Compare PetFirst Pet Insurance

Comparison Fact Sheet

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Company Info
Company Name PetFirst
Also Known As  
Address One Quartermaster Court
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone 1-866-937-PETS (7387)
Website www.petfirsthealthcare.com
Plans That Provide Both Accident and Illness Coverage Basic; Preferred; Preferred Plus; Senior*
States Covered All 50 states, including DC
Underwriter and AM Best Financial Strength Rating Insurance underwritten by American Alternative Insurance Corporation (a subsidiary of Munich Re) and Lloyds of London.

American Alternative Insurance Corporation has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A+" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 1/1/12.

Lloyds of London has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 1/1/12.

For the most recent ratings go to: AM Best and enter the name of the underwriter in the box labeled 'Text'.
Year Company Started 2004

 

Policy Basics
Policy Term 12 months
Effective Date The Effective Date will be listed on the Declarations Page of your policy after you apply and are accepted.
Enrollment Age The enrollment age for Basic, Preferred, and Preferred Plus Plans is 8 weeks - 9 years of age.

The enrollment age for the Senior Plan is 10 years of age and older
Cancellation Policy Ask for a current copy of their insurance policy so that you may review their cancellation policy
Waiting Period 14 days after the policy effective date for illness

Routine care and accident coverage begins a midnight following policy activation

6 months after the policy effective date for Intervertebral Disk Disease
Waiting Period for Cruciate Injury Cruciate ligament injuries are not covered unless you purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon
Coverage When Travel Out of State or Country? Out of State Coverage - You WILL be covered while traveling to other states with your pet.

Out of Country Coverage - You WILL NOT be covered when traveling to another country with your pet
Can the Price of the Policy Increase as my Pet Ages? Yes, the policy premium can increase as your pet ages. The premium may also increase due to inflation or other reasons.

Contact the company for more information on when and how your premium may increase.
Does Coverage Stop Due to Age? No
What Happens when the Policy Renews? If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, you will not have continual coverage for chronic conditions that manifest in a previous policy year.
Can the Price of the Policy Increase if a Claim is Filed? No
Choice of Vet? You can choose any licensed veterinarian in the US
Money Back Guarantee? If you change your mind within 14 days they will refund your money in full as long as you have not filed a claim.
Surcharge for Visiting a Specialist or Emergency Clinic? No
Referral needed to Visit a Specialist? No
Pre-certification Required? No
Additional Requirements **See actual policy or call PetFirst for a complete list of the requirements you are expected to adhere to in order to maintain coverage.
Pet Insurance Policy Available for Pre-Purchase Review? Sample policy available by request

 

What's Covered
Species Covered Dogs and Cats
Accident/Injury -
Baseline Coverage		 Covers examinations, diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medications.
Illness -
Baseline Coverage		 Covers examinations, diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medications.
Behavioral Therapy Coverage [OPTIONAL/LIMITED] An allowance for behavior training is included with certain plans under the Routine Care addon.

Covers behavioral training not related to a medical condition. Does not cover behavior therapy.

Behavior training must be performed by a licensed behaviorist.

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for any additional limitations on Behavioral Therapy Coverage
Alternative Therapy Coverage [INCLUDED] Covers Alternative Therapy including acupuncture and message therapy. Does not cover vitamins and supplements.

Must be performed by a licensed alternative therapist.

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for any additional limitations on Alternative Therapy Coverage.
Pre-existing Conditions Policy Pre-existing conditions are not covered.

According a copy of their policy, pre-existing conditions "... shall mean any illness, condition requiring medical treatment, or injury affecting 'your pet' that manifests, whether diagnosed or treated, prior to the inception date of this policy."

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for complete description of pre-existing conditions.
Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage [OPTIONAL] - To get hereditary and congenital coverage you must purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon.

The Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon has two options:
  1. Payment for these conditions up to 25% of the plan's per incident limit.
  2. Payment of these conditions up to 100% of the plan's per incident limit.
Without this addon, hereditary and congenital conditions will not be covered.

Hereditary and congenital conditions are not covered if they are pre-existing or have occurred during the waiting period.

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for a list of their Breed-Related Conditions and complete description of their Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Policy.
Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions [OPTIONAL] - To get continual Chronic Conditions coverage you must purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon.

The Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon has two options:
  1. Payment for these conditions up to 25% of the plan's per incident limit.
  2. Payment of these conditions up to 100% of the plan's per incident limit.
If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, you will not have continual coverage for chronic conditions that manifest in a previous policy year.
Chronic Conditions Policy They do not cover chronic conditions that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period.

If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, you will not have continual coverage for chronic conditions that manifest in a previous policy year.

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for complete description of their Chronic Conditions Policy.
Cancer Coverage [INCLUDED] Cancer conditions are covered if they are not pre-existing and have not occurred during the waiting period.

If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, cancers that are considered to be hereditary or genetic may not be covered.

(See Chronic Conditions Policy above)
Cancer Coverage Limits To get continual cancer coverage you must purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon.

If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, you will not have continual coverage for cancer conditions that manifest in a previous policy year.

They do not cover cancers that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period.

If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, cancers that are considered to be hereditary or genetic may not be covered.

(See 'Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions' and 'Chronic Conditions Policy' sections above)
Hip Dysplasia [OPTIONAL] Hip Dysplasia is covered if you get the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon.

Hip dysplasia is not covered if it is pre-existing and occurred during the waiting period.

(See 'Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage' section above)
Prescription Drug Coverage [INCLUDED] Prescription medications are reimbursed according to the medical condition that has been diagnosed.

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions
Pregnancy Coverage [OPTIONAL] PetFirst provide this coverage at an additional cost. This optional addon pays up to $500 annually for the pregnancy related conditions of mastitis, eclampsia, infection and emergency C-sections.

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions
Routine/Wellness Coverage [OPTIONAL] with certain plans.

The amount of the monetary allowance and the number of procedures covered for Routine and Wellness care depends on the state you live in and the plan you select.
Vaccinations See Routine/Wellness Coverage
Spay/Neuter See Routine/Wellness Coverage
Dental Care (Routine) See Routine/Wellness Coverage
Dental Care (Illness/Accident) [LIMITED COVERAGE] Dental coverage for illness and accidents is included. Removal of baby teeth, orthodontics, endodontics, and treatment of periodontal disease are not covered

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions.
Bilateral Conditions Policy If the veterinarian was to determine that the conditions were separate and non-related they would cover both as a separate incident.
Coverage - Overview
(please read policy for full coverage details)		 Diagnostics and treatments due to illness and accidents

[Included] Alternative Therapy, Prescription Medications, Dental Illness/Accident (limited), Cancer Coverage (Refer to each category's section for limitations)

[Optional] Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions, Pregnancy, Hereditary & Congenital Conditions, Hip Dysplasia, Cruciate Ligament Injury Coverage, Routine/Wellness/Behavior Training Coverage (Refer to each category's section for limitations)

**See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions, exclusions, limitations and conditions.
What's not Covered - Overview
(partial listing, please read policy for full details)
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Conditions that occur during the waiting period
  • Elective procedures
  • Expression or removal of anal glands or anal sacculitis
  • Orthodontics, endodontics, treatment of periodontal disease and removal of deciduous teeth
  • Treatment of foreign body ingestion, occurring more than once per policy period
...See policy for a complete listing

 

How The Policy Works
Co-pay Preferred Plus, Preferred, and Basic plans - Co-pay 10%

Senior plan - Co-pay 20%
Deductible The deductible is $50 per incident or $100 per incident depending on the state you live in and policy you select.

Routine/Wellness care has no deductible
Flat Deductible vs % Deductible Flat
Deductible Per Incident vs Annual Deductible Per Incident per policy year
How is Reimbursement Determined CUSTOMER REP: If they feel the fees are high compared to what is being charged in your area, they will use UCR. Otherwise reimbursement is based on the actual veterinary bill.

IN POLICY: UCR
Max Payout Annually Preferred Plus Plan annual limit- $15,000

Preferred Plan annual limit - $12,000

Basic Plan annual limit - $7,500

Senior Plan annual limit - $2,000
Max Lifetime Payout PetFirst does not have a maximum lifetime payout
Max Payout per Incident Preferred Plus Plan per incident limit - $3,500

Preferred Plan per incident limit - $2,500

Basic Plan - per incident limit - $1,500

Senior Plan per incident limit - $2,000
Max Payout Based on Body System PetFirst does not have a maximum payout based on body system
Client Reimbursed or Vet Paid Directly You pay the veterinarian and then you are reimbursed after you file the claim.

 

Pricing
Approximate Monthly Costs Approximately $24 - $115 depending on the plan, species, addons, etc

 

Additional Info
My Review PetFirst Review
What are Customers Saying? PetInsuranceReview.com
Better Business Bureau bbb.org
Additional Info  

*The information in the above charts applies to PetFirst's Basic, Preferred, Preferred Plus and Senior pet insurance plans. For information on their Accident, Family and Custom Plans, please contact PetFirst.

**Disclaimer: These charts are created based on my research. While I do my best to stay current, information can change quickly. Also, terms and conditions can vary from state to state. Before buying a pet insurance plan, confirm all information by calling the company or reading the most current policy. We will not be held liable for errors or omissions. If you see something that is incorrect or needs clarifying, please let me know.

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