Insuring better compliance: A comparison of pet insurance companies
Pet health insurance could be a good option for many of your veterinary clients. If you don't have favorites yet, start your research here with this in-depth comparison.
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To help you sort through client payment methods, Veterinary Economics has spent years looking at cash, check, credit card, third-party payment plans, and in-clinic payment plans. But in the event a thoughtful client thinks about how much they would spend on that beloved pet, pet insurance for the future is an option.
Of course, up until now, we've simply advised you to do the legwork: Look at pet insurance options, decide whether you want to suggest one or two options to new and existing clients, and sort it out yourself.
Well, now we've decided to do the sorting for you. We've gathered information provided by pet insurance companies so you can compare-and share-the options with staff and clients. Every detail of the available plans isn't covered, so think of this as a great start of your work to do what's right for your clients when it comes to pet insurance.
Press the Next button below to view our survey of nine top pet insurance companies (or download as a PDF):
- 24PetWatch
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
- Embrace
- PetFirst
- PetPartners
- Petplan
- Pets Best
- Trupanion
- VPI
(Note: This information was provided directly by companies themselves and has not been independently verified. Best Friends Pet Insurance and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, and PurinaCare Pet Insurance did not respond by press time.)
Insurance brand:
24PetWatch
Types of coverage?
Accident, illness, wellness, and dental
Started?
1999
Insures where?
United States (excluding Alaska), Canada, United Kingdom
Total pets covered?
More than 210,000 pets
Customer service?
Phone, web, Monday to Saturday; fax and email
Waiting period?
Accident: day after policy set up; Illness: 14 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, preventable conditions or those for which veterinarian advised treatment and owner did not comply, elective procedures
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, if the condition is not chronic and doesn't recur or require treatment within 24 months (exceptions for musculoskeletal disorders, endocrine disease, and cardiovascular conditions)
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, in Canada and the United Kingdom
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
Yes
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
Only in United Kingdom
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, location, species
Reimbursement?
80%
Deductible?
$100, $250, $500, or $1,000
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Per-incident/medical condition
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change anytime
Discounts?
Multi-pet, claims-free, loyalty, microchip registered with 24PetWatch, group discounts, clinic staff, and service dogs
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
No
Maximum payout per year?
$1,500, $3,000, $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000
Lifetime limit?
No
File claims?
Email, fax, in-clinic software; claim form, paid invoices, medical records
Claim reimbursement?
To policyholder in five to seven business days if by fax, mail, or email; to client in one to three business days if by in-clinic software; to veterinarian in one to three business days if by in-clinic software
Insurance brand:
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Hartville Pet Insurance, Petshealth Care Plan, Protect Your Bubble
Types of coverage?
Accident, illness, and wellness
Started?
1997
Insures where?
United States
Total pets covered?
More than 100,000 pets
Customer service?
Phone Monday to Saturday; email; department for veterinarians
Waiting period?
Illness: 30 days; accident and wellness: None; Hereditary and congenital: six months
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions; elective procedures the ASPCA opposes, such as ear cropping, tail docking, and claw removal; treatment for dental disease (injuries are covered); costs for breeding or pregnancy; pet food; grooming; others as listed
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, if the condition is cured and treatment-free for at least six months
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, in Canada; travel assistance services available globally for ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
No
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, location, species
Reimbursement?
70%, 80%, or 90%
Deductible?
$100, $250, or $500
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Annual
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change at renewal or mid-year
Discounts?
Multi-pet, veterinary staff, employee benefit, and more
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
Yes, determined by customary charges for same procedures in same area
Maximum payout per year?
None
Lifetime limit?
Yes, for chronic, hereditary, and congenital conditions
File claims?
Email, fax, or snail mail; one-page claim form and receipts
Claim reimbursement?
To client or veterinarian within about one business week
Insurance brand:
Embrace
Types of coverage?
Accident, illness, and wellness
Started?
2006
Insures where?
United States
Total pets covered?
Roughly 25,000
Customer service?
Phone, web Monday to Friday; representatives to help veterinarians
Waiting period?
Accident and illness: 14 days; orthopedic for dogs: 6 months, or shorter with veterinarian exam
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, behavioral conditions, grooming
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, if the condition doesn't recur within 12 months
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, worldwide, as long as pet parent typically resides in the United States
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
Yes
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, gender, location, spay/neuter status, species
Reimbursement?
65%, 80%, or 90%
Deductible?
$100, $200, $500, or $1,000
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Annual
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may increase deductible at any time; other changes may require rewriting policy
Discounts?
5% for spayed/neutered pets, 5% for annual payers, 5% for veterans or military, 5% multi-pet
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
No
Maximum payout per year?
$5,000, $10,000, or $15,000
Lifetime limit?
$50,000
File claims?
Email, fax, or snail mail; claim form and invoice
Claim reimbursement?
Wellness claims to clients within two business days; 95% of accident and illness claims within 15 business days; veterinarians can receive payment directly if pet owner pre-approves claim and veterinarian allows
Insurance brand:
PetFirst
Types of coverage?
Accident and illness
Started?
2004
Insures where?
United States
Total pets covered?
More than 40,000 cats and dogs
Customer service?
Phone Monday to Friday; email
Waiting period?
Accident: next day; illness: 14 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, unnecessary or nonmedical treatment or care; routine care; preventable conditions
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, in some cases
Emergency coverage overseas?
No
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
Yes
Exam fees covered?
Yes, unless diagnosis is for non-covered condition
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, location
Reimbursement?
70%, 80%, or 90%
Deductible?
$50, $100, $250, or $500
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Per-incident
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change anytime
Discounts?
Multi-pet (up to three pets), claims-free, 5% for annual payers
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
Yes. If "excessive," uses AAHA guide as reference tool
Maximum payout per year?
$7,500 to $20,000
Lifetime limit?
No
File claims?
Email, fax, or snail mail signed claim form, itemized invoice, and veterinary records for incident
Claim reimbursement?
To client within 10 business days; veterinarians can be reimbursed directly
Insurance brand:
PetPartners
Types of coverage?
Accident, illness, and wellness
Started?
2003
Insures where?
United States
Total pets covered?
Undisclosed
Customer service?
Phone and email Monday to Saturday
Waiting period?
Accident: 5 days; illness: 30 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, inherited/congenital, intentional neglect, elective, and treatments related to breeding, behavior, grooming, food, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and alternative/holistic treatments
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, if deemed cured by a veterinarian
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, in Canada
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
Yes
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, location
Reimbursement?
80% or 90%
Deductible?
$75 or $125 per incident; $125 annual
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Annual or per-incident
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change anytime
Discounts?
Multi-pet, group discounts
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
Yes, determined by customary charges for same procedures in same area
Maximum payout per year?
Up to $13,000
Lifetime limit?
No
File claims?
Email, fax, or snail mail; claim form and itemized invoice
Claim reimbursement?
Claims processed and mailed within 14 days
Insurance brand:
Petplan
Types of coverage?
Accident and illness
Started?
2003
Insures where?
United States, Canada
Total pets covered?
Roughly 100,000
Customer service?
Phone 7 days/week
Waiting period?
Accident: 24 hours; Illness: 14 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, routine and preventive care, grooming
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, in some cases
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, in Canada and U.S. territories
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
No
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, location
Reimbursement?
80%, 90%, or 100%
Deductible?
$50, $100, or $200
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Per-incident
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change once per term
Discounts?
5% online, 10% multi-pet, 15% veterinary professional, 10% medical services animal, 10% veteran and military, and group discounts
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
No
Maximum payout per year?
$10,000, $14,000, or $22,000
Lifetime limit?
No
File claims?
Email, fax, or snail mail; one-page claim form, medical records, invoices, and proof of payment
Claim reimbursement?
To client (or veterinarian directly if requested and agreed) within five business days
Insurance brand:
Pets Best
Types of coverage?
Accident, illness, and wellness
Started?
2005
Insures where?
United States
Total pets covered?
More than 124,000 pets
Customer service?
Phone and web Monday to Saturday; 24/7 claims preauthorization
Waiting period?
Accident: 3 days; illness: 14 days; wellness: 14 days. With veterinary exam 10% discount certificate, accident: none; illness: 7 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions; conditions preventable by vaccine; nonmedical veterinary expenses
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, in some cases
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, worldwide
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
No
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, location
Reimbursement?
70%, 80%, 90%, or 100%
Deductible?
$0, $50, $100, $200, $500, or $1,000
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Annual
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change anytime
Discounts?
5% multi-pet, 10% discount for signing up 10 days or fewer after physical exam, 5% veterinary web link discount, veterinary team discount (5% to 12%)
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
No
Maximum payout per year?
$20,000
Lifetime limit?
$200,000
File claims?
Email, fax, online upload; or snail mail; claim form, medical records needed in less than 10% of cases
Claim reimbursement?
To client in one to two business days; veterinarians can receive payment directly
Insurance brand:
Trupanion
Types of coverage?
Injury and illness
Started?
1998 in Canada; 2007 in the United States
Insures where?
United States, Canada, Puerto Rico
Total pets covered?
Undisclosed
Customer service?
Phone 24/7; territory partners to help veterinarians
Waiting period?
Injury: 5 days; illness: 30 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, preventable conditions, elective procedures, routine care, grooming
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, in some cases
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, in Canada and Puerto Rico
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
Yes, unless enrolled in Trupanion Express
Exam fees covered?
No
Third-party liability?
Yes, in optional rider
Basis for premiums?
Age, breed, gender, location, species, and more
Reimbursement?
90%
Deductible?
$0 to $1,000
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Per-incident
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change anytime
Discounts?
No
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
No
Maximum payout per year?
None
Lifetime limit?
No
File claims?
Fax or email claim form; first time, veterinarian sends medical records
Claim reimbursement?
To client within seven to 10 business days for first claim; subsequent claims within 24 hours; veterinarians enrolled in Trupanion Express can receive payment in minutes
Insurance brand:
VPI
Types of coverage?
Injury, illness, and wellness
Started?
1982
Insures where?
United States
Total pets covered?
Roughly 485,000 pets, including birds and exotic pets
Customer service?
Phone Monday to Saturday; email and mail; more than 100 team members to help veterinarians
Waiting period?
Injury: next day; illness: 14 days
Not covered?
Pre-existing conditions, grooming, elective procedures, congenital conditions, behavioral conditions, preventable conditions (if vaccine available and recommended by DVM)
Can pre-existing conditions be “cured”?
Yes, if the condition is curable and doesn't recur within six months
Emergency coverage overseas?
Yes, worldwide
Do veterinarians need to fill out any part of the claim forms?
No
Exam fees covered?
Yes
Third-party liability?
No
Basis for premiums?
Age, location, size (as adult), species
Reimbursement?
100%
Deductible?
$0 to $1,000
Annual or per-incident deductible?
Annual
Changes to policy?
Policyholders may change anytime
Discounts?
Multi-pet (5% for two or three, 10% for four or more), group discounts
Reimbursements compared to “usual and customary” fees?
No
Maximum payout per year?
$7,000 to $14,000
Lifetime limit?
No
File claims?
Email, fax, or snail mail; claim form and itemized invoice
Claim reimbursement?
To client or veterinary provider within 14 business days
