Best Pet Insurance of 2023

Well aware that many homeowners are also pet owners, Lemonade offers a 10% discount if you bundle pet insurance with their renters or homeowner’s insurance.

Basic insurance coverage starts at $10 per month. Quotes will still vary, however, since the final premium factors in where you live, your pet's age, breed and whether it’s a cat or a dog. Most pet insurance excludes coverage for routine care — like annual physical checkups, heartworm screening, parasite tests and yearly vaccines — but Lemonade allows pet owners to add an affordable Preventative and Wellness package to extend coverage for all of these items.

Like most providers, Lemonade does not cover pre-existing and bilateral conditions, or dental care, such as cleanings and tooth extractions. Exceptions are made for any dental work required after an accident.

If your pet gets ill or suffers an accident, Lemonade will cover related diagnosis and treatment costs including: injections, prescription meds, hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, blood tests, urinalysis, x-rays, MRI’s, CT scans and ultrasounds. Purchasing an Extended Accident and Illness package will expand coverage to include vet fees, physical therapy, hydrotherapy and even acupuncture.

Lemonade allows you to customize your coverage, so reimbursements will cover 70%, 80%, or 90% of diagnosis and treatment. Pet parents can choose an annual limit up to a $100,000 and an annual deductible anywhere between $100 to $500.

Most pet insurance plans won’t write a new policy for an older pet — 12 is generally the typical cut-off age for dogs and cats.

Pets Best does not have a maximum age limit so you could still get coverage on your aging pet. But, like all insurers, Pets Best won’t cover pre-existing conditions.

If you have a healthy pet who’s getting on up there, Pets Best could be an option, with three different Accident & Illness policies to choose from (Essential, Plus, or Elite). And you can add two different wellness coverages to all three, for your pet’s routine care needs.

Plans go up to 90 percent reimbursement. If you’re on a budget and are ok with more limited protection, consider Pets Best’s 70 percent reimbursement rate, which could cost just $9 a month for an Accident-only policy.

Regardless of your choice, monthly fees rarely go over $50 for even the most comprehensive coverage levels.

Spot offers comprehensive accident and illness coverage and also allows for customizable options to be applied, making it a well-rounded plan for most pets.

The SPOT On coverage reimburses for standard injuries, illnesses or emergencies such as broken bones, poisonings, digestive problems, cancer, arthritis, wounds and cuts. It also covers hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia and eye conditions, just as long as they are not pre-existing conditions.

Alternative therapies to treat a pet’s covered condition are included in the SPOT On coverage. Treatments encompass acupuncture, chiropractic services, hydrotherapy, laser treatment, and other therapeutic options. These therapies provide a holistic approach to pet health and can be of great benefit to our furry friends.

Pet parents can also customize their plans to include coverage for preventive care or behavioral therapy. These add-ons cost extra but can help cover treatments such as dental cleaning, deworming, flea and heartworm prevention, as well as behavioral modification techniques and medication for anxiety or other conditions.

As an added bonus, enrolled customers have access to whiskerDocs, a 24/7 telehealth helpline. Customers have the option of contacting a veterinary expert via chat, text, phone, or video to consult any situation regarding pet health, behavior, or general wellness.. Although the specialist cannot diagnose, they can point customers in the right direction and offer peace of mind.

Customers can test out the service under Spot’s 30-day money-back guarantee. If the customer is not satisfied with the coverage, they can request a refund of the premium within the first 30 days of the policy effective date if no claims have been approved or paid during that period.

Embrace provides high coverage for dental illnesses: $1,000 per policy year in most states. The company covers extractions, root canals, crowns, gingivitis, and broken, chipped, or fractured teeth.

Basic coverage starts at under $6 per month for cats and $12 for dogs, and covered treatment includes alternative therapies, rehabilitation, behavioral therapy, emergency veterinary care, specialist care, diagnostic testing (including x-rays and MRIs), hospitalization & surgery, prosthetics & mobility devices, prescription drug coverage.

While routine care like cleaning and annual checkups are not included in the policy — as is the case with most pet insurance providers — they can be reimbursed by adding on a wellness plan at extra cost.

The Optional Wellness Rewards plan offers additional coverage for wellness exams, training, grooming, vaccines, and spay or neuter surgery. This plan reimburses up to $650 per year in wellness treatments.

Another benefit of Embrace is its shrinking deductibles. They can be set between $100 and $1,000, and every year you don’t file a claim, you’ll receive a $50 reduction. If your pet is healthy, your deductible can be reduced down to zero after several consecutive claim reimbursement-free years.

Reimbursements can reach 90 percent, annual benefits are capped at $15,000, and monthly premiums start at $13 for dogs and $9 for cats. All claims can be submitted online, via email, fax, or mobile app.

Pet insurance coverage from USAA and Geico can also be obtained through Embrace.

FIGO has been around less than 10 years but has been growing in market share for two reasons: easy online access, lots of technology, and robust coverage.

FIGO offers three different plan tiers to choose from, all of which cover hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions. Each policy has its annual limits, starting at $5,000 up to “unlimited.” You should be aware that depending on the state and age of the pet, some policies may also have a lifetime limit of $100,000 for the most inexpensive plan.

Based on your plan, deductible, and reimbursement choice, you can receive up to 100 percent back of covered procedures — though, of course, this does require a higher premium.

All policyholders can use FIGO’s cutting-edge app for 24/7 access to a live vet. You can reach customer service representatives via live chat, text, email, Twitter, and over the phone. The app also sets up reminders for veterinary appointments and even has a Pet Cloud feature to connect with other pet parents and places.

FIGO makes shopping simple. All its plans cover the same expenses — hospitalizations, emergency care, diagnostic testing, cancer treatments, and hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions. However, none of them cover exam fees, though this can be added for a small monthly fee.