Pets Best – Pet Insurance

 

No matter who your immediate family members are, you love them. That hopefully includes a romantic partner, and it might include children. However, families of all shapes and sizes include pets. They might not be human, but you love them just as much as the people in your family.

Having pets around means a sense of enjoyment and companionship, but they also involve responsibility. Caring for their health involves feeding them, bathing them, and getting them adequate exercise. It also means trips to the vet and possibly procuring medications for them when they are sick or injured.

All of that can get expensive, but pet insurance can help you manage those costs. Pets Best pet insurance is one of your many options. Whether or not it’s right for you depends on their coverage, costs, and pros and cons.

 

An Overview

 

Jack Stephens is a veterinarian who founded Pets Best pet insurance in 2005. He launched the very first North American pet insurance company back in 1981.

There are three tiers of pet insurance for cats and dogs through Pets Best. These tiers cover injuries and illnesses and there are also a pair of wellness plans for routine care, such as vaccinations and exams.

Synchrony, a financial services company, acquired Pets Best in 2019. Pets Best, at the time of writing, is underwritten by one of two companies. One is American Pet Insurance Company, and the other is Independence American Insurance Company.

 

Pros/Cons

 

Pets Best pet insurance plans have numerous aspects to them – some positive, and some negative. How much they weigh in your favor or against depends on your personal circumstances.

 

Pros

 

First, the strong points that Pets Best pet insurance has going for it are listed below:

• The insurance works with any licensed veterinarian inside the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada
• Reimbursement rates, deductibles, and annual benefits are all customizable
• Two available wellness add-ons provide for routine care coverage
• No maximum age limit for coverage

 

Cons

 

Second, potential downsides you should consider when making your decision are listed below:

• Only the top-tier Elite option covers rehabilitation

 

What They Cover

 

Pets Best has an insurance program called BestBenefit. It covers dogs and cats, and it handles accidents, injuries, and illnesses. There are also additional wellness options that offer subsidized care for routine visits and procedures. These include spaying, neutering, and flea treatments.

There are no maximum age limits for your pets, so you can get policies for senior animals. This contrasts with many other pet insurance providers that have age limits in the 10- to 14-year range.

You will have to go through a waiting period before coverage applies. The wait limits include three days in case of accidents, two weeks for illnesses, and half a year for any cruciate ligament conditions.

Standard coverage comes through three tiers known as Essential, Plus, and Elite. Standard coverage handles emergency care, congenital conditions, hereditary conditions, cancer, chronic conditions, illnesses, and accidents.

 

Handling Costs

 

Annual deductible and benefit limits are things you can customize. The reimbursement level options are 70%, 80%, and 90%. You can set the annual benefit limits at either $5,000 or unlimited. Deductible options are in a range starting at $50 and going up to $1,000.

The add-ons are called EssentialWellness and BestWellness. They help subsidize costs with routine office exams, heartworm prevention, microchipping, vaccinations, deworming, spaying, neutering, and many other preventative treatments.

A sample monthly cost for dogs through this insurance is $18.18 per month and $11.13 for cats. These prices are rated on 1-year-old animals, assuming a reimbursement rate of 90%, an annual limit of $5,000, and a deductible of $500.

Premium prices will vary if your pet has any pre-existing conditions and depend on age, species, breed, and location. The kind of policy you choose will also matter.

Wellness benefits cost extra but also provide more coverage. EssentialWellness costs about $16 per month but provides $305 in annual benefits. BestWellness costs about $26 per month but offers $535 in annual benefits.

Enjoy a multi-pet discount of 5% if you must cover more than one. Military personnel and family members can enjoy a 5% discount in 47 states, excluding Tennessee, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Claims do not increase your premiums. Monthly premiums carry a $2 transaction fee, but you can skip that if you pay annually or quarterly.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Given how complicated any insurance policy can be, you’re likely to have lots of questions. It’s even tougher when it’s your pet involved. Here are questions others have asked frequently as well as their answers.

 

How Do You Buy Their Insurance?

 

Start with an online quote. You’ll have to input the name of your pet, species, breed, gender, age, and your primary vet. There will also be a health history questionnaire about previous diagnoses and symptoms.

 

Do They Cover Dental Cleanings?

 

They provide periodontal disease coverage through their BestBenefit policy for accidents and illnesses. It covers the extraction of teeth for oral trauma and dental fractures, root canals, and related endodontic procedures on carnassial and canine teeth. Tooth cleaning is only available through a supplemental plan.

 

When Is Their Customer Service Available?

 

You can reach them by phone on weekdays from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. in the Mountain Standard Time Zone. You can also reach them from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Their contact page lists a mailing address and fax number.

They also feature a mobile app you can use to access benefits, submit claims, and contact support. You’ll also get access to their 24/7 pet helpline that lets you access vet experts who can give you answers to pet health questions.

 

How Do I Cancel This Policy?

 

Cancel your policy through their website. Just give them your identifying information and reason for termination, and they’ll cancel it the same day they get the request.

 

When Do the Waiting Periods Start and End?

 

Pets Best insurance policies do have waiting periods. They start the date you buy the policy. The waiting period for accidents ends after three days. The waiting period for illnesses ends after 14 days, and the waiting period for cruciate ligament conditions runs for six months.

 

Are There Payment Limits?

 

There are two levels of maximum payment limits in terms of coverage. The first is one that has a $5,000 annual limit for coverage. The other option is an unlimited annual and lifetime cap for illnesses and accidents. If you have the latter option, you’ll get reimbursements throughout your policy without ever hitting any maximum payout other than those that are line item specific.

 

Do the Deductibles Impact Premiums?

 

Yes. You can choose deductibles as low as $50 or as high as $1,000. Higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums, but you wind up paying more out of your own pocket if you file a claim. Lower deductibles mean higher monthly premiums, but you pay less out of your own pocket if you file a claim for reimbursement. Pet insurance policies through this provider do not entail per-condition deductibles.

 

How Are Claims Handled?

 

Pets Best encourages users to file claims through their online portal. You can either set up payments directly to your vet or a direct deposit for your reimbursement. Claims are processed within one month. Direct deposit reimbursement can happen in just two days. Paper checks are sent around a week later than that.

 

Key Takeaways

 

Pets Best pet insurance isn’t always the best choice because of its name alone. However, its coverage is among the best you’ll find on the market. The add-ons that subsidize many elements of routine care and the lack of age ceiling for coverage are two standout features of this insurance carrier.

 

 

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