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:
Need Pet Insurance?
FACT: Pet insurance pays up to 90% of vet bills when your pet is sick or injured!
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 Nationwide Clients
Senta
Nationwide insurance saved his parents
$6,609
Senta got a bone disease called hypertrophic osteodystrophy. Therapy and drug treatment cost $7,770. Senta is now back to his playful self.
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 Nationwide Clients
Max
Nationwide insurance saved his parents
$6,432
Max had a urinary blockage that required surgery. After medication and a few follow-up visits, he recovered well and is now doing great!
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.
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.
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.
Pet Parent of a Welsh Corgi
Jacksonville, FL
FAQs
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!
I love this insurance! Pets are just like humans and they have medical problems and emergencies that come up too. This insurance has saved me from a doggy medical disaster.
I love Pets Best. Despite what some with an ax to grind think, pets experience emotions and physical pain just like humans do. It’s not insane to consider paid pet insurance that the government and/or employers pay either! Dog health emergencies don’t exactly call and give you a heads up before suddenly appearing. Pet insurance saved me from a doggy medical disaster and I have nothing but positive things to say about Pets Best. They paid the claim on time, didn’t deny or exclude anything that they previously said they would cover and the staff seemed genuinely concerned about the well-being of my animal.
This plan, the plus option, is the best choice I’ve made in years. I had to rush my beagle to the ER last summer after he swallowed a huge bone –WHOLE. Luckily I had this insurance and didn’t have to break the bank. My wife would have had a fit. Pets Best has been a great company to deal with so far.
Awesome review! As I’m reviewing my current plan, which I love, yet wondering if I can get more for what I’m paying, as I didn’t really know there were so many options 3 years ago when I first purchased. I’m loving the fact that Pets Best was founded by Veterinarians as who better to know what a pet is going to need for health coverage in the long run. I also like all the pieces of the wellness plan. Thank you so much for breaking down the information, as it can become overwhelming for a person, like myself that is new to investigating.. keep smiling
I heard many nice things about Pets Best insurance company. It has many awesome features that one can do insurance with this company. It has two premium plan which both are suitable. Monthly premium quote for low coverage offers 70 percent reimbursement, $1,000 annual deductible, $5,000 annual limit,Plus option and Monthly premium quote for plans with comprehensive coverage offers 90 percent reimbursement, $100 annual deductible, $5,000 annual limit. It is really amazing.
What a thorough review! It’s nice to be able to really look at the options available to find what’s going to work best for me and my family. I like the flea and tick coverage. Treatments for fleas can add up really quick. It’s just so great to know there are insurance plans available for my furbabies!
Pets Best cares enough to support us (the parents of the pets)to have the Vet see our pets and then we receive help in the form of a check from the Insurance Company. Our pet receives better care when we all work together for the good of our pet.
We have 2 English Bulldogs that have Pets Best & so far so good. Very easy to use. Great explanations & quick service.
I’d recommend Pets Best to anyone with a dog or cat. I’ve been reimbursed for all my vet bills quickly and easily and have only had to pay one modest excess payment plus my monthly premium. It’s saved me a lot of money and I have been impressed with the service and reimbursement for my Bullmastiff.
Pets Best offers coverage for the most common accidents, and is definitely a life saver for people on a budget. I love that they have 3 simple plans to choose from, and that they’ve been in business for over 30 years! That really speaks to me because you know what they say, time is the true test. Pets Best passed! 😉