Best Pet Insurance Companies in 2026
Coverage options evaluated for your pet's health and your budget.
Veterinary care has become increasingly sophisticated — and expensive. Emergency surgeries, cancer treatments, and ongoing care for chronic conditions can cost thousands of dollars. Pet insurance helps protect against unexpected veterinary costs while ensuring your pet gets needed care.
We evaluated the leading pet insurance companies to help you find coverage that fits your pet and budget.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is health insurance for your dog or cat (and sometimes other animals). Like human health insurance, it helps cover veterinary costs in exchange for a premium you pay monthly or annually.
How Pet Insurance Works
- Pay your vet bill: Unlike human insurance, you typically pay the vet directly
- Submit a claim: Send the invoice to your insurance company
- Receive reimbursement: Get reimbursed according to your plan
Key Terms
- Premium: What you pay for coverage (monthly or annual)
- Deductible: What you pay before insurance kicks in (per-incident or annual)
- Reimbursement Level: Percentage the insurer pays after deductible (typically 70%, 80%, or 90%)
- Annual Maximum: The most the insurer will pay per year (some plans offer unlimited)
Our Top Picks
Based on our evaluation, these are the top pet insurance companies we recommend.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Rated best overall after comprehensive analysis of 19 companies and thousands of policy features.
Spot Pet Insurance
Highly customizable plans with a wide range of deductible and reimbursement options.
Lemonade
Fast AI-powered claims processing with affordable premiums and excellent customer satisfaction ratings.
Types of Coverage
Accident-Only
Covers injuries from accidents (broken bones, poisoning, lacerations). Doesn't cover illnesses or preventive care. Lowest premiums. Best for budget-conscious pet owners wanting protection against unexpected injuries.
Accident and Illness
Covers accidents plus illnesses (infections, cancer, digestive issues). Doesn't cover preventive care or pre-existing conditions. Moderate premiums. Best for most pet owners wanting comprehensive protection.
Comprehensive (with Wellness)
Covers accidents, illness, plus routine/preventive care (vaccines, exams, dental cleaning, flea prevention). Highest premiums. Wellness portion may not have positive ROI. Best for those wanting predictable veterinary costs.
What We Evaluated
Coverage
What's covered and excluded, hereditary and breed-specific condition coverage, chronic condition coverage, behavioral treatment, alternative therapy, and prescription medication coverage.
Pricing
Premium costs for various pets, ages, and breeds. Deductible options, reimbursement level options, and how premiums increase with pet age.
Claim Process
Claim submission ease, processing time, reimbursement speed, and customer satisfaction with claims.
Flexibility
Customization options, ability to use any vet, deductible and reimbursement choices, and annual maximum options.
Waiting Periods
Accident waiting periods, illness waiting periods, and orthopedic condition waiting periods.
Pre-Existing Conditions
How insurers define pre-existing conditions, handling of curable vs. incurable conditions, and historical records requirements.
What to Consider Before Buying
Enroll When Your Pet Is Young and Healthy
Pet insurance excludes pre-existing conditions. Enrolling when your pet is young and healthy means more conditions are covered. Waiting until problems develop limits coverage.
Understand Pre-Existing Conditions
If your pet has any documented health issues, those conditions and related conditions won't be covered. This includes anything noted in vet records, even if not formally diagnosed. Some insurers will cover "curable" pre-existing conditions if the pet has been symptom-free for a specified period.
Calculate Whether It Makes Financial Sense
When Insurance Makes Sense
Often makes sense: Young pets (locked in before problems develop), breeds prone to expensive conditions, owners who would pursue treatment regardless of cost, those who can't absorb a $5,000+ emergency expense.
Might not make sense: Older pets (higher premiums, more exclusions), those with substantial emergency savings, pets with extensive pre-existing conditions.
Compare Annual Costs vs. Expected Use
For comprehensive coverage on a dog, expect $500-1,000+/year. Over a 10-year life, that's $5,000-10,000+ in premiums. Pet insurance is most valuable for unexpected major expenses, not routine care.
Read the Fine Print
- Bilateral exclusions: If one hip has issues, the other may be excluded
- Hereditary condition coverage: Some plans exclude breed-specific conditions
- Condition-specific limits: Some plans cap payouts for certain conditions
- Rate increase history: How much do premiums increase annually?
Choose the Right Deductible and Reimbursement
Higher deductible + lower premium: Better if you're protecting against catastrophic costs only.
Lower deductible + higher premium: Better if you want more routine claims covered.
Higher reimbursement (90%): Pay more monthly, get more back on claims.
Lower reimbursement (70%): Pay less monthly, pay more out of pocket.
Tips for Using Pet Insurance
Keep All Vet Records
Comprehensive records help with claims and prevent conditions from being wrongly flagged as pre-existing.
Submit Claims Promptly
Most insurers have filing deadlines (often 90 days to 1 year). Submit claims soon after visits.
Understand Your Coverage
Know what's covered before you need it. Surprises during a stressful emergency are unwelcome.
Review Annually
As your pet ages, review whether your coverage still makes sense. Adjust deductibles or coverage levels if appropriate.
Disclaimer
The information on ScoreCardHQ is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. We encourage all readers to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making significant decisions.