Best Pet Insurance Companies In August 2023: Reviews & Comparison Tables

By Kimberly Alt / Last updated August 16, 2023 / 36 minutes of reading

This content was reviewed by our licensed insurance agent, Michelle Schenker.

To keep the lights on, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. Our review process.

To help you select the best pet insurance for your pet, we rank companies based on policy coverage, customer service and reputation, timeliness of claim payment, policy price, plan customization, and what companies excel in. We review the pet insurance industry’s most reputable companies, research extensively, and analyze customer feedback.

Our licensed insurance agent fact-checks everything, and we update our coverage throughout the year as providers adjust their policies, premiums, payout limits, reimbursements, customer service experience, and more. The best overall pet insurance company is Pets Best, but depending on your needs, you may find another of our top picks to be a better fit.

Pet Insurance Ranking	Best Overall	Best For Young Pets	Best No-Cap Payouts	Best Coverage	Best Value	Best Newcomer
Company
Policy Price (avg)	Variable	Variable	Variable	Higher	Lower	Average
Policy Coverage	Extensive	Extensive	Limited	Extensive	Extensive	Limited
Customer Service & Reputation	Good	Good	Excellent, Stable	Excellent, Stable	Excellent, Stable	Uncertain, New
Claim Processing (avg)	7-14 Days	5-6 Days	2 Days	5 Days	3 Days	2 Days
Vet Direct Pay Option
Plan Customization Options	Many	Many	Restricted	Many	Many	Many
	Get A Quote	Get A Quote	Get A Quote	Get A Quote	Get A Quote	Get A Quote
	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review

Table Of ContentsWhat Is Pet Insurance?What’s The Best Pet Insurance?Pet Insurance ReviewsBest Pet Insurance Overall: Pets Best ReviewBest For Young Pets: Fetch ReviewBest No-Cap Payouts: Healthy Paws ReviewBest Coverage: Embrace ReviewBest Pet Insurance Value: Figo ReviewBest Newcomer: Lemonade Pet Insurance ReviewTrupanion ReviewASPCA Pet Health Insurance ReviewSpot ReviewNationwide ReviewWhat Are The Different Types Of Pet Insurance Plans?What Do Accident-Only Pet Insurance Plans Cover?What Do Accident & Illness Pet Insurance Plans Cover?What Do Wellness Plans Cover?What Pet Insurance Plans Are Available From Each Company?What Does Pet Insurance Cover?Pet Insurance Company Coverage Comparison TableWhat Are Waiting Periods?Are There Age Restrictions For Pet Insurance?How Much Is Pet Insurance? Let’s Compare Price QuotesHow Is Pet Insurance Cost Determined?What Is The Average Cost Of Pet Insurance?Printable Pet Insurance Comparison Charts (PDF)Why Trust Our Reviews?Is Pet Insurance Worth It?How Does Pet Insurance Work?Pet Insurance Claim ExampleHow To Choose The Best Pet Insurance For YouFrequently Asked QuestionsCan I Go To Any Vet With Pet Insurance?What Are The Disadvantages Of Pet Insurance?What Should I Ask Before Buying Pet Insurance?Is Pet Insurance Tax Deductible?Does Pet Insurance Cover Only Dogs And Cats?How Do Pet Insurance Companies Know About Pre-Existing Conditions?Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental?Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying And Neutering?Are New Companies Eligible To Win Categories?Pet Insurance Companies (All Of Your Options)Still Can’t Decide?

What Is Pet Insurance?

There are many unknowns in owning a pet. Will Fido be diagnosed with a chronic condition? Will he tear his ACL during a game of fetch? Will he develop an appetite for eating shoes, wood chips, and other objects? All of these can result in unplanned trips to the vet, which means unexpected costs and stress for you.

This is where pet insurance can ease your mind. Instead of facing hundreds or thousands of dollars in vet bills, you can focus on your pet’s health.

Pet insurance helps pay for covered veterinary treatment of the insured pet’s illnesses and/or injuries. Insuring your pet can help you save money on unexpected vet bills during a medical emergency.

But, pet insurance does not cover routine vet visits, related lab work, or vaccinations. Further, it does not cover the deductible portion outlined in your policy, the remaining reimbursement percentage, or anything beyond your annual payout limit.

What’s The Best Pet Insurance?

The best pet insurance companies are Pets Best, Fetch, Figo, Healthy Paws, Embrace, and Lemonade, according to Canine Journal’s evaluation and inspection of price, coverage, customer service and reputation, claim processing, plan customizations, and more. Extensive plans are also available from Trupanion, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Spot Pet Insurance, and Paw Protect.

Pet Insurance Reviews

The number of pet insurance companies to choose from is overwhelming. People often decide to go with the largest, most well-known company, failing to spend the essential time needed to consider their options fully.

Below we rank, review, and highlight a brief snapshot of each major U.S. company, including what stands out regarding coverage and exclusions, what may sway you to choose a company, and the pros and cons for each. We encourage you to get a quote and compare rates from at least three companies and read our in-depth reviews of those you are interested in before signing up.

Best Pet Insurance Overall: Pets Best Review

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Pets Best is our best overall pick for pet insurance because it offers extensive coverage at a competitive price on average compared to the competition. Its plans are completely customizable, so you pay for the coverage you want and what you can afford. There are no upper age limits, so even if you adopt a senior dog or decide you want coverage for your pet when they’re older, you won’t be limited in your coverage options.

Pets Best also has some unique plans and features. In fact, it’s one of the few pet insurance providers to offer an accident-only plan, which can be a useful option for those wanting a true emergency-only option at a lower price. Additionally, it offers coverage for curable pre-existing conditions once healed or cured.

Wellness plans are also available through Pets Best as an add-on to your pet insurance policy. This may be a convenient option for your household and help you budget for those routine expenses like vaccinations, flea/tick prevention, heartworm testing, and more. Overall, Pets Best has a lot to offer to fit each pet parent’s needs, which is why we think it’s worth your consideration.

Pets Best also administers policies through Farmers Insurance, PEMCO, and Progressive.

Pros	Cons
Customize your plan to fit your budget and needs with different deductible, reimbursement, and payout options	Longer than average claim processing averages (7-14 days)
May have option for Pets Best to pay your vet directly to avoid waiting for reimbursement	Excludes alternative/holistic therapies and C-sections
Accident-only plan available
Optional wellness plans available as an add-on
Shorter than average waiting periods (3 days for accidents and 14 days for hip dysplasia)
Consistently among the lowest prices

Pets Best offers the following discounts:

5% off for multiple pets 5% off for military members and their families

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed. You can also visit our dedicated Pets Best discounts page to learn more.

In-Depth Review Of Pets Best

Read our complete review of Pets Best to learn more about this provider and its coverage, reimbursement process, pros, cons, FAQs, and more.

Best For Young Pets: Fetch Review

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Fetch by The Dodo is excellent if you want coverage for a very young puppy because it offers coverage as young as six weeks old, while you have to wait until eight weeks with most competitors.

Another unique feature of Fetch policies is its VirtualVet visit coverage. You can have up to $1,000 covered in virtual vet visits, whether over video chat, call, or text.

Fetch offers coverage for several conditions commonly excluded by other providers without requiring an extra fee. So if you want a pet insurance policy without worrying about add-ons and extra fees, Fetch may be worth your consideration.

Pros	Cons
Customize your plan to fit your budget and needs with different deductible, reimbursement, and payout options	Can’t have Fetch pay your vet directly to avoid waiting for reimbursement
Behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapies, C-sections, sick visit exam fees, and gum disease are included in coverage	No accident-only plan available
Optional wellness plans available as an add-on	Longer than average accident waiting period (15 days)

Fetch offers the following discounts: 

Up to 10% off for animal shelter adoptees and employees, corporate benefit plans, medical services pets, strategic partners, military, veterinary staff, and students10% off premiums for Walmart shoppersSave $25 or more when you pay quarterly or annually10% off for AARP members for life

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed. Alternatively, call 800-237-1123. You can also visit our dedicated Fetch promotion page to learn more.

In-Depth Review Of Fetch

Read our complete review of Fetch to learn more about this provider and its coverage, reimbursement process, pros, cons, FAQs, and more.

Best No-Cap Payouts: Healthy Paws Review

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All of Healthy Paws’ plans include unlimited payouts. An insurance plan with no cap on payouts means you never have to worry about hitting the maximum on your coverage payouts and you can always expect to be reimbursed for covered costs after you have met your deductible.

We often find Healthy Paws to have the lowest prices compared to other providers’ unlimited payout plans. Healthy Paws helps reduce economic euthanasia because pet parents aren’t stressed about the cost of a life-saving procedure that could be restricted by policies with lower payout limits.

Healthy Paws also has one of the fastest claim processing timelines, averaging only two days. Compared to competitors, this is a speedy turnaround and prevents further financial stress one might experience while waiting for a claim to be considered and paid back.

The company is known for being consistent in its offerings and not rocking the boat. It hasn’t undergone significant turbulence with underwriter changes or price fluctuations as many of its competitors have.

Customer service is a top priority for Healthy Paws, and it has some of the best reviews in the business. Healthy Paws tries to minimize customers’ risk of unexpected financial consequences when using pet insurance.

Pros	Cons
May have option for Healthy Paws to pay your vet directly and avoid waiting for reimbursement	Limited customization options based on your pet’s age
Shorter than average CCL surgery waiting period (15 days)	No accident-only plan available
Shorter than average claim processing (2 days)	Not enrolling pets older than 14 years old
Unlimited payouts for all plans	Excludes behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapies, C-sections, exam fees, and gum disease
	Longer hip dysplasia waiting periods than average (12 months) and pets enrolled after age 6 are ineligible for hip dysplasia coverage (MD doesn’t have this age limitation)
	Longer than average accident waiting period (15 days)

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price and get a quote for your pet from Healthy Paws. You can also visit our dedicated Healthy Paws promotion page to learn more.

In-Depth Review Of Healthy Paws

Read our complete review of Healthy Paws to learn more about this provider and its coverage, reimbursement process, pros, cons, FAQs, and more.

Best Coverage: Embrace Review

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Embrace has the most comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses, including $1,000 per year for dental illness coverage. Conditions that some insurers exclude from their policies, Embrace maintains coverage for.

There are several ways to customize your Embrace plan to fit your budget and coverage needs. It’s one of the few insurers to offer both a wellness plan and accident-only plan in addition to its accident and illness plans.

Embrace is also a great option to consider, as it covers behavioral therapy and training diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian for a covered condition. So if your dog is anxious, aggressive, or destructive when you leave them, it may be due to a behavioral issue that may be covered under an Embrace policy under the right conditions. Behavioral therapy and training aren’t commonly covered by most pet insurance providers.

Embrace also administers policies through Allstate, American Family, Geico, and USAA.

Pros	Cons
Customize your plan to fit your budget and needs with different deductible, reimbursement, and payout options	Restricted to accident-only coverage if you enroll your dog after their 15th birthday
May have option for Embrace to pay your vet directly to avoid waiting for reimbursement	C-sections are excluded
Optional wellness plans available as add-on
Shorter than average accident waiting period (2 days) and claim processing (5 days)
Behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapies, exam fees, gum disease, and tooth extractions are included

Embrace offers the following discounts:

10% off (5% off in NY) for multiple pets 5% off for military and veterans (NY and TN excluded)10% off if your company or clinic offers Embrace as an employee benefit (FL, ND, NY, and TN excluded)5% off in NY if you pay annuallyUp to 25% off for eligible USAA customersYour deductible automatically goes down $50 each year you don’t receive a claim payment

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed. You can also visit our dedicated Embrace discount page to learn more.

In-Depth Review Of Embrace

Read our complete review of Embrace to learn more about this provider and its coverage, reimbursement process, pros, cons, FAQs, and more.

Best Pet Insurance Value: Figo Review

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We’ve chosen Figo as our pick for the best value in pet insurance because it offers extensive coverage, low pricing, excellent customer service, and fast claim processing (averages three days). Figo’s plans are customizable, with several options to fit your budget and coverage needs, plus two optional wellness plans. There are no upper age limits, and the minimum age to enroll your dog is eight weeks old.

Figo offers coverage for conditions sometimes excluded by other providers, such as behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapies, and C-sections. It’s also one of the only companies to offer a 100% reimbursement option. Additionally, Figo offers coverage for curable pre-existing conditions after one year free of treatment and symptoms.

Figo has a one-day waiting period for accidents, which is the shortest length of any company included in this article. Overall, Figo has thorough coverage and competitive pricing, which makes it an excellent option for pet parents.

Figo also administers policies through Costco.

Pros	Cons
Customize your plan to fit your budget and needs with different deductible, reimbursement, and payout options	Can’t have Figo pay your vet directly to avoid waiting for reimbursement
Optional wellness plans available as an add-on	No accident-only plan available
Shorter than average accident waiting period (1 day)
Consistently among the lowest prices
Shorter than average claim processing (3 days)
Behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapies, and C-sections are included in coverage
Diminishing deductible for each year a policyholder is claim free, decreasing by $50 until it is $0

Figo offers the following discounts:

5% off any new Figo pet insurance policy (exclusive for Canine Journal readers – use this link)5% off for multiple pets Your deductible automatically goes down $50 each year you don’t receive a claim payment

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed. You can also visit our dedicated Figo discount page to learn more.

In-Depth Review Of Figo

Read our complete review of Figo to learn more about this provider and its coverage, reimbursement process, pros, cons, FAQs, and more.

Best Newcomer: Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

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Lemonade began selling insurance in 2015 and branched into pet insurance in 2020, offering low prices, which made it appealing to many customers. After a couple of years in business, their prices fall towards the mid-range, but the company is still creating a lot of buzz with its AI-driven claim process.

Lemonade’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) speeds up the reimbursement process. Most Lemonade claims are processed within two days, but many are processed within minutes of submission. Beyond speed, another unique thing about Lemonade is that you can bundle your pet insurance policy with your Lemonade homeowners, renters, co-op, or condo insurance, which might save you 10%.

Why You Should Be Cautious

Because Lemonade started selling pet insurance in 2020, it’s very new to the industry and considered unproven compared to stable companies that have been selling pet insurance for much longer. We recommend choosing a company with at least five years of national experience in the industry. Why?

Too often, we’ve seen new companies, like Lemonade, enter the pet insurance space with astonishingly low prices. After some time paying claims, these companies increase premiums to improve profitability. Some customers feel trapped because their pet now has pre-existing conditions, making it harder to find coverage with other companies.

Is this something you can expect from Lemonade? It’s hard to say. Lemonade has been selling other insurance products (renters, homeowners, cars, and life) since 2015. So we’re hopeful that this related experience makes Lemonade less likely to spike customer premiums. However, after three years in business, we can say that Lemonade’s premiums aren’t among the lowest any longer, falling more in the middle. We can’t guarantee anything, so we urge caution when choosing a company with fewer than five years of experience or a rocky history.

Pros	Cons
Customize your plan to fit your budget and needs with different deductible, reimbursement, and payout options	Can’t have Lemonade pay your vet directly to avoid waiting for reimbursement
Optional wellness plans available as an add-on	No accident-only plan available
Shorter than average waiting periods (2 days for accidents and 14 days for hip dysplasia)	Only available in 37 states and Washington DC
Shorter than average claim processing (2 days)	Breed restrictions based on age
Behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapies, exam fees, and gum disease coverage are available for an extra fee

Lemonade offers the following discounts: 

10% off if you bundle with your renters, homeowners, auto, condo, or co-op insurance5% off for multiple pets 

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.

In-Depth Review Of Lemonade

Read our complete review of Lemonade to learn more about this provider and its coverage, reimbursement process, pros, cons, FAQs, and more.

Trupanion Review

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One of Trupanion’s most talked about features is Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay, which eliminates the claim processing wait time. Many other pet insurance companies offer a vet direct pay option, but Trupanion’s Vet Direct Pay is the only option that allows payment during checkout. If Trupanion Express isn’t available at your vet’s office, you can call to ask about it or speak with your vet about them setting it up.

Trupanion is also an excellent choice for breeds with a past injury or ailment to one side of their body but not the other. This pet would be considered predisposed to a bilateral condition, but many Trupanion policies have no bilateral exclusions. A bilateral condition is any condition or disease that could affect both sides of the body. Examples include hip dysplasia, CCL injuries, cataracts, and more. Most pet insurance providers exclude bilateral coverage because if something happens o