These companies are often at the top of industry “best of” lists for their balance of coverage, customer service, and value.
1. Lemonade
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Leverages technology to keep prices highly competitive and offer a very fast, AI-driven claims process. Often the cheapest option for many pet owners.
- Best For: Tech-savvy customers looking for the best price and a streamlined app experience.
- Key Features: Optional preventative care packages, multi-pet discount, and gives back to charities through its Public Benefit Corp model.
2. Spot
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Offers highly customizable plans with a range of annual limits and deductibles. No upper age limit for enrollment.
- Best For: Pet owners who want maximum flexibility to tailor a plan to their exact budget and needs.
- Key Features: Choice of unlimited annual coverage, covers microchipping, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Embrace
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Excellent and unique benefits, including an diminishing deductible that reduces by $50 each year you don’t have a claim.
- Best For: Owners who want robust coverage with rewarding perks for healthy pets.
- Key Features: Covers exam fees for illnesses and accidents, strong dental illness coverage, and offers a healthy pet discount.
4. Healthy Paws
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Known for its simple, comprehensive policy and exceptionally fast claim reimbursement (often within 2 days).
- Best For: Pet owners seeking straightforward, unlimited lifetime coverage with no caps on payouts.
- Key Features: One simple plan with unlimited benefits, supports a nonprofit foundation that funds pet grants.
Strong Contenders with Unique Strengths
5. Pumpkin
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Offers a strong, default 90% reimbursement rate on all plans and includes coverage for preventative care not typically covered by others (like annual vet visit vaccines).
- Best For: Owners who want higher-than-average reimbursement and more inclusive preventative care.
- Key Features: Dental illness coverage is included, not an add-on. No upper age limits.
6. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance (Underwritten by Crum & Forster)
- Why It’s a Top Pick: A trusted name with a strong, straightforward policy. Excellent for pets with pre-existing conditions that may be curable.
- Best For: Older pets or those with curable conditions (like an infection), as it can be covered after 180 days with no symptoms.
- Key Features: No network restrictions, covers behavioral issues, and has a great reputation for customer service.
7. Trupanion
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Unique per-condition deductible model. You pay a deductible once per condition for the life of the pet, then it’s covered forever.
- Best For: Owners of breeds prone to chronic, lifelong conditions (e.g., allergies, diabetes).
- Key Features: Vets can often submit claims directly to Trupanion for payment, reducing out-of-pocket costs at checkout.
8. Fetch by The Dodo
- Why It’s a Top Pick: Offers one of the most comprehensive policies on the market, covering many things others don’t.
- Best For: Owners who want the most extensive coverage possible, regardless of cost.
- Key Features: Covers virtual vet visits, behavioral therapy, dental disease, and even boarding fees if you’re hospitalized.
9. Nationwide
- Why It’s a Top Pick: The only major provider to offer a Major Medical + Wellness plan, which covers everything from accidents and illnesses to routine checkups, vaccinations, and grooming.
- Best For: Those who want an “all-in-one” solution that works like a human health insurance plan.
- Key Features: Covers a wide variety of pets, including birds and exotic animals. Available to many employees as a voluntary benefit.
How to Choose the Right One for You (A Quick Guide)
- Get Multiple Quotes: Prices can vary dramatically for the same pet. Get quotes from at least 3-4 companies.
- Compare the “Big 3”:
- Premium: The monthly cost.
- Deductible: The amount you pay out-of-pocket before coverage starts (annual or per-condition).
- Reimbursement Rate: The percentage of the vet bill the company pays back (e.g., 70%, 80%, 90%).
- Annual Payout Limit: The maximum the company will pay in a year (e.g., $5,000, $10,000, Unlimited).
- Read the Fine Print: Understand what is and isn’t covered. Pay close attention to exclusions for breed-specific conditions, waiting periods, and how they handle “pre-existing conditions.”
- Check Customer Reviews: Look at recent reviews on sites like Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to gauge customer satisfaction with the claims process.