Best Pet Insurance

Lemonade is our top pick for pet insurance because you can customize your dog or cat care plan to fit your needs and budget. Plans start around $14 per month and increase based on your level of coverage and other factors. There is a mobile app to help you manage your claims, but note that the waiting period for coverage may be longer than some other insurers (two days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses).

Make sure you review the company policies and plans for any exclusions, such as dental illnesses, preexisting conditions and prescription diets. The company does offer some riders and add-ons that may allow coverage for these.

Lemonde’s pet coverage is available in 37 states and Washington, D.C. Some packages include live, 24/7 vet chats and coverage for genetic conditions. The preventive care package comes with dental care coverage. Bundle and save 10% on your pet insurance when you use Lemonade for other insurance needs.

We recommend Lemonade pet insurance for the following:

• Quick claims process
• Optional wellness package
• Discounts for multiple pets

Some factors of Lemonade pet insurance to consider include:

• Not currently available in all states
• Long wait periods
• No accident-only plan

“The staff is caring and always asks about my dog and her well-being and make the claims process smooth,” said one reviewer in Virginia. Others agree that Lemonade is quick to approve claims. A number of reviewers cautioned that Lemonade has a tendency to classify health problems as preexisting and not cover those issues.

With Figo Pet Insurance, you get coverage for cats and dogs of any age, and there’s only a one-day waiting period for injuries caused by an accident (illness and orthopedic coverage are longer, however). It works to get most claims closed in less than three working days. Figo’s Pet Cloud is a convenient app that makes it easy to keep vet records organized. Additionally, Pet Cloud allows access to live vet help 24/7.

Like other plans, Figo does not cover preexisting conditions, and there are other exclusions, including care for pregnancy, parasites and experimental procedures. Additionally, since it only covers dogs and cats, if you have more nontraditional or exotic pets, you’ll need to find another provider.

Plans start around $27 per month. Choose from three flexible coverage plans based on how much coverage you want, from $5,000 per year to unlimited coverage. You set your deductible range between $100 to $750, noting that the lower your deductible, the higher your premiums will be. You also choose a reimbursement rate between 70% to 100%.

We love Figo Pet Insurance for these factors:

• Works with any participating vet worldwide
• Military and multipet discount available
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Before signing up, consider these drawbacks:

• Automatic renewal policy
• Extra coverage needed for exam fees
• Only covers dogs and cats

Several reviewers have said that though the coverage is pricey, it is worth it because the payouts are quick. “They have covered everything they said they would,” according to one customer in Texas.

A few customers have complained that in 2020 the insurance changed underwriters and the unlimited plan is not actually “unlimited” in coverage as it suggests.

Embrace Pet Insurance offers “nose-to-tail” coverage for vet emergencies for cats and dogs. You can add on wellness coverage, but it costs more and only covers up to $650 in claims each year. If you don’t make a claim during the year, you will be rewarded with a $50 deductible discount going forward.

For those with questions, concerns or other customer service needs, Embrace offers long phone hours (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST) as well as email support. Customers can access their online portal for assistance, and the founder of the company has made his email address available to customers, as well.

Plans average $15 to $20 per month for cats and $30 to $40 per month for dogs. This company is a good fit for large dog breeds because it includes coverage for surgeries that veterinarians often recommend for big breeds, such as gastropexy. Embrace reserves its full accident and illness coverage for dogs and cats under 15 years old, but its accident-only policy could be a good option for older dogs.

As with other providers, take the time to review plan exclusions, claims processing times and waiting periods for injuries and illnesses.

Embrace Pet Insurance is a good option for these reasons:

• Good dental illness policy
• Military and multiple-pet discounts
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Be mindful of the following with Embrace Pet Insurance:

• Not available in all areas
• Some age restrictions
• Only cats and dogs are covered

One customer in Kansas estimates that Embrace has reimbursed about 90% of their claims: “Anytime I have a question regarding my pet insurance, I get to talk to a real person who is genuine about my concerns,” they said. Several pet owners felt that Embrace took a long time to process claims and submit reimbursements.

ASPCA insurance is a good choice for older pets because there is no maximum age limit for coverage. The Complete Coverage plan covers several expenses associated with senior pets, including tooth extractions, end-of-life care, surgery and cancer treatments.

Plans start at $20 per month, and you can visit any vet within the U.S. or Canada. We also like that with ASPCA, if your pet has a preexisting condition but hasn’t received treatment or shown symptoms for 180 days or more, ASPCA no longer considers it a condition (excluding knee and ligament issues).

There is an annual limit of $10,000 on care for your pets. If you own a horse, dog or cat, you can get coverage with ASPCA.

Top features of ASPCA include:

• No age limit
• Covers select prescription food
• Horses covered

Be aware of these factors:

• Supplements and vitamins not covered
• No stand-alone wellness coverage
• Maximum annual limit is $10,000

One New York customer had no issues getting reimbursed $800 for their dog’s tooth extraction, writing, “Never took longer than two weeks to get paid the 80% reimbursement for my dog's vet bills so I’m very happy with this pet insurance.” Some reviewers found the claims process to be slow, with costs hard to get approved.

Spot Pet Insurance offers accident and illness coverage for dogs and cats as young as 8 weeks old and comes with a 14-day waiting period for coverage. If you do need to file a claim, you can do so up to 270 days from the date of treatment. There is no need for paper filing; you can quickly file claims and upload your invoice through the member portal. If Spot needs more information, it contacts your vet directly.

Although it has exclusions for things like preexisting conditions, Spot provides coverage for end-of-life, alternative therapy and behavioral-related health issues, like fur pulling, which some competitor plans do not cover.

You can get customizable coverage for your pets, with plans starting at $10 per month for cats and $16 per month for dogs. You have the option to add on a preventive care package starting at $9.99. This extra package includes coverage for dental cleanings, wellness exams and deworming.

We love Spot Pet Insurance for the following:

• No per-incident limits or lifetime caps
• Alternative therapy coverage
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Some factors to think about before choosing:

• Higher premiums for older pets
• Some documentation required
• Exclusions for some conditions

Customers felt like they could rely on Spot to approve their claims without delay. One customer in Florida got a plan for their 5-year-old Pomeranian. When a specialist recommended surgery for a colon tumor, Spot covered most of the expenses. There are a few reviewers who felt the plan was expensive and not worth the coverage they received.