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Is Pets Best pet insurance worth it?

By the WhichPetPlan editorial team · Last verified 2026-08-17
Short answer

Pets Best pet insurance is worth it for budget-driven owners, especially cat owners: at an illustrative starting estimate of about $14/month for a cat (the cheapest cat entry in our catalog) and about $33/month for a dog, it combines a $50 annual deductible floor (Trupanion's per-condition deductible starts at $0) with a 3-day accident wait that can be waived entirely with a qualifying vet exam. It is not worth it if you need cruciate ligament coverage fast (6-month wait, though waivable via vet certification) or if you want exam fees covered by default on the base plan, where they cost extra.

Get a Lemonade quote

Lemonade is the one insurer on this site we can send you to for a live quote. That does not make it the right plan for every pet. As of August 2026, Lemonade Pet is not available in Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming.

Some links here are partner links. If you buy through one, the insurer may pay us a fee. It never changes your premium and it never changes a ranking.

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What the price buys

Pets Best is a value play that scores 8.1/10 for dogs and 8.4/10 for cats in our editorial rankings, fourth for cats behind Lemonade at 9.2, Healthy Paws at 9.0, and Embrace at 8.7. Illustrative starting estimates run about $33/month for a healthy young dog and about $14/month for a cat, the lowest cat figure in our catalog.

Deductibles run $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 or $1,000 annually. That $50 step is the lowest annual deductible we track; Trupanion's per-condition deductible starts at $0. Annual limits come in $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited. Reimbursement is 70/80/90%. Wellness comes as two optional tiers, plus separate add-ons for exam fees and physical therapy.

Waiting periods: fast start, slow cruciate

Accident coverage starts after just 3 days and can be waived entirely with a qualifying vet exam submitted within 30 days of enrollment. Illness waits 14 days. The weak spot is orthopedic: cruciate ligament events carry a 6-month wait, though waiting periods may be reduced or waived when a participating veterinarian certifies the pet.

When a competitor wins instead

If your priority is the absolute cheapest dog entry, Lemonade starts around $28/month and scores 9.0. If you want exam fees bundled into the base plan rather than added on, look at competitors that fold them in. If unlimited payout without configuration matters most, Healthy Paws (9.3) remains our top dog pick.

Related questions

Is Pets Best cheap?
It is among the cheapest in our catalog, especially for cats: illustrative starting estimates of about $14/month for a cat and $33/month for a dog, plus a $50 annual deductible floor (Trupanion's per-condition deductible starts at $0). Treat these as starting points, not quotes.
Can Pets Best waive waiting periods?
Yes, partly. The 3-day accident wait can be waived entirely with a qualifying vet exam submitted within 30 days of enrollment, and other waits may be reduced or waived when a participating veterinarian certifies the pet.
Does Pets Best cover exam fees?
Only via add-on or the Plus tier. On the base Essential plan, exam-fee coverage costs extra, which is our main caveat for owners comparing total cost.

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The Advisor ranks the eight reviewed plans from nine questions. Some links on WhichPetPlan (currently Lemonade) may earn a fee; it never changes the premium and never changes a ranking. The Advisor stays an unpaid ranking, not a quote form.

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Some links (currently Lemonade) may earn a fee; it never changes the premium and never changes a ranking. Other insurers listed here do not pay us. Premium figures are illustrative starting estimates, not quotes. See our methodology for how scores are set.