The Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2025
Finding the right pet insurance can provide peace of mind, knowing you’re prepared for unexpected veterinary costs. We evaluated pet insurers across the country, considering coverage, financial stability, customer experience, and plan options. Here are the top contenders for this year:
- ASPCA: Best for broad coverage.
- Embrace: Best flexible wellness plan.
- Hartville: Best for straightforward waiting periods.
- MetLife: Best for discounts.
- Pets Best: Best pet insurance for dogs.
- Spot: Best pet insurance for cats.
Key Considerations for Pet Insurance
Before diving into the specifics of each company, it’s useful to establish some expectations for the market:
- Coverage: Look for plans that encompass accidents, illnesses, and potentially wellness, and consider the breadth of conditions covered.
- Financial Strength: Ensure the insurer has a solid financial standing to guarantee they can meet your claims.
- Customer Experience: Evaluate ease of use, claim processing, and overall customer satisfaction.
- Plan Options: Flexibility in deductibles, reimbursement rates, and annual limits allows you to find a plan matching your needs and budget.
The Top Pet Insurance Providers
We’ve identified the following companies as the best, each earning a 5-star rating. Note: Prices may vary based on your location and pet’s details.
ASPCA: Best Pet Insurance for Broad Coverage
ASPCA offers extensive coverage, potentially including dental illnesses, behavioral issues, alternative treatments, prescription food, and even microchipping. They also cover accident or illness exam fees. An accident-only policy provides an even lower rate, while a preventive care plan can be added.
- Pros: Covers horses alongside cats and dogs, and standard plans include alternative therapies and behavioral issue coverage. They also offer shorter waiting periods than numerous other plans for cruciate injuries (14 days).
- Cons: You must call, rather than get an online quote, if you’re interested in unlimited annual coverage.
- Bottom Line: Generous coverage with multiple options, including an accident-only policy.
*Sample Rates (Dogs):
- Age 2: $36/month
- Age 8: $86/month
*Sample Rates (Cats):
- Age 2: $20/month
- Age 8: $37/month
At a Glance: No maximum age for enrollment, but pets must be at least 8 weeks old; Offers accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness plans. Waiting periods: 14 days for accident and illness coverage.
Embrace: Best Flexible Wellness Plan
Embrace is a good choice for those seeking a customizable plan. It also covers curable pre-existing conditions. Their Wellness Rewards plan assists with a range of expenses.
- Pros: Covers curable pre-existing conditions and offers a high degree of plan customization. The orthopedic waiting period can be reduced with a vet exam.
- Cons: Doesn’t cover prescription food or supplements unless you buy a wellness plan.
- Bottom Line: Many customization options, plus coverage for curable pre-existing conditions.
*Sample Rates (Dogs):
- Age 2: $36/month
- Age 8: $67/month
*Sample Rates (Cats):
- Age 2: $20/month
- Age 8: $35/month
At a Glance: Minimum age is 6 weeks. Pets up to age 14 are eligible for accident and illness coverage, which can be maintained throughout their lives. If enrolling at age 15 or older, accident coverage only. Offers accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness plans. Waiting periods: Two days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. 180 days for orthopedic injuries, but can be reduced to 14 with a vet exam.
Hartville: Best Pet Insurance for Straightforward Waiting Periods
Hartville provides straightforward waiting periods, with a wellness plan that starts the day after you enroll. Their standard plan features comprehensive coverage, including alternative and behavioral therapies, dental illness, microchip implantation, and diets for covered conditions.
- Pros: Unlimited annual coverage is available, along with a 24/7 vet helpline. It covers most curable pre-existing conditions if symptom-free for 180 days.
- Cons: Doesn’t cover herbal supplements.
- Bottom Line: A range of coverage options, including the accident-only and wellness plans.
*Sample Rates (Dogs):
- Age 2: $36/month
- Age 8: $86/month
*Sample Rates (Cats):
- Age 2: $20/month
- Age 8: $37/month
At a Glance: Minimum age for coverage is 8 weeks. Offers accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness plans. Waiting periods: 14 days for both accidents and illnesses, with no exception for cruciate ligament issues.
MetLife: Best Pet Insurance for Discounts
MetLife stands out with various discount opportunities. Depending on where you live and work, first responders, healthcare workers, veterans, military personnel, and those at animal care facilities may be eligible. You may also save if your employer offers MetLife as a benefit. They also have no extended waiting period for orthopedic issues.
- Pros: The deductible goes down each year you don’t make a claim in certain states. Accident coverage begins immediately, with no waiting period, and includes coverage for holistic and alternative care.
- Cons: Doesn’t offer the ability to have the company pay your vet directly.
- Bottom Line: Sells customizable plans for dogs, cats, and even other animals in some states.
*Sample Rates (Dogs):
- Age 2: $38/month
- Age 8: $80/month
*Sample Rates (Cats):
- Age 2: $18/month
- Age 8: $36/month
At a Glance: No age restrictions. Offers accident and illness, and wellness plans. Waiting periods: Accident and wellness coverage begin immediately; a 14-day waiting period for illness coverage.
Pets Best: Best Pet Insurance for Dogs
Pets Best is known for affordable dog insurance rates across several cities, offering a variety of options to customize your plan, three tiers of accident and illness coverage, along with two wellness add-ons and an accident-only plan. Some plans allow you to pay your vet directly for larger expenses.
- Pros: Offers a lot of options to customize plans and has an unlimited annual coverage option. There is no upper age limit for enrollment.
- Cons: Exam fees and specific therapies are exclusive to more expensive plans and their plans don’t cover food or supplements.
- Bottom Line: Lots of options and the ability to pay your vet directly.
*Sample Rates (Dogs):
- Age 2: $32/month
- Age 8: $71/month
*Sample Rates (Cats):
- Age 2: $20/month
- Age 8: $41/month
At a Glance: Minimum age is 7 weeks, with no upper age limit. Offers accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness plans. Waiting periods: In the majority of states, the waiting periods are three days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and six months for cruciate ligament issues.
Spot: Best Pet Insurance for Cats
Spot is known for consistently affordable cat insurance rates, with comprehensive plans. Policies are customizable and offer a 10% multipet discount.
- Pros: Covers elements that some insurers do not, such as prescription food and behavioral modification. Covers certain pre-existing conditions if cured and treatment-free for 180 days, and offers an unlimited annual coverage option.
- Cons: Does not offer the option to pay your vet directly.
- Bottom Line: Provides a wide range of coverage choices for pet owners, but will not pay your vet directly.
*Sample Rates (Dogs):
- Age 2: $32/month
- Age 8: $75/month
*Sample Rates (Cats):
- Age 2: $18/month
- Age 8: $32/month
At a Glance: The minimum age is 8 weeks. There’s no upper age limit. Offers accident and illness, accident-only, and wellness plans. Waiting period: 14 days for both accidents and illnesses, including cruciate ligament issues.
Comparing the Best Companies at a Glance
The following table summarizes some key factors across all the reviewed companies which can assist in your decision process.
Rates for Accident And Illness Coverage
Here are some example monthly rates from each insurer for mixed-breed, medium-sized dogs and domestic shorthair cats living in Katy, Texas.
*Each plan had a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate.
What’s Covered?
Certain companies include coverage that others charge extra for, or may not offer at all.
Alternative Therapies, Behavioral Therapies, and Dental Illness:
Exam Fees, Prescription Food, and Supplements:
Waiting Periods
A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when the coverage takes effect.
Waiting periods may vary by state.
Finding the Right Pet Insurance
- Consider breed-specific conditions: Research breed predispositions and ensure your chosen plan covers potential issues.
- Assess activity levels: High-energy pets may face a greater risk of accidental injuries. Consider plans covering therapies if needed.
- Evaluate wellness expenses: Research wellness plan specifics and determine if they align with your pet’s and your budget.
As with other insurance options, evaluating multiple plans and comparing quotes is crucial. Remember to check eligibility requirements and be sure you are making a fair comparison considering similar coverage amounts, deductibles, and reimbursement limits. Get quotes from at least three companies to compare your options. Thoroughly understanding the policy terms before purchasing provides critical information. This will ensure a smooth and pleasant process when your cherished pet may need it most.
