Overview

MetLife is a global giant in the life insurance game, but in 2004 brought its 150+years of experience to the pet insurance market – and it shows. Its plans are flexible, with many ways to adjust your premium, and most claims are paid within 10 days. It has impressive waiting periods, too, with accident coverage starting at midnight on the day you take out your plan – industry-leading speed. Away from the business side of things, MetLife donated $500,000 to animal shelters in 2021. 

Table of contents

Our MetLife rating

Overall score

4.6
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Speed of claims

4.0
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Customer service

5.0
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Claims procedure

5.0
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Easy to understand

4.0
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Value for money

5.0
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Pros & Cons of MetLife pet insurance

  • Accident cover activates at midnight on day policy taken out
  • Flexible reimbursement, deductible and annual limit levels
  • Reward scheme
  • Family plan covers all household pets
  • No 24/7 pet telehealth line
  • Limited coverage options

How does MetLife pet insurance work?

You enter some very basic details about your cat or dog, your zip code and email address, and then you get some suggested plans that you can tweak by changing the levels of reimbursement, annual deductible, and annual benefit, and choosing whether or not to include the Standard Wellness add-on.

The benefits of MetLife pet insurance

The standout benefit is the short waiting period for accidents, with policies kicking in at midnight on the day you take them out. You also get a ton of options when it comes to adjusting your premium through variable annual benefits ($2,000-$10,000), deductibles ($50-$500), and reimbursement levels (70-90%). Its unique Family Plan allows all your pets – for whom there’s no maximum enrolment age – to be covered by one policy. There are discounts for members of the armed forces, first responders, and the staff and owners of animal care facilities, plus its reward scheme offers discounts and special offers from national and local pet care businesses.

MetLife plans explained

There is a dog insurance plan and a cat insurance plan, both of which are pretty comprehensive but can be enhanced with the Preventative Care plan that covers routine vet exams. You can also get a Family Plan – unique to MetLife – which covers all pets in your household.

What does MetLife pet insurance cover?

It’s horrible when your pet gets sick or hurt, but it’s worse if you can’t afford to pay vet bills or have to build up debt. MetLife pet insurance can pay up to 100% of the costs. Here’s what it covers.
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MetLifeLemonadePaw ProtectManyPetsEmbraceFigoHealthy PawsPets BestASPCA Pet Health InsuranceSpotTrupanionFetchPumpkinWagmoNationwide
Annual coverage options$2,000, $5,000, $10,000$5000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000$5,000, $10,000, UnlimitedUnlimited$5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000$5,000, $10,000, Unlimited Unlimited$5,000, Unlimited $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000$2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited Unlimited $5,000, $10,000, $15,000$10,000, $20,000, Unlimited $20,000$10,000
Deductible options$50, $100, $250, $500$100, $250, $500$100, $250, $500$100, $250, $500, $750$200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000$250, $500, $750, $1,000$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000$100, $250, $500$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000$0-$1,000$300, $500, $700$100, $250, $500$250, $500, $1,000$250
Reimbursement options70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%70, 80, 90%70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%, 100%70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%70%, 80%, 90%90%70%, 80%, 90%90%90%, 100%50%, 70%
When does coverage start?1-14 days2-14 days2 days accidents / 14 days illnesses15 days2-14 days 1-14 days15 days3-14 days 15 days15 days 5-30 days15 days14 days 15 days14 days
Maximum age at sign upNo maximum14 years14 years for illness (no max for accident)14 years14 years for illness, no max for accidentNo maximum13 yearsNo maximum18 yearsNo maximum 14 yearsNo maximum No maximum 16 years20 years
Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost?
Are dental accidents covered?
Are dental illnesses covered?
Is there a wellness plan offered?
Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service?
End of life coverage
Is there a multi-pet discount offered?
Is there a charge for paying monthly?
Is there an app to make claims?

*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement

Is MetLife pet insurance good value for money?

With plans starting at just $15 a month, MetLife is definitely competitive when it comes to price – and for a good level of coverage. A lot of our MetLife reviews seem to agree, highlighting the flexibility of the payment options as a real plus.
4-month-old Mixed Breed Medium2-year-old Golden Retriever6-year-old Domestic Shorthair Cat
Los AngelesNew YorkFlorida
MetLife$36.22/month$55.18/month$19.85/month
Healthy Paws$50.53/month$55.42/month$44.27/month
Paw Protect$32.79/month$66.76/month$29.13/month

How good is MetLife’s customer service?

MetLife has a good reputation for customer service, with helpful and friendly staff often mentioned by customers. There’s a live chat function on the website that answers a lot of questions, but you can also call the team seven days a week, email them, fax them, or even send them a letter

How do I contact MetLife?

You can call MetLife on 1-855-270-7387 (Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm EST; Sat & Sun: 10am-7pm EST), fax them on 1-877-281-3348. The email address is pet_info@metlife.com and the mail address is 400 Missouri Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47130. You can also message them on Twitter and Facebook.

What is MetLife’s claims process?

You pay the vet and then submit a claim. You can submit and track claims through the MetLife app (which also stores your pet’s medical records), online portal, email, fax or mail. MetLife says that 80% of claims are processed within 10 days.

How much will MetLife pay for my claim?

MetLife pays a percentage of the vet bill, ranging from 50% to 100%, for your pet’s treatment minus the annual deductible and up to the annual limit. Here are some examples.
Average Vet Bill Cash back w/ 70% Cash back w/ 80% Cash back w/ 90% Difference between 70% & 90%
Cancer $8,137 $5,695.90 $6,509.60 $7,323.30 $1,627.40
Heart Disease $2,017 $1,411.90 $1,613.60 $1,815.30 $403.40
Tumour Surgery $1,570 $1,099.00 $1,256.00 $1,413.00 $314.00
Dental Disease $2,021 $1,414.70 $1,616.80 $1,818.90 $404.20

Are there any exclusions?

All pet insurance policies have exclusions and MetLife is no exception. These exclusions include elective procedures, breeding or conditions related to breeding, vitamin and mineral supplements, grooming, organ transplants, and illness or injury arising from racing, coursing, commercial guarding, or organized fighting of your pet. Pre-existing conditions may also be excluded, depending on their nature.

What are the waiting periods for conditions?

MetLife has a market-leading waiting period for accidents, with the policy becoming active at midnight on the day you take it out. Its 14-day waiting period for illness is also competitive.

How quickly does MetLife pay claims?

MetLife says that around 80% of claims are processed within 10 days and our reviewers seem to back that up, with few complaints about the speed of payments. You can track claims on the app or website.

Can I customize my MetLife plan?

In terms of what’s covered, there isn’t a lot of customization available because the standard plan is so comprehensive. You can add the Preventative Care plan and, as mentioned, your premiums can be adjusted in several ways with variable reimbursement, deductible and coverage levels.

State availability for MetLife

MetLife is available in all US states and if your pet needs treatment, you can visit any licensed vet or emergency clinic in the country.

Verdict: Is MetLife pet insurance good?

MetLife’s pet insurance is a very polished product, which is unsurprising given the company’s vast experience in the wider insurance game. Its basic plan is comprehensive with market-leading waiting times and a Preventative Care add-on for people wanting wellness cover. It’s competitively priced and is backed up with professional and polite customer service. There’s also no maximum enrolment age. The lack of a telehealth service is something to bear in mind, though.

Our MetLife rating

Overall score

4.6
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Speed of claims

4.0
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Customer service

5.0
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Claims procedure

5.0
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Easy to understand

4.0
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Value for money

5.0
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Helen Kinsella

Helen Kinsella

Contributor

As a crucial member of the Petted content team, Helen is a fountain of knowledge about all things pet and pet insurance! She is also pet parent to an adorable, smooth-haired mini dachshund called Rufus.