In business since 2005, Pets Best is one of CNBC Select’s top-ranked pet insurance companies, with competitive rates, a customizable accident and illness plan and no age restriction.
Pet Best also covers routine procedures like spaying, microchipping and teeth cleaning, which can take a real bite out of your budget.
We love that, unlike many competitors, Pet Best has a direct payment option so you don’t have to wait to be reimbursed.
Pets Best Pet Insurance
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Policy highlights
Spot Pet Insurance offers accident-only, accident and illness and wellness plans
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Age limits
Cats and dogs as young as seven weeks old can enroll and there is no upper age limit.
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Coverage limit
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Annual deductible
$50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000
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Reimbursement rate
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Waiting period
The waiting periods are 3 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries.
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Discounts
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Direct vet pay
Pros
- Deductibles as low as $50
- No maximum age limit
- Offers direct-payment option
Cons
- Exam fees not included with basic plan
- Multi-pet discount is lower than other providers
- Only top-tier plan covers alternative therapies
Pets Best pros and cons
Pros
- Affordable premiums: Pets Best rates for both accident and illness and accident-only coverage are below the national average
- Low deductible options: You can select annual deductibles as low as $50.
- Great for senior pets: While many insurers only issue policies for pets under 14, Pets Best doesn’t have an upper age limit.
Cons
- Only two levels of maximum coverage: Customers must choose between a $5,000 cap or unlimited.
- Smaller multi-pet discount: Pets Best only offers a 5% discount for insuring more than one animal.
- Doesn’t cover alternative therapies: While chiropractic treatments and acupuncture are covered, Pets Best does not pay for herbal, holistic or experimental therapies or for food or supplements.
Pets Best pet insurance plans
Pets Best has two medical plans for pets: An accident-only plan and a plan for both accidents and illnesses. Like most pet insurance companies, Pets Best does not cover pre-existing conditions, preventative procedures or experimental therapies. It also doesn’t cover prescription food or supplements.
Accident-only
This budget-minded option only covers expenses related to emergencies, such as broken bones, swallowed objects, snakebites and traumatic dental fractures
Accident-only plans do not cover medical issues, such as parasites, cancer or cruciate ligament injuries.
Accident and illness
Pets Best accident and illness plans have three tiers, Essential, Plus and Elite.
The Essential tier covers everything on the accident-only plan, as well as:
- Emergency care, hospitalization and surgery
- Veterinary exams (for most plans)
- Prescription medication
- Chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and arthritis
- Urinary tract infections
- Hereditary conditions like hip dysplasia and glaucoma
- Diagnostic, including bloodwork, MRIs and CAT scans
- Behavioral conditions
- Dental coverage
- Euthanasia, cremation and burial
This more expansive Plus covers everything on the Essential plan, plus vet exam fees. Pets Best’s top-tier Elite plan covers everything on the Plus plan, as well as acupuncture, chiropractic care and physical rehab.
Wellness
Pets Best’s basic EssentialWellness plan includes:
- Wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Microchipping
- Diagnostic panels
- Preventative medications
The EssentialWellness plan costs between $14 and $21.75 a month with a maximum annual benefit of $305.
The higher-tier BestWellness plan includes everything in the EssentialWellness plan, as well as teeth cleaning and spaying/neutering. The BestWellness plan ranges from $26 to 32.58 per month and has a total annual benefit of $535.
Pets Best coverage
Pets Best pet insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., though coverage and waiting periods may vary.
Coverage limits
Accident-only plans with Pets Best have a $10,000 annual limit. For accident and illness plans, you can choose between an unlimited plan and a policy with a $5,000 cap.
Age limits
Animals must be at least seven weeks old to enroll in a Pets Best policy but there is no upper age limit, making this company a good choice for senior pets.
Reimbursement
All Pets Best accident-only plans have a 90% reimbursement rate. With accident and illness plans, you can choose between 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement.
Deductibles
Your deductible is the amount you’re responsible for before your pet insurance pays out. Pets Best accident-only plans have a flat $250 annual deductible. For accident and illness plans, options range from $50 up to $1,000.
There is no deductible for wellness coverage.
Waiting periods
As with most pet insurance plans, Pets Best accident and illness coverage isn’t available immediately. Waiting periods can vary by state but are typically:
- Accident coverage: 3 days
- Illness coverage: 14 days
- Cruciate ligament conditions: 180 days
- Wellness plans: Policy effective date
Find pet insurance that meets your budget
Pets Best pet insurance pricing
For a sample accident and illness policy quote, CNBC Select selected a 1-year-old domestic shorthair cat and a 1-year-old, 55-pound mixed-breed male dog, both with a $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement and $5,000 annual coverage limit. We were quoted $30.30 per month for the dog and $19.73 a month for the cat.
Here are the average rates for Pets Best policies, compared to the national average.
| Pets Best monthly rate | Average monthly rate | |
| Accident-only | Dog:$9 Cat: $6 |
Dog: $17.01 Cat: $9.68 |
| Accident and illness | Dog: $36-$58 Cat: $22-$34 |
Dog: $56 Cat: $32 |
Source: Pets Best rates from insurer. Average rates based on 2023 data from North American Pet Health Insurance Association
Wellness plans
Pets Best offers two optional wellness plans. Both cover exams, vaccinations and other routine procedures, though the BestWellness option includes spaying/neutering and teeth cleaning.
- EssentialWellness: $14 to $21.75 per month
- BestWellness: $26 to $32.58 per month
Processing fee
Pets Best charges a $2 processing fee per payment if you don’t pay annually. (The fee is waived for residents of Alaska, Maryland and New Hampshire.)
Discounts
Pets Best offers 5% off for those enrolling multiple pets and for active-duty service members and veterans.
Direct payment option
Pet insurance companies typically require policyholders to pay out of pocket and then submit a claim for reimbursement. Pets Best, however, can pay your veterinarian’s office directly for any reimbursement amount. You’ll need to make arrangements ahead of time, get your vet to sign a release form and still pay any deductible or co-pay.
Customer satisfaction
Pets Best has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited by the agency since 2005.
How does Pets Best compare to other pet insurance?
| Pets Best | Spot | Healthy Paws | Lemonade | |
| Availability | 50 states | 50 states | 50 states | 37 states |
| Accident-only | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Accident and illness monthly rate | Dog: $36-$58, Cat: $22-$34 | Dog: $67, Cat: $30 | Dog: $46, Cat: $21 | Dog: $26 Cat : $25 |
| Reimbursement | 70%–90% | 70%–90% | 50%–90% | 70%-90% |
| Annual deductible | $50 to $1,000 | $100 , $250, $500, $750 or $1,000 |
$100 to $500 | $100, $250, or $500 |
| Coverage limit | $5,000 or unlimited | $2,500–unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000 to $100,000 |
| Direct payment | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Older pets | Customizable plans | More deductible options | Affordability |
Source: Rates and terms from insurers and are valid of May 2024
Pets Best vs Spot
Spot Pet Insurance
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Policy highlights
Spot Pet Insurance offers accident-only and accident and illness plans, plus two tiers of wellness add-ons
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Age limits
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Coverage limit
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Annual deductible
$100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
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Reimbursement rate
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Waiting period
14 days for accidents and injuries
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Discounts
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Direct vet pay
Pets Best and Spot are close competitors, so it comes down to your priorities: Both companies have an unlimited coverage option and no upper age limit. And both cover prescriptions, treatments for behavioral issues and alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic care.
Spot does cover prescription food and supplements, which Pets Best doesn’t. And it has a healthier discount for multiple pets: 10% off compared to Pets Best’s 5%.
The rate quote we received from Spot was $67 per month for a dog and $30 for a cat. That’s about $8 more for canines than the quote from Pets Best, but $3 less for felines.
If you’re concerned about when coverage kicks in, Spot’s accident-only plan doesn’t go into effect until 14 days after the policy date. Pets Best’s waiting period is only three days.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
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Policy highlights
Healthy Paws offers accident and illness policies with no annual or lifetime coverage limits
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Age limit
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Coverage limit
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Annual deductible
$100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
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Reimbursement rate
50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%
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Waiting periods
15 days for accidents and illnesses
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Discounts
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Direct vet pay
Unlimited coverage is standard with a Healthy Paws policy: In fact, the company doesn’t set any per-incident, annual or lifetime caps on coverage.
The sample quotes we received from Healthy Paws were lower, as well: $46 per month for a dog and $21 for a cat, or about $13 and $12 less than the Pets Best quote.
Unlike Pets Best, however, Healthy Paws doesn’t offer accident-only or wellness plans. It also doesn’t cover exam fees and won’t issue policies to pets that are over 14 years old. Healthy Paws also requires all pets under 6 years old to undergo a clinical exam.
Pets Best versus Lemonade
Lemonade Pet Insurance
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Policy highlights
Lemonade offers accident and illness and wellness policies in 38 states
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Age limits
At least 8 weeks old with a maximum of 10 to 14 years, depending on breed
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Coverage limit
$5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000 or $100,000
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Annual deductible
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Reimbursement rate
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Waiting period
2 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries
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Discounts
5% multi-pet discount, 5% off for paying annual premium in full and 10% for bundling pet insurance with other Lemonade policies
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Direct vet pay
For our dog, Lemonade offered a quote of about $26 a month, compared to $59 from Pets Bestt. Its rate for a 1-year-old cat, about $25 a month, was also cheaper than the $33 we were cited by Pets Best.
Both companies allow you to customize, though, including adjusting the deductibles and reimbursement amount and adding wellness coverage. Since it offers other forms of insurance, Lemonade can also offer a 10% discount if you bundle your pet policy with renters, homeowners or auto insurance.
Lemonade only sells pet insurance in 37 states though, and doesn’t offer an accident-only policy or unlimited coverage option.
Is Pets Best right for you?
Many owners would consider not having to get reimbursed for vet bills a game changer, especially since Pets Best offers customizable plans at competitive rates.
Since there’s no age limit, it’s also a great option for owners of senior pets.
How do I get Pets Best pet insurance?
You can get a rate quote in about a minute on the Pets Best website and buy your policy online.
To sign up with Pets Best pet insurance, you’ll need to do the following:
- Get a quote online.
- Choose your coverage, deductible and reimbursement limits.
- Review a sample policy.
- Buy a policy online.
- Set up a payment method and frequency.
Customer service is available at 877-738-7237 Monday to Friday, from 6 am to 7 pm MT, and Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm MT. Enrolled Pets Best customers also have access to a 24/7 pet helpline, with advice and answers via phone, live chat and email.
The Pets Best app allows policyholders to submit claims and update their pets’ health records online.
FAQs
How does Pets Best pay out claims?
Pets Best will reimburse for expenses directly to your bank account or by check by mail. With the optional Vet Direct Pay feature, Pets Best sends claims reimbursement directly to the veterinarian, so you only have to pay your deductible, co-insurance amount and any non-covered items.
How long does Pets Best insurance take to kick in?
Pets Best’s waiting periods vary by state. But in most cases, accidents are covered 3 days after your policy date, illnesses 14 days and cruciate ligament conditions after 30 days. Pets Best wellness plans take effect one day after your policy date:
Does Pets Best raise its rates with age?
Like most pet insurance, Pets Best does get more expensive for older animals.
Who is Pets Best underwritten by?
Pets Best Pet insurance is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company and Independence American Insurance Company.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every pet insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of pet insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
