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. 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).

Lemonde’s pet coverage is available in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

Pet insurance customers are most concerned with a company’s claim process. For its claims servicing, 91% of ConsumerAffairs reviewers were happy or satisfied with how Lemonade handled claims.

“The staff is caring and always asks about my dog and her well-being and make the claims process smooth,” said Purna from Virginia. “The claims process is also streamlined with the use of mobile app.”

Plans start around $14 per month and increase based on your level of coverage and other factors. 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.

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.

Available in all 50 states, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation made our list because it does not have a maximum limit on per-incident, annual or lifetime claim payouts. As long as it is not a preexisting condition, Healthy Paws will cover hip dysplasia, cancer, hospitalization, surgery, chronic conditions, alternative treatments and more.

Another reason we chose Healthy Paws is due to its commitment to customer service. The company has a reputation for handling claims quickly and efficiently, often within just a few days. This means you won't be left waiting for reimbursement when your pet needs treatment.

Many of our reviewers have been able to save a lot of money with Healthy Paws due to the no limit on per-incident and annual claims. Kelli from Georgia had to rush her cat to the emergency room due to breathing trouble related to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

“Since then he has had to be hospitalized 5 times while we work to figure out what is causing it and get his medications right. He is finally beginning to get better. We would not have been able to afford the treatment he is getting if it were not for Healthy Paws,” she said. “Submitting a claim is simple and processing the claim is quick. Payment is also issued quickly.”

Plan prices vary depending on your state but range from around $9 to $25 for cats and $14 to $37 for dogs per month when you select the lowest reimbursement tier and highest deductible. Since you can choose a plan with as low as a 50% reimbursement rate and up to $1,000 deductible (depending on your state), monthly prices can be cheaper than other companies, but you might also pay more out of pocket when there is an emergency.

Healthy Paws offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in all states except New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

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 to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST) as well as email support. Customers can access an online portal for assistance, and the founder of the company has even made his email address available to customers as well.

Haley from Georgia appreciated that she did not have to worry about the vet bills when her service dog had an emergency. “I’ve been so grateful for the consistently incredibly fast customer service and claim turnaround with Embrace,” she said. “My service dog is the love of my life, I would do anything for her — and having the peace of mind knowing that if an emergency happens, like it did last week, we have a financial safety net.”

Another 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.

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 covers 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.

It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, as well as discounts for military individuals.

ASPCA 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.

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).

Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers appreciated ASPCA’s claim service and shared the sentiment that processing a claim was quick and easy. 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.”

If you own a horse, dog or cat, you can get coverage with ASPCA. Plans start at $20 per month, and you can visit any vet within the U.S. or Canada. There is an annual limit of $10,000 on care for your pets. Additionally, supplements and vitamins are not covered.

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.

Customers felt like they could rely on Spot to approve their claims without delay. One customer in Florida got a plan for their five-year-old Pomeranian. When a specialist recommended surgery for a colon tumor, Spot covered most of the expenses.

Amy from Maryland had no issues with Spot either, even when switching insurances. She says, “My 5 yr old dog's insurance was transferred from the original company to Spot Pet Ins, a few months ago. He was in the process of undergoing/recovering from major back surgery for a herniated disc. Spot Pet Ins has been easy to work with and the claims have been processed easily and quickly.”

You can get customizable coverage, 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. Additionally, there are no per-incident limits or lifetime caps, and there is a 30-day money-back guarantee.