MetLife Pet Insurance Review [Updated 2023]

MetLife is well known as one of the largest insurance providers in the world, but not all pet parents will be aware that it also offers pet insurance. MetLife Pet Insurance offers accident and illness cover for dogs and cats, with no age or breed restrictions to worry about. There’s also a preventive care add-on if you need a higher level of coverage, and multiple ways to submit a pet insurance claim.

But is MetLife Pet insurance the right choice for your pet? To find out, let’s take a closer look at the coverage features, exclusions, and claims process of MetLife Pet Insurance.

To give you an idea of MetLife's average monthly premiums, we applied for a quote through the website. Our quotes for a 3-year-old medium sized mutt living in Los Angeles ranged from $22.89 to $75.98 a month.

The lowest premium applied to a plan with a high deductible, a low annual payout, and a low reimbursement rate. The highest premium was for a plan with a low deductible, a high annual payout, and a high reimbursement rate.

Factors that affect the cost of MetLife policies

The cost of MetLife Pet Insurance varies depending on the following factors:

• Your pet’s species. On average, pet insurance costs more for dogs than it does for cats.

• Your pet’s breed. Larger breeds have higher veterinary costs than small breeds, while some breeds are more likely to suffer from certain hereditary conditions. 

• Your pet’s age. Older pets tend to have more health issues than their younger counterparts, which can increase the cost of cover.

• Where you live. The cost of vet care varies depending on your location. For example, you may pay more for veterinary services in a major metropolitan area than you would in a rural location.

Monthly premiums will also vary depending on the deductible, annual payout limit, and reimbursement rate you choose. Let's take a closer look at the options MetLife has to offer.

Deductible options

A lower deductible will mean higher pet insurance premiums. MetLife offers the following annual deductible amounts: 

• $50
• $100
• $250
  
• $500
  

Maximum annual payout options

Your MetLife policy will cover up to $10,000 in vet care costs in a 12-month period. You can choose between 3 payout options:

• $2,000
• $5,000
• $10,000
  

The higher the limit you choose, the more you’ll pay for coverage.

Reimbursement rate options

You get to select what percentage of vet bills you want your plan to cover:

• 70%
• 80%
• 90%
  

The higher the percentage you choose, the higher your monthly premium.

Discounts

You may be able to qualify for a premium discount on your MetLife Pet insurance plan. Available discounts include:

• A 10% discount for veterinarians and animal shelter personnel
• A 10% discount for serving military members, veterans, first responders and healthcare workers
• A $1 monthly internet purchase discount
  

Add-ons

If you want cover for routine and preventive veterinary costs, you can include this package with your plan for an additional fee.

Related: How Do Add-ons Work in Pet Insurance?

What conditions does MetLife cover? And which expenses are excluded? Let's take a look.

Covered expenses

Your MetLife pet insurance policy will cover the following vet care expenses:

• Accidents
• Illnesses
• Hospitalization
• Surgery
• Exam fees
• Emergency care
• X-rays and ultrasounds
• Diagnostic tests
• Medications
• Holistic care and alternative therapies

Exclusions

There are also situations, conditions, and treatments that MetLife Pet Insurance will not cover. Some of the exclusions you should know are: 

• Pre-existing conditions
• Elective procedures
• Anal gland expression
• Breeding
• Vitamins or mineral supplements
• Grooming costs

For a full list of exclusions, check out a sample policy on the MetLife Pet Insurance website. MetLife’s policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC), and Metropolitan General Insurance Company (MetGen).

Add-ons

You also have the option to add the Preventive Care wellness package to your policy. This includes cover for expenses such as:

• Wellness exams
• Vaccinations
• Heartworm prevention

Related: Pet Insurance vs. Wellness Plans: What's the Difference?

When your pet needs treatment, you can take them to any licensed vet or emergency clinic in the USA. You must then submit your claim and any supporting documents within 90 days of your pet receiving treatment.

According to MetLife's website, most claims are processed in less than 2 weeks. You can submit your claim and your pet’s medical records in several ways:

Online via the MetLife Pet Insurance customer portal

MetLife Pet mobile app

Email: pet_submit_claim@metlife.com

Fax: 1-877-281-3348

Text message: 1-317-820-2275

Mail:
400 Missouri Ave
Suite 105
Jeffersonville, IN 47130

No age restrictions or breed exclusions apply to MetLife pet insurance. The first step to signing your pet up for a plan is to get a quote online. You can do this by providing:

• Your pet’s name, age, gender, and color
• Your pet’s breed
• Your email address and zip code

You’ll then get the option to customize your plan to suit your needs and budget. You can adjust your deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit as required, plus add preventive care to your plan should you wish.

Once you’re happy with your quote and the cover provided, you can proceed to payment.

The waiting period is the time that must elapse after you take out a plan before coverage comes into effect. Preventive Care and accident coverage begin on the policy’s effective date. There’s a 14-day waiting period for illness cover.

However, for policies underwritten by IAIC, there is also a 6-month waiting period for conditions like intervertebral disc disease and cruciate ligament problems. Check your policy for full details of any waiting periods that apply.

There are mixed reviews for MetLife pet insurance. It scores an average of 2.7/5 from less than 10 reviews on Trustpilot, and an average of 2.5/5 from 240 Yelp reviews. However, MetLife scores an average of 4.8/5 from close to 40 ratings on Pet Insurance Review.

Positive reviewers praise MetLife’s broad coverage and friendly customer service, while some negative reviews point to slow reimbursements and a difficult claims process.

Reviews for the MetLife Pet app are also mixed, with averages of 1.9/5 on the App Store and 2.1/5 on Google Play at the time of writing.

MetLife Pet Insurance is certainly worth considering if you’re searching for customizable accident and illness cover for your pet. However, you’ll need to compare quotes and cover features from a range of insurers to find the right pet insurance for your fur-baby.