MetLife
on MetLife's website
NerdWallet rating
5.0/5on MetLife's website
Annual max coverage
Unlimited
Reimbursem*nt rates
50% - 90%
Deductibles
$0 - $2,500
Policy highlight
No age restrictions for enrollment.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Deductible goes down each year you don't make a claim in some states.
- Accident coverage starts right away, with no waiting period.
- Includes coverage for holistic and alternative care.
Cons
- No option to have the company pay your vet directly.
Bottom line
MetLife sells customizable plans for dogs, cats and even other animals in some states.
About MetLife pet insurance
5.0
NerdWallet rating
MetLife earned 5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. Founded in 1868, MetLife is a well-established insurer that offers solid coverage for pets. It puts no age restrictions on pet enrollment, has a 24/7 vet chat service for policyholders and offers more potential discounts than most other pet insurers. It’s also got relatively short waiting periods before your coverage starts.
MetLife is on NerdWallet's list of the Best Pet Insurance Companies.
Pros
Deductible goes down each year you don't make a claim in some states.
Accident coverage starts right away, with no waiting period.
Includes coverage for holistic and alternative care.
Cons
No option to have the company pay your vet directly.
Doesn't offer an accident-only plan.
Choose MetLife if...
You want comprehensive coverage from a well-known national insurer.
Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.
MetLife pet insurance plans and coverage
MetLife offers a comprehensive accident and illness policy, which covers:
Vet exam fees.
Hospitalizations, surgeries and emergency care.
Diagnostic tests, including X-rays and ultrasounds.
Prescription medications and food.
Cruciate repairs.
Hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions.
Skin allergies.
Periodontal disease.
Holistic and alternative therapies.
Cremation or burial costs.
The insurer also has an optional preventive care package. This add-on is designed to lower the costs of routine care and may reimburse you for:
Flea, tick or heartworm medication.
Spaying or neutering.
Vaccinations.
Dental cleaning.
Nail trimming.
Certain procedures such as dew claw removal and gastropexy (which helps prevent bloat).
Supplements and vitamins.
Anal gland expression.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Do the math before buying a wellness add-on. If you don’t use all the services in the plan, you might end up paying more for the coverage than you get in return.
» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?
What MetLife pet insurance doesn't cover
MetLife’s plans typically don’t cover:
Most pre-existing conditions.
Elective procedures.
Grooming and bathing costs.
Breeding costs.
Organ transplants.
Any injuries or illnesses related to racing, coursing, commercial guarding or organized fighting.
Microchipping.
Did you know...
If you buy a MetLife policy through your employer, you may have coverage for conditions covered by another company under a previous pet insurance plan.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
MetLife pet insurance plan options
Deductibles: A pet insurance deductible is the amount of your vet bills you’ll need to pay before your insurer starts reimbursing you. MetLife’s deductibles range from $0 to $2,500 per year, depending on the policy. Not all options are available online or for all pets.
Reimbursem*nt options: 50% to 90%, depending on the policy. Again, options for online quotes may vary.
When calculating your claim payout, MetLife uses a more generous formula than some other insurers. It subtracts your deductible before applying your reimbursem*nt rate. Here’s how that could work for a $2,000 vet bill if you have a $500 deductible and an 80% reimbursem*nt rate:
$2,000 vet bill - $500 deductible = $1,500.
$1,500 x 0.8 (80% reimbursem*nt rate) = $1,200 reimbursem*nt.
You’d pay the remaining $800 of the vet bill.
Watch your wallet
If your insurer applied the reimbursem*nt rate to your vet bill before subtracting the deductible, you’d be reimbursed only $1,100. Here’s the math:
$2,000 vet bill x 0.8 (80% reimbursem*nt rate) = $1,600.
$1,600 - $500 deductible = $1,100.
Coverage limits: Options we saw in our online test quotes ranged from $2,000 to $10,000. However, coverage limits as low as $500 and as high as unlimited may also be available when you buy over the phone.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: None.
Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. With MetLife, pets are covered for accidents and wellness costs on the day the policy goes into effect. Illness coverage kicks in after 14 days.
» MORE: What does pet dental insurance cover?
MetLife pet insurance sample rates
The cost of MetLife pet insurance depends on where you live, the coverage limits you choose and your pet’s breed and age.
To give you a rough idea of how much you might pay, we gathered sample rates for several popular dog breeds at ages 2 and 8. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for dogs living in Katy, Texas. Our sample plan was for accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, $5,000 of annual coverage and an 80% reimbursem*nt rate. Your own price will vary.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
French bulldog | $63 | $147 |
German shepherd | $48 | $96 |
Golden retriever | $56 | $114 |
Labrador retriever | $51 | $105 |
Medium mixed-breed dog | $42 | $78 |
Poodle | $43 | $85 |
We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with the same coverage limits as above. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
Devon rex | $25 | $39 |
Domestic shorthair | $23 | $37 |
Exotic longhair | $25 | $39 |
Maine coon | $32 | $47 |
Persian | $32 | $47 |
Ragdoll | $32 | $47 |
» MORE: The best cheap pet insurance
MetLife pet insurance discounts
MetLife discounts vary by state, but may be available if you:
Buy a policy through your workplace (not available in Minnesota or Tennessee).
Get your policy online.
Are a veteran or active member of the military.
Are a health care worker, first responder or staff member at an animal care facility
Additionally, you might be able to lower your deductible by $25 to $50 each year you don’t submit a claim.
🤓Nerdy Tip
We recommend getting pet insurance quotes from at least three companies to make sure you’ve found the best deal.
State availability
MetLife sells pet insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all pets in a given state.
Digital experience
You can get quotes and buy a policy on MetLife’s user-friendly website. The company's app is compatible with Apple and Android devices. You can use it to view policy information, track the progress of claims, upload health records and chat with a vet.
How to file a claim with MetLife
You can file a claim online or through the MetLife app. Alternatively, you can download and fill out a form, then send it back by email, fax or mail. Most claims pay out within 10 business days.
The fastest way to contact MetLife is through live chat, which you can access on the app or website. Otherwise, call 855-270-7387 or email [emailprotected] with questions. For policyholders, MetLife’s vet chat is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
» MORE: How much does pet insurance cost?
MetLife pet insurance vs. competitors
See how MetLife pet insurance stacks up against plans from several other popular carriers.
Company | NerdWallet star rating | Maximum coverage limit | Policy highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
MetLife | 5.0 NerdWallet rating | Unlimited | No age restrictions for enrollment. |
Embrace | 5.0 NerdWallet rating | Unlimited | Many ways to save on your policy. |
Healthy Paws | 4.0 NerdWallet rating | Unlimited | May be able to pay your vet directly. |
Lemonade | 4.0 NerdWallet rating | $100,000 | Pays some claims almost immediately. |
Nationwide | 4.5 NerdWallet rating | $10,000 | Covers dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and other pets. |
Trupanion | 4.0 NerdWallet rating | Unlimited | Unlimited annual coverage for all pets. |
See all of NerdWallet’s pet insurance reviews
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How we review pet insurance
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, we consider coverage, discounts, financial strength ratings from AM Best and more to determine our star ratings.
In our evaluation, we:
Analyzed 2,100 data points.
Got 800+ quotes from pet insurers.
Compared 20+ companies.
Our rating system rewards companies that cover a wide range of potential expenses, offer many ways to customize your plan and have a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as mobile app ratings and whether the company offers direct vet payments. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.
Frequently asked questions
How much is MetLife pet insurance?
MetLife says its pet insurance plans start at $15 a month for dogs and $9 a month for cats. Prices vary based on the breed and age of your pet, as well as where you live and how much coverage you need.
Does MetLife have a neuter or spay requirement?
No. MetLife doesn’t require pets to be neutered or spayed to qualify for pet insurance coverage.
Can I take my pet to any vet?
Yes. You can bring your pet to any licensed vet in the U.S.
Can I add another pet to my MetLife pet insurance policy?
Yes. You can cover multiple pets on a single policy under MetLife’s Family Plan.
Does MetLife have any age or breed restrictions?
No. MetLife covers all cats and dogs, regardless of their age or breed.
Methodology
Pet insurance star ratings
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, scope of coverage, the ability to customize your plan and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and mobile app ratings. To calculate each insurer’s star rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Pet insurance sample rates
To find sample pet insurance rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and do not include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons. Each plan for a given company had the same deductible, coverage limit and reimbursem*nt rate for all sample pets.
These are sample rates gathered for specific pets living in Katy, Texas. Your own rates will be different.
