Are you looking for pet insurance to help manage unexpected veterinary costs? If so, you’re in luck! California is home to most major pet insurance companies, providing a wide range of options to protect your beloved pets. NerdWallet has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of over a dozen insurers, analyzing rates and coverage details to help you choose the best pet insurance in California for your needs.
Top Picks for Pet Insurance in California
Here are some of the top-rated pet insurance providers, according to our research:
- MetLife: Best overall
- Hartville and Spot: Best budget-friendly options
- ASPCA: Best for comprehensive coverage
How We Found the Best Pet Insurance
NerdWallet’s rating system identifies pet insurance companies that offer broad coverage, allow for plan customization, exhibit strong financial stability, and provide a positive customer experience. To determine each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. For details on our methodology, read our full pet insurance ratings explanation.
Our editorial guidelines ensure that all content on our website is accurate and unbiased. This allows you to make informed financial decisions and choose the products that work best for your situation.
Best Overall: MetLife
MetLife
NerdWallet Rating: 5.0/5 Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited Reimbursement Rates: 50% – 90% Deductibles: $0 – $2,500 Policy Highlight: No age restrictions for enrollment
Pros:
- Deductible decreases each year without claims in some states.
- Accident coverage starts immediately, with no waiting period.
- Includes coverage for holistic and alternative care.
Cons:
- No direct payment option to the vet.
Bottom Line: MetLife offers customizable plans for a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, and even other animals in certain states.
Why MetLife is the best: MetLife was chosen as the best overall insurer in California due to its high score in NerdWallet’s evaluation. It is also available for pets of all ages, with no age restrictions. MetLife policies cover treatments like alternative and complementary medicine, dental disease treatment, and prescription food, and end-of-life expenses. In most states, MetLife also offers free grief counseling sessions with a counselor if you lose your pet.
If your pet remains healthy, your deductible could decrease by $25 or $50 for each year you don’t file a claim. Find out more with our MetLife pet insurance review.
Best Budget Picks: Hartville and Spot
Hartville
NerdWallet Rating: 5.0/5 Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited Reimbursement Rates: 70%, 80%, 90% Deductibles: $100, $250, $500 Policy Highlight: Covers most curable pre-existing conditions.
Pros:
- Unlimited annual coverage.
- Offers a 24/7 vet helpline.
- Covers most curable pre-existing conditions after 180 symptom-free days.
Cons:
- Doesn’t cover herbal supplements.
Bottom Line: Hartville provides multiple coverage options, including an accident-only plan and wellness coverage.
Why Hartville is a best budget pick: Hartville offered some of the most affordable rates for our sample pets in Los Angeles. The company’s base accident and illness plan includes coverage for acupuncture, behavioral therapies, and treatment for dental illnesses. They also have wellness and accident-only plans.
You can conveniently submit and track claims, add a pet, find vet clinics, and pay bills through Hartville’s online member center. Check out our Hartville pet insurance review.
Spot
NerdWallet Rating: 5.0/5 Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited Reimbursement Rates: 70%, 80%, 90% Deductibles: $100 – $1,000 Policy Highlight: Broad coverage, including microchip implantation.
Pros:
- Covers items some insurers don’t, like prescription food and behavioral modification.
- Covers some pre-existing conditions if they have been cured and treatment-free for 180 days.
- Unlimited annual coverage option.
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer the option to pay your vet directly.
Bottom Line: Spot provides a variety of coverage choices, but doesn’t offer direct payment to veterinarians.
Why Spot is a best budget pick: Spot offered some of the most affordable rates for our sample pets, with comprehensive and customizable plans. Their policy for accidents and illnesses covers exam fees, behavioral consults, treatment for dental illnesses, and complementary services like acupuncture. Spot will also cover curable pre-existing conditions if they’ve been symptom-free for at least 180 days. Plus, you can reduce costs by choosing an accident-only plan, which is an even more affordable option.
Learn more with our Spot pet insurance review.
Best for Comprehensive Coverage: ASPCA
ASPCA
NerdWallet Rating: 5.0/5 Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited Reimbursement Rates: 70%, 80%, 90% Deductibles: $100, $250, $500 Policy Highlight: Broader coverage than most other plans.
Pros:
- Also covers horses (in addition to cats and dogs).
- Standard plans include alternative therapies, behavioral issues, and congenital conditions.
- Shorter waiting periods for cruciate injuries (14 days than most).
Cons:
- For unlimited annual coverage, you must call to get a quote (as opposed to getting one online).
Bottom Line: ASPCA offers comprehensive coverage with various plan alternatives, including an accident-only policy.
Why ASPCA is the best: ASPCA’s policies provide coverage that other pet insurers either charge extra for, or don’t cover at all. These include prescription food, microchipping, treatment for dental illness, and behavioral therapies. Also available are plans to cover preventive care expenses such as vaccinations and annual checkups. We particularly appreciate ASPCA’s straightforward 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses, including orthopedic injuries. A waiting period is the time between policy purchase and coverage commencement.
Find out even more about this option with our ASPCA pet insurance review.
Best Pet Insurance in California by Age
Do you want additional options? Browse the California pet insurers that earned a 5-star NerdWallet rating. The following are sample costs for 2-year-old mixed-breed dogs and cats in Los Angeles with a $250 deductible, $5,000 in annual coverage, and an 80% reimbursement rate.
Best Pet Insurance for Younger Animals
Best Pet Insurance in California for Older Animals
Older pets typically have higher insurance costs, so we also analyzed rates for 8-year-old dogs and cats in Los Angeles. Below are the costs for 8-year-old mixed-breed dogs and cats with the same coverage limits as above.
