MetLife Pet Insurance Plans, Coverage & Pricing
Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of MetLife for pets, let’s take a closer look at how the company has set up their plans and pricing.
Like many pet insurance providers, MetLife has one main, full-coverage plan that allows you to choose your annual reimbursement limit, deductible and reimbursement percentage. This is how you customize the plan to meet the needs of your pet as well as your budget. MetLife also offers a preventative care add-on option, which we’ll cover in more detail below.
MetLife Pet Insurance Coverage & Restrictions
As a general rule, pet insurance policies will have a number of inclusions as well as exclusions, and the best companies are the ones that are up front about both. We found MetLife to be transparent in this area, with easy-to-find information about their coverage inclusions as well as restrictions.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the things that are covered under MetLife Pet Insurance:
- Accidents
- Illnesses (including hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions)
- Hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Diagnostic tests
- Exam fees
- Cruciate ligaments
- X-rays
- Ultrasounds
- Medications
- Holistic care and alternative therapies
- Emergency care
- Pet food for special diets
- Intervertebral disc disease
Here are some of the things that are not covered under MetLife Pet Insurance:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Elective procedures
- Expression or removal of anal glands
- Breeding or conditions related to breeding
- Vitamins and mineral supplements
- Grooming costs and bathing, including medicated baths
- Illness or injury that arises out of racing, coursing, commercial guarding or organized fighting of your pet
- Organ transplants
MetLife Pet Insurance Cost
MetLife factors in your pet’s breed, age and location to calculate your quote, and since all pets (and their owners) are unique, MetLife provides flexible customizable coverage options so you can choose the plan that works best for you.
Next, we’ll break down all of those options and show how they can impact your monthly payment:
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Annual reimbursement limit:
- The maximum dollar amount you can be paid back per policy year
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Options range from $2,000 to $10,000*
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The higher your annual reimbursement limit, the more you’ll pay per month
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Annual deductible amount:
- The fixed dollar amount you’re responsible for paying before your insurance kicks in
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Options range from $50 to $500*
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The lower your deductible, the more you’ll pay per month
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Reimbursement percentage:
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The percentage of each covered vet bill you’ll be paid back after you meet your deductible
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Options range from 70 percent to 90 percent*
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The higher your reimbursement rate, the more you’ll pay per month
We used MetLife’s online quote generator to “fetch” these quotes that demonstrate how your monthly premium price changes based on the coverage options you choose. Our quotes are based on a three-year-old mixed-breed male dog (20 to 100 pounds) in Atlanta*:
- For a plan with a $2,000 annual reimbursement limit, $250 annual deductible and 80 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $24.32.
- For a plan with a $5,000 annual reimbursement limit, $250 annual deductible and 80 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $30.51.
- For a plan with a $10,000 annual reimbursement limit, $2,500 annual deductible and 90 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $20.96.
As is typical across all pet insurers, MetLife’s cat insurance plans are cheaper than dogs. Here are our sample quotes for a three-year-old mixed-breed male cat (less than 20 pounds) in Atlanta*:
- For a plan with a $2,000 annual reimbursement limit, $250 annual deductible and 80 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $18.28.
- For a plan with a $5,000 annual reimbursement limit, $250 annual deductible and 80 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $21.30.
- For a plan with a $10,000 annual reimbursement limit, $2,500 annual deductible and 90 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $16.57.
*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.
Optional Features & Inclusions
As an optional feature, MetLife also offers a preventative care plan. This can only be purchased as an add-on to a pet insurance policy. MetLife’s website states that the preventative care plan covers “any treatment, service or procedure for the purpose of prevention of injury or illness or for promotion of general health, where there has been no injury or illness.”
While the company does not provide a full list of what’s covered on their website, their customer service team confirmed that typical inclusions under their preventative care plan are wellness exams, blood panels, parasite prevention, spay and neuter fees and flea and tick medications.
Preventative care pricing depends on what level of coverage is chosen for the insurance plan. Based on our quotes for a three-year-old mixed-breed dog in Atlanta, it ranged from an additional $24.60 to $26.97 per month.*
*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.
Differences for Dogs vs Cats
MetLife offers the same great coverage for dogs and cats. Where the plans differ is in price, since cats typically don’t need to visit the vet as often as dogs do. MetLife dog insurance plans start at $15 per month, while their cat insurance plans start at $9 per month.*
*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.
MetLife Pet Insurance Discounts
MetLife offers a variety of discounts, including active military, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, veterinarians and other animal care staff members. If you fall into one of these groups, you’re eligible for 10 percent off your pet insurance premium.
And if not, MetLife also offers a $1 monthly discount for any plan purchased online.
They also offer an employer benefit discount, which means if your company offers MetLife Pet Insurance as a benefit, you can enroll your pet at a discounted rate.
