I had three dogs I loved, and I never had pet insurance for any of them. Max ate a chicken bone out of the trash: $4,800 and four nights at the vet. Rocco, my friend’s dog, swallowed a stone: surgery, part of his intestine out with it, about $12,000 all in. Velvet broke her front leg in her own backyard on the rocks, about $8,400. Nothing but lint left coming out of my pocket every time.
So this page is the thing I wish I’d had. Ten pet insurance companies, and for each one an honest page that tells you what they’re known for, what’s good about them, and what’s not. You read the one you’re curious about, click through, and get your quote in a new tab. This store stays right here in its own tab, so you can always come back and keep shopping.
Before you read a single company pitch, read the real bills. Max ate a chicken bone out of the trash, $4,800. Rocco swallowed a stone, $12,000 with the checkups. Velvet broke her front leg in her own backyard, $8,400. All three dogs lived to tell it. We paid all three bills out of pocket, because we never had insurance. That is why this page exists.
The ten companies
Lemonade
the low-premium, app-first one. Claims run fast because software does the first pass.
- Usually the lowest starting premiums of the group
- Claims decided fast, often within minutes
- Everything in the app, built for a phone
Healthy Paws
the simple one. One plan, no payout caps, claims usually paid in about two days.
- No per-incident, annual, or lifetime payout caps
- Claims often paid in about two days
- One plan, so no choosing between confusing tiers
Trupanion
the deep-coverage one. 90% back, can pay the vet directly at checkout, deductible per condition for life.
- 90% reimbursement, no payout caps
- Per-condition lifetime deductible, great for chronic conditions
- Can pay the vet directly at checkout
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
the one that covers exam fees, which almost every vet visit has.
- Exam fees covered
- Curable pre-existing conditions can reset after 180 days
- Covers more animal types, including horses
Spot
the broad one. Covers prescription food and behavior help, has a 24/7 vet helpline.
- Covers prescription food and behavioral modification
- 24/7 vet helpline included
- Most curable pre-existing conditions covered after 180 days symptom-free
Figo
the flexible one. You fine-tune the plan, and there is no upper age limit to enroll.
- Customizable deductibles and reimbursement
- No upper age limit to enroll
- Orthopedic wait can be waived with an early exam
Pets Best
the one reviewers keep picking. Paid the vet directly, 24/7 vet telehealth, optional wellness plan.
- Top pick for dogs and cats from major 2026 reviewers
- Can pay the vet directly
- 24/7 vet telehealth line
Fetch by The Dodo
the old Petplan. Built for pets fresh out of a shelter, waiting periods waived.
- One of the oldest pet insurers in North America
- Waiting periods waived for newly adopted pets through adoption support
- Unlimited annual coverage options
Embrace
the one with routine care in the plan and a vet on video 24/7.
- Wellness Rewards reimburses routine care
- 24/7 vet helpline with video chat
- Curable pre-existing conditions covered after 12 months symptom-free
Nationwide
the giant. The largest pet insurer in the country, and the one that covers birds and exotics.
- The largest pet insurer in the country
- Covers birds, reptiles and exotic pets, not just dogs and cats
- Whole Pet plan includes wellness coverage in the base plan