Key takeaways
- A fair pet insurance comparison starts with plan type (accident-only, accident and illness, or wellness add-on), then compares three levers: annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate.
- On a $5,000 vet bill, a $250 deductible with 90% reimbursement leaves you paying about $725, while a $1,000 deductible with 70% reimbursement leaves you paying about $2,200.
- Only 5.99% of US dogs and 2.29% of US cats carried insurance in 2025, so most owners compare plans only after a big bill, which is the worst time to start.
A useful pet insurance comparison starts with plan type, then compares three numbers: annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement rate. Premium is the last thing to compare, not the first. This guide gives a dated chart of the major US insurers, a worked claim example, and a way to test each plan against your own pet.
Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels
How to compare pet insurance plans in four steps
To compare pet insurance plans, fix the plan type first and then line up the three payout levers. Two quotes only compare fairly when they share the same tier. A $30 accident-only plan and a $90 accident-and-illness plan are different products.
Follow these steps:
- Pick the plan type. Choose accident-only, accident and illness, or accident and illness plus wellness.
- Match the annual limit. Compare plans at the same cap, such as $10,000 or unlimited.
- Match deductible and reimbursement. Set both to the same values, such as $500 and 80%.
- Compare premiums last. Only then does the monthly price tell you something.
Most online comparison tools sort by price first. That hides the real difference between plans. Compare the payout rules, then the price.
The three plan types
Pet insurance comes in three tiers, and each pays for a different kind of vet bill. The right one depends on how much risk you want to cover and how much cash you have in reserve.
| Plan type | What it pays for | Typical dog cost per month | Typical cat cost per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident-only | Injuries such as fractures, bites, and swallowed objects | $15-$25 | $10-$18 |
| Accident and illness | Injuries plus cancer, allergies, infections, and many chronic conditions | $62.44 average | $32.21 average |
| Wellness add-on | Routine care such as vaccines, exams, and flea prevention | Extra cost on top of either plan | Extra cost on top of either plan |
The cost figures come from Pet Insurance Lab's accident-only data, which cites NAPHIA. Accident-only plans run 60% to 70% less than a full plan, but they pay nothing for illness. Our accident-only pet insurance guide covers what they include.
Wellness add-ons are usually a payment plan in disguise. Our post on vet wellness plans vs pet insurance shows when they break even.
Pet insurance comparison chart: major US insurers
This pet insurance comparison chart shows each insurer's published deductible, reimbursement, and annual limit options as of October 2026. Terms change often, so confirm them on the insurer's own page before you buy. Premiums are left out on purpose, because they depend on breed, age, and ZIP code.
| Insurer | Deductible options | Reimbursement | Annual limit options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trupanion | $0-$1,000, lifetime per-condition | 90%, fixed | No annual cap once the deductible is met |
| Healthy Paws | Annual, tied to the reimbursement tier | 50%-90% | $5,000, $7,000, or unlimited |
| Lemonade | $100-$1,000 annual | 70%, 80%, or 90% | Up to $100,000 |
| Figo | $100-$1,000 annual | 70%, 80%, 90%, or 100% | $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited |
| Pets Best | $100-$1,000 annual | 70%, 80%, or 90% | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, or unlimited on top plans |
| Spot | $100-$1,000 annual | 70%, 80%, or 90% | $2,500-$10,000 or unlimited |
| Embrace | $100-$1,000 annual | Varies with deductible | $5,000 up to unlimited |
The first six rows follow the sourced figures in our brand-by-brand pet insurance comparison, which cites Trupanion's deductible FAQ, Pawlicy Advisor's Lemonade summary, and Hepper's Spot breakdown. The Embrace row comes from Embrace's own plan comparison.
That brand post goes deeper on premiums, waiting periods, and exclusions for each company. This chart stays on plan structure, so you can read the two side by side.
Annual limit: the number that decides big claims
The annual limit is the most a policy pays in one policy year. It decides whether a single serious claim is covered in full. A $5,000 limit can run out on one cruciate surgery, while an unlimited plan keeps paying.
Look at how the limit changes what you owe. Take a $15,000 claim, such as bloat surgery plus hospitalization, with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement.
| Annual limit | What the insurer pays | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| $10,000 | $10,000 | $5,000 |
| Unlimited | $13,275 | $1,725 |
The unlimited figure is 90% of the $14,750 left after the deductible. These are our own calculations for illustration, not a quote. Our emergency vet cost guide shows that severe cases commonly reach $2,000-$10,000.
$10,000 vs $1,725
What you would pay on a $15,000 claim with a $5,000 annual limit versus an unlimited limit, at a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement. Test your own plan in the pet insurance break-even calculator.
Deductible and reimbursement: how they trade off
Deductibles run from $0 to $1,000 across the major insurers. The deductible is what you pay before insurance starts, and the reimbursement rate is the share the insurer pays after that. A low deductible and high reimbursement cost more per month but leave you with smaller bills.
Here is the same $5,000 vet bill under three common setups. The insurer pays the reimbursement rate on the amount above the deductible.
| Setup | Insurer pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| $250 deductible, 90% reimbursement | $4,275 | $725 |
| $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement | $3,600 | $1,400 |
| $1,000 deductible, 70% reimbursement | $2,800 | $2,200 |
The spread is $1,475 on one claim. That is why a lower premium can cost you more after a real emergency. For an owner with a funded emergency account, the cheaper setup can still make sense. Our guide to pet insurance vs an emergency fund compares the two approaches.
One more difference matters. Trupanion applies a lifetime per-condition deductible, so you pay it once per condition. Most other insurers use an annual deductible that resets each year.
Dog insurance comparison versus cat insurance comparison
A dog insurance comparison and a cat insurance comparison use the same plan rules but different prices. Pet Insurance Lab averages $62.44 a month for a full dog plan and $32.21 for a cat plan. That is roughly $749 a year for a dog and $387 for a cat.
Dogs cost about twice as much to insure, because they have more injuries, larger bills, and breed-specific conditions. Breed moves the price too. Our guide to pet insurance by breed cost shows how far a French Bulldog and a Labrador Retriever sit apart.
If you compare dog insurance across insurers, request quotes for the same age, breed, and ZIP code. A one-year difference in age can change the price noticeably. Our post on how insurers price pet insurance premiums lists every rating factor.
Why most owners compare too late
Most pet owners do not have insurance, and many shop only after a vet bill arrives. The NAPHIA 2026 report found US enrollment rose 9% in 2025, but more than 95% of US cats and dogs remain uninsured, per dvm360. Dogs were covered at 5.99% and cats at 2.29%.
Cost already changes care decisions. Gallup's 2025 survey found that 52% of US pet owners skipped or declined vet care in the past year, and 71% of them cited cost. NAPHIA's industry data shows 7.6 million insured pets in North America at the end of 2025, up 8.5% from 2024, per the NAPHIA industry data page.
Buying before a diagnosis matters most. Conditions that show up before the policy starts, or during the waiting period, are usually excluded. Our post on waiting periods and pre-existing conditions explains the rules.
What a pet insurance comparison cannot tell you
A chart shows plan structure, not how an insurer behaves at renewal or claim time. Premiums rise as pets age, and many insurers have raised rates in recent years. Read our 2026 renewal playbook before you assume today's quote will hold.
Check these items beyond the chart:
- Exclusions. Dental cleanings, hereditary conditions, and behavioral therapy vary by insurer.
- Waiting periods. Illness waits run from days to months, and cruciate waits can reach six months.
- Claim speed. Reimbursement can take days or weeks, and you may need cash up front.
- Renewal rate history. Ask for past rate increases for your pet's age group.
Check the numbers for your own pet
Run your pet through the pet insurance break-even calculator to see how many years of premiums equal one claim. Use the plan type, deductible, and reimbursement from the chart. Then compare the result with a funded savings plan from the emergency fund calculator.
For the broader decision, read is pet insurance worth it. It walks through when insurance beats saving.
FAQ: comparing pet insurance
These questions come up most when owners line up two or three quotes.
Which pet insurance has the best coverage?
No plan wins for every pet. Trupanion has no annual cap, Lemonade offers limits up to $100,000, and Figo and Healthy Paws offer unlimited options. The best plan matches your pet's age, breed risks, and budget.
Should I pick the cheapest pet insurance?
Not by premium alone. A cheap plan often has a $5,000 limit or a $1,000 deductible. Compare what the plan pays on a $5,000 and a $15,000 bill before you choose.
Can I switch insurers later?
Yes, but a new insurer treats any condition already diagnosed as pre-existing. Switching works best for a healthy young pet. Keep the old policy active until the new waiting period ends.
Bottom line
Use this pet insurance comparison chart to line up plan type, annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement, then compare premiums. Pay the most attention to the annual limit. Verify every term on the insurer's own page, and test your pick in the pet insurance break-even calculator before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What should I compare when comparing pet insurance plans?
Compare plan type first, then annual limit, deductible, reimbursement percentage, waiting periods, and exclusions. Premium comes last, because the cheapest plan often has the lowest limit or highest deductible. A plan that does not pay on a $5,000 bill is not a bargain.
Is there a difference between dog insurance and cat insurance comparison?
The plan structure is the same, but premiums differ. Pet Insurance Lab reports a full accident-and-illness plan averaging $62.44 a month for a dog and $32.21 for a cat. Dogs cost about twice as much to insure.
What is a good annual limit for pet insurance?
An unlimited or $10,000-plus annual limit protects against a single large bill like a cruciate tear or bloat surgery. A $5,000 limit is cheaper but can run out on one serious claim. Choose the highest limit you can afford.
Is a lower deductible or a higher reimbursement rate better?
It depends on how often you expect to claim. A low deductible helps with frequent small claims, while a high reimbursement rate helps most on big bills. For one large claim, reimbursement rate saves more.
Do accident-only plans belong in a pet insurance comparison?
Yes, as a separate tier. Accident-only plans cost about $15-$25 a month for dogs, per Pet Insurance Lab, versus $62.44 for accident and illness. They pay nothing for illness such as cancer or allergies.
See your own pet's real numbers.
Run the calculator with your breed, metro area, and care choices for a first-year, annual, and lifetime cost estimate — not a national average.