MetLife Pet Insurance Reviews ( 2024 Guide)
Choosing a pet insurance company can be very difficult because there are so many around today. You want to provide your pet with the type of coverage it needs in case of a serious accident or illness. Researching the different companies can be a big help but can also be even more mind-boggling. MetLife Pet Insurance has been a chosen company by many pet owners.
About MetLife Pet Insurance
MetLife Pet Insurance is issued and underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company. MetLife Inc. offers pet insurance to employees because they understand the important role pets play in their lives. They also believe that employees work better when they have the peace of mind of knowing their beloved pets are well taken care of when they’re gone at work.
They not only offer affordable plans and discounted deductibles but treat pet insurance as an employee benefit by allowing payroll deductions for their premiums. MetLife acquired PetFirst Pet Insurance, an acquisition that allows them to offer a wider variety of pet insurance coverage at affordable costs.
If you would like a plan as an individual, and are not trying to go through your employer, then you should look at PetFirst directly.
MetLife’s Pre-existing Coverage Claim
Pet owners who have been with another pet insurance company and now wish to join the MetLife insurance family can have their pet insurance transferred to MetLife without the worry of being denied due to pre-existing conditions. The pet will continue to be covered under any condition in which they were covered before.
Coverage
MetLife insurance offers various types of coverage for your pets. The company offers pet owners the option of using its telehealth concierge services, which can save a lot of time and money otherwise spent with trips to the vet for minor issues and follow-ups. Pet owners can download the insurance company’s app onto their phone and use it to submit claims, track the claim or check out their pet’s medical history.
MetLife offers three different plans. One offers a $2000 annual benefit, one offers a $5,000 annual benefit, and the top package offers a $10,000 premium. The cost for MetLife coverage depends on several things, such as the type of animal, breed of animal, gender, age, and even location. To give you an example of the cost of MetLife’s pet insurance, here are some sample quotes based on different variables.
For a policy on a two-year-old male purebred German shepherd with a $250 deductible, $5,000 annual benefit, and an 80 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium is $29.27. Pet owners can customize the policy to the one that best meets their pet’s needs and their budget.
This same policy with a $50 deductible, $10,000 annual benefit and a 90 percent reimbursement rate would cost $57.51 per month. If you added a wellness plan to this policy, the premium would increase to $85.98 per month.
For a policy on a three-year-old female mixed breed cat with a $250 deductible, $5,000 annual benefit, and an 80 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium is $19.26. This same policy with a $50 deductible, $10,000 annual benefit and a 90 percent reimbursement rate would cost $30.87 per month.
If a wellness plan was added to this policy, the premium would increase to $43.84 per month. Discounts are offered to military personnel, Vets, healthcare workers, first responders, and shelter personnel.
The coverage includes the following things.
- Illnesses (chronic, congenital, and hereditary)
- Surgeries
- Accidents
- Hospitalizations
- X-rays
- Exam fees
- Diagnostic tests
- Medications
- Emergency care
- Ultrasounds
- Alternative therapies and holistic care
Limits
There is no waiting period for orthopedics, which is a welcome change from other companies. There are no upper age limits as well as no cat or dog breed exclusions. However, like most pet insurance policies, there are some limitations to what they will and will not pay. Here are some exclusions.
- Elective procedures
- Special diets, pet food, vitamins, and supplements
- Bathing and grooming costs
- Removal or expression of anal glands
- Breeding or breeding related issues
- Parasite treatment or prevention
- Injury or illness resulting from organized fighting of pet, coursing or racing
- Organ transplants
- Preventative care and routine wellness (unless wellness package is purchased)
Deductibles
All policies have some type of deductible. The deductible is the amount the pet owner must pay before the insurance company will pay on the claim. The deductible is not to be confused with the co-pay or coinsurance. Pet owners can choose between several deductibles: $50, $250, $500 and $1,000.
If you have a policy with a $250 deductible, and your bill is $700, you would have to pay the $250, and the insurance would pay the balance after the coinsurance is paid.
The coinsurance is referred to as the reimbursement rate. Pet owners can choose between the following reimbursement rates: 70, 80, or 90 percent. I’ll give you an example of how all this works.
You have a $250 deductible and a 90 percent reimbursement rate. With a vet bill of $1,000, you would pay the $250, which would leave a balance of $750. Of that amount, you would pay ten percent or $75, and the insurance would pay 90 percent or $675. In total, you would pay $325, and the insurance company would pay $675.
MetLife vs. Competitors
How does Metlife stack up against other pet insurance providers available in the market? Use the table below to evaluate whether Metlife provides competitive features and aligns with your top priorities when selecting a pet insurance provider.
Additional Information
There many rewards of using MetLife Insurance for your pets from their three-step enrollment process to their hassle-free claim process. They also offer some of the shortest waiting periods for both illness and accident coverage. Because this is employer-offered insurance, pet owners can take advantage of several discounts on their premiums, including multi-pet discounts and group discounts, and more. If this MetLife Pet Insurance Review shows you anything, it’s that the company really cares about its employees and their pets!