Pet insurance is gaining popularity in the United States, and Pets Best is one of the companies dominating the space. But choosing a pet insurance provider is a personal decision, not a one-size-fits-all solution. As pet parents, we want our dogs to live their longest, healthiest, and happiest lives. Signing them up for pet insurance can be a great way to tend to their medical needs while protecting your finances.
Pets Best is a pet insurance company offering customizable plans tailored to your budget and the coverage you need. This comprehensive review explains how Pets Best insurance works, coverage options, and more. Plus, we point out some key pros and cons that may prove to be deciding factors for you.
There are some key components to consider when choosing a pet insurance provider and plan. While reading through this article, taking notes on the following may be helpful.
- What type of coverage do you want?
- Is your dog’s breed predisposed to specific health conditions that you want to make sure are covered?
- What can you afford to pay?
Now, let’s get started.
Pets Best
- No age limits or restrictions
- Thorough coverage
- Some of the lowest prices in the industry
- Offers an Accident-only plan
How Does Pets Best Insurance Work?
- You pay a monthly or annual premium to maintain your dog’s insurance coverage.
- The waiting periods must pass before your dog is fully covered.
- If your pup becomes sick or injured (after your waiting periods), you visit the vet.
- You can submit claims via your online account, through the app, mail, email, or fax. Claims must be submitted within 180 days of the service date.
- If your claim is approved, reimbursement will be sent to you via direct deposit or check.
You may also have the option to have Pets Best pay your vet directly, so you can avoid paying a large vet bill and wait for reimbursement. This isn’t available everywhere, so speak with your vet and Pets Best about it before you plan to use it.
Pros & Cons Of Pets Best
Pets Best was founded in 2005, is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, and has proven dependable in providing claim payouts to its customers. The company is applauded for its competitive prices, good customer service, and no lifetime claim limits however they currently take longer than most to process and reimburse claims.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No lifetime limits on any plan | Waiting time is longer than the industry average for claims repayment |
| Consistently lower premiums compared to other companies for great coverage | $2 transaction fee, which is waived when you pay annually or if you live in MD or AK |
| Offers numerous avenues of customer support, including telephone, live chat, and email | Alternative and holistic therapies are excluded from coverage |
| Have access to a vet by phone whenever you need to through your account | |
| No upper age limits for new enrollment, but puppies must be at least seven weeks old | |
| Various deductible and reimbursement options are available plus two wellness plans | |
| Offers a 5% discount for multi-pet households and military personnel and their families |
What Types Of Plans Does Pets Best Offer?
Accident-Only Plan
Pets Best’s accident-only plan covers accident-related claims, such as broken bones, foreign body ingestion, torn nail, etc. One of only four national providers that currently offers an accident-only option, these types of plans are excellent choices for people who want a true emergency-only plan to help keep costs down, making it more affordable than accident and illness plans. They’re also great for pets with pre-existing illnesses that would be excluded from an accident and illness plan.
The accident-only plan isn’t customizable and includes the following coverage:
- $10,000 annual payout limit
- $250 deductible
- 90% reimbursement
It has a flat rate price of $9 per month for dogs, and there is a three-day waiting period before coverage can be applied. One thing to note is that torn ligaments are not covered in this plan, which is commonly covered in other pet insurance companies’ accident-only plans.
Accident & Illness Plan
Pets Best’s accident and illness plan covers everything in the accident-only plan as well as illness-related claims, such as allergies, cancer, arthritis, vomiting and diarrhea, and more. These plans are the most comprehensive. Pets must be at least seven-weeks-old at enrollment, and there are no upper age limits.
Accident and illness plans are customizable to more easily fit your budget. You can choose your deductible, payout, and reimbursement from the options below.
| Deductible Options | Payout Options | Reimbursement Options |
|---|---|---|
| $50 $100 $200 $250 $500 $1,000 | $5,000 Unlimited | 70% 80% 90% |
Your monthly premium is based on your dog’s breed, age, location, pre-existing conditions, etc. It’s best to sign your dog up for insurance sooner than later so you can try to avoid pre-existing condition exclusions.
Waiting Periods
Pets Best has the following waiting periods before coverage kicks in for a condition.
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Accidents: 3 days
- Cruciate Ligament: 6 months
- Hip Dysplasia: 14 days
Wellness Plan
Wellness plans aren’t insurance plans. Instead, they’re optional add-ons to a pet insurance policy to help cover the preventative expenses associated with routine medical care. Annual vet exams can cost $300 or more depending on your vet, location, necessary vaccines, testing required, and more. These plans can also help you pay for monthly preventatives including heartworm and flea & tick treatments. Wellness plans can help you budget for routine expenses throughout the year instead of racking up a large vet bill that you have to pay all at once.
Two wellness plans are available through Pets Best, which have one-day waiting periods.
| EssentialWellness | BestWellness | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $16 ($14 in WA) | $26 ($30 in WA) |
| Spay/Neuter – Teeth 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 of FELV Screen | $25 | $30 |
| Blood, Fecal, Parasite Exam | $50 | $70 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Urinalysis or ERD | $15 | $25 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $305 | $535 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pets Best Ask For Medical Records?
Your dog’s full medical records will most likely be requested when you submit your first claim. This helps them verify whether or not a condition is pre-existing.
How Is Reimbursement Calculated?
Pets Best calculates claim payments by multiplying the total eligible reimbursement amount by your reimbursement percentage and then subtracting the annual deductible. This is also known as the “copay then deductible” reimbursement method.
(Total Eligible Reimbursement x Reimbursement Percentage) – Annual Deductible = Reimbursement Amount
Another method that some providers use is deductible then copay, but with Pets Best, the equation above is the one you should expect unless it states otherwise in your specific policy.
Final Thoughts
Sure, there are dozens of pet insurance companies to choose from, so why should Pets Best be your pick? Pets Best offers extensive coverage at a competitive price for many pet parents. Before signing up for coverage, read through your policy carefully to ensure you know what is included and excluded in coverage and that you are comfortable with the terms.
Remember that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by any provider, so any condition you’ve taken your dog to the vet for in the past is most likely excluded from coverage.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from several pet insurance providers to see how the cost and coverage compare. Just because a company is typically among the lowest prices doesn’t mean it’s always the best value or that it will be the lowest for you. And a low price is only good if the coverage meets your unique needs, so read the policy closely before signing up.
