Compare Pet Insurance Companies
#1 Featured Pick: Trupanion. Compare Trupanion with Pets Best, Fetch, Embrace, Spot, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, MetLife Pet, Healthy Paws, AKC Pet Insurance, Lemonade, Figo and Pumpkin.
Reviewed September 2, 2026. Plan availability, pricing, limits and state-specific terms can change. Always confirm the quote and policy wording directly with the insurer.
#1 Featured Pick: Trupanion
Trupanion is our featured first option on this comparison because its policy structure is unusually easy to distinguish from the crowd: a lifetime per-condition deductible, 90% reimbursement on eligible covered costs after the deductible, no annual or lifetime payout limit on eligible covered costs, and VetDirect Pay at participating hospitals.
That structure can be particularly attractive for owners worried about expensive chronic conditions or major specialty-hospital bills. It is not automatically the cheapest or best fit for every dog, so compare the quote, exclusions, waiting periods and deductible against the other providers below.
Check Trupanion Coverage & Quote ↗
Affiliate disclosure: The Dog Atlas may earn a commission if you use this Trupanion link. This does not change your price.
Quick Shortlist by Priority
If you already know what matters most to you, use this as a fast filter before reviewing the provider cards below.
| If your priority is… | Companies worth checking first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Our featured first comparison | Trupanion | Distinct lifetime per-condition deductible, 90% reimbursement, no payout caps on eligible covered costs, and direct-pay capability at participating vets. |
| Direct vet payment | Trupanion, Pets Best | Trupanion can pay participating vets at checkout; Pets Best offers an optional direct-pay process. |
| Unlimited annual coverage option | Trupanion, Pets Best, Embrace, Figo, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, MetLife Pet | Each currently offers an unlimited option in at least some plan configurations. |
| Highest reimbursement option | Figo | Figo currently advertises a 100% reimbursement option where available. |
| Very customizable plan design | Pets Best, Embrace, MetLife Pet, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Lemonade | These providers let buyers adjust several combinations of deductible, reimbursement and annual limits. |
| Lifetime per-condition deductible | Trupanion | Unlike the common annual-deductible model, the deductible applies once per condition for the pet's lifetime. |
| Optional wellness / preventive care | Pets Best, Fetch, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, MetLife Pet, AKC Pet Insurance, Lemonade, Figo | These providers offer or advertise optional routine/preventive-care products. |
Compare Major Pet Insurance Providers
Use these provider cards as the main comparison. Each one summarizes the deductible structure, reimbursement, annual limit, payment method and wellness options, with Trupanion shown first as the featured pick.
#1 Trupanion
Worth comparing if direct vet payment and unlimited eligible payouts are priorities.
Deductible: Lifetime per-condition deductible; currently shown as $0–$1,000.
Reimbursement: 90% of eligible covered costs after the deductible.
Pets Best
Flexible plan design with several deductible, reimbursement and annual-limit choices.
Deductible: Annual deductible; current dog plans show $100–$1,000 options.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Fetch
Notable for broad policy features and optional wellness coverage.
Deductible: Annual deductible; online recommendations can vary by pet and may range widely.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Embrace
Highly customizable annual limit, deductible and reimbursement structure.
Deductible: Annual deductible; current dog plans show $200–$1,000.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Spot
Useful to compare if you care about how deductible-first reimbursement changes claim math.
Deductible: Annual deductible selected at enrollment.
Reimbursement: Selected reimbursement rate applied after deductible under Spot's deductible-first method.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Straightforward annual-deductible model with customizable reimbursement and annual limits.
Deductible: Annual deductible; commonly $100, $250 or $500.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%.
MetLife Pet
Worth checking for broad customization and multi-pet/family-plan options.
Deductible: Customizable deductible; availability varies by state and plan.
Reimbursement: Customizable options up to 90% on current consumer plans.
Healthy Paws
Simple accident-and-illness focus with an annual-deductible reimbursement model.
Deductible: Annual deductible.
Reimbursement: Based on the reimbursement option selected for the policy.
AKC Pet Insurance
Modular plan structure with optional add-ons and coverage choices.
Deductible: Annual deductible shown on the policy declarations page.
Reimbursement: Coinsurance/reimbursement varies with the selected plan.
Lemonade
App-led experience with customizable deductible, reimbursement and annual-limit choices.
Deductible: Annual deductible; current options shown as $100, $250, $500 or $750 depending on plan/state.
Reimbursement: 70%, 80% or 90%.
Figo
Worth comparing if a 100% reimbursement option or unlimited-benefit plan matters to you.
Deductible: Annual deductible.
Reimbursement: Plan options include reimbursement up to 100% where available.
Pumpkin
Compare the actual quote carefully because deductible, reimbursement and annual limits are selection-dependent.
Deductible: Annual deductible selected at enrollment.
Reimbursement: Selected reimbursement percentage after the deductible.
How to Compare Quotes Correctly
Start by normalizing the variables. If one insurer is quoted at 90% reimbursement with an unlimited annual limit and another at 70% reimbursement with a $5,000 cap, the monthly premiums are not meaningfully comparable. Set the reimbursement, deductible and annual cap as close as possible across providers. Then compare what is excluded, how the deductible resets and whether exam fees, rehabilitation, dental illness, behavioral treatment, prescription food or alternative therapies are included.
Next, model a claim that actually matters for your breed. For a Dachshund, that might be an IVDD workup with MRI, surgery and hospitalization. For a French Bulldog, it might be airway surgery or chronic dermatology. For a Great Dane, it might be a GDV emergency. Ask how the policy would treat diagnostics, specialist fees, surgery, aftercare and rehabilitation. A policy that looks cheap on a routine ear infection can behave very differently during a $10,000 specialty-hospital episode.
Finally, check the insurer's definition of pre-existing conditions and waiting periods. Those two sections often matter more than the marketing page. If your dog already has symptoms, repeated clinical notes or a previous diagnosis, do not assume a new policy will cover the next related claim.
Annual Deductible vs Lifetime Per-Condition Deductible
Most providers on this page use an annual deductible. You meet it once during the policy year, then eligible claims are reimbursed according to your coinsurance until renewal. That can work well when a dog has several unrelated problems in one year because you are not starting a new deductible for each condition.
Trupanion uses a different model: a lifetime per-condition deductible. You meet the deductible for each new covered condition, but after it is met, that same condition does not trigger another deductible in later years. That structure can be attractive for chronic conditions, but a dog that develops several unrelated problems may trigger several different deductibles. Neither structure is universally superior. It depends on the pattern of claims.
Do Not Ignore the Annual Limit
A $5,000 annual cap can disappear quickly during cancer treatment, emergency abdominal surgery, neurology, orthopedic surgery or several hospital stays in the same year. Unlimited coverage costs more, but it removes one particular form of catastrophic exposure. If you choose a capped policy to keep premiums lower, treat the cap as part of your emergency-fund calculation rather than assuming insurance has removed the risk.
Pet Insurance Company Comparison FAQs
Which pet insurance company is best?
There is no universal winner. The better policy is the one whose deductible, reimbursement, annual limit, exclusions, waiting periods and payment method fit your dog and your budget.
Is Trupanion better than Pets Best?
They use materially different structures. Trupanion uses a lifetime per-condition deductible and can pay participating vets directly, while Pets Best uses an annual deductible with multiple reimbursement and annual-limit options. Compare how each structure behaves under the claims you are most worried about.
Which pet insurance company pays the vet directly?
Trupanion's VetDirect Pay can pay participating hospitals at checkout. Pets Best also offers an optional direct-pay process after claim processing. Most other insurers primarily reimburse the owner after the vet bill is paid.
Which pet insurance has unlimited annual coverage?
Several providers offer an unlimited annual option, including Trupanion, Pets Best, Embrace, Figo, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance and MetLife Pet in at least some current plan configurations. Availability can vary by state and pet.
Which company has the highest reimbursement?
Most major providers commonly offer reimbursement up to 90%. Figo currently advertises a 100% reimbursement option on some plans. Higher reimbursement normally means a higher premium.
Should I choose a low deductible?
A lower deductible can reduce what you pay before reimbursement begins, but usually increases the premium. Choose a deductible you could actually afford during an emergency.
Is an annual deductible better than a per-condition deductible?
Neither is always better. An annual deductible can be simpler when a pet has multiple unrelated claims in one year. A lifetime per-condition deductible can be attractive for expensive chronic conditions because you do not reset that deductible every year for the same condition.
Should I buy wellness coverage?
Wellness products are usually budgeting tools for predictable routine care rather than insurance against catastrophic loss. Compare the annual cost with the scheduled benefits before adding one.
Do pet insurers cover pre-existing conditions?
Most standard accident-and-illness policies exclude pre-existing conditions. Definitions differ, and some providers distinguish curable from incurable conditions, so read the policy language carefully.
Do breed-specific health problems affect coverage?
They can. Hereditary and congenital coverage, orthopedic waiting periods and pre-existing-condition rules are especially important for breeds with known high-cost conditions.
Should I compare premiums or coverage first?
Coverage structure first. A cheap premium is not useful if the policy has a low annual cap, excludes exam fees you care about, or handles the breed's likely risks poorly.
How often should I re-check this comparison?
At least once before renewal or whenever the insurer changes its plan. Pet-insurance terms, pricing, waiting periods and available options change over time and by state.
Official Sources Used for This Comparison
This comparison was reviewed against current insurer information available in September 2026. Use the official provider links above to confirm state-specific terms before buying. Insurance products change far faster than SEO pages, because apparently contracts enjoy evolving too.