Pets Best Pet Insurance Review
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Pets Best provides multiple coverage options at different price points for cats and dogs. You can choose a comprehensive accident and illness plan or a simplified accident-only policy. Wellness add-ons are also available for pets of all ages.
Pets Best is the pet insurance provider for Progressive and Farmers.
Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.
About Pets Best pet insurance
Pets Best earned 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.
Based on this rating, Pets Best is on NerdWallet's list of the Best Pet Insurance Companies.
Pets Best plans and coverage
Pets Best offers several types of coverage to choose from.
Accident and illness plan
Pets Best offers three different tiers of accident and illness coverage — Essential, Plus and Elite — allowing you to customize your coverage based on your budget and pet’s needs. For example, while all three tiers cover prescription medications and treatment for accidents and illnesses, only some plans will pay for exam fees, acupuncture and chiropractic care.
Regardless of which tier you choose, the plan works the same way. The company will reimburse you for a percentage of your vet bill up to an annual limit, minus your deductible. A deductible is the amount of your vet bills you need to pay yourself before the plan starts reimbursing you.
Depending on the tier you choose, the accident and illness plan may cover:
Exams, treatment, hospitalization and surgery for injuries and illnesses, including cancer, diabetes and arthritis.
Prescription medication used to treat a covered condition.
Hereditary and congenital conditions.
MRIs, CT scans, X-rays and other diagnostic tests.
Prosthetic devices and wheelchairs.
Behavioral consultations with a vet and associated prescription medication.
Euthanasia.
Physical rehabilitation, such as physical therapy and cold therapy.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care.
Dental care for periodontal disease if your pet has met certain conditions.
Accident-only plan
If you’re looking for a more affordable policy, you may want to consider the Pets Best accident-only plan. However, it covers treatments and diagnostic tests related to accidents only — so it won’t help if your dog gets cancer or your cat’s kidneys start to fail.
Like the accident and illness plan, the accident-only policy will reimburse you for a percentage of your vet bill up to your annual limit, minus your deductible.
Routine care and wellness
Pets Best offers two wellness plans, EssentialWellness and BestWellness, for an additional fee. These plans pay a certain amount per year toward services outlined in the policy, with no deductible.
Depending on which plan you choose, wellness coverage may include:
Dental cleaning.
Flea, heartworm and tick prevention.
Deworming.
Microchip implantation.
Blood, fecal and parasite exams.
Vaccinations and titers.
An annual wellness exam.
Preventive screening tests.
Do the math before adding wellness coverage. If you don’t use all the services in the plan, you might end up paying more in premiums than you get in return.
What Pets Best doesn't cover
Pets Best accident and illness insurance doesn’t cover:
Pre-existing conditions, except for curable conditions that don’t require continued treatment.
Bilateral conditions, if your pet had symptoms on either side before your policy started. For example, if your dog had dysplasia in its left hip before you bought your policy, Pets Best wouldn’t cover treatment for dysplasia on the right side.
Preventive care, including spaying and neutering, unless you’ve added a wellness package.
Cosmetic procedures.
Intentional injuries.
Breeding and boarding costs.
Herbal and holistic treatments.
Injuries related to organized fighting or racing.
Training and treatment for behavioral conditions, other than vet consultations and prescribed medication.
Cremation or burial.
Experimental treatments.
Specific dental procedures such as scaling and root planing.
Prescription food and supplements.
The accident-only plan won’t cover the above or treatment for any illness. Wellness plans cover only services specified in your policy.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
Pets Best plan options
Deductibles: For the company’s accident and illness plan, you can choose from six annual deductible options ranging from $50 to $1,000. The accident-only plan automatically comes with a $250 deductible. There’s no deductible for wellness plans.
Reimbursement amounts: You can choose to be reimbursed for 70%, 80% or 90% of your vet bills with a Pets Best accident and illness policy. Accident-only policies reimburse you for 90% of your vet bills. Wellness plans will reimburse you up to the annual maximum limit listed for a given procedure.
When calculating a claim payout, Pets Best will apply your reimbursement percentage to your vet bill before subtracting your deductible. Here’s an example of how that might work on a $1,000 vet bill if you had a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate:
$1,000 vet bill x 0.8 (80% reimbursement rate) = $800.
$800 - $250 deductible = $550 reimbursement.
Did you know...
Some insurers subtract your deductible before calculating your reimbursement percentage, resulting in a higher claim payout for you. Here’s the math, using the sample vet bill above:
$1,000 vet bill - $250 deductible = $750.
$750 x 0.8 (80% reimbursement rate) = $600 reimbursement.
Coverage limits: You can choose between $5,000 per year and unlimited for accident and illness plans, while accident-only plans have an annual coverage limit of $10,000.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: Pets Best insures pets at least 7 weeks old. There is no upper age limit.
Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage begins. Pets Best’s waiting period in most states is three days for accidents, 14 days for illness and six months for cruciate ligament issues. Wellness plans have no waiting period in any state.
If your pet gets sick or injured during the waiting period, treatment won’t be covered — and the condition will be considered pre-existing going forward. Learn more about pre-existing conditions.
Pets Best sample rates
The cost of Pets Best pet insurance depends on where you live, the coverage limits you choose and your pet’s breed and age.
To give you a rough idea of how much you might pay, we gathered sample rates for several popular dog breeds at ages 2 and 8. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for dogs living in Katy, Texas. Our sample plan was for accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, $5,000 of annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Your own price will vary.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
French bulldog | $88 | $228 |
German shepherd | $48 | $125 |
Golden retriever | $54 | $142 |
Labrador retriever | $54 | $139 |
Medium mixed-breed dog | $32 | $71 |
Poodle | $46 | $119 |
We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with the same coverage limits as above. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
Devon rex | $30 | $77 |
Domestic shorthair | $20 | $41 |
Exotic longhair | $25 | $56 |
Maine coon | $28 | $63 |
Persian | $27 | $40 |
Ragdoll | $25 | $64 |
» MORE: The best cheap pet insurance
Pets Best discounts
You can get a 5% discount for insuring multiple pets with Pets Best. The company also provides discounts to military members and their families in most states.
State availability
Pets Best insurance is available in Washington, D.C., and all 50 states.
Digital experience
The Pets Best insurance website outlines coverage details, including sample policies and comparisons with other pet insurance plans. You can also submit a claim and pay your bills online.
You can use the Pets Best app to manage your account, pay your bills, submit and track claims and even add a new pet to your policy.
How to file a claim with Pets Best
You can file claims online or through the Pets Best app. The company can reimburse claims through direct deposit within two days of approval. Otherwise, you’ll receive a paper check five to seven days after your claim has been processed.
You may be able to have Pets Best pay your vet directly, which means you won’t have to pay as much upfront.
How to contact Pets Best customer service
You can contact Pets Best by phone at 877-738-7237. There’s also a live chat on the website and a 24/7 vet helpline included with your policy.
» MORE: How much is pet insurance?
Pets Best pet insurance vs. competitors
Here’s how Pets Best compares to three other popular pet insurance companies.
Pets Best vs. Trupanion
Trupanion offers a single plan with no annual limit and a generous reimbursement rate of 90% in most states. It also promises not to automatically increase your premium because your pet is another year older. However, Trupanion doesn’t offer options some pet owners seek, such as a wellness plan. In contrast, Pet Best has three accident and illness plans, two wellness options and an accident-only plan.
Like most insurers, Pets Best offers annual deductibles, while Trupanion has a per-condition deductible in most states. An annual deductible may save you money if your pet visits the vet for several different conditions in a given year. But if your pet has a chronic condition that requires years of treatment, you may be better off with Trupanion’s deductible.
Trupanion has a waiting period of five days for injuries and 30 days for illnesses. The Pets Best waiting period is shorter for illnesses at 14 days, but the company requires a six-month wait for cruciate ligament issues in most states.
Pets Best and Trupanion can pay your vet directly. In addition, Pets Best has a vet helpline you can call 24/7 with medical questions. Read our full Trupanion pet insurance review.
Coverage options | Pets Best | Trupanion |
|---|---|---|
Deductible | $50 to $1,000. | $0 to $1,000 per condition (except in select states, where no deductible applies). |
Reimbursement | 70%, 80% or 90%. | 90% in most states. |
Annual limit | $5,000 per year to unlimited. | Unlimited. |
Pets Best vs. Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws and Pets Best offer accident and illness coverage that pays for hospitalization, surgeries and prescription medicine. However, Healthy Paws has only one plan available, while Pets Best provides three different tiers so you can choose the coverage you need. For instance, Healthy Paws doesn’t cover the vet’s exam fee, while Pets Best has an option to cover this cost.
Healthy Paws offers more reimbursement options than Pets Best for some pets, while Pets Best has slightly more deductible options. But, overall, Pets Best gives customers more coverage choices than Healthy Paws, which doesn’t provide wellness plans or accident-only policies.
Healthy Paws has a 15-day waiting period in most states. It also has a 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia if your pet is younger than 6. (Healthy Paws doesn’t cover hip dysplasia for pets enrolled at age 6 or older.) Pets Best has a waiting period of three days for accidents, 14 days for illness and six months for cruciate ligament issues in most states.
Read our Healthy Paws pet insurance review.
Coverage options | Pets Best | Healthy Paws |
|---|---|---|
Deductible | $50 to $1,000. | $100 to $1,000 per year. (Not all options are available to all pets.) |
Reimbursement | 70%, 80% or 90%. | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%. (Not all options are available to all pets.) |
Annual limit | $5,000 per year to unlimited. | Unlimited. |
Pets Best vs. Lemonade
Lemonade and Pets Best sell accident and illness policies with different tiers of coverage. However, Lemonade doesn't offer an accident-only plan. Both companies sell wellness plans.
Pets Best offers a wider range of deductible options and the ability to choose a plan with no annual coverage limit. Meanwhile, Lemonade has annual limits of $5,000 to $100,000 per year.
Lemonade may be faster in reimbursing claims than Pets Best, with many claims being paid immediately, according to the company. Learn more in our Lemonade pet insurance review.
Coverage options | Pets Best | Lemonade |
|---|---|---|
Deductible | $50 to $1,000. | $100 to $750 per year. |
Reimbursement | 70%, 80% or 90%. | 70%, 80% or 90%. |
Annual limit | $5,000 per year to unlimited. | $5,000 to $100,000 per year. |
How we review pet insurance
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, we consider coverage, discounts, financial strength ratings from AM Best and more to determine our star ratings.
In our evaluation, we:
Analyzed 2,100 data points.
Got 800+ quotes from pet insurers.
Compared 20+ companies.
Our rating system rewards companies that cover a wide range of potential expenses, offer many ways to customize your plan and have a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as mobile app ratings and whether the company offers direct vet payments. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.
A previous version of this article listed an incorrect sample rate for a medium mixed-breed dog. It has been corrected.
Methodology
Pet insurance star ratings
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, scope of coverage, the ability to customize your plan and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and mobile app ratings. To calculate each insurer’s star rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Pet insurance sample rates
To find sample pet insurance rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and do not include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons. Each plan for a given company had the same deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate for all sample pets.
These are sample rates gathered for specific pets living in Katy, Texas. Your own rates will be different.
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