Best Emergency Pet Insurance of 2025

Best Emergency Pet Insurance of 2025

Pet emergencies can be incredibly stressful for both pets and their owners. Suddenly, a dog might swallow something dangerous, or a cat could break a bone. These incidents often mean a costly trip to an emergency veterinary clinic. Pet insurance can help ease the financial burden of these unexpected events.

This article dives into the world of emergency pet insurance, highlighting the best options for your needs. We’ll examine the top companies, coverage details, and what to consider when choosing a policy.

Our Expert Picks

Embrace

Best for Short Accident Waiting Period

ManyPets

Best for Reduced Waiting Period

Spot

Best for Annual Coverage Choices

Summary: Compare the Best Emergency Pet Insurance

Why you can trust Forbes Advisor

Forbes Advisor evaluated pet insurance by analyzing rates, the availability of a 24/7 vet helpline, and payment options, among other crucial elements tied to emergency veterinary care. Our ratings are not influenced by advertising; our editorial guidelines and methodology are detailed below.

Here’s what our analysis includes:

• 32 different coverage categories were evaluated
• Analyzed 1,891 pet insurance rates
• The editorial team has 108 years of combined experience in the insurance field

BEST FOR SHORT ACCIDENT WAITING PERIOD

Embrace

• Forbes Advisor Rating: 5.0
• Maximum annual coverage: $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, Unlimited
• Average monthly cost for unlimited coverage: $76 for dogs; $37 for cats
• Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000

Our Expert Take: We like Embrace for its short accident waiting period. Accident coverage kicks in at 12:01 a.m. ET the day after you purchase your plan. It also includes coverage for vet exam fees for emergencies and you’ll have access to a 24/7 pet telehealth line.

Pros & Cons

• Covers the veterinarian’s exam fee for both illness and accidents.
• Accident coverage starts very quickly.
• Includes an optional wellness plan.
• Considers orthopedic conditions in a six-month waiting period; this can be waived if your pet has an orthopedic exam after you buy the plan.

Plan Details

BEST FOR REDUCED WAITING PERIOD

ManyPets

• Forbes Advisor Rating: 4.0
• Maximum annual coverage: Unlimited
• Average monthly cost for unlimited coverage: $49 for dogs; $30 for cats
• Deductible choices: $500 or $750

Our Expert take: We like Many Pet’s unique proposition: Your accident and illness waiting period will be reduced to 24 hours if you’re switching from another pet insurer. Many Pets also offers very competitive rates for unlimited annual coverage for both dogs and cats.

Pros & Cons

• Low prices for unlimited annual coverage.
• Covers vet exam fees for illness and accident visits.
• Offers an optional wellness plan.
• No special waiting period for issues like cruciate ligament problems.
• The 15-day accident waiting period is longer than some competitors, but it can be reduced to 24 hours if switching from another insurer.
• No access to a 24/7 pet telehealth line.

Plan Details

BEST FOR ANNUAL COVERAGE CHOICES

Spot

• Forbes Advisor Rating: 4.0
• Maximum annual coverage: $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited
• Average monthly cost for unlimited coverage: $97 for dogs; $46 for cats
• Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000

Our Expert Take: We like that Spot gives you lots of ways to adjust your annual benefits levels so that you can fit pet insurance into your budget. Note that this is the same plan offered by ASPCA pet insurance but with different choices for annual limits and deductibles.

Pros & Cons

• Covers the veterinary office visit fee for illness and accidents.
• Offers a low $100 deductible.
• Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line.
• Offers an optional wellness plan.
• No special waiting period for problems like cruciate ligament issues.
• The waiting period for accident coverage is 14 days, while some top competitors only need 1 or 2 days.

Plan Details

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

Pet insurance cost for a dog averages about $51 per month, with cat insurance costing around $27 monthly, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis. These figures assume a policy with $5,000 annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and an 80% reimbursement level. A policy with unlimited annual coverage, the same deductible, and the same reimbursement level costs approximately $76 per month for a dog and $37 for a cat.

Keep in mind, the cost of pet insurance will be influenced by:

• The type of pet
• The pet’s breed
• The pet’s age
• Where you live
• Coverage amount, deductible, and reimbursement percentage

Common Pet Emergencies

Pet emergencies require fast veterinary attention and care. Here are common examples to be aware of:

• Bleeding from the mouth, nose, or rectum
• Blood in urine
• Choking, difficulty breathing, or nonstop coughing or gagging
• Coughing up blood
• Fractured bones, inability to move leg(s), or severe lameness
• Heat stress or heatstroke
• Injuries to your pet’s eyes
• Inability to urinate or pass feces, or obvious pain associated with doing so
• Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
• Seizures and/or staggering
• Severe bleeding or bleeding that does not stop within five minutes
• Severe diarrhea or vomiting (more than two episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these symptoms combined with another problem)
• Signs of pain or extreme anxiety
• Unconsciousness
• Suspecting (or knowing) that your pet has ingested something toxic, such as antifreeze, chocolate, or rat poison

Do You Need Emergency Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is a helpful way to cover emergency situations like broken bones, swallowed objects, or illnesses. For example, if your dog consumes a toy, the emergency vet bill might reach thousands because of costs for X-rays, surgery, and medication. Pet insurance can help relieve those costs.

There are two main types of pet insurance plans that cover emergencies:

• Accident and illness plan: This covers both accident-related emergencies (e.g., bite wounds) and illness-related emergencies (e.g., vomiting or lethargy). It also extends to non-emergency illnesses like ear infections, skin allergies, cancer, and diabetes.
• Accident-only plan: This covers only accident-related emergencies, such as broken bones. It won’t cover illness-related emergencies. Accident-only plans are less expensive than accident and illness plans because they cover fewer problems.

What’s Covered by Emergency Pet Insurance?

All pet insurance plans cover emergencies. The specific problems covered depend on the type of plan purchased. Accident-only plans only include vet expenses relating to accidents, while accident and illness plans offer broad coverage and pay for vet expenses such as:

• Accidents: Broken bones, lacerations, and poisonings.
• Common illnesses: Diarrhea, ear infections, and vomiting.
• Serious illnesses: Cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
• Hereditary conditions: Blood disorders, eye disorders, and hip dysplasia.
• Diagnostics and testing: Blood work, CT scans, and X-rays.
• Procedures: Chemotherapy and surgeries.
• Holistic and alternative treatments: Acupuncture, chiropractic, and hydrotherapy.
• Prescription medication: Pain medication for an injury or medication to treat an illness.

What Is Excluded From Emergency Pet Insurance?

Common exclusions in pet insurance policies often include:

• Boarding and kennel fees. (However, some insurers may cover these if you’re hospitalized — for example, the Pet Owner Assistance Package from Trupanion pet insurance.)
• Breeding costs.
• Exam fees. Some insurers may not cover these even if related to an emergency, so choose a plan that includes exam fees if this coverage is important.
• Expenses not related to veterinary care such as administrative fees and taxes.
• Food and supplements, though some insurers do cover prescription pet food.
• Grooming costs.
• Pre-existing conditions.
• Preventative and elective procedures like declawing, ear cropping, and tail docking.
• Vaccinations unless a wellness plan add-on is purchased.

Is Pet Insurance for Emergencies Worth It?

To determine if pet insurance is a good value for emergency situations, consider the financial impact of a vet bill. If a pet swallows a foreign object, treatment can average $5,106, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis.

Say you’ve paid $50 per month for pet insurance for about three years, totaling $1,800 in premiums. If you have a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement, your out-of-pocket cost for a swallowed object would be $1,271 ($250 deductible + 20% of $5,356 = $1,271). By having insurance, you paid $3,071 in total (premiums plus treatment costs) and saved $2,035 compared to paying the full vet bill. You can find affordable pet insurance for emergencies by getting quotes from multiple insurance companies.

When comparing quotes, look for plans with similar benefits and policy details. For example, not all plans provide a 24/7 vet healthline, which can be a valuable resource in an emergency.

Emergency Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

• Does pet insurance cover emergency visits? Yes, accident and illness plans cover emergency visits, which include accidents, and those related to diseases such as diabetes. An accident-only plan will cover emergency needs that are a result of accidents like poisonings and bite wounds.

• Is there emergency pet insurance with no waiting period? All pet insurance plans have a waiting period before coverage kicks in. The usual waiting periods are often around 14 days for accidents and illnesses. Some insurers have an extended waiting period of six to 12 months for orthopedic conditions. While no plan offers immediate coverage, some companies have shorter waiting periods. For example, Figo pet insurance has a one-day wait for accidents, while ManyPets has no extra waiting duration on orthopedic conditions.

• What is considered accidental in pet insurance? Pet insurance companies consider accidents as sudden, unforeseen incidents that result in physical injury to your pet. Veterinary costs are included in both accident and illness plans and accident-only plans. If your dog eats a toy, for instance, your plan will cover these expenses.

• Can you get pet insurance if your pet is already sick? Yes, you can get pet insurance even if your pet is already sick. However, costs for that particular existing illness won’t be covered since pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing issues, which are health conditions that began before your coverage.

• Does pet insurance cover emergencies in other countries? Usually, coverage is limited to veterinary emergencies within the U.S. However, some insurers cover vet bills in Canada. Chewy pet insurance plans through Trupanion include vet bills in Australia and Canada.