Switching Pet Insurance Providers: What To Know

No matter what prompted you to sign up for your pet’s current policy — employer benefits, enrollment incentives, the age of your pet, or because the coverage worked for you at the time — you might want, or need, a different policy now.

Switching pet insurance providers is possible. It’s a fairly easy process, and you can switch at any point. Let’s explore the ins and outs of switching providers, reasons you may benefit from it, and key considerations that can help ensure you’re making the right choice for you and your furry family.

Can You Switch Pet Insurance?

Yes, you have the option of switching to a new pet insurance provider and plan if you’re dissatisfied with your current coverage. But it’s important to consider certain factors when it comes to switching, such as:

• You may lose coverage for conditions that are currently covered, since they’ll typically be considered pre-existing on your new plan.
• Your new policy might have waiting periods before certain types of coverage begin.
• A lower premium on a new plan may not always result in more savings if you end up with less coverage or a lower reimbursement rate.
•  Your deductible resets. If you were already receiving reimbursements, you’ll have to pay vet bills out of pocket again until you meet the deductible on your new plan.
• All providers have exclusions in their policies. Make sure you know what they are so you aren’t surprised after enrollment.

As long as you do your research and prepare, you can find new pet insurance that works for you!

Can you switch pet insurance providers at any time?

You can typically switch pet insurance providers at any time, even during the middle of your policy period. But there may be specific cancellation details with your current provider. So it’s a good idea to read your policy’s fine print or call a customer service representative to help you understand the process.

If you want to switch pet insurance at the end of your policy period, notify your current provider before the policy renews — since most providers renew policies automatically.

How To Switch Pet Insurance Providers

The exact steps you need to take to switch pet insurance depends on your current and new provider. Contact them directly to ensure you take the right steps. When you decide to make the switch, you’ll need to enroll in the new policy and cancel your old one.

After choosing your new provider and policy, begin the enrollment process. Each provider’s requirements are different. You may need to submit vet records or get a vet exam before enrollment is complete. Make note of everything you need to do for enrollment before you cancel your current policy to help avoid a gap in coverage and paying new vet bills out of pocket.

To cancel your current policy, contact that provider and follow their steps. Keep in mind that you might need to pay a cancellation fee or remaining premiums. Conversely, you may be refunded premiums you already paid for the rest of your policy period.

Can you have more than one pet insurance policy at a time?

The short answer is yes. You can typically have more than one pet insurance policy, for the same pet, at a time.

To avoid a gap in coverage, you may want to keep your current policy active until after you’ve enrolled in your new policy, and applicable waiting periods are over. Some providers allow you to have more than one policy at a time — which can be helpful when switching — with one designated as the primary reimbursement policy and the other as supportive coverage.

But it’s important to note that some providers won’t cover anything if your pet is enrolled in more than one policy — especially if you try to submit the same claim to both. It could be seen as insurance fraud and denied altogether.

Contact your current provider and your potential new provider to see how they handle this kind of situation.

How Coverage Works When Switching Pet Insurance

The process of switching to a new pet insurance plan can be fairly simple. But there are a couple of key points to consider for how coverage works during a switch.

Pre-existing conditions

A pre-existing condition is a health issue that manifested or was diagnosed or treated before your pet’s coverage began, and any waiting periods were over. Pet insurance usually doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. In most cases, if your pet has a health condition that’s currently covered by a policy, switching to a new policy typically means losing coverage for new expenses related to that condition.

This can be especially frustrating if you’re used to getting reimbursements for a specific condition and then you have to pay for them out of pocket. Fortunately, MetLife Pet may be able to continue coverage for pre-existing conditions already covered by another provider when you switch to a group policy.¹

Waiting periods

Getting a new policy likely means new waiting periods. Some providers have separate waiting periods for accidents, illnesses, and specific conditions — like orthopedic conditions. MetLife Pet offers a 0-day waiting period on accidents and 14 days on illnesses.²

Once your pet is enrolled in their new policy, they won’t be covered for anything that happens during applicable waiting periods. It might be smart to have a plan in place for how you may pay for vet bills if there's a slight gap in coverage due to waiting periods.

Reasons To Switch Pet Insurance

There are a variety of reasons you may want to consider switching to a different pet insurance provider. Let’s take a look at some:

• Costs and savings: You may want to find pet insurance that has a lower premium, more discounts, higher reimbursement rates, or more deductible and annual limit options — all of which could contribute to more savings.
• Coverage: Looking for better coverage could be a reason to switch  — like switching from an accident-only plan to comprehensive coverage, wanting a plan that covers more conditions, wanting a provider that will still cover your pet when they reach a certain age, or choosing a provider that offers more plan customization options.
• Benefits or incentives: Insurance coverage is just the beginning. There are other benefits and perks that could make a switch worth it, like gaining access to a vet helpline, add-on wellness plans, shorter waiting periods, and more.
• Customer service: You might want to switch to a provider that offers the kind of support you’re looking for, such as a quick and easy claims process, more payout options, friendly and helpful customer service, or a mobile app.
• Change in terms: Sometimes, you may need to switch pet insurance. For example, you may have to change providers if you’re moving to a new state where your current provider doesn’t operate. Or maybe your policy terms or rates are changing in a way that doesn’t work for you, your current provider is no longer offering specific coverage, or you lost group benefits.

While you can prepare for the switch to the best of your abilities, sometimes you find out that your new pet insurance isn’t the right fit.

Why might you switch to MetLife Pet?

When comparing different providers, it can be helpful to see a handful of reasons why they might be a good fit for you. Here’s a quick list for MetLife Pet Insurance:

• We have a 0-day waiting period on accidents and optional Preventive Care benefits.²
• Our unique Family Plan allows you to put multiple pets (cats and dogs) on one policy with a shared deductible, at a discounted rate.^3,4
• We have a variety of deductible and annual limit options to choose from, and reimbursement rates of up to 90% on covered costs.^5,6,7
• We offer lots of discounts for eligible policyholders.⁴
• Our accident and illness plans can cover pets of all ages and breeds — plus, your pet won’t lose their coverage as they age.⁸
• Some of the benefits we offer policyholders include a free 24/7 vet chat⁹ in our mobile app, end of life coverage, grief counseling¹⁰ after the loss of a pet, and lost pet advertising and rewards.
• If you switch to a MetLife Pet group policy, you could get continued coverage for your pet’s pre-existing conditions that are already covered by their current provider — as long as there’s no gap in coverage.¹ This can be a major benefit if you’re worried about your pet’s health conditions being covered by a new provider.

If you have questions about our offerings or want to speak to someone about making the switch, call our pet advocates at (844) 551-0403.

Get the Right Coverage for Your Dog or Cat, Try MetLife Pet

You already know that enrolling your dog or cat in a pet insurance policy can help you protect them — with coverage for unexpected vet bills and optional wellness reimbursements.⁷ But if you’re unhappy with your current provider, you may consider making the switch to MetLife Pet.

See what your price might be when you build a plan that fits your needs — start with a free quote today.