Offered in partnership with the long-time pet insurance provider Pets Best since 2014, Farmers Pet Insurance offers comprehensive policies that cover medical services for illnesses and accidents, as well as wellness and preventive services at competitive prices. But is it the right choice for you and your beloved pet?
Keep reading to learn more about the company’s policies, vet bill coverage, unique features, and more so that you can choose what’s best for your pet without hurting your bank account.
Table of Contents
- Does Farmers offer pet insurance?
- Farmers Pet Insurance review
- Available plans
- Exclusions
- Pricing
- Discounts
- Claims and reimbursement times
- What we like about this coverage
- What could be improved
- Is Farmers Pet Insurance worth it?
- How to choose the best pet insurance
Does Farmers offer pet insurance?
Farmers Insurance Group (informally known as Farmers) is a well-reputed company that offers insurance for homes, small businesses, and automobiles. In 2014, Farmers started offering pet insurance through Pets Best, joining other big players in the insurance world who decided to enter the pet space, such as Nationwide, Lemonade, Progressive, and Geico.
Pets Best was founded in 1981 and its pet insurance policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company.
Farmers Pet Insurance review
Available plans
Farmers Pet Insurance offers three different policies: Accident & Illness, Accident-Only, and Wellness Routine Care.
The Accident-Only Policy includes coverage for accidents such as broken limbs, snake bites, ingestion of foreign objects, etc. The waiting period is 14 days for illness and three days for accidents. There is also a six-month waiting period for patella-related injuries or cruciate ligament injuries.
There are three different types of Accident & Illness coverage:
- Essential Plan - a basic policy that covers up to $5,000 of your pet’s eligible vet bills
- Plus Plan - offers more coverage, including exam fees and alternative therapies, and has an annual limit of up to $10,000
- Best Benefits Plan (Elite Plan) - the most comprehensive option that comes with unlimited annual coverage. This plan covers illnesses like diabetes, allergies, ear infections, skin infections, arthritis, and cancer treatments, as well as costs related to accidents like broken bones and lacerations, congenital and hereditary conditions, surgeries, and prescription medications.
The Wellness Routine Care is available as an add-on. It offers coverage for regular veterinary services that are not normally covered, such as annual checkups, preventative medication for fleas and ticks, vaccination, etc. Farmers Pet Insurance offers two different wellness plans:
- Essential Wellness Plan - covers routine items, neutering/spaying, heartworm testing, blood work, and has an annual limit of $305
- Best Wellness Plan - covers the same exams and treatments as the Essential Wellness Plan, but also includes teeth cleaning and comes with a higher annual limit of $535.
Exclusions
No pet insurance company covers pre-existing conditions and Farmers is no exception. Any current health conditions your pet might have won’t be covered.
The company also excludes cosmetic and elective procedures, deworming, grooming, parasite control, as well as conditions that happen during the policy’s waiting period.
Pricing
When it comes to pet insurance costs, Farmers Pet Insurance’s lower-level plans are competitively priced, with the average monthly premium for cats starting at $18 a month and for dogs from $29 per month.
The price of the BestBenefit Accident and Illness plan will depend on various factors, including your pet’s age, breed, and location. Your monthly cost will also depend on the annual deductible (which ranges from $50 to $1000), as well as the level of reimbursement (you can choose from three different reimbursement rates: 70%, 80%, or 90%).
The Accident-Only Plan is a budget-friendly plan with low monthly rates of $9 for dogs and $6 for cats. In Washington state, the flat monthly rates are $10 for dogs and $7 for cats.
The EssentialWellness Plan costs $16 per month and the BestWellness plan costs $29 per month.
Discounts
Farmers Pet Insurance offers a 5% discount for pet parents who insure multiple pets and for military service pets. In addition, pet owners who purchase a Pets Best policy after a referral from a Farmers agent or at Farmers.com/petinsurance will get a 5% discount off of the regular price.
Claims and reimbursement times
To submit a claim, customers need to provide the itemized invoice for the vet visit through the Pets Best website or mobile app. Here, they can view the status of their claim, access policy details, and retrieve claim history. Claims are typically processed within three to five days. Customers can choose to have the reimbursement directly deposited into their account at no additional fee.
What we like about this coverage
What makes Farmers Pet Insurance different from other pet insurance companies is that it offers Specialized Coverage plans. These plans cover specific types of accidents based on the pet’s location and exposure to particular environmental dangers.
Farmers Pet Insurance has no upper age limits, which means that you can get coverage for your older pets. Puppies and kittens can be enrolled at seven weeks.
There’s a 30-day free period which gives pet parents time to decide if they want to enroll.
Claims are usually processed within three to five business days, which is faster than most pet insurance companies. For comparison, USAA Pet Insurance takes 15 days, whereas Nationwide Pet Insurance needs 30 days to process a claim.
Farmers Pet Insurance offers 24/7 veterinary support for its customers for any advice or questions they might have related to their pet.
What could be improved
The price of your pet insurance will increase as your pet gets older. Some pet insurers offer lifetime policies that don't increase in price as your pet ages, but this is not the case with Farmers Pet Insurance. This is because senior pets are more likely to suffer from diseases and illnesses that are associated with old age, which is why with most providers when a pet reaches a certain age, you might find that the cover slightly changes.
Is Farmers Pet Insurance worth it?
Farmers Pet Insurance offers excellent pet insurance that can be customized to meet anyone’s needs. The real advantage is if you already have insurance from Farmers and want to sign up for pet insurance with the same provider. However, it should be noted that while the company’s prices are competitive in the lower-end plans, they are a bit more expensive in their higher-tier plans.
How to choose the best pet insurance
There are lots of factors that go into choosing a pet insurance policy. Most other types of insurance (home, car, etc.) have coverage standardized by state or province, but pet insurance is different.
With pet insurance, there are many factors that will impact your quote and the coverage provided. These include factors you can’t control, such as your location, your pet’s breed and age, as well as factors you can control like the deductible, annual limits, and co-payment you select.
Not sure if Farmers Pet Insurance is the right choice for you? Consider checking out our pet insurance comparison charts to look into other pet insurance providers and compare policies.
