Finance

Best pet insurance plans for your furry friend!

By: Dale Arasa - @inquirerdotnet

Inquirer Los Angeles / 09:36 AM July 20, 2021

As pet parents, we all want the best for our furry companions. In case something happens, you know your insurance plan has your back! The best pet insurance can give you peace of mind by covering pet emergencies. Moreover, it provides numerous promos and discounts for your pet’s health. For example, you can reduce the fees for your dog’s or cat’s next telehealth checkup.

The best pet insurance plans can cover your animal buddy, no matter what! We never want to think of anything bad happening to our pets. Unfortunately, it may happen eventually, so it’s best to be prepared just in case. Similar to people, you can get insurance for your furry buddies so that you can rest assured.

We’ll start with our recommendations for the best pet insurance. Then, we’ll talk about how you can choose the best plans for your animal buddies.

The 3 most dependable pet insurance plans

Nationwide
PetPlan
Metlife

1. Nationwide – For dogs, cats, and even exotic pets!

When people think of pets, dogs or cats quickly come to mind. However, people take care of other animals too. Their pets also deserve protection, right? That’s why Nationwide covers a wide range of exotic animals. Here are some of the unique pets that can get Nationwide insurance:

Geckos
Gerbils
Hamsters
Rabbits
Snakes
Turtles

Of course, they cover dogs and cats too. Nationwide offers similar plans for these pets. Here are the usual emergencies and problems included:

Accidents & Injuries
Chronic Illnesses
Common illnesses
Procedures
Health tests

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It’s our pick for the best pet insurance because it covers various pets. Also, you get a bunch of discounts if you have lots of pets! You won’t find this feature in other ones on our list.

Plan overview

Average monthly cost – $60 for dogs, $35 for cats, $15 for birds, $20 for other animals
Usual payout time – Five days or less
Waiting period before coverage takes effect – 14 days
Free telehealth services? – Telehealth is covered under the exam coverage. What’s more, it includes a 24/7 pet service online run by professional vets.
Maximum annual payout – None for Major Medical plan. Meanwhile, it’s $10,000 for the Whole Pet Wellness plan.
Any discounts? – Get a 5% discount if you have an AAA, AARP, or memberships for other groups.
Multi-pet discount – If you have two or three pets, you get a 5% discount. You get 10% if you have four or more.
How to file claims – Use their online portal or app.

2. PetPlan – Covers more of your pet’s needs

Most pet insurance plans only cover accidents and illnesses. That’s expected since pet owners need those. What if it can provide more, though? Well, PetPlan might be what you need!

One of its unique features is COVID-19 coverage. According to the CDC, some pets could get symptoms from it too. PetPlan is one of the few insurers that provide this protection.

What’s more, PetPlan can reduce costs for other purposes. For example, you may get up to $1,000 for a virtual vet consultation and around $50-$250 for pet exam visits.

We put it below Nationwide because it only covers dogs and cats. Note that your plan will depend on several factors. Contact PetPlan to get an accurate quote. You may reach them via phone call or live chat.

Plan overview

Average monthly cost – Sample premiums were $40.14 for dogs and $18.25 for cats.
Usual payout time – 22 days
Waiting period before coverage takes effect – For illnesses and illnesses, it is 15 days.
Free telehealth services? – Get up to $1,000 every year for covered health conditions.
Maximum annual payout – $2,500 or more
Any discounts? – Different discounts depending on the client’s membership
Multi-pet discount – None
How to file claims – Use their app.

3. MetLife – Keeping your pets safe AND healthy

It’s nice to have insurance that can help in case your pet gets into trouble. As a pet owner, you may take steps to prevent such emergencies from happening. This includes providing good nutrition and health maintenance.

Fortunately, MetLife offers pet insurance that can help via their Routine Care Coverage. Don’t settle for a mere accident-only plan. Add this feature to your MetLife insurance plan, and give your dog or cat the following:

Routine exams and tests
Vaccines
Dental cleaning
Behavior training

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You may choose from their various package options. Or pick the Routine Rider Coverage, then add other features. Click here to learn more about MetLife.

Plan overview

Average monthly cost – Plans for dogs may cost $15 or more. For cats, plans start at $9.
Usual payout time – They process 80% of the claims within ten days.
Waiting period before coverage takes effect – Accident coverage starts at midnight. There’s a waiting period of 14 days for illnesses.
Free telehealth services? – None.
Maximum annual payout – You have several options, including an unlimited plan.
Any discounts? – None.
Multi-pet discount – Yes.
How to file claims – You may submit claims using their online portal, email, fax, and even standard mail.

How do I choose the best pet insurance?

You have three choices for pet insurance. They’re divided according to the coverage of their packages. Learn more about them below:

Accident-only – As the name suggests, it helps you cover treatment costs if your pet gets hurt. These are a good choice for older pets that can’t get an illness cover.
Accident and illness – It helps you pay in case your pet gets sick or hurt. Get this for your dog or cat before these emergencies happen.
Comprehensive – If your pets have special needs, these are the best insurance plans for them. This may cover genetic conditions, behavior training, and routine care. Get these by asking your insurer for available options.

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Now, let’s see the common benefits of pet insurance. See which ones you need, and make sure your plan provides them. Here are some of these features:

Vet bills – e.g., vet exam fees, vet visits
Boarding kennel fees – Let’s say you or a family member got hospitalized. The pet insurance company may take care of your dog or cat until you return home.
Multi-pet insurance – If you have several pets, you don’t need to give each one an insurance plan. Instead, you may get one policy for all of them.

Please read all the terms before purchasing a plan, like annual deductibles and reimbursement conditions. Note that most pet insurance plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions.

Final thoughts

Note that you may find lots of other pet insurance plans not on our list. For example, you might want to try Healthy Paws if you want more options.

Sometimes, the best pet insurance isn’t available for your dog. Perhaps they’re beyond your budget. Maybe your pet can’t qualify for one reason or another.

How else can you protect your dog or cat then? Well, you may build a pet emergency fund then. You may set aside money somewhere at home or assign an amount in a savings account.

While you’re at it, perhaps you should build an emergency fund for yourself? If you have debts in the way, learn how to get rid of them here. You may also click this link for more budgeting tips.

Learn more about pet insurance

What is the best pet insurance?

Nationwide is our pick for the best pet insurance plans. It provides various features for a wide range of pets, not just dogs or cats. However, you should choose the one that suits your preferences and budget. Visit the other recommended websites to see if their services fit you and your furry friend.

What is the most cost-effective pet insurance?

This will depend on various factors, such as your pet’s breed, health conditions, and age. You’ll see that insurance companies charge these characteristics differently. Also, you must compare your options to find the best one for your and your furry companion. Check out the recommendations above.

Do vets recommend pet insurance?

Veterinarians recommend pet insurance because it helps owners care for their pets in an emergency. Moreover, it’s easy to get one for your pet. Ask your vet for their trusted pet insurance companies and check the available options. Start by checking the ones discussed above.