Pets Best Pet Insurance Review

Pets Best gives customers plenty of coverage options and price points, including an accident-only policy and optional wellness plan.
Kayda Norman
By Kayda Norman 
Edited by Sarah Schlichter

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5.0

NerdWallet rating 

Plans offered: Accident and illness, accident-only, wellness.

Breadth of coverage: Good.

Range of plan options: Excellent.

Can pay your vet directly: Yes.

The bottom line: One of the most customizable pet insurance plans in the industry.

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Plans offered. Pet insurance companies generally offer the following three types of plans:

  • Accident and illness policies reimburse you for medical treatment if your pet gets sick or injured.

  • Accident-only policies pay expenses if your pet is injured.

  • Wellness plans help you budget for preventive care costs.

Breadth of coverage. We looked for plans that cover a wide range of potential expenses.

Range of plan options. This category looks at how many ways you can customize what you pay for your plan and how you’re reimbursed.

Can pay your vet directly. This indicates whether an insurer can pay your vet directly for medical expenses. With this service, you don’t have to pay the money yourself upfront and then wait for reimbursement.

Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.

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.

Pets Best pet insurance

5.0

NerdWallet rating 

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 pros and cons

Pros

Cons

Lots of options to customize plans.

Exam fees and certain therapies are included only with more expensive plans.

Unlimited annual coverage option available.

Herbal and holistic treatments aren’t covered.

Can reimburse your vet directly.

State availability

Pets Best insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Pets Best pet insurance plans

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. You’ll be reimbursed for a percentage of your vet bill up to an annual limit, minus your deductible, or the amount subtracted from a claims check.

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 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.

What Pets Best pet insurance covers

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.

The Pets Best accident-only plan will cover treatments and diagnostic tests related to an accident. It will not pay for the treatment of any illness.

Depending on which plan you choose, wellness coverage may include:

  • Dental cleaning.

  • Spay or neuter surgery.

  • Flea, heartworm and tick prevention.

  • Deworming.

  • Microchip implantation.

  • Blood, fecal and parasite exams.

  • Vaccinations and titers.

  • Wellness exam.

  • Preventive screening tests.

What’s not covered

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 and burial.

  • Experimental treatments.

  • Specific dental procedures such as scaling and root planing.

  • 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.

Pets Best coverage 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.

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. In Maine, the waiting period is 14 days for illness and 30 days for cruciate ligament issues, with no waiting period for accidents. Wellness plans have no waiting period in any state.

Discounts

You can get a discount for insuring multiple pets with Pets Best. The company also discounts military members and their families in most states.

Consumer experience

Website: 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.

App: 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.

Claims: You can file claims online or through the Pets Best app. Claims are generally reimbursed through direct deposit within two days after a claim has been approved. Otherwise, you’ll receive a paper check five to seven days after your claim has been processed.

Other claims perks include having Pets Best pay your vet directly, which means you won’t have to pay as much upfront. Certain claims are also eligible for preauthorization, which lets you check in advance whether a procedure will be covered and how much you’ll likely have to pay out of pocket.

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.

Pets Best 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%. 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.

Both 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 review.

Coverage options

Pets Best

Trupanion

Deductible

$50 to $1,000.

$0 to $1,000 per condition (except in Florida, where no deductible applies).

Reimbursement

70%, 80% or 90%.

90% (except in Florida, where you can choose any reimbursement amount between 50% and 90%).

Annual limit

$5,000 per year to unlimited.

Unlimited.

Pets Best vs. Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws and Pets Best offers 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.

Pets Best may be a better choice if you’re looking for more options to save. Healthy Paws doesn’t advertise discounts, while Pets Best offers two, a multi-pet discount and a military discount.

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 both sell accident and illness policies with different tiers of coverage. However, Lemonade is not available nationwide, unlike Pets Best. Lemonade also doesn’t offer an accident-only plan. Both companies sell wellness plans.

Pets Best offers more deductible options and the ability to choose a plan with no annual coverage limit. For example, Lemonade has annual limits of $5,000 to $100,000 per year.

Lemonade and Pets Best have similar waiting periods. However, Lemonade’s waiting period is two days for injuries, 14 days for illness and six months for cruciate ligaments. 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.

Lemonade may be faster in reimbursing claims than Pets Best, with about 30% of claims being paid immediately, according to the company website. Learn more in our Lemonade pet insurance review.

Coverage options

Pets Best

Lemonade

Deductible

$50 to $1,000.

$100 to $500 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.

Frequently asked questions

Dental cleanings are covered under the company’s more expensive wellness plan, BestWellness. The Pets Best accident and illness plan will cover care for periodontal disease if your pet meets certain requirements, such as having no dental disease prior to enrolling in a policy.

Pets Best accident and illness coverage doesn’t cover spaying and neutering. However, its BestWellness plan covers these procedures.

You can cancel your policy by calling 877-738-7237. Your plan will be canceled the same day.

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