If you’re in the market for pet insurance, get quotes from several providers. There can be wide variations in pricing between insurers.
A few things to look out for are waiting periods, reimbursement percentages and deductible options. Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions (though some will allow them back in after a period). Some also include alternative therapies and dental illnesses.
1. Trupanion
Owning a pet can be a lot of fun, but it can also be expensive. If your pet gets sick, or even injured, you’ll have to pay for hospitalization, tests and possibly surgery. Getting the medical care they need shouldn’t deplete your savings or require dipping into new lines of credit, which is why the top pet insurance companies offer high reimbursement levels and don’t place limits on how much they will pay per condition, year or lifetime.
One of the best options for ensuring that your pet receives quality healthcare is to get insurance through Trupanion. This company offers a 90% reimbursement rate for veterinary bills and GapOnly services at participating partner vets. It’s important to note that this is a catastrophic only policy, so there are no annual or lifetime maximum claims limits for each condition. Additionally, a Trupanion policy does not exclude preexisting conditions and covers hereditary diseases that cause symptoms that weren’t present prior to your pet’s coverage start date.
Unlike other pet insurance providers, Trupanion pays the veterinarian directly for covered treatment costs, which saves you time and hassle from having to submit receipts or wait to receive a reimbursement check. In addition to this, the company’s deductible policy is unique in that it sets a one-time deductible for each condition. For example, if your dog has allergies, you’ll pay the $250 deductible once and Trupanion will cover 90% of any related expenses for life.
In addition to its comprehensive coverage, Trupanion also has a great customer service team. Its representatives are available round the clock to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, it provides a user-friendly website with educational materials and an online quote tool. Lastly, it provides an app that lets you update your pet’s information, make payments, view and file claims and manage coverage. While the Trupanion app could use a bit of improvement in terms of functionality, it’s still an excellent option for pet owners.
2. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws is a popular choice for pet owners seeking to cover unexpected illnesses and accidents, as well as hereditary and genetic conditions. Its coverage generally covers new illnesses and injuries, but it excludes hereditary or genetic conditions that have already manifested and a few other things like spaying/neutering, dental cleanings, pregnancy, breeding, unnecessary cosmetic procedures and more. It also requires a nose-to-tail veterinary exam before enrolling pets and has an average waiting period of 15 days (including hip dysplasia which only covers dogs enrolled before age 6).
This company has one plan for all pets, unlike other top providers that offer accident and illness plans or wellness add-ons. The plan provides options for annual deductible and reimbursement rates, such as 70%, 80% or 90%, but it doesn’t cover preventative treatments like dental cleanings or vaccinations. Its policies are underwritten by the Chubb Group, which has an A+ rating from credit rating agencies and a $25 billion surplus.
The company has a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, with positive reviews that mention its excellent customer service and simple claims process. It also offers a mobile app that makes it easy to submit claims. The company is also a responsible corporate citizen and gives back to the community. For every policy sold, Healthy Paws makes a donation to organizations that help homeless pets.
Despite a high price point, Healthy Paws customers have reported excellent customer service and simple claims processes. Its customer base includes a wide range of pet owners, including families with multiple cats and dogs and those with aging pets.
Like most other best pet insurance companies, Healthy Paws covers alternative and holistic treatments such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment and more. It also reimburses for the cost of prosthetic devices and wheelchairs. Its most popular coverage is the accident and illness plan, which is available for all pets, from puppies and kittens to senior cats and dogs. In addition to covering medical bills, this policy also reimburses you for boarding, doggie daycare and other activities. Like many other pet insurers, Healthy Paws requires a nose-to-tail vetting exam before enrolling pets and has a waiting period of 15 days, though it does have an exception for hereditary and genetic conditions that manifest at any time.
3. ASCPA
In addition to a variety of annual limits, ASCPA also allows you to customize your coverage by adjusting your deductible and reimbursement rates. Its flexible policies make it a good option for pet owners who want to protect their pets from major expenses without breaking the bank. ASCPA also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with your policy.
ASCPA’s policy limits are more generous than those of some other pet insurers, but they are not unlimited. Once your annual limit is reached, you will have to pay for any additional vet bills out of pocket. Choosing a plan with a high annual limit will cost more, but it could be worth the extra expense if you want to avoid having to cover any unexpected medical expenses out of pocket.
Like other pet insurance providers, ASCPA requires you to wait a certain amount of time before filing a claim. This is known as the waiting period. The waiting period varies by plan type. For example, the ASPCA’s most affordable accident-only plan has a two-day waiting period while their more comprehensive plans require a 14-day waiting period.
Embrace is another top-rated pet insurance company that provides several different coverage options to choose from. The company has excellent customer reviews, a 24/7 veterinary helpline and covers vet exam fees related to covered accidents and illnesses. It also has a wellness rewards program that lets you earn cash back for your pet’s routine care costs such as flea and tick preventatives, microchipping and spaying and neutering.
One of the best features about Embrace is its ability to cover pre-existing conditions. The company has a dedicated team to handle these claims and ensures that your dog or cat’s health is fully protected when you file a claim. Embrace’s premiums are competitive and it has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
ASPCA is a good choice for dog and cat owners looking to find a plan that will cover their pet’s accident-related and illness-related costs. The company’s most basic accident-only plan pays for bite wounds, cuts, broken bones and toxic ingestions. Its most comprehensive plan covers treatments, procedures, diagnostics and exam fees for both accidents and illnesses. The ASPCA’s plans also don’t have age limitations.
4. Figo
Customizable plans, fast claim service and a multitude of covered treatments make Figo a viable pet insurance option for dog and cat owners. While they do not cover pre-existing conditions, like most pet insurance companies, they do offer annual limit levels and lifetime maximums that allow policyholders to better budget for future veterinary expenses. They also allow pet parents to customize their policy with options such as annual deductibles and reimbursement rates.
Figo’s policies feature one of the shortest waiting periods in the industry, with just one day for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage. However, they do have a six-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia, although they may waive that if the pet has undergone an exam and been treated by a veterinarian within the first 30 days of the policy.
The company’s policyholders can choose from three comprehensive accident and illness plans, with the Essential Plan offering $5,000 in annual limits, the Preferred Plan with a $10,000 annual limit and the Ultimate Plan with unlimited annual limit coverage. In addition to these plan options, Figo offers several add-on packages, including a wellness package that covers preventative care and an optional veterinary exam fee rider for accident and illness visits.
In addition to its customizable policy options, Figo’s policies are backed by Independence American Insurance Company with an A+ rating from AM Best. This financial stability allows Figo to reimburse claims quickly and efficiently.
Unlike other pet insurers, Figo does not have any caps on coverage or limit the amount that they will pay per incident or year. This is an important aspect to consider if you are looking for the most complete coverage possible. It should be noted that this does tend to drive up the price of the premiums, but if you are willing to pay more for more extensive coverage, it is an excellent option. Figo’s policyholders can also customize their deductibles and reimbursement rates to match their budgets, with the ability to choose from 70%, 80% or 90%.
