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Petco Health and Wellness, Inc. — founded in 1965 under the moniker United Pharmaceutical Company (UPCO) — began as a mail-order veterinary supply business based in San Diego, California; the company ultimately blossomed into a pet food and supplies chain beginning with the first retail outlet in 1976 before its rebranding in 1979.
Today, in addition to boasting 1,500 stores across the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Mexico, the mega pet-supply retailer offers pet owners trusted protection via flexible pet insurance plans. Standout features include no age limits, the ability to add wellness coverage, and coverage for microchipping your pet.
Keep reading to see if Petco is the best pet insurance for you.
Types of Pet Insurance Plans From Petco Pet Insurance
Pet insurance plans from Petco not only cover a variety of health needs for pets — from minor to major, and myriad in between — but they also provide peace of mind for pet owners. Consider your pet's specific needs when deciding between the following pet insurance plans:
Accident and illness overage: This plan covers a whole host of treatments for accidents and illness ranging from veterinary exams to emergency surgeries. Petco's comprehensive coverage includes the costs associated with surgery and hospitalization; dental disease; hereditary and congenital conditions; treatment for behavioral issues; plus medications and additional therapies — all in conjunction with treatment of covered conditions plus cancer treatment (which includes chemotherapy and radiation). Accident and illness coverage from Petco also covers microchip implantation by a veterinarian (not including associated fees for monitoring, etc.).
Accident-only coverage: This plan covers actual costs (up to plan limits) related to diagnosis and treatment of injuries related to an accident including alternative therapies (when performed or assisted by a veterinarian); medical supplies including IV fluids and medications; MRI/CT scans and x-rays; prescription pet food/supplements to treat covered conditions; FDA-approved prescription medications; fees associated with poison control consult; stem cell therapy; surgery and hospitalization; tooth extractions; veterinary care (inclusive of exams, consults and lab tests); and end-of-life expenses. Accident-only coverage from Petco also covers microchip implantation by a veterinarian.
With either of the two plans, you'll need to specify your preferred annual coverage limit ($5,000-unlimited), reimbursement percentage (70%, 80%, or 90%), and annual deductible ($100, $250, or $500).
Petco's pet insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions (defined as one for which symptoms exist before coverage begins), which is pretty standard across pet insurance companies. However, if your pet has a condition but has been free of symptoms and/or treatment for 180 days, it's no longer considered pre-existing — with the exception of ligament and knee condition.
Elective cosmetic procedures, costs associated with breeding/pregnancy, and preventive care are not covered by any of Petco's pet insurance plans, which is also par for the course for pet insurance.
Both pet insurance plans include access to Petco's Pet Concierge services. This service offers guidance from a team of pet experts — including certified vet professionals and pet health consultants — available 24/7.
All Petco Pet Insurance plans are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.
Additional Coverage Options (Riders) From Petco Pet Insurance
While Petco Pet Insurance does not offer optional preventive care for dogs or cats, a standalone membership in Vital Care Premiere ($19.99 per month) not only makes caring for your pet easier and more affordable (via discounts on everything from nutrition to grooming), but it also includes unlimited routine vet exams at any Vetco Total Care location or $20 in Vital Care Rewards for any routine exam independent of Petco.
How Much Does Petco Pet Insurance Cost?
Petco pet insurance's advertised rates start at just $1 a day. Comprehensive plan pricing is based on a trio of factors including your pet's age, breed, and zip code. Your choice of annual coverage limit, reimbursement percentage, and annual deductible will also influence how much you pay.
Petco plans are generally more expensive than the national average price of pet insurance, especially considering that its equivalent to a wellness plan for routine care — Vital Care Premium — adds $19.99 per month to Petco's cost of pet insurance.
Petco offers pet parents a 10% discount on multiple pets, and all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee — so long as no claims have been filed, except in New York state.
Vital Care members may be eligible to receive up to a 5% discount on pet insurance premiums from Petco (a promotion that varies by state and might not be available in all locations).
How to File a Claim With Petco Pet Insurance
To file a Petco pet insurance claim, you'll upload your receipt to the Petco portal. The company offers reimbursement for covered expenses via direct deposit or US mail
To ensure prompt processing of your claim, submit your form electronically — within 270 days from date of treatment — and include the following information:
- Name, address, contact information
- Description of the condition/treatment for which you are submitting a claim
- Itemized invoice listing actual cost of treatment
- Your signature
If you prefer, your veterinarian is able to submit a claim form on your behalf and — if indicated on claim form — be paid directly.
You can contact Petco by calling 1-833-898-7387 or emailing support.insurance@petco.com.
Petco Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to coverage taking effect for diagnosis, treatment, and/or surgery related to accidents and/or illness involving your pet, there is a 14-day waiting period. In other words, your pet insurance benefits are available on the 15th day following the policy effective date.
Any condition (save for ligament and knee conditions) that has been symptom- and treatment-free for 180 consecutive days is considered cure. Any resurgence of the condition will be considered a new occurrence after this time and therefore will be covered.
When used to treat a covered condition, yes — Petco Pet Insurance covers prescription pet food and supplements. But prescription pet food and supplements for general health maintenance or prevention are not covered.
Why You Should Trust Us: What Went into Our Petco Pet Insurance Review
Finding the right pet insurance provider to meet your needs (and budget!) requires patience. In compiling this review, we sorted through lots of information and considered multiple factors, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Plan options (standard and additional)
- Coverage limits and exclusions
- Available options (for deductible and reimbursement percentage levels)
- Waiting periods (for coverage to commence)
- Pre-existing condition eligibility
- Overall rates and discounts
- Reviews and customer satisfaction
Read more about how we rate insurance products.
How Petco Pet Insurance Compares
Compare Petco Pet Insurance vs. 24Petprotect
While the two pet insurance companies offer comparable coverage for illness and accidents, 24Petprotect offers a pair of options for preventive care (Basic and Prime) not available from Petco — with services running the gamut from routine wellness exams, dental cleanings, and vaccinations to $150 toward the cost of having your pet spayed or neutered. For young pets with ample adventure ahead, the preventive care option from 24Petprotect alone is priceless.
Pet parents with older pets, who may be able to forgo routine care and just opt for emergency care in the case of an illness or accident, might find Petco's lack of upper age limits alluring. Ditto for microchipping, included in all Petco plans, for increased peace of mind.
Petco Pet Insurance vs. Hartville Pet Insurance
While the companies offer similar coverage for illness and accidents, insurance from Hartville might give your pet a leg up if they suffer from certain hereditary conditions like ligament issues, patella issues, and hip dysplasia (none of which, once deemed preexisting by Petco Pet Insurance, is eligible for future treatment, regardless of how long the condition is symptom- and treatment-free).
Got an older pet who's prone to wandering? Petco's routine microchipping coupled with no upper age limits on dogs and cats might be worth sticking with — even if the premiums are higher than average.
Petco Pet Insurance vs. Allstate Pet Insurance
Pet parents with young, healthy pets will be well served by the plans offered by Allstate Pet Insurance — including tiered wellness care to help cover myriad costs from those associated with having your pet spayed or neutered (basic) to covering dental care and prescription food (top tier). Ditto for healthy pets who, after an acute illness or injury, require the assistance of a prosthetic limb or other device to aid their mobility. In addition, military veterans will enjoy a 5% discount with Allstate Pet Insurance.
If your pooch is over the age of 14, needs prescription food or supplements to treat a covered condition, or needs coverage for a condition that's been symptom- and treatment-free for 180 days (as opposed to 365 with Allstate Pet Insurance), stick with Petco for complete and comprehensive coverage of these issues and more.