Pets Best is the best pet insurance company of 2024, according to our in-depth analysis of accident and illness plans. Pets Best pet insurance gets top marks for its relatively low prices for unlimited annual coverage, discounts, 24/7 vet health line and availability of wellness plans for routine care. Pets Best Essential plan gets 5 stars in our rating, but you pay more for broader coverage with the Plus or Elite plan.
The best pet insurance companies of 2024
- Pets Best: Best for dogs and puppies.
- Figo: Best for quick accident coverage.
- Healthy Paws: Best for cats and kittens.
- Lemonade: Best for fast claims processing.
- Embrace: Best pet insurance for multiple pets.
- Fetch: Best for bonus perks.
- Paw Protect: Best for alternative therapies.
Why trust our pet insurance experts
Our team of pet insurance experts evaluates hundreds of pet insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 4,000+ pet insurance rates reviewed.
- 500+ coverage details evaluated.
- 5 levels of fact-checking.
Top-rated pet insurance companies of 2024
Best pet insurance for dogs
Pets Best
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Average monthly cost for dogs
$44
Average monthly cost for cats
$25
Why it’s the best
Pets Best has the best pet insurance for puppies and dogs, based on our analysis of pet insurance rates and coverage. It’s also a good choice for cats.
Pets Best offers affordable pet insurance plans with a wide range of deductibles, a 24/7 vet helpline, two wellness plan options and coverage for end-of-life care.
In some emergency cases, you may be able to take advantage of Pets Best’s direct veterinary payments, but this will require some extra paperwork.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Cheap pet insurance for dogs.
- No upper age limit for enrollment.
- Broad range of deductibles.
Cons
- If your pet has a severe chronic condition, you may only be able to buy an accident only plan.
- Processing fees if you pay monthly.
- Six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000 or unlimited.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Accident-only plan
- Deductible: $250.
- Annual coverage limits: $10,000.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 90%.
Wellness plans
- EssentialWellness: $305 in wellness coverage per year.
- BestWellness: $535 in wellness coverage per year.
Discounts
- Multi-pet discount.
- Discount for qualifying veterinary staff.
Customer reviews
In general, Pets Best has strong reviews. Its score on Trustpilot is 4 out of 5 (great) based on more than 4,400 reviews. Customers praised how easy it was to submit a Pets Best dog insurance claim through the pet insurance company, and the negative complaints tended to be misunderstandings about preventative care coverage.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Pets Best is our top pick for best pet insurance because you get a lot of coverage for the price. Of the pet insurance plans with unlimited annual coverage we analyzed, the Pets Best Essential plan has the cheapest insurance for dogs and the second most affordable pet insurance for cats. I recommend getting a quote with the multi-pet discount if you have more than one pet, to see how much you could save.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance for quick accident coverage
Figo
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Average monthly cost for dogs
$59
Average monthly cost for cats
$32
Why it’s the best
Figo pet insurance wins for the shortest waiting period for accident coverage, of the pet insurance plans we reviewed. When you sign up for Figo pet health insurance, you only have a one-day waiting period for accidents before coverage begins. The waiting period for illness is 14 days.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 100% reimbursem*nt, but only if you don’t choose unlimited coverage.
- No upper age limit for enrollment.
- Multiple deductible options, from $100 to $1,500.
Cons
- 6-month waiting period for orthopedic problems, but might be waived if your vet completes a waiver form.
- Veterinary exams not covered without a rider.
- Treatment for behavioral problems not covered without a rider.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 or $1,500.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%.
Wellness plan
Figo offers a wellness plan that reimburses you for vaccines and routine care.
Optional riders
- Veterinary exam fees: Provides coverage for exam fees related to the diagnosis and treatment of covered conditions.
- Wellness (basic/plus): Covers routine care including dental and can help pay for spay/neuter and vaccinations.
Discounts
Customer reviews
Figo has a score of 4 out of 5 (great) on Trustpilot based on more than 1,800 reviews. Many of the complaints focused on annual premium increases.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Figo offers a lot of options to help you tailor your pet insurance plan to your budget. For instance, you can choose a rare 100% reimbursem*nt percentage, if you opt for $10,000 in annual coverage with a $500 or $750 deductible. If you can afford it, I recommend paying a little extra to get coverage for vet exam fees. You may also want to add a wellness plan.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance for cats
Healthy Paws
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Average monthly cost for dogs
$52
Average monthly cost for cats
$23
Why it’s the best
Healthy Paws has the best pet insurance for cats and kittens based on the average monthly premium cost. With a Healthy Paws plan, you’ll get unlimited annual and lifetime coverage with no caps at a cost that’s lower than most top competitors. However, it’s important to note that Healthy Paws does not cover vet exam fees and does not have a wellness plan add-on available.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable pet insurance for cats.
- Unlimited annual and lifetime payouts for eligible expenses.
- May be able to pay the vet directly if requested in advance of treatment.
Cons
- No accident-only plan.
- No wellness plan available.
- No coverage for office visit exam fees, rechecks, consultations, office calls or emergency exam fees.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000.
- Annual coverage limit: Unlimited.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%.
Discounts
- Healthy Paws does not offer any discounts. It will donate $25 to homeless pets in your name through their refer-a-friend program for every successful referral.
Customer reviews
Healthy Paws pet insurance gets 4.3 stars out of 5 (excellent) on Trustpilot, based on more than 2,200 reviews.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Healthy Paws has the cheapest cat insurance of the companies in our rating. However, if you’re looking for an accident only plan, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Healthy Paws also doesn’t offer wellness plans, so if this coverage is important to you, I recommend shopping for a more comprehensive pet insurance plan.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance for fast claims processing
Lemonade
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
$100,000
Average monthly cost for dogs
$46
Average monthly cost for cats
$27
Why it’s the best
Lemonade offers some of the cheapest pet insurance and fastest claims processing. Plans can be customized by adding riders to boost coverage, but if you’re hoping for unlimited annual coverage or 100% reimbursem*nt you should look elsewhere. These options are not available with Lemonade pet insurance plans.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fast claims processing and direct deposit.
- Cheap pet insurance for dogs and cats.
- Accident coverage waiting period is only two days.
Cons
- Unlimited annual coverage not available.
- No 24/7 telehealth.
- 6-month waiting period for cruciate tears.
- Vet exam fees can be covered, but only at an additional cost.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $100, $250, $500 or $750.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Wellness plan
Lemonade’s preventive care plan will cover vaccines, microchipping, spay or neuter surgery, two wellness visits, plus, flea, tick and heartworm preventives.
Optional riders
There are several add-ons available through Lemonade:
- Vet visit fees.
- Dental illness.
- Physical therapy.
- Behavioral conditions.
- End-of-life and remembrance.
Discounts
- 5% discount when insuring multiple pets.
- 5% annual discount.
- 10% discount if you bundle a pet insurance plan with home or renters insurance from Lemonade.
Customer reviews
With more than 1,800 reviews, Lemonade has an excellent score on Trustpilot with 4.4 out of 5 stars (excellent), but this is for all insurance products the carrier offers. While many pet insurance reviews are positive, some say Lemonade will not cover any type of pre-existing condition if your pet has been seen at any point in its life, even if the vet proves it’s not the same condition causing the symptom. One example includes diarrhea, which is a common curable pre-existing condition other carriers will cover after a specific period being symptom- and treatment-free.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Lemonade uses ‘AI Jim’ to handle claims processing through its app, to speed up the reimbursem*nt process. Its goal is for most simple claims to be paid instantly, directly to your bank account. But it may take longer if a human has to manually process your claim. I recommend reading online reviews about Lemonade pet insurance claims that were denied so you understand how this process may work for you.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance for multiple pets
Embrace
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Average monthly cost for dogs
$76
Average monthly cost for cats
$47
Why it’s the best
Embrace is our pick for the best pet insurance for multiple pets, with a multi-pet discount of 10%. If you want to save on coverage for several furry friends, Embrace pet insurance plans will cover behavioral therapy and end-of-life expenses. Plans also come with access to a 24/7 vet health line.
In addition, Embrace has a diminishing deductible, which can save you money if you have a healthy pet. For each year you go without filing a claim, your deductible will be reduced by $50. That means if you have a $100 deductible and go without a claim for two years, you could get down to $0 deductible without it affecting your rates.
The cost of Embrace pet insurance plans is higher than the average rates of companies in our analysis. However, Embrace covers more advanced treatments than many competitors, such as prosthetics and mobility devices.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 10% multi-pet discount.
- Diminishing deductible for healthy pets.
- Coverage for medication and other therapies prescribed by a veterinarian to treat behavioral issues.
- Coverage for complementary treatments such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy.
- Coverage for up to $1,000 per year in treatments for dental illnesses.
Cons
- 14-day waiting period for illnesses.
- 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions.
- Physical exam required for enrollment.
- Coverage for vet exam fees costs extra.
- Claims can take 10 to 15 days to process.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000 or unlimited.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Accident only plan
- Deductible: $100.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 90%.
Wellness plan
You can choose an allowance of $250 to $650 per year to reimburse you for eligible preventative care expenses, such as vaccinations, bloodwork and dental cleanings.
Discounts
- 10% multi-pet discount.
- 5% military discount for active service members and veterans.
- Save if you choose annual billing instead of monthly.
Customer reviews
Embrace pet insurance gets 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot (great) based on more than 3,600 reviews.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Embrace is not the most affordable pet insurance in our rating, but its accident and illness plans cover complementary treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, behavioral therapy and specialist care. I recommend weighing the enhanced coverage you get with Embrace and deciding if it’s worth the higher price to you.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance for bonus perks
Fetch
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
$15,000
Average monthly cost for dogs
$47
Average monthly cost for cats
$43
Why it’s the best
Fetch pet insurance offers some perks that other pet insurance companies don’t, such as boarding or kennel fees if you need to be in the hospital for four or more days and reimbursem*nt for advertising a missing pet and paying a reasonable reward.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Low prices, because the maximum annual coverage is lower than competitors.
- Offers remote telehealth vet appointments.
- Covers up to $1,000 per year for advertising a lost pet and offering a reward.
- Covers up to $1,000 for canceling a vacation to care for a sick pet.
Cons
- Maximum annual coverage option is $15,000.
- No 24/7 vet helpline.
- No multi-pet discount.
- No accident- only plan.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $300, $500 or $700.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Wellness plan
You can choose an allowance of $315 to $735 per year to reimburse you for eligible preventative care expenses, such as annual exams, vaccinations and dental cleanings.
Discounts
- 10% military discount for active service members and veterans.
- 10% Walmart shoppers discount each month for the first year.
Customer reviews
Fetch pet insurance gets 4.3 stars out of 5 (excellent) on Trustpilot. This is based on more than 2,000 reviews.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Fetch has a low maximum annual coverage limit of $15,000, so this may be a dealbreaker if you’d like higher or unlimited coverage. But one unique offering is that Fetch will cover up to $1,000 of remote telehealth treatment by a vet.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance for alternative therapies
Paw Protect
Blueprint Rating
Via Comparecoverage.com
Maximum annual coverage
Unlimited
Average monthly cost for dogs
$77
Average monthly cost for cats
$47
Why it’s the best
Paw Protect is powered by Embrace pet insurance, so its coverage is similar. Similar to Embrace, you’ll likely pay more for a Paw Protect plan but will get broad coverage that includes alternative therapies such as acupuncture.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers alternative therapies such as chiropractic treatment and laser therapy.
- Covers vet exam fees.
- Covers dental accidents up to your policy limit and dental illness up to $1,000 per year.
Cons
- 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions.
- Recent physical exam required for enrollment.
- Claims can take 10 to 15 business days to process.
- Maximum pet age of 14 for accident and illness plan.
- Accident only plan may not be available for all pets.
Available plans
Accident and illness plan
- Deductible: $100, $250, $500.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000, $10,000, unlimited.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Accident only plan
- Deductible: $100.
- Annual coverage limit: $5,000.
- Reimbursem*nt percentage: 90%.
Wellness plan
You can choose an allowance of $250 to $650 per year to reimburse you for eligible preventative care expenses, such as vaccinations, bloodwork and dental cleanings.
Discounts
- 10% multi-pet discount.
- 5% military discount for active service members and veterans.
Customer reviews
Paw Protect pet insurance is administered by Embrace, which has a score of 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot (great) based on more than 3,600 reviews. Paw Protect only has 10 reviews on Trustpilot, but its score is 2.1 (poor). Most of the unhappy reviews related to poor customer service and claims being denied for pre-existing conditions.
Heidi’s expert take:
“Paw Protect offers expansive coverage which includes dental injuries and accidents up to $1,000. Its plans also cover your service animal, mobility devices for your pet and alternative therapies like acupuncture. Embrace powers this pet insurance, but unlike Embrace, Paw Protect covers vet exam fees at no additional charge.”
Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint
Best pet insurance companies comparison 2024
| PET INSURANCE COMPANY | OUR RATING | AVERAGE MONTHLY DOG INSURANCE | AVERAGE MONTHLY CAT INSURANCE | Learn More | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44 | $25 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
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| $59 | $32 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
| ||||||||||
| $52 | $23 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
| ||||||||||
| $46 | $27 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
| ||||||||||
| $76 | $47 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
| ||||||||||
| $47 | $43 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
| ||||||||||
| $77 | $47 | Via Comparecoverage.com | |||||||
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Average monthly pet insurance cost assumes unlimited reimbursem*nt (or the highest level offered by that company), a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursem*nt percentage for a dog insurance accident and illness plan. These top-rated pet insurance company rates are based on the average cost to insure dogs and cats of various ages, breeds and ZIP codes. Source: PetInsurer.com.
Best pet insurance for dogs in 2024
Pets Best offers the best dog insurance for the price. Of the plans we analyzed, the Pets Best Essential plan has the most affordable pet insurance for dogs, with an average rate of $44 per month for unlimited annual coverage. This is a monthly savings of $22 from the national average.
Best pet insurance for puppies
Pets Best has the best pet insurance for puppies of the companies we analyzed, based on the average cost of pet insurance premiums. The average rate for a Pets Best accident and illness plan with unlimited annual coverage, 90% reimbursem*nt and a $500 deductible for a 3-month-old puppy is $36 per month.
Pumpkin is also a good choice for puppy pet insurance if you’re interested in a wellness plan. Dogs under 6 months can get extensive preventative care through Pumpkin’s add-on Preventative Essentials plan.
Best pet insurance for senior dogs
Pumpkin has some of the best dog insurance for older dogs. It has no special waiting period for problems like knee injuries or hip dysplasia and it provides coverage for virtual vet visits. Pumpkin has no upper age restrictions and no reducing coverage as your pet ages.
Best pet insurance for cats
Healthy Paws has the best cat insurance of the pet insurance companies in our rating, based on cost. A Healthy Paws accident and illness pet plan for cats with unlimited annual coverage has an average pet insurance cost of $23 per month.
Best pet insurance for kittens
Healthy Paws offers the best cat insurance for young pets, based on the average rates we reviewed. To insure a 3-month-old kitten with unlimited annual coverage from Healthy Paws will only cost about $18 per month.
Best pet insurance for pre-existing conditions
Pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, including any symptoms your pet experienced or was treated for before pet insurance coverage starts or during a waiting period. If you read pet insurance reviews, you will find many consumers who are unhappy their pet insurance claims were denied because of a “pre-existing condition” like vomiting or diarrhea.
Some pet insurance companies advertise that they cover select “curable” pre-existing conditions, such as a paw fracture or upper respiratory infection, if your pet has been free of symptoms and treatment for a certain amount of time, often 12 or 18 months.
Embrace, Paw Protect and Pets Best are the best pet insurance companies in our ranking that cover certain curable pre-existing conditions. It’s important to understand which conditions each company considers curable, and how long it takes to be considered cured, before buying a plan.
Which pre-existing conditions are covered? Best pet insurance companies for pre-existing conditions.
How much is pet insurance?
The average cost of pet insurance for a dog is $796 per year for an accident and illness policy with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursem*nt percentage. The average pet insurance cost per month is $66.
How much you pay for your pet insurance premium will depend on the pet insurance plan options you choose, your pet’s breed, age and gender and other factors such as where you live.
To find the most affordable pet insurance for your needs, request multiple pet insurance quotes. Compare pet insurance quotes side by side to make sure you’re getting the same, or better, coverage for the cost
Average pet insurance cost per month for dogs
Pet insurance for dogs costs an average of:
- $47 per month for $5,000 of annual coverage.
- $66 per month for a policy with unlimited annual coverage.
Average pet insurance cost per month for cats
Pet insurance for cats costs an average of:
- $27 per month for $5,000 of annual coverage.
- $38 per month for unlimited coverage.
Factors that affect your pet insurance cost
How much you pay for pet insurance will depend on several factors.
- Animal: Dog insurance is typically more expensive than cat insurance.
- Breed: Some breeds cost more to insure because they are more prone to illnesses and hereditary issues.
- Age: Older pets cost more to insure because they are more likely to have health issues that require veterinary care.
- Gender: Female pets are about 5% cheaper to insure, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
- Location: If you live in a city where vet expenses are higher, that will be factored into the cost of your pet insurance.
- Coverage: The annual coverage limit, deductible and reimbursem*nt level you choose will impact your pet insurance premium.
Pet insurance discounts
Vet care can break your budget if you haven’t planned ahead by saving or buying affordable pet insurance that meets your pet’s needs. Many pet insurance companies also offer discounts that can make insurance more affordable.
- Multi-pet discounts: If you enroll two or more pets, you may qualify for a discount. To find the best pet insurance for multiple pets, get several quotes to compare savings across pet insurance companies.
- Upfront payment discounts: If you pay your pet insurance in one lump sum rather than opting for monthly or quarterly payments, you may qualify for a discount.
- Military discount: If you are a military service member or veteran, you may qualify for a discount.
How to buy pet insurance
To find the best pet insurance, you should compare pet insurance quotes from several insurers. You can do this:
- Online. Many pet insurance company websites will give you a quote after you answer a few questions about your pet. You can also use a pet insurance comparison site to compare pet insurance plans and prices from multiple companies.
- By phone, email or in person. You can work with a representative from an insurance company to get a pet insurance quote, or with an independent insurance agent to compare quotes from several pet insurance companies.
Is pet insurance worth it?
If you consider how quickly vet bills could add up in an emergency, you may decide that pet insurance is worth it to you.
“Accidents can happen to any pet, regardless of age,” said Brian Jorgensen, head of MetLife Pet Insurance. “In the U.S., a pet receives medical care every 2.5 seconds, and 1 in 3 pets need emergency veterinary treatments every year.”
Top pet insurance claims paid
Here are the most expensive pet insurance claims paid in June 2024.
- French bulldog with intervertebral disc disease ($38,917).
- Golden retriever hit by car ($37,633).
- Golden retriever with upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction ($36,098).
Claims data made available by Embrace Pet Insurance.
Average pet insurance claim amount
While most pet insurance claims won’t be in the tens of thousands of dollars, Embrace data shows that average claim costs have risen 17.54% since 2021.
Here are the average pet insurance claim amounts in the U.S.
- 2021 average claim cost: $382.
- 2022 average claim cost: $406.
- 2023 average claim cost: $437.
- 2024 year-to-date average claim cost: $449.
States with the highest average claims
| RANK | STATE | AVERAGE CLAIM AMOUNT |
|---|---|---|
1 | Washington, D.C. | $592 |
2 | California | $527 |
3 | Washington | $493 |
4 | Colorado | $484 |
5 | New York | $477 |
6 | Connecticut | $476 |
7 | Massachusetts | $473 |
8 | Maryland | $472 |
9 | Nevada | $467 |
10 | New Hampshire | $466 |
Claims data from June 2024 made available by Embrace Pet Insurance.
Find the best pet insurance by state
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance, we analyzed 15 pet insurance companies using data provided by PetInsurer.com.
Each pet insurance company was eligible for up to 100 points, based on its performance in the following key categories:
- Cost: 50 points. We calculated average rates for accident and illness pet insurance plans for dogs with the highest annual coverage limit available, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursem*nt percentage.
- Annual coverage limits: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer an annual reimbursem*nt level of $100,000, or unlimited annual coverage scored in this category.
- 24/7 vet line: 10 points. Insurance companies that offer access to a 24/7 vet line earned points. Being able to call for medical advice might save you money on vet visits.
- Routine wellness plan: 10 points. Pet insurance companies that offer an optional wellness plan scored full points. Wellness plans can reimburse you for preventative care for your pet.
- Pays vet exam fees: 10 points. If a pet insurance plan includes pet exam fees, the insurer received 10 points. If this is offered as a coverage add on, the insurer received 5 points.
- Multipet discount: 5 points. Pet insurance companies that offer a discount for insuring more than one pet received full points.
- Euthanasia or end of life expenses included: 5 points. If euthanasia or other end of life expenses are covered in pet insurance plans, we gave the company points in this category.
If you’d like to dig in deeper, head over to our pet insurance ratings methodology page.
Best pet insurance FAQs
Pets Best has the best dog insurance for the price. The average cost of dog insurance with the Pets Best Essential plan is $44 per month for unlimited annual coverage. This is quite a bit lower than the national average of $66 for similar plans.
Shopping for coverage? How to find the best pet insurance
No, pet insurance companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, some companies will consider certain pre-existing conditions “cured” if the pet is symptom-free for a certain number of days. This will vary by insurer, so make sure you understand the terms and conditions before committing to a plan.
Pet insurance covers unexpected injuries or illnesses, not routine care. Wellness exams aren’t covered unless you purchase a wellness plan or rider to your accident and illness plan.
The average cost of pet insurance is $47 per month for dogs for $5,000 of annual coverage, or $66 per month for a policy with unlimited annual coverage.
Cats are typically cheaper to insure. The average cost of pet insurance is $27 per month for cats for $5,000 in annual coverage, or $38 for a plan with unlimited coverage.
Pet insurance is not tax-deductible, but you may be able to write off a portion of your pet’s medical expenses if your pet is a certified service animal, like a guide dog.
You might also be able to claim vet bills on your taxes if:
- You are fostering a pet for a nonprofit organization that is registered with the IRS.
- Your pet is established as a business animal such as a guard dog if you are self-employed.
- Your pet generates income for you, like a show dog or pet influencer with a monetized YouTube channel.
Pet insurance accident and illness plans do not typically cover spaying and neutering, but you can often get coverage through a wellness plan.
One exception may be if your pet develops a condition that makes spaying or neutering a medical necessity. If your pet is already enrolled in pet insurance, and the medical condition is not pre-existing, desexing might be covered.
More pet insurance ratings
- Best cheap pet insurance
- Best pet insurance for multiple pets
- Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
- Pet dental insurance explained
- Compare pet insurance quotes
Pet insurance reviews
- Pets Best pet insurance review
- Pumpkin pet insurance review
- Spot pet insurance review
Editor’s Note:This article contains updated information from previously published stories:
- Dog days of the pandemic create a thriving economy for man’s best friend
- VA: Fatal dog experiments moving ahead despite criticism from Congress, veterans groups
- Happy news: Pet adoptions are way up amid coronavirus crisis, even with shelters closed to public
- Pet insurance is now booming
- Pet insurance can be your wallet's best friend
- Don't let puppy love blind you to the expense of having a dog
- Why your dog needs liability insurance
