Advertiser Disclosure
MetLife pet insurance review 2025
MetLife, a trusted name in insurance since 1828, offers comprehensive plans to protect your pets' health. Known for its reliability, MetLife pet insurance provides flexible options tailored to your furry family member's unique needs, ensuring peace of mind and financial support.
MetLife pet insurance includes adjustable deductibles, reimbursement choices, a versatile accident and illness plan and an optional preventive care add-on for complete coverage.
MetLife
Summary
Annual deductible options: $0–$2,500
Reimbursement percentage: 70, 80 and 90 percent, and a 50 percent option for policies underwritten by MetGen
Annual limits: $500–$25,000
Claim turnaround time: Most claims are processed within 10 days
Enrollment age: None
Direct vet pay: No
MetLife Pet Insurance coverage options
Each pet insurance company has unique selling points for its insurance policies. When choosing the right pet insurance policy to suit your budget, it's essential to understand what your plan will cover.
MetLife plans and customizations
MetLife is one of the most flexible pet insurance providers for customizing its accident and illness policies.
MetLife Core Benefits Plan:
The Core Benefits plan covers a wide range of medical issues:
- Injuries due to accidents and illnesses such as infections, cancer and chronic conditions.
- Diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs, blood tests) and treatments (surgeries, hospitalization, medications)
- Hereditary and congenital conditions without age restrictions
- Alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic care
- Behavioral issues, which many insurers do not commonly cover
Customization options
MetLife is one of the most flexible pet insurance providers for customizing its accident and illness policies.
Deductibles
MetLife operates on an annual deductible basis, meaning once you meet your annual deductible, all covered expenses are reimbursed up to the policy limits.
Pet owners can choose from a wide range of deductible options, starting at $0 and going up to $2,500, allowing for a customized balance between upfront costs and monthly premiums. While most pet insurance providers cap deductibles at $1,000, those with emergency savings may prefer the higher $2,500 deductible to reduce their monthly payments.
Reimbursements
The reimbursement percentage refers to the portion of eligible veterinary expenses your insurance company will pay you after you've met your deductible. MetLife’s Core Benefits plan offers the usual range of reimbursement options, from 50 percent to 90 percent.
A higher reimbursement option will mean higher insurance premiums but more coverage when it comes to paying vet bills.
Annual coverage
The annual limit is the maximum reimbursement you can receive from your insurance policy within a given policy period. This limit is separate from your deductible and resets at the beginning of each new policy period. More annual coverage means a higher premium.
MetLife helps pet owners tweak their monthly premiums to suit their budgets by offering various annual benefit options from $500–$25,000.
Preventive care plan
MetLife offers a preventive care add-on with wellness coverage up to 90 percent of your annual limit.
The Standard Wellness Plan includes coverage for the following expenses:
- Dental care and teeth cleaning
- Preventive care for fleas, ticks, heartworm and Lyme disease
- Spay and neuter
- Vaccinations
MetLife’s preventive care add-on will also cover the following treatments and interventions if they are recommended by a vet for illness, injury or prevention:
- Anal gland expression
- Behavior training
- Dew claw removal and tail docking
- Genetic testing, only if purchased through a vet
- Nail trimming
- Radiograph screenings, EKG and Gastropexy
- Vitamins and supplements
Pros and cons
Pros
-
Comprehensive coverage: MetLife includes coverage for alternative and holistic therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic care.
-
Coverage for exotic pets: MetLife covers exotic pets such as birds, ferrets, rabbits and reptiles.
-
Deductible reductions: Deductibles decrease by $25–$50 and coverage limits increase for each claim-free year.
-
Discounts: Multiple discounts are available for healthcare workers, first responders, active and veteran military members, pet care workers and employer-sponsored plans.
-
Exam fee coverage: With MetLife's preventive care policy add-on, exam fees are reimbursed according to your policy's specifications.
-
Family plans: One policy can cover up to three pets, with a single deductible and annual limit.
-
No upper age limits or breed exclusions: MetLife does not restrict coverage based on your pet’s age or breed.
-
Short accident waiting period: MetLife covers accidents from midnight ET of your policy’s start date.
-
Some pre-existing conditions covered: If you switch to MetLife, you may be able to include pre-existing conditions that were covered by your previous insurer.
Cons
-
Different underwriters for plans: Wellness plans, coverage and waiting periods may vary depending on the underwriter.
-
Cumbersome claims: Submitting claims can require significant documentation.
-
Online quote tool lacks clarity: Coverage explanations are not always easy to understand.
Additional features of MetLife
Discounts
MetLife offers several discounts to help reduce the cost of pet insurance premiums:
- Animal care discount: A 10 percent discount for owners, staff and volunteers at animal care facilities outside of New York.
- Special discount: A 10 percent discount for healthcare workers, first responders and military members (active and veteran) in some states.
- Online sign-up discount: If you purchase your coverage online, a discount will be applied to your monthly premiums for the first year of your pet's policy.
- Employee benefits: MetLife partners with some employers to offer employees reduced rates or payroll deductions.
Grief counseling
MetLife Pet Insurance provides access to grief counseling after losing a beloved pet. These counseling services are available through a partnership with TELUS Health, an independent third-party provider (not available in New York).
MetLife Pet Family Plan
MetLife offers a single policy for multiple pets, including up to three cats and/or dogs. All pets on the policy share the annual deductible and coverage limit. This means that regardless of which pet received treatment, all covered expenses contribute toward the deductible.
The policy is limited to dogs under the age of 12 and cats under the age of 14.
There are no multi-policy discounts available with family plans. However, you may receive a 5 percent discount when you enroll up to three pets on the same family plan.
MetLife Pet app
The MetLife Pet mobile app is free for all MetLife Pet Insurance policyholders and comes with a host of useful features:
- Manage and view your policy information and benefits.
- Easily submit and monitor claims.
- Get AI-recommended articles tailored to your pet’s species, age and breed.
- Get alerts about vaccinations, claim statuses and more.
- Store your pet’s health records and keep them up to date.
- Use location-based services and intelligent search to find grooming and training providers.
Pre-existing conditions coverage
As a MetLife group policyholder, you may receive coverage for certain pre-existing conditions when switching from your current pet insurer. If a condition was covered by your previous policy, it may be eligible for reimbursement. This is a unique benefit not typically offered by other providers.
Virtual veterinary services
Through the MetLife Pet App, powered by AskVet, pet owners have access to a 24/7 online vet chat for expert advice. Instead of searching for "Dr. Google" answers, you can connect with licensed veterinarians via the telehealth chat. If your pooch ate something strange from the trash or you have questions about health, diet or behavior, MetLife’s veterinary partners will guide you on when to seek urgent care, schedule a check-up or monitor from home.
Exclusions and restrictions
Before selecting MetLife pet insurance, be sure to consider any restrictions that may apply, as they can influence coverage options and may make specific plans less suitable for your pet’s unique needs. By understanding these factors, you can make the best choice for your pet’s care.
Age restrictions
MetLife has no upper age limits for pets. However, there may be restrictions for new enrollments, so be sure to confirm coverage eligibility.
Waiting periods
Unlike many other pet insurance companies, with MetLife's Core Benefits policy, accident coverage is almost immediate. MetLife provides accident and optional Preventive Care coverage from midnight EST of the day your policy becomes active.
The waiting period for a new illness is 14 days, which is the standard time with all insurance companies. Cruciate ligament injuries and intervertebral disc disease are subject to a six-month waiting period.
Location restrictions
MetLife Pet Insurance reimburses pet care costs at any licensed vet in the U.S. However, there may be slight variations in policy details based on state regulations and policy underwriters. Pet owners should review their state's policy guidelines to understand any unique provisions or restrictions.
MetLife pet insurance costs
We gathered example quotes to give a rough idea of how prices can change across pet breeds and ages. Note that your costs for pet insurance will depend on your location, discounts and specifics about your pet.
| Breed | 2 years old | 5 years old | 8 years old | 10 years old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
*Sample policies were for a female dog with excellent health in Arizona with the ZIP code 85251. The choices for customization selected were for an accident and illness plan with a $250 deductible, 90 percent reimbursement limit and $5,000 annual benefit limit. Quotes are rounded to the nearest dollar. The rates listed are for illustrative purposes only. You should contact the company directly for applicable quotes. |
||||
| French bulldog | $82 | $110 | $200 | $284 |
| Labrador retriever | $66 | $83 | $141 | $196 |
| Golden retriever | $73 | $90 | $154 | $214 |
| German shepherd | $62 | $71 | $129 | $186 |
| Poodle | $55 | $60 | $113 | $168 |
| Dachshund | $43 | $63 | $103 | $135 |
| Breed | 2 years old | 5 years old | 8 years old | 10 years old |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
*Sample policies were for a male cat with excellent health in Arizona with the ZIP code 85251. The choices for customization selected were for an accident and illness plan with a $250 deductible, 90 percent reimbursement limit and $5,000 annual benefit limit. Quotes are rounded to the nearest dollar. The rates listed are for illustrative purposes only. You should contact the company directly for applicable quotes. Rates last checked December 20, 2024. |
||||
| Ragdoll | $40 | $43 | $61 | $75 |
| Maine coon | $40 | $43 | $61 | $75 |
| Persian | $40 | $43 | $61 | $75 |
| Exotic | $28 | $28 | $28 | $28 |
| Devon rex | $29 | $31 | $49 | $63 |
| British shorthair | $29 | $31 | $49 | $63 |
How to file a claim with MetLife
MetLife makes it easy to file your claim for reimbursement of any applicable vet expenses.
Submit claims with the online portal, mobile app, email, snail mail, fax or text message within 90 days of the invoice or treatment date. Here are the steps to follow:
-
Complete and sign a claim form (downloadable from MetLife’s website).
-
Add the details of what happened to your pet.
-
Attach your itemized invoice from your veterinarian or vet specialist. For your first claim, MetLife will require your pet’s veterinary records from the last year.
-
If your claim is denied, determine your next steps to dispute it.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
MetLife has 15 reviews
Dive into community reviews below and see what others think about MetLife.
To help serve you with relevant information, the customer reviews shown are limited to only those that this advertiser has received during the past 12 months.