Veterinary care can be unpredictable, especially when a dog or cat needs emergency treatment, diagnostic testing, surgery, or ongoing care for a newly developed illness. Pet insurance may help reimburse eligible expenses, but it is not the same as human health insurance and it does not pay every veterinary bill. Your out-of-pocket responsibility can still include deductibles, the non-reimbursed share of covered costs, excluded treatment, and expenses above your plan limit.
This Pets Best pet insurance review looks at the provider’s main coverage options for dogs and cats, how claims generally work, the role of wellness coverage, and the fine print that deserves attention before enrollment. Because pet insurance policy forms, prices, waiting periods, benefits, and availability can vary by state and enrollment date, use this guide as an educational starting point and confirm the details in the quote and sample policy available for your pet.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains a sponsored or affiliate link. If you use it, the publisher may receive compensation. This does not change your premium, determine whether a claim is covered, or make a policy appropriate for your pet. Review the insurer’s current policy documents before applying.
Pets Best at a Glance
Pets Best offers pet insurance for dogs and cats. Its lineup includes accident-only coverage, broader accident-and-illness coverage, and optional routine-care benefits. The broader plans are designed to reimburse eligible veterinary expenses for new covered conditions, rather than paying a preset dollar amount for each type of treatment.
That reimbursement-based approach means the plan settings matter. When comparing a quote, pay close attention to the annual deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual benefit limit, and whether certain items such as veterinary exam fees are included in the plan you selected.
Pets Best states that pets may receive eligible care from licensed veterinarians in the United States and Canada, with coverage while traveling also described for Puerto Rico. A veterinarian’s willingness to treat your pet does not by itself make an expense eligible for insurance reimbursement; the final determination depends on the policy terms and claim review.
Pets Best Plan Types
Accident-only coverage
Accident-only coverage is the narrower option. It is intended for eligible injuries caused by accidents, such as fractures, bite wounds, poisoning, lacerations, or swallowing a foreign object. Related services may include eligible examinations, diagnostics, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medication, emergency care, and specialist treatment when they result from a covered accident.
The tradeoff is significant: an accident-only plan does not cover illnesses. Conditions such as cancer, diabetes, infections, arthritis, or chronic disease would generally fall outside this type of coverage. For some households, accident-only insurance may be a way to seek limited protection against unexpected injuries while keeping premiums lower. It is not a substitute for comprehensive illness coverage.
Accident-and-illness coverage
Accident-and-illness coverage is Pets Best’s broader insurance option. Subject to the policy, it may help reimburse eligible treatment for newly occurring accidents and illnesses. The insurer describes potential coverage for services such as diagnostic testing, emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, cancer treatment, prescription medications, and certain hereditary or congenital conditions.
Broader coverage does not mean automatic coverage for every health issue. A claim can still be denied or reduced if the condition is pre-existing, began during a waiting period, is specifically excluded, lacks required documentation, or exceeds the plan’s annual maximum. This is why reading the actual state-specific policy is more important than relying only on a general coverage list.
Optional routine-care coverage
Pets Best offers optional routine-care plans, commonly referred to as EssentialWellness and BestWellness. These benefits are designed for expected preventive expenses rather than unexpected injuries or illnesses. Depending on the selected plan and state, listed benefits may include wellness examinations, vaccinations, parasite screening, preventive medications, microchipping, diagnostic panels, and, on some plan levels, benefits for spay or neuter procedures and dental cleanings.
Routine-care coverage has separate annual benefit amounts for listed services. It is not unlimited preventive care, and it should be evaluated as a budgeting tool rather than as a replacement for accident-and-illness insurance. Pets Best says its routine-care options do not have a deductible and that benefits can begin the day after enrollment, but plan availability and benefit schedules should be confirmed in the quote for your location.
How Deductibles, Reimbursement and Annual Limits Affect a Claim
Pet insurance comparisons can become confusing because two policies with similar monthly premiums may have very different financial results after a large veterinary bill. Three settings are especially important.
| Feature | What it generally means | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| Annual deductible | The amount you pay toward eligible covered expenses during a policy term before reimbursement begins. | Confirm the deductible amount and whether it applies once per policy year rather than once per condition. |
| Reimbursement percentage | The portion of eligible expenses the insurer may reimburse after the deductible and policy rules are applied. | Compare the percentage alongside the premium. A higher reimbursement percentage may cost more. |
| Annual benefit limit | The maximum amount the policy may reimburse during the annual policy term. | Consider whether the limit would still be meaningful during a major illness or multiple claims in one year. |
Pets Best describes reimbursement choices of up to 70%, 80%, or 90% for certain plans. It also advertises annual limit options ranging from $5,000 to unlimited on some accident-and-illness plans. The choices available to you may differ based on your state, pet, and selected policy form, so the quote is the reliable place to compare actual options.
For example, assume a covered veterinary invoice totals $2,000, your annual deductible has not been met, and your selected reimbursement level is 80%. The deductible is applied under the policy’s claim calculation, then the reimbursement percentage applies to the remaining eligible amount. Costs that are excluded, not medically eligible, or above an applicable annual limit remain your responsibility.
Also ask whether reimbursement is based on the actual eligible veterinary bill or a benefit schedule. Pets Best describes its accident-and-illness plans as reimbursing eligible expenses from the actual bill, subject to the policy’s deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual limit, and exclusions.
What Pets Best May Cover
Coverage differs by plan, state, and policy form. However, accident-and-illness coverage may include eligible expenses associated with the following:
- Emergency treatment for covered accidents and illnesses
- Diagnostic testing, including imaging and laboratory work when medically necessary for a covered condition
- Surgery, hospitalization, and specialist care
- Cancer treatment and associated eligible medical services
- Prescription medication for covered conditions
- Dental conditions, including certain periodontal disease and dental injuries, subject to policy requirements
- Physical therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and other listed rehabilitation services when covered and veterinarian-directed
- Veterinarian-prescribed prosthetic devices or mobility equipment for qualifying covered conditions
- Humane euthanasia when covered under the policy terms
Veterinary examination fees deserve special attention. Pets Best says exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses are included with most accident-and-illness plans, but they can be excluded from some plans. Do not assume that the office visit fee will be reimbursed simply because the treatment itself qualifies. Check the plan summary and policy before purchase.
Exclusions and Limitations to Review Carefully
Pre-existing conditions
Pre-existing conditions are among the most important limitations in pet insurance. In general, a condition, injury, symptom, or clinical sign that existed before the policy effective date or arose during a waiting period may be excluded. A formal diagnosis is not always required for an insurer to consider a problem pre-existing if medical records show that related signs or symptoms appeared earlier.
Your pet may still be able to enroll if there is medical history, but the existing issue and potentially related treatment may not be eligible for reimbursement. Pets Best policy materials should be reviewed for how they handle curable conditions, recurrence, and related conditions. Those definitions can materially affect future claims.
Waiting periods
Coverage usually does not begin the moment you submit an application or make a payment. Waiting periods may apply to accidents, illnesses, and certain orthopedic or other conditions. If an injury or symptom starts during a waiting period, it may be excluded as pre-existing even if the diagnosis comes later.
Before enrolling, verify the waiting periods shown in the policy for your state. This is particularly important if your pet is currently limping, vomiting, itching, showing dental problems, or experiencing any other symptom that could lead to a future veterinary visit.
Bilateral and related conditions
Bilateral conditions involve paired body parts, such as knees, hips, eyes, ears, or limbs. Pet insurance policies may limit coverage for a condition on one side when the same or a related condition affected the other side before enrollment or during a waiting period.
This issue can be important for orthopedic conditions. If your pet has prior knee, hip, eye, or ear concerns, read the bilateral-condition language in the applicable sample policy and consider asking the insurer how your pet’s medical history could be evaluated. Customer service information is helpful, but the written policy controls a claim decision.
Routine, elective and non-covered expenses
Standard accident-and-illness insurance typically does not cover predictable preventive services unless a wellness option is added. Policies may also exclude or limit items such as grooming, breeding-related expenses, cosmetic or elective procedures, non-veterinary services, prescription diets, supplements, behavioral training, and experimental or holistic therapies. The exact exclusions can vary, so use the policy exclusions section as your checklist.
How Pets Best Claims and Direct Vet Pay Work
Pet insurance is commonly reimbursement-based. In a typical situation, you take your pet to a licensed veterinarian, receive treatment, pay the veterinary practice or arrange payment, submit a claim, and wait for the insurer’s review. Pets Best states that claims can be submitted through an online customer account or its mobile app, generally using an itemized invoice and any other required information.
During review, Pets Best may request medical records. Those records can help establish when symptoms began, whether waiting periods have passed, and whether the expense is covered. If a claim is approved, reimbursement is calculated according to the policy’s deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual benefit limit, and other applicable terms.
Pets Best also offers an optional Direct Vet Pay feature. Under this process, an eligible reimbursement amount may be sent directly to the veterinarian after the claim is processed and the required release documentation is provided. It is not the same as guaranteed upfront payment by the insurer. You remain responsible for your deductible, your share of covered expenses, and services or charges that are not covered. Confirm whether your veterinary practice can participate in the process before depending on it for a large bill.
How Pets Best Pricing Is Determined
There is no single Pets Best price for every dog or cat. Pet insurance premiums can depend on factors such as species, age, breed, location, the coverage level selected, the deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual limit, optional routine-care coverage, and the policy form available in your state.
A low advertised starting premium may apply only to a particular pet profile, location, or coverage configuration. It is more useful to compare quotes using the same deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual limit across providers. Otherwise, a lower monthly price may simply reflect less protection or a larger share of the risk being left to you.
When comparing premiums, consider your ability to handle a veterinary bill before reimbursement arrives. Even with Direct Vet Pay available, claim review and policy limitations still apply. Maintaining an emergency pet-care fund may be sensible alongside insurance.
Who May Want to Compare Pets Best?
Pets Best may be worth considering for pet owners who want to compare accident-only and accident-and-illness coverage from the same provider, choose among multiple reimbursement levels, or add routine-care benefits to help budget for listed preventive services. Its stated access to licensed veterinarians in the United States and Canada may also appeal to households that travel with pets or use emergency and specialty clinics.
It may be less suitable for someone who expects an insurance policy to pay routine bills without a wellness add-on, cannot manage a deductible or remaining balance after an approved claim, or has a pet with existing medical concerns likely to be excluded. In those situations, compare the policy’s exclusions carefully and weigh insurance against an emergency savings strategy or alternative plans.
Questions to Ask Before Buying a Policy
- Is this quote for accident-only coverage or accident-and-illness coverage?
- What annual deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual benefit limit am I selecting?
- Are veterinary exam fees included in this specific plan?
- What waiting periods apply in my state?
- How does the policy define a pre-existing condition, recurrence, and related condition?
- What bilateral-condition limitation applies to knees, hips, eyes, ears, or other paired body parts?
- Are dental conditions, prescription drugs, rehabilitation, and specialty care included under the policy?
- Which services are covered by the wellness add-on, and what is the annual benefit limit for each service?
- What documentation is required for a claim, and when might medical records be requested?
- How does Direct Vet Pay work, and will my veterinarian accept the required process?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Pets Best at any veterinarian?
Pets Best states that eligible treatment can be received from licensed veterinarians in the United States and Canada, and it describes coverage while traveling in Puerto Rico. Claims are still subject to the policy terms, exclusions, and review process.
Does Pets Best cover pre-existing conditions?
Generally, no. A condition, symptom, or injury that began before coverage started or during a waiting period may be excluded. Review the policy definition of pre-existing conditions and related conditions, especially if your pet has prior medical records.
Does Pets Best cover veterinary exam fees?
Exam-fee treatment can vary by plan. Pets Best says most accident-and-illness plans include exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses, while some plans may exclude them. Confirm this feature in your quote and policy documents.
Is Pets Best wellness coverage the same as pet insurance?
No. Routine-care coverage is an optional benefit for listed preventive services, while accident-and-illness insurance is intended to help with eligible unexpected medical expenses. Each has separate rules and benefits.
Final Assessment
Pets Best is a provider to include in a pet insurance comparison if you want a choice between accident-only and broader accident-and-illness coverage, customizable reimbursement settings, and optional wellness benefits. The strongest value will depend on the details of the actual quote, not the headline premium alone.
Before purchasing, download and read the sample policy for your state. Confirm the deductible, reimbursement level, annual limit, waiting periods, exam-fee treatment, pre-existing-condition language, bilateral-condition rules, and wellness benefit schedule. Insurance may reduce the financial impact of eligible veterinary care, but it cannot remove every out-of-pocket cost or guarantee payment for every condition.
Affiliate disclosure: This page may contain sponsored or affiliate links. If you click one of these links, the publisher may receive compensation. Compensation does not determine policy availability, pricing, coverage, exclusions, claim outcomes, or whether a plan is right for your pet. Verify current terms, availability, and policy documents with Pets Best before enrolling.
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