MetLife Pet Insurance Review (2024)
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Choosing a pet health insurance provider is an important responsibility for a pet owner. There are several factors to consider to ensure you get the coverage your pet needs while staying within the budget you’re comfortable with.
We researched MetLife, a well-known insurance provider that not only insures humans but pets as well. We assessed the company’s offerings and compared it to other top pet insurance providers. Read on to learn about MetLife’s coverage, cost, plans, customer support, exclusions, and more.
How Did We Rate MetLife Pet Insurance?
We scored MetLife’s pet insurance 87 out of 100. Though the company has numerous deductible and reimbursement rate options, its annual coverage limit is low compared to many leading providers. It also doesn’t offer 24/7 customer support like many other companies, and its monthly premiums are slightly higher than average. However, MetLife’s coverage and policies are standard for the industry.
You may want to consider MetLife if you already have a policy with the provider for your own health insurance, so you have the option to bundle. MetLife also offers several discounts and is offered by some employers, so consider the company if you qualify to save money with cheap pet insurance.
- Monthly cost: MetLife has average pricing for dogs but above-average pricing for cats.
- Plan options: Customers have multiple deductible and reimbursement percentage choices, as well as the option to add wellness or emergency care coverage.
- Coverage: The provider covers both accidents and illnesses.
- Reputation: MetLife has a high BBB score but isn’t as experienced in insuring pets as some competitors.
- Customer service: There are multiple ways to contact the company, but it doesn’t have a 24/7 help line.
- Eligible species: You can insure both dogs and cats.
How Does Metlife Compare to Other Pet Insurance Companies?
Compare MetLife’s pet insurance to other leading pet insurance providers in the table below:
| Company | Star Rating | Monthly Cost for Dogs* | Monthly Cost for Cats* | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $33.69 | $13.32 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $38.44 | $21.53 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $65.15 | $53.43 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $20.76 | $18.47 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.83 | $24.68 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $30.53 | $22.13 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $49.85 | $26.55 | VISIT SITE | ||
| $44.79 | $16.36 | VISIT SITE |
*Based on sample quotes for a 4-year-old mixed dog in Raleigh, North Carolina.
How Much Does MetLife Pet Insurance Cost?
Your monthly premium depends on your location and your pet’s breed, age, and health status. You can customize your premium by choosing your deductible, reimbursement rate, and annual coverage limit. MetLife offers four deductible options ranging from $50 to $500, which is lower than many competitors. Choosing a low deductible means you’ll pay less out of pocket before your insurance begins reimbursing you, but the tradeoff is that your monthly premium will be higher.
Here are MetLife’s deductible, reimbursement rate, and coverage limit choices:
- Deductible: $50, $100, $250, $500
- Reimbursement rate: $70%, 80%, 90%, 100%.
- Annual limit: $2,000, $5,000, $10,000
MetLife does increase your premium for certain breeds and as your pet ages, but this is common in the pet insurance industry.
Metlife Sample Pricing Premiums
We compared MetLife’s pricing for different dog and cat breeds. This sample pricing uses a $250, 80% reimbursement rate, and $5,000 limit.
| Plan | Medium Mixed Dog | Golden Retriever | Yorkshire Terrier | Domestic Medium Hair Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Accident-and-illness plan |
$30.53 |
$41.21 |
$33.46 |
$22.13 |
*Sample quotes are for 4-year-old pets in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Does Metlife Pet Insurance Offer Discounts?
MetLife offers the following discounts:
- Animal care discount
- Affinity group discount
- Employer benefit discount
- Healthcare workers discount
- Internet purchase discount
- Military, veteran, and first responder discount
What Plans and Coverage Does MetLife Pet Insurance Offer?
MetLife has one plan covering both accidents and illnesses, plus an add-on wellness plan. It covers several treatments and conditions not often covered by other insurers.
Here’s what MetLife’s accident-and-illness plan covers:
Other insurers cover many of these services, but coverage for exam fees, special foods, cruciate ligament conditions, and intervertebral disc disease is harder to come by. This makes MetLife an attractive provider if your pet would benefit from any of these being covered.
Preventive Care Add-On
MetLife offers wellness care as an add-on for an additional cost of about $12 per month. You can use this coverage for routine care such as checkups, vaccinations, teeth cleanings, and parasite prevention and treatment.
What Are Metlife’s Coverage Exclusions?
MetLife’s exclusions are comparable to other pet insurance companies, including the following services:
- Any condition resulting from neglect, racing, coursing, commercial guarding, or organized fighting
- Breeding and related conditions
- Elective procedures
- Expression and removal of anal glands or sacculitis
- Grooming
- Organ transplants
- Vitamins and mineral supplements
As with all pet insurers, MetLife doesn’t cover preexisting conditions. The company defines preexisting conditions as any illness, injury, or other condition that manifested prior to your coverage start date or during your waiting period. One perk of MetLife is that its waiting periods are relatively short. You can file a claim related to accidents or preventive care the day your policy begins. The waiting period for illnesses is 14 days.
How Do Customers View MetLife?
MetLife isn’t currently rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but it does have customer reviews on the site as well as Trustpilot. Positive reviews mention a fast claims process and helpful customer service representatives. The most common complaint is denied claims for care customers felt should have been covered under their policy agreement. MetLife consistently addresses complaints, resulting in some issues or coverage confusion being resolved.
“It’s a great company, and within a week they’ll pay out all the benefits you were covered for.”
Ionut
“My dog hurt his leg so I took him to the vet and she said it was a bad sprained right front leg. So I submitted a claim with the company and sent them ALL the paperwork and then later they denied my claim.”
Anonymous
“They made a stressful situation manageable for me. All reps I spoke with were very accommodating and courteous.”
Stacey S.
“I am very frustrated with this insurance company and the claims department. There is also nobody you can speak to in the actual claims department. I would avoid them at all costs when looking for insurance for your babies.”
Betty K.
Is Metlife Pet Insurance Worth It?
MetLife may be a good option if your employer offers it or you qualify for one of the company’s many discounts. The provider’s accident-and-illness plan and preventive add-on provide standard coverage plus reimbursement for a few circumstances other insurers exclude. MetLife’s monthly premiums are average for pet insurance, and though annual limit options are low, you can choose your own deductible and reimbursement rate to help save money.
If MetLife doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, there are many other exceptional options. Lemonade, Spot, and Embrace all make our list of best pet insurance companies.
Find the Best Pet Insurance in Your State
FAQs About MetLife Pet Insurance
Does MetLife pet insurance cover vaccinations?
MetLife covers vaccinations if you purchase its preventive care add-on. It does not cover vaccinations under its standard accident-and-illness plan. Adding preventive coverage to your plan costs around $12 per month.
Can you cancel MetLife pet insurance at any time?
Yes, you can cancel your MetLife policy at any time. Customers can call 866-937-7387 and select option four. You can also email customer support or use the website chat feature to speak to a representative about cancellation.
Does MetLife pet insurance cover medications?
Yes. MetLife’s accident-and-illness pet insurance policy covers prescription medications. You’ll be reimbursed for medications according to the reimbursement rate you selected during enrollment.
How does MetLife reimburse you?
When you take your pet to the veterinarian, you’ll pay the bill on the spot. You’ll then file a claim with MetLife for the bill amount, which you can do using the online portal, mobile app, email, fax, or mail. MetLife will process your claim within 10 days and send your reimbursement by check or direct deposit, whichever you prefer.
Our Rating Methodology
We are dedicated to thorough, in-depth reviews of each product or service that we detail in our content. Determined to build trust with our readers through transparency, accuracy, and accountability, we’ve built a detailed rating system to score pet insurance brands. Included in this methodology are the following six factors with their respective scoring weights:
- Coverage (25)
- Plan options (20)
- Monthly cost (20)
- Company reputation (15)
- Customer service (10)
- Species eligibility (10)
Our researchers keep all data in each company’s score up to date, making any changes to our content when necessary to provide our readers with the most accurate information on relevant metrics, such as plan options, customer service, reputation, and monthly cost.
