A Vet's Guide To Pet Insurance
Compare PetFirst Pet Insurance
Comparison Fact SheetTo get the most from these sheets, please read the Guide to Pet Insurance first.
| 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 | Standard and Lifetime* |
| 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 5/1/13. Lloyds of London has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 5/1/13. 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 | 8 weeks - 9 years of age |
| 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 Standard Plan - 6 months after the policy effective date for Intervertebral Disk Disease Lifetime Plan - 12 months after the policy effective date for Intervertebral Disk Disease |
| Waiting Period for Cruciate Injury | Standard Plan - It is unclear whether cruciate injuries are covered under this plan Lifetime Plan - 12 months after the policy effective date |
| 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 Lifetime Plan or the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, chronic conditions will only be covered in the policy year they are diagnosed. |
| 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 | It is unclear if and under what conditions behavior therapy is covered. |
| Alternative Therapy Coverage | It is unclear if and under what conditions Alternative therapy is covered. |
| 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 Lifetime Plan or the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon
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 Lifetime Plan or the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon. |
| 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 Lifetime Plan or 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 Lifetime Plan or 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 Lifetime Plan or the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon. If you do not purchase the Lifetime Plan or 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 Lifetime Plan or 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 Lifetime Plan or 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 for pregnancy related conditions of mastitis, eclampsia,
infection and emergency C-sections.
There may be monetary limits. **See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions |
| Routine/Wellness Coverage | [OPTIONAL] - Available as an addon. |
| 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] 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, Routine/Wellness 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) |
|
| How The Policy Works | |
| Co-pay | Standard Plan - 10% or 20%
Lifetime Plan - 10%, 20% or 30% |
| Deductible | Standard Plan - $50 or $100
Lifetime Plan - $50, $100, $250 or $500 |
| 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 | Standard Plan - $15,000, $12,000, $7,500 or $2,000
Lifetime Plan - $20,000, $10,000 or $5,000 |
| Max Lifetime Payout | PetFirst does not have a maximum lifetime payout |
| Max Payout per Incident | Standard Plan - $3,000, $2,500, $1,500, or $1,000
Lifetime Plan does not have any per-incident limits. |
| 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 | |
| Get A Quote | Get A Quote |
| 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 Pet First pet insurance plans that cover illness and accidents. If your pet is only eligible for accident coverage, please contact Pet First for details on that policy.
**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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