PetFirst Healthcare
About PetFirst Healthcare
Since there are so many pet insurance companies available, it can be difficult to choose the right one for you and your dog. Dog Ownership Guide helps dog owners find the best dog insurance in the industry to make the decision making process easier.
PetFirst Healthcare LLC was founded in 2004. It is a United States based pet insurance company. Since that time, the dog insurance provider has a long track record of supporting dog owners financial obligations in taking care of their dogs’ health. PetFirst also is an avid supporter of local human societies and shelters.
MetLife acquired PetFirst Healthcare LLC in 2020. The MetLife company is the administrator authorizing the pet health insurance policies. Underwriting processing is handled by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company.
Many people believe Independence American Insurance Company may be too strict with claims, but they are in line with others in the pet insurance industry. Most claims are processed within 2 weeks.
PetFirst Coverage: What Is and Isn’t Covered
PetFirst Healthcare coverage is in line with other pet insurance providers. The coverage is only for care directly resulting from an accident or illness. Preventative or wellness services reflected on vet bills are not included in PetFirst dog insurance policies.
PetFirst coverage includes:
- Accidents
- Illnesses
- Hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Diagnostic Tests
- Exam Fees
- X-Rays
- Ultrasounds
- Medications
- Holistic Care & Alternative Therapies
- Emergency Care
After a short 6-month wait period, your pet can also enjoy coverage for the following:
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
- Cruciate Ligaments
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
- Medial Cruciate Ligament (MCL)
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)
Conditions Covered by PetFirst
- Arthritis
- Vestibular Syndrome
- Periodontal Disease
- Diabetes
- Blindness
- Seizures
- Cataract
- Heart Disease
- Renal Failure
- Parvo
- Distemper
- Pancreatitis
- Ear Infections
- Allergies
- Skin Infections
- Upset Stomach
- Diarrhea
- Bladder Issues
- Eye Infections
- Hypothyroidism
Accidents Covered by PetFirst Dog Insurance
- Sprains
- Foreign Body Ingestion
- Poisoning
- Patella Luxation
- Fracture
- Laceration
- Bite WoundThis is not the complete list, as most vet bills following an accident is part of PetFirst coverage.
PetFirst coverage has no per-incident or lifetime limits, which means if your dog suffers from a chronic illness or multiple illnesses or suffers multiple accidents, PetFirst will cover the costs according to the policy.
PetFirst dog insurance plans will NOT coverage:
- Pre-existing conditions (known conditions before the waiting period has been exhausted)
- Elective procedures
- Expression or removal of anal glands and anal succulitis
- Breeding or conditions related to breeding.PetFirst Healthcare will not cover any costs associated with preventing or maintaining the health of the pet. This includes:
- Pet food, special diet, vitamins, mineral supplements
- Grooming costs and bathing, including medicated baths
- Parasite prevention and parasite treatment
- Illness or injury which arises out of racing, coursing, commercial guarding or organized fighting of your pet
- Routine wellness and preventative care, behavior training
- Organ transplants
What PetFirst Pet Insurance Considers Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-Existing Conditions: Injury, illness, or symptoms identified by the dog owner or vet before the waiting period after enrollment. It does not matter if the pet has or has not been treated for it.
Curable and Incurable Conditions
Curable pre-existing conditions are those that occur and can be treated completed. For instance, ear infections, vomiting, diarrhea, UTIs, etc. can all be cured, so they are not considered pre-existing conditions. They will be covered by PetFirst Healthcare if they occur again.
Incurable pre-existing conditions include:
- Diabetes
- Allergies
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Arthritis
Since the above condition require ongoing care, if they are present before the waiting period after enrollment is over, they are not covered by PetFirst Healthcare.
PetFirst Cost
PetFirst Healthcare wants to be able to help as many dog owners as possible with their accident and illness coverage. To do this, they come up with customized plans based on what pet needs.
The most cost effective pet insurance policy they offer is a plan they call Cost Conscious:
Annual Benefit: $2,000
Reimbursement: 80%
Eligible Ages: All
The most popular pet insurance policy they offer is:
Annual Benefit: $5000
Reimbursement: 80%
Eligible Ages: All
Dog owners seeking as much coverage as possible. The Additional Coverage plan is a good choice:
Annual Benefit: $10,000
Reimbursement: 80%
Eligible Ages: All
PetFirst Annual Deductible
The PetFirst deductible for all pet insurance policies is $250.
A low PetFirst annual deductible makes it easy for pet parents to get their dog necessary care after an accident or during an illness without having to worry about a high deductible.
It is important to realize that even though the PetFirst deductible is the same for all plans, it’s the premiums costs that differ. This is why pet parents need to ask for a pet insurance free quote to find out what they will need to pay per month for coverage.
PetFirst Deductible Savings
Dog owners can decrease their deductible even more with PetFirst’s deductible savings. Every year a claim is not submitted, PetFirst lowers the deductible $25.
PetFirst Discounts
PetFirst Healthcare offers discounts on their pet insurance policies for the following:
- Veterinarians and other pet care professionals working for animal welfare agencies – 10% off PetFirst pet insurance policies.
- Employees of corporations who have offered PetFirst insurance as a benefit – 5%-10% off depending on what the employer selected.
- People who own multiple pets – 5% for the second pet and 10% for the third and each policy afterwards.
PetFirst pet insurance wants to help dog owners save as much as possible, which is why they share the best way to set up multiple pets with insurance.
Add cats first to a policy because the costs are lower. The second one can be a dog, which will receive a 5% discount.
Older pets are more expensive to insure, so start with the youngest pet.
Large pets are also more expensive, so start with the smallest pet for the most most savings.
PetFirst 30 Days Free with Adoption
PetFirst is committed to helping pets find their forever homes. People who decide to adopt from their partner shelters can receive PetFirst accident and illness coverage for 30 days free. Proud new pet parents can decide to continue with PetFirst or cancel their free policy before the 30 day trial ends.
PetFirst 30 Days Free for Shelters
Shelters interested in partnering with PetFirst should reach out to PetFirst Customer Service to learn more:
Call: 855.270.7387
For Customer Service, dial option 2
Monday-Friday, 8am – 9pm EST
Saturday, 10am – 7pm EST
Sunday, 10am – 7pm EST
Email: info@petfirst.com
PetFirst Wellness
PetFirst offers a pet insurance product for wellness called Routine Care Rider. This plan covers:
- Routine wellness exams
- Vaccines
- Teeth Cleaning
- Microchipping
- Preventative Treatments
- Spaying and Neutering
- Behavior Training
There are several plans available ranging from $125 to $575.
Get the details by reading PetFirst Wellness.
PetFirst Reviews
PetFirst reviews range from very happy to very upset. Negative PetFirst Reviews include:
- Unpaid claims due to coverage limitations
- Unresponsive customer service
- High premium costs
Often times, policy holders fail to understand the details of their coverage which leads them to become upset when they don’t receive the reimbursement expected.
Read PetFirst Reviews for additional insight on whether PetFirst Healthcare is a good dog insurance to choose based on other people’s experiences.
Get Started with a PetFirst Healthcare Quote
Most people base their decision on pet insurance companies after receiving a quote. PetFirst Healthcare makes it very easy to get a quote. Click below to start the process of getting a quote for your dog’s insurance policy.
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