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MetLife Pet Insurance Review
By Jamela Adam MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
While most of us would do anything to ensure our pet’s health and well-being, the high cost of veterinary care can often be out of reach. So for pet owners committed to providing their furry friend with the best possible treatment, pet insurance could be well worth the investment.
In this MetLife Pet Insurance review, we’ll take a closer look at what this company has to offer and whether they’re worth considering.
MetLife pet insurance overview
MetLife Pet Insurance is one of the many subsidiaries of the parent company, MetLife Inc.— a global provider of annuities, insurance, and employee benefit programs. In late 2019, the corporation acquired PetFirst (now MetLife Pet Insurance) to diversify its product offerings. Today, in addition to providing dental, auto, home, and life insurance, MetLife Inc. is also a key player in the pet insurance market.
MetLife’s services
When it comes to pet insurance, there are many factors to consider. Does the policy cover preventive care? What are the exclusions? And, of course, how much will the monthly premium cost? We’ve done the research for you. Here’s a breakdown of MetLife’s services.
What it offers
MetLife pet insurance includes accident and illness coverage for dogs and cats of all ages and breeds, as well as an optional wellness plan that covers preventive care expenses such as teeth cleaning, vaccinations, and microchipping. A nice feature of insuring your furry friend with MetLife is that the standard accident and illness plan provides reimbursement for holistic care and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and herbal medicine. This extra coverage isn’t usually available with other pet insurance companies.
Apart from comprehensive coverage, MetLife also offers customizable insurance plans so that pet parents can tailor their policies to fit their budgets and needs. The company’s deductibles range from $0 to $2,500, and their coverage amounts range from $500 to unlimited. You can also choose among various reimbursement levels — from 50% to 100%.
Lastly, MetLife offers multi-pet, military, healthcare worker, and first responder discounts on pet insurance plans. And for each policy year that you don’t file a claim, MetLife decreases your deductible by $25 or $50. These discounts can help offset the cost of pet ownership and make it more affordable to provide your furry friends with the care they need.
MetLife pet insurance coverage
| What is covered | What is not covered |
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What it doesn’t offer
MetLife doesn’t offer pet insurance for pre-existing conditions unless that particular condition was covered by a previous provider. The company defines pre-existing conditions as any illness or injury incurred before the policy’s effective date. So if your dog or cat was diagnosed with kidney disease or hip dysplasia before you signed up for MetLife Pet Insurance, you’d likely need to pay out of pocket for any related treatment.
MetLife pet insurance cost
How much your pet insurance will cost depends on your pet’s breed, age, and species. And if you and your furry friend live in a metropolitan area like Los Angeles instead of a more rural part of town, your premium could be higher than average.
To help you get a general idea of how much your pet insurance could cost, MetLife provides a pricing chart that lists the average accident and illness plan premium for different dog and cat breeds:
| Average premium – Dog Breeds | Average premium – Cat Breeds | ||
| Bulldog | $50.36 | Persian | $24.63 |
| Golden Retriever | $41.26 | Maine Coon | $24.63 |
| Beagle | $34.22 | Ragdoll | $16.57 |
MetLife pet insurance waiting periods
The waiting period for MetLife’s accident and preventive care policies is midnight EST — as opposed to the 2 to 15 days that’s standard with most other companies. In other words, coverage begins on the policy’s effective date. However, the waiting period for illness coverage is 14 days. So if your pet falls ill within the first two weeks of the policy, you’re responsible for the vet bills.
MetLife’s credentials
Though MetLife is known for its comprehensive pet insurance policies, does that mean you should trust them with your four-footed family members? Let’s take a look at their credentials.
Licenses and registrations
MetLife’s pet insurance business has no special licenses or registrations. However, the company is subject to the Pet Insurance Model Act, a set of regulations passed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The act governs how pet insurance companies must operate and sets standards for policies, claims, and consumer protections.
Awards and certifications
MetLife was awarded “Pet Insurance of the Year” in the 2022 Independent Innovation Awards Program. The company has also been well-reviewed by various consumer publications.
Regulatory or legal actions
We couldn’t find any information regarding regulatory or legal actions against MetLife Pet Insurance, which indicates that the company is in good standing with state and federal agencies.
MetLife’s accessibility
As a customer, there’s nothing more frustrating than jumping through hoops to get the support you need. Whether it’s an automated phone system that’s difficult to navigate or a website that’s not optimized for mobile, dealing with these obstacles can be a pain. That’s why we were interested to see how MetLife stacks up in terms of accessibility.
Availability
MetLife Pet Insurance is available in all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska. However, the company doesn’t provide insurance policies in U.S. territories such as American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Contact information
There are four ways to reach MetLife Pet Insurance:
- Phone: 855-270-7387
- Fax: 877-281-3348
- Mail: 400 Missouri Avenue, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
- Email: pet_info@metlife.com
Note that MetLife’s call center hours are Monday to Friday from 8 am to 9 pm EST. They’re available from 10 am to 7 pm EST on the weekends.
User experience
MetLife Pet Insurance provides an excellent user experience for its customers. As soon as you land on the company’s homepage, you see a button that says ‘fetch your quote.’ Once you click on it, it takes you to a page where you can enter your pet’s information, such as age, species, and breed. From there, you’re given a list of prices depending on your chosen reimbursement, deductible and annual benefit option. The whole process is straightforward and takes less than a minute to complete.
MetLife’s customer online portal, MyPets, is user-friendly as well. You can update your payment information, submit your insurance claim, and view your policy information all in one place. Plus, you can log in to the portal directly from the company’s homepage.
Limitations
Many pet insurance companies offer 24/7 live chats on their websites, but MetLife doesn’t. This lack of customer support can be a major inconvenience if you have a question outside regular business hours or live in a different time zone.
MetLife’s customer satisfaction
Customer satisfaction is a key indicator of how well a company fulfills its customers’ needs. We looked at MetLife’s customer complaints and reviews online to see if the company meets most pet parents’ expectations.
Customer complaints
Customers have filed over 700 complaints on Better Business Bureau against MetLife Inc. (the parent company of MetLife Pet Insurance LLC) over the past three years. However, MetLife has resolved and closed 100% of these complaints, which shows their willingness to work with unsatisfied customers. It’s also worth noting that out of these hundreds of complaints, only a handful refer to the corporation’s pet insurance services.
MetLife Pet Insurance only has six customer reviews on Trustpilot. Three customers were extremely satisfied with the company’s responsiveness and coverage options, while the other three expressed frustration with the claims process and wait period.
Third-Party ratings
MetLife has a 3.2 (out of 5) rating on Trustpilot and a 1.1 (out of 5) rating on Better Business Bureau. While these ratings may be lower than average, they don’t necessarily reflect the experiences of most customers. In fact, they’re based on a relatively small sample size — just six reviews on Trustpilot and 134 on BBB. So though it’s a good idea to consider third-party ratings before choosing a pet insurance company, take them with a grain of salt.
MetLife vs. the competition
| MetLife | Nationwide | Pets Best | Trupanion | |
| Annual coverage limits | $500 to Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000 or Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible amount | $0 to $2,500 | $250 | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | $0 to $1,000 |
| Reimbursement levels | 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | 50%, 70%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% |
Though MetLife offers comprehensive policies and customizable insurance plans, they’re not the only option on the market. Before committing to MetLife, compare it with other leading pet insurance providers by checking out this Nationwide review, Pets Best review, and Trupanion review.
MetLife FAQs
How we evaluated MetLife pet insurance
To provide an unbiased and well-rounded review of MetLife pet insurance, we evaluated the company based on customer satisfaction, coverage options, pricing, credentials, availability, and user experience. By digging into these factors, we were able to see how MetLife stacks up against other leading pet insurance companies.
Summary of Miami Herald’s MetLife pet insurance review
Overall, MetLife Pet Insurance is worth considering if you’re looking for a company that provides comprehensive coverage. Their policies cover a wide range of accidents and illnesses, as well as holistic and alternative therapies. Plus, you can customize your plan with various reimbursement, deductible, and coverage amounts to fit your budget.
Remember, always compare quotes from multiple pet insurance companies before making a decision. That way, you’ll know you’re getting the best possible deal. And don’t forget to read the fine print carefully before signing up for any policy.
