Best pet insurance companies
Pet insurance plans differ more in structure than in brand: deductible type, payout caps, and what is excluded decide what you actually bought. The majors, organised by design philosophy.
Context: accident & illness plans averaged $749/yr for dogs and $386/yr for cats in 2024 (NAPHIA) — but averages are not the decision. Your premium against your pet’s expected bills is. Run the breakeven calculator before comparing brands; if the math says skip, the best plan on this page is still a skip.
| Company | Best for | Our rating | How it sells | Why it is on this list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trupanion | Maximum protection against the catastrophic bill | Not yet rated — see methodology | One plan design: 90% reimbursement, no annual or lifetime payout limits, and a per-condition deductible that, once met for a condition, never resets for it. Can pay participating vets directly. Little customisation — the simplicity is the point, and the premium reflects it. | Founded 2000 (as Vetinsurance), headquartered in Seattle, Washington; U.S. policies underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company. The only publicly traded pet insurer (NASDAQ: TRUP). |
| Healthy Paws | Straightforward accident & illness cover | Not yet rated — see methodology | One accident & illness plan with a choice of annual deductible and reimbursement level; no caps on claim payouts. No wellness coverage and no exam-fee coverage — check the exclusions list before you price it. | Founded 2009, Bellevue, Washington; policies underwritten by ACE American Insurance Company, part of Chubb. |
| Spot | Customising the plan to a budget | Not yet rated — see methodology | Wide menu of deductible, reimbursement, and annual-limit combinations, plus optional preventive-care add-ons — the design to pick when you need the premium to land at a set monthly number. | Spot Pet Insurance launched in 2019; U.S. policies are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company (a Crum & Forster company). |
| Embrace | Wellness rewards alongside insurance | Not yet rated — see methodology | Accident & illness core plus an optional Wellness Rewards program that reimburses routine care (vaccines, exams, dental cleaning) up to an annual allowance you choose. | Founded 2003, Cleveland, Ohio; policies underwritten by American Modern Home Insurance Company (Munich Re group). |
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | A familiar name backed by a big pet underwriter | Not yet rated — see methodology | Multiple plan levels including accident-only; the ASPCA name is licensed — the program is administered by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, and the ASPCA receives royalty fees from the program. Worth knowing who actually holds your policy. | Policies underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company; the pet-insurance program behind the ASPCA brand has operated since 1997 through Crum & Forster. |
How we ranked these companies
Rankings here are “best for” fits, not a single overall winner. Inputs, per our methodology: the 5-point evidence check (identity and licensing, pricing transparency, complaint patterns, refund terms, independent evidence), market position and availability, sales model (agent vs. direct vs. marketplace), and documented plan features. Commercial relationships are never an input. Every company shows “Not yet rated” until its full evidence-check profile is published — we do not invent scores to fill a table.
What to do next
Run your breakeven first
The breakeven calculator shows the full arithmetic for your quote and your pet.
Know the exclusions
The pet hub walks through pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, and deductible structures — the fine print that decides claims.
Sources for company facts (checked October 2026): Trupanion — founded 2000, Seattle; 90% reimbursement, no payout limits, per-condition deductible, direct vet pay (company materials and 2026 comparison reviews). Healthy Paws — founded 2009, Bellevue WA; underwritten by ACE American Insurance Co. (Chubb). Spot — launched 2019; underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Co. (Crum & Forster). Embrace — founded 2003, Cleveland OH; underwritten by American Modern Home Insurance Co.; Wellness Rewards program per company materials. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance — administered by Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group; underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Co.; ASPCA royalty arrangement disclosed by the program. Cost context: NAPHIA State of the Industry 2025 (2024 data).