- Pets Best Pet Insurance Summary
- Plans Available
- Costs
- How to Purchase and Manage Your Policy
- Customer Service and Claims Experience
- Compare Pets Best Pet Insurance
- FAQ
- Why You Should Trust Us
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Pets Best offers insurance for dogs and cats with the option for unlimited annual coverage and an available add-on plan for wellness care. Optional vet direct pay is also available, making this company unique from other pet insurance providers.
Business Insider's personal finance team compared Pets Best to the best pet insurance companies and found it to be a standout offering, combining comprehensive coverage with some of the lowest premiums in the industry.
Pets Best Pet Insurance Summary
Pets Best Pet Insurance was founded in 2005 by practicing veterinarian Dr. Jack Stephens. After an encounter with the child of a family who had their beloved pet euthanized when they couldn't afford veterinary treatment, Dr. Stephens moved into the pet insurance industry to reduce euthanasia based solely on economic limits.
The pet insurance provider now offers pet plans for dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Pet parents can also purchase pet wellness plans to take the bite out of regular vet bills over time. The most significant benefits include the company's unlimited coverage and direct veterinarian payment, saving customers from the hassle of filing claims, which can be especially helpful if you struggle to pay for vet visits upfront.
Pets Best isn't nearly as flexible as many of its competitors. It only offers customers a choice of a $5,000 annual limit or unlimited coverage. Ideally, there would be more selections to choose from, as $5,000 doesn't offer much and unlimited coverage is more than most pet owners need.
However, even though customers are ultimately funneled toward the more expensive unlimited coverage, overall premiums are still lower than most pet insurance companies. In fact, we included Pets Best in our guide to the best cheap pet insurance. That said, Pets Best participates in "birthday pricing," in which a pet insurance company raises premiums every year according to your pet's age. While all pet insurance companies adjust premiums annually based on the cost of pet care and inflation, not all companies factor your pet's age into premiums.
Pets Best's biggest drawback is its strict eligibility requirements. Pets that have been diagnosed with, treated for, or shown symptoms of Addison's disease, Cushing's disease, diabetes, cancer, feline leukemia, or feline immunodeficiency virus are ineligible for accident and illness plans. They will only qualify for Pets Best's accident-only plan.
That said, Pets Best has some additional exclusions to note, like behavioral condition coverage and alternative/holistic treatments.
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Pets Best Pros and Cons
Pets Best Pros
- Lower premiums
- Direct vet payments
- Unlimited coverage option
- Option for accident-only plan
- Optional BestWellness plan offers coverage for spay/neutering
- 5% discount for enrolling multiple pets
- 5% military member discount
- No age limits
Pets Best Cons
- Strict eligibility requirements
- Few options for coverage limits
- "Birthday pricing"
Pets Best Pet Insurance Plans
Pets Best Pet Insurance offer an accident-only plan as well as three different accident and illness plans.
Pets Best Accident-Only Plan
Pets Best's accident-only plan offers very simple, cost-effective coverage for treatments related to accidents like broken bones, animal bites, and poisonings. However, it won't cover acupuncture or chiropractic treatments for these accidents.
Pets Best's accident-only plan doesn't offer much in terms of flexibility. It has set coverage levels, offering a $10,000 annual limit, $250 deductible, and 90% reimbursement.
Pets Best Accident and Illness Plan
Pets Best breaks its accident and illness coverage into three plans: Essential, Plus, and Elite.
Essential | Plus | Elite | |
Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Care, Surgeries, & Rx Meds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Accident & Illness Exam Fees | No | Yes | Yes |
Rehabilitative, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage | No | No | Yes |
Its plans have customizable annual limits and several deductible options. For example, you can choose between a yearly coverage limit of $5,000 or unlimited coverage. Deductibles range from $50 up to $1,000. You can also opt for a reimbursement level of 70%, 80%, or 90%.
Additional Coverage Options (Riders)
Pets Best offers an optional wellness coverage rider that can be added to its accident and illness plans with two tiers: a basic "EssentialWellness" plan and a more comprehensive "BestWellness" plan. The come with the following benefits.
| EssentialWellness | BestWellness | |
| Spay/Neuter or Dental Cleaning | $0 | $150 |
| Rabies | $15 | $15 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $50 | $65 |
| Heartworm Prevention | $30 | $30 |
| Vaccination/Titer | $30 | $40 |
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $50 |
| Heartworm test or FELV Screen | $25 | $30 |
| Blood, fecal, parasite exam | $50 | $70 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Urinalysis or ERD | $15 | $25 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
Pets Best Pet Insurance Cost
Pets Best's website says premiums are based on the following factors:
- Your dog or cat's age
- Your dog or cat's breed
- Your location
- Your plan's annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement level
To get a better idea of how much Pets Best pet insurance costs, we'll look at how much a pet owner living in New York City would pay in pet insurance premiums. We chose New York City for our quotes because it is one of the most expensive places to receive vet care, which insurance premiums will reflect. Your premiums will likely be lower than the prices below.
We acquired the following dog insurance quotes for Pets Best's Plus plan with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and unlimited coverage:
| Breed | 2-year-old (monthly) | 6-year-old (monthly) |
| French Bulldog | $71.23 | $115.61 |
| Labrador Retriever | $43.53 | $70.65 |
| Golden Retriever | $42.17 | $68.45 |
| German Shepherd | $42.84 | $69.54 |
| Standard Poodle | $37.14 | $60.28 |
| Mixed Breed (20-55 lbs) | $25.77 | $38.74 |
Accident-only plans for dogs cost $9 monthly, regardless of breed and age.
Let's go over premiums for a New York City cat covered under a Pet's Best Plus plan with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and unlimited coverage:
| Breed | 2-year-old (monthly) | 6-year-old (monthly) |
| Ragdoll | $19.06 | $30.93 |
| Maine Coon | $21.30 | $32.02 |
| Devon Rex | $20.96 | $34.03 |
| Exotic Shorthair | $19.67 | $29.57 |
| Persian | $20.96 | $24.79 |
| Mixed/Unknown | $16.78 | $22.12 |
Accident-only plans for cats cost $6 monthly, regardless of breed and age.
Pets Best's preventive plan was $16 monthly for EssentialWellness, and $26 monthly for its BestWellness. Prices did not change, regardless of the age, breed, or species of the pet.
How to Purchase and Manage a Pets Best Policy
To buy a Pets Best Policy, you'll need to obtain a quote on its website. Be prepared to provide your pet's name, species, breed, age, and sex. You'll also need to provide some information of your own, including your name, ZIP code, email, and optional phone number. You'll also be able to indicate if you're a military member for a 5% discount.
Once you receive your quotes, you'll have several options to customize your policy. First, you can choose between an accident and illness plan or accident-only plan. If you opt for accident and illness, you'll have several additional decisions to make. You can customize your deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement level, and you can choose between the three accident and illness plans: Essential, Plus, and Elite.
You'll also be able to add an optional routine care plan, either BestWellness for $26 monthly or EssentialWellness for $16. Lastly, before you finalize your purchase, you can enroll multiple pets for a 5% discount.
It's worth noting that Pets Best has a three-day waiting period for injuries, 14-day waiting period for illnesses, and six month waiting period for cruciate and ligament conditions. You can inquire about getting a waiver for waiting periods, which will require a health exam from a participating vet before coverage is purchased.
How to File a Claim With Pets Best
One stand-out benefit of Pets Best Pet Insurance is its direct vet pay option, eliminating the middle step of making payment and waiting for reimbursement. Pet parents who choose this option send a signed copy of the company's veterinarian reimbursement release form and a completed claim form. Payment should be made to the vet based on your reimbursement level and deductible. But after you file a pet insurance claim, eligible reimbursement amounts are sent directly to your veterinarian's office.
Your veterinarian has to agree to receive direct payment ahead of time. So this service is only available with some vets. More importantly, many veterinarians will ask you to guarantee your pet's medical bills, even if direct payment is allowed.
Customers always have the option to pay upfront and file for reimbursement. This ensures you can go to the vet of your choosing. Claims filing can be done online, through the Pets Best mobile app, or by fax or email. Remember you must send a completed claim form and a copy of eligible vet bills. Claims must be filed within 180 days of treatment.
- Claims filed by fax can be sent using the following phone number: 1-866-777-1434.
- Claims sent over email can be forwarded to the following address: customercare@petsbest.com.
Pets Best Customer Service and Claims Experience
Pets Best has an average Trustpilot rating of 4 stars out of five. Customers spoke highly of the claims process, particularly the speed of reimbursement and ease of filing. However, customers were far more negative about the claims appeal process, citing a lack of communication and slow processing times. Additionally, some customers felt blindsided by claim denials as a result of pre-existing conditions.
This indicates pet parents should clarify what the company considers a "pre-existing condition" for their pet early. But, more importantly, whatever pet insurance you choose, buying as soon as you bring your new family member home can minimize the range of pre-existing conditions counted against you.
Compare Pets Best Pet Insurance
See how Pets Best compares to three other options for pet insurance coverage: Figo, Healthy Paws, and Nationwide.
Pets Best vs. Figo Pet Insurance
Figo Pet Insurance pet insurance policies offer $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited annual coverage. Deductible options range from $100 to $750, and reimbursement options range from 70% to 100%. However, 100% reimbursement plans max out at $10,000 annual limits.
Figo also offers a wellness care add-on with additional coverage for vet exam fees. One stand-out benefit from Figo is its optional "Extra Care Pack," which includes perks like lost pet advertising award benefits, a vacation cancellation benefit, up to $250 in coverage for final respects, and a pet loss or theft benefit worth up to $150. Figo also offers a "Pet Cloud" mobile app organizing your pet's medical history and care in one place.
Depending on what plan you choose, Figo may be pricier than Pets Best, but not by much. However, it also offers various benefits, including a 100% reimbursement option of up to $10,000 annually that you won't find with Pets Best. Additionally, with more relaxed eligibility requirements, Figo is a great choice if your pet doesn't qualify for Pets Best.
Read our Figo pet insurance review.
Pets Best vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance plans come with no annual or lifetime limits on coverage, and the company says most of its claims are processed within two days. However, the maximum age limit for cats and dogs to be enrolled in Healthy Paws coverage is 14. Pets registered before age 14 will remain covered as long as their owners keep up with premiums, which can get expensive at that age.
Healthy Paws plans have unlimited annual coverage, but you can choose a deductible of $100, $250, or $500 with a reimbursement option of 70%, 80%, or 90%. Interestingly, Healthy Paws does not offer the opportunity to select a wellness plan or coverage for routine care. Its website explains this, stating pet parents can plan and budget for wellness-related costs, and pet insurance is meant to help parents prepare for the unexpected.
Healthy Paws rates are higher than Pets Best. However, the company is also one of the most reputable pet insurance companies we've seen, with more positive customer reviews than others. Healthy Paws is also known for making regular donations to pet rescues and shelters.
Read our Healthy Paws pet insurance review.
Pets Best vs. Trupanion Pet Insurance
Trupanion offers one comprehensive plan with unlimited coverage and 90% reimbursements. It is a close competitor with Pets Best mainly because both services offer direct payments to vets. However, Pets Best outshines Trupanion in quite a few categories.
First, Pets Best offers more flexibility, with an accident-only plan, optional add-ons for wellness, and more options for reimbursements, deductibles, and annual limits. However, Trupanion's deductibles are per condition over the policy's lifetime. So, if you fulfill your deductible for one condition, you'll never have to pay to treat that condition again, which is helpful for chronic conditions like cancer. On the other hand, if your pet keeps catching different illnesses, those deductible costs will add up.
Pets Best is also the cheaper service by far, in some instances costing 80% less than Trupanion for similar coverage. Additionally, it doesn't lock you into unlimited coverage and 90% reimbursement, unlike Trupanion, so you can opt for cheaper coverage. However, it's worth noting that Trupanion doesn't participate in birthday pricing.
Trupanion also has an interesting add-on called "Pet Owner Assistance," which offers liability coverage for third-party property damage, boarding fees if you're hospitalized, cremations/burials for accident-related deaths, and advertising and reward coverage for lost pets.
Ultimately, Trupanion can be good for pet owners who are concerned about chronic conditions and have the money to pay for Trupanion's high premiums. However, for most pet owners, Pets Best will be the more sensible choice.
Read our Trupanion pet insurance review.
Pets Best FAQ
Does Pets Best pay your vet directly? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Pets Best offers an optional direct vet pay option, with the insurer paying your vet directly. However, your veterinarian has to agree to it to qualify. If you're concerned about paying upfront, we recommend verifying participation with your vet or Pets Best's customer service team.
Does Pets Best offer unlimited coverage? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Pets Best plans offer unlimited annual coverage pet insurance plans with up to 90% reimbursement.
Does Pets Best offer a multi-pet discount? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Yes, Pets Best offers a 5% discount for enrolling multiple pets.
Does Pets Best have waiting periods? Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Pets Best has a three-day waiting period for injuries, a 14-day waiting period for illnesses, and a six-month waiting period for cruciate and ligament conditions. You can inquire about getting a waiver for waiting periods, but waivers require a health exam from a participating vet before purchasing coverage.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Pets Best
We analyzed dozens of pet insurance providers offering policies in the United States. We compared competitors based on flexibility in its coverage levels, covered treatments and conditions, and price. Companies allowing pet owners to tailor coverage to their needs were ranked higher.
We also looked at Pets Best insurance reviews on sites like Trustpilot to see what customers think and factor in unique experiences.
See the full methodology for how Business Insider rates pet insurance.
Holly Johnson Freelance Writer Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar and writing for publications such as Bankrate, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Travel Pulse, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love." Read more Read less 
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