Pets Best Pet Insurance Review: Coverage, Costs, Claims and Exclusions
Pet insurance can help reduce the financial impact of eligible veterinary treatment, but it does not pay every veterinary bill or work like traditional human health insurance. The value of a policy depends on its exclusions, deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual limit, waiting periods and the medical history of your dog or cat.
Pets Best offers insurance options for dogs and cats, including accident-only coverage, accident-and-illness plans and optional routine-care benefits. This guide explains how those choices generally work and what to review before requesting a quote or buying a policy.
Important: Coverage, prices, plan availability, waiting periods, exclusions and claim rules may vary by state, policy form, pet and enrollment date. Treat this article as general educational information, not a policy summary. Read the sample policy and the documents provided with your quote before making a decision.
What Is Pets Best Pet Insurance?
Pets Best is a pet insurance provider that offers coverage for eligible veterinary care for dogs and cats. Depending on the plan selected, a policy may help with covered expenses related to accidents, illnesses, diagnostic testing, surgery, cancer treatment, prescription medication and other medically necessary services.
Most accident-and-illness plans are customizable. During the quote process, pet owners may be able to choose a reimbursement percentage, annual deductible and annual benefit limit. Those choices affect both the premium and the amount of financial protection available when a claim is approved.
Pets Best states that insured pets can receive eligible care from licensed veterinarians in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. However, the policy—not the general marketing description—determines whether a specific treatment, fee or condition qualifies for reimbursement.
Pets Best Plan Types
Accident-only coverage
An accident-only plan is designed for unexpected injuries rather than general medical conditions. Examples may include accidental swallowing of an object, a broken bone, a bite wound or another covered injury.
The key limitation is that accident-only coverage does not cover illnesses such as cancer, diabetes or infections. It may be less expensive than broader coverage, but it also provides less protection. This type of policy may appeal to owners who mainly want help with accident-related expenses or who are comparing basic coverage on a limited budget.
Accident-and-illness coverage
Accident-and-illness plans are the broader option. Subject to the policy terms, they may cover eligible treatment for new accidents and illnesses, including emergencies, diagnostics, surgery and certain ongoing conditions.
Pets Best describes its accident-and-illness plans as reimbursing a percentage of the actual eligible veterinary bill rather than using a fixed benefit schedule for each type of treatment. That distinction matters because reimbursement is still limited by the deductible, selected reimbursement level, annual limit and exclusions.
Optional wellness coverage
Routine-care coverage is different from insurance for unexpected medical problems. Pets Best offers optional wellness benefits that may help with predictable expenses such as vaccinations, routine examinations, dental cleanings, spay or neuter procedures and other listed preventive services.
Wellness coverage normally has its own benefit amounts and pricing. It should not be assumed to make all routine care free or to cover every preventive service. Compare the total cost of the add-on with the benefits available for the services your pet is likely to receive.
How Deductibles, Reimbursement and Annual Limits Work
These three settings are central to understanding a Pets Best quote.
| Policy feature | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Annual deductible | The amount you pay toward eligible expenses during each annual policy term before reimbursement begins. | A higher deductible may reduce the premium but increases your responsibility when you file claims. |
| Reimbursement percentage | The percentage of eligible expenses the plan may reimburse after the deductible and other rules are applied. | A higher percentage can provide more reimbursement but may result in a higher premium. |
| Annual benefit limit | The maximum amount the policy may reimburse during a policy year. | A lower limit may leave you responsible for additional costs after the limit is reached. |
Pets Best currently describes reimbursement choices ranging from 70% to 90%, annual deductibles from $100 to $1,000 and annual limits ranging from $5,000 to unlimited on certain plans. These options and ranges can vary by state and policy, so confirm the selections shown in your own quote.
A simple example illustrates the structure. Suppose an eligible claim is $2,000, your deductible has not yet been met and your plan reimburses 80%. The deductible is applied according to the policy’s claim calculation, and the reimbursement percentage is then applied to the remaining eligible amount. Non-covered services, excluded conditions and costs above an annual limit would remain your responsibility.
What Pets Best May Cover
Coverage varies by plan, but accident-and-illness policies may include eligible services such as:
- Emergency treatment for covered accidents and illnesses
- Diagnostic tests recommended by a veterinarian
- Surgery and hospitalization
- Cancer treatment and other eligible medical care
- Prescription medications related to covered conditions
- Physical therapy, hydrotherapy and certain veterinarian-directed rehabilitation services
- Some dental conditions, subject to policy requirements and state-specific terms
- Veterinarian-prescribed prosthetic devices or mobility equipment in qualifying situations
Exam-fee coverage can differ between plans. Some Pets Best plans include exam fees for covered conditions, while other plans may treat exam fees as an optional benefit. Check this item specifically instead of assuming it is included.
Important Exclusions and Policy Differences
Pre-existing conditions
Pre-existing conditions are generally excluded. This can include an illness, injury, sign or symptom that began before the policy became effective or during a required waiting period, even if a formal diagnosis had not yet been made.
Pets with prior medical problems may still be eligible to enroll, but treatment for those conditions—or related conditions—may not qualify for reimbursement. Some curable conditions may be treated differently after the pet has fully recovered and remained symptom-free, but the policy and claims review determine eligibility.
Waiting periods
Coverage does not necessarily begin immediately after enrollment. Waiting periods may apply to accidents, illnesses or specific conditions. An injury or symptom that occurs during a waiting period may be treated as pre-existing under the policy.
Bilateral conditions
Bilateral conditions affect paired body parts, such as the left and right knees, hips, eyes or ears. Some pet insurance policies limit or exclude coverage for the second side when the same or related condition affected the first side before coverage or during a waiting period.
This provision can be especially important for orthopedic problems. Read the bilateral-condition language in the sample policy for your state and ask the insurer how it would apply to your pet’s medical history.
Routine, elective and non-medical expenses
Standard accident-and-illness coverage generally does not pay for ordinary preventive care unless a wellness benefit is added. Common exclusions may include grooming, prescription diets, supplements, elective or cosmetic procedures, breeding-related care, behavioral training and certain alternative or experimental treatments.
How the Pets Best Claims Process Works
Pet insurance is commonly reimbursement-based. In a typical claim, you take your pet to a licensed veterinarian, pay or arrange payment for the visit, submit the invoice and medical information, and wait for the claim to be reviewed.
Pets Best says claims can be submitted online or through its mobile app. The company may request medical records to determine whether the claimed condition existed before coverage or during a waiting period. If approved, reimbursement is calculated using the policy’s deductible, reimbursement level, annual limit and covered-service rules.
Pets Best also offers an optional Direct Vet Pay feature for eligible claim reimbursement. This may help with a large bill, but it does not eliminate the deductible, excluded expenses or the need for claim approval. Ask the veterinary practice whether it can work with the required process before relying on this feature.
The provider publishes estimated payment windows for certain electronic reimbursement methods based on its internal claims data. Those time frames are not guarantees, and actual processing can vary depending on medical-record requests, claim complexity, documentation and the selected payment method.
How Pricing Is Determined
There is no single price that applies to every Pets Best customer. Premiums may depend on the pet’s species, age, breed, location and the coverage selections made during quoting. The deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual limit, optional benefits and policy terms can also affect the cost.
Be cautious with advertisements using phrases such as “less than $1 a day.” A starting price may apply only to selected circumstances, a limited plan, a particular state or a specific coverage configuration. It should not be treated as a typical price for every dog or cat. The quote for your pet is the more useful comparison point.
Who May Benefit From Comparing Pets Best?
Pets Best may be worth comparing if you want customizable accident-and-illness coverage, an accident-only option, access to licensed veterinary practices in multiple locations or an optional routine-care benefit. It may also be relevant for owners who want to compare annual deductibles and reimbursement percentages rather than accept a single preset design.
It may be less suitable if your main goal is routine-care budgeting, if your pet already has significant medical history that could be excluded, or if you would struggle to pay the veterinary bill while waiting for reimbursement. In those cases, compare the policy with an emergency savings fund and other insurers before enrolling.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- Is the quote for accident-only or accident-and-illness coverage?
- What deductible, reimbursement percentage and annual limit have I selected?
- Are exam fees included or optional?
- What waiting periods apply in my state?
- How does the policy define pre-existing and bilateral conditions?
- Are dental treatment, rehabilitation, prescription medication and specialty care covered?
- What routine-care benefits are available, and what are their individual limits?
- How are claims submitted, and what records may be required?
- Can eligible reimbursement be sent directly to my veterinarian?
- What expenses remain my responsibility even after a claim is approved?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Pets Best at any veterinarian?
Pets Best states that eligible care may be received from licensed veterinarians in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Claims remain subject to the policy’s coverage rules.
Does Pets Best cover a pet’s existing condition?
Generally, no. Conditions, signs or symptoms that began before the policy’s effective date or during a waiting period may be excluded. Enrollment may still be available, but the existing condition may not be covered.
Is wellness coverage the same as accident-and-illness insurance?
No. Wellness coverage is an optional routine-care benefit for listed preventive services. Accident-and-illness insurance is intended for eligible unexpected medical problems. Review each benefit separately.
Final Assessment
Pets Best is a provider worth including in a pet insurance comparison, but the right choice depends on the policy details—not simply the advertised premium. Accident-only coverage offers narrower protection, while accident-and-illness plans generally provide broader help for eligible new medical conditions. Optional wellness coverage addresses routine expenses but has separate limits and costs.
Before purchasing, compare the complete quote, download the sample policy for your state, check bilateral and pre-existing-condition provisions, confirm how reimbursement is calculated and understand what happens during a claim. A policy can reduce financial risk, but you should still plan for deductibles, excluded services, timing differences and any portion of the bill that the plan does not reimburse.
Affiliate disclosure: This page may contain sponsored or affiliate links. If you click one of these links, the publisher may receive compensation. That compensation does not determine the policy terms, coverage decision or suitability of a plan. Confirm current pricing, availability, exclusions, waiting periods, reimbursement rules and all other terms with Pets Best and the applicable policy documents before applying.
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