How do reimbursement rates and deductibles work?

You pick a reimbursement level, often 70% to 90%, and an annual deductible. Higher reimbursement and lower deductibles raise your monthly premium, so balance the two against your budget.

Are pre-existing conditions covered?

No insurer covers conditions your pet already has. That's the strongest reason to enroll while your pet is young and healthy, before anything becomes pre-existing.

Is there a waiting period before coverage starts?

Yes. Accidents typically have a short waiting period of a few days, while illnesses and certain conditions can take a couple of weeks. We note each provider's waiting periods so you can plan.

Say yes to the vet without the sticker shock

Best Pet Insurance of 2026

A single emergency vet visit can run into the thousands. Pet insurance turns that into a predictable monthly cost. We compared providers on reimbursement rates, waiting periods, coverage caps and price.

6 insurers comparedLast updated July 2026How we rate

At a glance

Top pet insurance compared

At-a-glance comparison of the top insurer options
#	Provider	Rating	Avg. monthly premium	Best for
1	LLemonade	4.8	$29/mo	Owners who want cheap premiums and fast payouts	Get Quote
2	HHealthy Paws	4.7	$42/mo	Owners who never want to hit an annual cap	See Rates
3	SSpot	4.5	$38/mo	Owners who want to dial in their own plan	Get Quote
4	EEmbrace	4.4	$35/mo	Owners of healthy pets who file few claims	See Rates
5	TTrupanion	4.3	$59/mo	Owners who can't front a big vet bill	Get Quote
6	FFetch by The Dodo	4.2	$46/mo	Owners who want the broadest coverage list	See Rates

Rates and terms shown are illustrative editorial examples — confirm current details on each insurer’s site.

The full list

Our top-rated insurers, ranked

Lemonade

Low premiums, app-fast claims

Editor's Choice

Best for Owners who want cheap premiums and fast payouts

Avg. monthly premium: $29/mo
Reimbursement: 70/80/90%
Annual limit: $5k-$100k
Waiting period: 2 days accidents

Some of the lowest base premiums for young, healthy pets
Straightforward claims can pay out in minutes through the app
Bundle with Lemonade renters, home, or auto for an extra discount
Add wellness and vet-visit-fee riders only if you want them

Pros

Among the cheapest quotes for puppies and kittens
Genuinely fast app-based claims for routine accidents
Clean pricing with a preventive-care add-on that pays for itself

Cons

Not available in every state yet
Six-month wait on cruciate-ligament conditions
Fewer human touchpoints if a claim gets complicated

Healthy Paws

No annual limit, ever

Best for Unlimited Coverage

Best for Owners who never want to hit an annual cap

Avg. monthly premium: $42/mo
Reimbursement: 70/80/90%
Annual limit: Unlimited
Waiting period: 15 days illness

No annual, per-incident, or lifetime payout limits
One clear plan instead of a confusing menu of tiers
Most claims processed within two business days
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions when enrolled early

Pros

Unlimited payouts protect against six-figure chronic care
Simple single-plan structure with no coverage guesswork
Consistently quick reimbursements on submitted claims

Cons

No wellness or preventive-care add-on available
Deductible and reimbursement lock in higher for older pets
Premiums rise noticeably as your pet ages

Spot

Build the plan you actually need

Best for Customization

Best for Owners who want to dial in their own plan

Avg. monthly premium: $38/mo
Reimbursement: 70/80/90%
Annual limit: $2.5k-Unlimited
Waiting period: 14 days illness

Annual limits from $2,500 all the way to unlimited
Optional wellness add-on covers vaccines, dental, and checkups
Covers exam fees for accidents and illnesses
No upper age limit to enroll an older pet

Pros

Highly adjustable limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates
Wellness riders bundle preventive care into one premium
Older pets can still enroll with no maximum age cap

Cons

Curable pre-existing conditions need a 180-day symptom-free window
Lower deductible tiers push the premium up quickly

Embrace

Your deductible drops every claim-free year

Best for Shrinking Deductibles

Best for Owners of healthy pets who file few claims

Avg. monthly premium: $35/mo
Reimbursement: 70/80/90%
Annual limit: $5k-$30k
Waiting period: 14 days illness

Healthy Pet Deductible cuts $50 off for each claim-free year
Wellness Rewards reimburses routine care at 100% up to a set amount
Covers dental illness, not just accidents, when enrolled early
Diminishing deductible can eventually reach zero

Pros

Rewards claim-free years with a shrinking deductible
Flexible Wellness Rewards covers grooming and training too
Strong dental-illness coverage compared with rivals

Cons

Pets over 15 are limited to accident-only coverage
Wellness Rewards is a flat allowance, not true insurance
Annual limits top out lower than some competitors

Trupanion

Pays the vet, not your credit card

Best for Vet-Direct Payment

Best for Owners who can't front a big vet bill

Avg. monthly premium: $59/mo
Reimbursement: 90% flat
Annual limit: Unlimited
Waiting period: 5 days accidents

Vet Direct Pay settles the bill at the clinic in real time
Unlimited lifetime payouts with no annual cap
Flat 90% reimbursement on every eligible claim
Per-condition deductible you only pay once per issue

Pros

Direct-to-vet payment means no waiting for reimbursement
Unlimited coverage with a locked 90% payout rate
Per-condition deductible suits pets with one chronic issue

Cons

Premiums are among the highest in the category
No wellness or preventive-care option at all
Exam fees and taxes are not covered

Fetch by The Dodo

One comprehensive plan, few exclusions

Best for Owners who want the broadest coverage list

Avg. monthly premium: $46/mo
Reimbursement: 70/80/90%
Annual limit: $5k-$15k
Waiting period: 15 days illness

Includes exam fees, dental, and behavioral therapy as standard
Covers up to $1,000 in virtual vet visits per year
Reimburses boarding fees if you're hospitalized
One comprehensive plan with no coverage tiers to decode

Pros

One of the widest standard coverage lists in the category
Sick-visit exam fees and dental are built in, not extra
Includes unusual perks like boarding and virtual care

Cons

Premiums run higher than the entry-level competitors
Six-month waiting period on knee and ligament conditions

How we chose

Independent research, no pay-to-play

Every insurer above earns its place on the merits. We weigh the numbers that decide real outcomes in this category — cost, terms, eligibility, and the quality of the experience once you’re a customer — against verifiable data and hands-on testing. Advertising partners never buy a better ranking, and our editorial scores are set independently of any commission we may earn.

Read our full rating methodology

Good to know

Pet Insurance questions, answered

Most plans reimburse a percentage of accident and illness costs after your deductible. Routine care like vaccines and dental cleanings usually needs an optional wellness add-on.

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Audit the waiting periods and deductible structures that dictate your out of pocket costs instead of just looking at the monthly premium.

Jul 21, 20267 min read

Top pet insurance compared

Our top-rated insurers, ranked

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Independent research, no pay-to-play

Pet Insurance questions, answered

What does pet insurance actually cover?

How do reimbursement rates and deductibles work?

Are pre-existing conditions covered?

Is there a waiting period before coverage starts?

Go deeper on pet insurance

The Essential Checklist for Comparing Pet Insurance Quotes