Wherever you look for a decent pet insurance plan, Pets Best is the name that you’ll frequently encounter, and no wonder! Quality, reliability, and affordability are the main reasons why Pets Best are often front and center in the pet insurance industry. The company is quite popular with pet parents and heavily reviewed on the internet.
Pets Best were founded by an actual veterinarian – Dr. Jack L. Stephens. Dr. Stephens was the first to offer pet insurance in the US in 1981 with a mission to help pet owners who had no means to treat their sick and injured pets and were forced to euthanize them.
In 2005, Dr. Stephens launched Pets Best with the wonderful initiative to give peace of mind to pet owners by taking care of the financial part of owning a pet, so they can decide what’s best for their cats and dogs.
Today, Pets Best strive to be transparent in everything they do. They reveal that they’ve paid over $200 million to their policyholders, ensuring that they receive exceptional coverage, accurate and simple claim processing, and personal customer support.
Read on for the full Pets Best Pet Insurance review to learn all there is about Pets Best.
Pets Best Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No exam is required prior to enrollment. | Long claim repayment processing. |
| Coverage is valid for traveling across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. | Limited choices for annual claim limit options. |
| Low annual deductibles starting at $50. | No coverage for end-of-life expenses. |
| No maximum age restriction for pets. | No coverage for bilateral conditions. |
| Available options for exam fees, rehab, and alternative therapy. | $2.00 monthly transaction fee. |
| Accident-only plan with affordable flat premiums. | |
| Two wellness plans with amazing routine care options. | |
| 24/7 Pet Helpline for assistance from veterinary experts. | |
| Coverage for prescription medications, prosthetic devices, and wheelchairs. | |
| Multiple discount options that can combine for up to 15% off. | |
| Option for direct vet bill payment. |
Pets Best Key Attributes
- Underwriter:
- American Pet Insurance Company:
- AM Best Rating: Unrated
- BBB Rating: A+
- Independence American Insurance Company:
- AM Best Rating: A-
- BBB Rating: A+
- American Pet Insurance Company:
- Exam isn’t a requirement in order to enroll with Pets Best;
- Increase in monthly premium: you would notice changes in your premium at each renewal period. These increases are factored in on the increased risk of illness and injury susceptibility as pets grow older;
- Claim submission time limit: Policyholders must submit their claims within 6 months from the date of the medical procedure;
- Claim processing times: Pets Best processes claims within 40 days from the date of the submission (the average time for processing is 25 days or less). You can avoid this hassle by opting for direct vet bill payment which is a feature that Pets Best offers;
- Waiting periods: The time you need to wait before your Pets Best coverage for accidents and wellness becomes active is pretty short. The waiting period for illnesses, though, is what’s on average offered with similar providers:
- Accidents – 3 days;
- Illnesses – 14 days;
- Wellness – 24 hours;
- Cruciate ligament instances – 6 months;
- Hip dysplasia – 14 days.
- Pet insurance coverage with Pets Best is valid when you travel with your pet throughout the US and to Canada and Puerto Rico;
- Bilateral conditions aren’t covered with a Pets Best pet insurance policy. Such conditions include cruciate ligament injuries and illnesses (CCL/ACL), hip and elbow dysplasia, glaucoma, luxating patellas, ectropion, entropion, cherry eye, cataracts, osteochondritis dissecans, and others.
Pets Best’s Insurance Plans
There are four pet insurance tiers that Pets Best offers, three of which cover both accidents and illness and each is distinguished only by small differences in the type of coverage they contain. The fourth one provides coverage only for accidents.
Consequently, the more coverage a tier contains, the more expensive it becomes, but only by a tiny bit. Let’s review them!
BestBenefit Essential
The primary Pets Best coverage tier is called Essential and, as the name suggests, provides all the essential instances so your pet can be protected in most medical events. To acquire this plan, you should request a custom online quote from Pets Best where you need to fill in some essential information about you and your pet.
Once you receive the price of your custom quote, you can alter it by choosing any of the following coverage options:
- Annual claim limits: $5,000 and Unlimited;
- Annual deductibles: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, and $1,000;
- Reimbursement percentages: 70%, 80%, and 90%.
The Essential plan doesn’t restrict how old your pet can be to get on it. It does have a minimum age requirement though, which is 8 weeks of age.
Regarding the time when your coverage goes into full effect, you’d need to wait 3 days after enrolling to get coverage for accidents, and 14 days to apply it to illnesses as well. As it’s customary for pet insurance companies to protect themselves from “buyer’s abuse”, they extend the waiting period for cruciate ligament instances the longest. Pets Best does it for 6 months and you can’t use the coverage for these types of instances before that time has passed.
BestBenefit Plus
The medium BestBenefit tier – Plus, provides the same coverage as the Essential tier with an additional perk. With it, you can get your medical exam fees covered – a feature that’s not available on the Essential tier.
Regarding the waiting periods and the coverage options, everything is the same as the Essential tier.
BestBenefit Elite
Lastly, the ultimate protection from Pets Best comes on their third tier – Elite. It includes everything coming on the Essential and Plus tiers, completing the coverage with rehab and alternative treatments for your pets.
Again, all of the previously accessible coverage options are available for the Elite tier as well.
Pets Best Accident-Only Plan
Welcome to one of the best accident-only plans we’ve ever stumbled upon. The Pets Best Accident-Only plan offers all-encapsulating coverage for accidents and certain emergencies for a low flat monthly fee.
The plan itself isn’t flexible, as was the case with the accident and illness plans, but it certainly provides enough so you won’t need to fine-tune anything about it. These are the following coverage options that are included:
- Annual claim limit: $10,000;
- Annual deductible: $250;
- Reimbursement percentage: 90%.
The accident-only plan is ideal for pets with serious pre-existing conditions that make them ineligible for any of the accident and illness plans. It’s also very cost-effective for pet owners who want to obtain cheap pet insurance coverage. Things like fractured bones, car or other traffic accidents, and foreign body ingestion are among the things covered in this plan.
Pets Best’s Wellness Plans
Besides the four plans designed to cover the costs for illnesses, accidents, and emergencies, Pets Best offers two more plans adapted to provide coverage for routine pet care treatments – EssentialWellness and BestWellness™.
Anything that you need to keep your pet healthy and ensure they have a stress-free future comes included in these plans.
Below, we’re including a table showing every preventative procedure that’s covered with these plans and how much Pets Best will put toward each of them on an annual level.
| Procedure | EssentialWellness | BestWellness™ |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Cleaning | $0 | $150 |
| Spaying/Neutering | $0 | $150 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $50 | $65 |
| Rabies | $15 | $15 |
| Heartworm Prevention | $30 | $30 |
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $50 |
| Vaccination/Titer | $30 | $40 |
| Heartworm Test or FELV Screen | $25 | $30 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Blood, Fecal, Parasite exam | $50 | $70 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
| Urinalysis or ERD | $15 | $25 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $305 | $535 |
To clarify, you can sign up for one of the wellness plans only if you purchase one of the above-mentioned accident and illness plans. Additionally, you can get a wellness plan within 30 days from purchasing your insurance policy or on your renewal date.
Note that these plans have no deductible.
Extra Features
There’s one thing every Pets Bets policyholder gets included with their subscription at no extra cost. It’s the 24/7 Pet Helpline.
You can use this perk every time you wish to talk to a veterinary expert to get answers to your pet-related questions. Whether it’s behavioral issues or urgent care, an expert will always be there to educate and give you advice.
Feel free to reach the service day and night through email, phone, and live chat to ask questions like “Why can’t I get my dog to stop pulling on walks?” or “My cat chewed and swallowed some big chunks of wood. Should I be worried?”
What’s Covered With a Pets Best’s Policy
Let’s review what types of accidents, illnesses, exams, medications, and other extras are reimbursable by Pets Best.
BestBenefit Essential
Here’s everything that’s included on the BestBenefit Essential plan:
- Accidents – fractured bones, car accidents, poisoning, foreign object ingestions, lacerations, and those accidents that occur while in the line of service or hunting;
- Illnesses – arthritis, diabetes, cruciate ligament injuries, allergies, skin or ear infections, epilepsy, urinary tract infections, and many more;
- Cancer treatments – coverage for blood work, MRIs, medication, chemotherapy, and surgery;
- Congenital and hereditary conditions – hip and elbow dysplasia, cherry eye, luxating patella, Wobbler Syndrome, IVDD, glaucoma, and more;
- Emergency care – hospitalization, anesthesia, and surgery;
- Prescription medications;
- Chronic conditions;
- Full coverage for pets that aren’t spayed/neutered – prostate problems, perianal tumors, hormonal skin conditions, uterine and ovarian conditions, and mammary tumors;
- Behavioral therapy;
- Dental coverage – periodontal disease is covered only if it hasn’t been pre-existing. Pets aged 3 years or older are required to have a dental cleaning under general anesthesia in order to get this coverage;
- Prosthetic devices and wheelchairs;
- Euthanasia.
BestBenefit Plus
With the BestBenefit Plus plan, you receive everything that comes with the BestBenefit Essential plan plus coverage for the fees resulting from veterinary exams and diagnostics such as blood work, CAT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and pathology reports.
BestBenefit Elite
All of the above is included in the BestBenefit Elite plan with the addition of rehabilitative, acupuncture, and chiropractic coverage. This is important to many pet parents who’d like to try healthier, less-invasive procedures to treat their sick or injured four-legged family members. Such procedures include hydrotherapy, physical therapy, and cold laser.
What’s Excluded From Pets Best’s Coverage
Pets Best always care to keep everyone’s premiums on the low end, that’s why they don’t provide coverage for pre-existing conditions and some future issues that result from a pre-existing condition.
Elective and aesthetic procedures are also not on the list of covered items by Pets Best. Those may include anal gland expression and removal, ear cropping, tail docking, nail trimming, dewclaw removal, feline declawing, etc.
Additionally, herbal, experimental, and holistic therapies and medications are not covered as well. Neither are taxes, waste disposal fees, administration fees, shipping and handling costs, transportation fees, bathing, grooming, and pregnancy.
Sadly, Pets Best doesn’t offer coverage for cremation or burial costs, something the top companies in this niche do provide.
It’s worth noting that once a pre-existing condition is marked as “healed” or “cured” by a licensed veterinarian, coverage from Pets Best resumes for the given condition.
Pets Best Pricing Quotes
The price of your monthly premium is largely determined by the coverage options and the plan that you choose to go for. However, your pet’s age, gender, breed, size, and area of residence.
With that said, you should expect to pay more if you’ve got a pure-bred older pet, and dogs always have higher monthly premiums than cats.
However, Pets Best’s prices are reasonably crafted, so everyone can find the best coverage that’s most suitable to their budget.
Pricing Quotes for Dogs
| Breed | German Shepherd | French Bulldog | Labrador Retriever |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | Male | Female |
| Age | 2 years 4 months | 4 years 2 months | 6 years 6 months |
| Location | New York | California | Colorado |
| Deductible | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Claim Limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| BestBenefit Essential | $53.33/month | $99.27/month | $77.18/month |
| BestBenefit Plus | $62.21/month | $115.81/month | $90.05/month |
| BestBenefit Elite | $65.10/month | $121.19/month | $94.23/month |
*quotes obtained in June 2021
Pricing Quotes for Cats
| Breed | Siamese | Persian | Abyssinian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | Male | Female |
| Age | 2 years 5 months | 4 years 1 month | 8 years 2 months |
| Location | New York | Colorado | California |
| Deductible | $250 | $250 | $250 |
| Claim Limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Reimbursement | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| BestBenefit Essential | $22.98/month | $21.49/month | $82.19/month |
| BestBenefit Plus | $26.81/month | $25.07/month | $95.89/month |
| BestBenefit Elite | $28.05/month | $26.24/month | $100.34/month |
*quotes obtained in June 2021
Accident-Only Pricing Plans
Anyone who’s looking for cheap basic coverage for their pets should take a serious look at the accident-only plan by Pets Best. It’s offered with a low, flat monthly fee of $6/month for cats and $9/month for dogs.
Some pets that have serious pre-existing conditions such as cancer, Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia, or diabetes can’t get full accident and illness coverage. Instead, they are advised to use the accident-only plan.
Pricing Plans for Pet Wellness
Routine care is only available as a rider to one of the BestBenefit accident and illness plans. You can’t purchase it as a standalone option.
The EssentialWellness plan costs $16/month and the monthly premium for the BestWellness plan costs $26/month. Premiums for these plans are the same for both cats and dogs.
Note: In the state of Washington, the Essential Wellness plan costs $14/month and the BestWellness plan costs $30/month.
Discounts and Savings
There are several ways you can bring your monthly premium to a lower price. Pets Best enables policyholders to combine the discount options that they offer, so they can save on their pet insurance plan even more.
The following are the discount options available with Pets Best:
- 5% discount for every additional pet if you sign up multiple pets with Pets Best (the discount is available for the BestBenefit plans in all states except WA where it’s available for all plans);
- 5% online discount if you obtain your pet insurance policy using Pets Best’s website or app (in partnership with Progressive Pet Insurance);
- 5% discount for military members and their families (only for the BestBenefit plans and not available in Alaska, Hawaii, and Tennessee);
Pets Best also offers a 30-day free look period which you can use to get a refund within the first 30 days of using your coverage, only if you haven’t submitted any claims during that time frame.
Another trick to save a bit more money is to pay for a full year upfront. Pets Best charges a monthly transaction fee which you can avoid if you pay for the entire year in one lump sum. This way you can save $24.
How Does Pets Best Compare With Its Competitors?
Now that you’re familiar with everything that comes with Pets Best and how their prices fare, it’s time you take a look at how they compare with some of their main competitors.
The companies listed below – PetFirst, Nationwide, and Figo are all amazing in their own regard, so if you think they might be a better alternative than Pets Best, go through their full reviews to learn more about each.
Pets Best vs. PetFirst
PetFirst is a company that offers incredible resources to help you keep your pet’s requirements in check facilitated by their affordable pet insurance plans. They provide immediate accident coverage, low deductibles, and plans tailored to specific pet ages.
| Feature | Pets Best | PetFirst |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Effective | USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico | USA |
| Reimbursement | Choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses | Choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses |
| Co-Payment | 10%, 20%, or 30% | 10%, 20%, or 30% |
| Deductible | $50 – $1,000 | $50 – $500 |
| Type of Deductible | Annual | Annual |
| Claim Limit Options | $5,000 and Unlimited | $2,000 – $10,000 |
| Accident-Only Plan | Available | No |
| Wellness Plan | Available | Available |
| Unlimited Benefits Plan | Yes | Yes |
| Accidents | Yes | Yes |
| Illnesses | Yes | Yes |
| Illness Waiting Period | 14 days | 14 days |
| Accident Waiting Period | 3 days | 1 day |
| Cruciate Ligament Waiting Period | 6 months | 6 months |
| Bilateral Exclusions | Yes | No |
| Chronic Conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Hereditary and Congenital Conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | Yes | Yes |
| Dental Coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Prescription Medicine | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapy | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Behavioral Issues | Yes | Optional add-on |
| Exam Fees | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Exam Required for Enrollment | No | No |
| Available At Any Vet Clinic | Yes | Yes |
| Microchip | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
| Minimum Pet Age Limit | 7 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Maximum Pet Age Limit | No limit | No limit |
| Entry Fee | $0.00 | $12.00 |
| Monthly Transaction Fee | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Multi-Pet Discount | 5% for each additional pet | 5% for second pet;10% for third and all subsequent pets |
| Claim Repayment | Within 40 days (25 days on average) | Within 30 days (10-14 days on average) |
| Direct Vet Bill Payment | Yes | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 14 days |
| AM Best Rating | Unrated | A- |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
*companies’ features compared in June 2021
Read the full PetFirst Pet Insurance review.
Pets Best vs. Nationwide
With Nationwide, you can boost insurance protection not only for regular pets like cats and dogs, but exotic animals like rabbits, snakes, birds, hamsters, and many more too.
Their pet insurance coverage is available anywhere you travel and take your pet with you. They even include bilateral conditions in their policies – a benefit that doesn’t come included that often.
| Feature | Pets Best | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Effective | USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico | Worldwide |
| Reimbursement | Choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses | Choice of 50%, 70%, and 90% for the whole pet® plans;Fixed benefit schedule amount for the major medicalSM plans. |
| Co-Payment | 10%, 20%, or 30% | 10%, 30%, or 50% |
| Deductible | $50 – $1,000 | $250 |
| Type of Deductible | Annual | Annual |
| Claim Limit Options | $5,000 and Unlimited | $10,000 or Unlimited |
| Accident-Only Plan | Available | Available |
| Wellness Plan | Available | Available |
| Unlimited Benefits Plan | Yes | Yes |
| Accidents | Yes | Yes |
| Illnesses | Yes | Yes |
| Illness Waiting Period | 14 days | 14 days |
| Accident Waiting Period | 3 days | 14 days |
| Cruciate Ligament Waiting Period | 6 months | 12 months |
| Bilateral Exclusions | Yes | No |
| Chronic Conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Hereditary and Congenital Conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | Yes | Yes |
| Dental Coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Prescription Medicine | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapy | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Behavioral Issues | Yes | Yes |
| Exam Fees | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Exam Required for Enrollment | No | No |
| Available At Any Vet Clinic | Yes | Yes |
| Microchip | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Minimum Pet Age Limit | 7 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Maximum Pet Age Limit | No limit | 10 years |
| Entry Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Monthly Transaction Fee | $3.00 | $2.00 |
| Multi-Pet Discount | 5% for each additional pet | 5% for second and third pet;10% for fourth and subsequent pets. |
| Claim Repayment | Within 40 days (25 days on average) | Within 30 days (4 days on average) |
| Direct Vet Bill Payment | Yes | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 10 days |
| AM Best Rating | Unrated | A+ |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
*companies’ features compared in June 2021
Read the full Nationwide Pet Insurance review.
Pets Best vs. Figo
While Figo entered the pet insurance market only recently, it has still managed to climb the top along some of the veterans in the industry.
With reimbursement rates going up to 100% and access to a 24/7 virtual helpline, Figo is one of the safest and most reliable options out there. Their smartphone app is a top-notch tool for managing your claims and reaching out to other pet parents.
| Feature | Pets Best | Figo |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Effective | USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico | Worldwide |
| Reimbursement | Choice of 70%, 80%, or 90% of covered expenses | Choice of 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% of covered expenses |
| Co-Payment | 10%, 20%, or 30% | 0%, 10%, 20%, or 30% |
| Deductible | $50 – $1,000 | $100 – $1,500 depending on pet’s age |
| Type of Deductible | Annual | Annual |
| Claim Limit Options | $5,000 and Unlimited | $5,000, $10,000, or Unlimited |
| Accident-Only Plan | Available | Not available |
| Wellness Plan | Available | Available in most states except AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA |
| Unlimited Benefits Plan | Yes | Yes |
| Accidents | Yes | Yes |
| Illnesses | Yes | Yes |
| Illness Waiting Period | 14 days | 14 days |
| Accident Waiting Period | 3 days | 1 day (3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT, and WA) |
| Cruciate Ligament Waiting Period | 6 months | 6 months (only applies to dogs) |
| Bilateral Exclusions | Yes | Yes |
| Chronic Conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Hereditary and Congenital Conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Cancer | Yes | Yes |
| Dental Coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Prescription Medicine | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapy | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Behavioral Issues | Yes | Yes |
| Exam Fees | Extra fee | Optional add-on |
| Exam Required for Enrollment | No | No |
| Available At Any Vet Clinic | Yes | Yes |
| Microchip | Optional add-on | Optional add-on |
| Minimum Pet Age Limit | 7 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Maximum Pet Age Limit | No limit | No Limit |
| Entry Fee | $0.00 | $15.00 |
| Monthly Transaction Fee | $3.00 | $2.00 |
| Multi-Pet Discount | 5% for each additional pet | 5%-10% for each additional pet (depending on the state) |
| Claim Repayment | Within 40 days (25 days on average) | Within 10 days (1-4 days on average) |
| Direct Vet Bill Payment | Yes | No |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
| AM Best Rating | Unrated | A- |
| BBB Rating | A+ | B |
*companies’ features compared in June 2021
Customer Service
It’s refreshing to learn that Pets Best are taking advantage of modern technology to help their customers easily navigate through their services. They have a very intuitive online portal and simple-to-use mobile apps for Android and iOS.
You can use those to review or upgrade your coverage, pay your premiums, submit and review claims, and learn more on how to care for your pet.
Pets Best make it very convenient for customers with large vet bills by offering the Vet Direct Pay option. You can use it anytime to have Pets Best pay for your veterinarian directly. Once they reimburse them, you still have to do your part of the bargain, that is pay your deductible and copayment percentage.
Additionally, you can contact Pets Best for any of your concerns through phone, email, and live chat during business hours (Monday through Friday from 6 am to 7 pm and Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm MT). Don’t forget that as a policyholder you have access to their Pet Helpline non-stop.
Customer Reviews
Real users’ testimonies are essential when deciding if a service is a right fit for you. They can often make or break the deal.
To make things a bit easier for you, here we included several positive and negative customer reviews about Pets Best.
Positive Pets Best Pet Insurance Reviews
Must-Have for a Golden Retriever!
When we first got our puppy we were contemplating pet insurance and a couple of friends recommended Pets Best. We decided to sign up the day we picked her up and it’s the best decision we ever made! She had a bit of a rocky start, eating a sock, getting a bladder infection, ear infection, and giardia all within the first 8 months. While these were all stressful times, the pet insurance was able to relieve some of the financial stress. Absolutely would recommend!
Sydney Sanchez
So far so good!
I am terrible at submitting receipts, so I was pleasantly surprised that I had no issues filing a claim (and being reimbursed for) an emergency pet hospital visit I submitted nearly a year after the fact (an easy process on their website).
I filed another claim for a much pricier incident and received an email from Pets Best that they are reviewing the veterinarian records. I am crossing my fingers as Pets Best was by far the best deal I found when shopping for pet insurance, so I will be delighted to have chosen them if this claim also goes through with no hiccup.
Erin Jarvis
Happy customer!
I’ve been using Pets Best for three years now, ever since I brought my Rottweiler home at 8 weeks. They have been nothing but helpful and accommodating. I understand with COVID there were some delays with processing, and my dog had major surgery in the midst of the pandemic. Pets Best kept me in the loop regarding the status of my claims and contacted me to apologize for the backup in processing due to being short staffed. I understand things happen and communication like this goes a long way.
After my claims have been processed the reimbursement has always been very quick and having it directly deposited in my checking account is very convenient. I’m very happy with the service I’ve received the last three years and it’s been a godsend with these unforeseen injuries to my pup.
Gia
Negative Pets Best Pet Insurance Reviews
Not thrilled…
I am rating Pets Best low because it takes a long time to get my reimbursement back as well there were 2 apts where I didn’t receive anything back and when I have called on the phone to talk to a representative I was on hold for over 45 min and gave up. I am paying almost 90.00 a month and feel like that is a lot of money to not have better and faster service. I am not thrilled with Pets Best.
Shelley Burtz-Mcclanahan
Increases.
For many years I felt comfortable and confident having Pets Best. I understand that rates go up based upon your dog’s age, but this last increase is exorbitant. The rates have steadily increased over the past 5 years which I find to be unfair since I have been a devoted member to Pets Best. In our current climate of a global pandemic where many are out of work, zero consideration was given to the circumstances.
Linda
Still on the fence about this policy.
It’s a great idea and it covered some stuff.
1. You would think it covered all puppy vaccinations as they are preventive care. They only cover a few and up to a certain amount, and that’s cause we went with the Best Wellness. As you get your first dog or cat you don’t know how many different shots they require, so this policy seems like everything is covered.
2. Takes over 2 weeks to get reimbursed. I’ve read that other companies pay for all vaccinations/shots.
Rich Hernandez
Conclusion
Pets Best is definitely on our list of recommended pet insurance providers, mainly because of its all-encapsulating, competitively-priced, customizable coverage options. It’s an industry-leading solution providing a cost-efficient way to obtain the right pet insurance.
The fact that Pets Best won’t drop your pet from coverage as they get older or push them into an accident-only plan, simply proves how reliable and trustworthy the company is while committing to its customers.
There are some shortcomings to Pets Best as well, such as slow claim turnaround and no coverage for end-of-life expenses. If these things are especially valuable to you, we suggest you take a look at other similar pet insurance providers.
Pets Best Alternatives
If fast claim repayment turnarounds are something of special value to you, you can take a look at ASPCA Pet Insurance. They offer affordable coverage options, reinstate pre-existing conditions that are healed or cured, and even help homeless animals find shelter and health care.
Another great alternative to Pets Best is 24PetWatch. Timing is something that’s highly prioritized by 24PetWatch. They boast extremely short waiting periods (3 days for illnesses and 1 day for accidents) and lightning-fast claim processing.
Pumpkin is our third alternative to Pets Best. They are truly affordable in the exact essence of the word without lacking some amazing insurance coverage. As a matter of fact, Pumpkin has been named the “Best Pet Insurance for Comprehensive Coverage” in 2020 by Business Insider.
F.A.Q.
Can I insure my already sick pet with Pets Best?
Unfortunately, there’s no company that will allow pets with pre-existing conditions to receive insurance coverage for those particular conditions. That’s the case with Pets Best as well. However, there are services like Pet Assure that will provide pet care assistance even for pets with pre-existing conditions.
Why is my quote showing coverage only for Pets Best’s accident-only policy?
To be offered only an accident-only policy, you must have entered that your pet has a serious pre-existing condition such as Addison’s Disease, Cushing’s Disease, Diabetes, Cancer, Feline Leukemia, or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Pets Best won’t allow pets with any of these conditions on its BestBenefit plans.
Do I have to obtain the routine care option by Pets Best?
Wellness care is always optional for all pets. You can add it to your BestBenefit accident and illness plan or the accident-only plan, but not as a standalone option. Routine care coverage provides reimbursement for any procedure that’s designed to improve your pet’s wellbeing and prevent any future medical conditions from developing.
How can I renew my Pets Best pet insurance policy?
Pet insurance policies with Pets Best renew automatically each year on the date your coverage went into effect. You don’t have to do anything on your part, but Pets Best will notify you through email 30-days before your policy renewal date, in case you want to change anything about your future coverage or cancel it before it renews.
Can I keep my old vet if I sign up with Pets Best?
Absolutely! Pets Best’s insurance is accepted at every veterinary, emergency, and specialty clinic across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
