Pets Best Pet Insurance Review
Forbes Advisor analyzed several key factors when evaluating pet insurance companies, including cost, direct payment options to vets, 24/7 vet health lines, and the availability of wellness plans. Our goal is to deliver unbiased ratings and information. Advertisers do not influence our ratings.
What We Analyzed For This Review:
- Coverage Categories Evaluated: 34
- Pet Insurance Rates Analyzed: 900,224
- U.S. Pet Owners Surveyed: 2,600
- Years of Insurance Experience on Editorial Team: 108
Pets Best Overview
Pets Best offers pet insurance plans designed to protect your furry friends from unexpected accidents and illnesses. They provide various options to fit different budgets and needs, including accident-only and comprehensive plans. Optional wellness plans are also available to assist with routine expenses.
Plan Types and Coverage from Pets Best
Similar to other top pet insurance providers, Pets Best offers accident and illness plans, as well as an accident-only plan. They also provide an optional wellness plan that covers expenses like regular wellness exams and vaccinations.
Accident and Illness Coverage
The “Elite” policy represents Pets Best’s most inclusive plan, offering a wide array of coverages related to accidents and illnesses. Although options exist to tailor a policy to your budget, common coverage areas include:
- Accidents: This covers situations such as broken teeth, lacerations, bone fractures, being struck by a vehicle, and ingestion of foreign objects.
- Illnesses: This includes conditions such as allergies, diabetes, skin infections, cancer, and inherited or genetic conditions such as hip dysplasia and intervertebral disc disease.
- Hospitalizations: Emergency care, surgeries (including anesthesia), vet/technician time, and rehabilitation services are covered.
- Specialist Care: Costs related to veterinarians, behaviorists, oncologists, and internal medicine specialists, as well as alternative therapies such as acupuncture or chiropractic treatments, may be covered.
- Prescription Medication: Prescriptions for conditions covered by your policy, such as a skin infection or digestive issues.
- Diagnostics: Costs for tests like blood tests, CAT scans, X-rays, and MRIs.
Accident-Only Insurance
The accident-only plan from Pets Best offers coverage strictly for emergency-related expenses, such as snake bites, bone fractures, and the ingestion of foreign objects. This plan does not include illness-related expenses, such as those for allergies or cancer treatment.
Pets Best Add-Ons
Pets Best provides two wellness plans that aid with routine care. The EssentialWellness and BestWellness plans can help cover expenses, such as blood work, heartworm medications, vaccinations, and wellness exams.
What Pets Best Does Not Cover
While Pets Best provides comprehensive coverage, the following are some exclusions:
- Elective and preventative procedures such as nail trimming, dew claw removal, ear cropping, or tail docking.
- Pre-existing conditions that begin before your policy coverage starts.
- Expenses not directly related to the medical care of your pet, such as grooming, food, vitamins and supplements, waste disposal, or services not performed under a veterinarian’s supervision.
- Holistic, herbal and experimental therapies and medications.
- Vitamins, special food, or supplements.
Coverage Levels with Maximum Annual Limits, Deductibles & Reimbursement
Maximum Annual Limit Options
Many pet insurance policies limit the amount they reimburse you for claims per year. Pets Best offers two coverage maximum options:
- $5,000
- Unlimited
Deductible Options
You must satisfy the deductible amount before receiving reimbursement for any health-related expenses. Pets Best provides several deductible options:
- $50
- $100
- $200
- $250
- $500
Reimbursement Options
In addition to maximum payouts, most pet insurance policies come with reimbursement levels, which is the percentage of expenses the insurer covers after you meet your deductible. Pets Best gives you three choices:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
Pets Best Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
You typically must wait for a specified period of time after buying a pet insurance policy before coverage becomes active. This is known as the waiting period. Pets Best has varying waiting periods based on the type of claim.
- Accidents: 3 days.
- Illness: 14 days.
- Cruciate ligament issues: 6 months.
- Routine care: No waiting period.
For residents of Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington:
- Accidents: No waiting period.
- Illness: 14-day waiting period.
- Cruciate ligament issues: 30-day waiting period.
- Routine care: No waiting period.
You can insure dogs and cats aged 7 weeks and older, and there is no upper age limit.
Cost of Pets Best Pet Insurance
Average Monthly Costs
The Pets Best Essential plan averages $41 per month for a dog and $19 per month for a cat. This is based on $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and an 80% reimbursement level. For unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement, the average cost is $46 per month for dogs and $22 per month for cats.
Breed and Age Factors for Dogs
Here are some cost examples:
*Costs are based on the Pets Best Essential plan with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement.
Breed and Age Factors for Cats
Here are some cost examples:
*Costs are based on the Pets Best Essential plan with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement.
Comparison to Other Top Insurers
Average Monthly Costs Compared
Here’s a cost comparison:
*Costs are based on unlimited annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement for dogs and cats, ages 3 months, 2 years, 5 years, and 7 years. Chewy Essential Plus does not offer an 80% reimbursement level; rates are based on a 90% reimbursement level.
Pets Best Availability, Claims and Digital Experience.
Coverage Area
Pets Best is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Filing a Claim with Pets Best
You can file a claim with Pets Best:
- Online: Through the Pets Best online portal.
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (866) 777-1434
- Mail: Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC, 965 Keller Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.
To file a claim, include:
- Original paid invoices.
- Proof of payment (receipt).
- Signed claim form.
You can download a claim form by logging into your customer account.
Digital Experience
Pets Best offers a robust set of digital tools. Its mobile app received a high average score of 4.8 out of 5 from Android and Google users. The app lets you manage your policy, submit claims, and access the 24/7 pet health helpline. You can also make payments online. The Pets Best website’s search function is strong, and there is a live chat feature.
Pets Best vs. Competitors
Here are brief comparisons to other companies:
Pets Best vs. Figo
Pets Best vs. Chewy Essential Plus
Pets Best vs. Spot
About Pets Best
Founded in 1981 by Dr. Jack Stephens, the company aimed to make health-related pet expenses more manageable. In 2005, he partnered with Greg McDonald to launch what is now known as Pets Best.
Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, a New York insurance company headquartered at 6100 4th Ave. S. Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98108, or Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company located at 11333 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste. 160, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC (CA agency #0F37530) is a licensed insurance agency located at 10840 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28277. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Please refer to your declarations page to determine the underwriter for your policy. Terms and conditions apply. See your policy for details.
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance companies, we collected data, and scored each insurer for several categories. Only insurers with annual maximum coverages of $100,000 or unlimited coverage were included.
Scoring Metrics
The metrics used in scoring included:
- Pet insurance rates for mixed breed dogs (20% of score)
- Pet insurance rates for purebred dogs (20% of score)
- Direct payment to vet (10% of score)
- Special waiting period (5% of score)
- 24/7 vet health line (5% of score)
- Routine wellness plans (5% of score)
- Multipet discount (5% of score)
- Digital experience (5% of score)
- Behavioral therapy (2% of score)
- Alternative therapy (2% of score)
- Dental illness (2% of score)
- Pays veterinary exam fees (1% of score)
- Stem cell therapy (1% of score)
- Coverage for prescription food and supplements (1% of score)
- Euthanasia or end-of-life expenses (1% of score)
- Forbes Advisor customer satisfaction survey (15% of score)
We conducted surveys of current pet insurance customers. In total, 2,600 American pet owners were surveyed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Pets Best work with any vet? Yes, Pets Best works with any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. and Canada, including emergency clinics and specialists.
- Can I add multiple pets to my Pets Best pet insurance policy? Yes, you can buy multipet insurance, but each pet requires their own policy (managed from one account). Pets Best covers cats and dogs.
- Does Pets Best pet insurance cover dental care? The accident and illness plan covers dental care for emergencies and illnesses, such as fractures and periodontal disease. A standard plan doesn’t cover teeth cleaning.
- Does Pets Best pet insurance cover spaying and neutering? Standard plans do not provide this coverage. This would be covered with the BestWellness plan.
- How can I reach Pets Best’s customer service? By calling 877-738-7237.
- How do I cancel Pets Best pet insurance? You can cancel by calling 877-738-7237, faxing to 866-777-1434, or mailing a letter to 965 Keller Road, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.
