PET INSURANCE

Understanding Pet Insurance Through Your Employer 

3 min read
Jan 20, 2023

Considering getting pet insurance through your employer? The good news is this is becoming a more common benefit — and MetLife Pet Insurance1 has your pet protected from nose to tail.

Pet insurance is something you may consider investing in, whether you just adopted a young furry friend or your pet is entering their golden years. After all, being able to afford your dog or cat’s care is a top priority that can be made even easier when your employer offers pet insurance as a benefit.

That’s right - many employers offer pet health insurance as a benefit, alongside things like dental and vision insurance. Read on to learn how pet insurance works as an employee benefit, why it might be a good option for your family, and what to do if your employer doesn’t offer it.

Why Do Employers Offer Pet Insurance?

Employers are pet parents, too. According to MetLife’s research with CivicScience, 70% of full-time employees have one or more pets, and almost 25% of full-time employees plan to get a pet within the next year.3 With so many pet parents in the workforce, it’s no wonder employers are starting to offer pet insurance as a voluntary benefit to employees.

By making pet insurance a benefit, employers are able to lower the cost of care for pet owners, give them choice in the coverage they want, and ease their worries about covering emergency expenses. Our research showed 79% of pet parents would experience a negative impact on their finances if their pet needed a $5,000 emergency surgery.3 We know pet owners have enough to worry about, which is where MetLife Pet Insurance comes in to offset these costs.1,2

Do Your Employee Benefits Include MetLife Pet?

You May Get a Discount

How Pet Insurance Works as a Benefit

Just like if you were to purchase a pet insurance plan on your own, the process is the same. You can take your dog to any licensed veterinarian, pay the bill, and send it to us for reimbursement — we’ll process your claim in less than 2 weeks.4 Policies are subject to some exclusions, but getting a pet insurance plan can still save you thousands each year.

How Does Pet Insurance Work? The Basics

Curious to learn more? We’ve got you covered with more information about how pet insurance works.

What Is Covered Through Your Employer’s Pet Insurance

Although your specific policy will vary, here is a list of things we routinely cover:

  • Accidents
  • Illnesses (including hereditary, congenital & chronic conditions)
  • Hospitalizations
  • Surgeries
  • Exam fees
  • X-rays and Ultrasounds
  • Medications
  • Holistic care and alternative therapies (available at an additional cost)

Why Should You Get Pet Insurance Through an Employer?

The good news is if you’re enrolling in your employer’s pet insurance, there are group discounts available that may result in a lower monthly premium. This gives you all the perks of having a pet insurance policy, but at a lower cost. According to our research, 62% of millennials would go into debt in order to protect their pets’ health,3 but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Pet insurance can offset the increased financial burden of pet care. With customizable plans, you can expect to pay as little as $15 for dogs and $9 for cats, depending on coverage type, your location, and your pet’s breed and age. Plus, you can put multiple pets on one policy and have them share the deductible.

How Can You Get Pet Insurance Through Your Employer?

Check your benefits package or speak with your HR representative to learn if your company offers pet insurance as a benefit. For more information about pet insurance in general, explore some frequently asked questions about pet insurance.

What To Do if Your Employer Doesn’t Offer Pet Insurance

If your employer doesn’t offer pet insurance yet, ask if they’d consider adding it to their benefits package. About 52% of employees report their employer doesn’t offer sufficient benefits for their pet,3 so it’s surely a benefit worth asking about.

Remember, you can always get a quote with us and enroll on your own! Our Is Pet Insurance Worth It article can help you decide if MetLife Pet Insurance fits into your lifestyle.

And if you’re an employer looking for more information on how to give pet insurance to your employees, visit MetLife.com.

At MetLife Pet Insurance, winner of the “Pet Insurance of the Year” Award, we’re committed to helping you keep your pets happy and healthy, whether that means learning all there is to know about your pets or protecting them with an insurance policy.

Sign Up for MetLife Pet & Save with Your Employee Benefit Program

Get Coverage for Your Pet

Nothing in this article should be construed as financial, legal or veterinary advice. Please consult your own advisors for questions relating to your and your pet’s specific circumstances.

1 Pet Insurance offered by MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”), a Delaware insurance company, headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022, and Metropolitan General Insurance Company (“MetGen”), a Rhode Island insurance company, headquartered at 700 Quaker Lane, Warwick, RI 02886, in those states where MetGen’s policies are available. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC is the policy administrator authorized by IAIC and MetGen to offer and administer pet insurance policies. MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC was previously known as PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and in some states continues to operate under that name pending approval of its application for a name change. The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions.

2 Provided all terms of the policy are met. Application is subject to underwriting review and approval. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies issued by IAIC and MetGen contain certain deductibles, co-insurance, exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC.

3 Internal MetLife CivicScience Research data, October 2022

4 Approximately 80% of claims are processed within 10 days or less.

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Virtual veterinary services are provided entirely by AskVet, a third-party partner; MetLife is not responsible for any pet guidance or advice provided or taken through Askvet.