What is the Best Pet Insurance Company? If you're a pet owner, chances are you've thought about how to care for your furry friend in the event of an emergency. Veterinary bills can add up quickly, especially if your pet needs surgery or treatment for a chronic illness. Pet insurance can help cover these unexpected costs, making it easier to provide the best care for your pet without breaking the bank.
Good
In business since 1995, Pet Assure markets itself as a "pet insurance alternative". They offer a veterinary discount plan rather than a traditional insurance plan with premiums and deductibles - which may appeal to those disillusioned with conventional insurance companies. Pet Assure's discount plan works with a network of over 5,600 participating veterinarians across the United States and Puerto Rico. All types of pets - whether furry, feathered, or scaled - are eligible. They also offer a secondary wellness plan.
Four discount plans ranging from $9.95 to $21.95 a month
When you visit Pet Assure, click "check my pricing" and enter your email and zip code. For our Illinois zip code, they had four Veterinary Discount plans:
You can choose between monthly or annual billing. Our monthly billing ranged from $9.95 to $21.95, while annual billing ranged from $79 to $199. (For a single dog, it was $11.95 a month.) Opting for annual billing saves you a few dollars per month.
Only 25% off services, but no exclusions
Pet Assure is the only pet healthcare service in our review that covers pre-existing conditions. Their discount plan also covers hereditary conditions, wellness visits, sick visits, dental issues, emergency care, spays and neuters, and much more. It's a relief to click the "What's not covered?" link and see the phrase, "Every in-house medical service is covered, even pre-existing conditions." They don't have exclusions based on age, type of pet, or breed. So, what's the catch? You'll only get 25% off any of the covered services, where other pet insurance companies offer 70%-100% coverage after you've met your deductible. And if your vet offers any other discounts, they can't be combined with Pet Assure.
May only be available through employee benefits
While we were checking out Pet Assure's other offerings, we noticed something odd: when visiting the link with "/home" as the web address path, we landed on what appeared to be an older version of the website advertising their veterinary discount plan as open to all pet owners. We were able to go through all the steps of selecting a plan and going to checkout. However, visiting Pet Assure's website without "/home" in the web address takes you to a newer version of the webpage that states you can only enroll in the veterinary discount plan through your employer's benefits program. Does that mean that if you bought a plan through the "/home" link, you wouldn't actually be allowed to use it? We're not sure.
Wellness plan available via new webpages
On the older version of Pet Assure's website, all links (such as "About" and "FAQ") direct you to outdated pages. The newer wellness plan, Mint Wellness, which is open to anyone, isn't mentioned there - you'll only find information about it on the updated version of their website (sans "/home").
Wellness plans include 25% discount plan
Pet Assure offers three wellness plans - and each appears to include the Veterinary Discount Plan after all. Here's what to expect in terms of pricing and coverage:
No claims process, no wait for reimbursement on discount plan
Pet Assure's discount program is one of the only pet healthcare options in our review that doesn't require you to submit a claim for its primary service. Why? Because it's taken care of at checkout at the vet. Just show a participating veterinarian your Pet Assure ID card, and a discount will be automatically applied to your bill. However, if you're using the Mint Wellness plan coverage for something like a vaccine, you will need to submit a claim. Processing and reimbursement takes 5 days.
Customers are happy
Pet Assure has a "great" 4-star average rating on Trustpilot, but fewer than 100 reviews, and none more recent than 2 years old at the time of this evaluation. However, people are "very, very happy with Pet Assure," to quote one longtime customer. Customer service agents are helpful and kind, and getting the promised 25% discount is as simple as advertised. The company also holds an "A+" from the Better Business Bureau.
Recommended for pets with pre-existing conditions
Although Pet Assure could benefit from streamlining their advertising about their offerings (is the discount plan available a-la-carte, or do you have to purchase the Wellness Plan?), we find few other faults with this alternative to traditional pet insurance. No claims, no waiting periods, and no exclusions make for a pretty good deal for the price. If you have an older pet with pre-existing conditions, Pet Assure could be a great way to give your savings account some buffer.
Continued from above...
If you're a pet owner, chances are you've thought about how to care for your furry friend in the event of an emergency. Veterinary bills can add up quickly, especially if your pet needs surgery or treatment for a chronic illness. Pet insurance can help cover these unexpected costs, making it easier to provide the best care for your pet without breaking the bank.
From puppies prone to accidents to older cats with ongoing health needs, pet insurance can be a valuable tool to help you manage costs while giving your pet the treatment they deserve.Pet insurance comes in a few different types, which vary based on the coverage they offer. For instance, some plans only cover accidents, such as a broken leg from a fall, while others offer more comprehensive coverage that includes illnesses, wellness checkups, and vaccinations.
Basic accident-only plans tend to be more affordable, but they won't help if your pet develops a long-term health condition. Comprehensive plans may include preventive care as well, though they often come with higher monthly premiums. Other policies cover hereditary or congenital conditions, which can be particularly important if your pet is a breed known for specific health issues.
The cost of pet insurance depends on factors like your pet's age, breed, and health history, as well as the type of coverage you choose. Monthly premiums can range from under $10 to over $100, so understanding the differences among plans can save you money in the long run. Additionally, different insurance companies have various reimbursement models and payout limits. Some plans reimburse a percentage of each vet bill, while others have annual limits, meaning you'll want to consider how much you're likely to spend on your pet's healthcare each year.
It's important to choose the right pet insurance plan the first time. If you decide to switch to another provider later, any health issues your pet has developed in the meantime will be considered pre-existing conditions by the new provider and not covered. You should also be aware that "upgrading" to a better policy from the same provider can technically be considered canceling your old policy, meaning the conditions your pet is currently covered for may become considered pre-existing.
Here are some key factors to keep in mind when shopping for pet insurance:
Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best pet insurance companies available. We hope this review helps you find the best service for your pet, so you can feel confident they're covered, no matter what life brings.
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How Pet Insurance Can Save You Money
If you asked every pet lover you encountered in a day how they feel about their pets, they'd likely tell you they view them as family members, not pets. As such, most pet owners want their furry family members to live long and healthy lives.
One of the best ways to make sure that happens is by investing in a pet insurance policy.
Like their human counterparts, animals can get sick or be involved in accidents which can cause severe injury. They also need routine preventative healthcare in order to stay healthy - all of which can cost a pretty penny. Pet insurance plans are designed to help shoulder the burden of these costs, helping pet owners to have the choice in caring for their pet, versus euthanasia due to insufficient funding to pay for necessary medical procedures.
Currently, only one percent of the U.S. pet population - just under 3 million animals - is insured. However, industry trends indicate that pet health insurance policies are growing in popularity in the U.S., with an anticipated increase of up to 10 percent within the next five years.
The first official pet healthcare policy was sold in Britain in 1947. Britain trails only Sweden in the number of pet owners who provide insurance for their pets. Dogs are the most-insured pet, followed by cats and small exotic animals. While it is sold under the name "healthcare insurance," pet health insurance is actually under the insurance umbrella for property. According to insurance laws, pets are seen as property, so the insurance policy which covers them is similar to that for any other property owned by an individual.
Most pet owners understand that cost for care, as well as the likelihood that the pet will suffer from certain diseases and conditions, significantly increases as the pet ages. However, not many pet owners have stopped to ask themselves what they would do if their pet suffered a serious or unexpected injury. Average cost for mending a broken leg, for instance, can run between $2,000 and $5,000 without insurance coverage. Dogs, which are known for eating and swallowing items which can be harmful, may need emergency surgery to remove the item and repair any internal damage that may have been caused. That kind of procedure can cost up to $3,000. Many pet owners cannot afford such high up-front costs and most veterinarians require payment in full at the time of the procedure. That leaves many pet owners struggling with what to do for their pet when they can't afford the procedure that could help them.
Other conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, are on the rise in the pet population. One out of every 400 dogs and cats will be diagnosed with diabetes at some point in their lives. With the advent of medical procedures and interventions not previously available to our pets, many are living longer, which increases their chances of developing age-related conditions and injuries. Take for instance, a pet which develops diabetes. That animal would require insulin injections, much as its human counterpart diagnosed with the same condition would need. Monthly costs between insulin and the syringes needed to administer it can cost a couple hundred dollars. Then there is the glucose monitoring system required to keep track of your pet's insulin levels. Animal-specific monitors such as AlphaTrak can cost $200 by the time you purchase the monitor, the lancets and the testing strips.
Most pet policies cover these issues and many more, making them a good investment for pet owners. With a variety of plans from which to choose, pet owners can find one that is not only affordable to them, but which also covers their pet's annual medical needs.
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