Compare Pet Insurance
Our pet insurance comparison chart makes it easy to compare pet insurance plans. We’ve simplified each policy’s fine print and included vet-verified tips and warnings to help you choose. Healthy Paws is the #1 Choice.
LEGEND
- #2 Embrace
- #1 Healthy Paws
- #7 Nationwide
- #3 Pets Best
- #4 Pet Plan
- #6 Pet Premium
- #2 Embrace
- #1 Healthy Paws
- #7 Nationwide
- #3 Pets Best
- #4 Pet Plan
- #6 Pet Premium
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| Monthly Cost Basic Coverage | $48.22 Several limits |
$51.58 Several limits |
$57.07 Several limits |
$46.71 Several limits |
$71.64 Several limits |
$37.28 No limits |
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| Overall Score | 1.4 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.9 | |
| Monthly Cost Best Coverage | $65.66 Several limits |
$61.52 Several limits |
$67.84 Several limits |
$53.37 No limits |
$79.11 Several limits |
$37.28 No limits |
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| Tips & Highlights | Poor customer reviews | Low payouts | Flexible coverage | Offers accident-only plan | Applies deductible before copay to save you $ | #1 customer rated since 2013 | |
| Vet-Verified Summary | Bad reputation with customers | Too many limitations | Watch out for deductibles | Low annual limit on base plans | Great coverage but expensive | Overall best coverage | |
| AT A GLANCE | |||||||
| Choose your own vet | |
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| Injuries | |
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| Illnesses | |
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| Hereditary conditions | |
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| Congenital conditions | |
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| Prescription medications | |
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| Alternative therapies | |
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| Wellness option | |
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| Flexible deductible | |
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| Annual deductible | |
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| Choose reimbursement | |
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| Reimbursed per vet bill | |
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| No annual limits | |
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| No lifetime limits | |
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| No limits per condition | |
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| Covered for life | |
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| No upper age limit | |
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| Discounts available | |
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| Get QuoteRead review | Get QuoteRead review | Get QuoteRead review | Get QuoteRead review | Get QuoteRead review | Save 10%Read review | ||
*Quotes based on 1-year-old, male, medium-sized mixed breed dog in California zip code 90017 as of January 1, 2018
Additional Resources
Do you want to read additional research? You can find more in-depth pet insurance rankings here.
What’s important to look for when I compare pet insurance plans?
Most insurance policies are confusing. Unfortunately, pet policies are no exception. We’ve listed important terms that you should know so you can compare pet insurance with confidence.
With your own healthcare coverage, you usually know your out of pocket expense before a doctor’s appointment. With most pet healthcare coverage, you don’t know if the claim will be approved or denied until AFTER you’ve paid the bill out of pocket.
You can reduce the risk of a surprise denial if you understand the aspects of a policy before you buy it. (We’ve included these in our pet insurance comparison chart for easy reference.)
Pet insurance comparison chart: important definitions
- Annual limits: Maximum amount of money you can be reimbursed every year. Some pet insurance policies have them; others don’t.
- Benefit schedule: A rundown on the amount of reimbursement you’ll get for specific conditions or treatments. Some pet insurance companies reimburse you according to a set benefit schedule instead of covering a percentage of the actual vet bill.
- Co-pay: Percentage of the vet bill you pay out-of-pocket. If you have a 90 percent reimbursement level, your co-pay is 10 percent of the vet bill.
- Congenital conditions: Health conditions your pet is born with. They can be hereditary or passed down genetically. They can also result from abnormal development before birth. Not all pet insurance plans cover congenital conditions. Not all congenital conditions are immediately apparent and may show signs some time after birth.
- Deductible: Amount of money you pay out-of-pocket before your pet insurance coverage kicks in.
- Exclusions: List of conditions or limitations on your coverage. Read them carefully, as they vary widely from policy to policy.
- Hereditary conditions: Disorders or diseases your pet inherits genetically, often referred to as breed-specific conditions since they tend to affect certain breeds of dogs and cats. Not all pet insurance plans cover hereditary conditions.
- Incidents: “Incident” refers to the specific condition for which your pet is being treated. “Per incident” and “per condition” mean the same thing.
- Lifetime limits: Maximum amount of money you can be reimbursed over the lifetime of your pet insurance policy.
- Reimbursement level: Percentage of the vet bill the pet insurance company reimburses you after you pay your deductible. The reimbursement level determines your co-pay. If you have a 70 percent reimbursement level, your co-pay is 30 percent of the vet bill.
- Rider: Also called “endorsements,” riders are add-ons to an insurance policy that provide additional coverage at an additional cost. Different companies may offer different riders, such as a prescription medication rider, complimentary care rider, or breeding rider for pregnancy care.
- Pre-existing conditions: Health issues that your pet has already been diagnosed with or shown signs of before your pet insurance plan becomes active. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet insurance plan.
- Waiting period: Set amount of time you’re required to wait after enrollment before your pet insurance policy becomes active. Pet insurance policies may have different waiting times for different conditions and coverage options. The waiting period for injuries and accidents may be as short as a day or two while other conditions may have a waiting period of several months.
Why does pet insurance cost vary so much?
When you compare pet insurance plans, you’ll see a wide range of price quotes. Pet insurances base their price on factors like breed, age, and your zip code. Each pet insurance weighs these factors differently which affects the cost. Also, prices vary by coverage.
What affects the cost of pet insurance?
Individual animal and policy options affect monthly pet insurance premiums. These include things like:
- Your pet’s age, gender, and breed
- Reimbursement level
- Reimbursement method, either according to a benefit schedule or based on actual vet bills
- Amount of your deductible
- Where you live
- Type and level of coverage
The cost of pet insurance varies significantly. You can get quotes for the same pet with identical deductible and reimbursement options, but one quote might be twice as much as the other!
This is why it’s important to review the fine print of a policy. Our pet insurance comparison includes the small details that affect your wallet and your pet’s health.
Some pet insurance companies advertise plans as low $10 per month. However, if you read the policy’s fine print, you may find that reimbursement maxes out at $500 per year. So, if your puppy has a medical emergency, the most this policy will reimburse you is $500, for the entire year. But vet emergencies cost thousands!
This is just one example of the fine print to look for when you compare pet insurance costs.
Other factors that affect pet insurance premiums
Let’s say you’re comparing pet insurance plans from two different companies. Both have a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement rate. Both cover accidents and illnesses plus hereditary conditions. But the prices are still dramatically different.
If you read the policy’s fine print, you’ll find the difference. For instance, perhaps both plans cover accidents, illnesses, and hereditary conditions, but:
- One plan has an annual deductible and the other has a per-condition deductible
- One plan covers many more hereditary conditions than the other
- One plan has bilateral exclusions for certain conditions, meaning the plan will cover the condition only once even if it occurs on both sides of the body
- One plan covers vet exam fees while the other does not
- One plan applies your reimbursements before the deductible which makes your out-of-pocket expenses higher than the other plan that applies your reimbursements after the deductible
- One plan includes prescription medications in the base policy while the other requires a rider for prescription coverage
- One plan covers prescription food and vet supplements while the other does not
- One plan offers reimbursement of boarding and kennel fees while the other does not
- One plan covers many more alternative treatment options than the other
- One plan covers prosthetics and mobility devices and the other does not
- You get the idea…
How do I compare pet insurance exclusions?
Each pet insurance plan also comes with specific exclusions that affect the overall cost of coverage. Plans with an extensive list of exclusions are likely to cost less than those with few exclusions, simply because the plan will not be covering items outlined on that extensive list.
A good strategy is to not only look at what each plan covers, but to also examine what it doesn’t cover. You can do this by comparing pet insurance sample policies before you choose.
How do I find the best pet insurance?
If you want to save yourself the trouble of choosing a plan, check out the highest customer-rated pet insurance for 2018, Healthy Paws reviews.
Pet Insurance Comparisons: True or False
A plan with no annual deductible is automatically a great thing.
FALSE: A pet insurance plan with NO deductible whatsoever might automatically be a great thing, but most plans have some type of deductible. If a plan doesn’t have an annual deductible, it typically means it has a per-condition deductible. That means you’ll have to pay a deductible for every condition for which your pet is treated.
A per-condition deductible is not necessarily a bad thing, either, but it’s important to know the type of deductible your plan has so you know what to expect.
- Annual deductible: You pay a single deductible per year, regardless of how many vet visits or conditions are treated each year.
- Per-condition/per-incident deductible: You pay a deductible for every different condition, or incident, treated. If you need treatment for three different conditions over the course of a single year, for instance, you’ll have to pay three deductibles that year. However, if you go to the vet five times over a two-year period for the same condition, you only have to pay a single deductible for that single condition.
Reimbursement levels and co-pays are two ways of looking at the same concept.
TRUE: Both refer to the amount of money the pet insurance company gives you back vs. the amount of money you pay out-of-pocket (after the deductible). For instance:
- If your reimbursement level is 90 percent, you have a 10 percent co-pay
- If your reimbursement level is 80 percent, you have a 20 percent co-pay
- If your reimbursement level is 70 percent, you have a 30 percent co-pay
A pet insurance plan with a 90 or 100 percent reimbursement level is always the best choice.
FALSE: While the highest reimbursement levels may be the best choice for getting the greatest amount of money back on your vet bill, it’s not necessarily the best choice for keeping your premiums low.
The higher your reimbursement level, the higher your premiums will be. If you can afford to pay for the higher level of reimbursements, go for it. But if you need to trim down your monthly premium, lowering your reimbursement level is one way to do it.
Wellness coverage is an absolute must, no matter what.
FALSE: If wellness coverage were a life-or-death matter, it’s likely every pet insurance plan would offer it as an option. You’ll notice in our comparison chart that some plans don’t. Companies that don’t offer wellness coverage generally leave it out to keep premiums lower.
Wellness coverage can definitely be beneficial, especially for new puppies and kittens that can benefit from having their extra vaccinations and spaying or neutering covered by it during their first year.
Most adult pet’s routine wellness care tends to stay the same year after year, making it possible to budget for their annual vet visits and vaccinations without insurance. It’s the unexpected emergencies and illnesses that can more easily blow your budget or leave you in debt.
We’re not saying wellness coverage is not worth it, as it certainly can be, but it may not be a top priority when choosing a policy.
Tips for Comparing Pet Insurance Premiums
Keeping your premiums low doesn’t have to mean skimping on coverage. When you compare pet insurance, you can find a plan that offers solid coverage that meets your needs while reducing your premiums.
Choose a higher deductible: The higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Your monthly premium will be lower if you pick, say, a $500 deductible instead of a $100 deductible on your plan of choice.
Choose a lower reimbursement level: The lower your reimbursement level, the lower your premium. Your monthly premium will be lower if you opt for 70 percent reimbursement and a 30 percent co-pay than it would if you went for a 90 percent reimbursement and a 10 percent co-pay.
Look for discounts: Certain pet insurance companies offer discounts for any number of different reasons. These can include:
- Ensuring multiple pets
- Enrolling online
- Paying annually instead of monthly
- Being a member of an organization, such as AAA
- Being a member of the military
- Pets that are spayed, neutered or microchipped
Cut out unnecessary extras: If you’re never planning on breeding your pet, paying more for an insurance plan that includes pregnancy care may not make sense. The same holds true for various riders or extended coverage options that may sound good in theory but may contain a bunch of extras you are unlikely to use.
Comparison shop: Your main aim is not necessarily to find the lowest premium across the board, but the lowest premium for a good value on the insurance coverage you need. Decide on the type and level of coverage you need and then compare pet insurance prices from at least three different companies for that targeted coverage.
Shopping Around
Comparison shopping is one of the prime ways to ensure you’re getting the top value for your money, and we’ve given you plenty of resources and tools to make it as easy as possible. Browse through the comparison chart above, read our pet insurance reviews of the top 6 pet insurance companies, and take advantage of all our pet insurance information to ensure you enroll in a plan that’s best for you and your pet.
My dog is a lab-chow-terrier mix and is eight years old. I’ve noticed that she has slowed down and I want to make sure to take good care of her as she ages. The cost of pet care can be very high and I think that pet insurance is a great idea. I’ve been comparing insurance plans and this site has been extremely helpful.
Some of my requirements are a policy with a flexible deductible and no annual limits. After reviewing several plans, I have it narrowed down to Healthypaws and PetPremium. Healthypaws covers massage therapy and physical therapy, so I think that will be my best option.
Thanks for providing this great service, you made my decision so much easier!
Hey Jerry and thanks! for your kind words regarding our site. You are MORE than welcome. So, so terrific! to know it’s doing what we wanted: to help caring pet parents make best pet insurance decision. It’s our pleasure to help. Best o’ health to you and your doggie!
I like that PetsBest and Petplan don’t have a limit on age. My pitbull Wally is almost 14 years old. He’s in pretty good health, but I worry he will have something come up in the next few years. I think I will probably go with Petplan since there is no annual deductible.
Hi Scott, and cool! on looking into insurance for Wally. How wonderful he’s in good health at age 14, you must really be treating him right! Just a note on the lack of annual deductible from PetPlan. The policies still have a deductible, but it’s paid per condition instead of once each year. That means policy holders have to pay a deductible for every condition treated. It can still work out fine, just wanted to make sure it was clear. Thanks for comment and hugs to Wally!
I just tried to get a quote for a St. Bernard mix on PetPlan and they didn’t have that breed listed on their list! I sent them an email via their “contact us” page. Let’s see how long it takes them to respond.
OMG, I already got a call back from them – less than 24 hours! Way to go, PetPlan. 🙂
Three cheers for PetPlan responding so quickly – and thanks for sharing success tidbit, Julian! St. Bernard mix must be one neat-o dog. Also a unique one we’d say if not even on the list. Sounds like a fabulous pooch who deserves fabulous insurance. Way to be on it!
Healthypaws seems like the best fit for me. I have to watch my expenses and this plan seems to offer more for less. I liked that there were no annual limits on reimbursements. My dachshund Sammy is 4 years old, but I want to go ahead and get her on a plan before she gets older… I know that dachshunds can have some pretty bad issues with their spine.
Hi Jackie! We’re big fans of HealthyPaws ourselves (as are the tons of other customers who keep rating it as the top pet insurance company across the board). Kudos to getting Sammy insurance while she’s still young, as you’re right about potential health issues due to elongated body and stubby legs – the very traits that make dachshunds so adorable! Jumping off the couch, bed and other higher surfaces can be tough on a dachshund’s back, and some articles we’ve read even recommending ramps to make it easier for the breed to come up and cuddle. Just a thought! Best to you and Sammy!
We chose Trupanion because of the fact that there are no annual limits and no lifetime limits. They also cover congenital conditions, and this is something we needed for our basset hound. We were also interested in Embrace, but it was a bit more expensive.
Hi Sheila and good choice! Coverage for congenital conditions can be a biggie, and not every plan offers that coverage. Terrific you found one that did – and good health and happy howling to your basset hound!
Dang I can’t believe PetPremium’s cheapest plan is just over 9 bucks. That is insanely cheap! There’s no excuse for anyone not to have pet insurance! I’m still shopping around but I think Petplan is right for my cat Luci. She is a maine coone and I think she’s starting to show signs of thyroid dysfunction… heard it can get pretty darn costly for treatments. She is 5 years old. Has anyone else used Petplan before? I like that alternative therapies are covered with this one too.
Hi Vernon, and thanks for the comments! Yes, the $9-ish premium IS insanely cheap for PetPremium’s cheapest plan – but also keep in mind that policy only covers accidents. Good choice to shop around, and PetPlan can be a good one! We def. agree with Julian’s comment that points out importance of getting pets insured BEFORE they’re diagnosed with condition. NO plans we reviewed or even ran across cover pre-existing conditions. We’d also recommend reviewing a sample policy to check out all exclusions to make sure thyroid dysfunction would be covered. Good luck to you and Luci! P.S. Maine Coons are absolutely gorgeous!
I have not heard of anyone using PetPremium, but you’re right and you better get Luci in there before she gets diagnosed because then she’s going to have a pre-existing condition. Come to think of it, that’s a good thing to check before buying, to make sure they accept pre-existing conditions.
Hey Julian, and you are one wise insurance shopper with savvy tip to get pets insured BEFORE they’re diagnosed w/ any condition – or even before they show any signs of a condition without an official diagnosis. As we mentioned to Vernon, we don’t know of any pet insurance plans that cover pre-existing conditions. Thanks for input!
Wow, this page is amazing!! All those hours of searching online and comparing these places. If only I’d known about this site sooner! I’ve always heard good things about Embrace, but this makes it possible to compare it with all the other best carriers out there. Woo hoo!
Thanks, Julian! All those hours of searching and comparing are SO worth it if it makes it easier for pet parents to make the big pet insurance decision. We also appreciate your comments and input. So glad to hear you’re getting good info from our site. Keep on coming back and keep on commenting!
Embrace is great. Reimbursed per vet bill and there are no annual limits. We have the comprehensive coverage for our English Mastiff, Henry. Mastiffs are at high risk for osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and lymphosarcoma. They also are at a high risk for gastrointestinal syndrome which causes extreme bloating which can lead to death very quickly.
Hey Simon and we’re impressed you took the time to learn so much about your breed. Nice! Ditto on finding pet insurance that’s working perfectly for you. Oh! one more thumbs up for Henry. English Mastiffs ALWAYS make us smile. What big, lovable pooches – and so wonderful yours has such a caring pop. Thanks for comments!
Thanks for the chart! It defiantly makes comparing all of the different pet insurance services easier. With the ever rising cost of pet bills having a little bit of a security blanket in the case of something catastrophic, will mean I don’t have to choose between my pet and my bank account. Thanks again for doing to he research for me!
First I want to thank you so much for putting this information together. Sometimes it can become frustrating when looking for the best plan for your loved one or ones.. and yes I say loved ones.. my German Shepherd, Diamond is my third child.. and I currently have her covered on an amazing plan.. yet I must admit when I signed up for it 3 years ago.. I had no idea if it was really great or not.. as I had no information to compare. I had no clue about pet insurance. I can say from experience that it is vital to the health of a pet. As I lost my Trinity (German Shepherd) back in 2006 to cancer, basically because I didn’t have a plan that could supplement the cost of chemo.. so at the time I believed my only option was to allow her to go on to Glory.. Yet this information shows clearly that anyone can afford some type of coverage for their baby.. Thanks again and keep smiling
Thank you so much for giving those examples of small details found in pet insurance plans! It was very helpful! I never considering looking at the exclusion list and would have normally just picked one of the cheapest options. I’m going to pay much more attention and look for things that might cost me an arm and a leg later on assuming they aren’t covered by the insurance. I didn’t have any problems with my little Sara but who knows? I want to be prepared and I won’t just get the cheapest option anymore (unless that’s the best one and it usually isn’t).
I was looking at PetsBest and was wondering why in the world coverage limits vary so massively by state? Why is that? Please explain if possible.
Thanks for the good list! I have put off going to the vet due to the cost, but many of these plans seem to be reasonable. I like the fact that you can choose one that is customized for your needs and that you don’t have to shop around. It’s nice that the info is all in one spot! Thanks again!
There are so many things to consider when picking the right pet insurance. I remember the first time I had to do it I almost went crazy with trying to figure out all this stuff out on my own! Congenital conditions, deductibles, exclusions, incidents and what they mean, lifetime limits and so and so on! Why did they have to make this so darn difficult to understand?
It’s great to see so many options talked about here; makes things a lot easier for a busy dog owner like myself :). It takes me forever to pick out a plan if I have to go to different websites and compare stuff to see which one is best. I have a little request, don’t know if you can do it or not but here goes:
Could you make it so that when I scroll down to see injuries, illnesses, alternative therapies and so on, I can always see the top field (compare pet insurance) so I know which company’s data I’m looking at? I hope you got what I was trying to say. This would be very helpful so I don’t have to go back from time to time and remember what I was looking at.
From $9 to $88, I don’t think there is a reason for anyone not to have pet insurance. It’s affordable and totally worth it. The chart was very helpful thank you!
What I like to do with new pets is research the usual health issue associated with that breed. Then I pick my insurance based on treatment options covered by insurance companies to ensure my dog will have the treatment available and paid for if necessary. Honestly, I am 100% okay with paying a bit higher for a plan that will come in handy if my dog experiences one of the usual health problems for his or her breed. I would suggest other owners to do the same. 🙂
So much good information! Thanks for sharing tips about keeping pet insurance premiums low. I want our little CC (the cat we recently adopted) to be covered, but don’t want to spend more than we need to.
I think my family members and friends think we’re crazy, but we love our pets. We have 4 dogs and two cats currently, being able to take care of them was challenging any time an unexpected expense came up (like our old cat’s kidneys weren’t working properly or when our mountain cur mix had hip problems). I definitely have to pick a plan that has hereditary issues covered. Whether I go with a company that has a high or a low premium, I know I’m still paying less, especially if more than one of my pets got sick or hurt at the same time. Embrace or Petplan are the ones that might serve our family best.
I checked all of them , decided to go for healthypaws , which is cheap ,top rated and simply there is no excuse for anyone out there not to get his pet insured.
So many options, I can see how this could easily be confusing unless you take the time to break it all down and explain it the way you have. Great job.
Considering how many variables are at play, I would think doing your homework in advance in regard to the type of pet you consider adopting has to come into play. Some breeds are prone to certain conditions – and this would play a huge role in the type of coverage they would benefit from.
I did notice the inexpensive $9 plan, and while I see that it only covers emergencies, it sure beats nothing.
The catastrophic events are the ones that break the bank, and those are the ones that show up out of nowhere.
I appreciate your mention of what no deductible plan is. It sure sounds appealing, but I would have never thought about what would happen if there were more than one issue going on in a year. That can certainly add up.
This is such a handy tool in helping select a pet insurance. I chose Embrace because it best suits the needs of my pet firstly and also because of its deductible pay which in the long run has saved me a lot of money.
I never looked into pet insurance mainly because of the confusion of all the terms and trying to figure out what type is the best. My dogs are young and healthy so I never kind of looked over the hole insurance thing. But, I do want to be covered if one of my babies do get hurt. I had a hard time trying to sort out the different health insurance for my family. Anyway, I love this page. It breaks down everything and gives me the definition of all the terms. Great research for pet insurance. I also thought pet insurance was a lot more then it actually is.
I like Trupanion because their coverage is simple. I would prefer one plan over having to choose between many any day. And 90% benefits coverage to boot. Although is more expensive, I wouldn’t trust my English Bulldog’s health to any other company.
Finding and exploring this site has been my first step in looking seriously for some type of pet insurance. This site is wonderful and provides all of the fine details that I had and had NOT thought about like some companies’ coverage is based on the animal’s condition. Some plans offer alternative therapies while many others do not. Some plans offer help with annual vet visits, exams, nutrition supplements and/or prescription meds while others do not. There are many details to consider.
I like having all of the companies located in one place. It makes the plan comparisons considerably easier. My goal is to get some insurance in place before I actually need it so I want something affordable yet also worth it if some accident or illness should arise.
Sharon , glad we could be of service, we would recommend possibly taking a look at Healthy Paws insurance. They offer unlimited coverage that you can tailor to your budget with alternative therapy coverage also. This way you can get what you want and not break the bank. We hope everything works out for you, thanks again for the comment.
Thanks for this easy to understand comparison! I’m looking for the right insurance company for my beautiful and fluffy cat. It should cover all types of illnesses so that I don’t have to spend too much if ever he got sick. I want the best for my feline baby.
Being able to compare pet insurance plans is so important. I have been researching insurance for my dog ever since we had an unexpected hospital visit last month. I appreciate the definitions of terms used by the insurance companies and the explanation of reimbursement levels. I feel like now I can make a decision that will best serve the individual needs of my dog, at a comfortable monthly price.
I recently took my Chihuahua/Wire-Haired Terrier to the vet for a mass removal on her chest. My husband and I were so worried about getting the test results back. What if she had cancer? Luckily for all of us, it was just a benign tumor that was easily removed. But it really made us think about the future health of the wonderful dog we’ve been raising for the past 5 years. Thank you for putting together such a helpful website that makes shopping for pet insurance so much easier! Comparing plans, understanding insurance terms, and deciding how much we are able to spend, have enabled us to find the right plan for our little family!
We recommend this website to all of our friends! My husband and I found the information so useful when making our decision to buy pet insurance, that we had to tell all of the pet parents we know. Our friend has four older dogs, and she was under the impression that no insurance plan would cover all of their needs. She went to this website and was so grateful to be proved wrong!
The website is providing different pet insurance company’s premium very efficiently. We can have good idea about pet insurance company’s premium. By using this features we can find the right company to insurance. Here we can see the PetPremium’s gives the cheapest plan that is only around 9 bucks. It is a really good plan to invest money. We can ensure pet’s safety by using these plan. Here differences among the companies regarding benefits are also given. We can easily choose the best plan.
Prior to viewing this site, I had no idea there were so many options for insurance plans. This chart gave a great representation for each plan to truly analyze what would work best for me and my furry friends. I really appreciated the clear visual across the board and was very shocked to see Pet Premium at low at 9$! Not sure how skeptical to feel about that one. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience? Although they are on the higher price scale, Pets Best and Pet Plan seem to be good plans for me because they are not restricted for ages. It is useful because my dog is 8 years old so for a long time pet owner, they make choosing a plan more flexible. Still trying to decide what will fit best for me, but I am definitely bookmarking this page to refer back to. This is such a great resource for pet owners old and new!
My girlfriend finally convinced me of how important it is to insure our pets. (When we moved in together, we combined her pitbull and ferret with my three cats…we have lots of critters to take care of now!) I had no idea where to start searching, but this REALLY broke it down. Thanks a lot for putting so much useful information into one place.
My son wants a dog so we are looking at all of the expenses that go along with getting a new pet. What is very clear to me is that we will need to get pet insurance and all plans are not created equal. I had no idea of the broad spectrum of plans that are available. It will also help us get clear about the true costs of adding another member to our family, beyond just food, grooming and annual veterinarian bills. Having this information and also consulting a good vet will also help us make a decision about what types of dogs we should consider.
There are so many things that I didn’t think to consider, such as how congenial or hereditary conditions can affect a policy (what a company will cover and what they will not as well as how this may affect the cost of an insurance policy). I also mistakenly thought it would be great to get a policy with no annual deductible but the more I read, the more I realize that this (in and of itself) is not necessarily a good thing. I’ll have to think about what is the most reasonable for me, paying an annual or paying a “per-condition” deductible. My sister has a wellness feature included in her pet policy but I’m not sure if that is a must-have for my family. She has 2 cats and no kids, where I have 3 children and now we’re planning for a new puppy so my budgeting and expenses are a lot different from hers.
I also have to check the orgs that my husband and I belong to—to see if we can get some additional discounts and how those work. That is also another great tip that I hadn’t considered.There is so much great info here that I’ll keep it bookmarked for myself, my husband and the kids to use as we decide on which pet and policy are best for us.
I have recently bought my first pet. A little russian blue kitten called Mimi. She is a healthy little kitten but I do not want to take any chances with her health and want to purchase insurance to protect my baby as soon as possible. I was very confused by the insurance options available and this site has been an invaluable tool in my search for suitable insurance. I had no idea that there were so many factors to consider and so many differences between the various plans on offer. I am on a budget so it was great to see that I can get a discount on insurance by paying annually rather than monthly. After reading your points about wellness cover, I have decided that I will go for a plan with wellness cover since Mimi might need extra vaccinations and spraying during her first year. Your side by side comparison is so clear and easy to understand. Thank you so much for saving me a lot of time and effort by providing that comparison chart!
We suggest this web page to all of our friends! My associate and I came across the important points so useful when making our option to buy policy your pet strategy, that we had to tell all of the pet parents we know. Our buddy has four mature creatures, and she was under the impact that no insurance plan policy strategy strategy would protected all of their needs. She went to this web page and was so thankful to see wrong!
This comparison chart is really helpful. I have friends who breed and show basenjis, and I wonder if they know that plans like Pets Best and trupanion offer coverage for pregnancy care. I’m going to send them the link! For my own purposes, it’s good to know about the options for paying a higher deductible but a lower monthly payment–this makes a lot of sense for me in terms of keeping my monthly bills in a reasonable range while also being sure that I could afford to care for my cats if something traumatic should happen, be it illness or accident.
I’ve been looking for a good insurance for my pet for a while, and then I stumbled upon this article. Such valuable information! Your article covers all the doubts and questions I had in my mind – mainly about the price vs usefulness thing. I’m a student, I can’t afford a high-priced insurance, but then I felt like I was stingy for my own pet. I have read many insurance plans from different companies and it just created a mess in my head. Now, thanks to your article, the whole insurance thing seems clearer to me. Indeed, I don’t plan that my pet has puppies, so I don’t need the pregnancy care plan. The Healthy Paws insurance plan seems decent, it covers necessary things, has high ratings from the customers and the price is affordable for me. I have to think about it for a while, but at least everything is clear to me now. Thank you so much for this article! It’s a great help for someone like me.
I didn’t realize how many different pet insurance policy options are available! It would be almost impossible to make a decision without the help of this website. Because of all the hard work you’ve put into it, you’ve made it all so much clearer. I’ve narrowed it down to three companies and will use your great tips to make sure that I only get the coverage that I need. I have multiple pets and plan to make a payment yearly instead of monthly so that should help lower the cost. Thanks!
My last pet insurance policy had a per-condition deductible. I really did not enjoy that. I don’t think that it was the right insurance for my pet at the time. I had no idea of the different aspects to consider when choosing a policy. I was just happy to have insurance for my dog, but it ended costing a lot in the end. I eventually got rid of the policy because it was more economical to only take him when he needed routine and wellness care. I have a cat now, and I do want to get him insurance. From this list, Nationwide seems to be the perfect fit. I’m going to make sure I read the fine print before deciding this time. I want to make sure I choose the best option for me and my pet.
I looked at this site before picking out the best coverage for my pet cat, a wonderful caring creature. I wanted to make sure that she was protected under an insurance plan that would take care of her and not hold her hereditary condition against her. For the most part she’s healthy but occasionally she’ll break out in a rash right in the back of her head. Since she can’t reach it causes her great pain, meowing into the night. Before I had Healthy Paws, I worried about calling my local vet outside of regular business hours. Thanks to Healthy Paws that is no longer a concern. She’s getting a bit older too so for a while I also was considering Pets Best, due to its larger deductible and high annual limit. Ultimately though, while that plan did have a number of benefits, its inability to cover hereditary conditions led me to Healthy Paws.
The “tricky true and false” basically summarizes why I’ve never bought pet insurance. It feels overwhelmingly complicated and as with all insurance, it’s hard to determine if the cost will be worth it. These charts are really helpful, though. I know what my biggest concerns are with my dog (a feisty pit bull), and this breaks down how I should go about shopping for a plan.
I imagine that any coverage is better than none, with premiums so low.
This website is the best so far, i love the plans on this webpage because it is easy to follow. The insurance plans solve many issues pet can face.
It is good for pet owner to locate good pet insurance within the area that he is. My dog can now leave healthy life with this pet insurance plans. I will like to go for the healthy paws which covers all. And i can now rest assure of the insurance of my pet.
I love how detailed is this article because it really saved my time from making a research. I am owner of a very beautiful dog and I decided to get a pet insurance because sometimes all the costs that I have for my pet are really huge if you actually pay more attention to it.
I paid more attention to all the details in the article and I think it would be the best to get the insurance as soon as possible because sometimes my dog face some illness and injuries for which the bills are big. I want to go with a pet insurance which is reliable and with great services and yet not very costly. That’s exactly why I decided to go with PetPremium. Thanks for all the info guys!
Wellness coverage is an interesting part .As mentioned with young pets, vaccinations are essential and can be expensive. There are many differences. But one thing I’m glad to see is that all these policies cover injury and choosing your own vet. Injury could really hurt you financially if /when not covered. I think this is the most important thing to look for in a policy.
This is fabulous , i have never heard of offering insurances affordable
policies and hinge to protect my pets like that
Pet insurance is a concept that is fairly new to me. I have only started hearing that it existed in the past few years. Pet insurance would be very good to have especially when you are getting in to pure bred dogs and your dog is a big investment. Dogs are also a part of the family at least at my house and their bills can get really expensive if they get sick or need a surgery. I actually had a golden retriever puppy once that ended up having a congenital birth defect. Insurance would have been great but we didn’t have any back then. We ended up becoming a national news story and having to raise more than $10,000 for a heart surgery and that doesn’t include all the other money for tests and doctor’s appointments and travel that went along with it.
I signed up for Healthy Paws after reading reviews on this website. Because at first our puppy was healthy, but that all changed a few months in when our dog seemed to start getting sick with everything – from mange, a massive hot spot, to the absolute worst – ibuprofen toxicity (my dog will eat anything when I’m not looking). Healthy Paws covered ALL of the costs associated with his “unluckiness”, never making my decision about his medical care based solely on cost. I highly recommend Healthy Paws to friends and family members who have a pet. Their customer service is prompt and reliable. I hate to think what the outcome for my dog could have been had I not had their services. THANK YOU Healthy Paws & Petinsuranceu for ultimately saving my dog!
I can’t think of a clearer description of all the terms and features you need to look at before ordering, and I can’t think of an easier way to shop than to check out a site like this. Thanks so much for all the information! 🙂
I am so glad I have found this site. I had a Rottweiler Doberman when I was younger and due to some unforseen reason our dog become really sick and we did not have pet insurance at this stage. This lead to my parents putting down my first dog in which I was devastated.
I didn’t realise just how expensive keeping a pets health up to scratch can be, if your dog gets sick. I have now realised it is even more expensive when you don’t have pet insurance. I would highly suggest to anyone to get pet insurance. If you are like me and your pet as family, you would want the very best for your pet.
I have now just moved into my new home and looking to get another Doberman, and this time I will be taking out pet insurance.
I didn’t know such site existed that did all the homework for me which has saved me a lot of time doing all the research myself.
This site and reading through everyone’s comments and reviews on here has made my decision very clear and I can’t wait to bring my new puppy home and know that we will be prepared this time around if our dog is to get sick again.
Excellent page – this makes it really easy to see exactly what is covered by insurance companies and what is not. Many people choose the cheapest insurance and have no idea that you get different types of coverage for different prices. My friend innocently took out a $5 a month policy that was little more than 3rd party, although she was under the impression that he dog was fully insured. Another thing I always look for is the excess, and how much of this I can afford to pay at a time.
I’ve shared this article, it certainly points out everything to bear in mind.
I agree with the others who have said that this site has made it really easy for them to look into pet insurance. It has given me a lot to think about, as well as look into all the extras I haven’t thought about before such as natural therapies which is something close to my heart. Thanks guys
I have two dogs and one day last year we came home and they had gotten into a fight over the silliest thing, bread. Both of them fought so hard that each lost a teeth and had multiple cuts all over their bodies. Our living room looked like a crime scene. It was crazy.
We went to the vet and they signed us up for pet insurance before we got treatment and it saved us a lot of money. Luckily our dogs were young and didn’t have a lot of prior health issues. The plan we use isn’t listed here and it started to get expensive.
I appreciate you putting this together. It’ll be helpful for us in switching over to a new provider.
Wow! I cant believe that there is so much customization to a pet insurance! I did not know that you can select the things you need coverage for and leave out the ones you dont, and that way you dont need to pay extra! I really like all the options and plans available and with many of them having 90 percent coverage and only 10 percent co-pay, now that is a real deal. I also like how you can have lower monthly payments in some plans that get cheaper if you enroll several pets and also if you are a member of AAA, theres discounts everywhere and who doesnt like that? I love it! I am still customizing and figuring out what to leave in and what to leave out, but I am sure that my customized pet insurance will be a great deal with lots of coverage. I am definitely letting all my friends know about this site! My pets are everything to me and I will make sure they get the right coverage!
I loved this chart and the following information was super informative. Obviously we spend so much time researching our own insurance plans, why would we not do the same for our pets. I’m happy to see that pets are getting comparable insurance as they really are our family members. It was nice to have a breakdown of costs, coverage and co-pays. I found the deductible portion most helpful. It’s interesting that while it seems you might not be paying a deductible, those insurances might have a per-condition deductible. Healty Paws looks the best to me personally but I loved having the side by side comparison to really see what each company offers. This was very informative and helpful!
Wow. Choosing pet insurance seems to be as complicated as choosing your own medical insurance! Fortunately, the article and chart help navigate what can be a confusing and overwhelming decision. My sister has pet insurance for her dog and it has saved her a considerable amount of money as the poor dog is not the healthiest of creatures. I’m not certain what plan she has, but I know she is very happy to have the insurance. Her dog is only 8 years old, but has torn ligaments in both of her hind legs, been bitten by a poisonous snake twice, had a pre-cancerous tumor removed, suffers from persistent skin allergies and arthritis, and just last month, broke her front paw and had to have a cast put on!
I think I’m safe in saying that pet insurance has been a godsend for my sister!
Shopping for pet insurance can be very overwhelming. There are so many different options and companies out there. It is refreshing being able to come to one place and have it broken down for me. It makes it so much easier to get the information I need, as well as being able to feel like I can make an informed decision without having to visit so many other websites. I also like that you can compare the pricing. I have two yorkies- and they are very expensive to take care of. I know of so many people who have spent thousands of dollars if heaven forbid an emergency arises with their pets. I am glad I can get all the information I need to make a good decision for my household.
Earlier this year, my grandfather passed away, so I had to pack up the kids and wife and leave the country for a week to help take the family take care of business. When we returned, the kennel I left our family dog in dutifully informed us that our Great Dane was now going to cost us over $1500 extra to pick up. The reason? Someone had not cared for her properly after she ate, her stomach turned over and she required emergency surgery to remain alive. When asked why this was done without my permission, the kennel’s workers said they were afraid of calling with the news and upsetting my family further, although there was no provision in the contract for such an act. So now I was down well over $1500 and counting for surgery, vet visits, medicine, etc. through no fault of my own.
Needless to say, that’s why I’m looking into pet insurance now. I had no idea pet insurance even existed until a family friend explained the concept to me. He told me that it was as important to shop around for this as it is for car or health insurance, so that’s what I’m doing now. Anyway, thanks for the great information, I’ll be returning soon.
I have two senior rescue dogs, and as they get older, the vet bills are really starting to add up. I’ve been wanting to explore pet insurance options but it can be so confusing and overwhelming, I didn’t know where to begin. Getting started with Pet Insurance U is ideal for my pets because they go the extra mile by explaining technical terms like deductibles and reimbursement rates. I appreciate that they suggest ways to lower your monthly premium, too. It never occurred to me that I would think about opting out of pregnancy coverage, since both my girls are neutered. Pet Insurance U is a valuable resource for finding the best coverage for my furry family!
The most compelling points that I notice are that pet insurance can be low as ten dollars a month that is cheaper than the average price of food. This is such a great plan because the vet bills can get very high without coverage for the animals that we love. There policy plans cover everything from age, type and even different breeds the choices are endless. It has a breakdown of all of the important factors such as reimbursement levels, deductible information and also what type of coverage and the level. The plan can cost many hereditary conditions and even the medicine can be covered as well along with any supplements that are necessary as well. Anything you can think of these different plans with coverage that. The most important pet terms that you need to know are annual limits, benefit schedule, co pay, congenital conditions, deductible, exclusions, hereditary conditions, incidents, lifetime limits, rider, pre-existing conditions, and lastly the waiting period. Those terms will have a break down of the most important parts of pet insurance as a quick reference glossory. This plan has worked great for a freind of mine that has many different animals on his ranch.
It’s no wonder that so many people consider pets a “luxury” today!
I’ve been trying to set aside money for when my 5 fur babies (1 bunny, 3 cats, and a dog) get sick, but that’s not always possible. As a single Mom I tend to struggle with money a lot. However, when my fur babies get sick I have to Mom up to them as well. For instance, when my male cat had a urinary track blockage (which I’ve since learned is quite common for male cats) I spent close to $500 taking care of him (surgery, etc.) because he’s my fur baby. It’s not that I had that money, but that I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure he’s fine. Of course, I’d do this for any of my fur babies, but that’s just an example of how high my vet bills can quickly become.
This insurance is a great option. I plan on getting it for my fur babies.
This site has made choosing a pet insurance a simple task! I love how the site breaks down all of the “jargon” and puts it into simple terms that I can understand. I feel like I have an upper hand when it comes to negotiating since I have a good understanding of the lingo and terms they have in place.
I have two four-legged family members and it was a great tip to know that most pet insurance companies offer a discount for multiple pets. My premium is a small price to pay compared to one of my pups becoming ill and not being able to afford treatment.
Using this site has enabled me to choose a plan that covers my vet’s checkup fees and gives me a manageable deductible for emergency services. Without knowing what I know now, about pet health insurance, I probably would have continued risking my pet’s well-being.
Scouring the web for an ideal pet insurance plan is an overwhelming task for any responsible pet owners, which is why stumbling upon a one-stop page that covers all the nitty gritties in an easy and comprehensive chart like this was such a relief! We had to find a plan that was tailor made for our seniorish terrier that included hereditary and congenital conditions (thyroid issues and osteoarthritis) along with alternative options which was quite an exhausting process particularly with some insurance companies being intentionally vague with their policies. We had narrowed down our search to Healthypaws and Trupanion and debated between the two for the longest time. Finally, we chose to go with Healthypaws as the alternative care option with Trupanion came with an additional cost. Also, noticing that the chart presents an overall better rating for Healthypaw is quite reassuring .Thank you Pet Insurance U!
I just found the cutest puppy and can’t wait to pick him up in a few weeks! It’s a requirement by my apartment complex to have pet insurance for any animals living in the building, so this has been an incredibly helpful resource! It’s great that I can compare a lot of different details that I wouldn’t have even thought about without the site, like alternative therapies! Since I’m getting a newborn, there’s no telling what issues we could run into in the future and this site has put my mind at easy when it comes to finding the right insurance fit for us!
So I have two cats (age 8) and had always assumed I had kind of missed the boat on getting pet insurance for them because I didn’t really know about it when they were kittens. Now I see that actually quite a few insurers will give me coverage even at this relatively late age (and even older). The only thing that could work better for me is that all the plans include accident coverage (e.g. being hit by a car) but our cats always stay inside so these kind of risks are extremely low. Only issue for my cats would be figuring out what causes their terrible teeth – they have both had problematic teeth removed already and probably will need more done in the future (and I would really love some insurance to cover that expense let me tell you)! Useful table here to be able to compare all the different factors for the different policies, anyway.
I’m so glad I did my homework and found PetPremium because it puts me at ease in case I have an emergency with my little pup. I honestly didn’t know pet insurance was a thing until I got my Dora (an adorable little Shih Tzu) several months ago. Pet insurance was recommended to me from the store I got her from, but I thought that they were just trying to up-sell. I went home and did some research and honestly, the pet quotes I seen came from PetPremium. I found a plan that completely fit my budget which is pretty tight right now. I remember my aunt had to pay $600 out of pocket for her Chow’s leg surgery. She loved her dog very much but it was an expense she never quite planned on so it put a dent in her budget that month. I feel more protected knowing I found the right insurance for Dora because she’s a small dog who gets into everything and you just never know when you have to shoot to the vet.
I didn’t know there was this many different options for pet insurance. I’m also surprised that Nationwide has such poor customer reviews as they are one of the better rated auto insurance companies. I usually choose mutts for my dogs for a variety of reasons. Personally I think your #1 recommendation (Healthy Paws) or Embrace are the best options for my situation.
I can only afford the 70% deductible and this is part of my reason for choosing those two plans and the fact that both of have no lifetime limits. The two options have the lowest premiums and I do not want lifetime caps or annual caps. I probably will not need to use it, but if the option(s) are available, I will go with them if they have affordable premiums & good reviews. In my opinion, Healthy Paws & Embrace fit that criteria.
Love the comparison chart as well. It’s easy to read and helped me categorize my needs.
Last year one of my dogs got into the trashcan and ate a diaper when I wasn’t home. She stopped eating a day later and became very ill. I had no idea what was wrong with her. She ended up needing surgery to remove the diaper from her intestines. The cost was several thousand dollars. That was money I had to put on a credit card because I just do not have that kind of extra money sitting around for vet expenses. The first question my vet asked me was “do you have pet insurance?” Of course I did not. He suggested that I consider it in the future. I thought about it but did not act. Six months later my dog tore her ACL running through the pasture. I wish I had seriously considered insurance. I could not afford the surgery this time so she has a limp now. She isn’t in pain, but the injury did not heal correctly on its own. Pet insurance is worth its weight in gold. It is almost guaranteed that within a dog’s life, he or she will have some sort of unexpected vet bill.
Reading this article gives me a clear vision for my pet needs. It covers wildly
different premiums and various ways to customize your plan, allowing you the
freedom to tailor any policy to your needs. I own a dog and have always thought
of getting her covered. The unexpected emergencies and illnesses are hard to
budget for. I am considering healthy paws even though they do not offer
wellness care option. They are highest rated, and they do not have annual
reimbursement limits. I also like that they are covering most of the things I
am looking for in pet insurance plan. Injuries, illnesses, hereditary
conditions and congenital conditions have cost me a lot in the past and are the
ones I worry about most. For us responsible pet owners, insurance is one of the
many ways of caring for our pets, like feeding, grooming, and exercise. I say
this because there are many unforeseen risks associated with owning a cat or
dog. I was skeptical about getting pet insurance at first until this year when
neighbor’s dog ruptured his disc. The emergency bill was quite costly, and
luckily the dog was insured.
Pet insurance is not only a way to show people how much you love your furbaby, but makes you look “oh so smart”. And if your like I am, search this site it is very detailed, explains things about the insurance in a considerable and respectful way. I was sold after reading all of PetPremium has so much for little money, and truth be told my 13 year old black cat Salem is like my child and her sister a 2 year old mini pincher Annabelle, they play all around my house and accidents do happen. PetPremium is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST WITH FRIENDLY AND INFORMATIONAL PEOPLE….I recommend PetPremium to everyone including the local dog park pet parents. Great work PetPremium!!!!
I have been looking for good pet insurance for awhile now, I have came across a lot of options but did not know which ones to get. With your expert advice I think I decided on the right one. I will tell my friend about this information because she had a dog that had to have surgery and the cost was too much. That is why I worry about my dog. You never know when they can have accidents or get sick. The information is very useful. I never knew about the different pet insurance terms. It was nice that I was able to compare all of the plans and the tips for keeping the pet insurance premium low can really help me save money. I think I will consider the Pet plan insurance or Healthy Paws. They are covering the things that I am looking for in a plan. This is the best website with the most information on pet insurance that I have ever read.
This chart on pet insurance is incredible. It covers all the complex details associated with pet health care costs for a variety of plans. It was instrumental in my ability to locate just the plan I can afford with the coverage I feel is adequate to cover my fur babies. Vet bills are so expensive. My friend Jade’s Doberman Pincher swallowed one of her toys she had chewed on. It was terrifying for Jade. Dobie had to be transferred to a University that has a Veterinarian Hospital halfway across the state. In the end to save her poor baby Jade had to get a loan to pay the expenses. That is why I decided to get pet insurance. For my piece of mind I chose a plan with Pet Plan. I was able to get a plan that will assure my fur babies are covered but I will not go into debt.
I work overseas and recently had my spouse move from Philadelphia to Trenton, NJ. I have to admit cash has been on the low, but that has not deterred us from seeking a plan. We did not want to be ‘tied’ to any annual deductibles, so we decided to go with Petplan. Then we also have the option of choosing our own reimbursement. How convenient.
A friend tried to lure me into Nationwide, but I had there were several complaints from their customers, add that to the fact that it is not possible to choose your own reimbursement. I simply ignored the offer and made a more personal and tailored choice. For now, at least, I know my furry four-legged friend is well covered, her name is Amber. I wish I could post pictures. My wife and I are working tirelessly to provide her with the best life and It’s actually my wife who recommended this site. I think it has bore fruit.
I always thought pet insurance to be one of those things I’d never end up using so I never truly took the time to compare the options. Well, it was easy to say that when it was the family dog and my parents had the income to take care of the incidents (like when ol’ Smokey was hit by a car and needed a cast for his hind legs). Fast forward to when I finally got a dog of my own. Months went by and a persistent cough came about. Hundreds of dollars later it turns out to be a fungal infection vs bacterial (which I hear is hard to differentiate). The cost of the vet bills really did a damage but I wasn’t going to give up because I love my dog. It’s great to find information like this which explains it in easy-to-understand details. Now when I see my parents, grandparents, and friends aging dogs I’m able to bring up the options. I highly recommend digging into the comparisons and finding something that fits your budget vs getting blind-sided from a high vet bill from those unfortunate accidents or sneaky hereditary issues.
The fact is that I’ve been researching insurance for this new Yorkie I’ll be getting as a surprise for the family. Back in my home country, we have a golden retriever. Man, Sami was the best since the day we brought him home to the last day I saw him. We didn’t have insurance or even would go as far as to think it even existed. But yea having the opportunity to actually see that they are ways I can prevent anything happen to this new addition to the family it’s awesome. Trying to teach my little brother the art of responsibility. Getting him a small job so he can pay the monthly insurance costs. So he knows that protecting a family member is important no matter the cost. Love the reviews will continue looking more into PetPremium and some of the others. Thanks for the helpful resource.
Victor yes, structure is a must and insurance is a way to help you keep an eye on your insurance spending. Glad this tool has helped you in your decision making.
First-time owners of pets, especially if they are young, are so busy in playing with their adorable dogs and cats and feeding them that they neglect to have medical insurance soon enough. When my dog Sassy, a beautiful Golden Retriever, was bitten by a snake I took him to the vet. While Sassy recovered, I am still a bit mad for not having pet insurance after shelling out hundreds of dollars in medical treatment.
I am yet to make a decision about which plan, premium and company to pick but want to thank Pet Insurance U for providing a useful snapshot of the key factors in choosing pet insurance.
A good thing about most plans is that one can graduate as per the need of the pet. I think I will opt for a middle of the road kind of plan, which covers most short and long-term medical threats. Then, as my dog grows, I will upgrade the pet insurance plan it to protect him and myself from a sudden financial burden.
There are various pet insurance plans. I would shop around and choose the one with the highest deductible. The reason is because this will make your monthly premiums lower and affordable. I would also choose one with multi discounts. Some pet insurance plans offer discounts for pets that are spayed,neutered or microchipped. Also if you are a member of AAA, the military, and If you choose to pay annually you would also receive a discount. You should also choose a plan with a lower reimbursement level. An example would be the Healthy Paws pet insurance plan. It cost 23.61 per month with a deductible of $500. This plan is highly recommended.
I have had numerous dogs. I never purchased pet insurance but I will consider this when I get another dog. It will save me some money and give me a piece of mind.
My husband and I have two of our own dogs and we are also taking care of my parent’s dog until they get a place that allows pets. As I was searching the Internet for pet insurance coverage, since we were talking about getting it on all three dogs, I found your awesome website with the comparison chart.
We have Peanut, who is three years old now who coughs a lot and we want to take him to the vet but need insurance first so we won’t have to pay too much or anything at all, out of pocket. We have Chloe, who only has three legs and she keeps digging at her stump which has made it red and raw and tender to the touch. Touching it hurts her a little. We want to take her to the vet to see if they can do something about stopping her from digging that stump. As for Frankie, my parent’s dog, the only real problem she has is that she sheds A LOT all year round. Not just in the summer where dogs usually shed their winter fur for the summer months. She sheds every day and we have to brush her out a couple of times per day outside on the porch. She does have one more problem where she digs at the edge of her tail a lot. We want to take her to the vet to see what they can do about her shedding and digging on her tail.
I am thankful for finding your website since we are looking for affordable pet insurance now. Thank you for all of the great information you have provided here!
Our
little Ozzie is such an important part of our family. We’ve had a few
scary emergencies with our little guy, but having a good pet insurance has brought a lot of sleepless nights to us. Submitting claims is
exceptionally hard in some pet insurance providers and the customer service we’ve received has been discouraging at times. This article is an eye opener to the different types of pet insurance i should consider when picking a pet insurance for Ozzie.
Hi everyone! I want to share my story about our pet, Superlig (Norwegian Lundehund). We had him last year, and he was perfectly healthy until he was diagnosed with an early stage Lundehund Syndrome. He lost a lot of weight and had zero appetite. When we brought him to our vet, I almost fell off my seat when I heard the amount that we are supposed to pay. I love Superlig so much that I am willing to pay any amount, but the charges are just astronomical. Without my knowledge, my wife bought a plan from Healthy Paws last year. Almost all our bills got covered including medication. What surprised me the most is when she told me that she’s paying less than $24 a month. Wow! That’s less than a dollar a day!
Kudos to Healthy Paws. You saved us from a lot of financial stress, and I’ll return the favor by recommending you to every pet owner I know.
This site is great! I’ve been thinking about getting pet insurance for a while now and this site provides so much information about it! I had no idea that the price of pet insurance started so low, and I had no idea that there were so many different options for pet insurance. My dog doesn’t get sick very often but he ended up getting injured while he was outside the other day and the cost was so expensive! I wouldn’t like to be in a situation like that again, that’s why I’m looking for pet insurance. I would ideally like a plan that is a reasonable price but offers a lot of coverage just in case something happens and I happen to need it. It seems like Healthy Paws is my best option, so I’ll probably be doing some more research on it. I’m glad I found this site, though, because it made my research a lot easier!
Tami we thank you for the comment and glad you are leaning to a decision that works for you. Sorry to hear about the injury of your dog, but we are glad to know that you are seeking to get pet coverage. It’s good to know that you where able to navigate this site so easily. Awesome to hear we could help.
We recommend this website to all of our friends! My husband and I found the information so useful when making our decision to buy pet insurance, that we had to tell all of the pet parents we know. Our friend has four older dogs, and she was under the impression that no insurance plan would cover all of their needs. She went to this website and was so grateful to be proved wrong.
Khai thanks for the recommendations. It’s always good to hear that a website can provide tools that are so useful for pet parents. Oh yeah and we always love to prove our friends wrong. 😉
Best post I’ve found that breaks down insurance for pets. There are many options available. This comparison chart will definitely help me and other pet owners make an informed decision for pet insurance. Some people my laugh at the idea of insurance for pet’s however it is a smart investment. All responsible pet owners should read this post and add pet insurance into their budget. I will share this on Twitter.
AngNaomi, we agree with you on all cylinders that’s why we try to provide visuals that can assist you in making a more informed decision. Oh yeah we definitely appreciate the share on social media 😉
Last month I bought a female-black miniature Schnauer, who was born on 5th
July, 2016. While I was all aware what to do if she ever gets sick, or have any
medical emergency, yet I wanted to have her insured by one such pet insurance company
that has good health insurance planes, but with average cost of treatment.
Initially I asked all my friends who had their pets or kittens insured, but their health plans
were not as good as I was looking for. Just then one of my friends who just had
his Bernese mountain dog insured, suggested me to give it a go to Embrace Pet
Insurance.
Though I had heard a lot about this pet insurance company, I never had a chance to use
its pet health insurance service. But when I googled about it, and read its really
amazing health plans for pets, I couldn’t help embracing Embrace Pet Insurance.
O my god, they’ve awesome plans, with great customer service, great wellness coverage,
especially the ‘One Simple Plan,’ which covers everything from existing cancer
treatments to surgery for swallowed objects. The forte of this plan is that you
can set your own deductibles and reimbursement levels on the basis of the
coverage your pet requires.
Truly, there are several other companies their low-cost wellness coverage plans, but
when it comes to Perfect health insurance company, Embrace is always there to
help you when your baby is sick, or have any medical emergency.
Alex, congratulations on the new edition to your family. It is understandable to have concerns in the beginning. That’s why research and having friends to assist you are key. We are glad that you have found a company suitable for your budget and coverage for your pet. You are so right about Embrace and the “One Simple Plan” it is one of the most popular policies people go for. We are just glad that we could help.
I’ve had my girls since they were 7 weeks old. They are now 4 yrs old. I got health insurance for them as soon as possible. After viewing this site I will be staying with my choice of VPI Pet Insurance. I’ve had it for my girls before it became a part of Nationwide. The only thing I wish they did have a rider for or included is dental care. Since they don’t I’ll just have to set aside money after my tax return for the girls upcoming dental visit.
Exactly, Sharron. The reason we started this site was to provide a resource for pet owners so they don’t have to give up, or worse, euthanize their pets due to financial reasons. Thanks for your comment and we’re glad you feel well taken care of by Nationwide pet insurance for your 2 girls.
I am so glad I found this article! Figuring out insurance for humans is hard enough. I have had such a difficult time finding out how to protect my bank account should something happen to my furbabies! This article laid everything out so nicely, I feel like I can make a truly educated decision.
Great, Erin! That’s our goal :). There’s a lot of information on the web about pet health insurance, and we want to help owners make the best decision for themselves and their pets.
Hi all, Really the above posts matters a lot. Thank you everyone for your valuable information. I am learning more about the pros for pet insurance and the price comparison too.
You’re welcome, John. Sorting through all of the information on pet insurance can be tedious, so we’re glad to help in any way that we can.
Great article. I was getting ready to sign up with Embrace and did not know about losing coverage for older dogs. I just signed up with Petsplan and spoke with a guy named Richard that was very helpful. I also just dropped my very expensive VPI insurance. VPI does a great job marketing to large companies which is how I signed up. Shame on me for not doing more research on looking at VPI on the front end.
That’s great feedback, Sarah. Thanks for sharing. VPI pet insurance hasn’t received very good reviews in the past, so we’re glad you and your pet are in better hands now.
We have four mixed breed dogs and cancelled our Pet insurance with PetInsur last year. Only because we wanted to look around and actually evaluate our monthly insurance costs against our actual yearly vet bills. So far it sort of balanced out with what we had paid over the year against what we had claimed. Our’s was a Co-Pay and I think it was 75% reimbursement against what we paid which was 25%. It was really tricky when we actually had emergency vet visits and didn’t have much money on the spot, as we found out that we had to pay the vet in full then submit our claim, await for approval (which could take up to 30 days) then if approved we would get this reimbursed. It wasn’t until I read this article that I realized all the fine details that we didn’t pay attention to when we signed up on our policy. Ours included the wellness cover which we really didn’t need because all our dogs had been spayed and our yearly vaccinations are less than $30.00 for each. With our boys now all turning 3 (yes they are all the same age) we will definitely consider another plan. Where should I start with trying to find insurance for multiple dogs?
Hi AK, some pet insurance companies offer discounts for multiple dogs. When you get a quote for one dog, you can add your other two at the same time. The quote will show you your discount for all 3. Healthy Paws and Embrace reviews have been consistently good; we recommend starting with them to see your options. Some plans allow for pre-approval which means the pet insurance company will pay the vet directly, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket and await reimbursement.
my insurer actually isnt on here which is a worry haha i was actually considering changing to something without an upper age limit for the unrestricted plans because my poor cat Magic is getting older and older.. the chart was very helpful thank you.
FourReal, sorry about that but we are glad that we can offer something. We are glad that the chart has helped you. If there is anything we can help you with further in your pet insurance needs, please let us know. We are here to help 😉
With so many plans out there now, it is nice to have a “one stop shop” of sorts to concisely and effectively compare all the many insurance options. This was especially useful for me, as I have both a geriatric and younger cat, who need/qualify for slightly different insurance services. Individually tracking down each company, and price/plan checking one by one is far too time consuming; the infographic at the top made this much less of a bother. It was nice to see there are actually some quite affordable plans for someone like me who is on a tight budget and once thought pet insurance was a luxury I simply couldn’t afford. I will be recommending this site to all of my pet owner friends!
Thank you much <3
E
E., we thank you for the feedback. We are all about providing information that helps you in making informed decisions on pet insurance. We provide information on many companies that will cater to your budget making it easier on the bank. Yes this can be time consuming but we take care of this by offering charts and info-graphics that are easy for you to read and navigate. We thank you for the feedback and recommendation. You are definitely welcome.
Healthy Paws definitely looks like the best option for me. I just adopted a chihuahua, Lubo, and I’m not exactly sure how old he is. When I got him, the owners said they thought he was around 10, but based off of how energetic he is, I’m thinking he’s a lot younger. The thing is, he really likes to jump off of my bed and the couch, and I don’t think his little legs can take it! When he first got here, he jumped of the couch, and he was limping for the rest of the day. I felt so bad, and I don’t want him to hurt himself anymore. I will feel better knowing I have pet insurance, especially one that offers so much for so little! Thank you for this article and chart, it was extremely helpful!
Sunny, great to hear that Healthy Paws is great. Congrats on the adoption on the chihuahua but we are sorry to hear about the injury. Our puppies can be a handful at times especially Chihuahua’s. That’s why it is important to have your pet covered because of scenarios such as what you described. We are glad to know that our articles and charts have helped you in your decision making.
New pet owner here. My friend gave me a Chihuahua as a new “you’re living on your own — you’re now away from your parents gift”. I am continuously browsing for the best Pet insurance plans available on the market today. This is awesome that you gave in the time to compare the plans to make it clearer for us. Really interesting how companies can charge so much yet give poor services. I’m going to dig more on the top 3 suggestions right there. The prices are reasonable as long as they provide what they say. Thanks for this! Really appreciate it.
Cheska we hear you loud and clear, but here at Pet Insurance U, what you see is what you get. It’s great to hear that you have also narrowed down to the top 3 companies. We really hope that you come to a decision here that works for you and fits your budget. Again, we are glad we could help.
Hello, thank you for your guide, it’s very clear.
I followed it and now I have everything ready, I got this site from my pals since I clearly can’t do this by myself, I depend on guides. So if a guide tells me that this is the thing, I have to try that. As mentioned, I have tried every guide but this will be the best because it is very explanatory. Such a great work you’ve have done in putting this together. Cheers
Stalwart thanks for the feedback we are glad that your friends passed this information on to you and that our simple informative guides have helped. Thanks for the positive feedback.
I can only say thanks for preparing this overview! We are thinking about getting a small dog for my little daughter. At the pet shop they recommended us an insurance, but I still wanted to make some comparison.
Your website has saved literally some hours of internet research. With the options you listed here will save at least 30% from what the shop offered us. Great information. Thanks again.
Martin, we appreciate the feedback and glad to know that we where able to provide you with insight in helping you to make a decision for your pet’s insurance. We are glad that we have saved you time and hopefully money. Thanks again for the comment.
Wow I didn’t know there was so much in choosing a pet insurance plan. Are there any sites where I can choose the level of coverage that’s most important for my pet? There should definitely be one. Like a trivago for pet insurance. Your comparison chart at the top is an awesome start for new owners like me.
I also love how detailed this article is. Many people just go for the cheapest option without understanding what they are getting into. What are the top pet insurance companies and why are they better than any others? What are some of the worst and why we should avoid them? Knowing some of that key pet insurance lingo helps to understand what our pets needs are and why. My friend just got a cat and is taking forever getting the poor thing pet insurance. She knows it’s important to shop around and to look for discounts but has no idea what any of the lingo means or what the cat needs. This makes it hard to do comparisons. We also saw all those myths stated on other sites and comments on other blogs as being true. So many people with contradicting information! Your article definitely bust all my myths. For example I definitely thought the higher the reimbursement the better. I like that your article explains everything out. I’m definitely going to send her this article. Thanks!
P.S. How do you pick your insurance based on age trajectory? For example, you know your kitten is going to get older and her needs are going to change. How do you choose a plan knowing this when you aren’t sure of what she will need later on? I think this is the toughest part for me.
My-My James great comment and question at the end. The best thing I can suggest for age trajectory is tailoring your insurance needs based on the age of your dog and research about a particular breed. Here at Pet Insurance U we are all about detailed directness and providing information in helping you make the best decision for your needs.
I never knew that the market was growing so fast when it comes to pet insurance. I have a welsh corgi and a bunny, maybe I will check out one of these options next time I travel with them. Sounds a lot like health insurance when you go on vacation, most of the time you don’t need it, but if you do it saves you a lot of money.
Alexandru it’s great to know that even as you travel you would want your pet covered, you never know when an emergency can take place that’s why coverage is necessary for your furry friends, with so much information you are so able to be educated. Thanks for the comment!!!
It´s very tricky to find the right health insurance for my dog. Your comparisons and explanations helped me a lot to be able to make the right choice!
Hi Marion glad our comparison charts have helped you to make the right choice. Appreciate the feedback.
I am SO glad that I stumbled upon this page! I can’t even imagine doing all this research on my own. And those are some awesome tips on how to keep premiums low! Thank you so much for providing such detailed information for us overwhelmed pet owners. 🙂
Stacy we do our best to provide detailed information making this and easy experience for your individual needs. As always glad we could help.
I got my new kitten Fifi about two weeks ago and have been wading through site after site of confusing information about pet insurance. Thank God I came across your site. Not only are the insurance companies given ratings according to what they offer, but there is loads of information on how to decipher the fine print which I think is often written in a confusing way on purpose.
So far Healthy Paws is looking to be the best choice for Fifi, but I will follow up with an inquiry on the coverage for shots, spaying and regular checkups.
Conney, glad we could be of service, here at Pet Insurance U we want to make your experience as non-confusing as possible. We want to make the experience as easy as possible with your continued research. Again glad we could be of service.
It’s a miracle that i found your site. Your article saves me from making a wrong decision; I was considering a savings account for my husky emergency vet care. Now I know the benefit that comes with pet insurance. I must confess this is the first good review website I have seen on pet insurance. Now my puppy life is more secure with your information. Thanks dear.
It is a very informative article for a pet lover like me. The article made it easier to compare between the different pet insurance policies. Each company has its own benefits and features, but i personally like the personal paws policy more as it has a high overall score and low monthly cost as compared to other pet insurance policies, but still i want to ask that, Can I trust pet insurance reviews from consumer reports?
Quite a beneficial and informative article. Thanks a lot for breaking down / making a brief overview of the various pet insurance plans . This helped me to make the right choice in selecting a plan for my puppy and minimize expenses.
Quite a beneficial and informative article. Thanks a lot for breaking down / making a brief overview on the various pet insurance plans. This helped me to make the right choice in selecting a plan for my puppy and minimizing my expenses.
Quite a beneficial and informative article. Thanks a lot for the break down / brief overview of the various pet insurance plans. This helped me to make the right choice in selecting a plan for my puppy and spending less in treatment.
Loved the article! It’s Precise, accurate and well researched. It’s amazing how clear cost and effectiveness has been elaborated. With the vastly populated pet insurance industry, your site simplified my decision making process. Jesse (my dog) and I are eternally thankful.
Quite a beneficial and informative article. Really helped a lot. I was able to select a suitable plan for my puppy.
I’m switching from Trupanion because the per condition coverage doesn’t really work for us. My dog is a 7 year old pitbull rescue. She had skin problems when I got her so they have always been excluded. In checking out different companies which are highly recommended I’ve noticed that rates double or triple when her breed is noted. Several have offered coverage that is close to or over $100 month.
Are there any that provide services not based on breed?
Unfortunately, we purchased insurance too late after I was told my 1 year may need surgery for torn ACL. I ended up with Trupanion as it was most common at my Vet’s office. However, now that I see the comparison chart, tt seems I should have gone with Healthypaws. I would like to keep my premiums low and it seems Trupanion covers at 90%. — I did called them to get clarity on the waiting period and pre-existing conditions. Basically, none of the testing being done now is going to be covered as we are in the waiting period. The surgery or rehab that is being proposed for the near future is also not going to be covered. Unfortunately, there is no plan that would help cover for some of it. Just thought I share in case you are reading and still in the fence with getting pet insurance. Do it! It will save you thousands of dollars. Question – Could I change pet insurance after the 30 day period.. to avoid a gap in coverage?
Hi Kimberly, we recommend checking directly with the pet insurance before you switch. Waiting periods can be a tricky issue to get around and we wouldn’t want your dog to be without coverage in case another issue pops up that won’t be covered. As you can see, our pet insurance comparisons include Trupanion and Healthy Paws. Honestly, they’re both great plans. One of the main things to be aware of is Trupanion’s per condition deductible. If your dog has multiple health issues in a year, paying the deductible over and over can really add up. Check out the pet insurance comparison chart for more info and please let us know if you have any questions at all! We’re sorry to hear about your puppy’s ACL tear, we had the same experience with our Bulldog puppy. Wishing best health to your pup!
Can someone please give a real life example to illustrate how, “One plan applies your reimbursements before the deductible which makes your out-of-pocket expenses higher than the other plan that applies your reimbursements after the deductible.”?
Hi, I am a new and first time pet owner to a female 9 week old Siberian Husky. She is in good health and I have been trying to do all the best for her and learn as much as possible being I don’t want to miss anything and keep her as well protected as possible. Insurance for people has always been hard and confusing for me, and being I am 26 years old and have been always taken care of on that end, it’s caused me to be spoiled in that sense and not really know much or what to look for. I have been trying to research what would be best for a Siberian Husky, and what is the best option for me. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations based on that she is a new puppy, and I am looking for the best coverage and can offer her the most benefits and can include coverage in some way for vaccines, healthy visits, and aspects for a new little puppy. Price wise, I of course want the best deal, but I am willing to spend whatever it will be if it provides the best coverage, most benefits, and really helps with all various aspects for a new puppy and all there is to come. I apologize if I sound stupid, but I was looking at Healthy Paws, primarily because on many sites I see how highly rated they are time after time, but I do see that they don’t have that wellness option, but I am also trying to learn in it’s entirety what that totally means. This article is a phenomenal source and I am forever grateful for the breakdown, and comments from others to help me grasp everything and pointers to think about and see. I did see on two other site articles aside from this website, that Healthy Paws however, may not be a good idea for a Siberian Husky and recommended Embrace, or Trupanion. I didn’t understand completely why, but the best I understood is because the site stated that with some issues that pure bred Siberian Huskies can face, that it can take an extended period of time for approval, and the result often is denial in certain issues and certain coverage of treatments being denied. If anyone has any recommendations for me, or anything for me to look at as a new pet owner, I am totally open and willing for pointers and what I need to look for or even criticisms on what I need to do better. I just am really trying to be the best pet mom I can be and give the best life and care I possibly can for my little girl and I am ever grateful for advice. This article and comment area however, have been such a great source and I am so so happy this was something I have come upon. All the best in 2018 to you all and your four legged best friend, and thank you in advance to anything you can teach and information you can provide me with!
Hi Erini! We’re so glad you’re doing everything to take the best care of your new husky baby. We put together this pet insurance comparison chart for pet parents like yourself. Although Healthy Paws is the #1 customer-rated pet insurance, you’re correct that it doesn’t cover wellness visits or preventative care. Other pet insurance companies, like Embrace and Trupanion, offer wellness coverage, but you’ll see that the monthly price is considerably higher. Additionally, many plans with wellness options have a cap on how much they’ll reimburse you for vaccines and other regular vet care. Many pet parents find that wellness coverage it isn’t cost effective after all. If you’re still interested in wellness plans, compare Embrace vs. Trupanion. Get quotes for each and explore how much they’ll actually pay for wellness. Otherwise, your best option is definitely Healthy Paws. Regardless which plan you decide to go with, it’s best to get your pup insured as soon as possible so there’s no risk of her developing a pre-existing condition that would be denied by any pet insurance company.
Peace & Paws, Pet Insurance U
Hi there! We have 3 cats with very minimal needs, no pre-existing conditions except 1 with a slight heart murmur (ok, maybe a little overweight), indoor, neutered. 2 Domestic, one Norweigien Forest Cat.
What level of coverage would you recommend? I’m very interested in making sure to take good care of their teeth which is $250 with no coverage. If the deductible is more than 250 and we pay out of pocket for wellness exams, does it pay to have right now? They are ages 3 and 4.
I was very unhappy with a claim payment by Nationwide for an emergency room visit, and I want to change insurance, but my dog has had seizures, so it would become pre-existing in any new plan. However, I understand that many plans will not cover epilepsy in any case. My dog has not yet needed any medication.
Any experience with this?
Thank you for any information available.
Mary
Thank you for this comparison. I have always had Nationwide–covered 6 different dogs with it over about 20yrs and have never had any issues with them. They actually refunded my payments (I pay monthly) when my pets have passed away. Wonder why they have such low reviews on your site. I like Healthy Paws, but they don’t cover wellness and I now have a puppy.
Almost made a huge mistake by assuming that coverage would automatically cover my working dogs for a line-of-duty injury. Since my dogs are disaster search and rescue dogs, injury coverage is crucial. I asked the question about LOD injuries and illnesses almost as an afterthought when speaking with the Healthy Paws rep, and she informed me that injuries sustained during work were NOT covered through them. Healthy Paws also required a vet exam within the two week waiting period, even though the dogs all had their annual exams in February. To have new exams to enroll would have cost me over $500. After comparison shopping, Pets Best did not require a new exam to enroll, and had a very short waiting period for coverage. They also had no limitations whatsoever for working dogs or injuries sustained during line of duty events. So glad I thought to ask about the coverage limitations!