Best Pet Insurance of 2024

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.

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.

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.

If you have a household with multiple pets of all ages, you can apply for Pumpkin’s pet insurance and qualify for a 10% multiple pet discount for each additional pet. This applies to older pets too, and they will not be subject to either reduced coverage or outright denial of coverage solely because of their older age.

Pumpkin’s coverage for accidents and illnesses includes standard items like MRI’s, CT scans, surgery, prescription meds and hospitalization. The policy also extends to behavioral issues, microchip implantation, and even alternative therapy.

Dental disease counts as a covered illness as well, (including exams, procedures and medication) but like most other pet insurances, it will not cover routine dental cleanings. Adding an optional preventative care pack onto your policy will extend coverage to annual wellness exams, vaccinations and lab tests for parasites.

Monthly premiums for Pumpkin’s policies will depend on the pet's age, breed and the deductible and annual limit you chose. For cats, the annual maximum coverage tops out at $15,0000, while dogs can be insured for up to $20,000. After the deductible is met — which can be $100, $250 or $500 — Pumpkin will cover 90% of eligible expenses related to accidents and illnesses.

Pre-existing conditions are not covered. For all limitations visit pumpkin.care/insurancepolicy. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company and produced by Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is offered as an optional non-insurance benefit, and is not available in all states.