PetFirst
Customizable coverage limits, online tools, and an array of discounts make for an appealing provider.
Visit Website| InsuranceRanked Score | 2.5 |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2003 |
| AM Best Rating | A+ |
Customizable coverage limits, online tools, and an array of discounts make for an appealing provider.
Visit Website| InsuranceRanked Score | 2.5 |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2003 |
| AM Best Rating | A+ |
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Customizable coverage limits, online tools, and an array of discounts make for an appealing provider.
PetFirst is one of the top insurance companies for pet owners in the United States. If you are looking for insurance for your dog or cat, PetFirst may be a great option.
We really love how easy PetFirst makes it easy to choose a plan and manage your policy. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about buying pet insurance, what it covers, and what makes PetFirst stand out.
Accidents can happen. Vet bills can easily exceed $1,000 at one visit. PetFirst dog and cat insurance helps you plan for the unexpected.
With PetFirst you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian in the United States, as well as any emergency animal hospital or clinic.
PetFirst is an agency that underwrites and services pet policies. It is backed by the New Hampshire Insurance Company (NHIC), Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania (ISOP) and the Independence American Insurance Company in Delaware.
PetFirst offers insurance for dogs and cats. Similar to auto insurance, pet owners pay a monthly premium for a certain amount of coverage. If a covered illness or an accident happens, PetFirst reimburses all or some of the vet bill.
It is important for pet owners to read their policies and exclusions to understand what is and is not covered. For instance, pre-existing conditions are generally not covered.
Customers can pay online monthly or annually, add multiple pets to their policies, and change their coverage limits anytime. It’s easy to manage their policies through the MyPets portal.
PetFirst pet insurance is available in all 50 states plus Washington D.C.
PetFirst costs less for cats than for dogs. Cat insurance starts at $26/month, and dog insurance starts at $32/month.
Here is an overview of PetFirst’s plans:
Customers can also customize their own policies.
PetFirst is there for you if your pet comes down with an unexpected illness or has an accident.
It’s important to point out that PetFirst pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions and routine wellness care unless it’s added as a rider.
This means if your pet had the condition before your policy started, it won’t be covered.
Pre-existing conditions are covered after 12 months only if they are considered curable. Incurable pre-existing conditions are not covered.
Incurable conditions like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and heart disease are covered if they weren’t present before the policy started.
PetFirst’s pet insurance covers:
After a 12-month waiting period, coverage is extended to the following:
Here are some pros and cons we found of PetFirst pet insurance.
PetFirst offers the following discounts.
Because customers are likelier to comment when something goes wrong than when something goes right, we take some of the negative reviews with a grain of salt.
On the Better Business Bureau website, PetFirst has 26 customer complaints. There are 16 customer reviews with an average rating of one star.
It has two out of five stars on Yelp.com for a total of 81 customer reviews. Many customers’ claims were denied due to pre-existing conditions. Others complained about the 30-day free coverage that didn’t cover shelter-induced illnesses.
Some noted that PetFirst changed their policies without prior notification.
“Save yourself time, and money. If you enjoy getting the runaround to get claims approved then go for it. Not worth the investment (and I was a customer for over a decade). Every year your premiums go up then the coverage becomes less and less.” - Rosemarie F.
_“I also would give 0 stars if I could. We adopted a dog and called to activate our free insurance that was offered by the rescue. I was upsold to a higher cost policy that I was told would cover everything and was recommended because "One never knows" with a rescue dog. The dog developed Cystitis and we spend over $300 getting it looked after, as well as $150 on insurance premiums only to have our claims denied as a pre-existing condition. There is absolutely no point to insurance coverage. Save that premium to cover whatever comes up. I'll be doing everything I can to get my premiums refunded”. _- Elena P.
Of course, not all experiences were bad.
_“None of us want a need for insurance, but one came and I am very pleased that the coverage was complete. I was reimbursed within a week. I was very impressed with the efficiency. It made a difficult situation for my cat a little easier.” - _Richard W.
Customers can apply over the phone by calling at 855-270-7387. They can also get a free quote and purchase a plan at www.petfirst.com.
Online
If your cat or dog has recently visited the vet for an injury or illness, this is what you need to send PetFirst.
Veterinary records from the past 12 months are required when submitting your first claim. If your pet was adopted, you must submit the adoption and vet records from the adoption facility.
Claims (claim form, vet records, and invoice) can be submitted in a variety of ways:
If you have a MyPets account, select “Claims” on the menu to see the status of your claim and if any additional documentation is necessary. Check your email to find out more information.
If you don’t have a MyPets account, call PetFirst at 866-937-7387.
Address: PetFirst Pet Insurance 400 Missouri Avenue Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Call center: 866-937-7387 877-281-3348 866-937-7387 877-281-3348 For customer service, dial option 2 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 9pm, EST Saturday, 10am - 6pm, EST Sunday, 12pm - 6pm, EST Fax: 877-281-3348 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @petfirst Facebook: facebook.com/petfirsthealthcare Live Chat: On www.petfirst.com, select Live Chat during business hours.
No. PetFirst only offers pet insurance.
Some customers have better experiences than others. Pet owners must read their policies carefully. Customer service may paint a rosier picture than is real.
Often pet owners are required to accept PetFirst insurance as part of the adoption process. Yet there is a 15-day waiting period on illnesses.
Some negative reviews could be avoided if this was explained better. PetFirst might keep more customers if minor illnesses were covered during this time, especially common ones like diarrhea.
Overall this provider does a good job of being reachable and accessible. Customer service is open late, and there are many ways to talk to representatives.
In conclusion, PetFirst is a solid choice for dog and cat owners looking for affordable rates who don’t need massive amounts of coverage. As always, customers have to read the fine print!
Yes, you can cancel within the first 14 days with no penalty as long as you haven’t filed any claims.
Yes! There are no age limits or health exams required to buy a PetFirst policy.
Yes, you can change your deductible or reimbursement level at any time. Call PetFirst at 866-937-7387 to make the changes.
Most of our customers are paperless and can access their policy documents under MyPets. If you don’t have an email account on record with us, we will mail your policy documents.
Congenital or hereditary conditions that were known about by you or your vet before the policy started are considered “pre-existing” and are not covered.
If your dog only started to show symptoms of the condition after the policy started (and after the waiting period), it will be covered.
