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Bringing home a new dog or cat brings so much joy into a household. Pet parents know well how wonderful it is to bond with a sweet pup or kitten and only want the best things for them. As animals grow, they need veterinary care for everything from routine care to emergency visits — and sometimes long-term care. Budgeting for these needs is an important part of caring for your pet from day one.
The cost of veterinary care has risen in recent years, with Americans spending over $39 billion on veterinary care in 2024. This reality shows just how expensive long-term healthcare can be for pets. Identifying the best pet insurance for your pet can make a real difference when it’s time to face the hardest choices about healthcare for your pet, and it can go a long way in supporting you in the less critical moments as well.
In this article, we'll take a look at the pet insurance options on the market. We'll break down details like reimbursements, coverage limits, and pros and cons so you can see how Fetch Pet stacks up.
Pet insurance helps cover costs associated with both routine and unexpected veterinary care. It's easy for the bill to get too big to manage when things like emergency surgeries, chronic illnesses, prescription medications and diagnostic testing come into play. Pet insurance can make difficult choices about the affordability of veterinary care much easier, providing crucial support during a difficult time.
Most plans work on a reimbursement model: You pay the vet upfront, submit a claim and receive reimbursement based on your plan’s deductible and reimbursement rate. Many insurance plans offer optional add-ons for wellness coverage, sick-visit exams, dental coverage and other similar extras for an additional monthly cost.
Pet insurance is a great way to get peace of mind for any pet parent, but it may be especially valuable for young pets, breeds prone to hereditary conditions, senior pets or families who might find it difficult to cover a surprise vet bill. Veterinary care can cost thousands of dollars over a pet’s lifetime, so having the right coverage can lift some of the stress of getting great healthcare for your pet.
At Fetch Pet Insurance, we offer customizable, complete accident and illness coverage for dogs and cats with any vet in the U.S. and Canada. Coverage can include diagnostics, surgeries, hospital stays, prescription medications, online vet visits, breed-specific issues and exam fees for covered conditions, among many other things. We also offer an optional wellness add-on for routine and preventive care like vaccinations, annual exams and spay/neuter procedures.
One standout feature is our full-mouth dental coverage. We're the only provider that covers injury and disease in all adult teeth and the gums, rather than limiting coverage to just the four canine teeth as some competitors do. This includes periodontal disease (the most common disease in dogs and cats), root canals and other endodontic procedures, oral tumors, extractions and more, with up to 90% reimbursement and no annual sublimit on dental claims.
Our optional wellness add-on also offers coverage for routine teeth cleanings and oral exams. This is a huge benefit for pet parents, since dental issues are both extremely common and, when left untreated, can lead to more serious health problems.
Deductible choices for dogs:
Deductible choices for cats:
Maximum annual coverage options:
Reimbursement options:
Cost:
Pros:
Cons:
We built Fetch Pet to be the most complete pet insurance on the market, but we know you're comparing options. Here's how we stack up against the other major providers, so you can see exactly where Fetch Pet pulls ahead—and make the choice that's right for your pet.
AKC offers a variety of plans for pet parents of dogs and cats. Their 24/7 vet support hotline is also available for quick advice. Pre-existing coverage kicks in after a 365-day waiting period for both curable and incurable conditions. Various add-ons can also be included, like a wellness plan for preventive care.
Deductible choices:
Maximum annual coverage options: Unlimited for some plans
Reimbursement options:
Cost: Costs vary but can start as low as $10/month. Zip code, age of pet, and add-ons can all impact the premium amount.
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: AKC's standard plan doesn't cover dental illness, and exam fees and hereditary conditions require paid add-ons. Fetch Pet includes all three in its standard plan with dental coverage extending to every adult tooth and gums.
Spot Pet Insurance offers customizable plans for dogs and cats that cover a wide variety of issues and needs. Options for coverage include prescription diets, behavioral modification, and microchipping, depending on the level and add-ons you choose. Pet parents can choose from an accident-only plan or accident and illness coverage for their base package.
Deductible choices:
Maximum annual coverage options: Multiple options available up to unlimited
Reimbursement options:
Cost: The average cost for a plan is about $56/month for dogs and $32/month for cats, but costs vary widely based on breed, age, and add-ons.
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Both plans cover dental illness, behavioral therapy and exam fees. Fetch Pet, however, covers dental illness in every adult tooth and gums with no annual sublimit, and reimburses 100% of behavioral therapy costs up to $1,000 per year.
Embrace Pet Insurance covers a wide variety of concerns, including some dental disease and treatment issues. They offer telehealth through their platform and try to pay out claims within 10 days. With prescription coverage, FDA-approved drugs are covered when needed and prescribed for covered conditions.
Deductible choices: Options available from $100-$1000
Maximum annual coverage options: Options available from $5000-$30000
Reimbursement options:
Cost: Typically $10-30/month for cats and $20-70/month for dogs, though coverage varies based on breed, age, and add-on choices
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Embrace caps dental illness reimbursement at $1,000 per policy term and requires a paid add-on for exam fees. At Fetch Pet, we cover dental illness in every adult tooth and gums with no sublimit and includes exam fees in our standard plan.
Trupanion offers dog, cat, puppy, and kitten insurance with no dollar limits on coverage, though what is covered may vary by plan and circumstance. Pets can be enrolled until their 14th birthday, and there are no breed restrictions. Trupanion does not offer a multi-pet discount or telehealth, though they do have 24/7 customer service available by phone.
Deductible choices: $0-$1000
Maximum annual coverage options: No annual limits
Reimbursement options: 90% in most cases, though some states may have more options
Cost:
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Trupanion doesn't cover exam fees, and they charge extra for behavioral therapy and alternative care. Fetch Pet includes all three in its standard plan with no add-ons required.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers a variety of plans including accident-only, complete coverage and preventative care coverage. A 10% multi-pet discount kicks in for pet parents with more than one dog or cat, and you can make claims within their app. Premiums may increase as pets age and annual limits are reset yearly.
Deductible choices:
Maximum annual coverage options: Options from $2,500 to unlimited
Reimbursement options:
Cost:
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers broad accident-and-illness coverage. Fetch Pet differentiates itself with dental coverage for every adult tooth and gums without a separate dental sublimit, along with 100% reimbursement for eligible behavioral therapy costs up to $1,000 annually with no deductible or copay.
Lemonade is an insurance company that also offers policies for dogs and cats, including a multi-pet discount. Lemonade's deductible options start as low as $100, lower than Fetch Pet's standard minimum, which means pet parents who want to minimize per-claim costs have that choice available, typically in exchange for a higher monthly premium. Dental coverage is available under two separate plans, though accidents are usually covered under the base plan.
Co-insurance choices:
Maximum annual coverage options: $5000-$100,000
Reimbursement options:
Cost: The average price for pet insurance across breed, location, age, etc., is $41/month for dogs and $23/month for cats, but the individual price varies widely according to the above factors
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Lemonade requires paid add-ons for exam fees, dental illness, behavioral therapy and physical therapy. All four are included in Fetch Pet's standard plan when prescribed by a vet.
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance provides 24/7 access to veterinary care within their app as a part of their coverage for dogs and cats. There are no limits on coverage in terms of dollars you may receive, though age restrictions do come into play for overall coverage and for coverage of some hereditary and chronic conditions.
Deductible choices:
Maximum annual coverage options: No limit
Co-pay options:
Cost: The average reported cost is about $30/month for cats and $60/month for dogs, but the rate can depend on location, breed, and many other factors.
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Healthy Paws doesn't cover dental disease, behavioral therapy or exam fees. All three are included in Fetch Pet's standard plan.
Geico Pet Insurance is administered by Embrace Pet Insurance. This means you hold a policy through Geico, but when you interact with customer service, you may encounter the name Embrace on bills and when speaking to representatives. Their policy covers dogs and cats, and can be bundled with other Geico policies for the multi-policy discounts Geico offers.
Deductible choices: $100-$1000
Maximum annual coverage options: $2000-unlimited
Reimbursement options:
Cost: Prices average about $23/month for cats and $50/month for dogs, but costs may vary based on discounts and the age, breed, and gender of your pet, among other things.
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Geico caps dental illness reimbursement at $1,000 per year and requires a paid add-on for exam fees. Fetch Pet covers dental illness in every adult tooth and gums with no sublimit and includes exam fees in its standard plan.
MetLife Pet Insurance includes 24/7 vet support via chat within their app. Deductible options are highly customizable and available in $50 increments up to $750, with a larger distance between brackets beyond that. Wellness options are available through the preventive care plan, which is customizable to your needs.
Deductible choices: $0-2,500
Maximum annual coverage options: $500-unlimited
Reimbursement options:
Cost:
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: MetLife offers flexible coverage customization and several built-in benefits. Fetch Pet stands out with full-mouth dental coverage for every adult tooth and gums, coverage for periodontal disease without a separate dental sublimit, and 100% reimbursement for eligible behavioral therapy costs up to $1,000 annually with no deductible or copay.
Figo Pet Insurance offers coverage for dogs and cats, along with free 24/7 access to online veterinary support. Costco members can choose the coverage at a discount when available. Customizable wellness plans and exam coverage options are available for an added cost. Figo also offers a pet tag that syncs to their Pet Cloud to help find lost pets.
Deductible choices: $100-$1,500
Maximum annual coverage options: $5,000-unlimited
Reimbursement options:
Cost: The average cost is around $52/month for dogs and $25/month for cats, though price varies depending on breed, age, location, and other factors
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Figo provides flexible plan customization and optional coverage upgrades. Fetch Pet sets itself apart with full-mouth dental coverage for every adult tooth and gums, no separate dental sublimit and 100% reimbursement for eligible behavioral therapy costs up to $1,000 annually with no deductible or copay.
Pets Best covers dogs and cats and offers direct vet pay with eligible vets. Pet parents can pick from a variety of wellness options depending on their pet’s needs. A multi-pet discount is available for some plans. Coverage for dental needs is available on a limited basis.
Deductible choices: $100-$1,000
Maximum annual coverage options: $5,000-unlimited
Reimbursement options:
Cost:
Pros:
Cons:
How their coverage stacks up against Fetch Pet: Exam fee coverage requires a higher-tier plan selection with Pets Best. Fetch Pet includes exam fees, full-mouth dental coverage, and 100% behavioral therapy reimbursement up to $1,000 per year across all configurations.
Many pet insurance plans can feel similar at first glance, but the details of your coverage can make a major difference when it’s time to file a claim.
Here are some of the most important elements to consider before you opt into a specific policy.
Fetch Pet is a strong option if you want broad accident-and-illness coverage with fewer add-ons. Its standard plan includes sick-visit exam fee coverage, dental illness and injury coverage for every adult tooth and gums, behavioral therapy benefits and alternative therapies such as acupuncture and physical therapy when prescribed by a veterinarian. Fetch Pet also offers an optional wellness add-on that helps reimburse routine care expenses such as annual exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and preventive treatments.
Pet insurance can help cover lots of different kinds of veterinary expenses, but specific reimbursement levels depend on your policy, deductible, reimbursement rate and coverage limits. For example, claims may include emergency surgery after an accident, treatment for chronic allergies, cancer care, ingestion of foreign objects or hospitalization.
Some providers reimburse for hereditary and breed-specific conditions as long as they’re eligible for coverage and not considered pre-existing. For example, a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever diagnosed with hip dysplasia after developing stiffness and difficulty walking may be eligible for coverage under a Fetch Pet accident-and-illness policy.
Eligible expenses can include exam fees, diagnostics, surgery, medications, physical therapy and rehabilitation. With a policy featuring a $500 deductible, $15,000 annual limit and 90% reimbursement rate, a pet parent could be reimbursed for eligible costs associated with a $9,000 treatment plan after the deductible is met, subject to policy terms, exclusions and annual limits. Coverage for hereditary and breed-specific conditions may help pet parents manage unexpected long-term veterinary expenses.
In all cases, reimbursement depends on a variety of factors that may include coverage choices, medical history, breed, age and other factors. It’s important to carefully review the details of your plan so there are no surprises when it comes time to submit a claim.
Fetch Pet is widely praised by Redditors, particularly for our coverage of exam fees and dental. Users praise our more complete coverage options and even good experiences with congenital conditions, something that other insurers may not cover.
Lemonade is mentioned as having a great app interface and AI chatbot. Some folks love the experience, though others may be less excited about having AI being the first interaction. Others report a great experience with high payouts.
MetLife is widely mentioned as giving pet parents a generally positive experience. Lots of users simply report things like “great experience” or “really love it.”
Healthy Paws is notably complained about due to users reporting denied claims and increasing premium costs. Some note that senior pets may receive a drastically increased rate as they age.
Figo, offered through Costco, may be difficult to interact with and receive reimbursement. Several users report negative customer service interactions and low or no payouts.
Pets Best is reported to have declining speed and quality in their customer relations, with some users reporting long wait times and difficulty connecting to help. Others report difficulty with the claims process, including extended wait times for payouts.
Unexpected vet bills can happen at any stage of a pet’s life, whether it’s a late-night emergency visit or ongoing care for a chronic condition. The best pet insurance plans help pet parents prepare for those moments and make it easier and more affordable to prioritize their pet’s long-term health.
As you compare insurance plans, balance considerations around your monthly premium with understanding coverage details, reimbursement choices, exclusions and claim processes. Look for a provider with great customer service, so you know you’ll get the support you need along the way.
Fetch Pet Insurance stands out for our commitment to supporting pet parents, including those adopting shelter and rescue pets. Combined with comprehensive accident-and-illness coverage, flexible reimbursement options and features designed to support pets through everyday injuries, illnesses, and ongoing care needs, Fetch Pet is a strong choice for pet parents looking for broad, dependable protection.
The best pet insurance depends on your priorities, including price, coverage limits, reimbursement rates and customer experience. Fetch Pet Insurance stands out for our highly customizable options, coverage for shelter pets with certain common pre-existing conditions, and compassionate customer service. Comparing multiple providers side by side can help you spot the best choice for your pet.
Many comprehensive pet insurance plans cover hip dysplasia as long as the condition is not considered pre-existing and your policy's waiting periods have passed. Coverage details can depend on the provider. Some insurers may have breed-specific restrictions or bilateral condition policies that affect your pet’s eligibility.
Many pet insurance plans do cover hyperthyroidism if it develops after enrollment and cannot be considered a pre-existing condition. Plans may cover diagnostic testing, medication, specialist visits, and ongoing treatment, depending on the policy.
Not always. Most pet insurance providers don’t cover pre-existing conditions at all. Some insurers may cover conditions considered curable after a symptom-free period.
This can be a particularly difficult hurdle to cross for pet parents who adopt a shelter pet. Fetch Pet Insurance offers pre-existing condition coverage for the most common conditions for adopted pets at participating shelters. This care helps ensure that pet parents who want to rescue a pet are supported in their pet’s veterinary care needs.
The Dig, Fetch Pet Insurance's expert-backed editorial, answers all of the questions you forget to ask your vet or are too embarrassed to ask at the dog park. We help make sure you and your best friend have more good days, but we’re there on bad days, too.
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