Pet Insurance Buyer's Guide
How to choose a pet insurance plan
The decision to get pet insurance for your dog or cat is a no-brainer, but shopping for the right provider can be a bit tricky. Not all plans are created equally, and not all pet insurance providers offer the same amount of coverage. (We know we’re biased, but Fetch does offer the most comprehensive pet insurance coverage out there.) But we want you to find the plan that suits your specific needs, so here are some tips for how to find the best pet insurance plan for your best friend.
Get your priceCompare pet insurance providers to sniff out the best one for you
A good first step is researching the pet insurance providers out there so you can see what your options are and start narrowing it down based on your needs. Here are some factors to consider when comparing providers:
- Age requirements: Some providers have age requirements and limits. Depending on what kind of coverage you’re looking for and your pet’s age, this could affect your choice. For example: Fetch covers pets 6 weeks and older with no upper age limits but some providers, like Healthy Paws and Trupanion, don’t enroll pets that are 14 and older.
- Coverage: Not all pet insurance providers cover the same treatments, and they may have different coverage levels for certain conditions. For example: Fetch offers dental coverage for every adult tooth, but other providers only cover specific teeth or provide no coverage for dental disease at all.
- Exclusions and limits: In addition to closely looking at what is covered, it’s important to look over what’s not covered by a particular provider or policy. For example: like other pet insurance providers, Fetch doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. But exclusions can vary by provider, so you’ll want to look closely at sample policies and consider your pet’s individual needs when weighing your options.
- Claims: Look for a provider with an easy-to-understand claims process. Some providers offer online portals or mobile apps for submitting claims and medical records, which can streamline the process. With Fetch, submitting a claim is fast and easy — you can use our app to upload your invoice and related claims documents in minutes.
- Waiting periods: Be sure to carefully review the waiting periods associated with each provider and plan. A waiting period is a specific amount of time between when you sign up for pet insurance and when your coverage kicks in. This is why we recommend enrolling in pet insurance early — so the waiting period will be over before you have to file a claim and your pet will be covered when you need it.
Carefully review each provider and consider what is most important to you. Don’t know where to start? Compare Fetch against other providers.
Dig deeper into what’s covered with each provider and plan
Coverage is a crucial part of a pet insurance plan, so it’s important to carefully consider what each provider offers. Fetch offers the most comprehensive pet insurance coverage for dogs and cats, which means we have your back for what you can predict and the accidents and injuries you don’t see coming (as long as it’s not a pre-existing condition). We also cover what other providers don’t or will charge extra for, like sick-visit exam fees, unmatched dental coverage and more. Here’s a closer look at what’s covered with Fetch:
Name-brand prescription medications & supplements
Emergency vet visits
Online, in-home & office visits
Hospital stays
Physical therapy
Allergies
Surgeries
X-rays & CT scans
Canine infectious respiratory disease
Ultrasounds
Blood tests
Breed-specific issues including hip dysplasia
Specialists
Sick-visit exam fees
Laboratory tests
Vomiting & diarrhea
Hereditary & congenital issues
Swallowed objects & toxins
Every tooth, plus gums
Gum disease
Diabetes & insulin
Cancer treatment
Acupuncture & chiropractic care
Treatment for aggression & separation anxiety
Routine & preventive coverage (when you add Fetch Wellness)
Consider the cost
There are a few reasons why the cost of a pet insurance plan varies by provider. Some providers offer more coverage than others, which will usually affect the price. Fetch lets you customize your plan by choosing the deductible, max annual payout and reimbursement rate that works for your pet and your budget — all of which may affect your quoted price. Here’s what else you should pay attention to when considering the cost of pet insurance:
- Deductible: Your pet insurance deductible is the amount of veterinary care you need to pay for yourself each year before you start getting reimbursed for claims. Choosing a higher deductible will lower your price, but you’ll pay more out of pocket before your insurance starts paying you back.
- Max annual payout: Your max annual payout is the maximum dollar amount you can be paid back each year. Choosing a lower max annual payout will make your pet insurance price lower. When choosing a plan and provider, you’ll want to find a max annual payout that feels right for you and your pet’s potential medical expenses.
- Reimbursement rate: Reimbursement rate is the percentage of an approved claim total that pet insurance can cover. With Fetch, you can choose 70%, 80% or 90%. Choosing a lower reimbursement rate will also make your price lower.
- Age: Younger pets tend to cost less to insure since older pets are more prone to accidents and illnesses.
- Breed: Certain breeds of dogs and cats are prone to different medical issues, which can affect your price.
- Location: The cost of veterinary care varies from state to state, so where you live might affect your price.
Check for optional plan add-ons
Some providers will charge extra to add coverage that comes standard with Fetch’s accident and illness plan. For example, Nationwide and Lemonade offer coverage for sick-visit exam fees, behavioral therapy and alternative care — but at an additional cost to their base plans. When comparing providers, make sure you’re considering what add-ons your pet may need and how that will impact your price overall.
Wellness coverage is also offered by some providers as an add-on to your accident and illness pet insurance plan. A wellness plan usually helps cover the cost of routine and preventive care, like dental cleanings, annual exams and vaccinations, and is separate from the coverage for unexpected emergencies you’ll get in an accident and illness policy. (Learn more about the differences between accident, injury and wellness coverage).
While our standard accident and illness coverage is so comprehensive that it doesn’t require add-ons, we do offer Fetch Wellness as an optional add-on for routine and preventive care. With both, you'll have the total package for your pet’s health and you’ll save big on veterinary bills.
Dive into the details and read the fine print
Researching pet insurance can feel a bit like homework, but knowledge is power! The more you learn about what you’re getting out of a pet insurance plan, the more confident you’ll feel about making the right choice.
Protect your petRead up on reviews from pet parents
It’s a good idea to get a second opinion on a pet insurance provider or plan. Reading pet insurance reviews can provide reassurance that a provider is trusted and loved by real pet parents and pet professionals.
Check out sample policies
Reading through sample policies can be a bit dry, but it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with pet insurance terminology and better understand the coverage that a plan entails. It can also help explain coverage exclusions under a certain plan or provider.
Get a quote
One of the most accurate and direct ways to find the best plan for you is to get a quoted price from a few different providers. A quote will give you a plan and price that is personalized to your pet and your needs.
Why you should get pet insurance
1 out of 3 pets will require emergency treatment each year. We never want to think about anything bad happening to our pets, but accidents happen and we all get sick sometimes — even our dogs and cats. Having a pet insurance plan is like having a safety net for the unexpected. It gives you peace of mind that your pet is covered — whether it’s for a standard tummy ache or a bigger emergency like a torn ACL.
Nearly two-thirds of pet parents said inflation has made it more difficult to pay a surprise vet bill. Life with pets is full of surprises, but your vet bill doesn’t have to be one of them. The rising cost of veterinary care can be a financial shock and pet insurance helps cover the cost of unexpected vet bills so you can focus on helping your pet recover. Fetch Pet Insurance pays back up to 90% of your vet bill if your dog or cat gets sick or hurt, taking a major sting out of those surprise vet bills.
“No one wants to think about accidents or illnesses when it comes to their dog, but even the most loved pets aren't immune. Data shows that being proactive about your pet's health is key to giving your pet a longer, healthier life — and Fetch Pet Insurance is the best way to do just that.”
Your pet insurance questions – answered!
Is it really worth it to get pet insurance?
If you’re looking for potential savings on future vet trips, the answer is yes. Pet insurance helps make vet bills more affordable, and you can rest easy knowing you’ll be covered if your dog or cat unexpectedly gets sick or hurt down the road. But if you’re at the vet with a sick pet right now, bear in mind that your current visit won’t be covered because like other pet insurance providers, we don’t cover pre-existing conditions. Your pet will be covered for eligible claims once they’re enrolled and the waiting period has passed. Just another reason to sign up today.
Can you get pet insurance if your pet is already sick?
Pre-existing conditions are usually not covered by pet insurance. This is any condition that your pet shows signs of, or occurs before you enroll or during the waiting period of up to 15 days.
The good news: if your pet has an injury or illness and then goes 12 months without signs, symptoms or treatment, that injury or illness is considered curable and is eligible for coverage. Curable pre-existing conditions can include UTIs, respiratory infections and broken bones.
Are some cat and dog breeds not covered by insurance?
Fetch Pet Insurance welcomes all dogs and cats 6 weeks and older and covers any new conditions for all breeds.
How quickly does pet insurance work?
Once you’re enrolled with a pet insurance provider, there’s a waiting period of 15 days before accident & illness coverage begins. Any accident, injury or illness that occurs during this waiting period will not be covered. There is no waiting period for Fetch Wellness (if added). Wellness can be used on or after the effective date of your pet’s policy.
A Forbes Advisor survey of 2,000 dog and cat owners found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of pet owners said inflation has made it more difficult to pay a surprise vet bill. A vet bill of $999 or less would cause 42% of pet owners to go into debt, while a vet bill of $499 or less would cause 28% of pet owners to go into debt.