If there’s one lesson I learned the hard—and expensive—way, it’s the importance of having pet insurance.
Back in 2021, we brought home our first dog, Mac, a tiny Pomeranian with endless energy and zero fear. About a week into owning him, everything took a terrifying turn. Out of nowhere, Mac had a Grand Mal seizure. One frantic Uber ride later, we were at the emergency vet, praying he would be okay.
Thankfully, Mac pulled through. But the bill? Not so pretty.
The emergency visit cost around $600, and the MRI needed to diagnose his condition was about $3,000 more. In the span of a week, Mac cost nearly twice what we paid for him—and every penny was out of pocket.
The good news is his MRI showed swelling consistent with a minor head injury rather than a serious long-term condition. After a few weeks wearing a little protective helmet, he made a full recovery.
But that experience opened my eyes. Accidents happen, medical costs are skyrocketing, and pet owners are often left scrambling. Even worse, I later realized that nearly 90% of those early expenses could have been covered if I had signed up for pet insurance sooner.
That’s why I created this guide—to help you understand how pet insurance works and compare the best pet insurance providers so you can protect both your pet and your wallet.
Here’s a quick summary:
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Fast claims, digital-first experience, customizable plans |
| Spot | Dental illness coverage & older pets |
| Pets Best | Direct vet payments & affordable deductibles |
| ASPCA | Flexible coverage & trusted reputation |
| Pumpkin | Extremely fast reimbursements |
| Embrace | Telehealth access & strong wellness options |
| Healthy Paws | Simple, comprehensive coverage without add-ons |
Pet insurance works a lot like health insurance for humans, except it’s designed for pets—primarily dogs and cats, but some providers also cover rabbits, birds, reptiles, and other small animals.
Typically, you pay a monthly or annual premium. In exchange, your policy helps cover:
Accidents
Illnesses
Injuries
Surgeries
Diagnostic tests
Medications
Sometimes preventive and routine care
Plans vary widely, and most companies offer customizable options for deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement percentages.
Why do many pet owners buy pet insurance today? Because vet bills have climbed dramatically. According to Pawlicy.com and the ASPCA, the first year of owning a dog can cost around $2,000, and the first year of owning a cat can cost up to $1,174—and that doesn’t include emergencies like broken bones, infections, or seizures.
Pet insurance has shifted from being a “nice-to-have” to something many owners consider essential, especially if you don’t have substantial savings set aside.
There’s one major difference most new pet owners don’t expect:
With pet insurance, you usually pay the bill upfront.
Unlike human health insurance—where the provider often pays the doctor directly—pet insurance reimburses you after you submit a claim.
Here’s the typical process:
You pay the vet bill.
You submit a claim through your provider’s app.
The provider reviews your claim (sometimes contacting your vet).
Once approved, you get reimbursed based on your plan—usually 70% to 90%.
Some providers now offer direct vet pay, which means they can cover the bill at checkout, reducing your upfront cost. Several companies on our list offer this.
You’ll also encounter:
Annual deductibles (you pay this amount per year)
Per-incident deductibles (you pay per visit or per condition)
Waiting periods (coverage doesn’t start immediately)
Pre-existing condition exclusions (a big one to be aware of)
This complexity is exactly why comparing providers matters. Below are the seven companies I found to be the strongest options based on coverage, cost, flexibility, and customer experience.
Be sure to check out my full video on YouTube for the complete details!
Note: Below information is subject to change - see the official website for each provider for the Full Details.
Lemonade has grown rapidly thanks to its clean digital experience, flexible plans, and fast claims processing. It’s also the provider I personally use for my cats, and overall, we’ve been happy customers.
Their base accident & illness plan covers:
Diagnostics
Surgeries
Hospitalization
Medications
As long as the condition isn’t pre-existing or within the waiting period.
Important note: Waiting periods matter. Our sphynx cat Gizmo had his ears cleaned before his waiting period ended—and now every future ear issue is permanently labeled “pre-existing.” Get insurance early, and read your waiting period carefully.
Lemonade offers strong customizability:
Deductibles: $100–$750
Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
Annual limits: $5,000–$100,000
They also have add-ons for:
Vet visit fees
Physical therapy
Behavioral therapy
Dental illnesses
End-of-life care
Wellness packages
Claims are fast—about half approved instantly, most others within 24–48 hours.
Downsides:
Lemonade isn’t available in every state, and some coverage categories require add-ons.
Spot is known for flexibility and strong coverage for both accidents and illnesses. A few things that stand out:
Coverage includes emergencies, surgeries, hospitalization, cancer treatment, and chronic conditions.
Spot covers dental illnesses, which many providers exclude.
No upper age limits for enrollment.
Optional wellness plans for routine care.
Their claims process is quick—often under three days—and the mobile app makes submitting claims easy.
Spot also allows accident-only or full accident-and-illness plans, which can help manage costs.
If you have an older pet, Spot is worth considering since many competitors have age restrictions.
Pets Best offers robust coverage and has one major differentiator:
They offer direct vet payments.
This feature alone makes them one of the best options if you don’t want to pay a huge bill upfront.
Their BestBenefit Accident & Illness plan covers:
Injuries
Illnesses
Cancer
Surgeries
They offer wellness add-ons and flexible deductibles from $50 to $1,000.
Pets Best also covers hereditary and congenital issues—like hip dysplasia—as long as they’re not pre-existing. And like Spot, they have no upper age limits.
The claims process is simple using their mobile app, and reimbursement can be as high as 90%.
ASPCA offers highly customizable coverage tailored to your pet’s needs.
Their Complete Coverage plan includes:
Exam fees
Diagnostics
Treatments
Hereditary conditions
Behavioral issues
Alternative therapies
ASPCA also offers:
Reimbursement up to 90%
Annual deductibles from $100 to $500
Direct vet pay
A 30-day money-back guarantee
Claims usually process in under three days, with reimbursements often arriving within five.
If you want a flexible, reputable provider with a long track record, ASPCA is a strong choice.
Pumpkin is one of the more comprehensive providers on the market. They include coverage for both in-clinic and virtual vet exams, which is something many insurers treat as an add-on.
Their standout feature is PumpkinNow™, which can reimburse eligible expenses in as little as 15 minutes—one of the fastest payout options available.
Other highlights:
Discounts for multiple pets
Pets as young as eight weeks can enroll
Preventive Essentials package (covers exams, vaccines, cleanings, screenings)
Annual limits range from $5,000 to unlimited
Up to 90% reimbursement
Pumpkin is especially appealing if you want quick payouts and wellness coverage built into your plan.
Embrace offers similar accident & illness coverage to other providers but adds a unique perk: a 24/7 telehealth line included with every policy.
This service can help you get real-time advice for emergencies, behavioral issues, diet questions, and more—potentially saving unnecessary vet visits.
They also offer:
Alternative therapy coverage
Dental illness coverage
Breed-specific and congenital condition coverage
Optional Wellness Rewards program
If you value round-the-clock pet support and comprehensive add-ons, Embrace is a top contender.
Healthy Paws takes a “simple is better” approach. Instead of offering multiple tiers or dozens of add-ons, they offer one straightforward plan that covers:
Accidents
Illnesses
Cancer treatment
Alternative therapies like acupuncture and hydrotherapy
You choose:
An annual deductible ($100, $250, or $500)
A reimbursement level (70%, 80%, or 90%)
That’s it—no confusing bundles.
Healthy Paws processes claims quickly and has one of the easiest mobile apps to use. The trade-off is less customization, but many owners prefer the simplicity.
The truth is, the “best” pet insurance depends on your pet’s age, health, breed, and your budget. All seven companies on this list offer free quotes, so it’s smart to compare at least two or three.
Unexpected vet bills can quickly become overwhelming—but with the right pet insurance, you can focus on caring for your pet instead of stressing about the cost.
If you want a deeper dive, including visuals and comparisons, be sure to check out my full breakdown video.
