Pets Best Insurance Review
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Written by
Leslie Kasperowicz
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Reviewed by
Melanie Musson
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UPDATED: Apr 29, 2021
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Table of Contents
What’s New In 2021 For Pets Best Pet Insurance?
How Has Covid-19 Affected Pets Best Pet Insurance?
Pets Best Pet Insurance has not seen significant disruptions as a result of Covid-19. As they explain on their site, they’ve been able to let almost all of their employees work remotely for the duration of the pandemic.
However, while they’ve avoided direct impacts, there are some significant indirect impacts that are worth mentioning. The first is the general disruption of the insurance market thanks to so many people being out of work. Put simply, there are fewer customers who can afford insurance, so their revenue is almost certainly down.
The second indirect impact is the increasing focus on digital tools and direct deposit reimbursement. Companies always support this, but fewer people in the office means physical mail processes much slower.
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New Products Or Changes
Pets Best Pet Insurance has made some minor changes to their policies, mostly focusing on additional payment options and extended grace periods due to financial hardship. They’ve also announced a willingness to consider customized payment arrangements (see previous link), though you’ll have to contact them directly for that.
Pets Best Pet Insurance In The News
Pets Best Pet Insurance has not made any particular news lately. While they’re not especially notable as a company, they have shown up in Business Insider as one of several insurance options they compared. According to that review, Pets Best Pet Insurance is roughly average in its pricing.
2021 Latest Pets Best Pet Insurance Reviews
Investopedia gives Pets Best Pet Insurance a 3.9/5, with their review last updated in January 2021. They like the low premiums, direct veterinarian reimbursement, and flexibility in coverage options, but dislike the lack of end-of-life expenses and the complicated repayment structure.
Canine Journal offers a review last updated in March 2021, and they give it a 4.25/5. This reviewer is particularly fond of the policy coverage and plan customization options, including the great pricing and the lack of lifetime limits on each plan.
They’re less impressed by claim payments, though, citing longer average repayment times than many other insurers allow.
Trustpilot gives them an average of 4.0, based on 1,749 reviews from people as of mid-April 2021. Of these, 73% of the reviews are excellent, while 11% are bad. Reviewers on Trustpilot frequently cite the ease of processing claims as a reason to like it, while complaints usually cite the slow payouts as a big drawback.
That’s consistent with Canine Journal’s opinion, and it’s always nice to see reviews corroborating each other.
Finally, Consumers Advocate gives this company a 3.9/5 (Very Good) score. They like the coverage and extras the most, but aren’t quite as fond of the pricing model.
Americans are highly likely to be pet owners. Both emergency care and vet visits costs can quickly add up, especially if your pet has a chronic condition.
We’ve assed negative experiences, read the fine print, and ranked Pets Best as the 3rd best overall pet insurance provider.
With the home base located in Boise, Idaho, Pets Best reviews from real customers consistently mention fast payment times (less than 5 days!) and flexible coverage.
Founded by Dr. Jack Stephens in 2005, Pets Best was the first pet insurance company in North America. Let’s dive deep into the Pets Best pet insurance review.
Table of Contents:
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FACT: Pet insurance pays up to 90% of vet bills when your pet is sick or injured!
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Pets Best Coverage Options
Pets Best offers Accident-Only and Accident & Illness insurance coverage. They also have a Routine Care plan that offers routine care coverage with two wellness plan options. This covers the wellness exam and other costs like a microchip, teeth cleaning, vaccines, spay/neuter, and flea and tick medicine.
There are 3 Accident & Illness plans:
- Essential
- Plus
- Elite
And there are important differences between the plans.
Pets Best Essential Plan
Pets Best Essential plan is a very basic plan with a low $5,000 annual coverage limit.
We do not recommend this plan as it can be quite a hassle.
Just a single vet emergency can cost $20,000…and this plan would only cover a fraction of it! Once that $5,000 is paid, no other medical expenses would be covered for the rest of the year.
Pets Best Plus plan offers $10,000 in annual coverage. It includes vet exam fees for accidents and illnesses.
This is a great benefit since most pet insurance companies don’t reimburse exam fees.
The Plus plan also covers rehab, chiropractor, and acupuncture.
We like that these Pets Best includes these alternative treatments in the cost of pet insurance. Some insurers only cover such treatments as part of a wellness plan that costs extra. Healthy Paws is another provider that we reviewed that offers alternative treatments.
Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance
Pets Best Elite Plan
The Elite plan is our Pets Best top choice. It covers exam fees and alternative treatments, with UNLIMITED annual coverage.
We believe unlimited coverage is necessary since the cost of veterinary care is so high.
If you’re going to invest in pet insurance, you want to make sure it covers any accident or illness your pet might have throughout the year.
Wellness Plans
Pets Best also offers two tiers of wellness plans that can be added to these policies at an additional cost.
The coverage includes blood work, dental cleanings, spaying/neutering, and all the other routine treatments in their daily life. The Elite plan even offers additional supplemental coverage that includes rehab therapies, chiropractic, and acupuncture.
Accident-Only Coverage
Pets Best offers Accident Only coverage for those on a limited budget that want great coverage for things like broken legs, snake bites, accidental swallowing, and more.
Accident only plans do not cover medical issues such as illness or cancer treatments, which are covered under our BestBenefit Accident and Illness Plans.
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions Coverage
Pets Best, like all the top providers, covers hereditary and congenital conditions including hip and elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, epilepsy, IVDD, luxating patella, and cherry eye.
Other Coverage and Treatments
Pets Best also includes the following for your dogs and cats:
- Diagnostic Testing
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Prescription Medications
- Emergency and Specialty Care
- Alternative Care
- Behavioral Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Prosthetic and Mobility Aids
Similar to the top pet insurance companies, Pets Best also covers treatments for cancer, diabetes, and chronic or hereditary illness.
Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients
Luna
PetFirst saved his parents
$6,712
A happy energetic Luna one morning couldn’t hold her food down. After months of multiple costly vet visits to specialists and an endoscopy, the problem was discovered and fixed. Luna put 22 pounds back on in no time and her parents were grateful for having PetFirst by their side to pay the bills.
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Benefit Limits
Pets Best’s offers unlimited benefits on its top tier Elite plan. The other two plans have an annual benefit limit of just $5,000 which can occur easily with one hospital visit. Other pet insurance providers such as Healthy Paws offer unlimited benefits in all their plans as do other pet-insurance companies.
The higher benefit level, as always, means the higher premium.
Reimbursement Method
Pets Best gives you the option of setting your reimbursement at 70%, 80%, and 90%. This is a consistent feature of the best pet insurance providers.
PetsBest also pays out on the actual vet bills as do the other top providers.
Pets Best plans do not use a benefit schedule, which is a list that puts a limit on what each type of treatment can cost.
Instead, they reimburse you on your actual vet bill after the deductible you choose, up to your plan’s maximum benefit, and the reimbursement percentage that you choose.
As with deductibles, the higher the monthly premium, the more you will get reimbursed for that claim.
Deductible Types
Pets Best operates on an annual deductible (our preferred because it only hits once a year) and offers flexibility among its deductible options and range from $50, $100, $250, $500 up to $1000.
Not many other pet insurance providers offer the option of such a low deductible.
By choosing a higher deductible will lower your monthly plan price, but it means your out-of-pocket costs will be higher when your pet needs vet care.
Choosing a lower deductible will increase your monthly price, but will lower your out-of-pocket costs.
Pets Best offers a wide variety of deductible options so your plan is personalized to fit your budget and your dog or cat’s specific needs.
The wellness plans are a nice add-on because you don’t have to meet a deductible and get reimbursed from your first visit.
Wellness plans offer routine check-ups, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and even dental cleaning.
However, you can always pay these routine costs on your own as they are not that expensive.
Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients
Gidget
PetFirst saved his parents
$2,194
Artemis was a beautiful and friendly cat to all who were willing to pet him. Unfortunately, he developed feline diabetes which required regular vet visits and medications that his Mother could not otherwise afford on her fixed income. Having PetFirst insurance, she called and discussed the problem with a friendly PetFirst agent. To her surprise, she found out that Artemis’ ongoing required vet visits and medication would be covered by his PetFirst insurance. Artemis was able to live out the rest of his life with proper medical care and medicines thanks to PetFirst insurance.
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How Much Does Pets Best Pet Insurance Cost?
Pets Best’s lower-tiered plans are competitive, while their comprehensive Elite plan can be a bit pricey.
Although the high end, an all-inclusive elite plan can run $60-$70 a month.
And the less expensive of the wellness add-ons is an extra $16. So you can really budget according to your pets’ needs.
Plans for dogs currently start around $30 and cat plans start around $17.
You can purchase an accident only plan for less than $10 a month which is a nice addition if you have a small budget and just want an emergency fund for your pet.
The pricing for the accident only plans is $6 per month for cats, and $9 per month for dogs, for all ages and breeds.
This can be helpful if you have a senior dog or cat and just want some coverage in case of something unforeseen occurring.
When you enroll more than one pet, you can earn up to a 5% discount for each additional pet. And there is a 5% discount for the military.
Cost Of Pets Best Insurance vs Health Paws and Competitors
While Pets Best has some competitive pricing, Health Paws prices can’t be beaten if you have a mixed breed dog 2 years old and under.
See how Pets Best vs Healthy Paws and others faired:
Pets Best vs Pet Plan Pet Insurance
How To File A Claim with Pets Best
Pets Best provides an unusually fast claims processing, especially through their mobile app, often paying claims within 3 to 5 days.
Customers can accelerate their claims by submitting them electronically through their online portal which allows you to see the status of your claim.
You do not have to have a vet exam or medical records to file a claim.
You can also set up a direct deposit to get paid directly back into your banking account, or request that they pay your vet directly which is a great option to have!
Pets Best will not raise your premium due to the number or types of claims made within a given year which is nice and also a feature of Pets First and a nice bonus.
Pets Best also features a 24/7 veterinary support line for all customers.
You can get the answers to all your pets health questions at any time of day with their 24/7 Pet Helpline powered by whiskerDocs®.
The veterinary experts at whiskerDocs are available to help educate and provide advice and decision support to pet parents by phone, live chat, and email, from urgent care to behavioral questions.
Petplan is one of the other top providers that offer a 24/7 Pet Helpline.
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Enrollment and Waiting Periods of Pets Best
Pets Best is one of only a few companies to allow enrollment at any age. What’s more, there are no age limits for policy extensions as well.
The waiting period is 14 days illnesses after the effective date and 3 days for accidents and routine care can be used the day after you enroll, and 6 months for cruciate ligament events and any related conditions.
The starting age of enrollment for puppies and kittens is 7 weeks old. And there are no enrollment fees so your coverage starts almost immediately.
The waiting periods are waived for continuous, uninterrupted policy renewals.
As is standard to most pet insurance providers, Pets Best gives you a 30 day free-look period. The free-look period means that if you change your mind after enrolling, you can get a full refund.
This helps if you are not sure if your dog or cat’s illness is a pre-existing condition and have time to confirm.
Pets Best customers rated their customer service 10/10.
Overall, our reviewers found Pets Best plans to be a smart investment for pet parents. Based on excellent customer service reviews and solid coverage, our reviewers gave Pets Best an overall grade of A-.
Pets Best Customer Reviews
Average customer review: 4/5
“Pets Best saved my Labrador”
My boy was crying in pain and collapsed on the floor. He was rushed into emergency surgery on his neck and the ordeal was so expensive. Pets Best refunded me right away. I could not have afforded to take care of my dog without Pets Best. Thank you.
[star rating=”5″]
Pet Parent of a Chocolate Lab
Raleigh, NC
“Pets Best is the Best Insurance”
As a senior citizen, my income is low and fixed. If something were to happen to my Corgi, I would not be able to afford it. Having this pet insurance policy gives me peace a piece of mind knowing that she’s safe and protected against unforeseen medical emergencies.
[star rating=”5″]
Pet Parent of a Welsh Corgi
Jacksonville, FL
FAQ
How long has Pets Best been in business?
Pets Best has over 30 years of experience in providing pet insurance.
If my pet is sick or injured now can Pets Best help?
Unfortunately, no pet insurance plan, including Pets Best, covers pre-existing conditions.
They only cover future accidents and illnesses.
What is my deductible with Pets Best?
You can choose an annual deductible from $0 to $1000.
The lower your deductible is, the higher your monthly payment will be.
How much does Pets Best reimburse?
Reimbursement amounts are 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% of the total vet bill.
Are there any limitations with Pets Best?
Plans are subject to annual reimbursement limits of $10,000 per year on the Elite Plan and $5,000 per year on both the Essential & Plus plans.
Similar to most insurance providers, Pets Best will not enable coverage on the following: pre-existing conditions, routine veterinary visits, pre-existing cruciate ligament problems to one leg as respects the cost of future treatment for problems of the other leg, preventative care, spaying and neutering, preventive health care including vaccinations or titer test, flea control, heartworm medication, deworming, nail trim, and grooming.
They don’t offer any holistic plans or alternative therapies such as hydrotherapy and chiropractic (even as an additional add-on) like other pet insurance providers such as Healthy Paws.
Does Pets Best cover dental cleanings?
The BestBenefit plans include coverage for periodontal disease and other dental issues if proper preventative care has been provided before the policy begins.
However, they will cover under all plans any dental work that was caused by an accident or illness as do most pet insurance companies.
Will the monthly premiums increase as your dogs and cats increase in age?
As they age, pets do face an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, and other problems of aging.
Prices increase as your pet ages to cover the increased veterinary costs associated with growing older which is typical of all the pet insurance companies.
How does the renewal process work?
Your policy will renew automatically each year on your policy effective date.
If you don’t want to renew, you need to let them know via email, phone, or fax and they can have your policy ended that same day.
Does Pets Best have an upper age limit for dog and cats?
Pets Best has no upper age limits, so you can insure your dog or cat at any age over 7 weeks.
As your pet ages, more medical problems may develop and the need for pet health insurance will likely increase. Chronic disorders and medical problems that wouldn’t be dangerous when young can easily be life-threatening as your pet grows older.
It is always recommended to insure your pets when they are young.
How does Pets Best compare to the other pet insurance companies?
If you want to see a quick look at all the different pet insurance companies and what they offer, take a look at our comparison chart to see them compared in one table.
How can you get in touch with Pets Best by phone?
Customer service is available between 7 AM and 7 PM Monday – Friday, or 10 am – 2 pm Saturdays, Mountain Time.
They also have a live chat button on the top of each page to chat live with customer care or sales agents. Their phone number is 1-877-738-7237.
Now that you know a lot more Pets Best, make sure to give them a call and see if they are the right insurance company for you. You can also go to their site to get more information.
What do other review focused companies say?
Looking for even more perspectives? Smart move!
Don’t just take our word for it, check out the well-regarded company, Consumers Advocate, for an alternative review of Pets Best pet insurance.
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You may find helpful one of our other Best Pet Insurance Reviews which include over 35 top insurers compared with cheap and affordable pet insurance and discounted mixed breed pet insurance.
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Need Pet Insurance?
FACT: Pet insurance pays up to 90% of vet bills when your pet is sick or injured!
We use Pets Best and have been very happy with them. Our previous pet insurance company was difficult to contact and they didn’t cover as much as we initially thought they did. If only we had found your site sooner!
Vaccines seem to be the most expensive part of owning a pet and not having pet insurance makes it even more expensive. Pets Best sounds like a good company and they cover vaccines and exams making the co-pays affordable. Do they also offer cancer coverage? I hear that is a feature that some pet insurance companies are offering now.
We have to be honest. Pets, especially dogs and cats are a very expensive hobby. They need vaccine. They can get sick and suffer. If you want to have a pet you have to be responsible. With this insurance i can save more than half of my expenses which is very helpful. And i don´t have to worry about the money if something happens.
Marion, what you said is so true. Having a pet requires responsibility that’s why insurance coverage is so important, but on the bright side of things Pets Best is one of the most budget friendly companies. We are always happy to help in your research efforts.
These monthly prices sound pretty reasonable. With prices and packages like these, there is really no excuse not to purchase insurance, even for people on a very limited budget. This is going to save so much money in the long run!!
Stacy, Pet Best offers a zero deductible and zero co-pay and 100% coverage that saves pet parents hundreds of dollars yearly for both dogs and cats. We are glad this information has helped you. Glad this seems reasonable for you.
I am only 3 weeks into my Petsbest coverage for my 2 pets and so far, at every single turn, there seems to be either problems of incompetence with in the claims department or deliberate tactics to misinterpret vet notes…. i.e., on my clinic’s legal medical records ( on clinic letterhead), my vet wrote of specific procedures. The vet basically wrote what procedures were performed for which body parts ( dated, and again, on clinic letter head), the claims department requested more medical records because the procedure ” performed” could have been at other vets. Really? Even if it was on my vet clinic’s letterhead?
They keep asking for medical records when they already have ALL OF them FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. I have asked them to e-mail me all the medical records they have on file so I can e-,mail what they sent me back to them when they ask for records again.
I understand that people with negative reviews tend to write reviews more often than people with positive reviews. I also understand that not every single employee is perfectly trained and competant but.. let me provide this piece of information which I think illustrates how sophomoric their system is.
As a rule, there is only one policy # for a policy holder ( i.e. pet guardian). I have 2 pets. They both have the same policy #. All e-mails I have received only show that one policy # without the pet’s name. When I am asked to call the company for more medical records, I am asked by the representatives which pet I am calling about, my response is ” I don’t know, you’ll have to tell me as your e-mail does not specify.”
It’s 2017. There is no excuse for this kind of systemic confusion… unless they want to purposely confuse the policy holder and run him ragged.
Let’s put it this way: Should your whole family have the same social security #? the same drivers license # even if there is more than one driver? etc…
Im addition, no e-mails are ever signed so one never knows if the person writing back is the same person one spoke with on the phone/communicated via e-mail or someone else who just saw that an e-mail need to be answered and did as such, perhaps not knowing about the entire situation.
This is a fraudulent company. They have tripled my premium in a span of 2 years because my pet had all surgeries. They will lie to you and say the increase has nothing to do with the claims but its false. There should be a class action lawsuit.
I can’t help to not think any if not all the good reviews are fake just like the company if you read and understand there terms and conditions there is a way to deny you’re claim I’m glad I had to take my cat to the vet after three months of coverage that’s when I found out how they work thank god I didn’t go a year or 2 or longer of giving them payments they make it sound good but you will find out as soon as you go to use it there is no way any part of it saves you money trust what I’m saying the way it’s done math wise there is no payback and anything you go to the vet for automatically becomes a pre existing condition that they don’t cover all they do is take in money there is no reimbursement possible please look in to all there small print that is false and I hope they get found out spread the word help me stop pets best
I definitely recommend Pets Best for anyone. I have a male labrador who had to go through surgery and Pets Best team was always helpful and very easy to contact.
I was reimbursed after 10 days I sent all the paper work and was happy with their service.
Thank you Pets Best!
My dog Maui appreciates all your help =)
I had signed up for a quarterly insurance with pets best on 7/7/2017 for a quarterly insurance. While signing up for the insurance i had provided my card information. Yesterday my card got automatically charged for the insurance for next quarter, but there was no email or any information given to me regarding the automatic payment during the end of the time. This is a shock to me and when i went to the website the site didn’t show that my card will be automatically charged in the payment section or any where else where a normal user access the site. There was also no option to opt out of automatic payment in the site. When i call and asked for cancellation and refund, the person mentioned that the refund will be prorated. But i was automatically charged and didn’t use the service! I mentioned it to her but all i got was “you can contact your bank or lawyer regarding this”. This is so rude!! I am writing this hoping the person managing the company values customer experience and relationship by providing just and clear communication to the user. I don’t want anyone else to go through the same issue!
A more appropriate name for this organization would be Pet’s Worst. Just another insurance company that specializes in stealing premiums and providing no service whatsoever. The people who answer the phone are rude and arrogant. Their claims processing know no other words other than “pre existing condition.” You would be better off not having pet insurance if this company is the choice. Be sure and read all the negative reviews on all websites and you will understand that Pet’s Best is truly Pet’s Worst.