Pet Insurance Reviews: Best Pet Insurance Companies

How would you pay for emergency medical care for your pet if he or she was seriously injured? According to a recent study, 45% of dog owners and 36% of cat owners believed they were financially prepared for pet expenses, but they were not. Would you be willing to pay anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars for your pet's emergency care? Otherwise, pet insurance can be a life-saving precaution.

There are numerous pet insurers available, but we chose the best ones based on available reimbursement levels and coverage. Leading companies provide a variety of benefit options, deductibles, and the ability to customize your policy with optional add-ons.

Best Pet Insurance Companies January 2023

Nationwide

Nationwide is a well-known insurance company that has provided pet insurance since 1982. It now insures over one million pets and is one of the few pet insurance companies that also covers exotic pets in addition to dogs and cats.

Nationwide has four plans to choose from:

• Major Medical: Nationwide's basic accident and illness policy is Major Medical. It addresses treatments and procedures for unexpected injuries or illnesses. The deductible is set at $250. This plan has per-condition annual limits, which means you'll have to read the fine print to see how much they'll pay depending on what happened to your pet.
• Whole Pet: Whole Pet coverage is for unexpected accidents and injuries to your pet. It has a $10,000 benefit cap and a $250 deductible. You have the option of selecting a reimbursement percentage of 50% or 70%. Whole Pet also covers hereditary and congenital conditions in addition to accidents and illnesses.
• Pet Wellness Plans (Basic and Plus): These plans cover routine and preventative care such as wellness exams, vaccinations, and flea and heartworm prevention. They have annual limits per condition; Basic has a $400 overall limit and Plus has a $500 overall limit. Major Medical plans can include Pet Wellness.
• Avian and Exotic Pet Coverage: Coverage for birds, reptiles, and other exotic pets is available at Nationwide. Less information is available online because you can only get quotes and buy coverage for exotic pets over the phone.

Figo

The maximum reimbursement—the percentage of your veterinary bill that the insurance company covers—is usually 90% or less with most pet insurance companies. However, with Figo, you can select a reimbursement percentage as high as 100%, ensuring that your bill is completely covered after you have met your deductible.

For dogs and cats, Figo provides three accident and illness policies:

• Essential: The Essential plan offers annual benefits of up to $5,000.
• Preferred: The annual benefits of the Preferred plan are capped at $10,000.
• Ultimate: The Ultimate plan provides an unlimited annual benefit.

Optional riders for vaccines and preventative care, veterinary exam fee plans, and extra benefits like coverage for boarding fees and third-party property damage liability protection are available from Figo.

Figo also has a decreasing deductible. Figo will reduce your deductible by $50 for each year you are claim-free until it reaches $0.

Figo was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Chicago. Independence American Insurance Company underwrites its policies.

MetLife

Although many companies provide multi-pet discounts, you must typically meet the annual deductible for each pet. However, with MetLife, you can enroll your pets in a family plan and pay a single deductible for all of your pets. MetLife's family plans are typically less expensive than enrolling pets in individual plans, which allows you to save money.

MetLife provides accident and illness policies for dogs and cats across the country. Its policies have two-week illness waiting periods, but accident coverage begins the day you enroll your pet.

MetLife also offers routine care riders that can be added to your policy to cover wellness visits and preventative care. The company provides a variety of discounts and collaborates with employers to provide discounted pet insurance to qualified employees. Take note that some policy options (such as deductibles and coverage limits) may differ depending on location and pet.

MetLife was founded in 1868 and is a major insurance and financial services company. Independence American Insurance Company writes its policies.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet insurance companies. If your pet was diagnosed with or displayed clinical signs of a condition prior to the effective date of your policy or during the waiting period, all companies will exclude treatments for that condition.

However, the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance differs from most other companies in that it covers curable pre-existing conditions. If your pet has a treatable condition and is free of treatment and symptoms for at least 180 days after enrollment, the condition is no longer considered pre-existing, and future treatments are covered. However, because this provision does not apply to ligament or knee conditions, your pet will not be able to regain coverage for issues such as hip dysplasia or a luxating patella.

All conditions, including orthopedic issues, have reasonable waiting periods at the ASPCA (14 days). It's also one of the few companies that covers stem cell therapy for qualifying injuries or illnesses, making it an excellent choice for breeds prone to hereditary or congenital problems.

The ASPCA offers two main plans for dogs and cats, as well as preventative care riders:

• Complete Coverage: The ASPCA's accident and illness plan is called Complete Coverage. When enrolling online, the maximum allowable annual benefit is $10,000, but you can call for more options.
• Accident-Only Coverage: Accident-only coverage only reimburses you for injuries and emergencies caused by unexpected accidents. The maximum annual benefit allowed is $10,000.
• Basic/Primary Preventive Care: Routine care such as annual exams, dental cleanings, heartworm/flea prevention, and vaccinations are covered by the preventative care add-on. The Prime plan is more expensive than the Basic plan, but it covers more treatments and provides more reimbursement.

For horses, the ASPCA offers three separate policy options: Colic + Accidents, Routine/Platinum preventative care packages, and Colic + Accidents + Illnesses,

Despite its name, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals does not own or operate ASPCA Pet Health Insurance (ASPCA). It is instead owned by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group and derives its name from a branding partnership with the ASPCA. Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group has been in business since 1997.

Odie

Dental problems are common in both dogs and cats. Periodontal disease affects 80% of dogs over the age of three. Some insurance companies limit dental coverage, but Odie's plans offer comprehensive coverage. Odie will cover periodontal disease, endodontic treatments, extractions, and more if you follow the company's care requirements for dental exams and cleanings.

Odie has a single accident and illness policy with several optional riders that cover wellness exams and routine care. There is no upper age limit for enrollment, and qualifying treatments can be reimbursed up to 90%. You can choose a deductible between $50 and $1,000, allowing you to tailor your policy to your needs.

Odie is a new company that was founded in 2020.

Choosing a Pet Insurance Company

Once you've decided on a company, you can usually get a quote and enroll your pet online. Customers can view their policies, make payments, and submit claims through most pet insurers' online portals (and some have mobile apps).

When purchasing an insurance policy, make sure to read the fine print. After enrolling, some companies require you to submit all of your pet's medical records; otherwise, your claims will be denied.