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There’s a genuine sense of compassion behind Pets Best after the sad tale of its co-founder, Dr. Jack Stephens, who was required to euthanize Buffy, a dog whose family were unable to pay the medical treatments. Pets Best has been providing a trustworthy service since 2005, with a focus on providing insurance policies that help countless pet parents who otherwise couldn’t afford often life-saving treatment. The company’s policies are highly customizable, more so than most insurance providers, especially since there are many plans to choose from including multiple wellness plans, which makes Pets Best’s services very budget friendly. The company is also dedicated to helping the pet community, too, not only donating to charities and shelters but providing owners that adopt from shelters and shelter staff with a discount on the monthly premium.
The Pets Best website is a breeze to navigate and is packed full of useful resources, but initially it’ll be the different plans that are available that will draw interest. Coverage at Pets Best is very personalized; depending on what the owner can afford as well as the pet’s age or preexisting conditions, there are a variety of options to choose from. The company offers three different insurance plans with varying levels of coverage to choose from, as well as two different wellness plans for routine care.
While there is no upper age limit for any of the insurance policies – meaning all cats and dogs older than seven weeks can be enrolled – it would be a wise decision not to pay for a full insurance policy for an old pet that has likely amassed a hefty list of preexisting conditions. Since there is no pet insurance company that pays for treatment of conditions that have been either diagnosed or showed symptoms beforehand, the best course of action that owners of older or sick pets can take is to look for a provider that has an accident plan, as is the case with Pets Best.
When it comes to core insurance plans, the Essential plan is the most basic version, though the coverage it provides is still pretty good. It includes all new illnesses and accidents, including hereditary and congenital conditions. It does not, however, cover exam fees, whereas both the Plus and Elite plans do. Rehabilitative care such as acupuncture or chiropractic treatments are only covered in the Elite plan. As with most companies, there is a waiting period before the insurance becomes valid after purchase, which in this case is three days for accidents and 14 days for illnesses. Concerning cruciate ligament events, the waiting period is six months.
The two routine care packages, EssentialWellness and BestWellness, basically cover the same things like deworming and vaccinations, with only the payout limits differing. The exceptions are the spaying or neutering procedures, which are only included in the BestWellness plan, so if you are planning to have this done after enrolling your furry companion, then it would be a good idea to choose the BestWellness option at least for the first year. Pets Best does more to sweeten the deal for its customers, too, since the company’s mobile app is pretty good and through it owners can gain access to a 24/7 pet helpline.
With Pets Best, submitting a claim is an easy process that spares customers most of the frustration and hassle that could otherwise turn the whole experience into a nightmare. There is no need to print or fill out any forms; all owners have to do is take a picture of the invoice that they received from the vet and upload it via the online customer center. The process is made even more painless by using the smartphone app, taking up no more than two minutes of the customer’s time. When an owner is already worried about their ailing pet, the last thing they need is to fret about is a finicky insurance provider, so Pets Best’s pain-free claim submission method is a priceless bonus.
Once the claim has been uploaded, it will get processed fairly quickly, usually within five days. After approval, reimbursement will immediately be issued, although the money might take as long as 14 days to arrive depending on the payment method chosen. Direct deposit and checks are both offered as options, but the direct vet payment is truly the cherry on the cake.
It is rare to come by pet insurance providers that make it possible for customers to request direct, immediate payment from the company, despite the fact that it’s not all that common for pet parents to have the means to fork out thousands of dollars after an emergency vet visit, which is not a farfetched amount at all. As long as the request is made during working hours, however, then Pets Best is happy to provide this option. All in all, as far as claims and reimbursements go, few other pet insurance companies can match the ease of the process that customers will encounter here.
Pets Best is one of the cheapest insurance companies out there, especially when it comes to its accident plan, which cost only $9 for dogs and $6 for cats. This is the only policy available at the company with non-customizable pricing and comes with an annual limit of $10,000, so any treatments exceeding that amount will not be covered. For customers that want a policy without payment caps, this is only available with the regular plans and does understandably cost a bit extra.
Deductibles are annual and range from $50 to $1,000. Naturally, the more you choose to pay yourself, the cheaper the insurance rates will be. Sadly, Pets Best does not provide 100% reimbursement but, when it comes down to it, a 90% payout is probably quite enough to take the sting out of any vet bill an owner may receive.
Pets Best has a 30-day money-back guarantee, termed the “Free Look Period”, which means that interested pet owners can try the service risk free for a month and if there are no claims submitted, then they can request their money back. The company also offers various discounts, including 5% off for pets adopted from shelters and a multiple pet discount. On its homepage, pet parents can also check out the special offers section, which contains Pets Best coupon codes for pet supplies like treats, health products, or training tools.
Yoda’s Essential Plan With Pets Best
Pets Best really shines when it comes to hassle-free procedures. The enrollment is no different in this regard since, unlike with most pet insurance companies, there is no need to submit the entire medical history of the pet in advance. The relevant records will be requested depending on the type of claim being made, but purchasing the policy is simple. Enrollment can be completed online through the company’s site or by calling customer care.
Policies can be cancelled at any time and no cancellation fees will apply. The easiest way to do this is to call the customer care team, although writing Pets Best an email can’t hurt either. Modifying the policy can be a bit trickier since customers must wait for the annual renewal date, and whether or not this is possible also depends on the type of policy. What’s more, the company may even deny the request at its discretion.
Pets Best has a professional, dedicated customer care team that is ready to help whenever the need arises. Though the website is very informative with its FAQ section and convenient search bar, when questions arise concerning policies, coverage, or claims, staff can be contacted via email, phone, or – best of all – the live chat option, which is accessible through the site or Pets Best’s mobile app. Pets Best is also active on social media and has its own YouTube channel brimming with cute and useful videos, covering everything from veterinary Q&As to funny cats and dogs. Better Business Bureau has also awarded the company an A+ rating.
With its diverse set of plans and customizable policies, Pets Best is able to offer solutions to everyone wanting to safeguard their canine and feline family members. Whether it is cheap, basic insurance that the pet parent is looking for or they want the most extensive coverage money can buy, this company can provide it.
The only downside to the numerous plans is that at first glance they can seem more than a bit confusing and overwhelming, especially for someone that is still unfamiliar with the subject. Even so, figuring out Pets Best’s plans is definitely a worthwhile endeavor, especially considering how comparatively inexpensive the company’s insurance is in spite of the extra services like the 24/7 helpline. All in all, Pets Best is a great investment.
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Pet’s Best is the worst insurance company I have ever done business with. They portray a facade that they are for the animals, however, they are all about taking your money. Buyer beware of this company. Pets Best delays claims and any actions so that you just keep paying premiums without service. Steer away from this company!!
We’ve been with Pet’s Best insurance for our 2 dogs for about three years now and their customer support has been terrific.