Is Progressive Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

Table of Contents

• Does Progressive offer pet insurance?
• Overview of Progressive Pet Insurance review
• What we like about Progressive Pet Insurance
• Is Progressive Pet Insurance worth it?

Does Progressive offer pet insurance?

Founded in 1937 in Ohio, Progressive was an innovator in the car insurance industry, introducing the first drive-in claims. Over the years, the company has become one of the largest insurers in the country, offering personal, property, vehicle, and commercial policies.

In 2009, Progressive partnered with Pets Best to provide affordable pet insurance, thus joining other large insurance companies like Lemonade , Geico , and Nationwide , who decided to expand into the pet insurance industry. Pets Best insurance policies are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (IAIC) or American Pet Insurance Company (APIC).

Overview of Progressive Pet Insurance

Progressive offers an Accident & Illness plan and an Accident-Only plan. The former is available in three tiers: the Essential Plan, Plus Plan, and Elite Plan. Customers can customize the annual coverage limit, reimbursement rate, and deductible for each of these plans, and each plan has its own list of covered services.

The Accident-Only Policy is non-customizable and offers a $250 deductible, 90% reimbursement, and $10,000 in annual coverage. This policy includes:

• Exams
• X-rays
• Medications
• Hospitalizations
• Surgeries
• Treatments resulting from various types of accidents, including foreign body ingestion, trauma, bone fracture, poisoning, bites, car accidents, etc.

In addition to these policies, Progressive also offers two wellness plans — Essential Wellness and Best Wellness — that reimburse pet parents for routine and preventive care. Like most pet insurance companies , Progressive doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. The company’s policies also exclude training, boarding, breeding, alternative and holistic treatments, pet supplies and pet food, anal gland expression, cremation, and burial.

As far as pet insurance cost is concerned, Progressive’s premiums are among the lowest on the market — especially for policies with unlimited annual coverage. The Accident-Only Policy costs just $9 per month for dogs and $6 for cats. The Essential Wellness plan costs $16 per month and comes with a benefit schedule limited to $305 per year, while the Best Wellness plan costs $26 per month with a limit of $535 per year. Discounts are available for multi-pet families, online payments, members of the military, and annual premium payments.

What we like about Progressive's coverage

What distinguishes Progressive Pet Insurance from other providers is the fact that it covers the cost of prescription drugs used to treat conditions covered in its Accident & Illness Policy and Accident-Only Policy. The company also offers coverage for alternative rehabilitative treatments and physical therapy as part of its comprehensive plan, reimbursing customers for treatments such as chiropractic, acupuncture, treadmill therapy, therapeutic exercises, joint mobilization, and cryotherapy.

Most customers are satisfied with the cheap pet insurance prices Progressive offers in comparison to competitor companies. Our review of Progressive Pet Insurance also found that the claims process is quite simple. The company offers multiple ways to file a claim, including an online portal and email, and in most cases, claims are processed in about a week. This is faster than some other providers on the market, such as Geico Pet Insurance, which can take twice as long to get reimbursed.

Progressive’s policy options are quite flexible, allowing customers to choose from various reimbursement rates and deductibles. According to the company’s site, pet insurance plans start at just $1 a day. The Accident-Only Policy offers flat pricing for your pet regardless of its breed and age, meaning insurance coverage and wellness riders won’t increase in price as your pet becomes older. Finally, Progressive lets customers cancel their insurance policy for any reason within 30 days of its start date and get a 100% refund, as long as they haven’t been reimbursed for any claims.

What could be improved

The downside of this affordable pet insurance is that the base Accident & Illness policy doesn’t cover vet exams. We also would’ve liked to see reimbursement for dental coverage included in the wellness plans, as this is becoming increasingly more common among pet insurance providers.

While Progressive’s Accident-Only plans cost just a few dollars a month, if you are looking for more comprehensive coverage, you will need to upgrade to a more inclusive plan and purchase the wellness add-on. There are also fewer choices for annual limits: only two options with the Accident &Illness Policy, and no choice for the Accident-Only Policy.

Is Progressive Pet Insurance worth it?

Progressive is a reputable insurance company, offering different types of pet insurance policies at affordable prices. The company’s pet insurance plans may be good for pet parents who want to save a few bucks when insuring their four-legged companions. Ultimately, most pet owners and vets agree that pet insurance is a good investment that can protect both your pet and your budget.

Vet treatments often cost hundreds of dollars or more. In fact, over 80% of pet owners in the US spend as much as $500 on their dog's vet visits in the first year alone.¹ The estimates below reveal how much more expensive vet costs can be for unexpected medical emergencies:²

• General exam/consultation: $100-$150
• Bloodwork: $80-$200
• Ultrasound: $300-$600
• X-rays: $150-$250
• Wound treatment and repair: $800-$1,500
• One to five days hospitalization: $600-$3,500
• Oxygen therapy: $500
• Emergency surgery: $800-$2,500

Considering all this, it comes as no surprise that some pet parents have trouble affording unexpected treatment if their pet gets sick or injured. Having pet insurance is the best way to ensure that you are there for your pet when they need it most without stressing over vet bills.

However, finding the best insurance for your pet isn’t easy, so be sure to take enough time and do enough research. Consult with your veterinarian to find out more about the common hereditary conditions your pet’s breed is prone to and consider your pet’s lifestyle. For instance, if your pet loves to spend time outside, there’s a greater chance of getting injured.