MetLife pet insurance review 2025

Yahoo

6 days ago

MetLife rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Best for: Insuring multiple pets
Our evaluation found that MetLife pet insurance has an enviable combination of solid coverage and below-average costs.
If you have more than one dog or cat, consider the advantages of MetLife's Family Plan for pet insurance. You can insure up to three cats or dogs with one policy. You'll be able to take advantage of one shared deductible for all the pets on the Family Plan, so you'll meet the deductible faster.
MetLife's Family Plan also provides one annual shared limit among the pets, so if one pet needs more care, you can allot more of the annual coverage limit to that pet. There's also a multi-pet discount. Or you could buy separate policies for each pet.
Metlife pet insurance is also unusual in that you can carry over unused coverage to the next year. If the policy has at least $5,000 for annual coverage, and you have $1,000 or more unused at the end of the policy term, you'll get an automatic $500 increase for the next policy term for no additional cost.
Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.
Pros
Ample coverage included
Average costs are slightly below average
Alternative therapy is covered
No special waiting period for cruciate ligament or other issues
Sells exotic pet insurance for birds, ferrets, reptiles, and other animals
$50 deductible available for those looking for a low amount
Cons
Maximum annual coverage is only up to $10,000
Older pets may be eligible for only a $2,000 annual maximum, which can be less than the annual premium
Only 90 days from the treatment date to submit claims
MetLife pet insurance basics
Annual maximum limit choices: $2,000, $5,000, $10,000
Deductible choices: $50, $100, $250, $500
Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%
Multi-pet discount: Varies
MetLife waiting periods
For accident coverage: Coverage begins at midnight ET of the effective day of the policy
For illness coverage: 14 days
Special waiting period: None
MetLife age restrictions for buying a new policy
Minimum pet age: 0
Maximum pet age: None
MetLife doesn't offer an accident-only plan, so all policies include both accident and illness coverage by default. Plus, there's one preventive care plan for routine vet expenses.
Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers
MetLife's standard accident and illness policy includes a wide range of treatments, some of which cost extra with other providers.
Coverage typically includes:
Exams and diagnostics for accidents and illnesses, including vet exam fees, X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds
Treatment and hospitalization for injuries and illnesses, including cancer and chronic conditions
Hereditary and congenital conditions, such as hip dysplasia, cherry eye, IVDD, and epilepsy
Dental care for both accidents and illnesses, including treatment for periodontal disease
Alternative therapies prescribed by a vet, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, hydrotherapy, herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and CBD oil
Prescription medications, supplements, and prescription pet foods for covered conditions
End-of-life care, including euthanasia, grief counseling, and up to $500 for cremation or burial expenses
Lost pet coverage, including up to $500 in advertising and reward costs, plus reimbursement if your pet isn't found
Boarding fees up to $500 if you're hospitalized for more than 48 hours
MetLife offers an optional preventive care plan you can add to your base policy for an extra cost. It reimburses you for routine care, which could include:
Annual wellness exams and vaccinations
Routine bloodwork and fecal tests
Heartworm testing and prevention
Flea and tick prevention
Spay/neuter surgery
Dental cleanings
Note: Wellness coverage won't kick in for emergencies or chronic conditions, but it can help cover the basics if you're already paying for preventive care out of pocket.
Learn more: Does pet insurance cover vaccines?
Like most pet insurers, MetLife does not cover preexisting conditions. That includes any illness, injury, or abnormality you or your vet noticed before the policy started – even if your pet was never formally diagnosed.
MetLife also doesn't make exceptions for curable preexisting conditions. So if your pet had something like a temporary ear infection or stomach bug before coverage began, it won't be eligible for future reimbursement if it comes back later.
Learn more: Pet insurance that covers preexisting conditions
Yes. MetLife includes 24/7 access to a vet helpline with all policies. You can call anytime to ask questions about your pet's symptoms, get advice on whether you need an in-person visit, or just get peace of mind.
MetLife covers a lot. But like all pet insurers, it has exclusions. Here are some of the key things not covered:
Preexisting conditions, including any illness or injury noticed before your policy starts
Treatment by unlicensed veterinarians or services received outside the U.S.
Cosmetic procedures like tail docking or declawing, and any complications related to them
Injuries caused by neglect, abuse, or intentional harm
Injuries from working animals used for racing, law enforcement, guarding, or paid exhibitions
Routine care unless you've added a wellness plan – including grooming, nail trims, anal gland expression, obedience training, and non-prescription pet foods
Treatment not deemed medically necessary, even if recommended by a vet
You can decrease your MetLife pet insurance benefits at any time, like lowering your annual limit or increasing your deductible. Just note that the change won't take effect until it's approved by MetLife.
But if you want to increase your coverage — say, raise your reimbursement rate or lower your deductible — you'll have to wait until your policy renews. Mid-term upgrades aren't allowed.
MetLife also offers a couple of built-in incentives tied to your coverage:
Healthy Pet Incentive. If you go a full year without any paid claims (excluding preventive care), your deductible will drop by $50 at renewal — down to as low as $0.
Automatic policy limit increase. If your annual limit is at least $5,000 and you don't use $1,000 or more of it during the year, MetLife will automatically raise your limit by $500 next year at no extra cost.
MetLife's premiums are slightly below average compared to other pet insurance policies.
MetLife's average monthly cost for a $5,000 annual limit is $81.05. That's a bit below the industry average of $86.78. This puts MetLife in a competitive spot alongside providers like Embrace and Pets Best.
Here's how it stacks up:
Yes. MetLife offers a 5% discount when you insure multiple pets, with total discounts capped at 30% if you qualify for others. But what really sets MetLife apart is its Family Plan option.
Instead of juggling separate policies, you can cover up to three cats or dogs under one plan with:
A shared annual limit, so if one pet needs more care, you can use more of the total coverage
A shared deductible, which helps you reach it faster across all pets
The option to combine cats and dogs on the same policy (something not every insurer allows)
In one quote scenario, this setup resulted in a 64% savings, which is far beyond what most providers offer with standard multi-pet discounts.
MetLife does not offer a built-in system for paying vets directly. That means you'll typically need to pay out of pocket at the time of service, then submit a claim for reimbursement.
That said, if you're facing a major procedure (like surgery or an emergency hospitalization), it may be worth asking your vet if they're willing to coordinate payment directly with MetLife ahead of time. Some clinics will do this on a case-by-case basis, especially for established clients.
Learn more: Pet insurance that pays the vet directly
Filing a claim with MetLife is fairly straightforward, but you'll want to gather the right documents first to avoid delays.
Here's how it works:
Gather your documents. You'll need itemized vet invoices, relevant medical records, and (for your first claim) adoption or medical records from the past 12 months.
Submit your claim. You can file online, by mail, or through the MetLife mobile app. Claim forms are included with your policy documents or can be requested by phone.
Wait for processing. Most claims are processed in about five business days, though MetLife's policy allows up to 30 days to approve or deny a claim.
Reimbursement is sent to you (not your vet), so you'll be responsible for paying upfront in most cases.
MetLife requires you to submit claims within 90 days of your pet's treatment date. If you miss that window, your claim will likely not be eligible for reimbursement.
MetLife says most claims are processed in about five days as long as you submit all required documents up front. If something's missing, they'll follow up with your vet directly to keep things moving.
That said, the fine print gives MetLife up to 30 days to approve or deny a claim. So while most are processed within a week, it could technically take up to a month.
MetLife's mobile app makes it easy to manage your policy on the go. You can:
Submit and manage claims
Access 24/7 virtual vet support
View your policy documents
Update your pet's info
Track your pet's health records
Get updates about payments, vaccines, and more
It's available on both iOS and Android, with decent reviews overall.
MetLife mobile app ratings:
Apple App Store: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Google Play Store: 4.5 out of 5 stars
MetLife is the best pet insurance company for multiple pets, but here are some other strong contenders worth considering:
Learn more: The best pet insurance companies
Yes. MetLife covers both dental accidents and dental illnesses as part of its standard accident and illness plan. That includes things like broken teeth and periodontal disease.
Dental cleanings, however, are only covered if you've added the preventive care plan.
MetLife pet insurance is available in all 50 states and D.C. You can view state-specific information on MetLife's website.
No. MetLife doesn't require a recent veterinary exam to enroll your pet in coverage. However, you'll still need to provide medical records if you ever file a claim.
You can reach MetLife Pet Insurance customer support several ways:
Hours: Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET
Email: [e-mail]
Live chat: Available through the MetLife Pet mobile app
You can cancel your MetLife pet insurance policy at any time by submitting a written request. If you cancel within the first 30 days and haven't filed a claim, you'll get a full refund. After that, MetLife will refund any unused premium on a prorated basis.
There are no cancellation fees, and your policy will end on the day MetLife receives your cancellation notice or on a later date you specify.
Tim Manni edited this article.
We researched the coverage details and prices for 15 pet insurance plans. We then weighted categories, and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the best pet insurance companies. Here are the factors we incorporated.
Coverage types: 40% of score. We examined the coverage provided by the base policy without the extra cost of add-ons. This encompassed coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illness, euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, exotic pets, hereditary and congenital conditions, preexisting conditions, prescription food and supplements, veterinary exam fees, and advertising/reward for lost/stolen pets.
Average cost: 30% of score. We evaluated costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8).
Unlimited coverage option: 10% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered an unlimited annual limit (or a $100,000 limit), which gives pet owners the most robust financial protection possible in the event of a catastrophic pet medical issue.
Direct payments to the veterinarian: 5% of score. We gave points to pet insurers that state on their websites that they accommodate direct vet payments.
No special waiting periods for special conditions: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers have no waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament conditions.
Routine wellness plan: 5% of score. Companies that offer a routine wellness plan in addition to pet insurance received points.
Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered a discount for insuring multiple pets.