The best pet insurance companies of 2026

When your pet gets sick or injured, the last thing you want to worry about is if you can afford the vet bill. Pet insurance helps you better budget for your pet’s healthcare, so you can focus on the care needed without the medical bills throwing you into a financial panic.

Yahoo Finance reviewed 30 pet insurance and wellness plans to determine the best pet insurance companies. Our analysis evaluated coverage, annual limits, waiting periods, discounts, and cost to provide you with an unbiased ranking. We did the research for you, so you can focus on choosing the plan that best fits your needs, protects your pet, and gives you peace of mind.

Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.

Pets Best provides the best pet insurance overall in our evaluation, gaining the top rating with its unmatched combination of low average costs and ample coverage. Its average cost for unlimited coverage is $40 below the average cost, and its coverage includes vet exam fees, behavioral therapy consults, and alternative therapy like chiropractic care, acupuncture, and cold laser therapy.

Pets Best has three policies to choose from, with slightly varying costs and coverage: Essential, Plus, and Elite. The Elite plan earned 5 stars in our analysis, and the Plus and Essential policies were not far behind with ratings of 4.7 and 4.6 stars, respectively.

Pets Best pros and cons (Elite policy)

Pros

Average cost is well below average compared to other pet insurers
Unlimited annual coverage option available
Can pay the vet directly if the vet signs a Veterinarian Reimbursement Form
Alternative therapy, behavioral therapy consultations, and medication are covered
Claim payments can be reimbursed directly to a CareCredit credit card

Cons

Excludes chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, Cushing’s, hyperthyroidism, and hip dysplasia
Prescription foods and supplements are not covered
Special waiting period of six months for cruciate ligament issues

Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, Unlimited
Deductible choices: $50, $100, $200, $250, $500
Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
Waiting periods: 3 days for accident / 14 days for illness
Average costs for $5,000 annual coverage: $84.14/month (Elite plan, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Average costs for unlimited annual coverage: $102.80/month (Elite plan, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)

Learn more: Pets Best pet insurance review

MetLife pet insurance scored well in our analysis due to its wide range of coverage, strong discount offerings, and being the only insurer offering exotic pet coverage among those we analyzed.

MetLife is notable for its unique Family Plan program for those insuring more than one pet: Unlike other pet insurers who require you to buy separate policies for each pet, MetLife lets you insure up to three cats or dogs under one policy. One advantage to this is that there’s a shared deductible for the policy, so you can meet the deductible faster when your pets need vet care. In addition, the annual limit is shared among the pets, so if one pet needs more vet care, you can allot more of the coverage to that pet. MetLife’s Family Plan also includes a multi-pet discount.

Metlife pet insurance also has an unusual policy limit increase benefit: If your policy has at least $5,000 in annual coverage, and you have an unused amount of $1,000 or more at the end of the policy term, MetLife will automatically increase the annual limit by $500 at renewal time for no additional cost.

MetLife pet insurance pros and cons

Pros

Slightly below-average cost
A wide range of coverage is included
No special waiting periods for conditions like cruciate ligament issues
Covers alternative therapy and holistic care when prescribed
Offers exotic pet insurance for pets such as rabbits, ferrets, birds, and reptiles

Cons

$10,000 maximum annual coverage choice, no unlimited choice like many competitors offer
Maximum annual benefit of $2,000 for older pets, which can be less than the annual premium
Short window to submit claims: 90 days from treatment date

Annual maximum limit choices: $2,000, $5,000, $10,000
Deductible choices: $50, $100, $250, $500
Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
Waiting periods: Midnight ET of policy effective date for accident / 14 days for illness
Average cost for $5,000 annual coverage: $81.05/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Average cost for $10,000 annual coverage: $128.59/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)

Learn more: MetLife pet insurance review

Liberty Mutual’s low costs, broad coverage, and no special waiting period earned it high marks and make it worth checking out. Its prices were the lowest among the companies we analyzed.

Liberty Mutual pet insurance pros and cons

Pros

Lowest rates of the pet insurers we evaluated
Robust coverage, including behavioral therapy
Alternative therapy covered, such as holistic therapy, homeopathic therapy, and acupuncture
No special waiting period; others have 6-month waiting periods for certain issues

Cons

$15,000 maximum annual coverage choice, no unlimited choice offered by many competitors
No 24/7 vet health helpline
Pets 13 or older are only offered an accident-only policy

Annual maximum limit choices: $5,000, $10,000, $15,000
Deductible choices: $250, $500, $1,000
Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
Waiting periods: 14 days for accident / 14 days for illness
Average cost for $5,000 annual coverage: $63.96/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Average cost for $15,000 annual coverage: $72.81/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)

Learn more: Liberty Mutual pet insurance review

ASPCA scored well in our analysis and is our choice for best vet visits due to the vet exam fee being covered, it will pay the vet directly, has a 24/7 vet health line, and gives a decent time period for you to submit your claims. It also has a competitive lineup of coverage, including covering microchip implementation and end-of-life expenses.

ASPCA pet insurance pros and cons

Pros

Can pay vet directly, and vet exam fee is covered
Generous window of 270 days to submit your claim
Covers microchip implantation by a vet
Covers end-of-life expenses
No upper age limit for buying a new policy

Cons

Prices are high compared to many competitors, especially for unlimited coverage
Accident coverage waiting period is 14 days, higher than some competitors

Annual maximum limit choices: $2,500, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited
Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500
Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
Waiting periods: 14 days for accident / 14 days for illness
Average cost for $5,000 annual coverage: $88.67/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)
Average cost for unlimited annual coverage: $215.32/month ($500 deductible, 90% reimbursement)

Learn more: ASPCA pet insurance review

Take a look at the overall star ratings for all of the pet insurers we evaluated for our 2026 best pet insurance rankings. Pets Best (Elite plan) earned 5 stars and grabbed the top spot.

Your own pet insurance cost will depend on factors such as your location and the pet’s breed, size, and age.

The typical monthly cost of pet insurance with $5,000 in annual coverage is about $87 a month.

Learn more: How to compare pet insurance quotes

The typical monthly cost of pet insurance with unlimited annual coverage is about $132 a month.

Learn more: How much does pet insurance cost?

Your own pet insurance cost will depend on:

Your location
The pet’s breed and age
The coverage options you choose for the annual limit, the deductible, and the reimbursement percentage
The coverage the policy provides and the add-ons you pick

When you buy a pet insurance policy, you’ll make choices for coverage levels that will affect your premium. Choosing a lower annual limit, a higher deductible, and/or a lower reimbursement level will reduce your monthly premium.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of our winners’ coverage choices:

The most common type of pet insurance policy covers accidents and illnesses, and many pet insurers also offer optional wellness plans for routine care.

Accidents: Physical injury caused by an unexpected event, such as a broken bone or swallowing an object.
Illnesses: A sickness, disease, or any other change to the pet’s normal health not caused by an accident. Examples include ear infections, skin infections, diabetes, cancer, and digestive issues.
Wellness plans: Coverage for routine care costs such as wellness exams, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, dental cleanings, flea and tick prevention, and heartworm tests.

Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers

Pet insurance companies can vary substantially in what’s covered by the base policy, what can be covered by paying for add-ons, and what’s excluded. Here’s a look at:

Vet exam fee coverage: Not all policies cover the basic fee charged for a vet visit.
Behavioral therapy: This can include treatments for behavior that is abnormal or dysfunctional, such as aggression, separation anxiety, and excessive chewing or licking.
Alternative therapy: This can include treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, laser therapy, massage, herbal therapy, and homeopathy.

Determine how much you want to spend per month on pet insurance. Having a low budget doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have to buy a poor-quality policy. For example, Pets Best offers good coverage at very competitive prices.

Learn more: Is pet insurance worth it? How to decide.

Coverage features vary substantially among pet insurance companies, so it can help to decide what coverage types are top priority for you and focus on policies with those features. For example, perhaps alternative therapy is important to you, but coverage for end-of-life expenses is not.

All policies have some type of waiting period for coverage, but some pet insurance companies have shorter waiting times than others. The range of waiting periods for accident coverage is next day to 15 days among the pet insurance companies we evaluated. The typical waiting period for illness coverage is 15 days. Look out for special waiting periods for certain conditions, such as cruciate ligament issues. These special waiting periods are often six months, but some insurers have no special waiting periods.

Learn more: Pet insurance with no waiting period: How it works

Compare quotes for similar levels of coverage for the annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage.

When you get a pet insurance quote, you should see a link to policy documents. Make sure to read the policy to confirm what treatments are covered and what’s excluded.

Pets Best is the best pet insurance company in our evaluation. It offers a superior mix of coverage and price, making it a great value. Its three policies — Essential, Plus, and Elite — grabbed top spots in our analysis. Pets Best’s Elite plan earned 5 stars, while Plus received 4.7 and Essential received 4.6. Check each plan out to see which may fit your needs.

Pet insurance generally covers only dogs and cats. MetLife and Nationwide will cover exotic pets such as birds, reptiles, and rabbits.

An accident and illness plan is the best type of pet insurance policy to buy because it covers the broadest range of problems, from broken bones to ear infections to cancer. For additional coverage, many pet insurers sell wellness plans that help pay for routine care such as annual wellness exams and vaccinations.

ASPCA, Healthy Paws, Pets Best, and Trupanion have ways to pay a vet directly. Trupanion offers the easiest way to get direct vet pay because you won’t have to do anything: If your vet has Trupanion’s software, you don’t have to get a special form filled out or make a request in advance. Progressive’s pet insurance that uses the Pets Best plans can pay the vet directly if the vet signs a veterinarian reimbursement form.

Other pet insurers may agree to pay a vet directly if the bill is large and you ask in advance.

Learn more: Pet insurance that pays the vet directly: How does it work?

Tim Manni edited this article.

We researched the coverage details and prices for 30 pet insurance and wellness plans. We then weighted categories, and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the best pet insurance companies. Here are the factors we incorporated.

Coverage types: 40% of score. We examined the coverage provided by the base policy without the extra cost of add-ons. This encompassed coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illness, euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, exotic pets, hereditary and congenital conditions, preexisting conditions, prescription food and supplements, veterinary exam fees, and advertising/reward for lost/stolen pets.

Average cost: 30% of score. We evaluated average costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8).

Unlimited coverage option: 10% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered an unlimited annual limit (or a $100,000 limit), which gives pet owners the most robust financial protection possible in the event of a catastrophic pet medical issue.

Direct payments to the veterinarian: 5% of score. We gave points to pet insurers that state on their websites that they accommodate direct vet payments.

No special waiting periods for special conditions: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers have no waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament conditions.

Routine wellness plan: 5% of score. Companies that offer a routine wellness plan in addition to pet insurance received points.

Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered a discount for insuring multiple pets.