Pets Best Pet Insurance Reviews

Pets Best Company Information

Year Founded: 2005
Address: 2323 S Vista Ave
Phone: (877) 738-7237
ZIP Code: 83705
City: Boise
State: Idaho
Country: United States
Price Range: from $16 per month
Website: www.petsbest.com

The actual value of a company is often evidenced by the power of the origin story behind it. The origin story tells the “why” of the company and points to the core principle(s) the company was founded on and the mission that they keep at the top of mind when they serve their customers. Such is the case with Pets Best Pet Insurance.

Pets Best was founded in 2005 by Dr. Jack Stephens, practicing veterinarian and by all accounts, considered to be the “father” of the pet insurance industry. Further back on the timeline in 1981, was Dr. Jack Stephens, who, together with his partner, Greg McDonald, launched the first pet insurance company in North America. Later that company became what is known today as Pets Best.

When he founded Pets Best, Dr. Stephens wanted to make sure all pet owners could afford the best veterinary care for their beloved pets. The mission statement of Pets Best speaks to this: “To end economic euthanasia by helping to ensure pet owners are financially prepared when their pets need unexpected veterinary care.” Primarily Pets Best seeks to remove the financial worry out of owning a pet, so the pet owner can focus on helping their dog or cat to recover quickly.

The company’s staff comprises pet owners and pet lovers – many with veterinary background and many involved with animal rescue. Their pet-friendly office, located in Boise, Idaho, serves thousands of pet owners and, in 2011, became the first pet insurance company to offer completely electronic claim filing and payment process.

Pets Best Claims

Nothing distresses a pet owner more than when their best furry friend is ill or injured. Pets Best wants to make the entire process of filing a claim for veterinary services rendered as painless as possible, so the pet owner can get back to the business of tending to their pet.

Once a diagnosis has been made, and treatment has been administered, clients need to submit their claims to Pets Best as soon as possible. Pets Best has eliminated the tedious paperwork by making claim filing available via the client’s customer account or through the mobile app. Clients can submit and view the progress of their claims through their customer account. Reimbursement is usually administered a few days after the claim is filed. If the client signs up for a direct deposit, reimbursement occurs within a matter of days. Should they opt to receive a paper check, reimbursement is usually received within 5 to 7 days after the claim has been processed.

Community Involvement

Pets Best is a prime example of a pet-centered company who “gets it.” They know how to offer the best products to the marketplace because of their experiences in serving the community. This is evidenced by the many awards and accolades they’ve received over the years.

• From 2013 through 2017, they were awarded the honor of being the “Best Place to Work in Idaho.”
• In September 2015, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), awarded Dr. Stephens with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work.
• Besides, Pets Best has been involved in many pet-centered charities such as the Idaho Humane Society where they frequently participate in various events put on by the humane society.
• They are an integral part of the Pooch Party, and Stroll held by Nampa Parks and Rec, which is an annual event that raises money for Nampa’s dog parks.
• Pets Best has also done some work on behalf of hospice and palliative care patients to make sure their pets are well cared for.
• Through Dogs On Deployment, Pets Best gives military members peace of mind concerning their pets while they are deployed by providing them with the ability to find people and resources to help them.

Pets Best Policy

When it comes to their policies, Pets Best goes above and beyond to offer everything that a pet owner would want in terms of quality coverage for their pet. As with most pet insurance providers, pre-existing conditions are not covered. And since pet insurance is primarily for “unexpected” expenses, routine or “expected” expenses usually are not covered either. But Pets Best has taken a step outside of the status quo and offered additional coverage, referred to as EssentialWellness or BestWellness, which covers routine care coverage. This routine coverage helps pet owners pay for regular expenses such as the aforementioned routine pet visits, as well as vaccinations and dental cleanings.

EssentialWellness or BestWellness is a supplemental plan that can be added onto Pets Best core plans for an additional fee. The plus is that there is no deductible to meet with these two wellness plans, and they are a relatively inexpensive add-on.

Pets Best core coverage is comprised of two options – BestBenefit Accident and Illness and Accident Only coverage. As the name suggests, BestBenefit Accident and Illness is the most comprehensive of the two plans, covering unexpected incidents like emergencies and illnesses. There are multiple levels of coverage in this plan and can be customized to meet the needs of the pet and the pet owner’s budget.

Accident Only coverage is designed for those pet owners on a limited budget that want great coverage for things like broken bones, accidental swallowing, snake bites, etc. Unlike the BestBenefit plan, the Accident Only coverage does not cover illness or cancer.

All policy offerings are for cats or dogs as young as 7 weeks of age. There is no upper age limit, so senior pets can qualify for coverage too. However, as the pet ages, rates tend to rise because the risk of illness for a senior pet rises as well. Upon enrolling for a coverage plan, there is a 3-day waiting period for accidents, a 14-day waiting period for illness and a 6-month waiting period for cruciate ligament events such as hip dysplasia.

Compare PetsBest vs Other Pet Insurance Provider

When it comes to their policies, Pets Best goes above and beyond to offer everything that a pet owner would want in terms of quality coverage for their pet. As with most pet insurance providers, pre-existing conditions are not covered. And since pet insurance is primarily for “unexpected” expenses, routine or “expected” costs usually are not covered either. But Pets Best has taken a step outside of the status quo and offered additional coverage, referred to as EssentialWellness or BestWellness, which includes routine care coverage. This usual coverage helps pet owners pay for regular expenses such as the aforementioned routine pet visits, as well as vaccinations and dental cleanings.

EssentialWellness or BestWellness is a supplemental plan that can be added onto Pets Best core plans for an additional fee. The plus is that there is no deductible to meet with these two wellness plans, and they are a relatively inexpensive add-on.

Pets Best core coverage is comprised of two options:

1. BestBenefit Accident
2. Illness and Accident Only coverage

As the name suggests, BestBenefit Accident and Illness are the most comprehensive of the two plans, covering unexpected incidents like emergencies and illnesses. There are multiple coverage levels in this plan and can be customized to meet the pet and the pet owner’s budget.

Accident Only coverage is designed for those pet owners on a limited budget that want great coverage for things like broken bones, accidental swallowing, snake bites, etc. Unlike the BestBenefit plan, the Accident Only coverage does not cover illness or cancer.

All policy offerings are for cats or dogs as young as 7 weeks of age. There is no upper age limit, so senior pets can qualify for coverage too. However, as the pet ages, rates tend to rise because of the risk of illness for a senior pet increases as well. Upon enrolling for a coverage plan, there is a 3-day waiting period for accidents, a 14-day waiting period for illness, and a 6-month waiting period for cruciate ligament events such as hip dysplasia.