A reliable web resource Consumers Advocate has published a list of the best US-based insurance companies to choose from for your pet insurance in the coming year. The company’s team has invested more than 200 hours, reviewed over 30 sources, and vetted 15 companies to make their 9 top picks.
Here is the result of their research.
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Pet insurance – or veterinary health insurance for your cat or dog - is about being prepared for the unexpected. It costs $38-70/month & covers a significant portion of vet bills that can cost $5-$10k.
Having a plan with a top-tier company gives you financial protection; in the event, you’re faced with an expensive surgery for your pet, a good insurance policy will pay up to 90% of that vet bill.
What you need to know
- Some policies reimburse up to 90% of vet expenses
- Wellness coverage can often be paid out-of-pocket
- Check that hereditary diseases common to your pet’s breed are covered
- Look for a plan that allows you to choose your vet
Coverage & Benefit Limits are the most important factors to consider when comparing pet insurance.
Whether your pet needs a couple of stitches put into an injured paw or if they’re facing a serious life-threatening condition like cancer, you want a plan that has broad coverage & has few exclusions. After all, pet insurance is for the unexpected, and while some breeds are pre-disposed for specific health problems, the only thing you can really expect as a pet parent is that the unexpected will happen.
An exception to the broad coverage rule is wellness coverage, also referred to as preventative care, which covers routine procedures such as checkups & vaccinations. Despite sounding like something you might want to have included as part of your pet insurance plan, wellness coverage is not a good deal.
There’s a reason 82% of policies in the US do not cover wellness or preventative care. Wellness coverage drives up your monthly premiums & makes it so you pay more over the life of your pet for inexpensive procedures that are cheaper to pay out-of-pocket.
In general, we don't recommend wellness coverage because you're usually better off paying out-of-pocket.
Comprehensive (Accidents & Illnesses)
The best pet insurance should cover accidents and illnesses. These include broken bones, swallowed objects, cancer, diabetes, ear infections and numerous other conditions.
Accidents Only
Accident-only coverage's main benefit is savings. They are usually the cheapest policies and will cover your pet for all manner of mishaps from getting bit by other animals to poisoning, but they do not cover illnesses or diseases.
Wellness Coverage (Preventative Care)
Wellness plans cover routine procedures such as annual exams, vaccines, flea and heartworm prevention. We don’t recommend this because these expenses can be budgeted for annually.
Make sure your Pet Insurance plan covers:
- Accidents & Illnesses
- Hereditary, Congenital, & Chronic Conditions
- Diagnostic Tests
- Emergency Care
- Hospitalization
- Specialist Care
- Prescription Medication
- Surgery
All of the top pet insurance providers have a full breadth of coverage:
Vet Selection & out of state coverage
- Most plans will allow you to visit any licensed vet or veterinary hospital. Other companies will restrict you to an in-network provider, we recommend avoiding these plans.
- Most companies will cover pets anywhere within the United States.
- NAPHIA, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, can be an invaluable resource for finding a reputable and trustworthy pet health insurance company from their membership.
Depending on the Pet Insurance company, your plan may provide unlimited lifetime benefits or your benefits may be capped on an annual, lifetime, or per-condition basis.
Your plan deductible is how much money you will have to pay out of pocket before the pet insurance company starts paying.
Reimbursement is the percent of the vet bill your insurance will pay. Most plans will allow you to customize the deductible and reimbursement options.
Premiums depend on a multitude of factors. Location, age, and breed all play a major part. Also, the type of plan, deductible choice, reimbursement percentage choice, and benefit limit choice are also important.
All companies have different processes, waiting periods, and restrictions on enrollment. Here we look at how easy it is to get your pet coverage considering age and preexisting conditions. We also look at specific per condition waiting periods and assess the total enrollment process as a whole.
Most pet insurance companies have you pay the bill yourself, then reimburse you after you file the claim.
A few more tips
- No pet insurance will cover your pet for pre-existing conditions if symptoms are present prior to policy purchase, i.e. you can’t buy a policy when your pet is already sick.
- Most plans allow you the ability to customize your deductible, reimbursement percentage, and benefit limits. Tinkering with these three factors determine what you are going to be paying monthly.
- Watch out for plans that operate on a “benefits schedule,” or per-condition limits. Plans that feature high or unlimited annual or lifetime coverage are preferable.
(*Information updated in February 2022)
Most insurance companies offer coverage for exotic animals like goats, iguanas, wolves, and parrots. Coverage generally includes accidents, illnesses, lab fees, x-rays, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
You can always change the pet insurance company. Nevertheless, before looking at new plans, speak to your current provider. They might be able to alter coverage without a large increase in cost.
For those who have more than one furry companion they’d like to enroll in, some pet insurance companies will offer the perk of discounting the plan by a certain percentage.
The majority of pet insurance plans include medications to treat a covered illness. However, most companies do not cover even prescribed supplements. Those that do are Fetch, Nationwide, and Trupanion.
Most companies will cover euthanasia. In the case of illness or injury, your policy might stipulate a minimum age for that. Policies might also direct you to certain vets to certify the cause of death.
X-rays are only covered on certain pet insurance plans. Basic plans will cover wellness exams, vaccinations, and flea prevention.
Shots and vaccinations are generally not covered by standard pet insurance policies. Some companies offer “wellness” policies that will cover vaccines and other routine preventative care like physical exams.
Most pet insurance doesn’t cover dental care unless your pet’s teeth were damaged in an accident. However, there are a few plans that do offer dental as a premium add-on.
Pet insurance does cover surgery provided the surgery isn’t related to a pre-existing condition. If this stipulation is satisfied, policies cover surgeries with some exceptions.
Most Pet Insurance policies don’t cover neutering or spaying. If your company does cover sterilization, it will usually be as part of an additional, optional wellness rider with spay/neuter benefits.
Most Pet Insurance companies will not cover pre-existing conditions unless it’s under one of their more expensive policies, and even then, there are exceptions.
Most companies will not let you initiate a claim straight away to protect against fraud. Many insurance providers stipulate a two-day, two-week, or six-month waiting period, depending on the claim.
A Pet Insurance waiting period is the time between when you enroll in a policy and when you can get coverage. Most companies have a waiting period for accidents of 1-3 days and 14 days for illness.
An annual deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket before the pet insurance company starts paying. Some companies offer you the ability to choose the amount of this deductible.
The average pet health insurance premium is usually between $20 and $50 per month, with cat plans normally costing less than plans for dogs.
By and large, pet insurance will not pay the fees associated with routine physical exams unless you have purchased a “wellness” plan or if your vet visit has to do with an accident or illness.
For additional information about how pet insurance works and the pet insurance companies, visit ConsumersAdvocate.org.
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