Homes with two or more pets mean double the pleasure … and double the vet bills. Pet insurance for multiple pets can save owners from unexpected expenses and offer peace of mind should their fur babies need care.
Methodology
We examined 12 pet insurers, gathered 240 premiums, analyzed 250 data points and consulted more than three dozen primary sources to identify which pet insurers are the best fit if you have multiple pets. We then used our data and editorial judgment to select winners in seven key pet ownership categories. Read our full methodology here.
Show summary
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ASPCA
: Competitive premiums for cats
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Spot
: Best for pets with behavioral and dietary issues
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Figo
: Excellent for accident waiting periods
Pets Best
Best for low premiums for dogs
Why we picked it
Pets Best had the lowest average premiums of all the 12 companies we analyzed. Its average monthly premium for dogs was $41.58 — around $37 lower than the group average of $78.93. Also, Pets Best uses direct pay, which means the insurer pays your vet bill instead of making you pay upfront and then request reimbursement.
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On the downside, four competitors had shorter accident waiting periods than Pets Best, and its 5% multi-pet discount was half as much as the 10% that Embrace, Spot and ASPCA offered.
Pros
- Lowest average premiums
- Most plans cover pet exam fees
- Offers direct pay
Cons
- Multi-pet discount is 5% lower than competitors
- Some plans exclude exam fees
Who should use it
You have more than one dog and want to protect your pups without breaking the bank.
Embrace
Why we picked it
Embrace offers a 10% multiple pet discount, which was the highest discount of the 12 companies we analyzed. Embrace also had the second-best overall score, which means it offers much more than a good discount: Its plans help pet owners reduce costs by covering exam fees for every vet visit and offering better-than-average policy rates.
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However, Embrace’s waiting period for pets with orthopedic conditions is six months, and it doesn’t offer direct pay like some of its competitors.
Pros
- Pet exam fees are included
- Below-average premiums
- 48-hour accident waiting period
Cons
- No direct pay
- Doesn’t cover routine care costs
Who should use it
You’re a parent of multiple pets and want a good discount along with affordable premiums and coverage for exam fees.
MetLife
Why we picked it
While it’s common for a pet insurer to have a 24/7 helpline, MetLife was the only company among the top-five with a helpline/chat feature that connects you directly with vets. Competitor helplines connect you with veterinary experts but don’t promise you’ll always reach a vet.
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MetLife’s only big downside is that it doesn’t offer direct pay, which means you’ll have to pay the upfront costs of your pet’s bill then request a reimbursement from MetLife.
Pros
- Helpline gives you access to veterinarians
- Third-highest overall score
- Competitive premiums
Who should use it
You don’t have a lot of extra cash to make trips to the emergency vet and want an around-the-clock option for getting answers to questions that could save you time, money and worry.
ASPCA
Competitive premiums for cats
Why we picked it
Pet insurance for cats is cheaper than pet insurance for dogs, and ASPCA helps reduce the bottom line further by offering good average premiums for cats. Its average monthly premium for a cat is $38.46, compared to the category average of $41.88. Additionally, ASPCA includes pet exam fees in its coverage, lowering your yearly cost of coverage.
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On the downside, ASCPA doesn’t offer direct pay, so you’ll have to pay for your vet services up front and wait for reimbursement.
Pros
- Better-than-average rates for cat insurance
- Covers pet exam fees
- Up to a 10% multi-pet discount
Cons
- No direct pay
- No 24/7 helpline
Who should use it
You’re a cat parent without a lot of cushion in your budget, so you need affordable coverage.
Spot
Best for pets with behavioral and dietary issues
Why we picked it
Spot was the only eligible insurer in our ratings that offered coverage for prescription food and behavioral therapy, which is a huge advantage for pet owners with cats, dogs or both that are on a special diet or need specialty care for behavior issues.
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Spot’s excellent coverage for special treatments comes with a price tag, though; it’s average rates for dogs and cats were higher than the group average.
Pros
- Offers coverage for prescription food and behavioral therapy
- 10% multi-pet discount
- Offers a routine wellness plan
Cons
- Dog and cat rates were higher than group averages
- No direct pay
Who should use it
Your beloved pet family has members that need behavioral therapy, require a special prescription diet or both.
Lemonade
Why we picked it
Lemonade’s app had the highest score among iPhone users — 4.9 — of all the insurers in our study. You can make important changes to your policy through the app, including changing or canceling your policy and getting a new one. You can file claims from Lemonade’s app, too.
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However, keep in mind that pet exam fees aren’t covered in Lemonade policies, and the insurer doesn’t offer direct pay.
Pros
- iPhone app had a 4.9 rating
- Second-best rates for cats and dogs
Cons
- No direct pay
- Pet exam fees aren’t covered
Who should use it
You’re an iPhone user and want an insurer that lets you do all of your important policy tasks in-app rather than over the phone or through a website.
Figo
Excellent for accident waiting periods
Why we picked it
Figo offered the second-shortest waiting period for accident coverage: one day. This is an excellent benefit if you and your pets often find yourself running, hiking and exploring — any accidents that happen during your adventures will be covered just one day after your policy’s start date, meaning your coverage will fully take effect on the second day.
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On the downside, Figo’s plans don’t cover pet exam fees.
Pros
- One-day waiting period for accidents
- Better-than-average premiums for cats and dogs
Cons
- Pet exam fees aren’t covered
- No direct pay
Who should use it
You love taking your pets out for adventures that increase their chances of accidentally getting injured.
Our picks at a glance
Why having pet insurance for multiple pets is important
Buying pet insurance has several important benefits that can impact your finances and your pet’s health.
- Cost savings: Pet insurance can offset vet bills for multiple pets compared to paying as you go.
- Early coverage: Taking out a policy when your pet is young ensures they will be covered before preexisting conditions occur.
- Lack of hesitancy: Insured multi-pet owners tend to be less afraid of high vet bills and usually don’t hesitate to visit the vet or agree to costly procedures.
- Routine care: Regular checkups and vaccinations add up, especially for multi-pet owners. Wellness plans allow owners to maintain routine care without financial concerns.
How does multi-pet insurance work?
Owners with multiple pets can bundle their pets under one insurance policy or have individual policies for each pet, depending on the specific insurer’s options. A one-policy plan usually has one shared annual deductible and a monthly premium, whereas individual policies require owners to pay multiple monthly premiums and meet separate deductibles.
Both options allow owners to customize coverage based on their pets’ ages, breeds and sizes, although a one-policy plan usually limits the number of pets you can bundle together.
Most providers offer a 5% to 10% discount when you have multiple insured pets.
The claims and reimbursement process works the same for multiple pets under one policy as a policy that insures one pet. You’ll either pay for covered services upfront and your insurer reimburses you, or your insurer pays for the covered services upfront (“direct pay”).
Your policy or policies will also have a deductible. You’ll typically see two types:
- Annual: You’ll pay out of pocket for care until you hit your deductible, at which point your reimbursement percentage will apply to all future bills.
- Per-incident: Similar to auto insurance, you’ll pay a set deductible every time you make a claim. Your policy’s reimbursement rate applies to any balance left over after you pay the deductible.
How much does multi-pet insurance cost?
The cost of multi-pet insurance depends upon various factors, including your pets’ ages and breeds, your location, the number of pets you insure and the deductible and reimbursement levels you choose.
For example, say you buy pet insurance for your dog and cat through Pets Best. The monthly premiums for your dog and cat are $41.58 and $24.88, respectively, before your 5% multi-pet discount. After the discount, the total monthly cost to insure both pets is $63.14.
Can I buy pet insurance for multiple pets?
You can buy a pet insurance policy for all of your pets from any pet insurer, assuming your pets meet the insurer’s eligibility requirements. For example, most insurers will only cover cats and dogs, although some extend coverage to horses, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs or exotic animals.
In most cases, you will buy separate policies for each pet and manage them under one account; however, you can purchase a policy for each pet from different insurers or find a company that offers one policy for multiple pets.
What’s covered under a multi-pet insurance policy?
Generally, multi-pet insurance offers the same coverage that single-pet policies from the same insurer do. You can select accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness policies, in most cases. And, depending on which policy type you choose, you’ll get coverage for accidents, emergencies, illnesses, chronic conditions, injuries or routine care.
Some providers will cover your pet’s exam fees. Others may have restrictions regarding preexisting conditions. Check your policy details for what’s covered and not covered.
Additionally, just like single-pet policies, you’ll have a chance to change your coverage every year during the renewal period.
Is there a time limit for adding a pet to my account?
No. You can add a pet to your existing coverage at any time. Doing so might get you a multi-pet discount, too. Just remember that some policies have age limits for covered pets. For example, many policies won’t cover a pet for the first time if the pet is 10 or older.
Is there a discount for multi-pet insurance?
Most pet insurance companies offer a 5% to 10% rate discount if you have multiple pet insurance policies with them or insure multiple pets under one policy.
How do I find a multi-pet insurance policy?
You can search the internet for multi-pet insurance policy providers, get quotes and compare coverage to find the best option for your family’s needs. You may also call insurers directly or visit an office in person to receive quotes and have any questions answered.
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance companies for multiple pets, we examined 250 data points and gathered 10 dog insurance and 10 cat insurance quotes for each of the 12 insurers in our study. The insurers that made our final list of 12 are well-known companies that meet minimum requirements for features and coverage.
Multi-pet discount (25%)
If you own more than one pet, veterinary care can be even more expensive and managing costs can be more difficult. We researched which insurers offer a multi-pet discount and what the maximum percentage is, if applicable.
Average dog premium (15%)
For the average monthly dog premiums, we gathered quotes for a medium mixed-breed dog across three different ZIP codes and three different age groups directly from the 18 insurance companies we reviewed. We used a $250 deductible (or the closest option offered by each company, which included $0, $200 and $300), 90% reimbursement percentage when available and annual coverage limits of $5,000 and unlimited. If a $5,000 option was not available, quotes were not gathered for this coverage limit. If an unlimited option was not available, we chose the highest limit offered. We then calculated the average of all quotes gathered for each insurance company.
Average cat premium (15%)
For the average monthly cat premiums, we gathered quotes for a Domestic Shorthair cat across three different ZIP codes and three different age groups directly from the 18 insurance companies we reviewed. We used a $250 deductible (or the closest option offered by each company, which included $0, $200 and $300), 90% reimbursement percentage when available and annual coverage limits of $5,000 and unlimited. If a $5,000 option was not available, quotes were not gathered for this coverage limit. If an unlimited option was not available, we chose the highest limit offered. We then calculated the average of all quotes gathered for each insurance company.
Pet exam fee (10%)
Not all pet insurance companies cover the exam fees for covered accidents and illnesses, which can increase your out-of-pocket costs. For this category, we looked to see if this coverage is automatically included with each insurer.
Direct pay (10%)
Most pet insurers require you to pay the vet first and then submit a claim to receive reimbursement for eligible expenses, which may be difficult for some since you’ll need access to a larger sum of money or to a line of credit to make the initial payment. However, some insurers offer an option to pay the vet directly (“direct pay”). In this category, insurers with a direct pay feature were scored higher than those without.
Accident waiting period (7%)
Almost all pet insurance policies include a waiting period for accidents before coverage kicks in. Since an accident can occur at any time, finding a pet insurer with a smaller waiting period can be beneficial to ensure claims will be covered as soon as possible. For this category, we looked to see how long the accident waiting period is for each insurer.
Illness waiting period (7%)
Almost all pet insurance policies include a waiting period for illnesses before coverage kicks in. Since an illness can occur at any time, finding a pet insurer with a smaller waiting period can be beneficial to ensure claims will be covered as soon as possible. For this category, we looked to see how long the illness waiting period is for each insurer.
Routine wellness (5%)
Pet insurance policies don’t generally cover routine wellness or preventative care. However, many pet insurers offer separate plans or add-ons to help pay for these costs. As part of our research, we looked to see if a routine wellness plan was available with each insurer.
Euthanasia/end-of-life coverage (3%)
Some pet insurance companies don’t cover euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, although an add-on may be available. After figuring out which insurers automatically provide this coverage, we determined whether or not a covered condition was required.
24/7 vet helpline (3%)
Some pet insurance companies offer a 24/7 vet helpline to help answer and discuss health-related questions and concerns. This can be helpful for pet owners in managing their pet’s health and determining what the next steps are, so the insurers that offered this service to their policyholders for free received a slight scoring boost.
What didn’t make the cut
Of the five companies that didn’t make it into our winners list, three did not meet our minimum three-star requirement for winners: Healthy Paws, Fetch by The Dodo and Trupanion. The remaining two insurers that had scores above three stars, Pumpkin and ManyPets, didn’t perform well enough in any single area to earn consideration for a category win.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Combining pets under one policy allows owners to pay one monthly premium and have one deductible per year, whereas separate policies would have their own premium and deductible. Having one premium and deductible makes it easier to track your spending and expenses.
Most pet insurance, including multi-pet policies, typically applies to cats and dogs only, although some insurers will cover exotic pets like birds and reptiles. Owners may carry multi-pet insurance on eligible exotic animals; however, the coverage options are different from traditional cat and dog policies, and usually more expensive.
If you have separate insurance policies for each pet, then one pet’s preexisting condition won’t affect the coverage or premium for another pet. If you have one policy for multiple pets, then a preexisting condition will be factored into the overall policy premium and coverage options.
The claims process for a pet covered under one multi-pet policy is mostly the same as an individual policy. You will pay the vet directly for care, file a claim with the insurer, wait for approval and then receive the reimbursement (or, if you have direct pay, the insurer will pay the vet for you). The only difference is that you must specify which pet you are submitting the claim for.
Additionally, your policy’s annual coverage limit may apply to all insured pets, so filing a claim for one pet can potentially reduce the coverage available to your others. For example, say you have a $10,000 annual coverage limit for a cat and a dog. In February, your cat has a $7,000 claim, reducing your limit to $3,000 for the rest of the year. If your dog has a $4,000 claim in August, the insurer will pay the remaining $3,000, leaving you responsible for the remaining $1,000. Once your policy renews for the next year, the full $10,000 limit would be restored.
Generally speaking, no, you cannot have one policy for multiple pets that has different coverage types and amounts for each pet. For example, MetLife’s single-policy-for-multiple-pets option has a shared deductible and the same coverage for every pet. However, you might have the option to add wellness or preventative-care coverage for, say, one of your three pets in your multipet policy.
Every provider handles policies differently. If you have two pets with separate policies and one passes away, it won’t affect the other policy, but you will no longer receive a multi-pet discount.
If you have one policy for more than two pets and one passes, then your insurer will likely lower your premium but maintain the multi-pet discount. Keep in mind that any revisions to your policy might reset your annual limits and deductible.
