Compare Pet Insurance

Last Updated: October 2nd, 2019

Most insurance policies are confusing. Unfortunately, pet insurance policies are no exception.

For example, 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 surprising denial if you understand the aspects of a policy before you buy it. We have outlined these in our pet insurance comparison chart for easy reference.

Our pet insurance comparison chart makes it easy to compare pet insurance plans from several pet insurance companies.

We’ve simplified each policy’s fine print and included vet-verified tips and warnings to help you choose.

We’ve also defined important terms you should know so you can compare pet insurance with confidence.

Table of Contents:

Why Does Pet Insurance Cost Vary So Much?
Read More Pet Insurance Company Comparisons

Pet Comparison Chart

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#1 Healthy Paws

#2 Embrace
#1 Healthy Paws
#7 Nationwide
#3 Pets Best
#4 Pet Plan
#6 Pet Premium

#2 Embrace

#2 Embrace
#1 Healthy Paws
#7 Nationwide
#3 Pets Best
#4 Pet Plan
#6 Pet Premium


	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Save 10%Read review
Monthly Cost Basic Coverage	$48.22 Several limits	$51.58 Several limits	$57.07 Several limits	$38.00 Several limits	$46.71 Several limits	$71.64 Several limits	$37.28 No limits
Overall Score	1.4	3.1	3.5	3.8	3.6	4.3	4.9
Monthly Cost Best Coverage	$65.66 Several limits	$61.52 Several limits	$67.84 Several limits	$70.37 No limits	$53.37 No limits	$79.11 Several limits	$37.28 No limits
Tips & Highlights	Poor customer reviews	Low payouts	Flexible coverage	Reimburses veterinary exam fees	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	Watch out for deductibles	Low annual limit on base plans	Great coverage but expensive	Overall best coverage
AT A GLANCE
Choose your own vet
Injuries
Illnesses
Hereditary conditions
Congenital conditions
Prescription medications
Alternative therapies
Wellness option
Flexible deductible
Annual deductible
Choose reimbursement
Reimbursed per vet bill
No annual limits
No lifetime limits
No limits per condition
Covered for life
No upper age limit
Discounts available
	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read review	Get Quote Read 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, 2019

Healthy Paws is our #1 Choice.
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Pet Insurance Comparison Chart: Important Definitions

Annual Limits

A 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 sometime 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

A 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, complementary 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.