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PetFirst Pet Insurance Review

120 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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PetFirst Healthcare LLC is a pet insurance company that was founded in 2004 and based in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It offers accident and illness coverage for cats and dogs and operates in all 50 states.

The company offers discounts for those with multiple pets, and allows you to choose any vet you like without pre-approval.

How is PetFirst rated?

Breakdown

5.0/5
Coverage
5.0/5
Cost
4.5/5
Extras

Overall Rating: 4.8 / 5 (Excellent)

PetFirst offers an enrollment process that is easier than most. They do not require a vet exam, and accident coverage starts in 24 hours.

Additionally, the company has no upper age limit on enrollment, and no waiting periods for a few conditions many other providers outright just don't cover.

PetFirst also has a healthy pet discount for every year you don't make a claim. The upper tier plans, however, are on the pricier side, and the company does not offer unlimited coverage.

PetFirst Coverage

Coverage - 5 / 5

Petfirst offers accident and illness coverage that is pretty much industry standard for the price.

However, what sets them apart is they have no waiting periods for hip dysplasia, patella luxations or orthapedic conditions. The company also offers a wellness plan as an add on.
Pets Covered
Dogs
Cats
Coverage Types
Medical
Wellness
Vet Selection
Unrestricted
Out-of-State Coverage
Yes
Commercial Pets Covered

Medical Conditions Covered

  • Accidental
  • Illness
  • Hereditary
  • Congenital
  • Cancer
  • Chronic
  • Accidental Dental
  • Dental Illness

Medical Treatments Covered

  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Prescription Medications
  • Emergency Care
  • Specialty Care
  • Alternative Care
  • Behavioral Therapy

Benefit Limits

Benefit Limits - 4.5 / 5

Petfirst does not restrict you to per incident or per illness limits. However, the company does have annual limits. They let you choose $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000.

While the $5,000 limit plan has a monthly deductible in the average pet insurance range, the two higher limit plans get pricey.

In fact, there are unlimited plans we review that tend to cost less than Petfirst's $20,000 limit plan.
Benefit Limit Types
Annual
Annual Benefit Maximum
$20,000

Reimbursement & Deductibles

Reimbursement - 5 / 5

Petfirst gives you the option of setting your reimbursement at 70%, 80%, and 90%. This is a consistent feature of the best pet insurance providers.
Reimbursement Model
Actual Cost
Minimum Percent Reimbursement
70%
Maximum Percent Reimbursement
90%

Deductibles - 4.6 / 5

Petfirst offers flexible deductibles of $50, $100, $250, and $500. Not many other plans offer the option of such a low deductible.

Choosing it would translate into higher premiums, but it could be a valuable option if it fits your particular situation, i.e. you know you can afford to fit the monthly premium into your budget but are not sure you'd have the extra cash on hand to pay a higher deductible.
Deductible Type
Annual
Minimum Deductible Offered
$50
Maximum Deductible Offered
$500

Pricing: How much does PetFirst cost?

Cost - 5 / 5

Petfirst's lower annual limit plans offer pretty much average monthly deductibles when compared to similar plans.

However, their higher limit plans are on the pricier side.

Starting Monthly Premiums

Dog: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male Golden Retriever in zip code 92683
$16.95
Cat: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male American Shorthair in zip code 92683
$8.95
Rate Details: Annual Limit: $1,000, Per-Incident Deductible: $500, Reimbursement Rate: 70%
Available Discounts: $10 to $20 off for pet parents who purchase their pet health insurance policy online, 5% to 10% corporate employee member discount, 10% animal care employee discount,5% military discount

Enrollment & Waiting Periods

Enrollment - 5 / 5

Petfirst has a particularly painless and lenient enrollment process when compared to other companies. Firstly they do not require a vet exam.

Accident coverage begins midnight the day of enrollment and illness 14 days after. There is no fee to cancel.

And lastly, Petfirst is one of only a handful of companies that has no upper age limit. Cats and dogs of any age can be covered for life.
Min Enrollment Age
8 weeks
Illnesses Waiting Period
14 days
Free Look Period
30 days

Claims & Service

Extras - 4.5 / 5

Petfirst stands out two ways in the claims department, they offer healthy pet discounts every year you don't make a claim, and they do not increase your premium due to amount of claims made.

The claims procedure is the standard process of paying your vet bill up front, then submitting the claims form with all the relevant invoices and receipts.
Advertised Response Time
14 days
Claim Form
Mail
Email
Fax
Online Portal

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
Headquarters Address
1 Quartermaster Ct, Jeffersonville, IN, 47130
Mailing Address
1 Quartermaster Ct, Jeffersonville, IN, 47130
Year Founded
2004

What We’re Hearing From Our Readers
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Customer Comments

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sboruty

11/22/2021
This was my first year having PerFirst Pet Insurance. I made 2 claims and was issued my reimbursement checks within about 4 weeks of submitting the claims. Customer Service was very helpful in with walking me through submitting the first claim. Very happy.
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K
karri L

11/1/2021
Customer service has been extremely helpful. Have not had to submit a claim, so cannot speak on that. When I do, I will be back to review. So far, so good. The rates are affordable.
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rainbowdogstx

9/30/2021
Wish I saw the honest, not the fake, reviews years ago when I signed up for insurance for my dog. The insurance goes way up as your dog gets older. I was insured with them several years and easily paid $4000+ in premiums.I NEVER had a single claim. Then, Chance got Cancer, there was nothing they could do. We did the basic test, euthanasia and burial and they denied his last exam and sonogram (a whopping $170). It took 4 weeks to process the claim. Out of my total, lifetime claim of $550...I am getting $195. Never ever again and I will tell anyone that listens. Go to Bivvy, they pay less, but faithfully so and quick! And its $15 and stays $15 no matter what. I... Read More
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S
Syed A

8/7/2021
Pet first has been nothing short of amazing with our cat. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at 2 years and pet first has been amazing handling claims, getting checks sent out abd easy to reach customer service with good hours. Thank you pet first for all you do. We will be lifetime customers.
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bunks321

7/6/2021
Decent coverage but still expensive - be careful when your dog gets to be around 10 yrs of age and your yearly premium will skyrocket.
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socwork31

6/12/2021
Very professional, responsive and easy to work with. I have never had pet insurance before and I am extremely happy that I kept this insurance. The insurance was offered to me when I adopted a rescue dog--a free month. I decided to keep the insurance and it has been well worth the monthly fee. All of the claims I have submitted with required documentation have been approved. Daisy was 8 years old when I adopted her from a rescue group and had very bad infected teeth. The insurance paid for the care she needed even though I was concerned that it might be denied as pre-existing. I certainly plan to keep the insurance.
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reneeivy1920

4/15/2021
Excellent options to choose from. Great wellness plans. Very pleased with reimbursement turnaround time.
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S
Sharon

3/18/2021
My Havanese was very ill and had to go to a veterinary hospital. The amount it cost was $23xx. And I submitted all the necessary paperwork. We received our reimbursement of $1,800. within 2 months which we were please with. I have never been disappointed when we’ve put in a claim. Their staff has always been friendly and helpful. I highly recommend them
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R
Robert g

2/10/2021
We called pet first after our pet died 3 years ago and cancelled her policy. When our next cat died 6 months later we called to cancel the policy but we recently found out they were still charging our debit account! We called for a refund and they are ABSOLUTELY denying us our money ! What THIEVES !! WE ARE CANCELING OUR ENTIRE POLICY FOR OUR OTHER CATS NOW!! Zero star rating
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D
Dawn M

2/2/2021
I signed up today and received great service setting up my policy. All my questions were answered and I feel comfortable with my coverage. And they continue with this level of service I think I'm going to be very happy.
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Our Partner
  • PetFirst is partnered with the Humane Society
  • Short waiting period before coverage begins
  • Hereditary, congenital & chronic conditions
  • No exam required
  • Coverage for exam fees