See the best providers side by side — real coverage, average costs by state, and what's actually included. No sign-up, no sales pitch.
We rate every provider on coverage, claims experience, value and transparency, never on whether a provider pays us. Some insurer links on our site, including Get Quote buttons in comparison tables, may pay us a fixed referral fee when you request a quote, at no extra cost to you. Here's how six of the insurers we review compare, listed by score.
| Provider | Our score | Best for | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embrace Best value | 4.3 | Dental & chronic conditions | Get quoteRead review |
| Spot | 4.3 | Customizable limits | Get quoteRead review |
| Lemonade | 4.2 | Fast claims & low prices | Get quoteRead review |
| Fetch | 4.0 | Exam fees & sick visits | Get quoteRead review |
| Pumpkin | 4.0 | Cats & kittens | Get quoteRead review |
| Healthy Paws | 3.7 | Unlimited annual payouts | Get quoteRead review |
Scores are ComparePetCover editorial ratings (out of 5). We do not collect live quotes: your price depends on breed, age, ZIP code and the plan you choose.
We do the legwork so you can compare like-for-like and pick the right plan with confidence.
Side-by-side coverage, limits, waiting periods and reimbursement — not marketing fluff.
Average costs and top picks for exactly where you live.
Breed-specific guides for the conditions your pet is most likely to face.
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Average premiums and best-value providers vary by state. Start with yours.
Three steps from confused to covered.
Review top providers by coverage, cost, limits and reimbursement rate.
Use the calculator to see a realistic monthly premium for your pet.
Get a quote and enroll while your pet is healthy to avoid pre-existing exclusions.
Each comes with our editorial verdict, and each provider's score is in its review.
Embrace4.3Best for dental illness and pets with chronic conditions.
Spot4.3Best for tailoring limits and reimbursement to your budget.
Healthy Paws3.7Best for big claims — most plans have no annual payout cap.
Lemonade4.2Known for low starting prices and fast app-based claims.
Fetch4.0Best for broad coverage that includes vet exam fees.
Pumpkin4.0Best for cats and kittens, with strong standard coverage.
The breeds with the highest health risks — and where insurance pays off most.
The average dog policy runs $69.67 a month and a cat $36.25, on NAPHIA's latest published industry figures — but three things move that number more than anything else: your pet's age and breed, your deductible type, and how big a bill actually shows up. Here's what that looks like with real numbers. One figure is worth knowing before you compare anything: the average dog premium rose 33.8% between 2021 and 2025, from $625 to $836 a year. We set that against the government veterinary price index, and explain why the two do not compare as neatly as it looks →
Almost every major US provider (Lemonade, Spot, Fetch, Embrace, Pumpkin, Healthy Paws) uses an annual deductible: you pay it once per policy year, then every eligible claim for the rest of that year is reimbursed. A smaller number of providers (Trupanion is the best-known) instead use a per-condition deductible: you pay it once for that specific diagnosis, and, as long as your policy stays active without a lapse, you generally don't pay it again for that same condition in later years. For a one-off accident, the two behave almost identically. For an ongoing condition like allergies, arthritis or diabetes, they don't:
Dog diagnosed with chronic allergies, treated continuously across 3 policy years.
Year 1 deductible: $500Same dog, same allergy diagnosis, same 3 years — policy stays active without a lapse.
Year 1 deductible: $500Neither structure is universally "better" — per-condition deductibles are rarer in the US and can come with other trade-offs, like a deductible that steps up at renewal. The point is: for a pet with a known ongoing condition, the deductible type can matter more than the premium you're quoted. Ask each provider which one their policy uses before you compare price on the reviews page.
Marketing pages love the phrase "up to 90% reimbursement." Here's what that means in dollars, using three of the most common claims US pet owners file — shown at a $500 deductible and two common reimbursement rates.
| Pet | Puppy/kitten (<1yr) | Adult (1–6yrs) | Senior (7+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-breed dog (≤20 lb) | $25 – $40 | $30 – $50 | $45 – $75 |
| Medium-breed dog (21–50 lb) | $30 – $48 | $38 – $60 | $55 – $95 |
| Large-breed dog (51–90 lb) | $38 – $58 | $48 – $75 | $70 – $120 |
| Giant-breed dog (90 lb+) | $45 – $68 | $58 – $90 | $85 – $140+ |
| Cat (any breed) | $12 – $22 | $18 – $32 | $28 – $48 |
Two patterns worth noting: premiums rise fastest for large and giant breeds as they age (bigger dogs get more orthopedic and cardiac claims), and enrolling before age 6–7 locks in a lower starting rate and avoids new age-related exclusions later.
It depends on your pet's health. For a healthy pet with only occasional accidents, an annual deductible is simpler and the US norm. For a pet with a diagnosed ongoing condition, a per-condition deductible can save real money over multiple years — see the $1,500-vs-$500 example above. Ask directly which type any plan uses; it isn't always obvious from the marketing page.
After. The deductible is subtracted from the total bill first, and the reimbursement percentage applies to what's left — not to the full invoice. That's why a "90% reimbursement" plan still leaves you paying more than 10% of the bill once the deductible is factored in.
Yes. Most plans cap total reimbursement per policy year (common limits: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 or unlimited). A single major surgery like the TPLO example above usually stays well under a $10,000 annual limit, but a cancer-treatment course or a bad accident year can approach it — check the annual limit, not just the reimbursement rate, before you enroll.
Claims frequency and severity both rise with age — more orthopedic issues, cancer, dental disease and chronic conditions. Enrolling while your pet is young and healthy locks in a lower starting premium and avoids new exclusions that can appear once a condition has already developed.
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