Pet insurance plans reimburse you for some of the vet bills when your animal companion gets injured or sick. Buying the best pet insurance requires careful shopping because the policies aren’t standardized, and the range of options makes it hard to compare plans.

We evaluated pet insurers across the country to find the ones with the best combination of coverage, financial strength, consumer experience and plan options. Below are the ones we consider to be the best pet insurance companies in the U.S.

The best pet insurance companies at a glance

All of the pet insurance companies below scored at least 4.5 out of 5 stars based on an in-depth comparison of coverage, plan terms and options, consumer experience, financial strength, and discounts.

Embrace: Best for many ways to save

Company overview: Embrace offers its customers many ways to save. You’ll automatically get a 10% discount when you insure more than one pet. Active military members and veterans can get a 5% discount in every state but New York and Tennessee. The company is currently working on rolling out a healthy pet discount, too.

Embrace has a wide range of deductibles and annual coverage limits to choose from. Its standard accident and illness plan includes chiropractic care, acupuncture, physiotherapy and other alternative therapies. It also pays exam fees for covered conditions and reimburses for behavioral treatments as long as a vet provides them.

There’s typically a 180-day waiting period before Embrace will cover a dog’s orthopedic injuries, but you can reduce that to 14 days with a vet exam.

Age restrictions: The minimum age is 6 weeks. Pets up to age 14 are eligible for accident and illness coverage, which can be maintained throughout their lives. If you’re enrolling a pet for the first time at age 15 or above, it’s eligible only for accident coverage.

Plans available: Accident and illness, accident-only, wellness.

Figo: Best mobile app

Company overview: Figo isn’t the only pet insurer with a mobile app, but you can use its Pet Cloud for more than simply filing claims and paying bills. You can also organize your pet’s medical records, live chat with a veterinarian, meet other pet parents and look up nearby dog walkers or groomers.

Figo offers an accident and illness plan with three different annual reimbursement maximums ranging from $5,000 to unlimited. Figo’s coverage is comprehensive, including nonroutine dental care, alternative treatments and hereditary conditions. Then you can add even more options such as wellness care and coverage for veterinary exam fees.

Like other pet insurers, Figo won’t cover pre-existing conditions, but it recognizes that some conditions are curable. If your pet hasn’t shown any symptoms or had any treatment for a curable condition over the past 12 months, Figo will cover the problem if it crops up again.

Age restrictions: The minimum age for coverage is 8 weeks. There’s no maximum age limit.

Plans available: Accident and illness, wellness.

Pets Best: Best flexible plans

Company overview: If you’re looking for plenty of ways to customize your coverage and price, Pets Best may be a good option. The company has three tiers of accident and illness coverage, plus two wellness add-ons and an accident-only plan. That increases your chances of finding insurance that fits your needs and budget.

For larger expenses, such as surgeries, you can work with Pets Best to pay your vet directly so you don’t have to pay as much upfront.

Pets Best has fairly standard waiting periods in most states: three days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and six months for cruciate ligament issues.

Age restrictions: The minimum age is 7 weeks. Pets Best has no upper age limit.

Plans available: Accident and illness, accident-only, wellness.

AKC: Best for pre-existing conditions

Company overview: The American Kennel Club’s pet insurance plans aren’t just for registered purebred dogs. You can sign up mixed breeds and even cats for the organization’s policies, which include optional add-ons for exam fees, wellness coverage and final expenses. If you do register your new pup for AKC membership, you can get 30 days of free pet insurance.

One thing that sets AKC apart is that it covers pre-existing conditions after a 12-month waiting period in most states. Most other pet insurers will cover only pre-existing conditions that have been fully cured or won’t cover them at all.

However, AKC may not be the best bet if you’re enrolling an older pet. Pets that are 9 years or older when you buy your policy are eligible only for accident coverage. And those signed up past age 2 aren’t eligible for AKC’s optional coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions.

Age restrictions: The minimum enrollment age is 8 weeks for puppies and 10 weeks for kittens. There’s no maximum age, but pets enrolled at age 9 and up are eligible only for accident coverage. However, pets with an existing accident and illness plan may keep that coverage beyond age 9 as long as there are no coverage lapses.

Plans available: Accident and illness, accident-only, wellness.

Fetch: Solid all-around coverage

Company overview: The Fetch accident and illness policy is comprehensive, covering things like treatment for dental disease, alternative care, hereditary conditions and physical therapy. Unlike many insurers, Fetch will also pay for prescription supplements and cover boarding fees for your furry friend if you’re hospitalized.

Adding Fetch Wellness to your policy can help you pay for preventive care expenses like annual checkups, vaccinations, dental cleaning and spay/neuter surgery.

Fetch offers discounts for AARP members, veterans, active military and veterinary staff, among others.

Age restrictions: The minimum age for Fetch coverage is 6 weeks. There’s no maximum age.

Plans available: Accident and illness, wellness.

MetLife: Most potential discounts

Company overview: MetLife Pet Insurance offers a variety of ways to save on your policy, depending on where you live and work. First responders, health care workers, veterans, current members of the military and staff at animal care facilities may all be eligible for a discount. You may also save on your policy if your employer offers MetLife pet insurance as a benefit.

MetLife also stands out for its broad coverage, which includes things like hereditary and congenital conditions, alternative therapies, prescription food and dental illnesses. You can customize the plan by adjusting your deductible, reimbursement and coverage amounts and by adding wellness coverage.

MetLife’s website is generally user-friendly and offers a sample policy so you can preview the coverage terms before you buy.

Age restrictions: None.

Plans available: Accident and illness, wellness.

Nationwide: Best for exotic pets

Company overview: While most companies insure only dogs and cats, Nationwide’s exotic pet plan can cover just about any of your furry, feathered or scaly friends. You’ll have to call to get it though, as online quotes are available only for cats and dogs.

Nationwide has three main plans. Whole Pet covers a range of accidents and illnesses, including hereditary conditions, and reimburses a percentage of your vet bills — up to your annual limit. Major Medical offers less comprehensive coverage and pays a set amount for each condition, regardless of what your vet charges you. The Modular plan allows you to mix and match different types of coverage.

You can supplement your Modular or Major Medical plan with wellness coverage or buy a wellness plan on its own. Wellness plans aren’t available in all states or with Whole Pet.

Age restrictions: Depending on the plan, the minimum age may be 8 weeks and the maximum age may be 8 or 9 years. Some plans have no minimum or maximum age.

Plans available: Accident and illness, wellness.

Spot: Broadest coverage

Company overview: Spot’s pet insurance plans are comprehensive, covering alternative treatments, behavioral therapies, dental illness, microchip implantation and diets prescribed to treat a covered condition.

The company offers a variety of ways to customize your policy, including many annual coverage limits to choose from. There’s even an unlimited option.

Its easy-to-understand waiting period is 14 days for everything, including both accidents and illnesses, with no exception for cruciate ligament issues. The company offers a 10% multipet discount.

Age restrictions: The minimum age is 8 weeks. There’s no upper age limit.

Plans available: Accident and illness, accident-only, wellness.

Trupanion: Best for chronic conditions

Company overview: In most states, Trupanion handles deductibles differently than most other pet insurance companies. Instead of charging a given deductible each year, it charges deductibles per condition — and once you’ve met each one, you won’t have to pay it again during your pet’s lifetime.

That could save you money if your pet develops a chronic condition that requires extended treatment. Once you’ve paid the deductible once, you won’t have to pay it year after year. Trupanion reimburses 90% of expenses once you’ve met the deductible, and it has no annual or lifetime coverage limits.

In select states, including Florida and Texas, there are no deductibles. You can choose your own reimbursement rate between 70% and 100%.

Trupanion doesn’t offer a wellness plan and charges extra for acupuncture, physical therapy and behavioral treatments in some states. You may also be able to buy a Pet Owner Assistance package. This covers things like a reward for a lost pet, boarding fees if you’re hospitalized and trip cancellation costs if you have to rush home for a pet emergency.

Age restrictions: There’s no minimum age. The maximum age is 13 years.

Plans available: Accident and illness.

How much is pet insurance?

The averages above are for accident and illness coverage, the most common type of plan. Accident-only policies are significantly cheaper, at $201 per year for dogs and $122 per year for cats. On a monthly basis, that’s roughly $17 for a dog and $10 for a cat. However, an accident-only plan won’t pay for conditions such as cancer, allergies or urinary tract infections.

Your own pet's price will vary depending on factors such as: 

How to find the best dog insurance

Conditions common to your dog’s breed

Many breeds are susceptible to certain health conditions, so it’s a good idea to make sure the plan you’re considering will cover them and check whether any waiting periods apply. (A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts.)

For example, some small breeds like miniature schnauzers and Yorkshire terriers may be more likely to develop bladder stones, which could require a prescription diet to help manage. Many pet insurers won’t reimburse you for prescription food, but companies like Spot and Trupanion will.

Breeds such as German shepherds and Labrador retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, a hereditary problem with the hip joints. Most pet insurers cover hip dysplasia as long as your dog wasn’t diagnosed prior to the start of your policy. But Healthy Paws won’t pay to treat this condition for the first 12 months of your policy, and won’t cover it at all if you enroll your pet at age 6 and up.

Your dog’s energy and activities

A dog that spends a lot of time running, jumping, fetching and wrestling with buddies at the dog park might be more prone to accidental injuries than one whose only exercise is a leisurely morning walk. If your pup is on the active side, consider a plan that covers physical and other rehabilitative therapies in case your furry pal overdoes it and needs surgery.

Wellness expenses

Between vaccinations, flea/tick preventives, heartworm screening and annual blood work, your dog’s wellness care costs can add up. If you’re interested in having a pet insurance company help you with these expenses, research which insurers offer wellness plans and how much they cost.

It’s important to do the math. If you don’t use all the covered services in a given year, you may end up paying more for the wellness coverage than you get back.

How to find the best cat insurance

Cats make up a small but growing part of the pet insurance market. Here’s what to consider when choosing a cat insurance policy.

Decide whether your cat needs insurance

The flip side is that pet insurance for cats is less expensive, too. For some cat owners, having coverage can offer peace of mind and a safety net in case of a pricey diagnosis.

Buying pet insurance may be a wise idea if your cat spends any time outdoors, which can lead to a higher risk of disease, parasites and injury.

Wellness expenses

Vets generally recommend annual checkups for healthy adult cats, with more frequent visits for kittens and seniors. Wellness plans, which many pet insurers offer as add-ons, can help you pay for the exam fee plus vaccinations and screenings. But make sure you’ll use all the benefits, or you could end up paying more for the coverage than you get out of it.

How to compare pet insurance companies

The costs and types of pet insurance plans vary by company, so consider options from several providers before choosing. Here are some tips for buying pet insurance.

1. Check whether your pet is eligible

Puppies and kittens often must be a minimum of 6 to 10 weeks old to be insured, depending on the company. Senior pets may not be eligible for first-time enrollment with some companies, or they may qualify for accident coverage only. Once the pet is enrolled, though, most plans will offer coverage for life as long as you continue paying the premiums.

2. Research what’s covered

Pet insurance plans typically cover expenses like surgery, hospitalization and medication if your pet gets sick or hurt. However, there are certain things that some companies charge extra for or won’t cover at all. Here are a few examples:

Note that pet insurance policies usually won’t cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures or breeding expenses. For more information, see our guide to pet insurance coverage.

3. Decide how much coverage you want

Most pet insurance plans cap the amount they pay out per year, although some have no annual limit. Only you can decide the amount that gives you reasonable peace of mind for paying vet bills.

If your dog or cat is relatively healthy, you might go years without paying for anything but routine care. But an unexpected surgery or serious illness could add up to thousands of dollars in expenses.

4. Understand reimbursements and deductibles

Most cat and dog insurance plans reimburse you for a percentage of your vet bill. You can generally choose a reimbursement level — such as 70%, 80% or 90% — when you buy the plan.

Other plans pay what the insurance company deems a standard fee for a given treatment, which might be less than what your vet charges. You’d be responsible for the remainder.

Most plans also have a deductible — the dollar amount you pay out of pocket before the policy pays. You can usually choose from a range of deductibles, such as $100, $250 or more. Some plans apply deductibles to each injury or illness that’s treated. Most have you pay the deductible every year.

Generally, the lower your out-of-pocket costs are, the more you’ll pay for coverage. A lower deductible and higher reimbursement rate can lead to a higher premium, while a higher deductible and lower reimbursement rate can mean a lower premium.

5. Check waiting periods

Most plans include short waiting periods after you purchase the policy for general accident and illness coverage, such as 14 days. Your plan won't pay for any treatment during the waiting period.

Some plans include longer waiting periods for coverage of certain conditions, such as cruciate ligament injuries — a common orthopedic problem for dogs. The cruciate ligaments help stabilize the knee; when injured, it can make it difficult for a dog to walk.

6. Examine extra costs

Some pet insurance companies offer coverage for routine services such as well visits and vaccinations. While this may sound tempting, do the math to determine whether it’s worth the extra cost. Compare the annual price of the wellness insurance plan with the amount you’d pay each year on your own for services the plan covers. Read the details, because the items covered for “wellness” vary by pet insurance company.

7. Compare quotes

The cost of insurance for dogs and cats varies by carrier and the amount of coverage. Some pet insurers offer discounts; you might be able to save money by insuring more than one pet, for example. But a discount doesn’t guarantee the plan is the best deal.

The only way to find the best insurance for your pet is to dig into the details and get quotes for several plans. Make sure you’re making a fair comparison, with similar coverage amounts, deductibles and reimbursement limits.

Understand the plan before you buy, so when your beloved pet is sick as a dog, you will know what the insurance covers and won’t be taken by surprise.

How we ranked the best pet insurance companies

NerdWallet’s rating system rewards companies with broad coverage, a variety of ways to customize your plan, a high financial strength rating and a good customer experience. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.

These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several pet insurance quotes to find the best rate for you.