The Best Pet Insurance: A Pet Parent’s Guide

• This review contains affiliate links. Read more here.
• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

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.

This content was prepared by Rover as of January 3, 2023, and may not include all relevant changes since that date.

Choosing pet insurance can be one of the most daunting parts of pet parenthood. A good pet insurance policy will offer you financial protection, covering everything from your pet’s cuts and scrapes to ear infections, broken bones, and even cancer.

You could be reimbursed for vet exams, surgery, and medications for conditions that present after your plan kicks in. Some companies will offer a wellness add-on so even routine vet visits and vaccinations are covered, or they’ll give you access to a 24/7 pet telehealth program.

But figuring out what kind of policy you need—with what key benefits—can be tough. There’s no one-size-fits-all plan.

Use this guide to learn about a few options, then compare quotes through our partner Fletch to discover what works best for your pet’s breed, age, and location.

Not ready to dive into the world of quotes? Get your questions about pet insurance answered: consider whether pet insurance is right for you, figure out what pet insurance covers, or learn about wellness plans and pre-existing conditions—then come back and see what meets your furry friend’s needs.

• Best Overall: Spot
• Runner Up: Pumpkin
• Best Coverage: Lemonade
• Best for Puppies: Pets Best
• Best for Senior Pets: Prudent Pet
• Best for Dental: Fetch
• Best for No Copay: Figo
• Best for Easy Claims: Healthy Paws

Best Overall Pet Insurance: Spot

Pet insurance has made enormous strides in recent years, and Spot is leading the pack with comprehensive plans made for the medical realities of pet parenthood.

Its basic “accident and illness” policy covers as a matter of course what other companies consider extras and add-ons. Plus its wait periods are reasonable, and it lets pet parents choose between a wide range of deductibles, reimbursements, and maximums. We think it’s a shoo-in for the number-one spot.

Unusual perk: For vet-recommended behavioral treatments (think aggression or separation anxiety), Spot will cover sessions with a certified trainer. That’s something a lot of pet insurance companies won’t do.

Worth watching: Because it has cost ceilings on the low side for various kinds of preventive care, Spot’s wellness add-on is a little lackluster. We don’t think this poses a major problem (read about why you shouldn’t pick a pet insurance provider based on a wellness plan), but it’s worth factoring into your budget.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; wellness add-on available
• Option for unlimited coverage, up to 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be eligible for treatment if symptom-free for 6 months
• 15-day wait period for illnesses, including hip and knee issues
• Exam fees covered (when related to accident and injury)
• No upper age limit
• Covers alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and rehabilitative therapy, plus some dental and behavioral treatments
• 10% multi-pet discount on all additional pets
• 24/7 pet telehealth provided by VetAccess

Runner Up: Pumpkin

Pumpkin is an easy second choice, since Pumpkin and number-one pick Spot offer very similar “accident and illness” plans.

Unusual perk: We like Pumpkin’s short 15-day wait period for hip and knee injuries—something most plans won’t ever cover if symptoms appear in the six to twelve months after you enroll. Because signs of hip dysplasia often show up in very young dogs, this policy is a real boon to pet parents with large breeds.

Worth watching: Unlike Spot, Pumpkin offers just one reimbursement rate: 90%. That can be a little disappointing for pet parents who want to lower their reimbursement rate in exchange for lower monthly fees or deductibles.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; wellness add-on available
• Option for unlimited coverage, 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be eligible for treatment if symptom-free for 6 months
• 15-day wait period for illnesses, including hip and knee issues
• Exam fees covered (when related to accident and injury)
• No upper age limit
• Covers alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and rehabilitative therapy, plus some dental and behavioral treatments
• 10% multi-pet discount on all additional pets

Spot vs. Pumpkin: Breakdown

Wondering how Spot and Pumpkin compare? Spot edges Pumpkin out for the number-one slot by virtue of its more customizable deductible and reimbursement options, meaning it’s easier to find the right fit for your budget, and a 24/7 vet helpline that’s especially nice for new pet parents. But in essentials, the two plans are nearly identical winners.

Best Coverage: Lemonade

Lemonade is one of the strongest pet insurance options out there thanks to its impressive coverage. We gave preference to Spot and Pumpkin because they cover most (but not all) of Lemonade’s offerings in one pre-built plan—but some pet parents might like Lemonade better, since it lets them pick and choose.

Unusual perk: Lemonade’s plans can be customized to cover exam fees, physical therapy, dental illness, behavioral conditions, and end-of-life care—plus more traditional preventive treatments.

Worth watching: Pricing. Some of Lemonade’s really appealing perks are tucked away in add-ons, which will nudge your monthly premiums a little higher.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; wellness add-on available
• Option for up to $100k annual coverage, up to 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be eligible for treatment if symptom-free for 12 months in some states
• 14-day wait period for illnesses, 6-month wait period for cruciate ligament events
• Exam fees covered with add-on
• Pets over 14 years of age can’t enroll
• Dental, alternative, physical and behavioral therapies, and end-of-life care covered with add-ons
• 5% multi-pet discount, 10% discount if you bundle home insurance
• No vet helpline available

Best Pet Insurance for Puppies: Pets Best

Pets Best is a workhorse of an option, with reasonable coverage across a wide range of pet health problems and three tiers of accident and illness plans, ranging from modest to generous.

Unusual perk: The combination of a high-value wellness add-on and a free 24/7 pet telehealth service offers peace of mind to new pet parents who have vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and microchipping to get through.

Worth watching: Especially strict policies around pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses make this a rough plan for pets enrolling as seniors. Also of note is Pets Best’s language around injuries caused by repetitive behavior; repeat mischief can leave a pet uncovered for the same health issue for 18 months.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; wellness add-on available
• Option for unlimited coverage, up to 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• Wait periods vary from state to state
• Exam fees covered by some but not all accident and illness plans
• No upper age limit
• Some dental and alternative treatment coverage, little to no behavioral treatment coverage
• 5% multi-pet discount on all additional pets
• 24/7 pet helpline
• Some direct vet pay available

Best Pet Insurance for Senior Pets: Prudent Pet

Prudent Pet offers a lot of flexibility with their plans. You can opt in to more affordable, basic coverage than what other companies typically offer. That can be a good choice for elderly pets, whose pre-existing conditions may keep them from benefitting from a policy with all the bells and whistles.

Have a super senior on your hands? Prudent Pet guarantees that your pet’s coverage won’t shrink as they age. There’s no upper age limit, and physical and alternative therapies are often covered if prescribed by a vet.

Unusual perk: Prudent Pet’s waiting periods are senior-friendly. Knee and ligament issues, for example, require a six-month wait that can be waived if your pet receives a clean bill of health within 30 days of your plan’s start date.

Worth watching: Prudent Pet’s most bare-bones option is, well, pretty bare. It’s important to read the sample policies for the lowest-cost plans to make sure you feel good about your level of coverage.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; wellness add-on available
• Option for unlimited coverage, up to 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be eligible for treatment if symptom-free for 12 months
• 14-day wait period for illness, waivable 6-month wait period for knee and ligament issues
• Exam fees are an add-on
• No upper age limit
• Strong end-of-life expenses coverage; some coverage for behavioral, dental, and alternative treatments
• 24/7 pet telehealth line

Best for Dental: Fetch by the Dodo

Fetch offers strong coverage with a range of deductible and reimbursement options. Together with some especially well-targeted perks, your pet’s alternative and homeopathic treatments, including up to $1,000 in vet-recommended behavioral therapy, could be covered.

The real winner, though, is their broad dental coverage. Dental issues are one of the most common and most underestimated vet expenses that can hit out of nowhere and leave a massive hole in your wallet.

Unusual perk: While some plans only cover physical damage to teeth (think chipping) or canine teeth, Fetch covers treatment for injury and disease in every adult tooth, plus gum disease. It doesn’t cover routine cleanings, since that’s preventive care—but neither do most other accident and illness plans.

Worth watching: Fetch doesn’t offer a wellness add-on for routine care or a 24/7 vet healthline, which makes it a little less friendly to young pets than some competitors.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; no wellness add-on available
• Option for up to $15k annual coverage, up to 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be eligible for treatment if symptom-free for 12 months
• 15-day wait period for illnesses, 6-month wait period for hip and knee issues (waivable with exam)
• Exam fees covered (when related to accident and injury)
• No upper age limit
• Excellent dental coverage; some coverage for behavioral and alternative therapies
• No multi-pet discount
• No vet helpline available

Best for No Copay: Figo

Figo offers a nice array of policy options, including reimbursement up to 100% and a variety of deductible and annual maximum choices (including unlimited).

The provider’s distinguishing feature is “Powerups” (what most insurers call “add-ons”), which make it possible to get coverage for an impressive array of sticky situations. Stand-out coverage areas include vacation cancellation due to pet emergencies, lost-pet advertising, and vet-recommended behavioral treatment.

Unusual perk: Figo’s transparency report is an especially nice touch. After your first month on a Figo plan, you can submit your pet’s medical records to find out what Figo will consider a pre-existing condition in your pet. Don’t like the answer? You can cancel the policy.

Worth watching: Vet exam fees resulting from an injury or illness are part of a Powerup package, meaning you’re paying extra for something some competitors cover as a matter of course.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; wellness add-on available
• Option for unlimited coverage, up to 100% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• “Curable” pre-existing conditions may be eligible for treatment if symptom-free for 12 months
• 14-day wait period for illnesses, 6-month wait period for hip and knee issues
• Exam fees covered as powerup
• No upper age limit
• Some coverage for alternative, behavioral, physical therapy, and dental treatments; may require powerups
• 5% multi-pet discount
• Free 24/7 pet telehealth

Best for Easy Claims: Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws distinguishes itself with a strong combination of unlimited annual coverage and competitive pricing for dogs and cats of all ages. They don’t yet have the add-ons many of their competitors have achieved—but their plan is straightforward, and we like their commitment to helping homeless pets by donating with every quote.

Unusual perk: Healthy Paws boasts quick, easy claim-processing within an average of two days and excellent customer service. Reviewers largely agree.

Worth watching: Healthy Paws doesn’t currently offer a wellness add-on, and they don’t cover exam fees, unlike some competitors. They also don’t cover some knee and ligament issues in pets who are enrolled after the age of six—even if they have no pre-existing conditions.

Notable features:

• Accident and illness coverage; no wellness add-on
• Unlimited annual coverage, up to 90% reimbursement, and deductible choices
• 15-day wait period for illnesses, 12-month wait period for hip dysplasia in pets under six
• Exam fees not covered
• Pets over 14 years of age can’t enroll
• Some coverage for alternative treatments and physical therapy; behavioral treatment and dental not covered
• No multi-pet discount available
• No pet helpline available
• Direct vet pay available

Note: Not all providers are available in all 50 states.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance

Is pet insurance worth it?

Every pet parent’s needs are different—as are their pets’! The answer depends on what feels right for you. The factors at play are most often your pet’s age and breed, your location, and how you like to make financial decisions.

At its best, pet insurance is a peace-of-mind purchase that ensures you never have to make the choice between financial disaster and a life-saving treatment for your friend.

But a bad policy can be a drain—which is why we’ve partnered with Fletch and tried to do the homework for you so you can pick the option that works for you.

Need more help figuring out if pet insurance is right for you? See How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost, and Is It Worth It?

How does pet insurance work?

Pet insurance is health insurance for pets. For the most part, it works a lot like human health insurance—it’s meant to protect you financially in the event of accidents or illnesses that require a veterinarian’s treatment.

But there are some key differences to be aware of. For example, pet insurance is typically a reimbursement program—meaning you’ll pay your vet, and your insurance company will pay you.

It’s also important to know that most pet insurance plans are built for emergencies and unexpected health issues, not regular wellness visits to a vet (though many offer wellness add-ons).

Last, virtually no pet insurance company will cover a pre-existing condition, but some have better policies than others when it comes to determining what a pre-existing condition is.

See What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

What does pet insurance cover?

A typical pet insurance plan covers treatment when your pet is injured or ill. It usually doesn’t cover routine care like yearly exams, vaccinations, and dental care.

In some cases, you can purchase add-on coverage for preventive care or prescriptions and medication (usually part of a what’s called a “wellness plan”). Other plans cover alternative/holistic care or telehealth services, and a few offer pet boarding in the event of your own illness or incapacity.

Pre-existing conditions are never covered, and whether congenital issues go the same way can depend on your plan—which is why it’s a good idea to take a careful look at your policy’s fine print.

See What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

What are pre-existing conditions?

Pre-existing conditions are health issues that have been detected (either through a formal diagnosis or a record of symptoms) before you purchased your pet insurance policy.

It can be difficult to know what might count as a pre-existing condition when you purchase insurance—so if you’re on the fence, prioritize a company that will (if requested) review your pet’s medical record at the time of purchase and tell you what they consider “pre-existing.”

The same goes for hereditary and congenital issues—like breathing problems in Pugs. Not all insurance companies cover those, so it’s worth considering health problems your pet might be predisposed to and comparing them against your prospective policy.

See How Does a Pre-Existing Condition Affect Pet Insurance Coverage?

What are “curable” pre-existing conditions?

“Curable” pre-existing conditions are health issues that predate your policy’s start date that can be satisfactorily resolved with no expectation of recurrence. A good example is an ear infection. Yes, your pet has had one before—but if a medicated cleanser or antibiotic resolved it, there’s no reason to anticipate your pet will get another one. The condition was cured!

Some pet insurance providers may cover a curable pre-existing condition if enough time has passed since its last appearance, but the definition of “curable” varies from provider to provider.

See How Does a Pre-Existing Condition Affect Pet Insurance Coverage?

What are pet insurance wait periods?

A “wait period” is the amount of time you have to wait between when your policy goes into effect and when your insurance will cover treatment for a given condition. There are typically three wait periods:

1. Accidents. Injuries like sprains, broken bones, and scratches fall under this heading. The wait period for accidents is usually very low, somewhere between one and three days.
2. Illnesses. This includes conditions like diarrhea and ear infections as well as more complicated diseases like diabetes and glaucoma. Wait periods for these are typically around 14 or 15 days.
3. Hip and knee conditions. This usually includes injury or disease in cruciate ligaments and hips, like an ACL tear or hip dysplasia. Wait periods vary from a rare 15 days to a more typical 6, 12, or even 18 months.

If your dog develops these conditions—or symptoms of them—during a wait period, it will be considered a pre-existing condition, and treatment won’t be covered.

See How Does a Pre-Existing Condition Affect Pet Insurance Coverage?

How much does pet insurance cost?

Pet insurance premiums vary widely based on the breed of your pet, their age, and your location (the latter because the cost of veterinary care differs significantly from state to state).

There are also different kinds of plans. A bare-bones policy that just covers emergencies, for example, will be cheaper than one that includes preventive care.

You can also make customizations to your deductible, maximum, and reimbursement rates to get higher or lower premiums:

1. If you pick a higher deductible, you’ll pay less each month.
2. If you pick a lower annual maximum (sometimes called the annual limit), you’ll pay less each month.
3. If you pick a lower reimbursement rate, you’ll pay less each month.

In short, pet insurance costs are determined by your pet’s particular circumstances, the plan you pick, and the customizations you make. The easiest way to figure out what you might pay is to get a quote.

See How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost, and Is It Worth It?

What’s a wellness plan?

A wellness plan is an insurance policy or add-on that covers routine healthcare costs, like check-ups, exams, teeth cleanings, and some medications.

Since routine vet visits and costs are pretty predictable, it’s surprisingly easy to do the math on a wellness plan and see if it’s really going to save you money.

See The Best Pet Insurance Wellness Plans: How Preventive Care Add-Ons Work

Pet insurance or pet savings account?

Some pet parents prefer a pet savings account to pet insurance. The major perk of a savings account is control: unlike with an insurance plan, you know you’ll never pay more than you really need to.

The downside, though, is that making sure you’re always able to tell a vet “yes” to treatment requires substantial savings. Treatment for cancer, common in older pets, could easily exceed $10,000. And it’s not hard to accidentally drain a savings account when other emergencies arise.

Plus, there are scenarios where pet insurance saves pet parents money in the long run.

Ultimately, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. A pet savings account is a great way to pay for routine expenses, while an insurance plan can protect you financially against a sudden, disastrous financial burden.

See How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost, and Is It Worth It?

Methodology

The above pet insurance providers were highlighted from the options available through our partner Fletch based on the effectiveness and affordability of their accident and illness plans, especially with regard to breadth of coverage, customizability, pricing, wait periods, age restrictions, and the efficacy of add-ons. Special attention was given to companies that offered meaningful coverage for dental, behavioral, and alternative treatments like physical therapy—realities of modern pet parenthood that often go overlooked.

This guide was prepared as of January 3, 2023, and may not include all relevant changes since that date.

Further Reading

• How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost, and Is It Worth It?
• What Does Pet Insurance Cover? Everything You Need to Know
• Pet Insurance and Pre-Existing Conditions—What To Know Before You Buy
• How to Help Your Dog in a Health Emergency
• How to Create an Awesome Pet First Aid Kit: A Step by Step Guide
• Rover’s Guide to Pet Fire Safety
• How to Create an Emergency Preparedness Plan for Your Pets

Pets Best Disclaimer: Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, a New York insurance company headquartered at 6100 4th Ave. S. Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98108, or Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste. 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (CA agency #0F37530) is a licensed insurance agency located at 10840 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28277. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Please refer to your declarations page to determine the underwriter for your policy. Terms and conditions apply. See your policy for details.