Pet insurance is a controversial topic. Some people feel that it’s pointless, but those who use it know how handy it can be to pay for your pet’s medical bills that you didn’t see coming. If you’ve never used it before, it can be a frustrating process to figure out which insurance is going to work best for you. Which one is going to cover the biggest percentage of my bill? How do I keep my monthly bill low?

The best types of pet insurance are those that fit the needs of your pet. Most of today’s leading pet insurance companies supply pet owners with an affordable monthly premium for comprehensive coverage. Still, a large percentage of people don’t use it. If you’re curious about insurance, make sure to shop around and do the research so that you can make the best possible decision for you and your furry family member.

A Quick Look at the Best Pet Insurance Providers in 2024

The 10 Best Pet Insurance for Cats

1. Figo Pet Insurance – Best Overall

Some of the many things that draw people to Figo pet insurance in the first place are their 24/7 access to a live vet, easy online access, and helpful coverage. They offer three different tier plans for you to choose from, and each one covers hereditary, congenital, and other chronic conditions. When you go to choose your policy, you’ll notice that each one has a different annual limit. The lowest plan starts at $5,000 and working up to unlimited with a $100,000 lifetime limit.

Each plan covers similar expenses, including hospitalizations, cancer treatments, diagnostics, emergency care, and examination fees. Some plans even allow you to receive back 100 percent of their covered procedures. Figo also scores high in reviews because of its dedication to customer service. They are available via text, email, phone, live chat, and even X (formerly Twitter). They also offer a wellness reward program for cats in good health. Unfortunately, they don’t cover accidents or illnesses for pets older than 14 years old. For these reasons, Figo is one of the best overall pet insurance companies for your cat.

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2. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Pumpkin Pet Insurance is as popular as other big names in the pet insurance industry, but they are known for their affordable rates for all price ranges. Pumpkin offers plans that include an annual wellness check, a yearly fecal test, and 4 vaccines per year. They also offer an add-on option for a preventative care pack. Pumpkins insurance covers MRIs, surgery, CT scans, prescriptions, microchip implants, hospitalization, and behavior issues.

If you live in a household with multiple pets, the benefits are even greater. Pumpkin plans give you a 10% discount for each additional pet, plus they cover older pets that often don’t receive coverage because of their age. The monthly premiums change depending on your cat’s age and breed. The maximum annual coverage for cats is $15,000, but they cover up to 90% of expenses once the deductible is met.

Thankfully, Pumpkin also values customer service. They are available 24/7 through their app and have a short waiting period for insurance to kick in. If you don’t use the plan within 30 days, they have a money-back option. The downsides to Pumpkin are that they don’t have unlimited coverage options, and they don’t usually cover routine care.

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3. Lemonade Pet Insurance

Lemonade is a high-ranking pet insurance company that offers competitive prices for dog and cat pet insurance. Their plans offer extensive coverage for hospitalizations, procedures, diagnostics, emergency care, accidents, illness, and medication. Lemonade is easy to apply to and gives you a start quote with 80% reimbursement and a $250 annual deductible. Their max payout for this is $20,000. It is possible to adjust these values if you wish. The highest annual payout, however, is $100,000.

Lemonade’s coverage is very similar to other pet insurance providers. Unfortunately, they do not cover routine wellness exams or vet fees. They also do not cover pre-existing conditions or behavioral treatments. They also require a full medical exam within 12 months of enrolling with them.

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4. Embrace Pet Insurance

One of the issues that embrace pet insurances focuses on is dental illnesses, which not many other pet insurance companies cover. Despite this, their basic coverage is extremely affordable at only $6 per month for cats. Their plans cover rehabilitation, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, medications, prosthetics, and behavioral therapy.

Routine care is not covered, but they do offer a wellness rewards plan that reimburses up to $650 every year. Deductibles are set between $100 and $1,000, with a reduction every year you don’t file a claim.

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5. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Another excellent insurance option for your cat is the ASPCA pet health insurance. The biggest benefit to this company is that you can visit any vet in the United States or Canada since no network is required. The monthly premiums are still affordable, but there are no unlimited coverage options. They also have limited plans that only cover accidents, illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions, and behavioral health issues. Thankfully, they make up for this with a multi-pet discount and reimbursements for alternative pet therapies.

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6. Nationwide Pet Insurance

Nationwide is a common name you hear in the insurance world. It’s nice to know that they cover all animals, including exotic ones, but they do tend to be a little pricier than other companies. Monthly premiums are low for cats and start at around $18 per month. Their pet wellness plans only cover preventative care like heartworm and parasite prevention, vaccinations, and fecal tests. Still, they have good coverage that covers 90% of accidents, illnesses, surgeries, hospitalizations, prescriptions, vaccines, hereditary conditions, wellness exams, and other medical conditions for cats of all ages. Their customer service isn’t as big of a priority as other companies, which is a turn-off to many pet owners seeking insurance.

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7. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Healthy Paws is another affordable pet insurance option to purchase for your cat. They only offer one comprehensive plan that covers all illnesses, accidents, surgeries, hospital stays, and prescriptions. However, you can still visit any licensed vet in the United States.

The biggest downfall to using Healthy Paws is that they limit coverage for pets over the age of 6, which is rather young. These pets also require a physical exam within 30 days of coverage. They do not offer preventative care either, and you’ll be charged a one-time fee for using them. Even though they don’t have the best coverage plans, they are affordable for most people on a budget.

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8. USAA Pet Insurance

Although Embrace technically provides a policy through USAA, this is a great way to save some money if you are already a USAA member. Members are able to save over 25% on their pet insurance. The coverage is the same as Embrace, but you don’t get as many of the options if you go through Embrace yourself. You can submit claims at any time, but there is no online chat support and minimal information on their site.

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9. Trusted Pals Pet Insurance

Trusted Pals insurance provides standard coverage with no maximum age limit. They cover vet visits, hospital stays, surgeries, lab work, and medications. They also have an optional wellness plan and four different premium options. Deductibles are as low as $0 or as high as $750, with reimbursement ranging from 70% to 100%. Even though the coverage is decent, there are some pet conditions that could take up to 12 months for coverage.

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10. Pet First Pet Insurance

Pet First is a good insurance company to choose if you prioritize preventative care. Their plans cover vaccines, dental, spaying and neutering, behavioral training, and other preventive care. They offer three different plans, all with a $250 deductible band 80% reimbursement. However, each treatment carries its own limit per policy term. Annual limits are also low, with the highest at $10,000.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Pet Insurance for Cats

What to Look for in Pet Insurance for Cats

Take a good look at your finances before purchasing pet insurance. Your finances are going to tell you how much you can afford to pay monthly, and then you can take that budget and look for plans that fit it. Each policy has different types of coverage and price points. Better yet, some are customizable to fit your exact needs.

Policy Coverage

There are so many different types of policies that it can be hard to choose. Take a moment to sit down and figure out what your priorities are for your cat. Do you prefer to have wellness and prevention coverage, or does your cat require more vet trips because of a condition they have? Try to find a policy that covers what you’re actually needing.

Customer Service & Reputation

Customer service is a crucial part of the buying process. You don’t want to work with a company with horrible customer service. There are many companies today that are available to you at all hours of the day. Some even let you submit claims at any time.

Price of Policy

The price of the policy is something you need to consider beforehand. You don’t want to pay for something out of budget, but you also want to know you’re paying for something that is worthwhile. Compare your top companies side by side and review their policy plans. Make a pros and cons list of each to determine which is the best fit for you.

Plan Customization

Not all companies allow you to customize your insurance plan, but those that do are worth looking at. Sometimes your cat’s needs are very specific, and it’s nice to know that you’re only paying for services that you know are going to be beneficial for their well-being. While some set plans are great, many people benefit from a customizable one.

FAQ

Can I Get Pet Insurance Outside the U.S.?

Just because you buy pet insurance outside of the U.S. doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use it there. Some companies are applicable to other countries, but this varies from company to company.

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Does My Vet Accept My Pet Insurance?

This is an issue that you’ll likely have to discuss with your vet. Not all vet offices take all pet insurances. If your insurance isn’t covered, consider finding a new vet or a new policy that they do accept.

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Why Doesn’t Insurance Cover Pre-existing Conditions?

Because pre-existing conditions occur before you bought your policy, some companies will not cover these issues. This rule is in place because then people would just wait until their cats got sick before buying and using the insurance.

What the Users Say

It’s hard to say what is going to happen to your cat in the future. Pet insurance is a way to protect yourself against unexpected veterinary bills. Most pet owners end up paying for things out of pocket and struggle to afford them. Pet insurance offers you some comfort for a low monthly price.

Conclusion

When shopping around for pet insurance, keep in mind that you want to do what is best for your cat. Some people prefer a basic policy with good overall care, and others need something a bit more specific. Whatever you do, make sure it fits in your price range and is a good investment before biting the bullet. It can often seem like pet insurance is a waste of money, but you never know what could happen, and having a plan is the best way to protect your fur babies.

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