Pets Best Pet Insurance Review 2022 (2024)

This table is not a comprehensive summary of covered services. Please see your policy documents or contact the company to learn more.

Available Riders/Add-Ons

Pets Best’s main plan has three different tiers: Essential, Plus, and Elite. Purchasing Plus over Essentials adds coverage for exam fees and purchasing Elite over Plus further adds coverage for acupuncture, chiropractic care, and rehabilitation.

Also, available are wellness plans that add coverage for routine care that is not otherwise covered. Wellness coverage reimburses you up to an annual benefit limit for common procedures like microchipping, wellness exams, and some vaccines.

There are two levels to the wellness plan: Essential and Best. With the Essential Wellness plan, the maximum annual benefit is $305. With the Best Wellness plan, the maximum annual benefit is $535.

Waiting Periods

Like other companies, Pets Best has waiting periods before accidents or injuries are covered. The waiting periods begin after the policy effective date.

• Illnesses: 14 days
• Injuries: 3 days
• Cruciate ligament conditions: 6 months

The wellness plans have no waiting periods.

Cancellation Policy

Pets Best offers a 30-day free look period to give you a chance to try a plan. You can decide to cancel your policy within that period and receive a full refund of all premiums paid.

Once the free look period ends, you can cancel your policy by contacting Pets Best. You’ll be issued a prorated refund based on the cancellation date.

Plan Exclusions

Like other insurers, Pets Best doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. It also excludes bilateral conditions, meaning if your pet is diagnosed with a condition on one side of the body—such as a torn ACL or cataracts—treatment for the other side will not be covered.

Pets Best’s policies don’t cover foods, vitamins, diets, or supplements.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Pets Best defines a pre-existing condition as any issue that was evident during the 18 months before your pet was enrolled in a policy. Any conditions that were diagnosed during that time—or during the policy waiting period—are pre-existing and excluded from coverage.

Plan Pricing

Pet insurance policies from Pets Best have two annual benefit maximum options:

• $5,000
• Unlimited

For accident and illness and accident-only plans, you can choose a reimbursem*nt percentage of 70%, 80%, or 90%. Annual deductibles range from $50 to $1,000.

In general, we found Pets Best’s premiums to be in line with industry averages (using average costs for three pet personas: two dogs and a cat). And it offers a 5% multi-pet discount, potentially lowering your premiums.

How Premiums Are Set

There are several factors that affect your pet’s premiums:

• Species: Cats are generally less expensive than dogs to insure.
• Breed: Purebred animals are usually more expensive to insure than mixed breeds, and breeds that are prone to hereditary issues have higher premiums.
• Age: Your premiums will increase as your pet ages as they become more likely to develop health issues.
• Location: Premiums can vary by state and zip code. Areas with a higher cost of living—and higher veterinary costs—will usually have more expensive premiums.
• Benefits: You can usually adjust your premiums by changing your annual benefit limit, reimbursem*nt percentage, and deductible.

Claims

With Pets Best, you must submit claims within 180 days of the treatment date. You can submit a claim through the customer portal (online or in the mobile app) or you can download the form and submit it by email, fax, or mail.

To file a claim, you need to submit the veterinary invoice and, upon request, supply all of your pet’s medical records.

If your claim is approved, reimbursem*nt will be sent via check or direct deposit. Direct deposit arrives in as little as two days. You can expect payment in five to seven days after your claim is approved, if you select a check.

Veterinary Direct Pay

Pets Best is one of the few pet insurers that offers veterinary direct pay. If you make prior arrangements, you can have Pets Best pay your veterinarian directly, eliminating the need to pay for your pet's care upfront and wait for reimbursem*nt.

To take advantage of this feature you must make arrangements ahead of time, and your vet must complete Pets Best’s form.

Customer Service

Pets Best’s customer service center is available via phone or chat.

Customer support can be reached by phone at (877) 738-7237 during the following hours:

• Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. MST
• Saturdays from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m. MST

Third-Party Ratings

Pets Best’s policies are underwritten by the American Pet Insurance Company (APIC). APIC has been evaluated and rated by Demotech, a credit rating agency focused on insurance companies. APIC has an “A” (Unsurpassed) rating, meaning it is likely to be able to honor current and future claims.

Customers generally have positive things to say about Pets Best. The company has received over 2,800 reviews on Trustpilot and it has a TrustScore of 4.0 out of 5, giving it a “Great” rating. Reviews highlight quick claims processing, responsive customer service, and a straightforward application process.

We found similar opinions in our independent survey of pet insurance customers. One Pets Best client said they chose it due to its “pricing and ease of signing up.” Another chose it for the prices and coverage options.

Alternative Choices

Many companies offer pet insurance, and they all have different policy structures, exclusions, and rates. As you compare insurers, consider the following variables to make an informed decision:

• Payment method: Throughout the pet insurance industry, claims are usually handled through reimbursem*nt; you’re responsible for paying for your pet’s care at the time it's provided, then you can submit a claim. If the insurer approves the claim, it will send you a reimbursem*nt check for eligible expenses, or issue you the money via direct deposit. However, there are a few companies—including Pets Best—that will pay your veterinarian directly.
• Exclusions: Each insurance company has its own coverages and exclusions, so read the policy documents carefully to ensure you get the coverage you need for your pet.
• Waiting periods: Most pet insurance companies have waiting periods before they will cover treatments for qualifying injuries or illnesses. Waiting periods can range from a few days to several months, so be sure to understand when coverage will actually go into effect.
• Annual and condition limits: Before choosing a plan, pay attention to the benefit limits. Some companies have annual or lifetime limits, while others have per-condition limits, covering only up to a certain amount for certain illnesses or injuries.

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