The Best 6 Pet Insurance Companies in 2022

Related Articles for you

Pet Insurance Concept
Pet Insurance Concept

Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance is a Cleveland-based company underwritten by American Modern Insurance. The company began as a pet insurance concept and won the 2003 Wharton Business Plan Competition. In 2006, Embrace sold its first pet insurance policy. Today, Embrace provides insurance for pet owners nationwide.

Embrace Pet Insurance Benefits

Embrace offers a benefits policy that covers accidents, illnesses, and other conditions which include

  • Breed-specific, congenital, and genetic conditions such as allergies, hip dysplasia, and intervertebral disc disease
  • Dental illnesses such as gingivitis, root canals, and extractions
  • Chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes
  • Preventable conditions such as parasites, parvo, and Lyme disease
  • Cancer testing and treatment
  • Orthopedic conditions such as ligament tears, broken bones, and osteosarcoma
  • Hospitalizations and emergency care
  • Alternative therapies and rehabilitation such as acupuncture or laser therapy
  • Behavioral therapy for issues such as aggression, marking, and pica
  • MRIs, X-rays, and another diagnostic testing
  • Specialist care such as oncologists, behavioralists, and internal medicine experts
  • Surgeries including anesthesia, rehabilitation services, and vet/technician time
  • Prescription medications

Embrace also offers an accident-only policy, which covers problems such as injuries from getting struck by a vehicle, swallowing foreign objects, and torn cruciate ligaments.

Keep in mind, that if you purchase an accident-only policy, you won’t be covered for problems typically included in an accident and illness plan. For example, an accident-only policy won’t cover common illnesses like ear infections, diarrhea, and vomiting.

What Embrace Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover

Here are some problems that are not covered by Embrace pet insurance:

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Breeding, pregnancy, and whelping
  • DNA testing or cloning
  • Cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping or declaw removal (unless medically necessary)
  • Stem therapy that is not medically necessary
  • Injuries caused deliberately by you or any person who lives in your household
  • Injuries or illnesses caused by fighting, racing, cruelty, or neglect
  • Avian flu or nuclear war

Embrace Waiting Periods for Coverage

Pet insurance companies typically have waiting periods—a specific amount of time when your coverage is restricted. Once the waiting period ends, your coverage will begin. For example, Embrace has a two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses.

The two-day waiting period for accidents is one of the shortest waiting periods you’ll find when comparing it against other pet insurers. However, the 14-day illness waiting period is average across the industry.

Embrace also has a six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions. You can have this waiting period reduced to 14 days if you complete an orthopedic exam and waiver process. The orthopedic exam must be conducted within the first 14 days of your pet insurance policy. If it is not completed within the first 14 days, the waiting period will be reduced to the day of your dog’s orthopedic exam.

Embrace Pet Insurance Wellness Plan

Embrace also offers an optional Wellness Rewards plan. This is not an insurance plan, but you can purchase a reimbursement level for qualified preventative care expenses, which can help you save money over the course of a 12-month period.

Here’s how it works: You’ll pick a reimbursement level of $250, $450, or $650 per year. You will then be charged a monthly amount for the plan. For example, a $250 reimbursement level costs $18.25 per month, which equals $225 for a year. That means you can save up to $25 in preventative health care costs.

Reimbursable items and services

  • Wellness exam fees
  • Vaccinations
  • Microchipping
  • Flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Spay/neuter surgery
  • Fecal and routine blood tests
  • Grooming (including toenail trimming)
  • Medicated shampoos
  • Routine anal gland expression
  • Gastropexy
  • Preventative teeth cleaning
  • Prescription diet food
  • Training
  • Hip dysplasia exams, radiographs, 7, or other OFA testing
  • Routine chiropractic care
  • Reiki, massage therapy, and acupuncture
  • Wearable pet activity monitors
  • Cremation or burial

Embrace Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

Maximum annual limit options: The reimbursement your insurance company will pay in a given year is known as the annual coverage limit. Embrace has several coverage limit options:

  • $5,000
  • $8,000
  • $10,000
  • $15,000
  • $30,000

Deductible options: The amount you have to pay before your coverage begins to reimburse you for expenses is your deductible. Embrace’s accident and illness plan have a choice of deductibles:

  • $200
  • $300
  • $500
  • $750
  • $1,000

Reimbursement options: When you pay upfront for a pet’s medical expenses, you will then submit a claim for reimbursement for problems covered by your policy. You can select a reimbursement level of:

  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%

The accident-only plan reimburses you up to $5,000 per year and has a $100 deductible per year and a 90% reimbursement level.

Embrace also offers the Healthy Pet Deductible at no extra cost. For every year you do not file a pet insurance claim, your deductible will be reduced by $50. For example, if you choose a $300 deductible and do not file a claim for two years, your deductible will be reduced to $200.

PRO

  • Excellent range of options for annual coverage, reimbursement, and deductibles
  • It comes with a “diminishing deductible” that reduces the deductible by $50 for every year you don’t have a claim paid
  • Its covers the veterinarian’s office visit fee for illness and accidents
  • The waiting period of only 2 days for accident coverage
  • Availability of optional wellness plan
  • It has a 24/7 pet telehealth line

CONS

  • The waiting period of 6 months for coverage of orthopedic conditions

Pets Best

After the traumatic euthanasia of a beloved dog named Buffy, veterinarian Dr. Jack Stephens launched the first pet insurance company in North America in 1981. He wanted to make health-related expenses more affordable so that pet owners could make medical decisions for their pets based on needs instead of cost. In 2005, Dr. Jack Stephens partnered with Greg McDonald (Pets Best CEO) to launch what we now know as Pets Best.

Pets Best is underwritten by the American Pet Insurance Co. (APIC) and was acquired by Synchrony in 2019. Synchrony’s CareCredit offers wellness, healthcare, and personal care credit products.

What Do Pets Best Pet Insurance Cover?

The BestBenefit Plan is the most robust plan that Pets Best offers. This plan covers a wide range of expenses related to accidents and injuries. Although Pets Best offers different levels of accident and illness plan to fit every pet owner’s budget, you can typically expect a plan to cover:

  • Accidents such as foreign object ingestion, car accidents, and broken bones
  • Illnesses such as ear infections, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Hereditary and congenital conditions such as cherry eye, hip and elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, and epilepsy
  • Emergency care
  • Hospitalizations and surgeries
  • Diagnostics such as bloodwork, MRIs, and CAT scans
  • Prescription medications
  • Chronic conditions
  • Dental issues such as periodontal disease
  • Prosthetic devices and wheelchairs
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Exam fees
  • Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments

Pets Best Pet Insurance Care Coverage

Preventive care is another cost that pet owners must also account for when caring for their four-legged companion. To help offset some of the preventive care costs, Pets Best offers routine care and pet wellness coverage. You can choose between two options: the EssentialWellness plan and the BestWellness plan.

Both plans reimburse you for expenses such as:

  • Vaccines
  • Wellness exams
  • Microchip
  • Deworming
  • Rabies
  • Bloodwork
  • Heartworm medications

Keep in mind, that both plans only pay up to a certain amount for all treatments, medications, and procedures. For example, the Essential Wellness Plan reimburses you up to $50 per year for bloodwork, while the Best Wellness plan has a $70 reimbursement limit. Also, the best wellness plan reimburses for spaying or neutering and teeth cleaning, while the EssentialWellness plan doesn’t.

What Pets Best Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover

  • Elective and preventative procedures like nail trimming, dew claw removal, ear cropping, or tail docking
  • Pre-existing conditions that begin before your coverage kicks in
  • Expenses not related directly to the medical care of your pet, such as bathing and grooming, food, vitamins, supplements, waste disposal fees, or any service not done under the supervision of a veterinarian
  • Holistic, herbal, and experimental therapies and medications
  • Vitamins, special food, or supplements

Pets Best Pet Waiting Periods for Coverage

Generally, after you buy a pet insurance policy, you must wait a specified period of time before your coverage kicks in. This amount of time is known as the waiting period.

Pets Best has three different waiting periods:

  • Three-day accident waiting period
  • 14-day illness waiting period
  • Six-month cruciate ligament issue waiting period

The three-day accident waiting period is better than some other insurance companies that have 14- or 15-day accident waiting periods like Spot or ASPCA Pet Insurance. However, the 14-day illness waiting period is usually an industry standard.

Pets Best Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

Maximum annual limit options: Most pet insurance companies limit the amount they will reimburse you for claims in a given year. Pets Best has two coverage limit options: $5,000 or unlimited coverage.

Deductible Options: Before you get reimbursed for any health-related expense, you must pay the policy deductible toward vet costs. Pets Best offers several deductible options, including:

  • $50
  • $100
  • $200
  • $250
  • $500
  • $1,000

Reimbursement options: Most pet insurance policies come with reimbursement levels. A reimbursement level is the percentage of expenses the insurer will pay out after the deductible is met. Pets Best gives you three options:

  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%

Pro

  • Good range of deductible choices
  • Accident coverage waiting period of only 3 days
  • They can pay your vet directly if the vet agrees, so you don’t have to pay yourself and wait for reimbursement
  • Provide a multi-pet discount of 5% per pet
  • Routine wellness plans are available
  • It has a 24/7 pet telehealth line

Cons

  • The waiting period of 6 months for coverage of cruciate ligament issues

ManyPets Pet Insurance

ManyPets’ sister company Bought By Many launched in the U.K. in 2012 with the aspirational goal of fixing things people hate about insurance. In 2017, Bought By Many introduced pet insurance in the U.K. ManyPets launched in Sweden in 2019 and expanded to the U.S. in 2021. It is currently offered in 18 states with plans to expand to more. ManyPets is underwritten by Accredited Surety and Casualty Co.

What Does ManyPets Pet Insurance Cover?

ManyPets offers an accident and illness plan that covers a wide variety of health-related expenses. Some expenses covered under this policy include:

  • Accidents such as poisoning and broken bones
  • Illnesses such as ear infections and cancer
  • Exam and consultations fees
  • Prescription medications
  • Surgeries
  • Treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic care
  • Medically necessary supplies
  • Lab work
  • X-rays
  • MRIs
  • Blood tests
  • Hospitalizations

ManyPets Pet Insurance Routine Care Coverage

ManyPets base plans cover expenses related to the treatment and care of accidents and illness, but they do not cover routine care. However, It also has very competitive pricing that makes it available in your state.

A wellness plan from ManyPets can reimburse you for expenses such as:

  • Routine vaccinations such as rabies and bordetella
  • Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
  • Holistic care such as supplements and treatments for stress, anxiety, coat, skin, and bone, and joint care
  • Dental cleanings

What ManyPets Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover

  • Pre-existing conditions such as an illness or injury that began before coverage, except for conditions that have been symptom-free and treatment-free for 18 months
  • Elective or cosmetic surgeries
  • Medication, treatment, or supplements that the FDA does not approve
  • Behavioral medication or therapy
  • Daycare
  • Boarding
  • Grooming
  • Prescription diet

ManyPets Waiting Periods for Coverage

The 15-day waiting period for illnesses is average compared to most pet insurance companies, and the 15-day waiting period for accidents is more extended than some other insurers. For example, Lemonde and Embrace offer a two-day waiting period for accidents. Choosing a pet insurance company with a short accident waiting period may give you peace of mind since you never know when a pet emergency can pop up.

However, if you’re switching from your previous pet insurer to ManyPets pet insurance, your accident and illness waiting period will be reduced to 24 hours. No other pet insurance company does this.

ManyPets Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

Maximum annual limit: Some pet insurance companies put a cap on the amount they will reimburse a policyholder in a given year. With ManyPets, you don’t have a limit on your expense reimbursement.

Deductible options: Just like with health insurance, you must pay a deductible before your coverage begins paying for any expenses. ManyPets offers several deductible options:

  • $100
  • $250
  • $500

Reimbursement options: Most pet insurance companies won’t reimburse 100% of your total pet expenses. However, ManyPets does give pet owners the option of 100% reimbursement. ManyPets also offer reimbursement levels of 80% and 90%.

Pros

  • ManyPets offers an unusual value proposition for new customers: Waiting periods for illness or accidents are 15 days but are reduced to only 24 hours if you’re switching over from another insurer.
  • Both 100% reimbursement and a $0 deductible such as in Georgia State

Cons

  • Available in only 18 states, but plans to expand.
  • No 24/7 pet telehealth line.
  • Does not cover pet behavioral therapy, unlike many other plans.
Pet Insurance Concept
Pet Insurance Concept

Figo Pet Insurance

Figo is underwritten by Independence American Insurance, The company provides more than just pet insurance. The Figo Pet Cloud app helps you organize your pet records, appointments, vaccinations, and access to a 24/7 licensed veterinarian professional. It’s also a social app that connects you with other pet owners to find pet-friendly places, share photos, and even plan playdates.

Figo Pet Insurance Benefits

If you want coverage for wellness care and veterinary exam fees, you will have to add these coverage types to your policy.

  • Orthopedic conditions such as a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
  • Rehabilitation
  • Surgeries
  • Prescription medications
  • Emergency and hospitalization
  • Imaging
  • Chronic conditions
  • Cancer
  • Hereditary & congenital conditions
  • Hip dysplasia

What Figo Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover

While Figo covers many health-related costs, Some include:

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Breeding pregnancy or giving birth
  • Experimental procedures
  • Cosmetic surgery such as tail docking
  • Cloning procedures
  • Supplements

Figo Waiting Periods for Coverage

A waiting period is a specific amount of time before your coverage starts picking up the tab for vet bills. For example, Figo has a one-day waiting period for accidents, which is considerably shorter than other pet insurers.

Figo has a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, which is average across the pet insurance industry. Figo also has a six-month waiting period for hip dysplasia and orthopedic conditions in dogs, such as knee injuries. However, if you get a signed waiver from a licensed vet, it’s possible Figo will waive the extended waiting period.

Figo Pet Insurance Add-Ons

When buying a Figo pet insurance policy, you have the option to add several coverage types at an additional cost. Here are some to consider:

Powerup: Wellness

Figo offers wellness coverage as an add-on to your accident and illness plan. Wellness plans provide coverage for vet expenses such as:

  • Wellness exams
  • Vaccinations
  • Bloodwork
  • Spaying or neutering
  • Heartworm prevention

Powerup: Extra Care Pack

This optional coverage provides reimbursement for expenses such as:

  • Cremation or burial expenses up to $250
  • Vacation cancellation coverage due to pet emergency
  • Boarding fees
  • Advertising and rewards for lost pets
  • Liability coverage for property damages (up to $10,000 and may be subject to different deducible)

Powerup: Veterinary Exam Fees

You can add this benefit to cover the cost of the exam and consultation fees for a new injury or illness.

Figo Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

Maximum annual limit options: The coverage limit is the total amount your pet insurer will reimburse you for health-related expenses (in a given year). Figo gives pet owners three options:

  • $5,000
  • $10,000
  • Unlimited

Deductible options: You must pay a set amount before your coverage begins to pick up your pet’s health-related expenses, which is the deductible. Figo offers several different deductible options, including:

Pets age five and under:

  • $100
  • $250
  • $500
  • $750

Pets between the ages of six and nine:

  • $250
  • $500
  • $750
  • $1,000

Pets age 10 and older:

  • $500
  • $750
  • $1,000
  • $1,500

Reimbursement options: Pet insurers typically pay a percentage of your pet’s vet bills, which is the reimbursement level. Figo offers reimbursement levels of:

  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%
  • 100%

Pros

  • Offers a 100% reimbursement option
  • Short 1-day waiting period for accident coverage
  • Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line
  • Routine wellness plans are available
  • Offers an upgrade that covers special circumstances such as advertising and rewards for lost pets,
  • The Figo Pet Cloud helps you find pet-friendly places and connect with other pet owners for activities such as doggy play dates.

Cons

  • Coverage for vet exam fees has to be added on for an extra cost
  • 6-month waiting period for knee injury coverage
  • Does not cover dental illnesses
  • Deductible choices vary depending on pet age and lower deductibles are not available at higher ages
  • Only covers prescription food if it’s needed to treat bladder stones or crystals

Lemonade Pet Insurance

Lemonade insurance launched in 2016 as a fully licensed insurance company that underwrites its own policies. As a newbie to the insurance industry, Lemonade threw out the traditional insurance model and created a structure that shares its profits with numerous charities.

They do so by taking a flat fee after claims and expenses are paid, then donate up to 40% of what’s left over to a charity you choose, through the Lemonade GiveBack program. Examples of charities that have received money through the program include The Trevor Project, American Red Cross.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Benefits

Lemonade’s pet insurance policy covers a wide range of expenses related to accidents and injuries. Some expenses covered include:

  • Accidents such as poisonings, broken bones, and sprains
  • Illnesses such as diabetes, allergies, and hip or elbow dysplasia
  • Diagnostics like bloodwork, X-rays, urinalysis, and ultrasounds
  • MRIs and CT scans
  • Labwork
  • Procedures such as surgeries
  • Hospitalizations
  • Outpatient or emergency care
  • Injections and prescription medications

Lemonade Pet Insurance Add-Ons

In addition to accident and illness coverage, Lemonade offers several policy add-ons, which can provide more comprehensive coverage to your pet.

Extended Accident and Illness package

With this add-on, Lemonade will pay for your vet visit fees and reimburse for treatments for functionality issues such as:

  • Physical therapy
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Acupuncture

Preventative and Wellness package

To help maintain your pet’s health, Lemonade offers preventive and wellness care coverage. This add-on covers costs such as:

What Lemonade Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover

Similar to other pet insurance policies, Lemonade doesn’t cover every expense. Some of Lemonade’s coverage exclusions include:

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Dental care
  • Elective surgeries not resulting from injury or illness
  • Any illness or injury that is a result of neglect

Remember, if you choose not to purchase an additional package, you won’t have coverage for things like exam fees or wellness visits.

Lemonade Waiting Periods for Coverage

Generally, pet insurance coverage doesn’t kick in until after a certain amount of time, known as a waiting period. The waiting period begins on your policy’s start date. Here are Lemonade’s waiting periods:

  • Two-day waiting periods for accidents
  • 14-day waiting periods for illnesses
  • Six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament events

Lemonade’s two-day waiting period for accidents is pretty competitive across the industry. Some companies, such as Spot and the ASPCA have 14-day accident waiting periods. The 14-day waiting period for illnesses is standard across the pet insurance industry.

When it comes to extended waiting periods, not all pet insurers have them. If your pet is susceptible to cruciate ligament injuries, Lemonade might not be the best fit since they have a six-month waiting period for these conditions.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

Maximum annual limit options: Pet insurance companies put a coverage cap on the amount they will pay for qualifying expenses in a given year. Lemonade offers several coverage limits to choose from, including:

  • $5,000
  • $10,000
  • $20,000
  • $50,000
  • $100,000

Deductible options: before your coverage start reimbursing you for pet medical expenses, you must pay a deductible toward vet bills. Lemonade gives you these options:

  • $100
  • $250
  • $500

Reimbursement options: Pet insurance policies also come with reimbursement levels. This means that the pet insurer will only cover expenses up to a certain percentage of the total vet bill. With Lemonade, you can choose reimbursement levels of:

  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%

Pros

  • Lowest prices among the plans we analyzed
  • Accident coverage waiting period of only 2 days
  • Optional wellness plan available

Cons

  • 6-month waiting period for coverage of cruciate ligaments
  • No 24/7 pet telehealth line
  • No coverage for stem cell treatment, prescription food

Spot Pet Insurance

Spot Pet Insurance is underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Co., which began writing pet insurance in 2006. Spot offers pet owners a robust pet insurance plan as well as resources such as telehealth.

Spot gives you lots of ways to adjust your benefits levels so that you can fit pet insurance into your budget.

Note: This is the same plan and pricing offered by ASPCA but with different choices for annual limits and deductibles.

What Does Spot Pet Insurance Cover?

When your pet gets sick or injured, Spot’s accident and illness plan cover treatment and care-related costs. Expenses covered under this plan include:

  • Accidents such as poisoning or ligament sprains
  • Illnesses such as ear infections
  • MRIs and CT scans
  • X-rays
  • Surgeries
  • Stem cell therapy
  • Prescription medications
  • Prescription food to treat a problem covered by your policy
  • Supplements to treat a problem covered by your policy
  • Medical supplies such as bandages, splints, and casts
  • Hospitalizations
  • Treatment for behavioral issues
  • Cancer treatment
  • Microchipping

Spot Pet Insurance Care Coverage

Gold preventative care coverage. With this add-on, Spot will reimburse you up to $250 per year for preventive care expenses such as:

  • Wellness exams
  • Dental cleanings
  • Vaccinations
  • Fecal tests
  • Canine heartworm test
  • Feline FELV test
  • Deworming

Platinum preventive care coverage. With this add-on, Spot will reimburse you up to $450 per year for preventive expenses. In addition to covering all of the Gold plan expenses, the Platinum plan will cover additional costs, including:

  • Dental cleanings
  • Spaying/neutering
  • Bordetella vaccination for dogs
  • Flea and heartworm prevention
  • Blood tests
  • Urinalysis
  • Health certificate

Keep in mind, that Spot applies a payout limit for every expense covered under each plan. For example, the Gold plan will only reimburse up to $50 per year for a wellness exam and the Platinum plan will only reimburse up to $25 per year for flea and heartworm prevention.

What Spot Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover

Unfortunately, Spot’s accident and illness plan won’t cover every health-related expense. Some expenses excluded from coverage include:

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Boarding and daycare
  • Breeding, pregnancy, whelping, or nursing
  • Elective or cosmetic procedures
  • Any illness or injury resulting from intentional, malicious, or negligent activities
  • Supplement and vitamins for preventative or general health maintenance

Spot Pet Insurance Waiting Periods for Coverage

Pet insurance coverage typically doesn’t start until a certain amount of time passes after you enroll. This amount of time is known in the pet insurance industry as a waiting period, which begins on the start date of your policy. For example, Spot has 14-day waiting periods for accidents and illnesses.

Spot’s 14-day waiting period for accidents is not very competitive, considering some pet insurers have accident waiting periods that only last a few days. However, Spot’s 14-day waiting period for illnesses is typically what most insurance companies apply to pet insurance policies.

Spot Pet Insurance Coverage Levels

Maximum annual limit options: Some pet insurance companies limit the amount the company will pay in total annual benefits. Spot offers a choice of several coverage caps:

  • $2,500
  • $4,000
  • $5,000
  • $7,000
  • $10,000
  • Unlimited

A deductible is an amount you must pay for covered expenses before your policy begins reimbursing you for expenses. Spot offers several deductible options:

  • $100
  • $250
  • $500
  • $750
  • $1,000

Reimbursement options: The percentage of vet expenses a pet insurer will pay annually is the reimbursement level. Spot offers three options:

  • 70%
  • 80%
  • 90%

Pros

  • A low $100 deductible is available
  • Covers the veterinarian’s office visit fee for illness and accidents
  • Multipet discount of 10%
  • Optional wellness plan available
  • Has a 24/7 pet telehealth line

Cons

  • The waiting period for accident coverage is 14 days

The Best 6 Pet Insurance Companies in 2022

linkedin

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*