Pet insurance in the United States is not one-size-fits-all. Every provider lets you customize a plan around a deductible, a reimbursement rate, and an annual coverage limit, but the base coverage, exclusions, and add-ons behind those numbers vary a lot from company to company. Before you buy a policy for your dog or cat, it's worth understanding what you're comparing and looking at a few of the other providers in the market.

What to compare before you buy

  • Accident-only vs. accident-and-illness. Accident-only plans are cheaper but only pay out for injuries — broken bones, swallowed objects, toxin ingestion. Accident-and-illness plans also cover conditions like cancer, diabetes, and infections, and are what most owners mean by "pet insurance."
  • Deductible. The amount you pay out of pocket before reimbursement kicks in, usually chosen once a year rather than per incident.
  • Reimbursement rate. The percentage of an eligible vet bill the insurer pays back — commonly a choice between 70%, 80%, and 90%.
  • Annual limit. A capped payout per policy year, or an unlimited option with no ceiling — this matters most for pets that develop a chronic or expensive condition.
  • Waiting periods and pre-existing conditions. Nearly every provider excludes conditions your pet already had before the policy started, and most impose a waiting period (days to weeks) before new accident and illness coverage begins.
  • Wellness add-ons. Optional coverage for routine care — vaccinations, dental cleanings, flea and heartworm prevention — that sits on top of the base accident-and-illness plan rather than being included in it.

A look at other US pet insurance providers

Here's how a few of the other national providers approach these choices. Rates and specifics change, so treat the figures below as a starting point for your own comparison rather than a quote.

Lemonade Pet Insurance

Lemonade sells an accident-and-illness plan with optional add-ons for routine care, exam fees, dental illness, physical therapy, behavioral conditions, and end-of-life care. Plans are customizable across four deductible levels, three reimbursement rates, and five annual limits. Reported average premiums are in the region of $46–$55/month for dogs and $28–$33/month for cats, though Lemonade is only available in some US states.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin offers accident-and-illness coverage with reimbursement up to 90% and a broad list of covered conditions, including hereditary and congenital conditions, chronic disease, and cancer treatment. Deductibles range from $100–$1,000, with an unlimited annual coverage option available. Reported average premiums are roughly $54/month for dogs and $34/month for cats, and Pumpkin also sells a separate low-cost wellness club membership alongside its insurance plans.

Pets Best

Pets Best covers accidents, illnesses, and hereditary and congenital conditions, with no per-incident or lifetime payout limits on its core plans and an optional routine wellness add-on. You choose your own deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual limit. It's frequently rated among the cheaper national providers, with a sample rate around $38/month for dogs and $23/month for cats on a $500-deductible, 90%-reimbursement plan.

MetLife Pet Insurance

MetLife sells a single, highly customizable accident-and-illness plan — deductibles range from $0 to $2,500, with reimbursement up to 90%. Coverage extends beyond dogs and cats to species including rabbits, birds, and reptiles. Two optional wellness tiers (Preventive 365 and Preventive 575) add a fixed annual allowance for routine care. Reported average premiums sit around $57/month for dogs and $36/month for cats.

Spot Pet Insurance

Spot offers both accident-only and accident-and-illness plans, and its base accident-and-illness plan already includes behavioral conditions, alternative therapies like acupuncture, exam fees, and prescription food — items some competitors only offer as paid add-ons. Annual limits range from $2,500 up to unlimited, with 70%, 80%, or 90% reimbursement. Spot also offers a 10% multi-pet discount.

How USA Pet Cover compares

USA Pet Cover's own plans let you choose your own licensed veterinarian, emergency hospital, or specialist anywhere in the US, with no provider network to navigate and no upper age limit or breed restrictions. There are three annual limit options — $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000 — and claims are reimbursed directly to the owner, typically in under two weeks. As with any provider, it's worth checking the deductible, reimbursement rate, and exclusions on our plans against the ones above before deciding what's the right fit for your pet.

Have questions about how our plans stack up? Call us on 855-890-PETS (7387), email hello@usapetcover.com, or get in touch online.