 100% of the vet bill. You can typically choose your reimbursement level. Common reimbursement options are 70%, 80%, or 90% of your vet bills.

Here are our top pet insurance companies of 2022.

Top 5 Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2022

Best Pet Insurance Reviews

Lemonade

Pros:

• Save 5% by paying annually vs. monthly
• Variety of options for annual coverage, up to $100,000
• 10% discount to those who insure their home and pet with Lemonade

Cons:

• Age limits for coverage that vary between 6 and 14 years old, depending on the breed’s estimated life expectancy

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Lemonade’s average plan will cost $47.67 per month (based on 80% reimbursement rate, $20,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same price for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old male mixed breed cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $19.92 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $20,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same price for a female of the same age and breed.

Lemonade is a fully licensed and regulated insurance company, which means that they underwrite, price, and sell policies, as well as handle and pay claims directly. They also provide other insurance, such as renters, condo , co-op , homeowners, andlife insurance plans, so bundling coverage may provide a discount.

Lemonade was built differently. Instead of profiting from unclaimed premiums, they take a flat fee out of your premium as profit and donate whatever money may be left after paying claims and expenses to charities (this is called the Lemonade Giveback). This way, customers enjoy amazing insurance, and society gets a little push for the better.

One nice feature of Lemonade is their mobile app, which makes submitting claims super easy and quick! You can quickly sign up for a policy through their mobile app or website. They also may require a “soft credit check”, which helps determine premiums and could lead to potential savings.

Their base pet health insurance policy helps you pay for diagnostics and treatments related to accidents and illnesses, with reimbursement amounts of 70%, 80%, or 90%. Deductible options are $100, $250, and $500, and annual coverage limits range from $5,000 to $20,000. You can also customize your plan to include more options, such as the Preventative package, Extended Accident and Illness package, and Preventative+ package.

The Preventative package means they will pay for preventative care costs, such as annual wellness exams, bloodwork, and vaccines and give you access to live chat with their pet health experts. If you really want to go above and beyond for your pet, you can add the Extended Accident and Illness package, which allows Lemonade to reimburse you for treatments for functionality issues that can help your pet through a recovery process (things like physical therapy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy), as well as vet visit fees that are charged for accidents and illnesses. The Preventative+ package covers heartworm or flea/tick medication as well as a routine dental cleaning.

Lemonade has also designed a Puppy/Kitten Preventative package, tailored to the needs of young pets under 2 years old. This package covers everything included in the basic preventative package, as well as spaying or neutering, microchipping, and up to 6 annual vaccines to help get your new best friend off to a great and healthy start! Lemonade is considered one of the best pet insurances for dogs due to the many benefits pup owners experience.

Prudent

Pros:

• 24/7 chat with veterinarians
• Variety of packages and choices

Cons:

• Fixed annual coverage limits for each package type

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Prudent’s average plan will cost $73.28 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). A 2-year-old female Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles will cost about $66.94 per month (based on the same coverage).
• A 2-year-old male mixed breed cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $29.96 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). A 2-year-old female mixed breed cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $27.37 per month (based on the same coverage).

Founded in 2018, Prudent was created by pet parents for pet parents. Although Prudent is newer to the pet insurer industry, they are underwritten by one of the top well-established insurance companies in the world, Markel Insurance Company.

Prudent Pet offers a variety of coverage packages, such as Accident Only, Essential, and Ultimate, as well as flexible add-ons, such as preventive care that covers annual exams, dental cleanings, and heartworm and flea prevention.

With waiting periods of 5 days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses, budget-friendly plans, and quick claims processing, Prudent plans were crafted to make life easier for customers. No in-network requirements means customers can keep their local veterinarian. They also maintain a simple, clear list of covered issues for each package type, which makes choosing your coverage that much easier.

Embrace

Pros:

• “Diminishing deductible”
• Coverage for curable conditions once 12 months symptom- and treatment-free
• Multi-pet discount

Cons:

• Plans include annual limits
• Maximum pet age at enrollment is 14 years old

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Embrace’s average plan will cost $49.69 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $15,000 annual coverage, and a $300 deductible). Same price for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old male cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $17.96 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $15,000 annual coverage, and a $300 deductible). A 2-year-old female cat living in Los Angeles will cost about $13.65 per month (based on the same coverage).

Embrace Pet Insurance by Geico boasts a “one, simple comprehensive plan” but is also customizable, offering annual coverage limits of $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, and $30,000.

Embrace offers a diminishing deductible, which reduces the deductible annually if you don’t make a claim. They also have the most variety when it comes to deductible options and one of the highest deductible options of $1,000.

Another great feature from Embrace is that they distinguish between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions, covering curable conditions after 12 months symptom- and treatment-free. Plans also offer wellness awards that can be applied toward routine visits.

Trupanion

Pros:

• Unlimited coverage amount
• Per-condition deductible
• Direct pay option with established veterinarian partners

Cons:

• No multi-pet discount
• No wellness plan options

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Trupanion’s average plan will cost $130.31 per month (based on 90% reimbursement, unlimited coverage amount, and a $250 deductible). A 2-year-old female Labrador retriever living in Los Angeles costs about $132.80 per month (based on the same coverage).
• A 2-year-old male cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $52.29 per month (based on 90% reimbursement, unlimited coverage amount, and a $250 deductible). A 2-year-old female cat living in Los Angeles will cost about $47.98 per month (based on the same coverage).

Founded in 2000, Trupanion is one of the most well-known brands of pet insurance. Trupanion offers some of the best dog insurance on the market today. The company’s medical insurance product covers more than half a million cats and dogs. A policy covers 90% of actual veterinary costs for eligible claims once a deductible is met.

Trupanion is one of the few companies to offer a $0 deductible, and they offer a unique lifetime per-condition deductible: you’ll pay a deductible once for every new condition, without a reset every year.

Trupanion pays veterinarian partners directly at the time of check-out, often in seconds, which helps eliminate the cumbersome reimbursement model. Trupanion is one of the few companies to offer an unlimited amount of annual and lifetime coverage.

Trupanion policies cover hereditary conditions, unidentified issues such as cough or diarrhea, congenital conditions, diagnostic testing, surgery, hospital stays, medications, veterinary supplements, herbal therapy, and prosthetic devices.

Fetch by the Dodo

Pros:

• Televet services included
• Several discounts, including for shelter or rescue pets, veterans and military pet owners, and licensed medical service pets

Cons:

• Annual limits for coverage
• No multi-pet discount
• No wellness coverage options

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Fetch’s average plan will cost $82.90 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $15,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same pricing for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $38.34 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $15,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same pricing for a female of the same age and breed.

By far one of the most comprehensive pet insurance policies in the industry, Fetch by the Dodo (used to be known as Petplan) includes what other providers charge extra for or don’t cover at all. They are a leading provider of pet insurance in Canada and the U.S. and are dedicated to helping pet owners keep the costs of pet treatments under control.

Fetch’s standard plan covers new illnesses and accidents without restrictions for hereditary or congenital conditions. The company also provides a wide range of treatment options that would typically not be available in other companies’ standard offers.

Emergency vet visits and exam fees, specialist vet visits, comprehensive dental, breed-specific conditions, complete sick visit, injuries and illnesses, diagnostic tests, imaging and ultrasound, holistic and chiropractic care, behavioral therapy, cancer treatment, and surgery and rehabilitation are all offered as standard coverages. They also offer Televet services.

What’s more, Fetch does not place any restrictions on older animals. Senior pets have access to the same coverage limits and deductibles as younger ones.

They also offer several discounts, available for those pet owners who adopt their pet from a shelter or rescue center, veterans and military pet owners, and licensed medical service pets. It’s no surprise why Fetch is one of the top recommended pet insurers out there!

ASPCA Pet Insurance:

Pros:

• Reimbursement up to 90% of covered veterinary charges, based on your actual veterinary bill (not limited by a benefit schedule)
• Exam fees reimbursed for covered conditions
• Covers microchip implantation
• Pre-existing condition coverage after 180 days symptom-free, faster than some other insurers

Cons:

• 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses
• Claim processing may take up to 30 days
• Maximum annual limit available is $10,000

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. ASPCA’s average plan will cost $54.48 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same pricing for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $36.49 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same pricing for a female of the same age and breed.

In 2006, as part of a strategic partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® ( ASPCA®), The Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group introduced ASPCA® Pet Health Insurance.

The Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group is one of the oldest U.S. pet insurance providers. Through their insurance underwriters, they’ve insured more than 600,000 dogs and cats, processing more than 2.2 million claims.

ASPCA Pet Insurance is proud to offer robust coverage that can help you take great care of your pet. Complete coverage covers things you’d expect and then some, including coverage for:

• Accidents and injuries, including fractures, cuts, bruises, burns, swallowed objects, and poison ingestion or exposure
• Illnesses from common ear infections and stomach troubles to more serious diseases like diabetes and cancer
• Behavioral conditions with symptoms like excessive barking, destructive chewing, or going outside the litterbox, which can be disruptive to the household and upsetting or even harmful to the pet
• Alternative therapies used to treat covered conditions, such as hydrotherapy or acupuncture to help your pet manage arthritis
• Hereditary and congenital conditions, such as eye disorders, hip dysplasia, and luxating patella

ASPCA Pet Insurance is very customizable and offers an accident-only plan for pet parents who just want a financial cushion for the unexpected.

You can also add preventive care coverage to your plan at a low additional cost to help manage the costs of routine care. Some other great benefits include:

• My Pet Insurance App – A mobile app that lets customers submit claims before they leave their veterinary clinic. Customers can also manage their account and find nearby veterinarians right from the app.
• Member Center – A free Member Center where customers can conveniently submit claims, learn about their coverage, pay bills, update contact information, and more online.
• Vet Finder – Online Vet Finder to search for veterinary clinics in your area even if you’re not a customer.
• Pet Parent Resources – You’ll find all sorts of useful pet-related information, including articles on common health issues, lifestyle topics, dog and cat breeds, safety tips, and more.

FIGO:

Pros:

• 100% reimbursement option
• Live vet 24/7 from the app
• Quick claims process, most paid back within 3 days

Cons:

• 14-day waiting period for both accident and illness coverage
• $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited annual maximum options only

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Figo’s average plan will cost $70.06 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). $63.54 for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $29.91 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). $24.35 for a female of the same age and breed.

Designed by pet people, for pet people, Figo believes that no pet parent should ever have to choose between their savings and their pet’s health. With comprehensive coverage, fast claims payments, and a seamless digital experience that brings it all together, Figo helps you worry less about vet bills and get back to enjoying life with your pet. Flexible plans and “Powerups” guarantee you can find the option that best fits your (and your pet’s) life. With Figo, dog medical insurance plans cover unexpected illnesses and accidents and offer:

• The use of any licensed veterinary practice, emergency hospital, or specialist worldwide.
• Three flexible plans that can be customized to meet your budget and coverage needs.
• Reimbursement options up to 100% of your actual vet bill with options for unlimited annual benefits.

The Pet Cloud application lets you talk to vets, connect with other pet parents, monitor your dog’s health with reminders, and upload important medical records.

Figo also has a killer blog on their website, providing a wealth of knowledge and tips for pet owners, as well as a list of “The Coolest Pet-Friendly Airbnbs in Every State”! Figo may be one of the most comprehensive options out there with its 100% reimbursement option, but remember, higher and broader coverage comes with a higher price tag as well.

Healthy Paws:

Pros:

• Most claims processed in two days
• No annual or lifetime maximum payout limits
• With every quote, the Healthy Paws Foundation makes a donation to help homeless pets

Cons:

• No coverage for training, therapy, or medications for behavioral modification
• 15-day waiting period for both accident and illness
• For pets enrolled before the age of six, there is a 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia. For pets six years of age or greater on the date of enrollment, no coverage shall apply for illness related to hip dysplasia.

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Healthy Paws ‘ average plan will cost $92.72 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, unlimited coverage, and a $250 deductible). $91.51 for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $29.43 per month (based on 80% reimbursement, unlimited coverage, and a $250 deductible). $24.13 for a female of the same age and breed.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance plan is easy to understand, they reimburse quickly, and you can count on them when it comes to reducing the stress of caring for a sick pet. Their commitment to customers is to provide unparalleled service, empathy, support, and access to the best pet health care plan around.

With the goal of helping all pets, both homeless and adopted, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and the Healthy Paws Foundation have donated $1.6 million to qualifying shelters and rescues as of mid-2021. By partnering and investing in pet rescue and adoption groups and motivating more people to get involved, more homeless animals can be saved.

Healthy Paws also created the first pet insurance iPhone app and strives to make it easier to manage your policy online, add new pets, and change your policy options in their Customer Center.

Their combination of pet passion, entrepreneurial leadership, insurance expertise, and financial strength provides Healthy Paws’ customers with a smart, affordable pet insurance plan that will protect pets today, tomorrow, and long into the future.

Nationwide:

Pros:

• Visit any licensed veterinarian, anywhere in the world — even specialists and emergency providers
• Exclusive plans and discounts are available to employees if their employer offers Nationwide pet insurance as a benefit
• 5% savings for multiple pets

Cons:

• 14-day waiting period for both accident and illness coverage
• 12-month waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries
• $250 deductible option only
• Operates on a Benefit Schedule/Allowance for certain medical costs

Accident & Illness Quotes:

• A 2-year-old male Labrador retriever, living in Los Angeles. Nationwide’s average plan will cost $50.61 per month (based on 70% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same price for a female of the same age and breed.
• A 2-year-old cat also living in Los Angeles will cost about $19.33 per month (based on 70% reimbursement, $10,000 annual coverage, and a $250 deductible). Same price for a female of the same age and breed.

In 2009, Nationwide acquired Veterinary Pet Insurance, the first pet insurance company in the U.S. With nearly four decades of experience protecting pets, Nationwide Pet Insurance has been offering coverage for cats and dogs and recently expanded coverage options for exotic pets, such as birds, snakes, pigs, and goats, just to name a few.

Nationwide offers 3 plan types to fit your specific needs, ranging from the Whole Pet plan with reimbursement levels of 50%, 70%, or 90%, a $250 deductible, and $10,000 annual benefits, to the Major Medical and the Major Medical plus Wellness plans.

The Major Medical plans operate on a benefit schedule basis, and the policy wordings vary greatly for each specific policy type and coverage limits, so be sure to review it thoroughly to make sure you’ll be adequately covered.

Nationwide pet insurance policyholders also have access to Pet Rx Express, which gives them preferred pricing on pet prescriptions at any Walmart or Sam’s Club pharmacy, and the prescription insurance claim can be processed at the pharmacy counter.

What Does the Best Pet Insurance Cover?

Most pet insurance companies offer several different types of coverage, ranging from full coverage to more limited coverage or routine care.

Do you want a policy that goes the extra mile every time, or are you more concerned about accidents? Many of the best pet insurance companies offer accident-only plans that can be very inexpensive. Perhaps you want something in between?

Comprehensive pet insurance plans that cover a wide range of health-related problems plus wellness are typically the most expensive, but it might be worth considering if you want complete coverage.

Pet insurance can generally be broken down into these plan types:

Types of Coverage

• Comprehensive coverage. This type typically provides coverage for accidents and injuries, including serious or chronic illness, hereditary conditions, diagnostic tests, surgeries, treatments, and wellness, such as routine veterinary checkups and vaccinations.
• Accident & illness coverage. This type of policy typically covers veterinary bills for accidents (like an ACL rupture) and illnesses, including common illnesses, hereditary conditions, and serious illnesses (like cancer). You won’t be covered for wellness exams such as routine veterinary visits, flea and heartworm prevention, or vaccinations, but you can often add a wellness plan in order to get comprehensive coverage.
• Accident-only coverage. This type of policy covers vet bills and emergency care only if your pet is injured in an accident, and you won’t be covered for illness-related medical bills.
• Wellness coverage. This type of plan covers wellness-related medical expenses, like routine veterinary checkups, flea and heartworm prevention, and vaccinations. You can often add wellness benefits to an accident and illness plan.
• Boarding fees. Some pet insurances will offer reimbursement if you yourself end up in the hospital and need to pay for someone to care for your pets. These policies can extend coverage up to $1,000 or more.

What Doesn’t It Cover?

General exclusions include:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Pet foodPreventative care
• Pregnancy and breeding related issues
• Elective and cosmetic surgery, (i.e., tail docking, ear clipping, etc.)

As mentioned, additional wellness coverage can address many of these, but not all of them.

Who Should Buy Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is for pet owners who want to make medical decisions based on the health and welfare of their pet, rather than what they can afford. No one should have to make life or death decisions based on cost. Pet insurance can help lower the potential shock to pet owners’ wallets, but it also provides peace of mind. It can avoid the heartbreak of having to put your pet down because you can’t afford treatment. Pet insurance as a safety net can help cover medical costs and relieve financial stress on pet owners.

Why It’s Important to Compare Insurance…

• Coverage amounts vary considerably.
• Coverage wordings and exclusions vary with each provider.
• It’s more than the monthly cost; you need to look at the whole picture for what suits you and your pet best!

Ways to Lower Veterinarian Costs…

• Get a second opinion. You may pay a consultation fee, but another vet may have other, less expensive ways to treat your pet.
• Use a vet in a less expensive area. Vets in smaller towns or rural areas may charge lower fees.
• Check out local veterinary schools. Many run low-cost clinics for limited income clients.

How Pet Insurance Limits Work

When you purchase a pet insurance policy, you’ll usually select an annual maximum, a deductible, and a reimbursement level (or a co-pay amount if your vet is able to directly bill the insurer).

Annual Maximum Coverage

Most companies provide you with a choice of an annual maximum payout level. This is the cap on how much the pet insurance plan will pay for the year. Many pet insurance plans offer choices between $5,000 to an unlimited payout. Choosing an unlimited payout will raise the premium price, but you won’t have to worry about exceeding your annual maximum if your pet needs expensive treatment.

Deductible

Typical deductible choices range from $100 to $1,000. Choosing a higher deductible will lower your monthly pet insurance bill; however, you still want to pick a deductible amount you are comfortable with paying. Once your deductible is met, you can submit vet bills to your pet insurance company for reimbursement. Some plans offer an annual deductible, while some dictate the deductible amount based on your pet’s age. Trupanion offers a unique lifetime per-condition deductible: You’ll pay a deductible once per condition, without a reset every year.

Reimbursement Percentage

You choose the reimbursement level when you purchase the plan, and the lower the reimbursement level, the less you’ll pay in monthly premiums. The most common reimbursement choices are 70%, 80%, or 90%.

Reimbursement Percentage vs. Benefit Schedule

All pet insurance plans use either a percentage of invoice or a benefit schedule to calculate reimbursement.

Percentage of invoice: Reimbursement is based on the treatment cost. You get back a percentage of what you paid your vet.

Benefit schedule: Reimbursement is capped at a set amount for each condition, regardless of the actual treatment cost.

How Costs Are Determined

• Pet type: Cat insurance is generally less expensive than dog insurance, as they’re less vulnerable to accidents and injuries
• Pet breed: Certain breeds are more susceptible to illnesses and hereditary problems, which often means more veterinary visits and higher medical expenses.
• Pet age: Older pets are more expensive to insure than younger pets, so it’s best to get coverage while your pet is young and before anything happens!
• Your location: Veterinarian costs vary considerably across regions, so the pet insurance pricing reflects this as well.

How to Save on Pet Insurance

• Age: Coverage for younger cats and dogs costs less, so enrollment during their younger years can help you save money.
• Annual Payment: Some companies offer a discount if you pay for a year up front rather than making monthly payments.
• Higher Deductible: The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
• Lower Reimbursement Limits: The lower your reimbursement amount is, the lower the premium is.
• Multiple Pets: Some companies offer a multi-pet discount or a discount if you have your home insurance and pet insurance with them!

What You NEED to Understand