Healthcare expenses are increasing, and it’s getting more challenging to keep up with the costly vet bills. Still, this doesn’t diminish the fact that our pets are part of the family and deserve to receive the utmost healthcare we can provide.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws are one of the top-ranking pet insurance companies you should consider as an option for your four-legged buddies.
Don’t worry—we already did the digging for you and evaluated their policies, prices, and the benefits your pet will enjoy to bring you this unbiased review. After all, pet parenting is a full-time job, and when choosing the best healthcare insurance policy for our furry friends, we must be mindful.
Without further ado, we present you with these top-notch pet insurance providers and how they rank up!
Healthy Paws Overview
Healthy Paws was founded as a non-profit organization willing to assist pet owners dealing with financial burdens concerning their pets. Cooperating with animal rescue organizations, Healthy Paws has been helping treat sick animals.
Being around since 2009 and involved in the lives of many animals and pet owners, it’s no wonder that clients so highly recommend it for its services. This provider offers many advantages for pet owners that you won’t find with other competitors.
Pet owners can expect coverage for accidents, injuries, diseases, cancer care, emergency care, genetic conditions, and congenital and breed-specific conditions. It offers a comprehensive stand-alone policy that allows unlimited annual payouts.
Enrollment and claim submissions are made through the Healthy Paws smartphone app or their website. When registering, you must cover the $25 enrollment fee. The downside for owners of more than one pet is that Healthy Paws doesn’t offer multiple-pet discounts.
Pros:
- The policy covers breed-specific illnesses;
- Unlimited annual benefits;
- Processing claims is fast and easy;
- Direct payments;
- Short waiting periods;
- Coverage of alternative therapies;
- 30-day money-back guarantee;
- Highly recommended by customers;
- A gift for every filed policy quote.
Cons:
- Only one policy plan is available;
- No wellness coverage is available;
- Behavioral treatment not included;
- Not ideal for older pets;
- New members must cover a $25 one-time membership fee;
- No multiple-pet discount;
- Requires an exam for enrollment of pets;
- Pets older than eight are subject to certain restrictions;
- No Healthy Paws Wellness Plan.
Pets Best Pet Insurance Overview
Pets Best is an insurance company founded by Dr. Jack Stephens, a licensed vet keen on delivering exceptional pet care to owners. Having only the pet’s best interest in mind and providing them with top-tier healthcare, Pets Best offers its services in the USA and Japan.
Pets Best was the first company to offer electronic claim filing and medical coverage for accidents, injuries, and other health conditions. The company provides options for routine vet care and allows adjustment of annual benefit limits, reimbursement levels, and deductibles based on a personal budget.
Another positive side to Pets Best is that it does not discriminate against older dogs and cats, so pet owners of older pets can be at ease that their four-legged friends are taken care of.
Pros:
- Offers budget-friendly pet insurance solutions;
- User-friendly online resources;
- 24/7 access to vet support team;
- Easy online claim processing;
- Direct veterinarian reimbursement;
- PetsBest Wellness Plan available;
- Possibilities for several discount options;
- Flat-rate Wellness and Accident-Only insurance plans.
Cons:
- Option to choose between two annual limit options;
- Funeral expenses not included;
- Complex accident and illness plan;
- Doesn’t cover prescription food and supplements;
- Elective and preventive procedures are not covered.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws: What Are The Main Coverage Differences?
Reviewing PetsBest vs Healthy Paws, we stumbled upon some key differences that separate these two pet insurance companies. Pets Best offers several customizable plans while Healthy Paws offers just one.
The monthly cost charged by Healthy Paws for both cats and dogs seems to be more affordable than that of Pets Best. That, of course, is highly influenced by the fact that Pets Best offers three plans at varying prices.
Pets Best allows the pet owner to choose between a $5,000 or an unlimited annual limit option, while Healthy Paws provides only an unlimited yearly cap. The deductibles and reimbursements are more or less similar, the primary difference being that Healthy Paws bases them depending on the pet’s age.
And if you are an owner of multiple pets, you will most probably opt for Pets Best because they offer a 5% multiple-pet discount, something Healthy Paws don’t.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws: Coverage
How does Healthy Paws work? It covers genetic and congenital problems, fractures, chronic conditions, new accidents and illnesses treatment, diabetes, dental, and respiratory problems.
It leans towards coverage of unexpected vet expenses— the reason behind the single Accident-Illness Plan. Do not fret—you can also cover rare and specific conditions like elbow and hip dysplasia via this plan.
The plan features unlimited annual payouts but doesn’t offer preventive care, meaning you cannot purchase a Healthy Paws Wellness Plan. Pet owners will save money on hospitalization, medication, and emergency and specialist care.
There are no imposed claim payout limits throughout a lifetime, an annual period, or a single incident. Healthy Paws offers 90% reimbursement and deductibles ranging from $100 to $500 for pets under five, and a maximum 60% reimbursement and $750 deductible for pets over the age of eight.
The Pets Best Accident-Only Plan covers injuries, car accidents, poisoning, broken bones, foreign object ingestion, and lacerations. Their comprehensive plans also cover chronic, hereditary, and congenital conditions, prescription medications, behavioral conditions, and euthanasia.
The Accident-Only coverage allows for annual deductibles of up to $1,000 and reimbursement between 70% to 90%. Pets Best allows setting up an annual benefit limit, yearly deductible, and reimbursement amount. So, you’ll be able to choose the conditions of the payment plan according to your budgetary needs.
You can obtain wellness and preventive care through the Pets Best Wellness Plan.
Pet owners may choose to pay insurance premiums monthly, quarterly, or annually and control the annual benefit limit of $5,000 or go with unlimited coverage. In addition, the provider allows for multiple pet and military discounts.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws: Enrollment Process
The Healthy Paws vs Pets Best enrollment process comparison is more or less similar to other providers. Signing up for coverage is done online where pet parents can ask for a quote and compare prices and plans with other providers.
The process is more straightforward with Healthy Paws because all you need to choose are the deductibles and reimbursement levels, while with Pest Best, it will require a more in-depth engagement.
Healthy Paws policies are purchased swiftly and there is a 15-day waiting period for injury and illness coverage. Pets Best’s waiting period is three days for injuries and 14 days for illness.
Pets Best lets you choose between the different coverage plans, means of payment, etc. Pet parents may save $24 per year if they choose the annual payment option rather than the monthly or quarterly option.
Another difference between the two providers is that Pets Best doesn’t require a veterinary exam for enrollment. At the same time, Healthy Paws asks pet parents to submit proof of examination in the past year. If your pet is six years or older, the exam should have been performed in the past 30 days.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws: Claim Filing
Both providers offer the possibility of digital claim filing. Pet parents can either use the smartphone apps or upload the documentation through the providers’ websites.
Healthy Paws is more efficient regarding claim processing because it repays most claims within two days. It takes ten days to process the claim, after which pet owners receive their reimbursement.
Pets Best has a more extended claim reimbursement waiting period—ranging between 25 and 40 days. Compared to Healthy Paws, this is a considerably long time. However, Pets Best features a direct-payment option to your veterinarian—something that Healthy Paws doesn’t.
Pets Best vs Healthy Paws: Pricing & Plans
Healthy Paws offers reasonable prices, limitless payouts, and flexibility concerning plans and pricing. Still, there are specific restrictions on reimbursements and deductibles:
- Age five and younger – $100, $250 or $500 deductible, and 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement;
- Age six or seven – $250, $500 or $750 deductible, and 60%,70% or 80% reimbursement;
- Age eight and older – $750 or $1,200 deductible, and 50% or 60% reimbursement.
Pet parents pay a starting price of $15 for cats and $20 for dogs with Healthy Paws, although the most common monthly payments add up to $30.
Unfortunately, there is no Healthy Paws Wellness Plan. This provider deals with unforeseen vet visits, while wellness and preventive care are added to the monthly premium cost.
Pets Best is more flexible when it comes to the choice of coverage plan. They offer insurance plans at three levels:
- Essential – basic coverage with no additional benefits to choose from;
- Plus – the basics plus related examination fees;
- Elite – includes rehabilitation expenses.
The average monthly premiums of Pets Best vary between $12 and $60, depending on preferences. It offers an Accident-Only Plan with a $10,000 annual limit, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $250 deductible.
You may pay the insurance premiums monthly, quarterly, or annually—with an option to set an annual benefit limit of $5,000 or unlimited. Annual deductibles vary from $50 to $1,000, and reimbursement comes at 70% to 90%.
The PetsBest Wellness Plan includes routine care coverage for dogs and cats to help with regular vet visits. This care plan may be added to the insurance policy for an additional premium upon enrollment, 30 days after registration, or when doing the annual renewal.
Does Pets best cover spaying? Yes, it does. The Pets Best Wellness Plan also covers deworming, microchipping, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, etc.
Conclusion: Which One Is the Best?
In this Pets Best vs Healthy Paws review, we unraveled many benefits and disadvantages of choosing one pet insurance provider over the other.
While there is no Healthy Paws Wellness Plan and a possibility for full-scale preventive care, this provider is an excellent choice for covering veterinary costs that you cannot foresee.
Pets Best is a provider that offers three comprehensive plans and a PetsBest Wellness Plan—giving pet owners more flexibility and a broader panel of options.
Pet insurance highly depends on the lifestyle and needs of the pet and its owners and should accommodate at least its basic healthcare needs—anything more than that is a plus! Both Pets Bets and Healthy Paws are excellent choices; it narrows down to what you as a pet owner seek.
