Pet Insurance Brand Comparison: Embrace, Spot, Fetch, Trupanion, MetLife, ASPCA, Pumpkin, Lemonade, and Costco

Honest answers to the most common questions about pet insurance brand comparisons and monthly costs. The brands you have heard of and what each one is actually best at.

The questions below are the ones we get most often when readers are choosing between carriers. The answers come from reading the policies, filing simulated claims to compare reimbursement timelines, and tracking the underwriter behind each retail brand. The pet insurance world has about eight to ten real underwriters, but dozens of retail brands; understanding who underwrites which brand explains a lot about how the claims experience will feel.

Is Embrace a good pet insurance?

Embrace is a solid mid-market choice for buyers who value plan flexibility and a long claims-handling track record. The carrier has been around since 2006 and underwrites through American Modern Insurance Group. Embrace's strengths: customizable deductibles ($100 to $1,000), annual limits up to unlimited on some plans, and a "diminishing deductible" feature that reduces your deductible by $50 each claim-free year. Embrace's weaknesses: the orthopedic waiting period is six months unless you complete an early orthopedic exam with passing notes, and the wellness rider (Wellness Rewards) is structured as a reimbursement account rather than true preventive coverage. For an adult dog with no orthopedic history, Embrace is a defensible choice.

Which is better, Fetch or Spot?

They are close, with the right answer depending on your pet's age and the conditions you want covered. Fetch (formerly Petplan) covers exam fees as standard, includes coverage for some hereditary conditions on every plan, and has been around longer than Spot. Spot offers more deductible flexibility ($100 to $1,000) and covers prescription food and supplements when prescribed by a vet, which Fetch does not. Pricing for a young mixed-breed dog usually comes in within five to ten dollars per month of each other. For a dog older than seven or with breed-specific hereditary risk, Fetch's hereditary coverage standard tends to be the better fit. For a young pet with no flags, Spot is often cheaper.

How much is Spot Pet Insurance per month?

Spot's monthly premiums in 2026 typically run $35 to $75 for dogs and $20 to $45 for cats, depending heavily on the pet's age, breed, zip code, and the deductible/reimbursement/annual-limit combination you choose. A two-year-old mixed-breed medium dog in a low-cost zip code with a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and a $5,000 annual limit typically prices around $40 per month. A senior or large-breed dog (Bulldog, Great Dane, Bernese) with a low deductible and unlimited annual limit can exceed $100. Get a quote with your actual pet and plan parameters before committing, because the range is wide enough that averages misrepresent the cost for individual pets.

How much does Costco charge for pet insurance?

Costco does not sell its own pet insurance directly. Costco partners with Figo Pet Insurance (and previously Pets Best) to offer member-discounted pet insurance plans. The Costco-member discount runs roughly 5% to 15% off Figo's standard premium. For an average mid-sized adult dog with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement, the Costco-Figo combination prices around $30 to $55 per month. Executive members get an additional incremental discount on some plans. Costco's "free pet insurance" mentions on social media are misleading; the partnership offers a discount, not a free policy. If you are already a Costco member and would otherwise pick Figo, the discount is real money.

Is pet insurance through Costco worth it?

It is worth it if you would otherwise choose Figo and your Costco membership is already paid for. Figo is a competent mid-tier carrier with cloud-based medical record storage and a clean app experience. The Costco-member discount makes the value calculation slightly better than going direct to Figo, but the underlying policy and claims experience is identical. Where Costco is not the right answer: you want a carrier with a strong large-dog orthopedic track record (look at Healthy Paws or Trupanion instead), or you want lifetime per-condition deductibles (Trupanion only). The Costco angle is a discount, not a different product. Evaluate Figo on its own merits, then count the discount as a bonus if you qualify.

Is Fetch Pet Insurance worth it?

For pets with hereditary or breed-specific concerns, Fetch is among the strongest choices in the market because hereditary coverage is included by default rather than as a paid rider. The plan also covers exam fees as standard, which sounds minor but adds up across the year. Fetch's claim turnaround is in the seven-to-fourteen-day range based on 2026 industry reports, which is competitive but not best-in-class. The premium is on the higher side compared to Lemonade or Pumpkin for equivalent coverage on a young healthy pet. Where Fetch is most defensible: a purebred dog or cat in a breed with documented hereditary risk, where the included coverage is genuinely valuable.

How much does Trupanion pet insurance cost per month?

Trupanion's monthly premium runs roughly $50 to $130 for dogs and $25 to $80 for cats in 2026, with significant variation by breed, age, and zip code. Trupanion's pricing model differs from competitors: there is no annual limit (90% reimbursement on all eligible claims with no cap), and the deductible is per-condition lifetime rather than annual. For a dog with a chronic condition (diabetes, Addison's, hip dysplasia), the per-condition deductible model can save thousands over the pet's lifetime versus an annual-deductible plan. For a young healthy dog with no chronic issues expected, Trupanion's higher premium does not pay back. The math turns on whether your pet uses the insurance heavily.

What does my MetLife Pet Insurance cover?

MetLife Pet Insurance (sold direct as MetLife, underwritten by IAIC and Independence American Insurance Company) covers accidents and illnesses on the standard plan, with optional wellness add-ons. Coverage includes diagnostic testing, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medications, and emergency vet visits. Annual limits range from $2,000 to unlimited; deductibles run $50 to $2,500. The plan covers hereditary and congenital conditions when not pre-existing. Notable for MetLife specifically: the policy allows you to visit any licensed vet in the US, including specialists and emergency clinics, with no in-network restrictions. The waiting period is fourteen days for illness and six months for some orthopedic conditions on dogs. Coverage details should be confirmed with your specific policy document.

Do all vets accept MetLife Pet Insurance?

Yes, in the sense that pet insurance does not work like human health insurance. There is no provider network. You pay the vet directly at the time of service, then submit a claim to MetLife (typically via app, email, or fax) along with the itemized invoice and the medical record notes for the visit. MetLife reimburses you to your bank account within seven to fourteen days based on 2026 reports. Any licensed vet in the US, Canada, or the US territories qualifies. The only restriction is that the vet must be licensed and the treatment must be medically necessary and within the covered conditions of your specific plan.

What is actually the best pet insurance?

There is no single best for every pet, but the carriers that consistently rank well across independent 2026 reviews (NerdWallet, Forbes Advisor, ConsumerAffairs, the Better Business Bureau complaint volume) are Healthy Paws for young dogs with potential orthopedic risk, Trupanion for pets with known chronic conditions, Lemonade for the lowest premium with a clean app experience, Embrace for the most flexible plan customization, and Spot for budget-conscious cat owners. The wrong answer is whichever brand has the loudest marketing budget. The right answer is the carrier whose underwriting matches your pet's age, breed, and pre-existing condition history. Get three quotes with your actual pet's details and compare them on the same plan structure before deciding.