Best pet insurance (2026)
Data reviewed August 1, 2026
Quick answer
Disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no cost to you. Rankings and caveats are ours and are not sold.
Lemonade
Best value$20/mo from
- Reimburses 70-90%
- Limits $5k-$100k
- Fast app-based claims, many paid in minutes.
Pumpkin
Best coverage$35/mo from
- Reimburses 90%
- Limits $10k-Unlimited
- 90% reimbursement on every plan, strong dental coverage.
Healthy Paws
Unlimited payouts$30/mo from
- Reimburses 70-80%
- Limits Unlimited
- No annual or lifetime caps on every plan.
The comparison
Starting premiums are indicative for a healthy adult medium-size dog with a $250 to $500 deductible; your quote will vary by breed, age, and zip code.
| Insurer | Best for | From (dog) | Reimbursement | Annual limit | Accident wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemonade | Lowest starting price | $20/mo | 70-90% | $5k-$100k | 2 days |
| Pumpkin | High reimbursement default | $35/mo | 90% | $10k-Unlimited | 14 days |
| Fetch | Comprehensive coverage | $30/mo | 70-90% | $5k-$15k | 15 days |
| Embrace | Diminishing deductible | $25/mo | 70-90% | $5k-Unlimited | 2 days |
| Spot | Customizable plans | $22/mo | 70-90% | $2.5k-Unlimited | 14 days |
| Healthy Paws | Unlimited payouts | $30/mo | 70-80% | Unlimited | 15 days |
| Trupanion | Direct vet payment | $45/mo | 90% | Unlimited | 5 days |
| ASPCA Pet Health Insurance | Pre-existing curable conditions | $25/mo | 70-90% | $2.5k-Unlimited | 14 days |
Each insurer, honestly
1. Lemonade
Lowest starting priceStandout: Fast app-based claims, many paid in minutes.
The catch: Not available in every state; add-ons raise the real price.
Get a Lemonade quote →2. Pumpkin
High reimbursement defaultStandout: 90% reimbursement on every plan, strong dental coverage.
The catch: Pricier than budget carriers.
Get a Pumpkin quote →3. Fetch
Comprehensive coverageStandout: Covers exam fees, dental illness, and behavioral therapy.
The catch: Longer accident waiting period than rivals.
Get a Fetch quote →4. Embrace
Diminishing deductibleStandout: Deductible drops $50 each claim-free year.
The catch: Orthopedic conditions have a 6-month wait for dogs.
Get a Embrace quote →5. Spot
Customizable plansStandout: Very flexible limits let you dial the premium down.
The catch: Low-limit plans can leave you exposed in a real emergency.
Get a Spot quote →6. Healthy Paws
Unlimited payoutsStandout: No annual or lifetime caps on every plan.
The catch: No wellness add-on; hip dysplasia excluded if enrolled at 6+.
Get a Healthy Paws quote →7. Trupanion
Direct vet paymentStandout: Pays the vet directly at checkout at participating clinics.
The catch: Highest starting premiums on this list.
Get a Trupanion quote →8. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Pre-existing curable conditionsStandout: Covers curable pre-existing conditions after 180 symptom-free days.
The catch: Claims processing is slower than app-first carriers.
Get a ASPCA Pet Health Insurance quote →How to choose in three steps
- 1. Decide your catastrophic number. If a surprise $6,000 bill would hurt, prioritize high or unlimited annual limits over a cheap premium.
- 2. Quote your actual pet. Breed and zip code move prices more than insurer choice. Get 3 quotes minimum.
- 3. Enroll before symptoms. Anything in the vet record before coverage starts is excluded for life at every carrier on this list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost of pet insurance in 2026?
The national average accident and illness premium is $836 per year ($70/month) for dogs and $435 per year ($36/month) for cats, per NAPHIA industry data.
Does any pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No U.S. insurer covers incurable pre-existing conditions. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance (and some others) will cover curable conditions after 180 symptom-free days, which is the closest exception.
Which pet insurance pays the vet directly?
Trupanion can pay participating vets directly at checkout, so you only pay your share instead of fronting the full bill and waiting for reimbursement.
Sources
- NAPHIA State of the Industry (average premiums)
- Insurer plan documents and public rate pages, reviewed July 2026 · terms change; always confirm on the insurer's site
We only publish numbers we can attribute. How we build estimates: methodology.