How does MetLife pet insurance work?
You enter some very basic details about your cat or dog, your zip code and email address, and then you get some suggested plans that you can tweak by changing the levels of reimbursement, annual deductible, and annual benefit, and choosing whether or not to include the Standard Wellness add-on.
The benefits of MetLife pet insurance
The standout benefit is the short waiting period for accidents, with policies kicking in at midnight on the day you take them out. You also get a ton of options when it comes to adjusting your premium through variable annual benefits ($2,000-$10,000), deductibles ($50-$500), and reimbursement levels (70-90%). Its unique Family Plan allows all your pets – for whom there’s no maximum enrolment age – to be covered by one policy. There are discounts for members of the armed forces, first responders, and the staff and owners of animal care facilities, plus its reward scheme offers discounts and special offers from national and local pet care businesses.
MetLife plans explained
There is a dog insurance plan and a cat insurance plan, both of which are pretty comprehensive but can be enhanced with the Preventative Care plan that covers routine vet exams. You can also get a Family Plan – unique to MetLife – which covers all pets in your household.
What does MetLife pet insurance cover?
It’s horrible when your pet gets sick or hurt, but it’s worse if you can’t afford to pay vet bills or have to build up debt. MetLife pet insurance can pay up to 100% of the costs.
Here’s what it covers.
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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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| Annual coverage options | $2,000, $5,000, $10,000 | $5000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000 | $5,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 | $5,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000, Unlimited | $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000 | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 | $10,000, $20,000, Unlimited | $20,000 | $10,000 |
|---|
| Deductible options | $50, $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500, $750 | $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 | $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $0-$1,000 | $300, $500, $700 | $100, $250, $500 | $250, $500, $1,000 | $250 |
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| Reimbursement options | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70, 80, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% | 90%, 100% | 50%, 70% |
|---|
| When does coverage start? | 1-14 days | 2-14 days | 2 days accidents / 14 days illnesses | 15 days | 2-14 days | 1-14 days | 15 days | 3-14 days | 15 days | 15 days | 5-30 days | 15 days | 14 days | 15 days | 14 days |
|---|
| Maximum age at sign up | No maximum | 14 years | 14 years for illness (no max for accident) | 14 years | 14 years for illness, no max for accident | No maximum | 13 years | No maximum | 18 years | No maximum | 14 years | No maximum | No maximum | 16 years | 20 years |
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| Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Are dental accidents covered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Are dental illnesses covered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a wellness plan offered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| End of life coverage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a multi-pet discount offered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a charge for paying monthly? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there an app to make claims? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement
Is MetLife pet insurance good value for money?
With plans starting at just $15 a month, MetLife is definitely competitive when it comes to price – and for a good level of coverage. A lot of our MetLife reviews seem to agree, highlighting the flexibility of the payment options as a real plus.
| 4-month-old Mixed Breed Medium | 2-year-old Golden Retriever | 6-year-old Domestic Shorthair Cat |
|---|
| Los Angeles | New York | Florida |
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| | | |
| MetLife | $36.22/month | $55.18/month | $19.85/month |
| Healthy Paws | $50.53/month | $55.42/month | $44.27/month |
| Paw Protect | $32.79/month | $66.76/month | $29.13/month |
How good is MetLife’s customer service?
MetLife has a good reputation for customer service, with helpful and friendly staff often mentioned by customers. There’s a live chat function on the website that answers a lot of questions, but you can also call the team seven days a week, email them, fax them, or even send them a letter
How do I contact MetLife?
You can call MetLife on 1-855-270-7387 (Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm EST; Sat & Sun: 10am-7pm EST), fax them on 1-877-281-3348. The email address is
pet_info@metlife.com and the mail address is 400 Missouri Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. You can also message them on Twitter and Facebook.
What is MetLife’s claims process?
You pay the vet and then submit a claim. You can submit and track claims through the MetLife app (which also stores your pet’s medical records), online portal, email, fax or mail. MetLife says that 80% of claims are processed within 10 days.
How much will MetLife pay for my claim?
MetLife pays a percentage of the vet bill, ranging from 50% to 100%, for your pet’s treatment minus the annual deductible and up to the annual limit. Here are some examples.
| Average
Vet Bill |
Cash back w/ 70% |
Cash back w/ 80% |
Cash back w/ 90% |
Difference between 70% & 90% |
| Cancer
$8,137 |
$5,695.90 |
$6,509.60 |
$7,323.30 |
$1,627.40 |
| Heart Disease
$2,017 |
$1,411.90 |
$1,613.60 |
$1,815.30 |
$403.40 |
| Tumour Surgery
$1,570 |
$1,099.00 |
$1,256.00 |
$1,413.00 |
$314.00 |
| Dental Disease $2,021 |
$1,414.70 |
$1,616.80 |
$1,818.90 |
$404.20 |
Are there any exclusions?
All pet insurance policies have exclusions and MetLife is no exception. These exclusions include elective procedures, breeding or conditions related to breeding, vitamin and mineral supplements, grooming, organ transplants, and illness or injury arising from racing, coursing, commercial guarding, or organized fighting of your pet. Pre-existing conditions may also be excluded, depending on their nature.
What are the waiting periods for conditions?
MetLife has a market-leading waiting period for accidents, with the policy becoming active at midnight on the day you take it out. Its 14-day waiting period for illness is also competitive.
How quickly does MetLife pay claims?
MetLife says that around 80% of claims are processed within 10 days and our reviewers seem to back that up, with few complaints about the speed of payments. You can track claims on the app or website.
Can I customize my MetLife plan?
In terms of what’s covered, there isn’t a lot of customization available because the standard plan is so comprehensive. You can add the Preventative Care plan and, as mentioned, your premiums can be adjusted in several ways with variable reimbursement, deductible and coverage levels.
State availability for MetLife
MetLife is available in all US states and if your pet needs treatment, you can visit any licensed vet or emergency clinic in the country.
Verdict: Is MetLife pet insurance good?
MetLife’s pet insurance is a very polished product, which is unsurprising given the company’s vast experience in the wider insurance game. Its basic plan is comprehensive with market-leading waiting times and a Preventative Care add-on for people wanting wellness cover. It’s competitively priced and is backed up with professional and polite customer service. There’s also no maximum enrolment age. The lack of a telehealth service is something to bear in mind, though.
