Cost Coverage Details

1. United Pet Care

• United Pet Care is not pet insurance but a membership program that provides 20-50% instant savings or discounts on veterinary services. A United Pet Care member immediately receives discounts on veterinary visits without having to wait or without having to process insurance claims.
• There are no deductibles, no yearly limit and there are no exclusions because of preexisting conditions.
• Here are the veterinary services covered in the discount: veterinary exams (house calls included), health certificates, vaccinations, diagnostic testing, surgeries, lab work, hospitalization, spay/neutering, and medications.

2. Kaiser

• Kaiser offers three types of coverage for pet insurance: (1) accidents only, (2) accidents and illnesses, or (3) accidents, illnesses, and other medical costs. Kaiser also has a payout limit and the premium costs vary according to the chosen coverage type and payout limit.
• The exact amount for the payout limit, premium costs, and coverage details are not publicly disclosed as details will be received only upon quote request.

3. Providence

• Based on the 2019 Providence Health Plan, the company doesn't offer any pet insurance.

4. Cigna and Nationwide

• Cigna partnered with Nationwide to offer pet insurance products to its policyholders. They offer a 50%, 70%, and 90% reimbursement plan. They also offer multiple discounts and access to a 24-hour Vet Helpline (worth $150).
• There is no enrollment pet age required for their policies as the price is the same for all ages.
• Nationwide is considered to be the best pet insurance for older pets. It accommodates pets with no age limit and it also offers coverage for dogs, birds, cats, and some exotic pets. Nationwide's policies cover pet illnesses, accidents, some hereditary conditions, cancer, vaccinations, tests, and preventive treatments.

5. Banfield

•  Banfield Pet Hospital's Optimum Wellness Plan only covers wellness services and routine treatment. Also, the service provider needs to be from Banfield pet hospitals. It also covers a multi-pet discount.
• There is also no waiting period, no financial limits, no deductible choice, and no required enrollment age.

6. Trupanion

• According to Business Insider, Trupanion is the best insurance for flexible deductibles. Its cheapest coverage costs $35.82 for dogs and $20.68 for cats while the maximum coverage is $140.91 for dogs and $70.63 for cats. Coverage for a cat would cost $70.63/month for a $0 deductible and $20.68/month with a $1,000 deductible.
• The Trupanion Pet Insurance offers coverage for medications, tests, hospital stays, surgeries, hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer, cremation or burial, and pet replacement. It doesn't cover routine treatment and wellness services.
• The waiting period for reimbursement ranges from 5 to 30 days. The deductible choice is between $0 to $1,000 and the pet enrollment age must be between 6 weeks to 10 years while the reimbursement rate is 90% of the amount paid for after the deductibles.

7. Embrace

•  Embrace Pet Insurance has financial limits that depend on the chosen type of plan. Its deductible choice is between $200 and $2,000 and the waiting period for reimbursement is between 48 hours to 14 days. In order to be enrolled, the pet's age must be between 6 weeks and 10 years.
• It offers coverage for tests, medications, surgeries, hospital stays, hereditary and congenital conditions, and cancer. Depending on the type of plan, it also offers coverage for cremation or burial, pet replacement, routine treatment, and wellness services. It also offers a multi-pet discount.

Other Pet Insurance Companies

1. Aetna and Pets Best

•  Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut (AICC), the general insurance subsidiary of Aetna, partnered with Pets Best Insurance to offer pet insurance to their policyholders. The pet insurance products that they offer are endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association Group Health and Life Insurance Trust (AVMA GHLIT).
• Pets Best offers coverage for laboratory tests, veterinary visits, as well as surgery, and medications for illnesses, injuries, and accidents. For veterinary cost coverage, pet owners get to choose any licensed veterinarian. Policyholders receive 80% reimbursement of veterinarian's bill for services that are covered.
• Care or expenses from emergency services and veterinary specialists are also covered.

2. Anthem and Figo

•  Anthem Insurance Group, Inc. partnered with Figo pet insurance to provide pet insurance products to its policyholders. It covers veterinary services for a dog or cat's illnesses or injuries. The average waiting time for reimbursement is 7 days.
• The average cost for this pet insurance is $1.25/day. With this insurance, the policyholder can go to any licensed veterinarian, specialist, or ER in Canada, Puerto Rico, or the US. The policy also comes with a pet cloud mobile app to give access to the pet's records when traveling or when there's an emergency. It also has features for lost pet GPS technology with family alerts, a pet-friendly business locator, and reminder alerts for pet health appointments.

3. American Kennel Club

• American Kennel Club is considered to be the best pet insurance for low monthly cost. The insurance policies of the American Kennel Club are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company and its policies are the best choice when it comes to low-cost plans.
• The policy cost ranges from $18.73/month to $59.27/month for dogs while the cost for cats ranges from $10.70/month to $33.84/month. Yearly deductibles range from $100 to $1,000.
• It offers coverage for accidents and illnesses such as broken bones, allergies, broken bones, toxic ingestion, diagnostics, medications, physical therapy, hospital stays, and surgeries. However, preexisting conditions, cosmetic care, preventive care, and physical exams are not covered.

4. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

• Pumpkin Pet Insurance is the best pet insurance for comprehensive coverage. Their plans offer coverage for pet accidents, surgeries, illnesses, testings, hospitalizations, treatments, and alternative therapies. Aside from that, dental and gum diseases, hereditary conditions, sick visit exam fees, behavioral issues, microchips, and prescription dog food in some cases are also covered.
• The policy cost ranges from $40.40/month to $62.93/month for dogs while the cost for cats ranges from $21.52/month to $34.45/month. The annual deductible choices are $100, $250, and $500 while the reimbursement rate is 90%.

5. Healthy Paws

• Business Insider considers Healthy Paws as the best pet insurance overall runner-up, next to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). ASPCA however is not a pet insurance company, it is a non-profit organization for animal rights that also offers pet insurance plans. Healthy Paws receives high marks from its plan holders.
• The company offers coverage for pet accidents, illnesses, cancer, hereditary conditions, prescription medications, surgeries, emergency care, hospitalizations, imaging and testing, and other treatments.
• Its policy cost ranges from $24.77/month to $52.52/month for dogs while that for cats ranges from $9.77/month to $20.77/month. The annual deductible choices are $100, $250, and $500 while the reimbursement rates are 70%, 80%, or 90%.

Licensing Requirements for US Pet Insurance Brokers

•  Training and licensing are essential steps before one can legally sell pet insurance. One needs to have background knowledge of insurance by taking classes or degrees in insurance. After that, one needs to get licensed to become a property insurance agent in a specific US state.
• According to the Regulator's Guide to Pet Insurance that was issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), most US states require a full property-and-casualty (P/C) insurance license to solicit, sell, or negotiate pet insurance, although a handful of states also permit pet insurance brokers who only have a limited-lines license. As of September 2018, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Idaho, and Virginia have included pet insurance as a non-core limited line.
• State insurance regulators revealed that the level of license and the steps required for the license are still open topics of discussion. In order to get the P/C resident license, the broker needs to pass a written examination. Those who are in the limited line are required to receive training or a program of instruction to be reviewed by the insurance department.
• Limited-lines license is the license required for travel agents to sell travel insurance, while a full P/C license is the license required for brokers or agents of homeowners or auto insurance.
•  This shows the requirements for insurance agent licensing in each state.

Number of Licensed US Brokers

• There is no available information for the total number of licensed US pet insurance brokers. However, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last May 2019 that 410,050 is the national estimated number of employment for insurance sales agents which includes agents who sell health, life, property, automotive, casualty, and other types of insurance.
•  This shows the number of domestic insurance companies that sell property insurance and life insurance in each state.