MetLife Pet Insurance Review 2024 (Official)
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Coverage Options
Annual Deductible
$50, $100, $250, $500, or $2,500
Reimbursement Rate
50%, 70%, 80%, or 90%
Annual Coverage Limit
$2,000, $5,000, or $10,000
MetLife is one of the best pet insurance companies, offering great coverage for dogs and cats with no lifetime or per-incident limits on accidents, illnesses, hospitalizations, alternative therapies, medications, and much more.
Pros
- Flexible coverage with up to 90% reimbursement
- Freedom to use at any licensed vet in the U.S.
- 24/7 access to Vet Chat via the MetLife Pet mobile app
- Submit claims, manage your pet's health, and find nearby pet services through the mobile app
- Discounts and offers on pet care, where available
Cons
- Accident-Only coverage is unavailable
- Cannot pay the vet directly
Originally founded in the late 1800s, MetLife acquired PetFirst Pet Insurance in 2021 and began offering pet health insurance plans as MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC. Policies are underwritten by Metropolitan General Insurance Company.
What's Covered
- Accidents & Illnesses
- Breed-specific conditions
- Orthopedic conditions
- Cancer
- Diagnostic exam fees
- Dental treatments
- Prescription drugs and foods for covered conditions
- Alternative therapies
- Euthanasia and end-of-life care
Optional Add-on: Routine Care
What's Not Covered
- Breeding, nursing, or whelping
- Anal gland expression
- Vacation cancellation costs
- Obedience training
- Cosmetic procedures
- DNA testing or cloning
- Routine care (unless added to policy)
- Pre-existing conditions*
*Curable pre-existing conditions are eligible for coverage once they have been completely resolved and the pet is free from symptoms for a period of time.
Routine Care Add-On
You can add Preventive Care Coverage to your MetLife Pet Insurance policy to offset the cost of routine care, such as:
- Wellness exams
- Parasites, heartworm, and Lyme prevention
- Vaccinations
- Teeth cleaning
- Supplements and vitamins (when recommended by a vet for illness, injury, or prevention)
- Spay/neuter
- And much more!
Pawlicy Advisor Tip: We recommend adding routine care for pets under age two due to the high number of wellness visits at this age. Older pets may not save money with a routine care add-on. Learn more: Are Wellness Plans Worth It?
MetLife Pet Insurance Waiting Period
When you sign up for pet insurance, there is a mandatory waiting period before your coverage becomes effective, and you become eligible for claim reimbursement. The timeframe for MetLife waiting periods depends on the type of incident you need coverage for:
- Accidents: 1 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Orthopedic conditions (including hip dysplasia, luxating patella, and Intervertebral Disc Disease): 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Injuries: 1 day
See how much MetLife Pet Insurance costs for your pet
How it Works
MetLife Pet Insurance can be used at any licensed vet in the United States. Like most plans, it works by paying you back for a portion of costs spent on pets' unexpected injuries and illnesses (after your deductible has been met).
1. Visit any licensed veterinarian, specialist, or emergency doctor — no referral needed.
2. Pay for the visit upfront out-of-pocket at the time of your appointment.
3. File a MetLife Pet Insurance claim using the app, website, email, fax, or mail.
4. Get reimbursed for a portion of eligible vet costs (depending on your plan's coverage).
Family Plans
MetLife family plans allow you to combine coverage for multiple pets under one umbrella policy. For example, if there was a policy with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and $10,000 annual limit, the deductible would be combined for all pets, the annual limit would also be combined for all pets, and all pets would be eligible for an 80% reimbursement.
LEARN MORE : Pet Insurance & How It Works: A Pet Parent's Guide
Filing a Claim
- Window to File: within 90 days of the treatment or invoice date
- Filing Requirements: Completed and duly signed claim form, itemized invoice, and veterinary SOAP note from the incident
- Average Claim Reimbursement: Most claims are processed within 5 days
- Reimbursement Methods: check, direct deposit, or Zelle
MetLife Pet Insurance Cost
MetLife Pet Insurance costs start at $15 per month for dogs and $9 per month for cats for Accident & Illness coverage. Note that the cost of your policy will depend on your animal's breed, age, zip code, and the coverage options you select. Getting a custom quote is the only way to get an accurate price estimate.
Lowest Price for dogs:
$15 / month
Lowest Price for cats:
$9 / month
Sample Prices
MetLife Pet Insurance cost estimates are based on a sample policy featuring a $500 deductible, a 90% reimbursement rate, and a $10,000 annual coverage limit generated for pets living in Dallas, TX.
Breed of Pet | 6 Months Old | 3 Years Old | 10 Years Old |
|---|---|---|---|
French Bulldog | $99 | $99 | $342 |
Labrador Retriever | $79 | $79 | $235 |
Domestic Shorthair Cat | $33 | $33 | $71 |
Pawlicy Advisor Tip: All pet insurance policies are subject to price increases annually. Pawlicy Advisor crunches the numbers to calculate the lifetime price of a policy, then makes recommendations that will save you money over your pet's lifetime.
Discounts & Ways to Save
- Multi-Pet discount - 5% for the second pet, then 10% for any additional pets
- Military, Veteran, First Responder, and Healthcare Worker discount - 10%
- Animal Care discount for vets, animal welfare and shelter employees & volunteers - 10%
When using multiple discounts, discounts cannot exceed 30%. Each discount may not be available in all states. Please contact MetLife Pet for further details.
MetLife Pet Insurance Customer Service
If you have questions about a claim or you need help with your existing policy, a customer service team is available to help you seven days a week. Call using the MetLife pet insurance phone number provided below during business hours. Alternatively, you can get in touch by writing a letter via mail or email, or by reaching out on social media.
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM EST
Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM EST
Customer Service: 1-855-270-7387
Email: pet_info@metlife.com
Enrollment Requirements
- Maximum age at enrollment: none
- Valid United States address: Your pet must reside with you at the primary address you list for your insurance provider
- One time $12 enrollment fee
How to Cancel MetLife Pet Insurance
MetLife Pet Insurance offers a 14-Day free trial. You can cancel MetLife at any time by submitting a request in writing or filing a cancelation form. Call MetLife at 866-937-7387 and select option 4 to cancel your pet insurance plan.
Coverage will not be provided as of the Effective Date of the Cancellation shown on the Notice of Cancellation. If you cancel the policy more than 30 days after the policy Effective Date, MetLife will compute any refund on a daily pro-rata basis.
MetLife may choose to cancel or not renew your policy, in which case MetLife will notify you in writing at least 30 days prior to the date the policy will end. After your policy is in effect for more than 60 days, or if this is a renewal of a prior policy, MetLife may only cancel for one or more of the following reasons:
1. You fail to pay your premium by the due date;
2. The policy was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation or concealment in your application;
3. MetLife has agreed to issue a new policy with the same or an affiliated company; or
4. You fail to comply with the policy terms and conditions in a manner that prejudices or negatively affects MetLife's ability to properly assess or evaluate the claim or other material rights MetLife has under the policy.
Any cancellation initiated by MetLife will be effective for all coverage and all pets.
Expert Insights
Is MetLife Pet Insurance good?
"As a Pawlicy Advisor-approved provider, MetLife offers flexible coverage, which allows you to customize the terms of your policy to fit your budget and your pet’s needs. They also give policyholders more ways to save with diminishing deductibles and multiple discounts available to lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
MetLife Pet Insurance has some of the shortest waiting periods for its policies, including next-day coverage for injuries as well as hip dysplasia. This makes it a great option for pet breeds prone to this genetic condition, such as Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and English Bulldogs. Additionally, 80% of approved claims are paid out in 10 days or less, which is relatively fast by industry standards.
Finally, we love that MetLife will automatically cover some pre-existing conditions when a pet owner who purchases a policy through an employer switches from another provider. Currently, they are the only pet insurance company to offer such a benefit. Other unique features include grief counseling and the opportunity to roll over benefits from the previous year."
MetLife Pet Insurance Reviews
4.5
1,167 Consumer Reviews
We had a previous pet insurance company on the dog we said good bye to. We switched to MetLife when we got Blue our new pet because our old company was doubling the fee for the less coverage. We have found everyone we have spoken to at MetLife to be great. Very professional and can’t do enough to help you. We would recommend MetLife Pet to anyone interested in insuring their fur baby!!
I’ve had nothing but positive experience with MetLife Pet insurance. My Frankie is paralyzed and incontinent, and having the insurance has saved me thousands of dollars in his medical bills. Service is really swift too.
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More From Pawlicy Advisor
- Is Pet Insurance Worth It? Here's a Vet’s Perspective
- Learn How To Compare & Find the Right Pet Insurance For Your Furry Family Members
- Have More Than One Pet? Save on Pet Insurance with Multi-Pet Discounts
- When Is Pet Insurance a Great Decision?
- Everything You Need to Know About Filing a Pet Insurance Claim
We are the pet insurance experts. The Pawlicy Advisor team analyzes the top pet insurance companies and the fine print in their policy details to provide you with an objective breakdown of the insurance provider, the plans they offer, and how they compare.
Kari Steere is a licensed P&C insurance agent in all 50 states and has focused entirely on pet insurance since 2019. When she's not helping pet owners find the perfect plan on Pawlicy Advisor , she runs a ranch in Oregon and rehabilitates any animals that come across her path.
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