MetLife Pet Insurance Review
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5.0 NerdWallet rating | Plans offered: Accident and illness, wellness. | |
Breadth of coverage: Excellent. | Range of plan options: Excellent. | Can pay your vet directly: No. |
The bottom line: Customizable plans that cover holistic therapies, but filing claims can be a hassle. | ||
Formerly known as PetFirst, MetLife Pet Insurance offers a solid accident and illness plan that you can customize with various deductible, reimbursement and coverage amounts. You can also add wellness coverage.
The plan has no lifetime limits, but the claims process could be easier.
MetLife Pet Insurance
5.0
NerdWallet ratingMetLife earned 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.
Based on this rating, MetLife is on NerdWallet's list of the Best Pet Insurance Companies.
MetLife pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Diminishing deductibles each year you go without a claim. | Claims process isn’t as streamlined as it is at some other companies. |
Accident coverage starts right away, with no waiting period. | |
Holistic and alternative therapies are covered. |
State availability
MetLife sells pet insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. In a handful of states, policies are sold under the company's former PetFirst brand and may feature different coverage options than those described below.
MetLife Pet Insurance plans
MetLife offers a comprehensive accident and illness policy, which covers costs associated with injuries, incidents and health conditions, as well as alternative and holistic therapies.
The insurer also has an optional preventive care package. This add-on is designed to lower the costs of routine care, such as dental cleaning, vaccinations and wellness exams.
What MetLife Pet Insurance covers
MetLife’s accident and illness policy covers:
Vet exam fees.
Telemedicine visits.
Hospitalizations, surgeries and emergency care.
Diagnostic tests, including X-rays and ultrasounds.
Prescription medications and foods.
Cruciate repairs.
Bilateral conditions.
Hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions.
Dermatological conditions.
Aging pet ear and eye conditions.
Periodontal disease.
Diseases that could be prevented by vaccines.
Holistic and alternative therapies.
Cremation costs.
Injuries caused by housemates.
MetLife’s preventive care coverage helps to cover these costs:
Flea, tick or heartworm medication.
Spaying or neutering.
Microchipping.
Vaccinations.
Dental cleaning.
Wellness exams.
Bloodwork.
FeLV, fecal and heartworm tests.
Health certificates.
What’s not covered
MetLife’s plans typically don’t cover:
Pre-existing conditions.
Elective procedures.
Grooming and bathing costs, including medicated baths.
Breeding costs.
Vitamin and mineral supplements.
Organ transplants.
Removal or expression of anal glands or anal sacculitis.
Any injuries or illnesses related to racing, coursing, commercial guarding or organized fighting.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
MetLife coverage options
Deductibles: $0 to $2,500 per year.
Reimbursement options: 50% to 100%, depending on the policy.
Coverage limits: $500 to $25,000. An unlimited option is available, though you can’t purchase this option online in some states.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: None.
Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. With MetLife, pets are covered for accidents and wellness costs on the day the policy goes into effect. Illness coverage kicks in after 14 days.
Discounts
MetLife offers these discounts to eligible policyholders:
Employer benefit discount for people who buy a policy through their workplace (not available in Tennessee).
Internet purchase discount, which applies to the first year of premiums.
Active or retired military, veteran and first responder discount.
Active health care workers discount.
Discount for staff members and owners of animal care facilities.
Additionally, you might be able to lower your deductible by $25 to $50 each year you don’t submit a claim.
Consumer experience
Website: You can get quotes and buy a policy online, though you’ll need to provide your contact information early on. MetLife’s site is user-friendly but doesn’t include all the policy information you might want while comparing coverage.
App: MetLife’s app is compatible with Apple and Android devices. You can use the app to view policy information, track the progress of claims, edit your pet’s profile, upload health records and find vets near you.
Claims: MetLife’s claims process isn’t as seamless as it could be. Instead of completing a few quick fields online, you’ll have to download and fill out a form, then send it back via email, online portal, fax or mail. However, you can expect a relatively quick payout, with most claims paying out within 10 business days.
Customer service: The fastest way to contact MetLife is via live chat, which you can access on the app or website. Otherwise, call 855-270-7387 or email [email protected] with questions. For policyholders, MetLife’s vet chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Other pet insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other pet insurance companies:
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, coverage, plan options, discounts and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. To calculate each insurer’s 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.
