Are you looking for the best pet insurance for your furry companion? Pet insurance can give you peace of mind when it comes to your pet’s health, helping you afford medications, treatments, prescription food, and other necessities. Finding the right pet health insurance for you, your pet, and your budget can help you care for your pet in the way they deserve.

Best Pet Insurance Companies in 2023

  • Embrace Pet Insurance
  • Healthy Paws
  • Prudent Pet
  • Trupanion
  • Nationwide Pet Insurance
  • American Pet Insurance Company (APIC) 
  • Lemonade Pet Insurance 
  • Pets Best Insurance 
  • Pumpkin Pet Insurance 
  • Pet Assure 
  • ManyPets 
  • Spot 
  • ASPCA Pet Health Insurance 
  • Existing Auto or Homeowners Insurance 

The best pet insurance companies offer different types of coverage at various price points. Not all pet insurance company options will work for each pet owner, which is why it’s crucial to do some research to find the best coverage to suit you and your pet’s needs. Fortunately, there are several options for a pet parent to choose from, including those with multiple pets or those just looking for dog or cat insurance. 

What Is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is a policy that helps pet owners afford health care for their pets. Like health insurance for people, pet insurance usually has a monthly premium. A pet parent pays that premium to reduce covered costs on their pet’s veterinarian visits, treatments, prescriptions, and more. Also similar to human health insurance, pet insurance policies often come with deductibles. The policy owner must pay the deductible for a covered service before the insurance plan covers its portion of the costs. Deductibles can range up to $1,000 or more, depending on the plan you choose.

A pet insurance policy also comes with varying coverage levels. For instance, more expensive plans may cover everything from routine services, like spaying and neutering, to surgeries and prescriptions. Others may only cover accidents and injuries but usually have more affordable monthly payments. 

The amount a pet owner pays monthly for their pet’s insurance policy depends on several factors. For instance, some dog breeds are prone to more illnesses than others, so their policies may be more expensive than others. Your deductible, coverage types, and pet’s age can also influence the cost of your premium.

Best Pet Insurance Companies in 2023

You shop around for cheap car insurance and the best life insurance plan for your family. Now, it’s time to look for a pet insurance plan for your furry companion that can provide annual coverage for routine care, preventative care, wellness care, and other needs. The following are some of the best pet insurance companies that offer coverage for a young or older pet. 

Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace Pet Insurance is a pet insurance company that gives back to pets and organizations in need through charity donations and donation matching from its employees. The company was founded in 2003 and has since grown to be awarded for being an excellent workplace, offering outstanding service, and making a name for itself as one of the best pet insurance companies. All states are eligible for an Embrace Pet Insurance plan, including Washington, D.C.

This company covers dogs and cats and offers some of the most comprehensive coverages for a pet insurance provider. For instance, your pet can get covered for breed-specific congenital conditions, preventable diseases, and cancer. Diagnostic testing, specialist care, and alternative treatments can also get covered. 

Healthy Paws

Since 2009, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and its Healthy Paws Foundation have committed to improving health and wellness care for pets. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance covers dogs and cats of all ages for unexpected injuries, illnesses, and accidents without confusing coverage limits. Pet owners can also use any licensed veterinarian for their pets’ covered services.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has a 15-day waiting period for coverage to kick in after signing up for a policy, except in Maryland and New Hampshire. Pet parents in all states can receive a quote for cat or dog insurance through Healthy Paws.

Prudent Pet

Prudent Pet helps pet owners choose the coverage that fits their needs and budget with its flexible plans. In addition to comprehensive insurance that covers illness and injuries, this insurance company also has an accident-only plan with a 14-day waiting period that helps you pay costs related to unexpected injuries, like burns or wounds.

Prudent Pet’s plans are underwritten by the Markel Insurance Company family of brands, but Prudent Pet oversees and processes its clients’ bills, claims, and policy sales. It operates in all 50 states to serve pet parents nationwide.

Trupanion

Trupanion’s founder created the company in 1998 after he and his family couldn’t afford the costs of their dog’s medical care. Since then, Trupanion has become one of the country’s most well-known pet insurance companies, known for paying 90% of covered services without per incident, annual, or lifetime limits.

Trupanion also works with pet hospitals across the country to help pet parents streamline the billing process. The company accepts bills straight from partnered hospitals, allowing a pet owner to pay only their portion of the bill during checkout. Then, Trupanion takes care of the rest.

Nationwide Pet Insurance 

Nationwide is one of the most well-known insurance companies in the United States, responsible for offering life insurance, homeowners insurance, car insurance, and other coverages for individuals and families. Nationwide Pet Insurance covers dogs and cats for chronic illnesses, accidents and injuries, holistic medicine, and more. A separate policy is available for birds and exotic pets, like mice and ferrets.

Nationwide Pet Insurance policyholders can work with any veterinarian of their choosing. Submit bills directly to Nationwide to receive reimbursement for covered services. Plans begin at just $35 per month, depending on your pet’s breed, deductible amount, location, and other factors.

American Pet Insurance Company (APIC) 

American Pet Insurance is a Trupanion company acquired by the brand in 2007. This company is one you’ll find as an underwriter for some of the other best pet insurance companies on our list, including Trupanion and Pets Best Insurance. 

Depending on the partnered company, American Pet Insurance policyholders can have their pet insurance cover their dogs or cats. The company’s partnered pet insurance products vary in coverages, waiting periods, premiums, and more, so almost any pet owner can find a solution that fits their needs.

Lemonade Pet Insurance

Lemonade Pet Insurance is a unique offering that lets customers sign up through the app or website and get approved for a plan quickly. It’s also known for quick claims processing, potentially approving your claims in as little as a few minutes. 

Lemonade features comprehensive packages for routine care that cover everything from heartworm tests to preventative blood work and wellness exams. There are also packages designed for puppies and kittens that include coverage for initial shots and boosters, microchipping, and spaying and neutering. When you get a Lemonade quote, you’ll have plenty of options to keep your payments as flexible as you need them. For instance, lower your premiums by having Lemonade pay only 70% of your bill rather than 90%, or adjust Lemonade’s maximum limits to customize your premium.

Pets Best Insurance 

Another best pet insurance company to consider is Pets Best Insurance, which provides accident and illness coverage and wellness coverage for puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats. Founded in 2005 by a former veterinarian, Pets Best Insurance operates across the United States.

Policyholders can elect to add Vet Direct Pay to their policies to have Pets Best Insurance pay claims directly to their pet’s veterinarian. A unique feature of Pets Best Insurance is its 24/7 veterinarian hotline that all policyholders have access to when they have questions about their pet’s health. 

Pumpkin Pet Insurance 

Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers cat and dog insurance – including coverage for puppies and kittens – in all 50 states. Policyholders can choose to bring their pets to any veterinarian and still get covered for eligible services. 

With Pumpkin, you can receive 90% back on covered services. Plus, coverage doesn’t reduce just because your pet gets older or has more conditions added to their pet record. Pet owners with multiple pets can save 10% on their policy by adding two or more pets. Some pets may also be eligible for unlimited coverage.

Pet Assure 

Unlike the other best pet insurance plans on our list, Pet Assure offers a discount plan rather than an insurance plan for pets. Rather than reimburse you for a percentage of the costs you paid for eligible services, Pet Assure helps you get a discount on covered services through your vet, like emergency care, ultrasound, and wellness visits.

Pet parents interested in signing up for Pet Assure must do so through their employer that offers it as an employee benefit. Check here to see if your employer includes Pet Assure in your benefits package.

ManyPets 

ManyPets is a somewhat newer pet insurance company that’s available in the UK, Sweden, and most of the United States, with plans to expand into more states in the coming year or so. Its pet insurance policy options for dogs and cats start as low as $20 per month with unlimited claims payouts and up to 100% reimbursement on covered services.

Plus, it works with any vet you choose for exams, routine checkups, cancer treatments, diagnostics, and more. Use the simple online claims filing service to submit a claim quickly and securely.

Spot 

Spot Pet Insurance covers dogs and cats eight weeks or older. Pet parents can choose plans for accidents and injuries or accidents only to get the level of coverage they need. Preexisting conditions are not covered by Spot, but dogs or cats exhibiting no symptoms for 180 days could be eligible for coverage on their condition should it return.

When you get a quote for a Spot Pet Insurance policy, you can customize your annual limits, deductible, and reimbursement percentage to get a premium that fits your budget. Insurance by Spot is available nationwide.

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance 

ASPCA Pet Health Insurance has been available for dogs and cats since 2006. This unique coverage for behavioral problems includes anxiety medication, behavioral therapy, and behavior modification training. 

In addition to accidents, illnesses, and genetic conditions, ASPCA pet insurance also covers some chronic conditions, prescriptions, microchipping, and alternative treatments, like physiotherapy and acupuncture.

Existing Auto or Homeowners Insurance 

Another option for pet parents to get a pet insurance plan is to check with their existing homeowners insurance provider. Some homeowners insurance companies offer pet insurance as an additional product, and you can typically save money across your policies by bundling your insurance together with the same company. For instance, Geico’s pet insurance covers accidents, injuries, dental problems, and other necessities for pets. USAA also provides pet insurance for as little as $1 a day for prescriptions, behavioral therapy, emergency room visits, and more. 

Not all homeowners insurance companies discuss their pet insurance on their websites. If you can’t find any information about your company, it doesn’t hurt to ask your agent whether pet insurance is available.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?


After reading our pet insurance review of each company, you may notice that pet insurance policies can vary greatly between insurers. Some companies include routine visits and wellness care in their plans, while others offer more limited coverage for accidents and illnesses only.

Generally, the best pet insurance plans cover ordinary veterinary expenses, like annual wellness checks, office visits for illnesses or injuries, hereditary conditions, vaccines, and routine dental care. However, they usually do not cover preexisting conditions your pet has. For example, if your dog has had symptoms of arthritis for the past few months, your policy will likely not cover any veterinary care relating to arthritis, including checkups and treatments.

Some of the best pet insurance companies provide extra benefits that others don’t, like coverage for alternative treatments, like laser therapy and rehabilitative therapy. Behavioral therapies and management might also be included for pets that suffer from anxiety-related behavior issues. 

When comparing quotes from different insurers, be sure to consider what each policy includes. You might pay a bit more each month with one company, but it could be worth it if that company extends coverage for almost any veterinary care your cat or dog needs.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

Expect the cost of your pet insurance coverage to vary by company, breed, age, and type of coverage. On average, expect to pay $30-$50 per month for dogs and $20-$40 per month for cats. However, some cat and dog breeds with a risk of genetic disorders may cost more, as will older animals. According to a Better by Today article, many companies charge incredibly higher premiums as pets age, with some more than tripling prices for 12+ year-olds compared to puppies and kittens. 

When receiving a health insurance quote for your pet, use the tools on a company’s website to help you find the right price. Usually, you can adjust your deductible, coverage limits, and reimbursement rate to find a monthly premium price that you feel comfortable with.

Pet Insurance vs. Pet Discount Plan

Pet insurance and pet discount plans can both save you money on your vet bills, but they work differently. It’s important to understand the difference between the two when shopping for pet insurance for your dog or cat.

Pet health insurance reimburses you for a portion of the amount you pay your veterinarian for covered services, like immunizations and lab testing. Some companies pay as much as 90% of your covered vet bills. This money either gets paid directly to your vet or goes to you after submitting a claim. 

In contrast, a pet discount plan gives you an upfront discount on covered services. For example, let’s say you brought your cat in for an ear infection. Your discount plan may offer you a 25% discount on the vet visit and prescription, which comes off your bill before you pay. Employers sometimes offer pet discount plans as part of an employee benefits package.

Typically, pet health insurance can save you more money with its higher reimbursement percentage and comprehensive covered services. Still, either one can be a good option for pet owners seeking a bit of financial help when caring for their furry loved ones.

Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

As a homeowner, there are many different types of insurance that can offer protection and peace of mind. The best pet insurance options could be worth the costs for many pet owners. If your dog or cat suddenly becomes ill or has an accident that could result in costly veterinary bills, your pet insurance plan could help you stress less about finances and focus more on helping your pet get better.

Even owners of healthy pets may benefit from the peace of mind of having a pet insurance plan available. These plans often pay for annual well-checks, routine immunizations, and prescriptions your pet might need for overall health and wellness. Utilizing these services throughout your pet’s life can help give them a long, healthy future.

Compare quotes from several companies to decide whether pet insurance fits into your budget. Weigh the monthly costs with the potential costs of an accident or illness with expensive vet bills. You might also check with your veterinarian for a pet insurance recommendation. Some vets partner with a specific insurance provider, keeping the billing process simpler for you.