ASPCA Pet Insurance

Short answer: the U.S. pet insurance brands I’d actually put on your quote list

If you’re in the United States, I’d start with Trupanion, Pets Best, Lemonade, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Spot, and MetLife Pet. Add Nationwide if you want a very large legacy insurer or have an employer discount, but compare carefully because its U.S. pet-insurance premiums declined in 2025 while it was “pulling back” in the category. (spglobal.com)

Pet insurance is still a relatively small but real market: NAPHIA says 7.6 million pets were insured in North America at the end of 2025, and its data represents about 99% of written pet health-insurance premium in the U.S. and Canada. (naphia.org)

My top recommendations

My practical “quote set”

For most U.S. pet owners, I’d get quotes from at least 4 of these:

1. Trupanion — if you care most about catastrophic coverage and not fronting huge bills.
2. Pets Best — if you want flexible pricing and plan design.
3. Lemonade — if available in your state and you want a digital/value option.
4. ASPCA or Spot — for broad, conventional accident-and-illness coverage.
5. MetLife — if you have 2–3 pets.
6. Nationwide — if you have an employer discount or want to compare a legacy insurer.

Quick buying tips

• Buy early if you’re going to buy at all. Most pet insurance excludes pre-existing conditions, and waiting periods commonly apply before coverage starts. The NAIC model defines pre-existing conditions as conditions present before the policy effective date or during a waiting period. (content.naic.org)
• Compare the same settings: annual limit, deductible, reimbursement rate, exam-fee coverage, dental illness, hereditary conditions, rehab/alternative therapy, and prescription food.
• Don’t overvalue wellness add-ons. They’re often budgeting tools, not true catastrophic insurance. NerdWallet also cautions that wellness plans may not be worth the extra cost unless the reimbursements exceed what you’d otherwise pay. (nerdwallet.com)
• Expect premiums to rise as your pet ages and as vet costs rise in your area.
• Call your vet if direct pay matters. Trupanion’s direct-pay feature is valuable only if your hospital accepts it.

Best Pet Insurance Companies in the U.S. (2026)

Based on multiple independent reviews from major consumer sources, here are the top pet insurance brands that are actually popular and well-regarded among U.S. pet owners:

🏆 Top Overall Picks

1. Lemonade Pet Insurance Consistently ranked #1 across several rating agencies. U.S. News rates it No. 1 in their best pet insurance companies rating, after researching 20 companies, surveying hundreds of customers, and analyzing thousands of policy features. It earns top marks for customer satisfaction, coverage options, cost, and reducing the stress of vet visits — customers say it made veterinary visits easier and less stressful. Great for budget-conscious owners, and you can bundle it with renters insurance for a 10% discount.

2. Pumpkin Pumpkin is rated as "Best for Customer Satisfaction," with monthly costs around $107.92 for dogs and $54.14 for cats, and coverage limits ranging from $5,000 to unlimited. It's also a top pick for cat owners specifically — Pumpkin scores 4.75 out of 5 due to its top-ranked customer experience combined with a competitive $19/month average rate.

3. Prudent Pet A newer but highly-rated contender. Forbes found the Prudent Pet Essential plan to be their top-scoring plan due to very competitive prices, comprehensive coverage, and high customer satisfaction, giving it a 5.0-star overall rating.

4. Pets Best The Pets Best Elite plan offers below-average costs and the ability to pay your vet directly, which helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses — a big plus since most insurers only reimburse after you pay.

🐾 Best for Specific Needs

• Embrace – Best for customization: Pet owners praise Embrace for customizable accident and illness coverage, optional wellness benefits, and fast, straightforward reimbursements.
• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance – Best for accident-only plans: Reviewers say ASPCA pays vet bills quickly after accidents and injuries, calling claims fast and a meaningful help with vet costs.
• Healthy Paws – Best for puppies/kittens and big claims: Healthy Paws offers unlimited coverage, which is key for expensive surgeries such as hip dysplasia.
• MetLife – Best for multi-pet households: MetLife is known for its broad accident and illness coverage, and it allows up to three pets on one deductible.
• Trupanion – Known industry-wide for direct vet payment, alongside Pets Best and Healthy Paws, which all offer services to pay your veterinarian directly.
• Fetch – Strong for wellness add-ons: it was named "Best for Wellness Coverage" by U.S. News & World Report in 2025 and named Best Pet Insurance Provider by Newsweek's Readers' Choice in 2026.

💰 Typical Monthly Costs (Dogs/Cats)

Based on sample data: Lemonade ($38–46 / $21–28), Figo ($47 / $14), MetLife ($45–50 / $18–27), and Nationwide (~$20 flat for both).

My Takeaway

If you want the best all-around value and app experience, Lemonade is the most frequently recommended starting point. If your pet is prone to big claims (large breed dogs, chronic conditions), Healthy Paws or Pumpkin's unlimited plans are worth the higher premium. If c

Choosing the best pet insurance in the United States comes down to finding a balance between monthly premiums, deductible structures, and how easily (and quickly) the company pays you back.

With skyrocketing veterinary inflation, pet parents are looking for brands that actually deliver on claims without administrative headaches. Here are the top pet insurance companies that Americans actually use, categorized by what they do best.

1. Trupanion: Best for Instant Payments & Chronic Conditions

• The Reputation: Trupanion is a premium-tier provider and one of the largest, most established names in the industry.
• Why People Actually Use It: Vet Direct Pay. If your vet uses Trupanion’s software, Trupanion can pay your vet instantly at checkout. You only have to pay your share (e.g., your 10% co-pay) out of pocket, which is a massive relief during a high-dollar emergency.
• The Unique Catch: Trupanion uses a per-condition deductible rather than an annual deductible. This means if your dog develops diabetes or hip dysplasia, you only pay the deductible once for that lifetime condition. However, if your pet goes to the vet for three unrelated issues in a year, you must meet three separate deductibles.
• Best For: Pet owners who want unlimited lifetime coverage and don’t want to put thousands of dollars on a personal credit card while waiting weeks for reimbursement.

2. Lemonade: Best for Tight Budgets & Tech-Savvy Owners

• The Reputation: Lemonade regularly ranks as a top "budget-friendly" pick by publications like Forbes and NerdWallet.
• Why People Actually Use It: It is cheap, fast, and digital. Lemonade operates primarily through an app, utilizing an AI claims bot that can process and approve simple claims (like vaccinations or routine tests) in seconds.
• The Unique Catch: Because of its heavy reliance on AI, complicated claims can sometimes feel a bit rigid during the appeal process. Additionally, its coverage is not available in every single U.S. state.
• Best For: Younger pets (puppies and kittens), people who love managing things via an app, and those looking to bundle with Lemonade renters, home, or car insurance for a steep discount.

3. Embrace: Best All-Around for Flexibility

• The Reputation: Embrace is consistently rated as one of the most reliable and highly rated consumer choices on Reddit and review sites.
• Why People Actually Use It: It has some of the most flexible customization options in the industry (allowing you to perfectly tune your deductible, reimbursement, and limit to fit your budget). Embrace also offers a Healthy Pet Deductible, which reduces your annual deductible by $50 for every year you don't receive a claim payout.
• The Unique Catch: While they are highly reliable, their claims process can sometimes take slightly longer to pay out compared to automated apps.
• Best For: Pet parents looking for a highly customizable policy from a company with stellar customer service and 24/7 telehealth vet access.

4. Pets Best: Best Value for Broad Coverage

• The Reputation: Highly rated for its comprehensive coverage of things like physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care without requiring expensive riders.
• Why People Actually Use It: It is significantly cheaper than Trupanion while still offering an optional "Vet Direct Pay" service. They also do not impose upper age limits, making them popular for older pets.
• The Unique Catch: Historically, user reviews on Reddit note that Pets Best can suffer from slow claims processing times (sometimes taking 2 to 4 weeks during peak seasons).
• Best For: Owners who want premium-level coverage benefits (including exam fee coverage and mobility treatments) at a mid-tier price point.

5. MetLife Pet Insurance: Best for Multi-Pet Families & Discounts

• The Reputation: MetLife is praised for having the most robust list of potential discounts in the U.S. market.
• Why People Actually Use It: They offer a family plan that lets you insure multiple pets under a single policy with a shared annual deductible and coverage pool. This is much cheaper and easier to manage than opening separate policies for three different cats or dogs.
• The Unique Catch: Like many traditional corporate insurers, the signup and portal experience can feel slightly old-school compared to modern, app-first startups.
• Best For: Multi-pet households, military members, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and federal employees who qualify for their 10% group discounts.

6. Nationwide: Best for Birds, Reptiles & Exotic Pets

• The Reputation: As the oldest pet insurer in the country, Nationwide has massive scale.
• Why People Actually Use It: It is practically the only major, mainstream U.S. insurance provider that covers exotic pets. If you have a parrot, a bearded dragon, a rabbit, or a miniature pig, Nationwide is your default option.
• Best For: Anyone who owns non-traditional pets or wants to manage a diverse household (e.g., a dog, a cat, and a snake) under one insurance roof.

Key Insider Tips for US Pet Parents (2026)

• Pre-Existing Conditions: No major U.S. pet insurance company covers active, chronic pre-existing conditions (e.g., diabetes or diagnosed hip dysplasia). However, some companies like ASPCA Pet Health Insurance or AKC Pet Insurance will cover "curable" pre-existing conditions (like a past ear infection or urinary tract infection) if your pet has been symptom- and treatment-free for a certain period (usually 180 to 365 days).
• Request a Medical History Review: The day you sign up for any policy, ask the company to perform a "medical history review." They will pull your pet’s veterinary records (known as SOAP notes) and tell you exactly what they consider to be a "pre-existing condition" before you pay months of premiums only to have a future claim denied.
• Say "No" to Routine Wellness Add-ons (Usually): Most providers offer a "wellness" or "preventative" add-on for things like annual checkups, flea/tick meds, and vaccines. In most cases, these are dollar-for-dollar matches; you pay the insurance company $25 a month to get $300 of annual wellness care. Unless you struggle to budget for annual vet visits, you are usually better off paying for preventative care out of pocket and saving your insurance for unexpected accidents and illnesses.

If you want the best-known pet insurance brands in the U.S. that people actually buy and that repeatedly show up in major rankings, the strongest names are Pets Best, Pumpkin, Lemonade, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Embrace, MetLife, Nationwide, and Spot.

Here’s a practical short list by what each is commonly best at:

If you want the best “default” picks, I’d narrow it to:

• Best overall mainstream pick: Pets Best
• Best overall for broad coverage: Pumpkin
• Best budget-friendly option: Lemonade
• Best for customization: Spot
• Best legacy brand: Nationwide

A few important points before buying:

• Pet insurance typically does not cover pre-existing conditions.
• Many reviews score companies differently because of tradeoffs in price, coverage, vet choice, reimbursement, and claims experience.
• The “best” insurer depends on whether you have a dog or cat, age of pet, breed, and whether you want accident-only, accident-and-illness, or wellness add-ons.

If you want, I can also give you a ranked top 5 by value, best for dogs, best for cats, or cheapest good options.

There isn’t one “best” pet insurer for everyone—it depends on your pet’s age, breed, ZIP code, vet, budget, and what you want covered. But in the U.S., the companies people most commonly use and recommend are:

Nationwide, Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Embrace, Pets Best, Lemonade, Figo, Fetch by The Dodo, ASPCA, Spot, and MetLife.

Nationwide and Trupanion are among the biggest/most established. Healthy Paws and Embrace are perennial favorites among pet owners. Pets Best and Lemonade are popular for price and app experience. Fetch, Spot, Figo, and ASPCA are solid alternatives.

Top picks by category

If you just want a short list to quote

For a typical U.S. dog or cat, I’d get quotes from:

1. Trupanion — if you want unlimited coverage and direct vet pay.
2. Healthy Paws — if you want a simple unlimited plan.
3. Embrace — if you want customizable coverage and wellness add-ons.
4. Pets Best — if you want a lower-cost comprehensive or accident-only plan.
5. Lemonade — if you want a fast, app-based experience.
6. Nationwide — if you want a large, established insurer or have it through work.

Then compare Fetch, Spot, Figo, and ASPCA if you want more options.

How to compare plans

Use the same settings across companies, like:

• 90% reimbursement
• $500 annual deductible
• Unlimited annual limit if available

Then check:

• Does it cover exam fees?
• Does it cover hereditary/congenital conditions?
• Does it cover dental illness and behavioral issues?
• What are the waiting periods?
• Are there annual limits?
• Can you use any vet?
• Does it offer direct vet pay?
• How much does the premium increase as your pet ages?

Rough monthly cost

For a young adult dog, many comprehensive plans run roughly $30–$70/month. Cats are often $15–$40/month. Older pets, certain breeds, and high-cost ZIP codes can be much more.

Bottom line

For most people in the U.S., the best starting point is to get quotes from Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Embrace, Pets Best, and Lemonade. If you want a big brand or employer option, add Nationwide. If you need more customization or have an older pet, also check Fetch, Spot, Figo, and ASPCA. Pre-existing conditions are almost never covered, so the best time to buy is when your pet is young and healthy.

There is no single "best" pet insurance company in the US, as it depends on your pet’s age, breed, health history, your budget, desired coverage (e.g., unlimited annual benefits, dental illness, behavioral issues, holistic care), reimbursement rate, deductible, and priorities like fast claims or multi-pet discounts.

Review sites (Forbes Advisor, NerdWallet, MarketWatch, Money, etc.) evaluate based on coverage breadth, customer satisfaction, pricing/value, claims experience, and features. Consumer Reports’ 2025 survey of thousands of policyholders found overall satisfaction is generally middling across providers—many feel policies are “worth it” (over 50% very/completely satisfied), but enthusiasm for specifics like claims ease or reimbursement is lower.

Popular Providers People Actually Use

Market data (premiums written, penetration) shows concentration among a few players. Leading ones by estimated market share or direct premiums include:

• Trupanion — Often the largest by premiums/market share (around 20-30% in recent data); known for high reimbursement (typically 90%) and no annual limits, but premiums can be higher.
• Nationwide — Longtime major player with broad options (including exotics) and significant share, though some reports note recent pullbacks in certain segments.
• Embrace, Fetch (Petplan), and others like those under larger groups (e.g., JAB Holdings/Independence Pet) also rank high in volume.

These are widely used, but “best-rated” lists often highlight value and features over sheer size.

Top-Rated Recommendations (Consensus from 2025–2026 Reviews)

Here are frequently top-mentioned providers across recent analyses (as of late 2026 data). These are popular choices with strong showings in expert reviews for coverage, satisfaction, or value:

• Embrace — Often praised as a top overall pick for comprehensive coverage (including wellness add-ons like grooming/training), unlimited options in some plans, diminishing deductibles, dental, and solid customer satisfaction. Good for broader protection.
• Spot — Frequently highlighted for customizable plans, strong perks (e.g., fast claims processing in some reviews), no upper age limits, and good all-around coverage. Popular for flexibility.
• ASPCA Pet Health Insurance — Tops or near-tops lists (e.g., NerdWallet) for comprehensive coverage, affordability in samples, and options like accident-only plans. Strong for overall value and lifelong coverage.
• Pets Best — Noted for competitive pricing, direct vet pay options (helpful for reducing out-of-pocket), variety of plans, and solid performance for dogs. Often a value pick.
• Lemonade — Best budget/app-based option in multiple reviews; low premiums, fast digital claims, discounts (multi-pet, bundling), and good for younger/healthy pets. High marks for customer experience and price-value.
• Fetch — Strong for dental coverage (including illness on all teeth), behavioral issues, and broad perks like telehealth or extras (e.g., boarding reimbursement). Frequently scores high overall.
• Pumpkin — Good for comprehensive plans covering hereditary conditions, dental, and alternative therapies; often recommended for value or younger pets.

Other notables:

• MetLife — Strong multi-pet discounts and coverage variety.
• Healthy Paws — Excellent for holistic/alternative care and unlimited lifetime benefits.
• Figo and AKC — Stand out for reimbursement flexibility or pre-existing condition handling in specific scenarios.

Key Tips for Choosing and Using Pet Insurance

• Get personalized quotes from 3+ providers (rates vary widely by pet details, location, and plan—e.g., dogs often cost more than cats; averages cited in reviews range from ~$30–$100+/month depending on coverage).
• Check waiting periods, pre-existing condition exclusions (most don’t cover them), reimbursement % (70–90% common), annual/per-incident limits, and wellness/routine care add-ons (separate from accident/illness).
• Look at customer reviews for claims speed and service on sites like Trustpilot or the company’s own data.
• Market penetration is still low (~4% of US pets insured), so options are growing but shop carefully.

Compare current quotes directly on provider sites or aggregators, as offerings and pricing change. Factors like your pet’s specific needs (e.g., breed predispositions) matter most.

The top pet insurance companies in the U.S.—based on independent rankings, customer satisfaction, and real-world usage—are Lemonade, Pets Best, Pumpkin, Spot, MetLife, Healthy Paws, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Fetch, Embrace, and Prudent Pet.

If you want the short version:

Best overall & best value: Lemonade Best budget: Pets Best Best customer satisfaction: Pumpkin Best for senior pets: Spot Best for comprehensive coverage: ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Best for unlimited payouts: Healthy Paws Best for dental coverage: Fetch Best for discounts: MetLife Best for 24/7 vet help: Embrace Best overall (Forbes): Prudent Pet

🏆 Top Pet Insurance Companies (Based on U.S. News, Forbes, and industry data)

1. Lemonade — Best Overall & Best Value

Lemonade ranks #1 overall in U.S. News for customer satisfaction, coverage options, and cost US News.

Second‑lowest sample premiums 1 Highly customizable plans Up to six optional add‑ons Strong digital experience and fast claims Forbes also ranks Lemonade as best for budget with extremely competitive pricing.

2. Pets Best — Best Budget / Cheapest Plans

Pets Best has the lowest sample premiums in U.S. News’ analysis US News.

Direct vet payment option Three tiers of accident‑and‑illness coverage Accident‑only and wellness add‑ons Forbes highlights its Elite plan for below‑average costs and direct vet pay.

3. Pumpkin — Best for Customer Satisfaction

Pumpkin earns the highest overall customer satisfaction score in U.S. News US News.

Excellent claims experience Strong wellness plan options Offers urgent pay for emergencies Forbes notes Pumpkin’s 10% multipet discount, one of the highest in the industry.

4. Spot — Best for Senior Pets

Spot has no upper age limit and covers end‑of‑life care US News.

Highly customizable Strong coverage for older dogs Forbes praises Spot for all‑around coverage, including behavioral therapy and alternative treatments.

5. MetLife — Best for Short Accident Waiting Period & Best Discounts

MetLife offers zero‑day accident coverage—coverage starts at midnight after enrollment US News.

Covers dogs, cats, and some exotic pets Many discount types (employer, multipet, bundling) 1

6. Healthy Paws — Best for Unlimited Lifetime Payouts

Healthy Paws offers unlimited annual coverage by default US News.

High scores for easy‑to‑understand terms Fast claim settlement Forbes found it has the cheapest unlimited coverage for mixed‑breed dogs.

7. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance — Best for Comprehensive Coverage

ASPCA’s accident‑and‑illness plan includes all 20 coverages U.S. News evaluated US News.

Covers dogs, cats, and horses Shorter waiting period (180 days) for curable preexisting conditions 1

8. Fetch — Best for Dental Coverage

Fetch offers industry‑leading dental coverage, including every tooth and advanced procedures like root canals Forbes.

Three wellness tiers Strong coverage for lost pet advertising and boarding fees

9. Embrace — Best for 24/7 Vet Help

Embrace offers free 24/7 phone, video, and chat vet support Forbes.

Three wellness tiers Longest time to file claims (up to 60 days after policy ends) 1

10. Prudent Pet — Forbes’ Best Overall

Forbes ranks Prudent Pet’s Essential plan as best overall for price, coverage, and satisfaction Forbes.

High customer satisfaction Strong coverage options Competitive pricing

✅ How to Choose the Right Pet Insurance

Consider:

Your pet’s age (Spot, ASPCA, and Healthy Paws are strong for seniors) Budget (Lemonade and Pets Best are the cheapest) Coverage needs (Fetch for dental, ASPCA for comprehensive, MetLife for exotic pets) How fast you want reimbursement (Lemonade and Healthy Paws are fast) Whether you want wellness add‑ons (Pumpkin, Fetch, and Embrace excel here)

❓ Follow‑up question

Would you like me to compare these companies side‑by‑side based on your pet’s age, breed, and budget?

The best pet insurance companies in the United States feature customizable caps, robust accident-and-illness coverage, and high customer satisfaction ratings.

✅ Top Pet Insurance Brands in the U.S.

Trupanion Best for unlimited annual coverage with no payout caps per condition. Monthly cost: $38 to $170 Key feature: Direct vet payment options at participating clinics Pets Best Best for budget-friendly and flexible accident/illness tiers. Monthly cost: ~$30 for dogs, ~$17 for cats Key feature: Optional routine care add-ons and fast claims ASPCA Pet Insurance Best for low deductible choices and broad availability. Monthly cost: $27 to $83 Key feature: Deductibles as low as $100 Lemonade Best for fast digital claims and low starting rates. Monthly cost: Starts around $23 Key feature: AI-driven app for instant claim payouts

📊 Comparison of Popular Options

💡 How to Choose Your Plan

Age Limits: Check if older pets face enrollment caps or reduced coverage. Waiting Periods: Look for shorter injury and illness waiting periods (often 14 days for illness). Hereditary Conditions: Ensure breed-specific issues (like hip dysplasia) are included in the base illness tier.

If you tell me your pet's breed, age, and approximate budget, I can help narrow down the best specific product for your situation.

The best pet insurance companies in the United States based on overall value, popularity, and customer satisfaction include Lemonade, Spot, Pumpkin, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, and Pets Best.

Choosing the right provider depends on your budget, your pet's age, and what specific medical treatments or wellness add-ons you need.

Top Pet Insurance Brands and Their Strengths

Key Factors to Consider When Buying

Pre-existing Conditions: No mainstream U.S. insurance provider covers pre-existing conditions. Enrolling your pet when they are young and healthy is the best way to secure full coverage. Waiting Periods: Most providers enforce a waiting period (often 2 to 14 days for accidents, and up to 14–30 days for illnesses) before coverage begins. Reimbursement & Deductibles: Most companies let you pick your annual deductible (e.g., $100 to $1,000) and your reimbursement rate (typically 70%, 80%, or 90% of the vet bill). Higher deductibles lower your monthly premium. Wellness vs. Accident/Illness: Standard accident-and-illness policies cover unexpected sickness and injuries. Routine checkups, vaccines, and dental cleanings usually require buying a separate "wellness add-on".

You can easily compare personalized rates for your specific animal using a quote comparison tool like Pawlicy Advisor.

If you'd like, let me know:

Your pet's species and breed (dog or cat, and what kind) Your pet's age Whether you want accident-only, illness coverage, or routine wellness care included

I can help you narrow down the best specific brand or estimate expected monthly costs.