7 Best Pet Insurance Companies for Dogs and Cats (2022 Reviews)

(Ad) When getting a pet, most owners think about the food and toys they need to get. What they don't consider is their pet's veterinary care. A vet bill can be just as costly as a human medical bill, and there's nothing worse than having to make a decision about your pet's well being based on your lack of funds.

Pet insurance plans can give you peace of mind knowing that you can pursue the best vet care for your pet without possibly having to worry about the bills that come after. However, finding the right pet insurance provider can be tricky, as they all offer multiple plans with various options, deductibles, and costs. The situation becomes even more complicated if you have an older pet or need coverage for your exotic animal.

To help you decide, we’ve reviewed the top pet insurance providers on the market. We evaluated each pet insurance company on a variety of factors including deductibles, reimbursement percentage, annual limits, user reviews, and price.

Here are our top picks for the 7 best pet insurance companies of 2022.

Top 7 Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2022

• Pumpkin: Best pet insurance overall
• Spot Pet Insurance: Best for multi-pet discounts
• ASPCA Pet Insurance: Best for affordable coverage options
• Lemonade: Best for puppies and kittens
• Embrace Pet Insurance: Best for older pets
• Healthy Paws: Best for comprehensive coverage
• Pets Best: Best for fast claims processing

Honorable mentions: Trupanion, Pet Assure, Figo, Nationwide, ManyPets, Prudent Pet, TrustedPals.

#1. Pumpkin: Best Overall

Pumpkin started offering pet insurance in 2020 in response to the rise of cat and dog adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its parent company, Zoetis, is a global veterinary pharmaceutical company that wants to give pet owners access to the best possible veterinary care for their pets.

Unlike many pet insurance companies, Pumpkin offers a single pet health insurance plan that covers accidents and illnesses. The policy has only one reimbursement percentage of 90%, but you can choose from several annual deductibles and annual limits to potentially lower your monthly premiums.

Pumpkin also has a routine care add-on package that covers routine preventative care, including:

• Blood test for heartworm and tick diseases for dogs
• Two vaccines for dogs, one vaccine for cats
• One annual wellness exam
• One fecal test for worms and parasites

As with most other providers, Pumpkin has several exceptions to its insurance policy, including anal gland expression and pre-existing conditions. However, unlike some providers, Pumpkin is willing to cover pre-existing conditions that have healed and have not required treatment for 180 days. So if your pet has a broken leg when you sign-up, you can claim for a broken leg 180 days after the previous fracture heals.

While Pumpkin's monthly premiums are on the high side — likely due to the set 90% reimbursement rate — the provider does offer a multiple pet discount of 10% per additional pet, which is great for multi-pet homes.

Pumpkin has a blanket 14-day waiting period for all conditions, including cruciate and hip conditions that often have significantly longer wait times.

Pumpkin is a great pet insurance provider for pet owners who want simplicity. The company offers only one plan and one wellness benefits add-on, making it easy to understand what the insurance policy covers and what it excludes. The company's main drawback is the relatively expensive premiums, but you can mitigate those if you have several pets that need a pet insurance policy.

Click here to learn more about Pumpkin Pet Insurance

#2. Spot Pet Insurance: Best Dog Insurance

Spot Pet Insurance started insuring pets in 2006 and has helped millions of owners deal with their pet's vet expenses. You may have already heard about Spot Pet Insurance as the company partnered with Cesar Milan in 2019.

Spot offers two main plans:

Accident-only plan: This plan covers eligible expenses for injuries or illnesses caused by an accident. Common claims include broken bones, swallowed objects, and toxic ingestions.

Accident and illness plan: This plan covers all of the conditions in the accident plan, along with hereditary or congenital conditions, diseases, behavioral issues, and cancer. The plan also covers veterinary exam fees.

The plans are comprehensive and cover everything from tests and medication to relevant veterinary procedures and even prescription food and end-of-life expenses.

The provider also has two preventative add-ons that add a flat rate to your monthly premium: The Gold plan costs $10 per month and reimburses $250 per year for preventative care expenses such as:

• Vaccinations
• Canine heartworm tests
• Dental cleaning
• Deworming

The Platinum plan costs $25 per month and has the same coverage  as the Gold Plan, but also offers a higher reimbursement amount of $450 and also includes:

• Sterilization
• Blood tests
• Flea and heartworm prevention
• Fecal tests
• Wellness exams
• Health certificate
• Urinalysis

Both preventative care plans have payout limits for every covered expense, meaning that you'll only receive $50 for a wellness exam and $150 for a dental cleaning on the Platinum plan.

The provider doesn't cover pre-existing conditions that occur before enrollment or during the 14-day waiting period. All policies also have a list of exclusions that include boarding, grooming, and pregnancy or breeding care, so make sure to read the fine print before signing up.

Spot Pet Insurance has several options for deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement options, which lets you tailor your coverage to suit your pet's health care needs. The provider also offers multi-pet discounts for additional savings.

Spot Pet Insurance is a great option for owners who want a flexible policy with preventative options in addition to traditional accident and illness coverage. While the provider doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, it covers almost any other common illness, making it one of the more comprehensive pet insurance options on the market.

Click here to learn more about Spot Pet Insurance

#3. ASPCA Pet Insurance: Most Affordable Coverage Options

The ASPCA is a well-regarded player in the animal welfare industry and has helped millions of animals since its inception in 1866. The organization realized that many pet owners couldn't pay their vet bills, which led to neglect and mistreatment of these animals, despite the owners' best efforts. The ASPCA started selling pet insurance in 2006 and has recently changed underwriters to the United States Fire Insurance Company.

One notable aspect of ASPCA pet health insurance is that it covers not only dogs and cats but also horses. The provider offers two insurance plans for cats and dogs and two different plans for horses.

Cat and dog owners can choose between an accident-only plan or comprehensive coverage covering accidents and common illnesses. The comprehensive pet insurance plan includes veterinary exams, visits, and microchipping, often left out of pet insurance policies.

Horse owners get the option of colic and accident-only coverage or colic and comprehensive illness coverage.

All ASPCA pet health insurance plans also have two optional wellness coverage riders that provide preventative and wellness benefits at an additional monthly cost.

While the ASPCA pet insurance cost is significantly lower than its competitors, the annual coverage limits are significantly lower as well. Annual limits start at $3,000 and cap out at $10,000 for cats and dogs. These limits are good enough for most vet bills but may be insufficient for serious health issues that require extensive treatments and prolonged care.

The ASPCA pet health insurance policy also has a 10% discount on multiple pets and doesn't have different limits and reimbursement rates based on your pet's age at enrollment.

If you're looking for low-cost pet insurance policies, have more than one pet, and don't expect any serious vet bills in the future, the ASPCA policy may be the best pet insurance plan for you. It has a simple claims process, an industry-standard waiting period, and the illness and accident coverage you need for most situations.

Click here to learn more about ASPCA Pet Insurance

#4. Lemonade: Best for Puppies and Kittens

Unlike many of the pet insurance providers we've covered, Lemonade doesn't use a third-party underwriter to underwrite its policies. Combined with its GiveBack Program, this makes Lemonade one of the more unusual players in the pet insurance industry.

Lemonade offers comprehensive coverage plans for cats and dogs. The basic accident and illness plan covers most expenses your pet could incur, including:

• Common illnesses such as diabetes, allergies, dysplasia, and cancer care
• Diagnostics and veterinary procedures
• Outpatient and emergency care
• Injections and prescription medications and diets

The extended plan also covers vet visits and rehabilitative therapy such as:

• Hydrotherapy
• Physiotherapy
• Acupuncture

Lemonade offers a wellness coverage add-on that covers preventative and wellness care and access to a 24/7 live chat service.

As with most pet insurance policies, the plan doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, routine dental care, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.

One notable aspect of the Lemonade pet insurance plan is that you can choose annual limits from $5,000 to $100,000, with relatively low deductible rates, making it an ideal choice for individuals with aging pets that will require extensive care as they get older.

Lemonade also offers several pet insurance discounts that can reduce your monthly premium. You can get 5% off multiple pets and a 5% annual discount if you don't claim for the previous year. Since Lemonade also offers home and renters insurance, bundling your pet insurance can net you a juicy 10% discount on your pet insurance premium.

One of the biggest sources of stress for new pet owners is the waiting period that most pet insurance companies impose on new enrollments. Lemonade has one of the shortest accident waiting periods on the market: you'll have accident coverage within two days of signing up for a policy. The illness and wellness coverage takes a bit longer to kick in as Lemonade follows the industry standard of 14 days.

Lemonade might be one of the best pet insurance companies for new pet owners who are looking for simplicity and affordability. It's even better for people who already have an existing renters or homeowners policy with the provider.

Click here to learn more about Lemonade

#5. Embrace Pet Insurance: Best Reviews

Embrace Pet Insurance started offering pet insurance policies in 2006 and has developed a range of comprehensive pet insurance plans as well as accident-only coverage to meet a wide array of pet needs.

Embrace's accident-only plan covers most emergency-related conditions, including injuries from car accidents, torn cruciate ligaments, and potential poisonings and toxic ingestions. The comprehensive accident and illness plan covers everything in the accident-only coverage as well as almost all veterinary procedures and treatment options for chronic, breed-specific, and congenital conditions.

As with most pet accident and illness policies, illness coverage doesn't extend to pre-existing conditions, issues relating to breeding or whelping, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures. The good news is that Embrace's upper age limit for new enrollments is 14 years, which means that most pets can benefit from the company's pet insurance policy.

To help pet owners save money on monthly payments, Embrace offers a massive range of deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement rates

Embrace provides optional coverage for preventative care that covers a massive range of treatments that include but aren't limited to:

• Grooming
• Anal gland expression
• Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
• Wellness exam fees
• Vaccinations
• Preventative teeth cleaning
• Sterilization
• Alternative care such as reiki, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture

Embrace has an extremely short two-day waiting period for accident coverage and a standard 14-day delay for illness coverage. The insurance policy also has a six-month waiting period for orthopedic care unless you complete an orthopedic exam and waiver process within 14 days of starting your policy.

A notable feature of Embrace's accident and illness pet insurance plan is that the company offers a reduced deductible of $50 for every year you don't make a claim, which may make it worthwhile to opt for a higher deductible if you have a healthy, young pet when you sign up.

Overall, Embrace is a decent choice for people with younger pets that can reap the benefits of annual reduced deductibles, as long as you don't sign up for the wellness coverage that may affect your claim history. The provider also has a multi-pet discount, so you can save 10% on your premiums if you have more than one pet.

Click here to learn more about Embrace Pet Insurance

#6. Healthy Paws: Best for Comprehensive Animal Coverage

Healthy Paws started as a non-profit organization to help disadvantaged owners and rescue organizations meet their pet's veterinary needs and financial obligations. The organization partnered with Chubb Group and Aon Corporation and started offering pet insurance in 2009. Since then, it has provided insurance coverage to over 550,000 pets across the country.

The most notable feature of a Healthy Paws policy is that it has no caps on claims payouts, meaning you have unlimited annual coverage, and the policy lasts for the animal's lifetime. Animals between eight weeks and 14 years can enroll in the policy, except in New York, where pets are ineligible for a new policy after turning four years old.

Healthy Paws plans vary depending on your animal's age at enrollment. Older animals will have higher deductibles and lower reimbursement rates than younger animals, and you can also play around with these variables to get an acceptable monthly premium.

Unlike other pet insurers, Healthy Paws offers only one comprehensive plan that covers accidents, injuries, and illnesses, including:

• Breed-specific conditions
• Cancer care
• Hereditary and congenital conditions
• Non-routine dental care and tooth extractions
• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic care

Unfortunately, the plan doesn't cover routine care such as vaccines, check-ups, routine dental care, and pre-existing conditions. It's also important to read the fine print — while Healthy Paws will cover hip dysplasia, it will only do so for animals younger than six years old at enrollment.

Healthy Paws is a great pet insurance plan for owners with young, active animals that are susceptible to injuries or accidents. The unlimited annual coverage and flexible reimbursement and deductible options allow you to tailor a plan that suits your pet's needs and your budget.

The main drawbacks of Healthy Paws are its higher deductibles and lower reimbursement rates for older animals. The provider also doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, making it a poor choice for older animals who already have illnesses or other health concerns.

Click here to learn more about Healthy Paws

#7. Pets Best: Best for Fast Claims Processing

Pets Best founder Dr. Jack Stephens started North America's first pet insurance company in 1981 and used his experience to launch Pets Best in 2005. This pet insurance company provides coverage for dogs and cats and offers various accident and illness insurance plans, as well as add-ons to cover routine care.

Owners can tailor their plans by adjusting annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement percentages, directly influencing the monthly premium. Unlike other pet insurance companies that charge per-incident deductibles, Pets Best works on an annual deductible.

The company offers accident insurance as well as BestBenefit Accident and Illness Plans. The BestBenefit Plans come in three tiers: Essential, Plus, and Elite. Essential covers the most common pet conditions, including emergency care, diagnostics, prescription medications, and behavioral conditions. Higher-tier plans also cover exam fees, alternative treatments, and physical rehabilitation.

You can also choose to add a wellness plan to your policy, which covers routine care such as sterilization, vaccination, and dental cleanings. The wellness plans have two tiers: EssentialWellness and BestWellness, with different maximum benefit limits.

What makes Pets Best special is that it doesn't have an upper age limit for older pets, and it will never cancel or reduce coverage based on your pet's age. However, it may raise your monthly premium to cover the rising costs of an elderly animal.

Another benefit of working with Pets Best is that the company has a very short waiting period: only three days for accidents and the traditional 14-day waiting period for illnesses and six months for cruciate ligament conditions. However, if your pet is healthy, having a short accident waiting period means you don't have to worry about accidents when you enroll your pet.

PetsBest offers a helpful app where you can submit claims, access your pet's benefit information, and get answers to health questions with a 24/7 pet helpline. Having this information at your fingertips can be especially useful during a pet emergency, when getting fast, accurate answers can dramatically change the outcome.

Click here to learn more about Pets Best

What Is Pet Insurance?

Pet health insurance is an insurance policy specifically for your pet's vet bills. You can choose from accident coverage that only pays for vet bills and treatments associated with accidents, such as getting hit by a car or running into a tree, or accident and illness coverage that pays for the treatment of common pet illnesses.

As with human health insurance, pet insurance providers have a list of conditions they don't cover. If your pet develops one of these conditions, you'll need to pay the full amount yourself. Common exclusions include:

• Already present conditions
• Hip or elbow dysplasia
• Behavioral issues
• Routine check-ups, vaccinations, and preventative care

When you purchase pet insurance, you'll often get the option to attach a preventative care add-on, which will pay for vaccinations, check-up exam fees, dental care, and many other bills that can protect your pet against developing more serious illnesses in the future.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet insurance works similarly to other forms of insurance. In most cases, you'll still need to pay the full vet bills and then contact the pet insurer to claim your money back. Some insurers have agreements with certain veterinary clinics where you won't need to pay up-front, but these types of pet insurance plans are relatively rare and often come with hefty premiums.

Your monthly premiums depend on many factors, including:

• Pet's age
• Pet's breed
• Pet's health

You can do a lot to reduce your premiums, such as applying for a multiple pet discount, reducing your reimbursement percentage, increasing your deductible, or lowering your annual maximum limit.

Most pet insurance plans have various waiting periods after you sign up. If your pet experiences any accidents or illnesses during this period, you won't receive any reimbursement and will have to pay out of pocket. Many of the best pet insurance providers have very short waiting periods of two or three days for accident-only plans and a standard 14-day waiting period for illnesses.

Some plans have extensive (six months to a year) waiting periods for conditions such as hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament tears, so if you have a pet breed susceptible to these conditions, make sure to find a plan that has a shorter waiting period.

How We Ranked the Top Pet Insurance Companies

Finding the best pet insurance companies can feel extremely intimidating, especially if you're unsure what you need and what a particular plan will cover. We've taken a look at most of the pet insurers working in the industry today and measured them according to a long list of factors before coming up with our list of best options.

While our pet insurance list is a great place to start, you may want to do some digging and research yourself. Make sure to keep the same factors in mind as we did to help you choose the right plan to meet your pet's health requirements without breaking the bank.

Plans and Coverage Options

Most pet insurance companies offer several pet insurance plans to meet your needs. Common plan options include:

• Accident-only plans
• Accident and illness plans
• Comprehensive coverage
• Wellness plans

Choosing the right plan means understanding how likely your pet is to suffer from accidents and illnesses and finding the right balance between coverage and your budget. Some pets may require more routine and preventative care than others, which makes a preventative care add-on an appealing option, but if you're only paying for vaccinations, then the rider may not be worth the additional cost.

Consider your pet's current and future needs when deciding on a plan. While you can change plans later, you may find that as your pet ages, switching from an accident-only plan to an accident and illness plan can be challenging and more expensive than if you'd signed up for the illness coverage in the first place.

Deductibles

Just as with any other insurance policy, pet insurance has deductibles that you'll have to pay before applying for reimbursement for the rest of the bill. Typically, higher deductibles mean lower monthly costs, but you'll be paying more out-of-pocket for every treatment.

Most insurers use annual deductibles, which means that once you've paid the full deductible amount in a policy term, you won't need to pay it again. Others use per-incident, or per-condition deductibles, where you'll have to either pay the deductible every time you claim or pay the deductible for a certain condition.

Annual deductibles are more predictable and let you set aside the amount for an emergency. They're often the better option for dogs suffering from multiple illnesses since once you've paid the deductible for the policy term, you won't need to pay it again for another condition.

Annual Reimbursement Limits

Annual coverage limits control how much you can claim per year. Once you exceed the limit, you won't be able to claim any more for the policy term period. Most companies will offer several options, including unlimited annual coverage that can be invaluable if your pet needs very expensive treatment.

Annual coverage limits affect your monthly insurance costs. Lower limits result in lower premiums, while unlimited annual coverage often comes with a much higher monthly price tag.

Reviews

Customer reviews can indicate the quality of a particular pet insurance company regarding their covered expenses, customer service, and claims process. It's important to view overall trends instead of only paying attention to very positive or very negative reviews. Also, make sure to check out recent reviews since some companies may have improved their services or coasted on their reputation and lowered their service quality.

When looking at pet insurance reviews, pay attention to how many owners had issues with the claims process, as this is usually the part of the service you'll interact with the most.

Types of Pet Insurance Plans

Accident and Illness Plans

This type of plan covers accidents and most common animal illnesses, hereditary conditions, and cancer. The plan won't cover routine check-ups but is a happy medium between the cost of an accident-only plan and the coverage of a comprehensive plan.

Accident-Only Plans

This type of plan only covers veterinary bills associated with the treatment of injuries or illnesses sustained due to an accident, such as broken bones after getting hit by a car. These plans are best for younger, healthy pets, but you may need to upgrade as your pet gets older.

Wellness Plans for Routine Care

While typically not a standalone plan, wellness or routine care add-ons are a common rider to other plans. These additions often cover routine care, vaccinations, sterilizations, and other preventative treatments.

Comprehensive Coverage

This plan is often the most expensive option but provides extensive pet insurance coverage for almost any condition and routine care, vaccinations, and wellness benefits.

What's Covered by Pet Insurance?

Coverage depends largely on the plan you choose and the insurance company. Some may cover prescription food as part of their illness coverage, while others may not.

As a rule of thumb, you can expect accident-only plans to cover any diagnosis, treatment, and medication arising from an accident, such as poisoning, fractured bones, sprains, or ACL ruptures.

Accident and illness coverage typically covers:

• Diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses
• Diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease
• Diagnosis and treatment of hereditary or congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia, eye disorders, and blood disorders

Comprehensive coverage typically includes everything in an accident and illness plan along with coverage for preventive and routine interventions, including:

• Dental cleaning
• Vaccinations
• Annual exams
• Heartworm and flea prevention
• Sterilization

Some companies will also include additional riders, like a pet owner assistance package that also covers non-veterinary pet-related issues, such as boarding fees, lost pet rewards, and cremation or burial costs.

It's important to carefully read over your pet insurance policy and fully understand what it covers and what you'll need to pay out-of-pocket. Knowing what conditions the pet insurance covers will help you make informed decisions about which policy is best for your pet.

What Influences the Cost of Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance costs vary from pet to pet. Insurers use several criteria when calculating each pet's individual premium. While you can adjust your premium by playing around with reimbursement rates, annual maximum limits, and deductibles, inherent factors will play a much larger role in what you end up paying per month.

Pre-Existing Conditions

A pre-existing condition is any veterinary illness or injury your pet has when you sign up for pet insurance. Pets with long-term conditions, such as diabetes or cancer, pose a higher cost and risk to the insurer, and they'll adjust your premiums accordingly. In almost all policies, they also won't pay for any treatments related to these existing conditions, though some insurance companies will re-evaluate curable and treated conditions, such as broken bones, after a given waiting period (usually 180 days).

Pet Age

Older pets are more susceptible to injuries, accidents, and illnesses. The older your pet, the higher your premium. Some policies may even have limits on enrollment age, with some policies not allowing animals older than four years old.

As your pet gets older, you can also expect to see an increase in your monthly costs as the pet insurance provider re-evaluates your pet's risk factors at the end of each policy term.

Preventative Care Add-Ons

Most pet insurance policies don't include coverage for routine vet visits, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and other preventative care measures. Instead, these benefits are often riders to your main policy and will incur an additional cost per month.

While these add-ons may seem appealing, consider how much you spend on preventative care annually and how much you'll save when you factor in the additional cost, deductible, and potential limits on each item.

Deductible

Higher deductibles often mean lower premiums. Most providers will give you several deductible options ranging from $50 to $500, allowing you to decide whether you'd prefer paying slightly more each month or paying a single fee once per policy term.

Make sure to check what type of deductible the provider uses. Some will have annual deductibles, where once you've paid the full deductible amount, you don't need to pay a deductible for any other claim during the policy year. Others will have per-incident or per-condition deductibles, which can quickly add up if your pet has several accidents or health conditions in a year.

Where You Live

Rural veterinary practices are generally more affordable than large metropolitan practices, and you can expect your policy costs to correspond to this trend.

How to Make Pet Insurance More Affordable

Pet insurance can get very expensive quickly, especially if you opt for comprehensive insurance or add multiple riders to the policy. While there are plenty of benefits to having the best pet insurance you can afford, the good news is that there are several ways to reduce your monthly costs.

Multi-Pet Discounts

Paying insurance on several pets can quickly rack up your monthly costs, which is why many of the best pet insurance companies offer a multiple pet discount. This discount is between 5% and 10% of your pet's premium, and most providers will automatically adjust your quote and payment to reflect this discount.

Spay/Neuter Discounts

It's every pet owner's responsibility to sterilize their pet when it reaches the appropriate age. Some providers offer discounts for pets that have been spayed or neutered. You may claim this benefit when signing up or when you complete the sterilization procedure.

Military Discounts

If you are or have been in the U.S Air Force, Marines, Army, Navy, or Coast Guard, you may qualify for a small discount on your premium. Providers may combine this discount with other discount options, giving you extra savings for no additional effort on your part.

Annual Pay Discounts

Many insurance providers encourage customers to pay their policy term premiums in one lump sum and may offer hefty discounts to do so. If you have the cash available, paying annually instead of monthly can save you a lot of money in the long term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance?

Since pet health insurance varies dramatically depending on pet species, your location, and plan options, it's almost impossible to pin down an average cost that applies to the entire country.

In general, owners pay between $10 to $100 per month, with comprehensive coverage more expensive than accident-only coverage. In general, dogs are more expensive to insure than cats, and larger animals are more expensive than smaller ones. You can also expect your premiums to increase as your pet ages since their risk of health issues rises.

It's a good idea to shop around in your area and get quotes from multiple providers to get a good idea of the average cost of insurance in your area and for your pet's situation.

Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

Every pet is unique and has different health concerns and needs. Typically, common pet issues such as upset stomachs and ear infections aren't expensive to treat, but if you're at the vet for cancer, diabetes, or a torn ACL, the bill can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

The best way to decide whether pet insurance is worth it for your situation is to identify how much you can currently pay out-of-pocket for veterinary care and whether your pet is at risk of developing something more expensive in the near future. There is no worse feeling for a pet owner than having to weigh their pet's health against their financial situation and coming up short.

One factor to remember is that most pet insurance plans will only reimburse your vet bills, which means that you'll still need the cash or credit up-front. However, you can find insurance providers that have connections with vet practices that allow them to function more like traditional human health insurance.

Most pet health insurance policies are relatively affordable, which means that even if you don't claim for several years, you'll still get the benefits of the policy when your pet suffers a major health crisis. You can also customize these plans according to your pet's situation. Young, healthy pets may just need an accident plan, which is significantly cheaper than a comprehensive policy.

Essentially, when you've gone several years without any major health concerns, pet insurance may feel unnecessary, but you'll appreciate having it when you truly need it.

Is Pet Insurance Tax Deductible?

No, unless your pet is also a certified service animal.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Exotic Animals?

While most pet health plans focus on cats and dogs, some insurers have alternative plans for exotic pets. Since exotic pets are less common and require specialized veterinary care, you can expect to pay more for an exotic pet plan than for a traditional cat and dog plan. However, since vet bills for exotic pets are also significantly higher, getting the right coverage for your pet is vital.

Can You Get Pet Insurance If Your Animal Has Pre-Existing Conditions?

Yes, but in most cases, the condition itself will not be a covered part of your policy. Some insurers distinguish between curable and incurable conditions, and some waive some pre-existing problems once they're cured and haven't needed treatment within the last 180 days or 12 months. Some common curable pre-existing health issues include:

• Respiratory infections
• Urinary tract and bladder infections
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Broken or fractured bones

Is Cat Insurance Cheaper Than Dog Insurance?

Yes, often significantly so. Cats present a much lower risk for insurance providers: their medical treatment costs are lower, they have fewer medical issues, and since they tend to stay indoors, they have fewer accidents than their canine counterparts.

These lower risk factors mean that premiums for dog insurance can be up to 74% higherthan cat premiums for comprehensive plans.

Can You Get Discounts for Insuring Multiple Pets?

Almost all pet insurance providers provide multi-pet discounts. These discounts only apply to the additional policy and range between 5% to 10% depending on the provider.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Dental?

Most pet insurance policies will cover dental issues arising from illness or accidents. Common dental issues covered by most policies include:

• Damaged teeth
• Crowns
• Tooth removal
• Gum disease
• Root canals

If you have accident-only coverage, you'll only be able to claim if the dental work was a direct result of an accident. Accident and illness policies will cover a broader range of issues.

Unfortunately, most policies also have exclusions regarding dental care, including:

• Cosmetic or orthodontic services
• Preventative dental care such as tooth cleaning
• Pre-existing dental issues

The good news is that most insurance companies will offer add-on plans that frequently include routine dental care, such as tooth cleaning to keep your pet's mouth in great shape.

Final Thoughts

Pet insurance is just like any other insurance policy in that it feels like a waste of money until you need it, and then it becomes a lifesaver. Finding the right provider can be a challenge, especially when most companies have plenty of different plans, add-ons, and options within plans to confuse matters further.

Our list of pet insurance providers is an excellent starting point, but we still recommend getting multiple quotes from different companies to get the best possible fit for your pet.

*This article is provided by an advertiser. Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor to diagnose any condition. Any studies cited here may be preliminary, and may or may not be peer reviewed, and may or may not have sufficient participants to be statistically relevant. Anecdotal accounts should not be taken as scientific results. Products discussed in this article are not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The FDA does not evaluate dietary supplements. Consult your doctor about possible interactions, allergies, and if you are considering using a natural and/or dietary supplements for any condition. Individual results will vary.