Best Pet Insurance Companies of September 2024 (2024)

Lemonade is our top pick due to its affordable accident-and-illness andwellness plansand excellent customer care. Plans start at around $19 per month and are 11% less than the national average, which may appeal to pet parents on a budget. Lemonade also offers a 5% annual discount, a 5% discount for enrollingmultiple petsand a 10% discount for bundling your policy with Lemonade property insurance.

Standout feature:Lemonade features a best-in-class mobile app that lets customers enroll pets in seconds and get paid for covered claims in minutes. You can also manage your pet’s health, file claims and track policy coverage and billing. While our research shows that most other providers in this review offer a mobile app, we found that Lemonade had the highest mobile app rating in the Apple app store when compared to Pets Best, Embrace, Fetch and more.

Lemonade offers a base pet insurance plan for accidents and illnesses, preventative care packages and a variety of optional add-ons. Its accident and illness plan allows pet owners to choose an annual coverage limit between $5,000 and $100,000, with deductible options ranging from $100 to $500 and reimbursem*nt rates from 70% to 90%.

After gathering quotes from Lemonade and other top providers in the industry, we found that Lemonade was one of the cheapest pet insurance providers overall — notably for dogs. The average Lemonade plan cost for dogs is$52 per month, while the overall average is $60. The average cost of a Lemonade policy for cats is$29 per month, compared to a nationwide average of $32.

To better understand customer experiences, we polled 1,000 pet owners with insurance policies from our top providers in our third annual pet insurance survey in April 2024. Of the 62 respondents who reported having a policy with Lemonade, over half chose the provider for its coverage offerings and low pricing. Most of those pet owners reported reimbursem*nt within one to two weeks.

However, some respondents noted frustration over a long waiting period for reimbursem*nt. Our team reached out to Lemonade for comment on reimbursem*nt times but the company did not offer a response. Still, 27% experienced no issues or frustration, and over 87% of participants felt that, based on their experience with Lemonade, a pet insurance policy is worth the money.

One participant with a Lemonade policy said this about their experience with pet insurance:

“We had an emergency a few years ago that cost almost $10,000. We will never go without pet insurance again.”

Our team purchased a pet insurance policy with Lemonade to further our understanding of the customer experience. Our team member, John Morgan, purchased an accident and illness plan for Teddy, his 3-year-old English cream retriever. The plan has a $250 deductible, an 80% reimbursem*nt rate and a $20,000 annual limit, costing $49 per month.

Morgan took Teddy to the vet in June 2024 for eye and nose irritation and filed the claim two days later. To submit the claim, Morgan provided documentation such as a photo of the vet bill, the date of the vet visit, and a recording explaining what happened to Teddy. The claims process took about five minutes and the claim was submitted via Lemonade’s app.

We featured the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for its impressive reputation, long-standing industry experience and comprehensive coverage for pets of all ages, including senior dogs and cats. Born out of a strategic partnership between ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group in 2006, ASPCA’s pet health insurance is one of the oldest in the industry.

Standout feature:In a relatively young industry, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance stands out for partnering with Crum & Foster Pet Insurance Group, which was founded in 1997. If you’re interested in other seasoned providers, Trupanion was founded in 1998, while Nationwide added pet coverage to its insurance lineup in 1999.

We named ASPCA Pet Health Insurance our pick for older pets, as the company has no age-related coverage reductions or enrollment restrictions for senior pets. Available in all 50 U.S. states, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers both an accident and illness and accident-only plan, with a preventative care add-on available to cover wellness care services.

According to quotes we’ve gathered, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is affordable compared to average premium costs nationwide. It ranked in our top fivecheapest pet insurance companies, with an average cost of$50 per monthfor dogs and$22for cats. The national averages calculated by our team include $60 and $32 for dogs and cats, respectively.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance was the most popular provider in our April 2024 survey — 295 out of 1,000 pet owners have a policy with the company. Over half of those respondents chose ASPCA Pet Health Insurance due to its coverage and positive online reviews.

Sixty-two percent of respondents with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan have filed a claim, with over half of these policyholders receiving reimbursem*nt within two weeks or less. However, 25% of those pet owners felt frustrated with a long claims review process. Despite this, 88% of respondents with a policy felt that pet insurance was worth it based on their experience with the company.

We reached out to ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for comment on our survey responses and received the following reply from Riddhi Goradia, the company’s director of brand marketing:

“Our top priority remains providing high-quality customer service and we always strive to exceed our customers’ expectations. To achieve this, we have increased our claims processing and customer service capacity, shortening our average claims processing time to 3.2 days. We will continue to evolve our offerings and service to best serve our customers and their pets.”

One respondent with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan had the following to say about their experience:

“I think [pet insurance] is worth it for peace of mind. I’ve had other animals in the past that I spent up to $10,000 on for surgery. Having pet insurance makes me feel protected and that I am doing the best for my pet.”

We purchased a pet insurance policy with ASPCA Pet Health Insurance to experience its customer service for ourselves. Our writer and researcher, Alex Carver, purchased an accident-only plan for Mittens, her 17-year-old domestic longhair cat. The plan has a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate and $5,000 annual limit, costing $25 per month. Carver also decided to purchase wellness coverage, as she plans to take her cat to the vet for an annual exam in the near future.

When asked about the buying experience, Carver noted that the website was very easy to use and navigate.

“I appreciated the little tips throughout that explain common pet insurance terms like annual limit, deductible and reimbursem*nt rate,” she said. “While the quote and customer portals aren’t flashy or fancy, they are well-organized.”

Pets Best is our pick forvet direct pay. Once your claim is approved, reimbursem*nt for eligible vet expenses is sent directly to your veterinarian, rather than you having to wait to submit a claim after receiving service. Pets Best has three different levels of coverage to choose from, as well as two levels of wellness add-ons. The Elite plan covers rehabilitation, acupuncture and chiropractic care, which is not covered by some other plans.

Standout feature:Pets Best offers a 24/7 Pet Helpline with access to veterinary experts for support if you have questions about your pet. It also has an easy-to-use app to submit claims, manage your policy, check your benefits and store your pet’s medical records. If you’re looking for other providers with a helpline, Embrace, Pets Best, Figo offer similar services.

Pets Best offers an accident-only and accident and illness plan, with the latter providing a choice of three coverage tiers. It also offers two wellness add-ons covering preventative care services such as microchipping, vaccinations, heartworm preventatives and more. There are six deductible options and three reimbursem*nt rates to choose from, with your choice of a $5,000 or unlimited annual coverage limit.

According to our research, the average cost of a Pets Best policy is$41 per monthfor dogs and$23for cats, which is less than the national averages we calculated of $60 and $32, respectively. Note that this provider’s accident-only plan may suit pet owners looking for cheap coverage, as it costs$6 per monthfor cats and$9for dogs.

With 108 out of 1,000 respondents selecting Pets Best, the provider was one of the most popular among pet owners in our April 2024 survey. Many pet owners chose Pets Best because of positive customer reviews, available discounts and their pet’s coverage needs.

Over 60% of pet owners with a Pets Best policy reported having filed at least one claim, with over a quarter of respondents noting issues with the reimbursem*nt waiting period. While over 40% of customers received reimbursem*nt within one to two weeks, over 26% of respondents reported having to wait three weeks or longer. Despite this, 83% of respondents with a Pets Best plan feel that pet insurance is worth it based on their experience.

Our team reached out to Pets Best for comment on its claim process and received the following response from Melissa Gutierrez, the company’s CEO:

“Pets Best strives to offer the best pet insurance plans with coverage options that allow customer control over veterinary expenses. Our well-trained staff is experienced in the veterinary industry, and we’re here to answer any questions about coverage options. We know that pets are part of your family, and we do everything we can to keep every family member’s tail wagging.”

One participant with a Pets Best policy said this about their experience with pet insurance:

“My young dog jumped at the window and went through it. I had great peace of mind knowing whatever she needed would be covered aside from my 20% responsibility after my deductible. I could focus on her getting well instead of wondering if I could afford it.”

Our team member and editor, Tori Addison, purchased an accident and illness policy with Pets Best for her 10-year-old Russian blue cat, Obie. The plan has a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate and $5,000 annual limit. Tori also purchased Pets Best’s Essential Wellness coverage, with monthly costs totaling $71.

Obie was taken to the vet for an annual wellness exam with vaccinations and routine bloodwork in June 2024. Addison had the option to use vet direct pay through Pets Best and the company providing her with a form at signup to do so. However, her vet stated they weren’t currently participating in the service at this time and instead provided her with a detailed invoice to file a claim after the appointment.

When asked if pet insurance provided her with peace of mind at the vet, Addison stated: “I typically do not request blood work during my cat’s annual appointments, but since I had pet insurance, I felt peace of mind knowing the service would be partially covered and my insurance may also cover any resulting health issues indicated by the results.”

Embrace stands out for the additional savings it offers pet owners, including a 10% discount for each additional pet policy you purchase, which is why we’ve named it the best provider for multiple pets. It also offers a 5% military discount and an employee benefit program that offers 10% off to employees of companies that offer Embrace pet insurance.

Standout feature:Embrace offers the Healthy Pet Deductible benefit, which credits pet owners with $50 toward their deductible each consecutive year they don’t file a claim. Based on our research, Embrace, Spot and Fetch are the only providers featured in this review that offer this benefit.

Embrace offers an accident and illness policy covering accidents, injuries, diseases and illnesses. It also provides a wellness rewards program similar to a flexible spending account (FSA) found through many human health insurance plans. You’ll pay a fixed amount monthly and can access a total coverage stipend for your pet, which covers approved preventative care services.

We found the average cost of an Embrace pet insurance plan is$64 per monthfor dogs and$33for cats. This is almost 7% more than the national average for dogs and 3% more for cats. While Embrace didn’t make our list of the cheapest pet insurance providers, it does offer stackable discounts that can bring down your overall insurance premium by up to 25%.

Of the 29 respondents who selected Embrace as their pet’s insurance provider, most enrolled with the company due to its positive customer reviews and coverage selection. In addition, 62% of respondents have filed a claim with Embrace at least once, with most payouts occurring within one to two weeks.

While half of the respondents with an Embrace policy have yet to experience issues with the claims process, others noted long waiting periods for reimbursem*nt. Our team reached out to Embrace for comment on its reimbursem*nt processing and received the following response from Amber Batteiger, a company spokesperson:

“I’d like to clarify that initial claims may take slightly longer to process, primarily if we haven’t received the necessary veterinary records in advance. On average, wellness claims are reimbursed within 4.4 days, and accident and illness claims within 8.1 days.”

However, almost 83% of participants felt that pet insurance was worth it based on their experience, with one respondent noting that “it’s good to have if something serious happens to your pet.”

Another respondent with an Embrace plan had the following to say about pet insurance:

“It protects me from paying completely unnecessary amounts of money toward vet bills, especially as my pups get older. I feel better knowing they are backed by insurance.”

Our team member, Annie Villacis, purchased an accident and illness policy through Embrace for Luna, her 4-year-old, large mixed-breed dog. This plan has a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate and $5,000 annual limit, totaling $60.

Our experts chose Figo as the most affordable pet insurer on our list, with an average monthly cost of $22 — 52% less than the national average cost of a policy. The provider also offers unlimited annual benefits and a range of useful add-ons to make your plan comprehensive, such as liability coverage for damages or injuries your pet causes.

Standout feature:While most companies limit reimbursem*nts to 90% of covered veterinary bills, Figo has a reimbursem*nt option of 100%. In addition, it has a one-day waiting period for accidents, which is shorter than nearly all providers in our review. Only Embrace offers a comparable accident waiting period, with accidents covered from your policy’s effective start date.

Figo provides three set accident and illness plans for pet owners to choose from. In addition, it offers a custom plan option that allows you to tailor the reimbursem*nt rate, annual coverage limit and deductible to meet your pet’s needs and your budget. You’ll also find optional add-ons for wellness coverage and vet exam fees. Note that available deductible options depend on your pet’s age.

Figo made our list of the best cheap pet insurance companies, with the average policy costing$27 per monthfor dogs and$15for cats. This is less than the national averages we calculated of $60 and $32, respectively. With no upper age limit restrictions, Figo may offer a cost-effective policy for those with senior pets.

The Pet Cloud app allows for policy and claims management and serves as a hub for your pet parenting needs. You can use it for 24/7 pet telehealth, storing your pet’s medical records, connecting with like-minded pet owners, or setting reminders for vet appointments.

Of our 1,000 survey respondents, 30 pet owners reported having an insurance policy with Figo. Almost 30% of those pet owners chose Figo because of its positive online reviews, whereas others liked the company’s coverage offerings. However, 30% of respondents who have filed a claim noted they experienced a long review process. Our team reached out to Figo for comment on its processing times and did not receive a response. Based on their experience with Figo, 83% of respondents felt that pet insurance was worth it.

One Figo policyholder had the following to say about why pet insurance is worth it:

“I have owned all different types of breeds and sizes of dogs, and all of them have had either chronic or acute medical issues at some point in their life. These medical issues generally cost a lot of money out of pocket.”

Our writer and researcher, Graham Ray, purchased an accident and illness policy with Figo for his dog Mick, a mini Irish doodle, to further our research on pet insurance policies. He chose a plan with a $250 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate and $10,000 annual limit, plus the company’s lowest tier of wellness benefits. In total, he pays $37 per month for this policy — one of the cheapest rates for the coverage out of all providers in this review.

Ray noted that it took just under five minutes to sign Mick up for coverage, commenting on how the site was easy-to-navigate with great usability. He also appreciated how he didn’t need to bring Mick to the vet for an exam before enrolling in coverage.

When asked about Figo’s mobile app, he felt that the interface was good but that he had 20 new policy documents awaiting him in the app once he signed up. He also noted that for any doodle owners looking for pet insurance with Figo, you’ll likely need to select mixed-breed during enrollment as Figo doesn’t list “doodle” as a standalone dog breed.

Spot offers some of the most customizable pet insurance policies due to its seven annual coverage limit options (ranging from $2,500 to unlimited), five deductible options and three reimbursem*nt rates. This allows pet owners to find the right balance between their plan’s level of coverage and affordability. Spot Pet Insurance is also ideal for pet owners who want a low-costaccident-only plan.

Standout feature:Spot’s policies cover a few items that aren’t offered by many other pet insurance providers, such as exam fees andmicrochipping. Like Embrace and Fetch, Spot also reduces your deductible each year you go without filing a claim.

Spot offers customers a choice of either an accident and illness or an accident-only plan. You can also choose between two wellness plans that provide coverage for vaccines, annual exams and more. Our team named Spot the provider with the most customizable plan options thanks to its five deductible options, three reimbursem*nt rates, and seven annual limits.

While Spot is the most customizable option in our review, it’s not the cheapest, according to our research and quotes gathered. The average Spot plan for dogs costs$68 per month, with the national average in our review being$60. The average plan for cats through Spot costs$30, with the national average sitting at$32.

Of the 25 out of 1,000 survey respondents who reported having pet insurance with Spot, the majority chose the provider because its coverage fit their pet’s needs. Almost 30% of those respondents have filed one or more claims with Spot without any major issues. On average, pet owners reported claims settlement within three to four weeks.

While 63% of respondents reported that Spot had not denied any of their claims, others noted a pre-existing condition or policy waiting period as reason for rejection. Our team reached out to Spot for comment on these claims but did not receive a response. Based on their experience, 80% of respondents with a policy from Spot said that pet insurance is worth it.

One survey participant with a Spot plan said the following about why they personally feel pet a insurance policy is worth it:

“You never know what emergencies could happen. My fur baby deserves to have the best care available.”

To better understand the customer experience offered by Spot, our team member, Kelley King, purchased an accident and illness plan for her 4-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi, Oliver. She opted for a plan with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate and $5,000 annual limit, amounting to $34 a month.

“The website’s usability was outstanding, making it incredibly easy to sign up for a pet insurance plan in less than five minutes,” King said “The clear instructions and limited options combined with their transparent pricing for both annual and monthly costs ensured a smooth and efficient registration process.”

However, she did note that the explanation of coverage restrictions was slightly confusing. King rated the overall buying experience 3.8 out of 5 stars, noting her satisfaction: “For $34 a month, a four-legged piece of my heart will be fully covered if anything were to happen.”

Fetch is our top choice for cat and dog owners interested in therapies and treatments that other pet insurance providers don’t always cover. It offers one comprehensive plan that includes everything from accidents to illnesses to sick exam fees and telehealthvet visitsfor your pet. Fetch also includes extensive coverage of therapies related to behavioral issues like separation anxiety or aggression.

Standout feature:Fetch also stands out for its coverage of holistic care and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, homeopathy and stem-cell therapy. Our research found that when providers offer these treatments, it’s usually considered an add-on and excluded from standard coverage.

While you’ll only find one accident and illness plan with Fetch, it provides three wellness coverage tiers. Some unique coverages Fetch offers include lost pet advertising and reward reimbursem*nt, virtual veterinary visits, and pet loss coverage due to theft or straying.

The average monthly cost of a policy from Fetch is$50 for dogsand$28 for cats, which is less than the national average of $60 and $32, respectively. Fetch may be ideal for pet parents seeking more comprehensive coverage for their dog or cat versus a budget-friendly plan.

According to our survey data, 29 of our 1,000 respondents have a pet insurance policy with Fetch. The top reasons for selecting Fetch include its coverage options and positive customer reviews. Of the pet owners with a Fetch policy, 45% have filed a claim between one and two times, with many reporting issues of long waiting periods for claims review and reimbursem*nt. Our team reached out to Fetch for comment on its claims processing but did not receive a response. Despite this, 62% of Fetch customers reported receiving a claims payout within one to two weeks.

Many pet owners stated that their policy’s waiting period was the top reason why Fetch has denied their claims. However, 79% of respondents with Fetch think pet insurance is worth it based on their experience with the company.

One Fetch policyholder had the following to say about their pet’s insurance plan:

“It was worth it because although I had to pay up front for a procedure, knowing I was going to be reimbursed really helped with my stress levels.”

To help further our pet insurance research, our team member, Graci George, purchased a Fetch accident and illness plan for Saint, her 2-year-old golden retriever. She chose a plan with a $300 deductible, 80% reimbursem*nt rate and $5,000 annual limit, for a total of $49 per month.

George says it took her five to 10 minutes to sign up for coverage, noting that the sign up process was very easy and user-friendly.

“There wasn’t an extensive amount of questions about myself, Saint or his vet.” she added. “However, if someone were to pick this provider, they need to make sure they have their pet’s medical records on hand or easily accessible. Without medical records, you can’t file a claim in the future.”