Pet Insurance Comparison: 7 Insurers Side by Side on the Facts

How to compare pet insurance plans

Compare pet insurance in two steps: first the features that decide whether a claim gets paid, then the price for identical settings. The tables below cover the first step for seven large US insurers. The last sections show how to make quotes comparable.

Every cell comes from the insurer’s own page or a NerdWallet or Forbes Advisor review we opened on October 4, 2026. This is not a ranking. Rules change and often vary by state, so confirm details in the sample policy before you buy. All seven sell accident-and-illness plans for dogs and cats.

Pet insurance comparison chart: waiting periods and age limits

A waiting period is the time between buying a policy and when coverage starts for a given type of problem. Anything that shows up during it is usually treated as pre-existing. Orthopedic waiting periods apply to bone and joint problems such as torn knee ligaments or hip dysplasia.

Insurer	Accidents	Illnesses	Orthopedic	Enrollment age
Lemonade (43 states and DC)	0 days	14 days	30 days	From 2 months; maximum not stated on its site
Trupanion	5 days	30 days	No separate period	Minimum not listed; enroll before 14th birthday
Healthy Paws	15 days (none in some states)	15 days	12 months for hip dysplasia in most states	8 weeks to before 14th birthday in most states
Embrace	None	14 days	Varies by state; NerdWallet cites 180 days for dogs	From 6 weeks; age 15 and up accident-only
Pets Best	3 days	14 days	6 months for cruciate ligament issues	From 7 weeks; no upper limit
Spot	14 days	14 days	No separate period listed	From 8 weeks; no upper limit
ASPCA	14 days	14 days	No extended period	From 8 weeks; no upper limit

The orthopedic column varies the most. Healthy Paws also notes that in 16 states, including California, Florida and Washington, the hip dysplasia wait is 30 days and can be waived with an exam. Trupanion says it does not set different waiting periods for specific conditions or pet ages. Our waiting periods guide explains how these play out on claims.

Comparison of reimbursement, deductibles and annual limits

The reimbursement rate is the share of each eligible bill the insurer returns. The deductible is what you pay before it starts. The annual limit is the most it pays in a year.

Insurer	Reimbursement options	Deductible options	Annual limit options
Lemonade	70%, 80%, 90%	Shown in the quote; not listed on its public pages	Shown in the quote; not listed on its public pages
Trupanion	90% only	$0 to $1,000, per condition for life	No annual or lifetime limit
Healthy Paws	50% to 90%, depending on pet and state	$100 to $5,000 per year	$5,000, $7,000 or unlimited
Embrace	70%, 80%, 90%	$100 to $1,000 per year	$2,000 to unlimited
Pets Best	70%, 80%, 90%	$100 to $1,000 per year	$5,000, $10,000 or unlimited
Spot	70%, 80%, 90%	$100 to $1,000 per year	$2,500 to unlimited
ASPCA	70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500 or $750 per year	$2,500 to unlimited

Two structures stand out. Trupanion’s deductible applies once per condition for the pet’s life, rather than once a year, as our deductible guide explains. Healthy Paws warns that the annual limit you choose at enrollment can never be increased later in the policy’s life, so pick it carefully.

Comparison of direct vet pay, wellness add-ons and exam fees

These three features change how much cash you need on the day and what routine costs you carry. A wellness add-on is an optional package that pays set amounts toward checkups, vaccines and similar routine care. An exam fee is the vet’s charge for examining a sick or injured pet.

Insurer	Pays the vet directly	Wellness add-on	Exam fees for sick visits
Lemonade	No; you pay, then get reimbursed	Yes, Preventative Care packages	Optional add-on
Trupanion	Yes, if the vet uses its software	No	Not covered
Healthy Paws	On request, approved before treatment	No	Not covered
Embrace	No; reimburses you	Yes, Wellness Rewards	Optional add-on
Pets Best	Yes, if the vet signs a release form	Yes, two wellness plans	Costs extra
Spot	No; reimburses you	Yes, two preventive packages	Included
ASPCA	No; reimburses you	Yes, Basic and Prime packages	Included

Exam fees matter more than they look. CareCredit puts the national average emergency exam at $135 for dogs and $143 for cats, and a pet with a long illness may see the vet many times. Direct vet pay matters if a large bill would be hard to cover before reimbursement arrives; our direct vet pay guide covers how each system works.

How to compare pet insurance quotes fairly

Set the same deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit for every quote. Otherwise you are comparing different products, not different prices. Forbes Advisor’s rate data shows how big the gap can be: the average dog policy costs $56 a month with a $5,000 annual limit and $87 with an unlimited limit, both at a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement.

A simple method:

1. Pick one combination you could live with, such as a $250 or $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and a $5,000 or higher limit.
2. Enter the same pet details, ZIP code and settings with each insurer.
3. Where an insurer cannot match a setting exactly, note the difference. For example, Trupanion only offers 90% reimbursement, and ASPCA’s highest deductible is $750.
4. Add the cost of any extras you would need to match the others, such as an exam fee add-on.
5. Compare the yearly price, not just the monthly one.

Then project forward. Prices rise as pets age; our dog insurance cost guide shows one quote nearly quintupling between ages 4 and 12. Ask each insurer how renewals are priced.

What a comparison chart can’t show you

A chart can’t show how each insurer handles pre-existing conditions, meaning problems that showed signs before coverage began. All exclude them, but rules for curable conditions, ones that can fully heal like an infection, differ. NerdWallet reports ASPCA and Spot may cover a curable condition after 180 symptom-free days, while Embrace, Figo and Healthy Paws use 12 months. Incurable conditions, like diabetes or allergies, are rarely covered.

Also check bilateral condition rules. A bilateral condition affects paired body parts, such as both knees. NerdWallet notes some insurers exclude both sides if one side had a problem before enrollment. Our pre-existing conditions guide goes deeper, and our guide to whether pet insurance is a scam covers why claims get denied.

Questions to ask each insurer before you buy

Read the sample policy, and ask these if the answer isn’t clear:

• Is the deductible annual or per condition?
• Is the deductible taken before or after the reimbursement rate?
• Are exam fees, dental illness and prescription food covered, or add-ons?
• How long is the orthopedic waiting period in my state, and can an exam waive it?
• After how many symptom-free months will a curable condition be covered?
• How are premiums set at renewal?

Our planned guide on how pet insurance works will walk through a claim from start to finish.

Bottom line

A fair pet insurance comparison starts with features, then price. Across these seven insurers, illness waiting periods run 14 to 30 days, orthopedic rules range from no extra wait to 12 months, and only three can pay the vet directly. Exam fees, wellness add-ons and age limits also differ. Quote every insurer with the same deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit, then confirm the details in each sample policy for your state.