Ratings Methodology for Pet Insurance

Our comprehensive rating system evaluates companies in more than 20 categories to help you find the right pet insurance plan.

25+ Insurers reviewed

20+ Categories assessed

2,100+ Data points analyzed

Methodology, broken down by category

We assess three weighted categories and more than 20 subcategories for all insurers. Here's how we weigh the categories.

5.0

Overall score

We give our highest ratings in this category to companies with a wide range of coverage options, especially if those options are included in the standard plan. We give bonus points in this category to companies with no upper age limit for accident and illness coverage and to those with no waiting period for accident coverage. Penalties are given to insurers that don’t include industry-standard coverage in their accident and illness plans.

Consumer experience (40%)

Strong companies in this category can pay your vet directly, have a generous method of calculating claim payouts and offer perks like a live customer service chat. We may award bonus points in this category for features such as quick claims processing and diminishing deductibles. Penalties are given for enrollment fees or the lack of a mobile app.

Plan flexibility (20%)

We evaluate each company’s deductibles, reimbursement options and coverage limits. Companies with more ways to customize policies and premiums are given a higher score in this category.

Data collection and review process

We collect data points for each insurer from its public-facing websites and from company representatives, public filings, state regulator data and third-party analyses. These data points are then compared against one another and against NerdWallet's standards for good insurance companies to determine a star rating. Although we check whether the company offers accident-only or wellness plans, our star ratings are primarily based on each insurer’s accident and illness coverage.

Data is collected on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy. Final star ratings are presented on a scale of one to five stars, where a one-star score represents "poor" and a five-star score represents "excellent."

Data accuracy

Pet insurance reviews are thoroughly reassessed at least once a year. Writers and editors also make updates to data such as coverage changes, new features and star ratings throughout the year as necessary. We establish and maintain contact with insurers’ primary point people to make sure we have the latest information.

Our pet insurance review team

The writers and editors behind our pet insurance reviews are insurance specialists who have had their work featured by or appear in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Chicago-Sun Times, U.S. News & World Report and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet’s strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

In addition to pet insurance, the team covers auto insurance, life insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, Medicare and health insurance.