2022 Pet Insurance Guide | Insurance

We surveyed more than thousands of policyholders across the nation and found that the following insurers represent the top pet insurance companies:

Based on our sample policies, pet insurance for dogs costs between $20 and $70 per month. For cats, the cost is between $11 and $30 per month.

Our sample policies were based on a 1-year-old female mixed-breed dog and an under one-year-old male domestic shorthair cat, respectively, in excellent health residing in Texas, with a $500 annual deductible, $5,000 annual benefit limit, and 90% reimbursement rate.

Premiums will vary based on if you have a cat or dog, your pet’s age, health, and location.

Factors specific to your policy will also affect the cost. Some examples include the following:

The value of pet insurance is largely based on your expectations. If your pet is currently undergoing treatment for a chronic condition and you would like help with the cost of the treatment, you will likely be disappointed as no company or agency in our rating covers pre-existing conditions.

But, if you understand your policy and what it does and doesn’t cover and have a policy that fits your budget and needs, you are far more likely to consider the policy worth it. You may also have years where you don’t have to take your pet to the vet for anything other than an annual check-up and vaccinations, but if your pet suffers an accident or becomes seriously ill, that is when you may consider pet insurance worth the expense.

Read our guide to whether pet insurance is worth it for more information.

Why You Can Trust Us: 24 Pet Insurance Companies Researched

At U.S. News & World Report, we rank the Best Hospitals, Best Colleges, and Best Cars to guide readers through some of life’s most complicated decisions. Our 360 Reviews team draws on this same unbiased approach to rate the products that you use every day. To build our ratings, we researched more than 24 pet insurance companies and agencies and analyzed 12 third-party review sources. Our 360 Reviews team does not take samples, gifts, or loans of products or services we review. All sample products provided for review are donated after review. In addition, we maintain a separate business team that has no influence over our methodology or recommendations. We researched the companies and products people care most about.

U.S. News analyzed and compared a variety of publicly available data, including internet search data, to determine which pet insurance companies and agencies Americans are most interested in. We found 24 companies and agencies that stand out in terms of volume of searches and research among consumers, as well as across the different rating sources. After conducting a thorough analysis, we were able to condense the initial list to the 10 overall Best Pet Insurance Companies. With the companies and agencies determined, we conducted a comprehensive research on their features to create a general layout of what consumers should know to assist with their purchasing decisions.

We then compared the available plans provided by our top pet insurance companies and agencies across several criteria, including but not limited to cost, wellness riders, waiting periods, plan coverage, claim processing time, unique features, and customer satisfaction. Research shows that these are the most important criteria for people shopping for pet insurance. Monthly costs are for a one-year-old female mixed-breed dog and an under one-year-old male domestic shorthair cat, respectively, in excellent health residing in Texas, with a $500 annual deductible, $5,000 annual benefit limit, and 90% reimbursement rate.