Pets Best Pet Insurance Review November 2024: Plans & Prices
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Pets Best Pet Insurance Review November 2024

Pets Best Insurance review
Key Takeaways
  • Pets Best offers three types of pet insurance: accident-and-illness coverage, accident-only coverage and wellness coverage.
  • We like Pets Best Pet Insurance because it offers wellness add-ons, gives pet owners multiple deductible options and has no maximum age for enrollment.
  • Pets Best doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, elective procedures, parasite prevention and treatment, experimental treatments or non-vet expenses.
  • Many customers have mentioned quick reimbursements, friendly customer service professionals and comprehensive coverage in their pet insurance reviews for this company.
  • To see how Pets Best stacks up against other providers, try using our online comparison tool. You can get multiple quotes at once and compare all your coverage options.
SUMMARY

Your pet deserves the very best. That’s why it’s so important to purchase pet insurance as early as possible. A good insurance plan protects you in the event that your beloved companion develops an illness or sustains an injury requiring veterinary treatment. Instead of worrying about vet bills, you’ll be able to seek out the best possible care.

Many pet insurance companies offer this type of coverage, but some have more comprehensive policies than others. We did an in-depth review of the plans offered by Pets Best to help you narrow down your options and find the best pet insurance.

Learn more about Pets Best, discover the pros and cons of signing up for one of its policies and find out more about what it covers in this complete review.
Best for a Wide Range of Deductible Options
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via Petinsurer.com's secure website
4.6
Maximum annual coverage 
$5,000 - Unlimited
Reimbursement choices 
70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices 
$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000

About Pets Best Insurance

Dr. Jack Stephens founded Pets Best in 2005, nearly 25 years after he started the first pet insurance company in North America.

Stephens entered the industry after he had to euthanize a dog because its owner couldn’t afford to pay for needed veterinary care. Since then, Dr. Stephens has collaborated with veterinarians, animal rescue groups and pet lovers to make pet insurance more accessible and easier to use. Pets Best now offers multiple affordable pet insurance plans to help you care for your pet without harming your finances.

What are the benefits of Pets Best insurance?

Pets Best offers several benefits to policyholders:

1

No age limit

This insurance company has no age limit for enrollment, so you can purchase a policy at any time.

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2

Multiple reimbursement options

Pets Best allows you to customize your pet insurance, giving you more control over your monthly premium. Choose a 70% reimbursement rate to keep your premium as low as possible, or go with the 90% option to maximize your coverage.

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3

Short waiting periods for accidents

Many pet insurance companies make you wait 14+ days to use your coverage. Pets Best has a waiting limit of just three days for treatment related to accidents.

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4

Multiple deductible options

The company allows you to choose a deductible that fits your budget, making it easier to get your pet the care it needs.

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What does Pets Best pet insurance cover?

Pets Best offers multiple plans with different types of pet insurance coverage to suit your needs.

The provider has these types of pet insurance plans:

Let’s take a closer look at what these plans include.

Pets Best accident and illness plans

Pets Best offers three levels of accident and illness policies:

  1. Essential
  2. Plus
  3. Elite

The Essential plan is the basic accident and illness plan. It covers treatment for accidental injuries, cancer, hereditary conditions and a wide range of other pet illnesses. This includes surgery, medications and emergency care.

The Pets Best Plus plan includes everything in the Essential plan, along with insurance for accident and illness-related exam fees.

The Elite Plan offers nose-to-tail coverage for your furry friend. In addition to everything included in the first two pet health insurance plans, it also covers acupuncture, rehabilitative services and chiropractic care.

Pets Best Essential Plan

  • Accidents (like broken bones, poisoning, lacerations, foreign object ingestion, car accidents, etc.)
  • Illnesses like
  • Cancer treatment
  • Hereditary conditions like
  • Congenital conditions like
  • Emergency care
  • Hospitalization & surgery
  • Prescription medication
  • MRI, CAT and X-rays
  • Specialist appointments
  • Outpatient care
  • Medication injections
  • Lab tests

Pets Best Plus Plan

  • Everything included in the Essential plan
  • Exam fees

Pets Best Elite Plan

  • Everything included in the Essential plan
  • Everything included in the Plus plan
  • Rehabilitation treatment
  • Acupuncture
  • Chiropractic treatment

Pets Best accident-only plan

As you might imagine, the accident-only pet insurance plan doesn’t cover the cost of treating any illnesses. It only covers treatment costs related to accidental injuries.

For example, if your cat gets outside and breaks its leg attempting to climb a tree, the accident-only plan would cover X-rays, pain medications and other injury-related vet expenses.

Pets Best accident-only coverage

  • Accidents resulting in trauma
  • Poisoning
  • Bites (animal, snake, insect)
  • Hit by a vehicle
  • Ingestion of foreign bodies
  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations, cuts and abrasions
  • Wounds or torn nails
  • Exam fees (for accidents)
  • X-rays (for accidents)
  • Surgeries (for accidents)
  • Hospitalization (for accidents)
  • Prescription medication (for accidents)

Pets Best wellness plans

Pets Best offers two wellness plans. Both plans are add-ons, which means you must add them to your accident and illness or accident-only plan. You can’t purchase a wellness plan by itself.

The EssentialWellness plan covers certain types of routine care, such as exam fees, lab tests, vaccinations, preventive medications and microchipping up to a certain amount. No deductible needs to be met for wellness coverage to kick in.

The BestWellness plan goes a step further by covering dental cleanings and spaying and neutering. It also increases the maximum coverage amounts for other types of care included in the EssentialWellness plan.

  • Optional add-on

EssentialWellness plan coverage (and limits)

  • Rabies ($15)
  • Flea/Tick Prevention ($50)
  • Heartworm Prevention ($30)
  • Vaccination/Titer ($30)
  • Wellness Exam ($50)
  • Heartworm test or FELV screen ($25)
  • Blood, fecal, parasite exam ($50)
  • Microchip ($20)
  • Urinalysis or ERD ($15)
  • Deworming ($20)
  • Optional add-on

BestWellness plan coverage (and limits)

  •  Spay/Neuter & Teeth Cleaning ($150)
  • Rabies ($15)
  • Flea/Tick Prevention ($65)
  • Heartworm Prevention ($30)
  • Vaccination/Titer ($40)
  • Wellness Exam ($50)
  • Heartworm test or FELV screen ($30)
  • Blood, fecal, parasite exam ($70)
  • Microchip ($40)
  • Urinalysis or ERD ($25)
  • Deworming ($20)

Pets Best exclusions

Although Pets Best offers comprehensive pet insurance, its policies don’t cover every possible expense.

What’s not covered

  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Elective and preventative procedures
  • Parasites
  • Non-veterinary expenses
  • Experimental treatments

Let’s dive deeper into these exclusions and what they entail.

Pre-existing conditions

Pets Best doesn’t cover the cost of treating a pre-existing condition. In simple terms, a pre-existing condition is a health problem that existed before you bought your pet insurance and completed the initial waiting period. For example, if you purchase pet insurance with a 14-day waiting period on August 1, it wouldn’t cover any condition that developed before August 15.

Elective and preventive procedures

Like most pet insurance providers, Pets Best doesn’t cover elective and preventive procedures. “Elective” means that a procedure isn’t absolutely necessary. If you plan to turn your poodle into a champion show dog, your pet insurance policy won’t cover the cost of straightening its teeth or cropping its ears, as those procedures aren’t necessary for the dog to live a healthy life.

This type of pet health insurance also excludes nail trimming, declawing, anal gland expression and dewclaw removal. If you want your vet to perform these services, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.

Parasites

Some examples of parasites include fleas, ticks, heartworms and ear mites. Even though Pets Best doesn’t typically cover the prevention, testing or treatment of parasites, both the EssentialWellness and BestWellness optional plans provide limited coverage for testing and prevention.

Non-veterinary expenses

Pet insurance only covers the cost of services provided by a veterinarian. Pets Best doesn’t cover the cost of food, supplements and other non-veterinary expenses. For example, if your state requires vets to add sales tax to each bill, your pet insurance won’t reimburse you for the tax, only the cost of the service itself.

Experimental treatments

Like most types of pet insurance, the plans offered by Pets Best don’t cover any experimental treatments. The company also excludes holistic treatments from its list of covered veterinary services.

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Pets Best waiting periods and age restrictions

If you buy pet health insurance from this company, take note of the waiting periods and age restrictions in your policy.

Waiting periods: Three days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.

Age restrictions: There’s no upper age limit, but you can’t enroll your pet until it’s at least 7 weeks old.

Pets Best Insurance coverage options

When you build your policy, you’ll be able to choose your deductible, reimbursement rate and coverage limit.

Deductible

In insurance terminology, a deductible is the amount of money you must pay for veterinary services before your pet insurance will start reimbursing you. You have to meet this deductible every year, so choose one that’s low enough to afford without a significant increase in your premium.

Pets Best gives you multiple deductible options, allowing you to customize your coverage.

The deductible options are:

Reimbursement rate

Your reimbursement rate is the percentage at which an insurance provider reimburses you for your vet expenses.

Pets Best offers plans with these reimbursement levels:

If you choose a plan with a 70% reimbursement level, the company will reimburse 70% of your eligible vet expenses, less any deductibles or co-pays.

Payout limit

The payout limit is another important consideration.

Pets Best annual limit options are:

If you’re on a budget, you can opt for the lower annual coverage limit to keep your premiums cheaper. Pets Best also offers plans with unlimited coverage. One surgery could cost thousands of dollars, so choose your payout limit carefully.

How much does Pets Best insurance cost?

Pet insurance companies set their premiums based on the age, size and breed of each pet. Your location also makes a difference in how much pet insurance costs, as some areas of the country have higher costs of living than others.

To give you an idea of how much pet insurance costs with Pets Best, we got price quotes for different cat and dog breeds.

We applied the following information for our quotes:

The following table shows the cost of cat insurance for three popular breeds.

Cat breed Monthly cost for a six-month-old cat Monthly cost for a five-year-old cat
Domestic Longhair $28 $32
Maine Coon $36 $45
Ragdoll $31 $42

The table below shows the cost of dog insurance for three popular dog breeds.

Dog breed Monthly cost for a six-month-old dog Monthly cost for a five-year-old dog
Chihuahua $32 $41
German Shepherd $69 $93
Golden Retriever $71 $96

Pets Best reviews: What are customers saying?

Before buying a policy, it’s helpful to read a few Pets Best reviews to decide if it’s worth purchasing.

Pets Best has many favorable reviews on Trustpilot, with reviewers highlighting the company’s prompt reimbursement, affordable premiums and easy-to-follow claims process.

Susan Billing writes, “Very prompt on reimbursement and if there is a delay an email is sent letting us know that you are still working on our claim.”

In her Pets Best Insurance review Debra Chenault states, “The claim process was the smoothest I’ve ever experienced and amazingly quick!”

Several people have also mentioned how pleased they are with the level of coverage available. In one pet insurance review, Jeff writes, “I have the plan that includes “wellness” and have been surprised at the coverage and the actual reimbursement and how quickly it happens. Keep up the great service.”

How does Pets Best compare to other providers?

When compared to other insurance companies, Pets Best generally performs well in several categories, including pricing and customization options.

Use the table below to compare Pets Best with other top providers like Metlife Pet Insurance, CarePlus by Chewy, Figo Pet Insurance and more.
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Pets Best Insurance MetLife Pet Insurance
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Compare Coverage
Accident & Illness Plan
Available
Available
Accident-Only Plan
Available
Not Available
Surgery
Covered
Covered
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions
Covered
Covered
Chronic Conditions
Covered
Covered
Dental Disease
Covered
Covered
Allergies
Covered
Covered
Cancer Treatment
Covered
Covered
Physical Therapy
Add On
Covered
Alternative Therapies
Not covered
Covered
Behavioral issues
Covered
Add On
Breed Specific Issues
Not covered
Covered
Emergency Vet Visits
Covered
Covered
Telehealth Visits
Not covered
Covered
24/7 Vet Chat
Covered
Covered
Specialist Visits
Covered
Covered
Exam Fees
Covered
Add On
Blood Tests
Covered
Covered
Laboratory Testing
Covered
Covered
X-Rays & CT Scans
Covered
Covered
Wellness Coverage
Add On
Add On
Prescription Medication
Covered
Covered
Prescription Food
Not covered
Covered
Microchipping
Not covered
Not covered
Boarding
Not covered
Not covered
Euthanasia
Covered
Covered
Max Enrollment Age
No Max
No Max
Accident Waiting Period
3 days
Midnight on Same Day
Illness Waiting Period
14 days
14 days
Orthopedic Waiting Period
6 months
14 days
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Pets Best FAQs

Can I add another pet to my Pets Best insurance?

Yes, you can add another pet to your policy. The company even offers a 5% multi-pet discount on some of its plans.

How long does it take Pets Best to reimburse a claim?

You may receive your reimbursement within just two days after filing a claim. However, Pets Best must verify that your pet’s condition isn’t pre-existing. If there’s a delay in receiving the requested medical records from your vet, it may take longer to reimburse you.

Does Pets Best raise rates with age?

Like other pet insurance companies Pets Best bases your premium on your pet’s age. You’re likely to see a price increase as your pet ages, as older animals have an increased risk of developing health problems.

How do I cancel a Pets Best policy?

To cancel a pet insurance policy from Pets Best, call (877) 738-7237 or fill out the online contact form.

Does Pets Best cover dental care?

Some Pets Best policies cover dental care. For example, the accident-and-illness pet insurance policy covers some of the costs associated with tooth extractions and gum disease treatment. The company also offers an add-on for routine care, which may cover dental cleanings and other preventive dental services.

Is Pets Best the same as Progressive?

Pets Best is one of Progressive’s business partners, but the companies are separate entities. Two insurance companies underwrite the policies offered by Pets Best: Independence American Insurance Company and American Pet Insurance Company.

About the Author

Leigh Morgan
Leigh Morgan Personal Finance

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last five years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

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