More and more pet owners are choosing to switch to pet insurance. With enrollment and premium volumes rising. It’s driven by rising veterinary costs, the “humanization” of pets, and greater awareness of financial risk among owners. The pet insurance outlined herein all let you visit any licensed veterinarian, but they differ in plan structure, extras, discounts, and digital experience.
Choosing pet insurance comes down to how much you want to pay for insurance vs. care. Do you want fast claims and lots of add-ons, or a more traditional menu with ongoing wellness options? . Let’s take a look at some of the options. The number of insured pets in North America climbed from 6.25 million at the end of 2023 to 7.03 million at the end of 2024, a 12.2% year-over-year increase, with 6.4 million of those pets in the United States alone. Market outlooks from research firms and industry groups project the global pet insurance market to roughly triple or quadruple by the early 2030s, attributing this expansion to more owners seeking protection from unexpected veterinary bills and to insurers offering more flexible products. A steadily growing share of owners are choosing pet insurance as part of how they manage both pet health and household finances. (Fortune Business Insight, Grand View Research). Here’s a list of some of the top options:
Lemonade leans into a fully digital experience with quick quotes, app-based claims, and AI-assisted approvals that can reimburse straight to your bank account. Its base accident-and-illness coverage can help with diagnostics, procedures, medications, hospitalizations, and many hereditary and chronic conditions. You can customize deductibles and reimbursement levels, add wellness packages—including a robust puppy/kitten option that bundles spay/neuter and microchipping—and stack potential savings with multi-pet and annual-pay discounts. Lemonade also publishes clear explanations of waiting periods for accidents, illnesses, cruciate events, and orthopedic conditions, so you know when coverage starts. (Lemonade)
Nationwide offers one of the broadest pedigrees in the category and covers dogs, cats, and even exotics on certain plans. Policies can be tailored with accident, illness, and wellness benefits; you choose deductible and reimbursement options, then submit claims online after visiting any licensed vet—specialists and emergency clinics included. Nationwide details how its reimbursements work once you meet the annual deductible, and it emphasizes global usability, longstanding financial backing, and a range of deductible levels that can start low on some plans. If you prefer a big, established insurer with varied plan designs and simple self-service portals, this is a solid fit. (Nationwide Pet Insurance)
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance centers its lineup around Complete Coverage℠ for accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, behavioral issues, dental disease, and alternative therapies, with optional accident-only coverage if you want to keep premiums down. A preventive-care add-on can reimburse routine items like vaccines, wellness exams, spay/neuter, and dental cleaning. ASPCA highlights a 30-day money-back guarantee where available, the ability to visit any licensed vet in the U.S. or Canada, and a 10% multi-pet discount. If you want one of the more inclusive “everything in one policy” designs—with the option to dial it back to accident-only—its structure is straightforward to compare. (ASPCA Pet Health Insurance)
Pets Best focuses on flexible plan building with Accident & Illness as the core, an Accident-Only budget alternative, and optional Routine Care that can help with expected costs like vaccinations, spay/neuter, and cleanings. Pets Best calls out coverage for hereditary conditions, chronic diseases, cancer care, and emergency treatment under its comprehensive plans, and it pairs the online experience with a 24/7 Pet Helpline for guidance between vet visits. The brand also emphasizes app-based claims and the ability to tailor annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement percentages—useful if you’re optimizing for premium today while protecting against big surprises tomorrow. (Pets Best)
Costco (through Figo Pet Insurance) markets an exclusive member discount on Figo plans, plus an additional perk for Executive Members. The page explains that plans can reimburse up to 100% after waiting periods, highlights access to a 24/7 Live Vet feature via Figo’s Pet Cloud app, and notes optional add-ons like exam-fee coverage and routine wellness. Costco’s overview is explicit that insurance is provided through Figo and underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, and it links to sample policies and state-specific terms so you can verify coverage details. If you’re already a member and like the idea of a member-only discount layered on a modern, app-centric policy, it’s worth a look. (Costco)
Choosing the best match means knowing how you budget and what you want covered. If you want speed and slick tech with clear waiting-period guidelines and wellness bundling, Lemonade stands out. If breadth of offerings and the comfort of a large, established insurer matter most, Nationwide is a strong contender. If you want a single, comprehensive policy with behavioral and dental disease baked in—and the option to scale down—ASPCA’s lineup is easy to parse. If tailoring every lever is your priority, Pets Best’s accident-and-illness versus accident-only split plus Routine Care add-on gives you lots of control. And if you’re a Costco member, the Figo-powered discount and 24/7 in-app support can tip the math in your favor. The right move is to get like-for-like quotes—same annual limit, deductible, reimbursement—and confirm waiting periods, exclusions, and add-on pricing before you enroll.