Hey everyone, 
I just adopted a 4-month-old domestic shorthair kitten and I’m trying to find the best pet insurance for her. I’m mostly interested in coverage for accidents and illnesses since I’m a college student on a budget. So far, I’ve narrowed it down to two options: Healthy Paws at $15/month with a $250 deductible, and Pets Best at $25/month with the same deductible. Both have unlimited payouts, which is awesome. I live in Suffolk County, New York, and I’ve heard that both companies tend to increase rates every year. I also know that Healthy Paws doesn’t cover dental, but Pets Best does.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with these companies. My goal is to get good long-term coverage for emergencies, UTIs, surgeries, etc., but without breaking the bank down the road. Thanks in advance🐾
Hey, sounds like you’ve done your homework! Just a heads-up, Pets Best is currently switching underwriters, and there have been complaints about delays in processing claims. Hopefully, it’s a temporary thing, but something to keep in mind. 
As for the dental coverage, Pets Best does have some strict conditions. You’ll need to stay on top of regular dental exams, and if the vet recommends treatment, you have to follow through or risk losing future coverage. And remember, most preventative stuff isn’t covered unless you buy an add-on.
Honestly, the whole pet insurance industry is going through some changes right now. Premium hikes are common, and they’ll probably continue as vet costs rise. Just be prepared for possible increases as your kitten gets older. Let’s hope it doesn’t get to $150+ 
Thanks for that. Yeah, I’ve read some complaints about claim delays for both companies, so I wasn’t sure which one would be better. I did hear that Healthy Paws tends to process claims faster, but some folks still have issues.
I’ll definitely double-check about the dental exams for younger cats. I hope I can manage the potential rate hikes. I’ve seen some wild stories about insurance going up to $500 a month for senior pets! 
Here’s hoping it won’t get that crazy for me. 
No problem. It seems like a lot of companies are struggling with claims lately. I think it’s partly due to underwriters tightening up, which is causing delays. It’s a tough time for everyone.
Good luck with the dental exam info! It’s so hard to keep track of these policies sometimes. I’ve got a dog on Trupanion, and we have to do annual exams, no matter the age. I’m not taking any chances, I want that coverage.
And yeah, the price hikes can be brutal. I’m already putting money aside for when my pup gets older, and he’s only 5 months old! The things we do for our fur babies, right? I can’t imagine juggling kids and pets. Wild times indeed 
I’d avoid Healthy Paws if you can. I’ve had a terrible experience with their claims department lately. They refused to accept clear proof of payment, wouldn’t explain why, and did nothing to help. Things seemed to go downhill after they got acquired. 
Yikes! Thanks for the heads-up. That would seriously drive me nuts if they refused claims without any reason. I’ll definitely take that into consideration. 
Just so you know, Healthy Paws doesn’t cover exam fees, and those can really add up! We switched to MetLife for our two cats and have been happier with it. 
Oh, I totally forgot about that! Thanks for pointing it out. I’ve heard about MetLife, and it’s actually in the same price range as Healthy Paws. Do you think the $5k annual benefit is enough to cover most emergencies for cats?
You can actually call and request higher coverage. I was able to get unlimited coverage for my pets 