Simple plan that covers accidents and illnesses with no annual limit
Many claims are processed within two days
Deductibles starting at $100
Pros
- No annual or lifetime coverage limits.
- Processes many claims within two days.
Cons
- No wellness coverage options.
- Doesn't cover exam fees, prescription diets or behavioral modification.
Generous coverage options, including wellness and accident-only plans
In addition to cats and dogs, horse plans are also available
Shorter waiting periods than most insurers
10% discount for veterinarians and multiple pets
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 get an online quote, if you’re interested in unlimited annual coverage.
Covers what others don’t: prescription food, microchips, and behavioral therapy
Offers preventative treatment and screenings plans
No upper age limit for coverage of older pets
10% multi-pet discount
Pros
- Covers things some insurers don’t, such as prescription food and behavioral modification.
- Covers some pre-existing conditions if they have been cured and treatment-free for 180 days.
- Unlimited annual coverage option available.
Cons
- Doesn't offer the option to pay your vet directly.
Like human health insurance, pet insurance covers the cost of medical care. Pet insurance is designed to cover unexpected costs, so it may not pay for routine care or conditions your pet had before you bought the policy.
There are three main types of pet insurance plans:
Accident and illness: The most common type of pet insurance, these plans cover treatment for illnesses and accidental injuries.
Accident-only: These plans tend to be more affordable. They’ll pay if your pet swallows a toy or is hit by a car, but not for any illnesses such as diabetes or arthritis.
Wellness or preventive care: This type of coverage is usually an add-on to one of the policies above. It’ll pay for well visits, vaccines and other routine care.
The average cost of an accident and illness policy in the U.S. is $640 per year for dogs and $387 for cats, according to 2022 data from the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. That translates to about $53 a month for dogs and $32 a month for cats.
For an accident-only policy, the average cost is $201 per year for dogs (about $17 per month) and $122 per year for cats (about $10 per month).