Review: Pets Best Pet Insurance Offers Puppies and Kittens Strong Coverage

• This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
• 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.Full Disclosure

With its 24/7 pet helpline and high-value wellness add-on that includes coverage for microchipping, vaccinations, and spaying/neutering, Pets Best is a strong option for puppy and kitten parents—particularly those who may be nervous or new to being pet parents.

While Pets Best may be well, best, for puppies, those who prioritize holistic care will likely want to look elsewhere, as Pets Best covers fewer alternative treatments than some other providers.

Pets Best Pet Insurance: Pros & Cons

Who is Pets Best Pet Insurance best for?

Pets Best insurance may be especially worth it for new pet parents with puppies or kittens to care for. Its wellness add-on offers reimbursements for several different items that apply to young pets, such as microchipping, spaying/neutering, rabies vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention, and more.

With a Pets Best policy, access to a 24/7 vet helpline is also available, which can come in handy for anxious pet parents struggling to get a veterinarian appointment right away or looking for midnight and weekend care advice.

Which pet owners may want to look elsewhere?

Pets Best’s holistic and alternative therapy coverage isn’t as accessible as some other providers’. Though physical therapy is available in most basic plans, some popular alternative therapies like massage and hydrotherapy are only available via higher tier plans.

More concerning to some might be limited coverage for vet-recommended behavioral treatments, which are generally limited to consultations and prescription medication. Other providers offer coverage for vet-recommended training and behavioral therapy.

Pets Best Pet Insurance: A Brief Overview

Coverage Available: Standard Plans, Accident-Only, and Wellness Add-On

Pets Best has three different tiers of accident and illness coverage, known as their BestBenefit plans. These plans can be customized to meet your needs and your budget. Every BestBenefit tier includes the following:

• CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, other diagnostic tests
• Euthanasia
• Hereditary and congenital conditions
• Emergency care, including exams, hospitalizations, and surgeries for accidents and illnesses
• Dental care for periodontal disease and other issues (under certain conditions)
• Physical therapy and cold therapy
• Prosthetics and wheelchairs
• Prescription medication used to treat a condition that’s covered
• Chronic conditions

Higher tiers of the Best Benefit plans include the following items you can add to meet your pets’ needs:

• Exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses
• Acupuncture and chiropractic care
• Hydrotherapy, physical therapy, cold laser therapy
• Prescription medications

What isn’t covered under Pets Best Pet Insurance?

• Bilateral conditions
• Intentional injuries / injuries that stem from pet parent neglect
• Breeding or boarding costs
• Holistic and herbal treatments
• Experimental treatments
• Treatment for behavioral conditions other than those from licensed vets
• Injuries related to organized fighting or racing
• Anal gland expression

Pets Best’s accident-only plan

For pet parents who may be seeking catastrophic, accident-only coverage, Pets Best offers an accident-only plan, which covers issues related to injuries such as:

• Broken bones
• Accidental swallowing of foreign objects
• Snake bites
• Lacerations and cuts
• Wounds

Due to the limited nature of this coverage, the plan has a set deductible of $250, reimbursement rate of 90%, and annual limit of $10,000. Plans start at $6/month for cats and $9/month for dogs of all breeds and ages.

Pets Best wellness add-ons come in two options

Pets Best offers pet parents their choice of two different wellness add-ons. Wellness add-ons, sometimes called preventive care plans, vary from provider to provider, but they typically offer some reimbursement for routine care that you can plan for, such as vaccinations, dental cleanings, spaying or neutering, heartworm prevention, and more.

Here’s a short breakdown of the reimbursement amounts pet parents could potentially expect out of both plans—known as the EssentialWellness and BestWellness plans.

The EssentialWellness plan starts at $14/month and has a total annual benefit of about $305, while the BestWellness plan starts at about $26/month and has a total annual benefit of $535.

Does Pets Best Pet Insurance cover spaying and neutering?

Like virtually all pet insurance, Pets Best does not cover spaying or neutering with a standard accident and illness plan. It does, however, reimburse you up to $150 for this procedure if you choose the second tier wellness add-on, the BestWellness coverage.

Customizations: Deductibles, Reimbursement, and Coverage Limits

Pets Best offers a wide array of coverage limits and deductible options, including an unlimited coverage option. This may make it easier for pet parents who need some flexibility to make their policy fit their needs and budget—particularly when they’re trying to decide between a pet insurance plan and a pet savings account.

Deductible options:

• $50
• $100
• $200
• $250
• $500
• $1000

Reimbursement amounts:

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%

Coverage limits:

• $2500
• $5000
• $10,000
• Unlimited

Pre-Existing and Hereditary Conditions

Like most pet insurance providers, Pets Best doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions—any condition your pet shows symptoms of before your policy’s waiting periods are over. Pets Best defines a pre-existing condition as any that is evident during the 18 months before your pet is enrolled in a policy (in addition to any condition that may develop during a waiting period).

Pets Best considers some temporary conditions “curable,” like broken bones, kennel cough, and scrapes. Curable conditions may not be considered pre-existing, and treatment is likely to be covered if they reoccur after your policy’s start date.

Hereditary conditions—those passed down genetically—are covered as long as no signs are present before the policy starts and the waiting period is over. Similarly, congenital illnesses, defects or disorders a pet is born with, are also covered if no signs are evident before the policy begins and the waiting period is over.

Waiting Periods

Pets Best has a few different waiting periods, but they vary slightly by your state of residence. In most states, the waiting period is three days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and six months for cruciate ligament issues, but it’s important to check your state’s policy.

Wellness plans have no waiting period in any state.

A three-day waiting period for accidents is shorter than many pet insurance providers, which may be worth considering if you have a young or particularly accident-prone pet.

On the other hand, six months for cruciate ligament issues is a considerable amount of time to wait for coverage, particularly if you have a breed prone to orthopedic issues. Some pet insurance providers have only a 14-day orthopedic waiting period.

Examination Coverage

Pets Best’s standard accident and illness plan offers exam fee coverage for eligible illnesses and injuries. Annual wellness exam fees aren’t covered under a standard plan but are reimbursed up to $50 under either wellness plan add-on.

Age Limits and Breed Restrictions

To be insured by Pets Best, dogs and cats must be at least 7 weeks old. There are no upper age limits or breed restrictions.

Dental Coverage

Pets Best’s accident and illness plan covers dental care for emergencies and illnesses like dental fractures, periodontal disease, and extractions. This does come with some limitations, however.

In general, coverage for dental fractures, extractions, and traumas are covered as long as they’re not caused by repetitive issues with chewing that showed any signs before your policy’s start date or during the waiting period.

In order for periodontal disease to be covered, your pet must be free of any signs of it before your policy goes into effect and your illness waiting period ends. Additionally, starting at 3 years of age, your pet’s teeth must have been cleaned and examined by a vet within the thirteen months leading up to the date of service for the periodontal disease claim. If you meet these requirements, coverage for periodontal disease will apply to “endodontic treatment for canine and carnassial teeth” in addition to extractions. Pets who are younger than 3 have no similar requirements and will receive coverage as long as it’s not a pre-existing condition.

Like most providers, Pets Best’s standard plan doesn’t cover routine cleanings. You’ll need to tack a wellness add-on to your plan for that—specifically, the second tier, which covers up to $150 for dental cleanings or spaying/neutering.

Coverage for Holistic and Behavioral Therapies

Pets Best largely does not cover holistic treatments or therapies, with the exception of acupuncture and chiropractic care. Other similar exclusions include herbal and experimental therapies and medications. If you’re a pet parent who likes the idea of having alternative therapies as an option for your pet, you may want to take a deeper look at other providers who have more extensive holistic coverage.

Treatment for behavioral conditions has some coverage, but it’s largely limited to consultations and prescription medication.

Other Features

One compelling Pets Best feature is its option for direct vet pay. Pets Best can pay your vet directly instead of reimbursing you, acting along the lines of a more typical human health insurance plan. Although this can reduce the costs that pet parents pay upfront, your vet’s office must be willing to participate in this option.

To use Vet Direct Pay, pet parents need to send a signed copy of the veterinarian reimbursement release form along with a completed claim. After the claim has been processed, any eligible reimbursement will be sent to the vet’s office. Note that pet parents are still responsible for paying any deductible, co-insurance, or items that aren’t eligible.

Pets Best also offers 24/7 telehealth services to any policyholder, which may provide peace of mind to new and inexperienced pet parents, especially.

Customer Experience

Choosing a pet insurance provider with dependable customer service is important for many pet parents, especially since navigating insurance can be difficult.

Here’s a high-level overview of Pets Best’s customer service.

How to get in touch

Pet parents can call 1-877-738-7237 from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. MST Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. MST on Saturday.

Pets Best also accepts physical mail at this address:

Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC
965 Keller Rd.
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

How to submit a claim

There are a few different options policyholders have to file a claim. Their online portal is the easiest way to submit a claim and view its status, but pet parents can also submit a claim through email at claims@petsbest.com.

They can also download a claims form, fill it out, and mail it to the physical address above. Another option is to request to let Pets Best pay your vet directly.

When filing your claim, Pets Best recommends that you pay attention to a few items to make the claims process smoother:

• Pay attention to your waiting periods so you don’t unnecessarily file a claim when it’s not eligible yet
• Include original paid invoices—estimates or unpaid invoices won’t be accepted
• Include proof of payment and be sure to sign your claim form

How to receive your reimbursement

Pets Best customers can set up direct deposit in their account, which may be a few days faster than being issued a paper check.

How to cancel a policy

To cancel your pet insurance policy, Pets Best requests that you contact them via phone, email, or mail. Your policy will be canceled the day they receive your cancellation notice.

Pets Best rankings and reviews

Pets Best is rated a 4/5 on TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau has given it an A+ rating, with a 2.83/5 average customer review. Many pet parents expressed satisfaction that the claims process was easy and straightforward, but that processing time was very slow, with many waiting 30 days or more for their claims to be processed.

Discounts

Pets Best offers a couple of discounts pet parents can take advantage of—a 5% multipet discount, as well as up to 10% off for vets, staff members, and their clients.

How We Reviewed

When reviewing pet insurance coverage, Rover takes many factors important to pet parents into consideration, including breadth of coverage, customizability, waiting period convenience, customer service experience, and more. We take a close look at customer satisfaction scores on TrustPilot and Better Business Bureau, while acknowledging that each pet parent has their own experience that may not apply to every consumer.

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?