9 Best Pet Insurance of 2026

Lemonade Pet is the easiest plan here to buy and claim on. Sign-up and claims run through the Lemonade app, and the company says it pays 50% of eligible claims instantly. Its cost guide states that a policy for a dog or a cat starts at $10 a month, the lowest published entry price for accident and illness cover on this list. You set the annual limit anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000, choose a deductible of $100, $250, $500 or $750, and pick 70%, 80% or 90% co-insurance. The base policy covers diagnostics, surgery, hospitalization and medication for new accidents and illnesses, including hereditary and chronic conditions. Preventive packages add wellness exams, vaccines, dental cleaning and parasite medication, with no waiting period on those benefits. Waiting periods are 14 days for illness and 30 days for orthopedic problems, and pre-existing conditions are excluded. Coverage is sold in 43 states plus Washington, D.C. We compared documented features and published prices.

MetLife Pet gives you more dials to turn than any other insurer we checked. Its homepage states that plans start at $7 a month for cats and $16 a month for dogs. Reimbursement can be set at 50%, 70%, 80% or 90%, deductibles run from $0 to $2,500, and annual limits go from $500 to $25,000 or unlimited. A family plan puts up to three pets on one policy with a shared deductible, which can save owners of several cats or dogs from juggling separate policies. The deductible also drops by $50 for each policy year without a claim reimbursement. Accident cover begins at midnight after you enroll and illness cover after 14 days. MetLife says there are no upper age restrictions and no per-incident limits, and claims are typically processed within 5 days. An optional Preventive Care plan covers routine costs such as vaccines and teeth cleaning. Policies are issued by Metropolitan General Insurance Company.

Embrace has the broadest documented cover on this list. Its accident and illness plans include chronic and hereditary conditions, cancer, dental illness up to $1,000 a year, behavior therapy, and complementary treatments such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy. It can also cover pre-existing conditions it considers curable, which most insurers exclude outright. You pick an annual deductible from $100 to $1,000 and reimbursement of 70%, 80% or 90%. Exam fees and prescriptions are add-ons rather than built in, and a separate Wellness Rewards plan handles routine care. Embrace does not publish a starting price, but its cost page says most dog owners pay $20 to $70 a month and most cat owners $10 to $30. Pets can join from six weeks; dogs up to 14 can get accident and illness cover and older dogs accident-only. Embrace says more than 90% of claims are paid in under 10 days. There is a 10% multi-pet discount and a 5% military discount.

Pets Best is the cheapest way onto this list. Its cost page lists fixed-rate accident-only plans at $6 a month for cats and $9 a month for dogs ($7 and $10 in Washington state). Those plans pay for broken bones, swallowed objects, poisoning and other injuries, but not illness. For full cover, Pets Best publishes typical accident and illness prices of $36 to $58 a month for dogs and $22 to $34 for cats, based on its own sales data, and you choose the deductible, a reimbursement rate of up to 90% and the annual limit. Direct Vet Pay is available on every plan, so Pets Best can pay your vet directly instead of reimbursing you. All customers get a 24/7 pet helpline, and claims can be filed through the app. Optional wellness add-ons cover exams, vaccines, dental cleaning and spay or neuter. Pets Best says it has more than 1 million pets enrolled. Pre-existing conditions are excluded.

Pumpkin builds the extras into its base plan instead of selling them as add-ons. Every Pumpkin plan covers in-clinic and virtual exam fees for accident and illness visits, dental illness, behavioral problems, hereditary conditions, parasite infections, physical therapy and prescription food for covered conditions. You choose 80% or 90% reimbursement, and the 90% rate is open to all pets from 8 weeks, seniors included. Annual limits range from $5,000 to unlimited. Pumpkin says it has no breed or upper age restrictions and does not reduce cover as a pet ages. Its waiting period is 14 days or less for all conditions, including knee injuries and hip dysplasia, where many insurers wait longer. Curable conditions that have been symptom and treatment free for 180 days can be covered again, except knee and hind leg ligament conditions. Pumpkin does not publish a starting price; you need a quote. A 10% discount applies to each additional pet.

Spot publishes clear entry prices: cat insurance from $9 a month and dog insurance from $15 a month. The small print explains that the dog figure assumes 80% reimbursement, a $500 deductible and a $2,500 annual limit for a 2-year-old small mixed breed, so higher limits will cost more. You can choose an accident and illness plan or a cheaper accident-only plan, and reimbursement goes up to 90% at any licensed vet in the US or Canada. Accident and illness plans cover dental illness, hereditary and chronic conditions, behavioral treatment, prescription food for covered conditions and microchipping. A wellness add-on handles exams, vaccines, spay and neuter, and dental cleaning. Spot says claims are reimbursed in 48 hours or less, and it lists no upper age limit, no lifetime caps and no vet exam for enrollment. There is a 10% multi-pet discount and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Plans are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company or United States Fire Insurance Company.

Figo keeps plan choice simple and pushes reimbursement further than anyone else on this list. There are three tiers: Essential reimburses up to $5,000 of eligible vet costs a year, Preferred up to $10,000 and Ultimate an unlimited amount. Depending on the plan, deductible and reimbursement options, Figo says up to 100% of covered vet bills can be paid back, with no copay. Cover works at any licensed vet worldwide, which suits owners who travel with their pets. Figo may cover curable pre-existing conditions once there are no signs or symptoms for 12 months after treatment. Plans have no upper age limit and pets can join from 8 weeks. Every policy includes free 24/7 access to a licensed veterinary professional, and a preventive care add-on pays for exams and routine care. Figo does not publish prices, so you need a quote. Policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company.

Kanguro is a smaller insurer that sells both pet and renters cover, and its homepage gives a pet insurance starting price of $15 a month. The plan reimburses up to 90% at any licensed vet, offers an unlimited annual limit and has no breed restrictions. Direct vet payment is available, which means you may not have to cover the full bill upfront, and 24/7 telemedicine is included. Claims are filed in the Kanguro app, and the company says approved claims are resolved and paid in as little as 3 days. Members also get pet care discounts. The main limit is reach: Kanguro sells pet insurance in 26 states plus Washington, D.C., including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Ohio, but not California or New York. Its homepage gives fewer details on deductibles and waiting periods than the larger insurers here, so read the sample policy before buying. We compared documented features and published prices.

Prudent Pet offers three plans that are easy to tell apart. Accident Only covers injuries with a $10,000 annual benefit, Essential adds illness at the same $10,000 limit, and Ultimate covers accidents and illness with an unlimited annual benefit. Every policy includes unlimited 24/7 vet chat, which is useful for late-night questions about whether a symptom needs an emergency visit. Accident and illness plans cover hereditary and congenital conditions. Exam and consultation fees for an eligible accident or illness are an optional add-on, as is wellness cover for vaccines and annual checkups. Prudent Pet says 75% of claims are processed within 24 hours using AI, and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It does not publish prices on its plan pages, so you need a quote to compare it with Lemonade or Spot. The $10,000 cap on two of the three plans may be low for cancer or major surgery.