The Best Pet Insurance Companies of July 2024

Lemonade is our top pick due to its affordable accident-and-illness and wellness plans and excellent customer care. Plans start at around $19 per month, which may appeal to pet parents looking to spend less. Lemonade also offers a 5% annual discount, a 5% discount for enrolling multiple pets and a 10% discount for bundling your policy with Lemonade property insurance.

Standout feature: Lemonade features a best-in-class mobile app that lets customers enroll pets in seconds and get paid for covered claims in minutes. You can also manage your pet’s health, file claims and track policy coverage and billing. While our research shows that most other providers in this review offer a mobile app, we found that Lemonade had the highest mobile app rating in the Apple app store when compared to Pets Best, Embrace, Fetch and more.

Lemonade offers a base pet insurance plan for accidents and illnesses, preventative care packages and a variety of optional add-ons. Its accident and illness plan allows pet owners to choose an annual coverage limit between $5,000 and $100,000, with deductible options ranging from $100 to $500 and reimbursement rates from 70% to 90%.

After gathering quotes from Lemonade and other top providers in the industry, we found that Lemonade was one of the cheapest pet insurance providers overall — notably for dogs. The average Lemonade plan cost for dogs is $52 per month, while the overall average is $60. The average cost of a Lemonade policy for cats is $29 per month, compared to a nationwide average of $32.

To better understand customer experiences, we polled 1,000 pet owners with insurance policies from our top providers in our third annual pet insurance survey in April 2024. Of the 62 respondents who reported having a policy with Lemonade, over half chose the provider for its coverage offerings and low pricing. Most of those pet owners reported reimbursement within one to two weeks.

However, some respondents noted frustration over a long waiting period for reimbursement. Our team reached out to Lemonade for comment on reimbursement times but the company did not offer a response. Still, 27% experienced no issues or frustration, and over 87% of participants felt that, based on their experience with Lemonade, a pet insurance policy is worth the money.

One participant with a Lemonade policy said this about their experience with pet insurance:

“We had an emergency a few years ago that cost almost $10,000. We will never go without pet insurance again.”

We featured the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA Pet Health Insurance ) Pet Health Insurance for its impressive reputation, long-standing industry experience and comprehensive coverage. Born out of a strategic partnership between ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group in 2006, ASPCA’s pet health insurance is one of the oldest in the industry.

Standout feature: In a relatively young industry, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance stands out for partnering with Crum & Foster Pet Insurance Group, which was founded in 1997. If you’re interested in other seasoned providers, Trupanion was founded in 1998, while Nationwide added pet coverage to its insurance lineup in 1999.

We named ASPCA Pet Health Insurance our pick for older pets, as the company has no age-related coverage reductions or enrollment restrictions for senior pets. Available in all 50 U.S. states, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers both an accident and illness and accident-only plan, with a preventative care add-on available to cover wellness care services.

According to quotes we’ve gathered, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is affordable compared to average premium costs nationwide. It ranked in our top five cheapest pet insurance companies, with an average cost of $50 per month for dogs and $22 for cats. The national averages calculated by our team include $60 and $32 for dogs and cats, respectively.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance was the most popular provider in our April 2024 survey — 295 out of 1,000 pet owners have a policy with the company. Over half of those respondents chose ASPCA Pet Health Insurance due to its coverage and positive online reviews.

Sixty-two percent of respondents with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan have filed a claim, with over half of these policyholders receiving reimbursement within two weeks or less. However, 25% of those pet owners felt frustrated with a long claims review process. Our team reached out to ASPCA Pet Health Insurance for a comment on its claims process but did not receive a response. Despite this, 88% of respondents with a policy felt that pet insurance was worth it based on their experience with the company.

One respondent with an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan had the following to say about their experience:

“I think [pet insurance] is worth it for peace of mind. I’ve had other animals in the past that I spent up to $10,000 on for surgery. Having pet insurance makes me feel protected and that I am doing the best for my pet.”

Pets Best is our pick for vet direct pay. Once your claim is approved, reimbursement for eligible vet expenses is sent directly to your veterinarian, rather than you having to wait to submit a claim after receiving service. Pets Best has three different levels of coverage to choose from, as well as two levels of wellness add-ons. The Elite plan covers rehabilitation, acupuncture and chiropractic care, which is not covered by some other plans.

Standout feature: Pets Best offers a 24/7 Pet Helpline with access to veterinary experts for support if you have questions about your pet. It also has an easy-to-use app to submit claims, manage your policy, check your benefits and store your pet’s medical records. If you’re looking for other providers with a helpline, Embrace, Pets Best, Figo offer similar services.

Pets Best offers an accident-only and accident and illness plan, with the latter providing a choice of three coverage tiers. It also offers two wellness add-ons covering preventative care services such as microchipping, vaccinations, heartworm preventatives and more. There are six deductible options and three reimbursement rates to choose from, with your choice of a $5,000 or unlimited annual coverage limit.

According to our research, the average cost of a Pets Best policy is $41 per month for dogs and $23 for cats, which is less than the national averages we calculated of $60 and $32, respectively. Note that this provider’s accident-only plan may suit pet owners looking for cheap coverage, as it costs $6 per month for cats and $9 for dogs.

With 108 out of 1,000 respondents selecting Pets Best, the provider was one of the most popular among pet owners in our April 2024 survey. Many pet owners chose Pets Best because of positive customer reviews, available discounts and their pet’s coverage needs.

Over 60% of pet owners with a Pets Best policy reported having filed at least one claim, with over a quarter of respondents noting issues with the reimbursement waiting period. While over 40% of customers received reimbursement within one to two weeks, over 26% of respondents reported having to wait three weeks or longer. Despite this, 83% of respondents with a Pets Best plan feel that pet insurance is worth it based on their experience.

Our team reached out to Pets Best for comment on its claim process and received the following response from Melissa Gutierrez, the company’s CEO:

“Pets Best strives to offer the best pet insurance plans with coverage options that allow customer control over veterinary expenses. Our well-trained staff is experienced in the veterinary industry, and we’re here to answer any questions about coverage options. We know that pets are part of your family, and we do everything we can to keep every family member’s tail wagging.”

One participant with a Pets Best policy said this about their experience with pet insurance:

“My young dog jumped at the window and went through it. I had great peace of mind knowing whatever she needed would be covered aside from my 20% responsibility after my deductible. I could focus on her getting well instead of wondering if I could afford it.”

Embrace stands out for the additional savings it offers pet owners, including a 10% discount for each additional pet policy you purchase, a 5% military discount and an employee benefit program that offers 10% off to employees of companies that offer Embrace pet insurance.

Standout feature: Embrace offers the Healthy Pet Deductible benefit, which credits pet owners with $50 toward their deductible each consecutive year they don’t file a claim. Based on our research, Embrace, Spot and Fetch are the only providers featured in this review that offer this benefit.

Embrace offers an accident and illness policy covering accidents, injuries, diseases and illnesses. It also provides a wellness rewards program similar to a flexible spending account (FSA) found through many human health insurance plans. You’ll pay a fixed amount monthly and can access a total coverage stipend for your pet, which covers approved preventative care services.

We found the average cost of an Embrace pet insurance plan is $64 per month for dogs and $33 for cats. This is almost 7% more than the national average for dogs and 3% more for cats. While Embrace didn’t make our list of the cheapest pet insurance providers, it does offer stackable discounts that can bring down your overall insurance premium by up to 25%.

Of the 29 respondents who selected Embrace as their pet’s insurance provider, most enrolled with the company due to its positive customer reviews and coverage selection. In addition, 62% of respondents have filed a claim with Embrace at least once, with most payouts occurring within one to two weeks.

While half of the respondents with an Embrace policy have yet to experience issues with the claims process, others noted long waiting periods for reimbursement. Our team reached out to Embrace for comment on its reimbursement processing and received the following response from Amber Batteiger, a company spokesperson:

“I’d like to clarify that initial claims may take slightly longer to process, primarily if we haven’t received the necessary veterinary records in advance. On average, wellness claims are reimbursed within 4.4 days, and accident and illness claims within 8.1 days.”

However, almost 83% of participants felt that pet insurance was worth it based on their experience, with one respondent noting that “it’s good to have if something serious happens to your pet.”

Another respondent with an Embrace plan had the following to say about pet insurance:

“It protects me from paying completely unnecessary amounts of money toward vet bills, especially as my pups get older. I feel better knowing they are backed by insurance.”

Our experts chose Figo as the most affordable pet insurance, scoring 4.6 out of 5 stars according to our rating methodology. The provider also offers unlimited annual benefits and a range of useful add-ons to make your plan comprehensive, such as liability coverage for damages or injuries your pet causes.

Standout feature: While most companies limit reimbursements to 90% of covered veterinary bills, Figo has a reimbursement option of 100%. In addition, it has a one-day waiting period for accidents, which is shorter than nearly all providers in our review. Only Embrace offers a comparable accident waiting period, with accidents covered from your policy’s effective start date.

Figo provides three set accident and illness plans for pet owners to choose from. In addition, it offers a custom plan option that allows you to tailor the reimbursement rate, annual coverage limit and deductible to meet your pet’s needs and your budget. You’ll also find optional add-ons for wellness coverage and vet exam fees. Note that available deductible options depend on your pet’s age.

Figo made our list of the best cheap pet insurance companies, with the average policy costing $27 per month for dogs and $15 for cats. This is less than the national averages we calculated of $60 and $32, respectively. With no upper age limit restrictions, Figo may offer a cost-effective policy for those with senior pets.

The Pet Cloud app allows for policy and claims management and serves as a hub for your pet parenting needs. You can use it for 24/7 pet telehealth, storing your pet’s medical records, connecting with like-minded pet owners, or setting reminders for vet appointments.

Of our 1,000 survey respondents, 30 pet owners reported having an insurance policy with Figo. Almost 30% of those pet owners chose Figo because of its positive online reviews, whereas others liked the company’s coverage offerings. However, 30% of respondents who have filed a claim noted they experienced a long review process. Our team reached out to Figo for comment on its processing times and did not receive a response. Based on their experience with Figo, 83% of respondents felt that pet insurance was worth it.

One Figo policyholder had the following to say about why pet insurance is worth it:

“I have owned all different types of breeds and sizes of dogs, and all of them have had either chronic or acute medical issues at some point in their life. These medical issues generally cost a lot of money out of pocket.”

Spot offers some of the most customizable pet insurance policies due to its seven annual coverage limit options (ranging from $2,500 to unlimited), five deductible options and three reimbursement rates. This allows pet owners to find the right balance between their plan’s level of coverage and affordability. Spot Pet Insurance is also ideal for pet owners who want a low-cost accident-only plan.

Standout feature: Spot’s policies cover a few items that aren’t offered by many other pet insurance providers, such as exam fees and microchipping. Like Embrace and Fetch, Spot also reduces your deductible each year you go without filing a claim.

Spot offers customers a choice of either an accident and illness or an accident-only plan. You can also choose between two wellness plans that provide coverage for vaccines, annual exams and more. Our team named Spot the provider with the most customizable plan options thanks to its five deductible options, three reimbursement rates, and seven annual limits.

While Spot is the most customizable option in our review, it’s not the cheapest, according to our research and quotes gathered. The average Spot plan for dogs costs $68 per month, with the national average in our review being $60. The average plan for cats through Spot costs $30, with the national average sitting at $32.

Of the 25 out of 1,000 survey respondents who reported having pet insurance with Spot, the majority chose the provider because its coverage fit their pet’s needs. Almost 30% of those respondents have filed one or more claims with Spot without any major issues. On average, pet owners reported claims settlement within three to four weeks.

While 63% of respondents reported that Spot had not denied any of their claims, others noted a pre-existing condition or policy waiting period as reason for rejection. Our team reached out to Spot for comment on these claims but did not receive a response. Based on their experience, 80% of respondents with a policy from Spot said that pet insurance is worth it.

One survey participant with a Spot plan said the following about why they personally feel pet a insurance policy is worth it:

“You never know what emergencies could happen. My fur baby deserves to have the best care available.”

Fetch is our top choice for cat and dog owners interested in therapies and treatments that other pet insurance providers don’t always cover. It offers one comprehensive plan that includes everything from accidents to illnesses to sick exam fees and telehealth vet visits for your pet. Fetch also includes extensive coverage of therapies related to behavioral issues like separation anxiety or aggression.

Standout feature: Fetch also stands out for its coverage of holistic care and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, homeopathy and stem-cell therapy. Our research found that when providers offer these treatments, it’s usually considered an add-on and excluded from standard coverage.

Fetch is our pick for comprehensive coverage thanks to its extensive list of covered treatments and therapies — many of which other pet insurance companies we reviewed don’t offer. While you’ll only find one accident and illness plan with Fetch, it provides three wellness coverage tiers. Some unique coverages Fetch offers include lost pet advertising and reward reimbursement, virtual veterinary visits, and pet loss coverage due to theft or straying.

The average monthly cost of a policy from Fetch is $50 for dogs and $28 for cats, which is less than the national average of $60 and $32, respectively. Fetch may be ideal for pet parents seeking more comprehensive coverage for their dog or cat versus a budget-friendly plan.

According to our survey data, 29 of our 1,000 respondents have a pet insurance policy with Fetch. The top reasons for selecting Fetch include its coverage options and positive customer reviews. Of the pet owners with a Fetch policy, 45% have filed a claim between one and two times, with many reporting issues of long waiting periods for claims review and reimbursement. Our team reached out to Fetch for comment on its claims processing but did not receive a response. Despite this, 62% of Fetch customers reported receiving a claims payout within one to two weeks.

Many pet owners stated that their policy’s waiting period was the top reason why Fetch has denied their claims. However, 79% of respondents with Fetch think pet insurance is worth it based on their experience with the company.

One Fetch policyholder had the following to say about their pet’s insurance plan:

“It was worth it because although I had to pay up front for a procedure, knowing I was going to be reimbursed really helped with my stress levels.”

We named Trupanion the best pet insurance for service animals. The provider offers one accident and injury plan with a 90% reimbursement rate and unlimited coverage. Although Trupanion does not allow you to customize these options, its standard plan provides substantial coverage. The company does offer highly customizable deductibles, with options ranging from no deductible to $1,000.

Trupanion also offers direct pay with partnering veterinary practices. Most other providers require you to pay the entire bill upfront and then reimburse you after you file a claim. However, vet direct pay is only available at veterinary clinics that use Trupanion’s software. If you’d prefer a provider that offers vet direct pay with no limit on your clinic choices, it may be worth considering our pick for vet direct pay, Pets Best.

Trupanion only offers one plan type with a standard 90% reimbursement rate and an unlimited coverage model. This plan covers accidents and illnesses, with optional recovery, complementary care and pet owner assistance add-ons available. These add-ons can cover acupuncture, rehabilitative services such as hydrotherapy, behavioral treatments, cremation or burial, third-party property damage liability and more.

The average cost of a Trupanion pet insurance policy is $131 per month for dogs and $51 for cats. Our research shows that Trupanion is one of the most expensive providers we’ve reviewed, likely due to the high standard reimbursement rate and unlimited coverage it offers. If you’re looking for a plan on a budget, you may want to look elsewhere for pet insurance.

Thirty-one out of 1,000 respondents in our survey reported having a pet insurance policy with Trupanion, most selected the company for its available coverage options. Over half of pet owners with Trupanion have filed at least one claim, and 45% of those respondents have not experienced any problems with the process.

However, a quarter of respondents who filed a claim noted that the provider denied it. The most common reason for denial was due to a pre-existing condition followed by their policy’s waiting period. Our team reached out to Trupanion for comment on these claims but did not receive a response. Overall, 74% of pet owners with Trupanion think pet insurance is worth it.

One participant with a policy from Trupanion said this about why they appreciate their coverage:

“It’s nice to know that if something ever were to happen, I wouldn’t have to deal with the heartbreak of not being able to provide necessary medical care because I couldn’t pay for it.”

We’ve named Nationwide our pick for Nationwide members. While Nationwide is known for offering auto, home or renters insurance, it also writes pet insurance policies. The insurance giant insures more than 1.1 million pets in the U.S. and is the only provider on this list to include unlimited wellness care and medical coverage in its standard plan.

Standout feature: Nationwide is also the only top pet insurer featured in this review to cover reptiles, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs and exotic pets. If your furry friend isn’t a cat or a dog, Nationwide may top your list of options.

Nationwide has three plans for dogs and cats, all providing accident, illness and wellness coverage with various reimbursement rates. It also offers plans for birds and other exotic animals such as reptiles, rabbits or guinea pigs. Nationwide extends wellness coverage as an add-on with its Modular Pet and Major Medical plans but excludes this coverage from its Whole Pet plan.

Our research found that the average cost of a Nationwide policy is $50 per month for dogs and $21 for cats. It’s worth noting that the My Pet Protection plan offers per-paycheck pricing versus monthly rates, as it’s only available through your employer. This is based on a 26-pay period per year cycle, but your employer’s payment schedule may affect your total costs.

As one of the more popular providers in our survey, a total of 118 out of 1,000 pet owners had a policy with Nationwide. Thirty percent of those pet owners selected Nationwide for its coverage options, and 47% of respondents have filed a claim. Of those that filed a claim with Nationwide, over 25% of respondents experienced no issues with the claims process.

Still, other pet owners noted a long claims review process and a frustrating customer service experience. Despite this, 89% of respondents with a Nationwide policy for their pet feel that pet insurance is worth it. Our team reached out to Nationwide regarding these statistics and received the following response:

“We’re not surprised that nine out of 10 of your respondents feel pet insurance is worth it,” said a company spokesperson. “We strive to provide the best claims experience possible and are always seeking ways we can continuously improve.”

One Nationwide policyholder had the following to say about why pet insurance is worth it:

“It covered tooth extractions, which would have been thousands of dollars for the surgery and anesthesia without a pet insurance policy.”

Healthy Paws offers unlimited annual and lifetime coverage caps. It’s our pick for the most affordable unlimited coverage because its monthly rates are cheaper when compared to similar plans offered by competitors such as Prudent Pet or Spot.

Standout feature: Healthy Paws also processes most claims in two business days, which is comparatively fast to other providers. For example, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance states it processes most claims in 30 days or less, and Spot says it takes an average of five to seven days. Our analysis of consumer reviews through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot suggests this claim from Healthy Paws is accurate.

As mentioned, Healthy Paws has one accident and illness policy with no maximum limits on claim payouts and no per-incident, annual or lifetime coverage caps. While this plan is customizable by the deductible and reimbursement rate, Healthy Paws offers pets 6 years and older higher deductibles and lower reimbursement rates than younger pets.

Coming in fifth place on our recommended list of the cheapest pet insurance companies, the average pet insurance policy with Healthy Paws is $49 per month for dogs and $19 for cats. If you’re looking for unlimited annual coverage caps and affordable rates, you might consider a plan from this provider.

Healthy Paws ranked among the top choices for pet owners in our April 2024 survey, with 178 out of 1,000 respondents selecting the company. Many pet owners chose Healthy Paws to insure their pets due to its coverage options and positive customer reviews. Almost 50% of pet owners have filed a claim with Healthy Paws, with most reimbursements occurring within one to two weeks.

While some respondents reported long wait times for claims reimbursements and a long claims review process, 31% of those who have filed a claim reported no issues with the process. Our team reached out to Healthy Paws for comment on its claims process and did not receive a response. Based on their experience, 91% of Healthy Paws policyholders feel pet insurance is worth it.

One Healthy Paws policyholder said the following about why pet insurance is worth it:

“I feel that pet insurance is worth it because emergencies happen, and surgeries can cost thousands of dollars. If you have insurance, that cost is significantly lowered. It can literally make a difference in saving your dog’s life.”