Compare the Best Pet Insurance Plans for Dogs and Cats

Lemonade has the most affordable pet insurance rates, along with helpful preventive care add-ons. Basic pet insurance for dogs costs around $16 per month, while cat owners pay $12 per month, on average.

Lemonade pet insurance coverage options

You can also add on coverage for vet visit fees, physical therapy, behavioral conditions, dental illness and post-life expenses.

It offers a package that includes spaying or neutering, microchipping and up to six vaccines or boosters.

However, Lemonade is available in only 41 states and Washington, D.C. If you can't get Lemonade insurance, you should consider Embrace, which also has cheap rates and good coverage options.

Spot offers the best insurance if you're looking for flexible coverage. The company offers everything from cheap accident-only coverage to more expensive plans that cover many different types of treatments.

For example, Spot's Platinum plan covers services including dental cleaning, spay and neuter procedures, wellness exams, and flea and heartworm prevention.

Spot pet insurance coverage options

In addition, Spot offers lots of different deductibles and coverage limits you can choose from. These options not only allow you to adjust the amount of money you'll pay out of pocket, but they also affect your monthly rate.

For example, a policy with an unlimited annual coverage will be a lot more expensive than one with a $2,500 annual maximum because the insurance company is at risk of paying a lot more for your pet's care.

Figo is a great option if you have an older pet because it insures pets of any age. In comparison, most insurance companies have maximum age limits for pet health insurance.

These programs can help cover the cost of vaccinations, spay or neuter procedures, bloodwork, heartworm prevention and dental cleaning.

Figo has a very short waiting period if your pet has an accident — just one day, which is shorter than most major companies. However, if your pet has a curable preexisting condition, they'll need a clean bill of health for a full year before Figo will pay to treat any new symptoms.

For example, say your dog had an ear infection six months before your policy starts. If he gets another ear infection two months from now, Figo won't cover it.

In addition, Figo's wellness programs don't cover routine dental work. Many other companies allow you to upgrade your policy to include this expense. So if you're worried about paying for routine dental care, you may want to choose a different option.

Pumpkin is a great option for pets with a curable preexisting condition. That's because it has one of the shortest waiting periods for preexisting conditions, at 180 days, which is around six months.

For example, Pumpkin covers rehab therapies, such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy. It also helps pay for prescription food and supplements, such as joint and bone health vitamins prescribed by your vet.

However, Pumpkin doesn't offer coverage for regular dental cleanings or spay and neuter procedures. So while it's a great option for serious medical care, it may not be as beneficial if you're looking for regular wellness coverage.

MetLife is the best option if you have multiple pets because you can insure up to three pets on the same policy. This is helpful because all of your pets will share the same deductible, which can save you a lot of money.

Unlike many other companies, MetLife doesn't have an unlimited coverage option. Its highest limit is $10,000 per year. If you have an older or accident-prone pet, that may not be enough coverage for your full pet family.

Another benefit to MetLife's pet insurance is that there's no waiting period for accidents or preventive care. So you could buy a policy with wellness coverage and take your pet to the vet the following day, and MetLife would still help cover the cost. Most other companies require you to wait around two weeks before you can use your policy.

Fetch is the best choice if you want to protect your new puppy. That's because Fetch offers wellness care packages that pay for important procedures for puppies, such as spay and neuter surgery, microchipping, and vaccines.

That's 18% cheaper than the average cost to insure a puppy, $61 per month.

However, Fetch policies only cover up to $10,000 of expenses each year. If you're worried about how you'll afford a major emergency, you may want to consider a company with higher limits, such as Lemonade or Figo.