Sarah Schlichter Lead Writer | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Sarah Schlichter is a NerdWallet authority on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. Prior to joining NerdWallet, she spent more than 15 years in digital media as a writer, editor and spokesperson. Sarah enjoys delving into complicated topics and helping readers understand the ins and outs of their insurance coverage. She lives in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Caitlin Constantine Assigning Editor | Home insurance, renters insurance, pet insurance
Caitlin Constantine is an assigning editor at NerdWallet, focusing on homeowners, renters and pet insurance. She has more than 15 years of experience in digital media, including as the deputy managing editor at The Penny Hoarder and as a digital producer for a 24/7 news station based in the Tampa Bay area. Caitlin enjoys exploring the ways technology can help people become better informed about the world. She currently lives outside Asheville, North Carolina.
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Looking for insurance to help with unexpected vet bills? Most major pet insurance companies operate in California, so you’ve got plenty of options to get your furry friend covered. NerdWallet gathered rates and evaluated more than a dozen insurers to help you find the best pet insurance in California in the following categories:
Best pet insurance category
Company winner
Best overall
MetLife
Best budget pick for dogs
Lemonade
Best budget pick for cats
Embrace
Best for comprehensive coverage
ASPCA
How we found the best pet insurance in California
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the content on our website is accurate and fair, so you can make financial decisions with confidence and choose the products that work best for you.
NerdWallet’s rating system rewards pet insurance companies with broad coverage, a variety of ways to customize your plan, a high financial strength rating and a good customer experience. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. Here’s the full methodology behind our pet insurance ratings.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
MetLife sells customizable plans for dogs, cats and even other animals in some states.
Pay vet directlyThis indicates whether the company offers the option to pay a vet directly rather than reimbursing the policyholder after a claim.
No
Scope of coverageRatings are based on how many different scenarios a company covers.
Excellent
Ability to customize planRatings are based on how easy it is to modify how much you pay for a plan by adjusting your coverage limits.
Excellent
Pros
Deductible goes down each year you don't make a claim in some states.
Accident coverage starts right away, with no waiting period.
Includes coverage for holistic and alternative care.
Cons
No option to have the company pay your vet directly.
Why it’s the best
MetLife had the highest raw score of all the companies NerdWallet evaluated, thanks to its combination of strong coverage and useful features. MetLife’s policies cover things like alternative and complementary medicine, treatment for dental diseases, prescription food and end-of-life expenses. In most states, MetLife also offers free grief counseling sessions with a counselor if you lose your pet.
MetLife will cover pets of all ages, with no age restrictions. And if your pet stays healthy, your deductible could drop by $25 or $50 for each year you go without receiving a claim reimbursement. (A deductible is the amount you pay in vet bills before your insurer starts reimbursing you.)
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Lemonade boasts a seamless online experience and quick claims, but its default coverage is more limited than some other plans.
Pay vet directlyThis indicates whether the company offers the option to pay a vet directly rather than reimbursing the policyholder after a claim.
No
Scope of coverageRatings are based on how many different scenarios a company covers.
Average
Ability to customize planRatings are based on how easy it is to modify how much you pay for a plan by adjusting your coverage limits.
Average
Pros
Quick claims processing.
Multipolicy and pay-in-full discounts available.
Donates a portion of premiums to nonprofit organizations.
Cons
Not available in all states.
Physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care cost extra.
Your credit or claims history may affect your rates.
Why it’s the best
Lemonade offered the cheapest rate for our sample dog in Los Angeles, and it’s also one of our cheapest pet insurance companies overall. The company’s base accident and illness plan covers the essentials, such as medicine, diagnostic tests, surgeries and hospitalizations. For an extra cost, you can customize your plan to cover things like physical therapy, treatment for dental illness and vet exam fees.
One perk of Lemonade pet insurance is how the company deals with claims. Once you file through the Lemonade app, the company uses artificial intelligence to scan for fraud and then pays some claims almost instantly. Another unique feature is Lemonade’s Giveback program, which donates excess profits to charities chosen by policyholders.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
Embrace has many ways to customize your plan, plus coverage for curable pre-existing conditions.
Pay vet directlyThis indicates whether the company offers the option to pay a vet directly rather than reimbursing the policyholder after a claim.
No
Scope of coverageRatings are based on how many different scenarios a company covers.
Good
Ability to customize planRatings are based on how easy it is to modify how much you pay for a plan by adjusting your coverage limits.
Excellent
Pros
Covers curable pre-existing conditions.
Many ways to customize your plan.
Orthopedic waiting period can be reduced with a vet exam.
Cons
Doesn't cover prescription food or supplements.
Why it’s the best
The cheapest rate we found for our sample cat was from Embrace, which offers comprehensive, customizable plans. Its accident and illness policy includes consultations with behavioral specialists, up to $1,000 per year to treat dental illnesses, and complementary treatments like acupuncture and laser therapy. Embrace will also cover curable pre-existing conditions that have been symptom-free for at least a year.
You can use the company’s highly rated app to see policy documents, add new pets to your policy or file claims. You can also log in on the website to access the PawSupport telemedicine service, available at no charge to Embrace policyholders.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
ASPCA offers generous coverage and multiple plan options, including an accident-only policy.
Pay vet directlyThis indicates whether the company offers the option to pay a vet directly rather than reimbursing the policyholder after a claim.
No
Scope of coverageRatings are based on how many different scenarios a company covers.
Excellent
Ability to customize planRatings are based on how easy it is to modify how much you pay for a plan by adjusting your coverage limits.
Average
Pros
Covers horses in addition to cats and dogs.
Standard plans cover alternative therapies, behavioral issues and congenital conditions.
Shorter waiting period than most plans for cruciate injuries (14 days).
Cons
You must call rather than getting an online quote if you’re interested in unlimited annual coverage.
Why it’s the best
ASPCA’s policies include coverage that some other pet insurers charge extra for (or don’t cover at all), such as prescription food, microchipping, treatment for dental illness and behavioral therapies. You can also add a plan to cover preventive care expenses like vaccinations and annual checkups.
We like that ASPCA has a straightforward 14-day waiting period for all accidents and illnesses, including orthopedic injuries. A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage begins.
Looking for more options? Here are all the pet insurers in California that earned a 5-star NerdWallet rating. Unless otherwise noted, sample rates are for 2-year-old mixed-breed dogs and cats with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
Dog: $37
Cat: $21
*Nationwide policies include a $10,000 annual limit and 70% reimbursement rate.
Here are the cheapest insurers we found in California for dogs and cats, based on quotes we gathered in Los Angeles. Our sample pets were 2-year-old mixed-breed dogs and cats with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Your own prices may be different depending on where you live, the coverage you choose, and your pet’s age and breed.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula incorporates financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, discounts and more.
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance company that works best for you. Our ratings are specific to pet insurance; a company's rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.
Learn more about California insurance
NerdWallet has many more California insurance guides. For more information, check out our articles below:
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, scope of coverage, the ability to customize your plan and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and mobile app ratings. To calculate each insurer’s star rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Pet insurance sample rates
To find sample pet insurance rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and do not include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons.
Each plan had a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Our sample pets were a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog and a domestic shorthair (mixed-breed) cat. Each pet was 2 years old.
These are sample rates gathered for specific pets in a select ZIP code. Your own rates will be different.
