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Earning our highest scores in pet insurance for 2024 are Pets Best, Fetch, Healthy Paws, Embrace, Figo, and Lemonade. However, if your pet has pre-existing conditions, consider AKC Pet Insurance. Meanwhile, suppose your dog has previously been diagnosed with a bilateral condition (e.g., hip dysplasia, CCL injuries, cataracts, etc.). In that case, consider Trupanion or Nationwide.
Our experts compare plans, coverage, waiting periods, age limitations, pros and cons, and actual price quotes for several dog breeds so you can learn how the best pet insurance companies vary and get an idea of how much a pet insurance policy might cost. You’ll also learn how pet insurance cost is determined and how the reimbursement process works.
- What You Need To Know About Pet Insurance
- Top 6 Providers Compared
- Pet Insurance Comparison Charts
- Printable Pet Insurance Comparison Charts (PDF)
- How Is Pet Insurance Cost Determined?
- What Is The Average Cost Of Pet Insurance?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which Pet Insurers Are Not Reviewed?
- Is It Possible To Compare Insurers By Average Policy Cost?
- Do You Compare Pet Insurance For Exotic Pets?
- Are There Discounts Available For Owners Of Multiple Pets?
- Do You Cover Rabbit Pet Insurance?
- Do You Compare Pet Insurance Plans In Other Countries (UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, etc.)?
- Learn About Typical Costs And How Reimbursements Work
- Why Trust Canine Journal?
What You Need To Know About Pet Insurance
Want to understand pet insurance before you dive into the comparison tables below? We’ve put together a checklist for pet owners:
- Learn the essentials (along with some surprising statistics) by finding out how pet insurance works and whether it’s worth it.
- Learn who we chose as our best dog insurance of the year in our pet insurance plan reviews.
- Choose the best provider for your pet’s specific needs as we pick winners based on categories, including young pets, coverage, value, vet direct pay, pre-existing condition coverage, and more.
Top 6 Providers Compared
In this table, you’ll find our top picks for pet insurance providers this year. You can visit the companies’ websites to check them out and learn more about each company in their respective individual reviews.
Pet Insurance Ranking | Best Overall |
Best For Young Pets | Best No-Cap Payouts | Best Coverage |
Best Value |
Best Newcomer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Company | ||||||
Average Policy Price | Variable | Variable | Variable | Higher | Lower | Average |
Policy Coverage | Extensive | Extensive | Limited | Extensive | Extensive | Limited |
Customer Service & Reputation | Good | Good | Excellent, Stable | Excellent, Stable | Excellent, Stable | Uncertain, New |
Average Claim Processing | 18-30 Days | 5-6 Days | 2 Days | 5 Days | 3 Days | 2 Days |
Vet Direct Pay Option | Â | Â | Â | |||
Plan Customization Options | Many | Many | Restricted | Many | Many | Many |
 | Get A Quote | Get A Quote | Get A Quote | Get A Quote | Get A Quote | Get A Quote |
 | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Pet Insurance Comparison Charts
We have found that the most helpful comparisons take a look at plans, coverage details, waiting periods, age limitations, pros and cons, and sample quotes. You’ll find all tables below, with providers sorted in order of ranking and popularity from our pet insurance reviews, where you can compare and rank ten providers.
What Pet Insurance Plans Are Available From Each Company?
The table below shows each company’s plan options, including deductible, reimbursement rate, and payout limit options. Please know that not all deductibles, reimbursement levels, and payout limits are available for every pet in every state.
**Reimbursement: The percentage of a claim that you’re eligible for repayment by the pet insurance company after you’ve paid the coinsurance.
***Payout Limit: A pet insurance company will reimburse the most during the policy period. A lower payout limit means you may be responsible for more costs if your pet experiences expensive vet treatment(s).
Pet Insurance Company Coverage Comparison Table
The table below helps you see which company will best protect your pet and your wallet during the darkest times and what pet insurance covers.
What Are Waiting Periods*?
All pet insurers have waiting period requirements – the time between enrollment and when coverage kicks in. Companies generally have about a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and a 3-day waiting period for accidents. Additional waiting periods may exist for cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) surgery, hip dysplasia, and other orthopedic conditions. These waiting periods can be as long as six or twelve months, so check these details closely before signing up.
*Waiting periods for California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington are as follows:
- Accidents - 0 days
- Illnesses - 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Conditions - 30 days
- Routine Care - 0 days
Are There Age Restrictions For Pet Insurance?
Is there an age limit on your pet’s ability to enroll in a new pet insurance policy? The table below shows pet insurance age restrictions for some of the top pet insurance companies. Please know that once you’ve purchased and maintained a pet insurance policy from one of these companies, they will not end coverage as your pet ages so long as you keep your policy paid and active.
The best age to buy a pet insurance policy for your dog is as young as possible (ideally as a puppy) to minimize the pre-existing conditions that could be excluded from your coverage.
**Lemonade Plan Restrictions – No enrollment for some breeds beyond specific ages.
Pros & Cons Comparison Table
The table below points out the most significant strengths and weaknesses to help you see the key differences between the pet insurance providers.
How Much Is Pet Insurance? Let’s Compare Price Quotes
We ran quotes and created price comparison tables (below) to help show how pet insurance prices can vary by provider. We tried to compare apples-to-apples, but sometimes, it’s impossible since only some offer the same payout limits, reimbursement percentages, and deductible amounts. The quotes listed have the fewest exclusions possible from each provider.
To create a broad range of quote examples, we chose locations and breeds based on the most popular geographic areas to own a pet insurance policy and the most popular breeds in those locations. All companies have annual coverage limits except for Trupanion (lifetime) and Nationwide (per condition annually). Please scroll down to see them all or jump to a specific quote below.
Labrador Retriever In Texas
- 6-month-old
- Female (not spayed)
- No pre-existing conditions
- Houston, Texas (77005)
- Quotes are from August 2023
French Bulldog In California
- 1-year-old
- Male (neutered)
- No pre-existing conditions
- Los Angeles, California (90016)
- Quotes are from August 2023
French Bulldog In New York
- 3-year-old
- Female (spayed)
- No pre-existing conditions
- New York, New York (10005)
- Quotes are from August 2023
Printable Pet Insurance Comparison Charts (PDF)
Want a printable, easy-to-reference version of the pet insurance comparison charts above? Look no further. We’ve put one together for you with all the charts condensed onto five pages (three if you print double-sided). Click here to view it and print it. Included are:
- Plan Customization Comparison – shows each company’s plan options.
- Coverage & Exclusions Comparison – shows what’s included with coverage (everything from behavioral therapies to exam fees).
- Waiting Periods Comparison – lists each company’s waiting period requirements before your new pet insurance policy coverage takes effect.
- Age Limitations Comparison – shows new enrollment age restrictions. Once you’ve purchased and maintained a pet insurance policy, coverage won’t end as your pet ages if you stay current on payment.
- Pros & Cons Comparison – points out the most impactful strengths and weaknesses of the top 10 pet insurance companies.
How Is Pet Insurance Cost Determined?
The cost of each pet insurance policy is unique to your specific pet. It’s calculated based on many variables.
Plan Details
The type of plan you select (accident-only plan or accident and illness plan), as well as the annual payout limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage for that plan impacts your pet insurance premium.
Payout Limit
The payout limit is the most money a pet insurer will reimburse during the policy term or the pet’s insured lifetime. Plans with lower payouts are less expensive than those with higher or unlimited annual payouts. However, a lower payout limit also means you’re liable for more costs if your pet has expensive veterinarian treatment.
Deductible
The deductible is the portion of the vet bill you’re responsible for paying before the provider pays out or reimburses your claim. Typically, plans with higher deductibles are less expensive than those with lower deductibles. However, a higher deductible also means you must cover more vet costs before your pet insurance kicks in.
There are two deductible types: annual and incident.
Annual Deductible
Policies with an annual deductible require you to fulfill the deductible once per policy period. Most pet insurers use annual deductibles for their policies.
Pet insurance plans with annual deductibles are easier to budget for because you know the deductible only needs to be met once during the policy term.
Incident Deductible
Plans with a per-incident deductible require you to meet the deductible once for each new emergency your pet has. Trupanion and Nationwide are the only insurers we review that utilize per-incident deductibles.
Dogs who suffer from a chronic condition may benefit from a policy with an incident deductible because you only need to pay the deductible once for each condition. So once you’ve paid the deductible for your dog’s chronic condition, you won’t need to pay that condition’s deductible again.
Reimbursement
The reimbursement is the percentage of a claim eligible for repayment by the insurance company after your deductible. Plans with lower reimbursement percentages are less expensive than those with higher reimbursement percentages. However, a lower reimbursement percentage also means your copay is higher for each pet insurance claim you submit.
Pet’s Age
Younger pets typically have lower premiums than older pets. This is because older pets are at an increased risk of experiencing an accident or illness, resulting in more costly vet bills. Policyholders with older pets should expect higher pet insurance premiums to match the increased risk and an increase in premiums as your pet ages.
Pet’s Breed
Purebred dogs have a less diverse gene pool than mixed-breed dogs, resulting in an increase in hereditary condition diagnoses. Therefore, mixed-breed dogs tend to be healthier than purebreds. Because of this, mixed breeds typically have fewer vet bills than purebreds. Less veterinary expenses lead to lower risk for insurers and often are reflected in premium prices.
Pet’s Gender
Males are typically larger than females, so they often require higher doses of medication, larger medical equipment, and additional medical supplies. All of this increases the cost of male vet care over that for females.
According to NAPHIA‘s latest report, of the top ten claims paid for dogs in North America in 2022, seven of them were for males, totaling $328,081 (an increase of more than $63,000 from 2021), and three were for females, totaling $151,847, (an increase of more than $14,000 from 2021).
This stat further demonstrates how much pet insurance claims have increased in just one year, making the argument for buying pet insurance even more convincing.
Your Location
Where you live (your zip code) influences your premium because the cost of supplies, office space, staff, etc., impacts your vet bill. This is why medical procedure costs vary from city to city and nationwide. Each vet office must determine the cost of the procedure, including equipment, personnel, prescription medication, etc. Just as living costs vary from the country to the city, so does the cost of vet care.
What Is The Average Cost Of Pet Insurance?
According to NAPHIA (North American Pet Health Insurance Association), the average monthly premium for an accident and illness dog insurance policy in the U.S. is $56.30 ($31.94 for cats).
You should expect annual increases in your premiums from most pet insurance companies. These rates and increases will vary based on your location, changes in vet care costs, inflation, and more. Since the price for your pet may differ significantly from that of others for any given provider, we encourage you to get your own quotes from multiple companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our readers frequently ask these questions after reading our comparisons.
Which Pet Insurers Are Not Reviewed?
Are any pet insurance providers excluded from your comparison? The pet insurance market is proliferating, and new providers are continually entering. We only rank companies once they have a five-year history in the pet insurance industry due to frequent price fluctuations, and we want to ensure that they will still be around. However, we do review them.
Visit our alphabetical pet insurance company catalog for a comprehensive listing of all the providers we cover, along with basic stats, including their founding year, headquarters location, underwriter, customer service options, and support hours. We also list each company’s deductibles, payout limits, and reimbursement options so you can make a quick side-by-side comparison.
Is It Possible To Compare Insurers By Average Policy Cost?
The cost of each pet insurance policy is unique to your pet. It’s calculated based on many variables, including but not limited to your pet’s age, breed, location (i.e., where you live), health conditions, etc.
We calculate our “price of policy” ratings based on quotes we run in addition to reader and consumer feedback. Since the price for your pet may vary significantly from that of others for any given provider, we encourage you to get quotes from multiple companies with one form.
Do You Compare Pet Insurance For Exotic Pets?
It’s nice to get quotes for dogs and cats, but we have a pet boa constrictor we would like to insure. Can you help us out?
-Canine Journal Reader
Sure! We don’t want any pet to feel left out. Currently, only one company offers pet insurance for exotic pets in the US. Find out who it is and what’s covered in our exotic pet insurance comparison.
Are There Discounts Available For Owners Of Multiple Pets?
Coverage for more than one pet (in the same household) varies by provider, but you can get a multi-pet discount in many instances. Our experts have researched for you. Find out which provider wins our best pet insurance for multiple pets award.
Do You Cover Rabbit Pet Insurance?
We have a pet insurance rabbit comparison that explains how rabbit insurance works, your options, how it’s different from dog insurance, how much it costs, and more.
Do You Compare Pet Insurance Plans In Other Countries (UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, etc.)?
Our pet insurance comparisons only cover providers in the United States.
An example of a pet insurance brand that operates in several different countries is Petplan. They were founded and are the largest pet insurance provider in the UK, but they also license their name for use in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain. In January 2022, the company that formerly operated under the Petplan UK license in the U.S. changed its brand name to Fetch.
If there’s enough interest, we may expand our comparison of plans to include the UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Europe, and more.
Learn About Typical Costs And How Reimbursements Work
For those of you still on the fence, you’re probably wondering what kind of scenarios your pup might get into when pet insurance would apply. Check out our list of common dog health issues to get an idea. For example, removing lumps and bumps is one of the most frequent surgeries for dogs and can cost more than $1,000 each time (per incident).
That’s a lot of money you weren’t planning to spend, and many people only have a little cash. Getting pet insurance can lift that weight so you can focus on caring for and enjoying your time with your pets instead of worrying about the financial risk of paying for unexpected medical bills.
I break down pet insurance costs, including deductibles, reimbursements, premiums, extra fees, payout options, benefit schedules, and more, to help explain the ins and outs. I will also take you through how (and how quickly) reimbursement works.
Why Trust Canine Journal?
Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance since 2012, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly knows the subject so well that she can answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources. Kimberly also consulted with Michelle Schenker, Canine Journal’s in-house licensed insurance agent, for additional expertise, to ensure accuracy, and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies legally.
Tagged With: Comparison, Reviewed By Insurance Agent