Best Pet Insurance for Surgery

The top three pet insurers in my analysis earned their rankings by performing well across coverage options and terms, affordability and customer experience.

• Pet owners who want the best claims process: Pumpkin ranks first for customer experience, excelling in claims overall, so you can submit claims easily, receive fair decisions and get reimbursed quickly if your pet needs surgery related to an eligible accident or illness.
• Those looking for expedited reimbursements: Pumpkin’s PumpkinNow feature can provide eligible claims of $500 or more with up to 90% reimbursement in 30 minutes when submitted during service hours using a qualifying real-time payment bank account, helping you recover from large surgery expenses sooner instead of waiting days for a standard claim payment.
• Budget-conscious pet owners: Pumpkin’s average monthly rate is $31, which allows you to save 35% against the national average without having to give up quality service.
• Owners of pets prone to orthopedic conditions: Pumpkin’s 14-day waiting period applies to orthopedic conditions, which is relatively short for breeds that are predisposed to knee or ligament issues, such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and Rottweilers.

• Those looking for the widest range of coverage options: Pumpkin only offers two reimbursement rates, four deductibles and four annual limits, so you have limited flexibility in tailoring your coverage to match your pet’s risk profile and health needs. Lemonade is the more flexible option.
• Owners with highly energetic pets: Pumpkin imposes a 14-day waiting period for accidents, which may not be ideal for active pets with high risks for injuries due to running outside, playing roughly, climbing over high places or chewing through things. Lemonade has no waiting periods for accidents.

• Pet owners looking to lower out-of-pocket costs at the vet: With Pets Best’s Vet Direct Pay, you only have to pay your deductible, co-insurance and non-covered items at checkout since the company can directly send the payment for covered claims to licensed vets once you file a completed claim along with veterinarian reimbursement release form.
• Owners who want broad surgery coverage: Pets Best’s base plan covers various types of surgeries, including emergency surgeries, dental surgeries and those related to cancer, hip dysplasia, cataracts and other hereditary and orthopedic conditions. This reduces the likelihood that you'll need separate coverage or have unexpected out-of-pocket costs if your pet develops a condition requiring surgery later in life.
• Those who want to waive their waiting period: Although Pets Best requires a waiting period of 30 days to six months for orthopedic conditions, you can have coverage sooner by having it waived through a physical exam conducted by a licensed vet within seven days of the policy activation.

• Owners who want physical rehabilitation covered in the base plan: Because Pets Best only covers physical therapy through an add-on, you’ll need to pay more to access coverage for treatments like rehabilitation, acupuncture and chiropractic care that may be prescribed after a surgery to help restore mobility or support your pet's recovery. Pumpkin is the better option.
• Pet owners looking for excellent customer experience: Pets Best falls in eighth place for customer experience, with a notable pain point around claim submissions, which may not be ideal if you’re juggling post-operative care and large vet bills and don’t want the added stress. Pumpkin is the stronger alternative here.

• Owners looking for immediate accident coverage: Since Lemonade doesn’t have a waiting period for accidents, you have coverage immediately after your policy’s activation, which matters if your pet suffers an unexpected injury that requires emergency surgery, such as a broken bone, bite wound or foreign body obstruction.
• Those who want flexibility for policy customization: Lemonade’s various coverage options allows you to tailor your policy based on your pet’s profile and your financial situation. It also lets you increase your coverage within 14 days of buying a policy or decrease it any time through its mobile app, making it easier to adjust your financial protection as your budget or your pet's health needs change.

• Pet owners who want a broader base coverage for surgeries: While Lemonade’s base plan covers diagnostics, hospitalizations and prescription medication for post-surgical recovery, it doesn’t cover physical rehabilitation and dental illnesses unless you purchase optional add-ons that increase your premium. Pumpkin is the better alternative.
• Owners looking for the lowest possible rate: Lemonade offers the highest rate among my top picks at $40 per month on average, though it’s 17% below the national average. Pumpkin is the cheaper option here.