Dr Jack L. Stephens founded Pets Best in 2005, although he has been involved in pet insurance since the early 1980s — in fact, he is considered by many to have been the founding father of the industry in the USA and his first policy went to one of the nation’s most famous canines, Lassie.
Today, more than half a million cats and dogs in the USA are covered by Pets Best insurance. There are three accident-and-illness policies available — Essential, Plus and Elite — as well as an accident-only plan and two wellness plans. Pet parents can customize the reimbursement percentage, deductible amount and annual limit to reach a premium amount they’re happy to pay.
There are numerous perks to Pets Best pet insurance. Discounts are available, including multi-pet, and Pets Best will often pay vets directly for treatment with prior arrangement. If you opt for the Plus or Elite policies, exam fees are included in the coverage, too.
Pet insurance made easy!
Compare the top pet insurance brands of 2024
Price Promise. The lowest price-guaranteed!
What does Pets Best pet insurance cover?
This depends on the level of Pets Best coverage chosen. The accident-only policy is the most limited option and only covers veterinary costs that arise from accidents, such as: broken bones, foreign object ingestion, lacerations, poisoning, traffic collisions and traumatic dental fractures
If pet parents would like more expansive coverage, there are three accident-and-illness policies available (Essential, Plus and Elite). All of these will reimburse pet parents for veterinary costs linked to accidents, as well as illnesses, including:
-
Chronic health conditions
Veterinary costs linked to long-term conditions such as arthritis and diabetes will be covered up to the policy’s annual limit. -
Emergency care, hospitalization and surgery
Accident-and-illness policies cover the costs of vital medical intervention, from initial hospital care to surgical procedures. -
Diagnostics
Including exams, bloodwork, MRIs, CAT scans, pathology reports and X-rays. -
Cancer
Veterinary costs linked to cancer treatment (including blood work, MRIs, surgery, medication, and chemotherapy) are included. -
Hereditary and congenital conditions
Such as hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, glaucoma and epilepsy. -
Prosthetic devices and wheelchairs
Plans will cover the costs of vet-recommended items to help maintain a pet’s quality of life. -
Prescription medications
A long list of prescription medications is covered, including antibiotics, anesthetics and behavioral treatment. -
Behavioral conditions
When prescribed by a licensed veterinarian, the costs of behavioral consultations are included in Pets Best coverage. -
Dental coverage
In addition to traumatic dental fractures, Pets Best accident-and-illness plans cover the costs of periodontal disease and other dental issues. -
Euthanasia
When recommended by a vet, the costs of euthanasia are covered by all Pets Best accident-and-illness policies.
Additional pet insurance cover from Pets Best
-
Vet exam fees
The Plus and Elite levels of Pets Best accident-and-illness coverage will reimburse parents for the cost of vet exam fees. Vet exam fees aren’t covered in Essential plans. -
Acupuncture, chiropractic care and physical rehab
Only the Elite tier of Pets Best accident-and-illness coverage will reimburse pet parents for alternative therapies, which includes treatment such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, cold laser and physical therapy. -
Routine care
Pet parents must buy an additional plan to cover routine veterinary treatment, including neutering, deworming and vaccinations. Those plans are EssentialWellness ($305 annual cover) and BestWellness ($535 annual cover).
Does Pets Best cover curable pre-existing conditions?
Like the vast majority of pet insurance companies, Pets Best will not reimburse claims for pre-existing conditions. These are defined as injuries or illnesses that began before a pet insurance policy began or during a waiting period.
For example, an uninsured dog is diagnosed with diabetes. At a later point in time, a pet parent gets them covered under a Pets Best insurance policy — veterinary costs linked to diabetes would not be eligible for reimbursement.
This also applies to symptoms recorded by a vet prior to a diagnosis being made. Say an uninsured cat is taken to the vet due to weight loss. The cat’s parent takes out a Pets Best pet insurance policy — following this, any medical condition with weight loss as a symptom (such as hyperthyroidism) would be defined as a pre-existing condition and ineligible for reimbursements.
Curable
Pets Best distinguishes between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions. Any medical condition that can be successfully treated with no further treatment required is deemed curable — common examples include broken bones, upper respiratory infections and lacerations. If they were to recur in the future, it would be covered under Pets Best insurance.Incurable
A non-curable pre-existing condition is a medical ailment that cannot be successfully cured, but only managed over a pet’s lifetime — common examples include cancer, heart disease and allergies. Pets diagnosed with an incurable pre-existing condition would still be eligible for Pets Best insurance, but pet parents would not be reimbursed for veterinary costs linked to the pre-existing condition.Does Pets Best cover cancer?
As with humans, cancer treatment for pets is very expensive — and not uncommon either, with an estimated six million dogs and a similar number of cats diagnosed with the condition each year.
Thankfully, all three Pets Best accident-and-illness policies cover the costs of cancer treatment, from diagnoses and blood work to chemotherapy and prescription medication.
Pet parents should note that they are only covered for costs up to their annual limit and any costs that surpass the annual limit would be ineligible for reimbursement. This is not applicable if an unlimited annual limit is chosen at the outset.
Pet insurance made easy!
Compare the top pet insurance brands of 2024
Price Promise. The lowest price-guaranteed!
What about hereditary and genetic breed-specific conditions?
Some breeds of cats and dogs are predisposed to developing certain health conditions. For example, Rough and Smooth Collies are more likely to be diagnosed with Collie Eye Anomaly during their lifetime than other dog breeds. Persian cats are more prone to dental issues and brachycephalic airway syndrome due to their compressed facial anatomy.
Providing the hereditary or genetic condition doesn’t fall under the definition of a pre-existing condition, it will be eligible for reimbursements under a Pets Best accident-and-illness policy.
Do Pets Best plans include alternative therapies?
Often known as complementary therapies, alternative therapies are non-invasive procedures that can be used alongside conventional veterinary medicine — common examples include hydrotherapy, acupuncture and chiropathy.
Pet parents with a Pets Best accident-only plan or the Essential and Plus accident-and-illness policies will not be able to make claims for alternative therapies.
However, those with the Elite accident-and-illness plan can get reimbursements for chiropractic care, acupuncture, cold laser therapy, physical therapy and hydrotherapy — these are the only alternative therapies that are eligible and other procedures aren’t included within Pets Best coverage.
Is there 24/7 pet telehealth?
Yes, Pets Best policyholders benefit from a 24/7 emergency helpline. This is staffed by veterinary experts who can offer advice on urgent care by phone, live chat and email. This service is available to all Pets Best customers and there are no usage limits.
Do Pets Best plans cover vet exam fees?
Vet exam fees are the amount that vets charge just for an appointment. This varies between veterinary clinics and US states but can be anywhere from $55 upwards. 1
This doesn’t include the price of diagnostic testing, medical procedures or prescription medication.
Many pet insurance policies don’t include vet exam fees and parents have to cover these costs themselves. With Pets Best, vet exam fees aren’t included within the coverage of the accident-only plan or the Essential accident-and-illness policy.
However, those holding a Plus or Elite accident-and-illness policy can receive reimbursements for vet exam fees when a pet is seen by a licensed veterinarian for covered accidents and illnesses.
Pets Best coverage levels
With Pets Best, parents are able to customize various aspects of their policy. Doing so will have an effect on the premium (the amount that parents pay each month or year for coverage).
For example, there are various options when it comes to the deductible (the amount that parents have to pay before a pet insurer will offer reimbursements). These are:
There are two choices for the annual limit (the yearly total that parents can receive in reimbursements). These are:
And finally, parents have three choices for the reimbursement percentage (the proportion of a claim that a pet insurer will reimburse). These are:
Pets Best waiting periods
Waiting periods are a common feature in the pet insurance industry. When a parent starts a policy, they’re often not allowed to make claims for a short period afterwards — this is to prevent people from enrolling a pet that’s already sick onto a new policy and immediately making claims.
In the majority of US states, Pets Best operate the following waiting periods with its plans:
- 3 days for accidents
- 14 days for illnesses
- Six months for cruciate ligament issues
However, if parents live in Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire or Washington, the following waiting periods apply:
- No waiting period for accidents
- 14 days for illnesses
- 30 days for cruciate ligament issues
There are no waiting periods for routine care if parents take out one of Pets Best’s wellness plans.
What doesn’t Pets Best cover?
As with other pet insurance providers, Pets Best has a list of exclusions for its coverage. Pre-existing conditions are one of them, but parents cannot make claims for the following:
- Elective and preventive procedures — Examples include tail docking, ear cropping, nail trimming, feline declawing, dewclaw removal and anal gland expression/removal.
- Parasites — The testing, treatment and prevention of parasites (such as fleas, ticks or tapeworms) are not included within Pets Best coverage, but it’s possible to receive limited reimbursements with one of the wellness plans.
- Non-veterinary expenses — This includes costs related to food, special diets, vitamins, supplements, bathing, grooming, taxes, administration fees, waste disposal fees, and any services not performed under the supervision of a licensed vet.
- Herbal, holistic and experimental therapies and medications — The only alternative therapies for which Pets Best offers reimbursements are chiropractic care, acupuncture, cold laser therapy, physical therapy and hydrotherapy.
Reviews about Pets Best 2
‘Fast, No-Hassle Claim Processing and Payment’
‘My one-year-old cat fell and broke his ankle a few weeks ago, requiring a fusion surgery. It was (and still is) an incredibly stressful time for us, having to provide round-the-clock care and see him hurting. Pets Best promptly (within a WEEK of his surgery) processed and paid the claim—no issues. What an immense relief. This is my second pet who has been covered by Pets Best. I would recommend them to anyone.’
Danielle
‘Our Chihuahua needed emergency care’
‘Our Chihuahua (needed) emergency care over the weekend while we were traveling and we ended up filing a claim once we were home. The benefits were applied exactly as promised and we were paid promptly before the 30 days. We have a very healthy dog and never thought we would need insurance, but a kidney stone was an unexpected event and quite costly. We were grateful for the wonderful doctors who took care of our baby and for having insurance to cover his treatment.’
Carina
‘Every pet owner should get insurance from Pets Best’
‘Every pet owner should get insurance from Pets Best…Unfortunately my dog was diagnosed with lymphoma recently at 4 years old, but Pets Best has been amazing [at] helping cover for almost all the expenses for her treatment. We are still currently going through her Chemo and she is receiving it very well and running around the house doing regular activities. It is a very expensive procedure and…with the help of Pets Best I am doing whatever we can to make everyday her best! Thank you Pets Best for helping me get some more time with my best friend!’
Ralph
Pets Best FAQs
-
Pets Best is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
-
Pets Best is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company or Independence American Insurance Company.
-
Pets Best offers a 5% discount to those insuring more than one pet and up to 10% off for veterinarians, staff members and their clients.
-
Pets Best takes on average five days to process claims, although some take longer.
The amount of time it takes to receive reimbursement depends on the payment method chosen. Parents who sign up for direct deposit can expect to receive payment within two days, but those who prefer to receive a check in the mail will usually have to wait between five and seven days.
-
No, parents can insure any dogs and cats over the age of 7 weeks.