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Pet insurance is gaining in popularity among dog and cat owners for good reason: veterinary care is expensive! You never know when your pet might hurt themselves, require emergency care, or fall ill, and insurance can help cover the costs.
When shopping for pet insurance, select a policy that balances affordability, transparency, and claim ease. There are many companies to choose from, and MetLife is a major player in this industry. But is MetLife Pet insurance good?
This MetLife Pet insurance review will dive into policy details, pricing, pros/cons, and who this provider is best for.
What Is MetLife Pet Insurance?
MetLife is a reputable, long-standing insurance provider—the brand entered the pet insurance space by acquiring PetFirst in 2020.
There’s a lot to like about MetLife Pet:
- You can get coverage for dogs, cats, and certain exotics (e.g., birds, reptiles, rodents) to help you pay for accidents and illnesses.
- Preventive care, which covers things like dental cleanings and routine care, is available as an add-on.
- MetLife is the only pet insurance with a family plan. Purchase coverage for up to three cats and dogs on a single policy with a shared deductible, reimbursement, and annual benefit, and receive a multi-pet discount.
- Use any veterinarian in the United States, and quickly and easily receive reimbursements.
- There are no waiting periods for preventive care and accidents. Illness coverage kicks in after 14 days.
- Notable features include 24/7 virtual vet access and customizable reimbursement and coverage levels.
MetLife Pet Insurance: A Closer Look
Here’s a breakdown of what MetLife Pet has to offer:
Coverage & Flexibility
With a standard MetLife Pet insurance plan, you get help paying for veterinary visits related to illnesses (including hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions) and accidents. It also includes emergency care and hospitalization. Even certain holistic and alternative therapies are covered. Whether your pet needs diagnostics, prescriptions, or procedures, the right plan will give you peace of mind.
If you also want help paying for preventive care, add wellness coverage for an additional fee. This provides coverage for things like vaccines, supplements, parasite preventatives, spay/neuter, teeth cleaning, and more.
There are some exclusions, and they include but are not limited to:
- Grooming
- Microchipping
- Obedience training
- Organ transplants
- Elective surgeries
Pre-existing conditions are those your pet was diagnosed with prior to enrolling in insurance. Generally, these aren’t covered. However, MetLife Pet might cover certain ailments when you switch insurance providers (i.e., if you had coverage for those conditions with another insurer).
MetLife offers flexibility when choosing the plan and price that’s best for you and your pet. You can customize the following:
- Monthly premium – This is the fee you pay monthly to keep the plan active.
- Deductible – This is how much you pay for vet visits before MetLife reimburses you. If you want a lower premium, you’ll have a higher deductible.
- Annual benefit – This is the maximum amount you’ll be reimbursed per policy year. The lower the premium, the lower the annual benefit. There aren’t any per-incident limits with MetLife, so you can submit more than one claim for the same ailment throughout the year.
- Reimbursement rate – This is the percentage of your bill (up to 90%) MetLife will reimburse. If you want a higher reimbursement rate, you may need to pay a higher premium.
Pricing & Value
Plans for cats start at $7 per month, while those for dogs start at $16 per month. If you want a family plan, there’s a fee for each additional pet.
- Generally, a basic protection level plan is, on average, $26 per month for dogs and $12 per month for cats.
- To get a higher annual limit and lower out-of-pocket costs, you would pay an average of $47 per month for a dog and $20 per month for a cat.
- A high deductible plan would be an average of $20 per month for a dog and $10 per month for a cat.
Factors like your location and your pet’s species, age, breed, and gender impact the monthly premium.
For example, according to MetLife, the average monthly premium for a French Bulldog is $92 versus $44 for a Goldendoodle. As another example, the average monthly premium for a Ragdoll is $27 versus $31 for a Persian.
MetLife Pet Insurance Cost Examples
We went to the MetLife Pet website to get sample quotes to illustrate how much someone might spend on their pet insurance.
Example #1: For a 1-year-old, male Labrador Retriever living in New York City, premium options ranged from $25.52 to $46.77 per month.
Example #2: For a 10-year-old, female Domestic Shorthair cat living in New York City, premium options ranged from $25.23 to $46.02 per month.
Claim Filing & Reimbursement
Filing a claim and getting reimbursed after a vet visit is simple with MetLife Pet. Remember, your vet doesn’t get paid; you get reimbursed.
First, pay the bill at your vet’s office. Then, submit a claim with your pet’s records and invoice from the visit. Claims can be submitted through the MetLife online portal or app, or you can email, fax, or mail in your claim.
Claims are usually processed within five days, and you can be paid via check, Zelle, or PayPal.
According to customer reviews, reimbursements happen efficiently and easily.
Customer Service & Support
With any type of insurance, having access to reliable customer service is a must, and MetLife doesn’t disappoint. They have a good reputation when it comes to helpfulness and responsiveness, as seen in their customer reviews.
If you need to talk about your coverage with a representative, you can call MetLife Pet during their business hours Sunday through Saturday, send them an email, or use their 24/7 online chat.
Plus, with the MetLife Pet mobile app, you can chat with a vet 24/7 to get telehealth services whenever you need them.
Pros & Cons
Here are the main pros and cons to consider:
Pros:
- Pet insurance with fast claims processing (usually 5-10 days)
- 24/7 vet access for telehealth services
- Multi-pet discounts with family plans
- Broad eligibility and no upper age limit
- Affordable add-ons for more coverage
- Customizable plans and pricing
Cons:
- Like most insurers, pre-existing conditions are usually excluded
- Can be expensive depending on your pet’s breed, age, and other factors
- No direct-to-vet payments, you pay up front then get reimbursed
Is MetLife Pet Insurance Right for You?
Shopping for pet insurance requires time and patience to compare options. Overall, MetLife Pet plans are great for those who want customizable coverage and perks like 24/7 vet access.
Like other providers, MetLife can give you peace of mind, whether you have a mixed breed or purebred, and especially if you have a high-risk breed that’s prone to various health problems.
MetLife stands out from the competition because of their multi-pet plans, which help you save money when covering more than one dog or cat. This is also a great provider to look into if you have exotic pets.
However, MetLife may not be the ideal choice for those who want extremely low monthly premiums, or those who prefer policies with direct vet payments.
Where to Buy & How to Get a Quote
To see if you like what MetLife has to offer, go to their website and submit basic information about your pet to get a free quote. You can then customize it to suit your budget and preferences. Consider things like your pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, environment, and activity level to be sure you get the appropriate amount of coverage.
To see if you can save even more money, look for employer benefits and discount codes. MetLife has a lot of discounts you might be eligible for, and you might even be able to get coverage through your employer.
Final Verdict: Is MetLife Pet Insurance Worth It?
MetLife Pet is worth considering if you’re looking for a trustworthy brand providing good support and customizable options.
Remember to always read the fine print and details of a policy carefully to determine if it covers exactly what you need. And it’s wise to compare MetLife pricing to at least two or three competitors to find the best fit.
Some pet parents might find MetLife plans surprisingly affordable.
Images by Angel, K L, and Rebecca Scholz from Pixabay
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