Metlife Pet Insurance Review 2025: Pros, Cons & Verdict

MetLife Pet Insurance offers one of the most comprehensive accident and illness insurance plans, even covering cruciate ligament, hereditary, and congenital conditions with a waiting period. You also have more choices in annual deductible, as low as $50, with a diminishing deductible discount each year you go without a claim.

MetLife Pet Insurance is a solid choice in pet insurance, with premiums in line with their competition for most pet breeds. While their claims process takes some getting used to, it might be worth the time to work with their adjusters, if needed, for such extensive policy coverage.

MetLife Pet Insurance Review

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About MetLife Pet Insurance

MetLife Pet Insurance is one of the most well-known names in insurance, and its pet insurance policies are respected within the industry. They have a comprehensive base plan with extensive coverage, including alternative treatments and cruciate ligament conditions that aren’t typically covered by pet insurance, even if they require a waiting period.

Accident claims are covered at midnight on the day you sign up, and there is no waiting period for each accident going forward. This could be a good investment if you have younger pups who may get themselves in trouble. The preventative care plan is an excellent option for those who struggle to keep up with routine care.

Their claims process is a little more involved, requiring a downloadable form to be filled out and submitted with a copy of the vet bill online, via email, fax, or postal mail. Even with the complexity of the process, most claims are paid within 10 business days.

You can enroll your pet in a policy online, choosing your preferred deductible, reimbursement amount, and annual limit on their website. You qualify for a discount when registering online. An unlimited annual coverage limit policy is available, but you’ll need to speak to someone directly through customer service to enroll.

The MetLife Pet Insurance policy used to be known as PetFirst. Although some things about the policy and claim procedures have changed with the name, it is primarily the same.

Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2025)

Pet Insurance Cost Comparison

* Prices vary depending on your pet’s age, breed, and location. Averages updated January 2024.

Base Policy

MetLife offers an accident and illness policy that provides extensive coverage for vet services, including emergency care, diagnostic tests, specific preventative treatments, prescriptions, and much more. This is the only insurance policy they offer for veterinary care and is available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

While there isn’t a cheaper accident-only plan available, monthly premiums for MetLife are in line with other reputable insurers. The base policy stands out because of a shorter accident waiting period, coverage for cruciate ligament conditions, and alternative care options. It was previously offered as PetFirst before being added to the larger MetLife insurance umbrella.

Preventative Care

Adding coverage for preventative care can make routine wellness easier for some pet parents. The preventive care plan is only available as an addition to their base policy and not on its own.

The plan includes reimbursement for wellness exams, regular vaccinations, routine lab tests, and even flea and tick prevention. One-time services like spaying, neutering, or microchipping are also available under the preventative care plan.

Wellness claims are submitted just like those for the accident and illness base plan and processed similarly, with reimbursement coming within 10 business days.

MetLife Price Comparison for Dogs

Deductibles & Claims

MetLife pet insurance works on the standard reimbursement model as most other policies. You will have a yearly deductible to meet out-of-pocket expenses before your insurance coverage starts. Then, the policy will reimburse a certain percentage of covered expenses up to the maximum range of your policy.

There are many ways to customize your MetLife policy to create one that works best for your pet and your budget. You can choose from three reimbursement amounts and three levels of annual maximum coverage.

Annual deductibles start at just $50 and go up to $500. However, a discount reduces your deductible by $25-$50 each year that passes without a claim. Once you’ve made a claim, the deductible will reset to the policy’s stated amount for the following year.

The claims process with MetLife is a little more complicated than with other pet insurance companies. A downloadable form must be filled out and sent back with your paid vet bill for processing. The good news is that you can send it back by email, fax, mail, or their online portal. Once they’ve received your claim, most approved reimbursements are made within 10 business days.

What Does MetLife Cover?

MetLife has excellent coverage, covering everything from a major accident to prescription food and alternative therapies like acupuncture. Compared to similar plans available elsewhere, their covered conditions and services list is quite extensive.

It may be an excellent policy if you have a breed prone to cruciate ligament issues and bilateral conditions, as MetLife will cover these with a 6-month waiting period. Many other policies exclude them altogether. Other unique coverage includes hereditary and congenital conditions, such as heart murmur and periodontal disease.

The preventative care plan, available in addition to the base policy, offers even more protection for your pet. With this plan, you can submit claims for flea and tick prevention, spay or neuter surgery, routine vaccinations, dental cleanings, and even annual wellness exams.

Their list of exclusions is typical of many pet insurance policies, including conditions related to breeding, elective procedures like ear cropping, vitamin supplements, and organ transplants. You’ll find the standard pre-existing condition clause stated here as well.

Pre-Existing Conditions

According to MetLife, a pre-existing condition is one that was treated or diagnosed before purchasing your plan or within the initial 14-day waiting period. Any pre-existing condition typically isn’t covered by your pet insurance policy. Certain conditions that are considered curable and have been symptom-free for a pre-determined period could be covered. Bilateral conditions may also be covered if a condition is pre-existing. For example, if a knee injury is pre-existing, but there is no diagnosed issue with the opposite knee, most treatments would be covered.

Waiting Periods

MetLife Pet Insurance has a 14-day waiting period at the start of your policy and for all illness coverage, but accident coverage begins at midnight on the day you enroll. This differs from many other pet insurance policies that apply the standard 14-day waiting period across the board.

Some pet insurance companies may not cover cruciate ligament conditions and other conditions, but MetLife does cover them after a 6-month waiting period.

Reviews from Customers

User reviews of MetLife Pet Insurance are primarily positive, with many people enjoying the benefits of having their pets’ coverage. Multiple discounts and coverage for alternative therapies seem to be the most valued features of these plans.

Most negative reviews cite problems with the claim process and having to submit information more than once or having to appeal a denied claim. Phone support seems helpful in passing information to the proper department in claims but cannot make changes or resolve the issue in one call, leading to delays in reimbursement.

However, many reviewers have found MetLife policies beneficial with the long list of covered services and no waiting period for accident coverage. This is especially true if you have multiple pets or other MetLife policies like homeowners or vehicle insurance.

FAQ

Does MetLife offer discounts on pet insurance?

Discounts include those provided by your employer, by purchasing online, having more than one pet, for active-duty military and veterans, and first responders and healthcare workers.

Does MetLife allow you to see any vet clinic?

Yes! As long as your vet is fully licensed in the location in which they are operating, you are free to use their services. Your reimbursement will be processed based on the invoice they provide from their treatment plan.

How quickly are claims reimbursed?

Most MetLife claims are processed within 10 business days. Claims that need additional information or to be verified may take longer.

What determines the cost of my pet insurance policy?

While we’ve provided many examples of what you can expect to pay for MetLife Pet Insurance, many factors determine your monthly or annual premiums. You will choose your deductible, reimbursement amount, and annual coverage limits. Your pet’s species, breed, and age are also significant factors in the cost. Your location and the average cost of vet care in your area may also be a factor.

Our Verdict

MetLife provides coverage where other policies won’t if your pet is susceptible to breed-specific conditions, especially cruciate or hereditary ones. If you prefer alternative therapies, you may also want to consider MetLife. While you should be aware that their claims process is a little different than many other insurers, the breadth of coverage may be worth the investment, especially since monthly premiums average around the same as similar policies from other providers.

Featured Image Credit: absolutimages, Shutterstock

PangoVet acknowledges that it is not licensed as an insurance agent, and therefore will not offer any insurance advice, nor recommend a particular coverage, policy, or insurance company.