We examined Prudent Pet’s Ultimate pet insurance policy and found that it can provide decent basic coverage at a price that’s just slightly above the average in our analysis. Prudent Pet stands out for its small coverage perks that are hard to find among competitors:

• Up to $500 for kennel costs if the pet owner is hospitalized

• A mortality benefit up to $1,000, including up to $250 for cremation and burial

• Up to $1,000 for non-refundable cancellation expenses if you have to cancel a vacation because the pet requires life-saving treatment

• Up to $500 for advertising and reward if your pet strays or is stolen

However, these perks should not be your deciding factor, and there are some shortfalls to be aware of if you’re considering Prudent Pet. You’ll have to buy an add-on if you want coverage for vet exam fees, and there’s no coverage for dental illness specifically (but they do cover dental accidents), alternative therapies, prescription food, or end-of-life expenses such as euthanasia costs.

Learn more: How does pet insurance work? A complete guide.

Pros

• Low $100 deductible choice available

• 10% multi-pet discount

• Includes access to a 24/7 vet helpline

• Includes small coverage perks such as advertising and reward for a lost pet

Cons

• Only one option for annual coverage: Unlimited

• Coverage shortfalls such as vet exam fees (requires an add-on) and dental illness

Prudent Pet insurance basics

• Annual maximum limit choices: Unlimited

• Deductible choices: $100, $250, $500, $1,000

• Reimbursement choices: 70%, 80%, 90%

Prudent Pet waiting periods

• For accident coverage: 5 days

• For illness coverage: 14 days

• Special waiting period: 6 months for cruciate ligament issues, but can be waived if the pet is examined by a veterinarian within the first 30 of the policy and the medical record specifically notes that the your pet has no preexisting conditions relating to its knees.

Prudent Pet age restrictions for buying a new policy

• Minimum pet age: 8 weeks

• Maximum pet age: None

We looked at Prudent Pet’s Ultimate policy for our evaluation, but there’s also an Essential policy with similar benefits but without the small coverage types such as the mortality benefit and advertising and reward. The Essential policy has maximum annual coverage of $10,000.

Learn more: Your guide to what pet insurance covers

Prudent Pet’s accident and illness policy

The Ultimate policy from Prudent Pet includes coverage for:

• Hereditary and congenital conditions such as cherry eye and Wobbler syndrome

• Cancer

• Diagnostics such as X-rays and ultrasounds

• Dental accidents

• Behavioral therapy that’s prescribed and administered by a vet

• Prescription drugs

If you’re looking for pet insurance only for accidental injuries, Prudent Pet has an accident-only plan with annual coverage up to $10,000 for these types of problems:

• Broken bones

• Bite wounds

• Swallowed objects

• Injuries to the mouth and teeth

• Related costs such as medicine, radiology, and surgery

If you buy the Essential or Ultimate policy, you can opt to add Prudent Pet’s wellness plan, which has three levels of benefits – Low, Medium, and High – with different levels of coverage for costs such as:

• Vaccinations

• Heartworm test or FELV screening

• Fecal exams

• Microchipping

• Spaying/neutering (excluding the Low plan)

Learn more: Does pet insurance cover vaccines?

Prudent Pet does not cover preexisting conditions. It defines a preexisting condition as any illness that was diagnosed or that your pet showed clinical signs of before the effective date of the policy or during the waiting period.

If your pet has a non-chronic condition and has been symptom-free for 365 days, it may be considered cured and not a preexisting condition. However, this does not apply to knee and ligament conditions.

Learn more: Pet insurance that covers preexisting conditions

Yes, all Prudent Pet insurance policies include 24/7 access to a licensed veterinarian. You can make unlimited calls and get advice on issues ranging from nutrition and diet to medication and medical care. However, the vets from the helpline can’t prescribe or renew medications.

Prudence Pet policies do not cover expenses such as:

• Anal gland expression

• Bathing other than bathing certified by a vet as medically necessary

• Boarding and travel expenses

• Breeding, pregnancy, and nursing or whelping

• Cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping and tail docking

• Experimental treatments

• Food other than food prescribed to dissolve bladder stones

• Grooming and grooming supplies

• Herbal and natural remedies

• Injuries resulting from abuse, racing or fighting

• Intervertebral disc disease if another disc was previously treated

• Knee and ligament issues if preexisting in an opposite leg

• Non-emergency vet house calls

• Obedience or training classes

• Routine and preventive treatments

• Stomach pumping and other treatments for activities that occurred twice within 18 months before the coverage began

You can upgrade or downgrade your Prudent Pet coverage during the policy term.

• Increases: You can apply for an increase in coverage once per policy term. Requests must be made in writing by email, letter, or through your online account. There may be re-underwriting if you increase coverage.

• Decreases: You can decrease your pet’s coverage at any time by making a request in writing by email, letter, or from your online account.

Prudent Pet’s costs are less competitive than several other pet insurance policies we evaluated. However, Prudent Pet offers coverage for some perks that competitors don’t.

In our evaluation, we found Prudent Pet’s policy with unlimited coverage is priced slightly above the average in our evaluation.

Learn more: Is pet insurance worth it? How to decide.

Prudent Pet offers a 10% discount if you insure more than one pet. Multi-pet discounts are usually either 5% or 10% from other pet insurers.

No, Prudent Pet doesn’t say that it can pay veterinarians directly. You must pay the vet and then submit a claim for reimbursement. However, if you expect a large vet bill, contact Prudent Pet to ask if it is willing to make a special arrangement to pay the vet directly.

Learn more: Pet insurance that pays the vet directly

Here’s what to know about filing a claim with Prudent Pet:

• To make a claim: Complete a Prudent Pet claim form and submit it along with an itemized invoice. You also might be required to provide your pet’s medical records. Claims can be submitted by email, mail, fax or Prudent Pet’s online portal.

• To submit claims quickly: Use the online customer portal to fill out and submit an electronic copy of Prudent Pet’s claim form. You can upload an image or scanned copy of your itemized invoice and pet’s medical records.

• To receive reimbursements faster: Sign up for direct deposit of reimbursements into your checking or savings account.

• If your claim is denied: You can appeal the decision by completing a claims appeal form and emailing it within 90 days of the denial.

Prudent Pet requests that you submit claims as soon as possible but no later than 90 days after the end of your policy period.

Prudent Pet says that the majority of claims are processed within 24 hours.

Prudent Pet doesn’t have a mobile app. However, you can manage your account and submit claims through the company’s online customer portal.

Learn more: The best pet insurance companies

Prudent Pet is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Prudent Pet does not require a medical exam in order to buy coverage, but expect that medical records will be needed if you submit a claim.

You can contact Prudent Pet by phone, email, mail, or the company’s website.

• Contact Prudent Pet at 888-820-7739.

• The email address is info@prudentpet.com.

• The mailing address is 2211 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove, IL 60515.

You can cancel your policy at any time by notifying Prudent Pet in writing. You can receive a full refund if you cancel your policy within 30 days and haven’t filed any claims. If you cancel your policy after 30 days, you will receive a prorated refund based on the date the policy was terminated.

Amy Danise and Tim Manni edited this article.

We researched the coverage details and prices for 15 pet insurance plans. We then weighted categories, and each pet insurer was scored relative to the others to find the best pet insurance companies. Here are the factors we incorporated.

Coverage types: 40% of score. We examined the coverage provided by the base policy without the extra cost of add-ons. This encompassed coverage for alternative therapy, behavioral therapy, dental illness, euthanasia or end-of-life expenses, exotic pets, hereditary and congenital conditions, preexisting conditions, prescription food and supplements, veterinary exam fees, and advertising/reward for lost/stolen pets.

Average cost: 30% of score. We evaluated costs in five states for $5,000 and unlimited coverage for a mixed-breed dog (age 1), a French bulldog (age 5), and a Labrador retriever (age 8).

Unlimited coverage option: 10% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered an unlimited annual limit (or a $100,000 limit), which gives pet owners the most robust financial protection possible in the event of a catastrophic pet medical issue.

Direct payments to the veterinarian: 5% of score. We gave points to pet insurers that state on their websites that they accommodate direct vet payments.

No special waiting periods for special conditions: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers have no waiting periods for special conditions, such as cruciate ligament conditions.

Routine wellness plan: 5% of score. Companies that offer a routine wellness plan in addition to pet insurance received points.

Multi-pet discount: 5% of score. We gave points when pet insurers offered a discount for insuring multiple pets.