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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
- The insurance advice, products, and links below are intended for and only available in the states where Rover Pet Insurance Services, LLC is licensed as an insurance producer.Insurance advice, products, and links contained in this article are currently intended for and only available in the states where Rover Pet Insurance Services, LLC is currently licensed as an insurance producer. As we expand our licensing to other states we will update our websites and links. If you are located in a state in which we are not currently licensed, but would like to learn more about pet insurance products available in your state, you may contact a licensed insurance agent or broker in your state. The information provided below is offered for educational and informational purposes only. If you have questions regarding particular plans, you should reach out to your insurance company for more information.
When reviewing pet insurance coverage, Rover takes many factors that are important to pet parents into consideration, including the following:
- Types of plans available (including depth of coverage and available options)
- Customizability of deductible, reimbursement, annual limits, and premiums
- Pre-existing condition policies
- Waiting periods
- Exam fee coverage
- Breed and age restrictions
- Additional coverage for items like dental and alternative therapies
- Available discounts
- Extra perks, such as vet helplines
When crafting our pet insurance review methodology, we did not rank these factors in a particular order because what one pet needs from pet insurance can be a lower priority for another pet. Every pet and pet parent’s circumstance is different. Our goal is to lay out all the factors to help pet parents make the best decision.
Our Methodology: At a Glance
Types of plans available: Rover evaluated each company’s scope of coverage, giving more weight to those with a range of options available for pet parents.
Customizability: We value providers that offer a lot of options when it comes to a pet parent’s deductible, reimbursement rate, annual limits, and premiums. Customizability makes it easier for pet parents to make the best financial decisions for them and their family.
Pre-existing condition policies: While all pet insurance providers have exclusions for pre-existing conditions, some have looser restrictions via “curable” pre-existing conditions—one that shows no symptoms or requires no treatment for a specified length of time, typically from 6 to 18 months. Companies with shorter curable pre-existing condition timetables were rated higher than those with lengthier ones or ones with no curable policy at all.
Waiting periods: Most pet insurance companies have different waiting periods for different health issues, though traditionally there’s one for accidents/injuries, illnesses, and sometimes orthopedic conditions. While most waiting periods are short—anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks—some pet insurance providers have long waiting periods for orthopedic conditions, from 6 to 18 months. Companies with long waiting periods were ranked lower than those with short, manageable waiting periods.
Exam fee coverage: Some pet insurance companies don’t offer coverage for veterinary exams in their standard plan, even for accidents and illnesses. Those who included this kind of exam fee coverage in their standard plan were rated higher.
Breed and age restrictions: Providers in this category with little to no restrictions placed on breed or age when it comes to pet insurance coverage were rated higher.
Additional coverage: We look favorably at companies that take a well-rounded approach to their offerings with coverage options that fall outside standard medical care, but are still important to the health and well-being of pets. Offerings such as these include dental care, alternative or holistic therapy, and behavioral therapy.
Available discounts: Companies with more discounts available for its customers—such as multi-pet, military, and employer discounts—are rated higher than those that offer little to no discounts
Extra perks: Rover takes into account when pet insurance providers offer little extras to help make pet parents’ lives easier. This includes features like a 24/7 vet helpline, which may be beneficial to new pet parents or those without fast and easy access to a live veterinarian.
Customer satisfaction scores: Rover takes a close look at customer satisfaction scores and reviews on TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau and factors them into our methodology. However, this category isn’t weighted as high as others above, as we acknowledge that each pet parent has their own experience that may not apply to every consumer.
We make every effort to keep our information up to date. Pet insurance offerings change rapidly and we frequently reevaluate our partners for new features that may impact our reviews or the order in which we place carriers on the page.
To maintain editorial integrity, Rover Pet Insurance Services LLC reserves the right to make changes at our discretion. Although Rover may receive a small commission from insurance policies purchased through them, these rankings are not driven by payment economics.
Further Reading
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? How To Know If It’s a Good Deal for Your Pet
- What Does Pet Insurance Cover, and How Does It Work? A Beginner’s Guide
- How Does a Pre-Existing Condition Affect Pet Insurance Coverage?
- The Best Pet Insurance Wellness Plans: How Preventive Care Add-Ons Work
- How To Choose the Right Insurance for Your Pet
- How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
- What To Know About Waiting Periods and Pet Insurance
- What Are Pet Insurance Deductibles, and How Do You Pick One?
- When Should You Get Pet Insurance?
- Savings Account Versus Pet Insurance: Which Is Better?