Pets Best Pet Insurance Review and Cost (2024)

Our Thoughts on Pets Best Insurance

Pets Best is a pet health insurance company that was founded in 2005 by Dr. Jack Stephens, who founded the first veterinary insurance company in North America and, in 1982, issued a policy to animal television star Lassie. Dr. Stephens founded his first company to end economic euthanasia. He created Pets Best to reform the industry and make it work better for modern pet owners.

Pets Best earned 4.8 out of 5 stars in our rating methodology, earning our top pick for vet-direct pay, which pays veterinarians directly for covered services instead of asking the pet owner to pay upfront and receive reimbursement later. The company scored well in most of our review categories, offering fairly priced plans, but it lost points for a relative lack of customization options.

Pets Best offers policies in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and adapts coverage to ensure compliance with each state’s pet insurance laws. We also appreciate the company’s affiliation with CareCredit, a payment option that works alongside pet insurance to help make veterinary care more affordable.

Customers have left mixed reviews about Pets Best on third-party websites such as Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We also noticed that the company’s underwriter recently changed from American Pet Insurance Company to Independent American Insurance Company (IAIC). Based on our review, IAIC has a solid financial rating and underwrites policies for several other insurance providers.

Pros and Cons

How Pets Best Scored in Our Methodology

Using our provider review methodology, which accounts for pricing, customer experience, coverage, plan types, customizations, waiting periods, age limits and reputation, we gave Pets Best 4.8 out of 5 stars. The company’s high score comes from high ratings in most categories except for plan customizations.

Pets Best’s Plans and Pricing

Pets Best offers three accident and illness plans and one accident-only plan, plus optional wellness add-ons. Each plan is clearly explained during the quote process, based on our experience, along with helpful tips on how pet insurance works. Our team generally found the sign-up process straightforward to navigate.

How Much Does Pets Best Insurance Cost?

Pets Best pricing is slightly below average, coming in at $44 per month for accident and illness coverage, or $59 for dogs and $28 for cats. We rated the company so highly in our methodology because of its consistently fair pricing for mixed and purebred pets. The company also offers an accident-only plan for less than $10 per month, which is a potential deal for pet owners on a budget.

The table below breaks down the average monthly costs of each Pets Best plan.

As with some other insurance companies, Pets Best increases rates each year when policies renew. But unlike some top competitors, Pets Best claims it will not increase your rate based on your claims history. 

What Does Pets Best Insurance Cover?

Pets Best coverage varies depending on the plan. The accident-only plan covers diagnostics and treatments for accidental injuries only, while the three BestBenefit plan options provide coverage for most diseases, conditions and illnesses. None of the plans cover pre-existing conditions or health issues that first occurred before enrollment or during the waiting period.

Pets Best lists other exclusions on its website, including:

• Alternative or holistic treatments
• Anal gland expression
• Breeding
• Conditions arising from failure to follow veterinary recommendations
• Cremation
• Experimental therapies
• Medications not listed in the formulary
• Parasite treatments
• Pregnancy complications

Pets Best Plan Offerings

Pets Best offers three accident and illness plans, one accident-only plan and two add-on wellness plans. The table below outlines common conditions and treatments covered under each plan.

Preventative Care Plans

Pet owners who want coverage for preventive care services will have to add a wellness plan to base accident-only or accident and illness coverage. Wellness plans reimburse up to a set amount for each covered service according to the fee schedule below.

Purchasing wellness plans as an add-on will increase your monthly premium. Based on the quotes we gathered, the EssentialWellness plan could add $19 per month and the BestWellness plan could add $29. 

Customizable Coverage Levels

Pets Best offers a variety of deductibles and reimbursement rates but only has two annual limit options for accident and illness plans. The accident-only plan is not customizable, providing a $250 deductible, a 90% reimbursement rate and a $10,000 annual limit. 

Deductible Options

Pets Best offers deductibles ranging from $50 to $1,000, allowing policy flexibility. Choosing a lower deductible can help you pay less out of pocket each year but increase your monthly premium.

Reimbursement Rates

Available reimbursement rates are 70%, 80% and 90%, which is the standard in the industry based on our review. The higher the reimbursement rate, the higher your monthly premium — but the company will pay out a higher percentage of each claim. 

Annual Limit Options

Pets Best plans provide either $5,000 in coverage or unlimited annual limits. Pets Best shoppers may choose to start with the unlimited plan and reduce coverage later if necessary.

Sign-Up, Claims Filing and Payout Processes

You can sign up for a Pets Best plan by visiting the company’s website, where you can learn about veterinary plans, read articles about how pet insurance works and request a free quote. To get a quote, enter basic information about yourself and your pet, including your ZIP code and email address and your pet’s age and breed. 

On the next page, you should see three accident and illness options and one accident-only plan. Easy-to-use drop-down menus let you adjust deductibles, reimbursement rates and annual limits and instantly see how your adjustments change each plan. You can also see explanations of what is and is not covered when you click on “coverage details” just below the listed plans.

Once you’ve chosen a plan, scroll down to see wellness plan choices and costs. You can check the box next to the plan you want to include or choose the “no routine care” option. You can also add another pet policy on this page to see your combined cost and if you qualify for any discounts.

Once enrolled, you can download the Pets Best app to manage your policy or use the website. According to Pets Best and many customer reviews, claims submission is easy. You can snap a photo of your paid invoice and answer a few questions about your pet’s care using the app, upload requested documentation to the website portal, or submit information via email, fax or regular mail.

Although Pets Best says it processes claims quickly, many online reviewers noted delays. You may expedite your claim by frequently checking on the status and uploading additional documentation as soon as it’s requested. You may need to contact your veterinarian to ensure records get sent or else keep copies of records yourself.

Pets Best explains its reimbursement calculation on its website. However, some reviewers felt frustrated with their reimbursement amounts. The company first applies the copayment and then subtracts the deductible, which can result in less money back than expected until you reach your deductible.

Pets Best Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions

Pets Best shows waiting periods on the sign-up page so pet owners can learn about when and how to use their pet’s policy. Although waiting periods can vary in states with strict insurance laws, the standard Pets Best policy lists three days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and six months for cruciate ligament injuries. The insurer will not cover any illness or injury that occurs between enrollment and during the waiting period. The company will consider these ailments as pre-existing conditions and not extend future coverage.  

Although some providers restrict coverage for senior pets, Pets Best plans do not have an upper age limit for enrollment. However, covering senior pets may cost more than with younger pets.

Your pet must be at least seven weeks old to enroll in a Pets Best plan. Most pet insurance companies have minimum enrollment age limits and providers may limit coverage for congenital conditions if symptoms appeared before or at the time of enrollment.

What Customers Think About Pets Best Insurance

As with many pet insurance providers — and insurance providers in general — Pets Best has mixed customer reviews. However, our team found that every four out of five reviews on Trustpilot and Google Reviews were positive. Many pet insurance complaints stem from customers being confused about their policies, which you can potentially mitigate by learning how pet insurance works before purchasing a plan. 

We analyzed several review sites to find major Pets Best praises and complaints below.

What Customers Like

• Honesty and transparency: Customers such as this one found the company paid what it said it would, including issues outlined in the customer’s policy. 
• Easy claims submission: Many reviewers noted claims were easy to submit using the mobile app and processed quickly in some cases.
• Helpful customer service: Users, including this one, appreciated the friendly demeanor and helpful nature of Pets Best’s customer service team.

What Customers Don’t Like

• Slow claims processing: Many customers, including this one, noted claims processing took much longer than expected. 
• Policy changes: Recent underwriting changes resulted in some customers facing a choice of unfair pricing or a new policy that would exclude coverage for conditions now considered pre-existing.
• Hard-to-reach support: A reviewer noted customer service gave them vague answers and has been difficult to reach at times.

Our team reached out to Pets Best for comment on its negative reviews, notably its claims and reimbursement processes, and received the following response:

“Pets Best strives to offer the best pet insurance plans with coverage options that allow customer control over veterinary expenses,” said Melissa Gutierrez, the company’s CEO. “Our well-trained staff is experienced in the veterinary industry, and we’re here to answer any questions about coverage options. We know that pets are part of your family, and we do everything we can to keep every family member’s tail wagging.”

Compare Pets Best to Other Pet Insurance Companies

You can use the comparison table below to see how Pets Best stacks up against other top pet insurance providers.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Pet Insurance Companies