Pets Best Insurance Review
Pets Best was created in 2005 by Dr. John Stephens, the founder of the very first pet insurance company in North America. The company’s goal is to take away the financial worry that having a pet causes in order to help customers avoid economic euthanasia. They provide extremely customizable plans and payment options, and pride themselves on short waiting periods and quick reimbursements. Pets Best in ideal for pet owners looking to spend a little extra money to ensure that they are covered if an unfortunate accident or illness ever occurs.
- Good Customer Service
- Customizable Plans
- No Vet Exam Required for Enrollment
- Exam Fees Covered (not copay)
- Cancer Treatments Covered
- Rehabilitation, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage
- Worldwide Coverage
- 24/7 Vet Help Line with all policies
- Accident Only Coverage (low cost)
- Low annual limits on all except Elite plan
- Per procedure limits on optional Wellness plans
Plans/Pricing: (Rating: 7/10)
Pets Best allows users to customize a plan to their liking by choosing between two different main plans – Accident AND Illness and Accident Only coverage. You also have the ability to add two levels of optional wellness coverage to any Accident and Illness plan. They offer 3 different main plans called “Essential”, “Plus”, and “Elite” as part of the Accident and Illness coverage. The pricing we found for our test pets is shown below:
| Two Year Old Female Domestic ShortHair Cat from Minnesota with a $200 annual deductible and 80% remimbursement | ||
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Plus | Elite |
| $10.12/mo | 12.35/mo | $13.67/mo |
| $5K Annual Limit | $5K Annual Limit | No Annual Limit |
| no optional benefits | optional benefits included | optional benefits included |
| Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Visits, Surgeries & RX Meds | Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Visits, Surgeries & RX Meds | Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Visits, Surgeries & RX Meds |
| Accident & Illness Exam Fees | Accident & Illness Exam Fees | |
| Rehabilitation, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage | Rehabilitation, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage | |
| Two Year Old Female Mixed breed dog from Minnesota with a $200 annual deductible and 80% remimbursement | ||
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Plus | Elite |
| $17.09/mo | $20.86/mo | $23.10/mo |
| $5K Annual Limit | $5K Annual Limit | No Annual Limit |
| no optional benefits | optional benefits included | optional benefits included |
| Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Visits, Surgeries & RX Meds | Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Visits, Surgeries & RX Meds | Accidents, Illnesses, Cancer, Hereditary Conditions, Emergency Visits, Surgeries & RX Meds |
| Accident & Illness Exam Fees | Accident & Illness Exam Fees | |
| Rehabilitation, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage | Rehabilitation, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage | |
You have the additional optional wellness coverages as well:
- EssentialWellness for $16/month which covers the following: Rabies vaccination, Flea/Tick prevention, Heartworm Prevention, Vaccinations/Titers, Wellness Exam, Heartwork test or FELV screen, Blood/fecal/parasite exam, microchip, urinalysis/ERD, and deworming for a total of $305 in benefits.
- BestWellness which covers all of the same things as EssentialWellness (with larger per procedure payouts), plus $150 in Spay/Neuter or Teeth Cleaning Benefits for a total of $535 in benefits.
Finally, they will provide accident only coverage for $6/mo for the cat or $9/mo for the dog in our example, if your pet has a pre-existing condition and thus cannot be covered under their main plans, or if you are just looking for a more affordable coverage option. The maximum payout per year ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 ($10,000 in our example) and in our case had a $250 deductible and a 90% reimbursement.
Waiting Period: (Rating: 9/10)
Pets Best is the self-proclaimed industry best as far as wait times go. They guarantee a maximum of 3 days for accidents, or 14 days for illness. 14 days is also how long the waiting period is for claims under the “BestWellness” coverage.
Unfortunately, there are 7 conditions that are subject to a 6 month waiting period, however this can be waived if your pet is checked by a registered vet and found to be in good health within 30 days of enrollment. These 7 conditions are: cruciate ligament injuries, luxating patellas, portosystemic shunts, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, and cardiovascular defects.
Availability: (Rating: 10/10)
Pets Best is available in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Canada. They also provide coverage globally while traveling.
Exclusions: (Rating: 6/10)
Pets over 7 weeks are available for coverage and there is no upper age limit for enrollment.
Like all other carriers, Pet's Best does not cover pre existing conditions (they look at the 18 months prior to establish a pre-existing condition), and they also do not cover pregnancy or pregnancy related trauma, Herbal, Holistic, Herbal or experimental therapies and medications, or non-veterinary expenses such as food, special diets, vitamins and supplements. Training and treatment of Behavioral Conditions are excluded, with the
exception of consultations and prescription medications.
Dental cleaning is only covered under the “BestWellness” plan as well, and only up to $150 per year. The 3 main plans only provide dental coverage in the case of trauma. Periodontal Disease is only covered if there is no prior history before enrollment, and the pet has had routine dental care. They also list “chronic conditions” – this is a very vague exclusion and by itself could cover a number of conditions. Bilateral Conditions, if your Pet had at any time any PreExisting
Conditions consistent with that same Bilateral Condition on either side of the body.
Claims/Deductibles: (Rating: 8/10)
Pets Best allows you to customize everything from your plan, to your deductible, to your reimbursement level. You can choose a deductible of $50, $100, $200, $500, or $1,000. You can also choose a reimbursement level of 70%, 80%, or 90%.
Payouts/Limits: (Rating: 7/10)
Payout limits are based on which of the 3 plans you choose. The lowest level, called “Essential Option” has an annual coverage limit of $5,000. The mid-level plan, called “Plus Option”, also has an annual coverage limit of $5,000. The top-tier plan, called “Elite Option”, has an unlimited annual coverage limit. None of their plans have a lifetime limit anymore.
As any pet owner knows a $5k annual limit may be on the low side if you pet requires surgery and hospitalization. One such visit can easily run into the thousands of dollars.
Extras: (Rating: 9/10)
Pets Best has 3 extra plans apart from their 3 main plans. One is the “BestWellness” routine care coverage. This plan costs an extra $26/month but it covers routine procedures such as spaying/neutering, annual exams, and flea/tick prevention. The other wellness plan is called “EssentialWellness” and covers all that the BestWellness does except Spaying/neutering and dental, however it has lower per procedure yearly limits than BestWellness. The EssentialWellness will run you $16/month.
The second extra plan is the accident only plan, which covers unique problems such as snake bites or accidental swallowing, for around $10/month. The ‘accident only plan’ is an option for owners with pets who have prior conditions which make them ineligible for the 3 main Accident AND Illness plans.
Ease of Enrollment: (Rating: 10/10)
Pets Best makes enrolling very easy. You can do everything from getting a quote to paying for your coverage online at their website, or via phone, or even via chat. There are no vet examinations required before enrollment.
Customer Service: (Rating: 9/10)
Pets Best has very good customer service. They are available by phone at 1-877-738-7237 from 7am-7pm MT Monday to Friday and 10am- 2pm MT on Saturday. As well, they also provide a live chat on their website that immediately connects you with an employee who is able to answer your questions.
They also offer a 24/7 Vet Help line with all policies.
Pricing and Details
Pricing
Dog owners can expect to pay around $17/month for the “essential” plan, $20/month for the “plus” plan, and $23/month for the “elite” plan.
Cat owners can expect to pay around $10/month for the “essential” plan, $12/month for the “plus” plan, and $14/month for the “elite” plan.
Pricing is based on 4 factors: Location, age, breed, and deductible and reimbursement level.
*Sample prices based on a 2 year old mixed breed female from Minnesota with a $200 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.
Contract Type
Pets Best allows you to customize your payment so you can pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Enrollment Age
All pets older than 7 weeks are available for coverage under Pets Best.
Wellness
The 3 main plans do not cover wellness. For an extra $26/month you can have this added on with their “BestWellness” plan or for an extra $16/month you can add their “EssentialWellness” plan. The difference is in the per procedure yearly limits and the covering of spaying/neutering and dental.
Accident/Injury
Accident and illness are included in the 3 main plans.
Deductible
$50, $100, $200, $500, $1,000.
Claims (Policy Increase: Yes/No)
There is no increase to policy when claims are made.
Limits
Limits range from $5,000-$10,000 or unlimited annually. The limits depend on which of the 3 main plans you choose.
Special Coverage*
The “Plus” and “Elite” plans offer rehabilitative, acupuncture and chiropractic coverage as well as coverage for accident and wellness exam fees.
The “BestWellness” plan covers teeth cleaning, while the main plans cover dental problems that are a result of trauma.
Pricing and Claim Info |
Price Range for Dogs: $17 to $23 per month Pricing Rage for Cats: $10 to $14 per month Pricing Based on: 2 year old mixed breed female from MN with a $200 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. Multiple Pet Discount: 5% Money Back Guarantee: 30 Days Type of Deductable: Annual Reimbursement Based on: : Actual Veterinary Charges Online Claim Submittal & Processing Enrollment Age Minimum: 7 Weeks Enrollment Age Maximum: None Effective Date: The day after purchase. Waiting Period - Illness: 14 Days Waiting Period - Accidents: 3 Days Waiting Period - Heredity/Congenital/Other Conditions: 6 Months NO Pre Coverage Exam Required Coverage: Both In-State & Out of State, Plus Canada and Puerto Rico Claims Cause Policy Increase?: No |
|---|
Contract Type |
Monthly Quarterly Semi-Annually Annually |
|---|
Help and Support |
Phone Live Chat Benefits/Statements Online |
|---|
Deductables |
$50 $100 $200 $250 $1000 |
|---|
Reimbursement Levels |
70% 80% 90% |
|---|
Per Incidence Limits |
No Limits On Wellness Plans Only |
|---|
Annual Claim Limits |
$2,500 $5,000 $10,000 No Limits |
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LifeTime Claims Limits |
no limits |
|---|
Covered Animals |
Dogs Cats |
|---|
Coverage |
Spay/Neuter: No Exam Fees: Only on Plus and Elite Plans Accidents/Injury Illness Congenital Conditions: Yes - only specific states
Wellness Coverage: Add-on
Dental: No, except for trauma Pregnancy: No
Special Coverage: Yes
Prescription Drug Coverage: Approved List Only Alternative Therapies: Rehabilitative, Acupuncture & Chiropractic Coverage Prescription Food & Supplements: No |
|---|
Who is This Insurance Plan Ideal For?
Pets Best is an ideal pet insurance for those with a young pet who want to make sure that they’re protected if their pet happens to have a costly accident that could plague them for the rest of their life.
What We Like
Website and Customer Service
Pets Best’s website is easily accessible, however slow, and answers all of your questions, and presents all of their plans and add-on’s in a simple format.
Global Coverage
Pets Best allows you to take your pet to any vet in the world. This is great piece of mind and means you don’t have to worry if your pet has an accident when you are away from home.
Quick Reimbursement
You can file your claim online and have it processed within 2-5 business days. You can then be reimbursed within 2 business days if you have set up a direct deposit with them.
What We Don't Like
Low Annual Coverage
With a $5,000 limit on all except for the “Elite” plan, it would be unfortunate if the bills for your pets accident went above $5,000. A lower lifetime limit and a higher annual limit would probably be more beneficial to most owners.
Pre-Existing Conditions are not Covered
Pets Best does not cover any pre-existing conditions that a pet had prior to being insured. Although there is no age limit for pets, this policy will exclude older pets from being covered.
Summary
Pets Best is insurance for owners who want to be protected from unforeseen accidents or illness that are out of their control. The plans are very customizable in order to fit your needs, and claims are guaranteed to be paid out quickly. While you do have the option to add-on a wellness plan for general check-ups, the added benefits may not be worth the increase in price. Overall, Pets Best takes their role as a leading pet insurance company very seriously, and will do what it takes to make sure that you do not have to worry if your pet suffers an accident.
