Overall, Lemonade provides the best pet insurance for emergency care, scoring highest for dogs and cats in MoneyGeek’s analysis. Pumpkin, AKC, Spot and Pets Best also offer solid emergency coverage options.
Best Emergency Pet Insurance
Updated: October 12, 2025
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Best Pet Insurance for Emergency: Key Takeaways
Lemonade offers the best pet insurance for emergency care, with a score of 4.73 out of 5.0 for dogs and 4.48 out of 5.0 for cats.
For pet insurance with emergency coverage, Lemonade offers the cheapest rates for dogs at $41 monthly, while Pumpkin has the lowest premiums for cats at $20 monthly.
When shopping for pet insurance for emergencies, compare quotes from multiple insurers, review policy terms and read company reviews to ensure you’re getting the best value.
What Are the Best Pet Insurance Companies for Emergency?
Data filtered by:Results filtered by:
Select
Pet Type:Dog
| Lemonade | 4.73 | $492 | 3 | 6 |
| AKC | 4.36 | $705 | 3 | 1 |
| Pets Best | 4.25 | $643 | 5 | 2 |
| Rainwalk | 4.23 | $717 | 1 | 4 |
| Pumpkin | 4.21 | $548 | 3 | 11 |
Lemonade
Best Overall
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
5/5Affordability
4.4/5Customer Experience
3.7/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Rate for Dogs
$41Average Monthly Rate for Cats
$23Overall Reddit Sentiment
72% positiveMaximum Annual Limit
$100,000
Rainwalk
Best Customer Experience
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
3.5/5Affordability
5/5Customer Experience
3.9/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Rate for Dogs
$60Average Monthly Rate for Cats
$30Trustpilot Ratings
4.7 out of 5.0Maximum Annual Limit
$20,000
AKC
Best Pet Insurance Coverage Options
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
3.6/5Affordability
4.4/5Customer Experience
5/5Coverage Options
Average Monthly Rate for Dogs
$59Average Monthly Rate for Cats
$35Overall Reddit Sentiment
86% positiveMaximum Annual Limit
$10,000
What Are the Cheapest Pet Insurance Companies for Emergency?
Lemonade offers the most affordable pet insurance with emergency coverage for dogs at $41 monthly on average, while Pumpkin provides the lowest rates for cats at $20 monthly, according to our analysis. We also identified Pumpkin, Pets Best, AKC and Rainwalk as budget-friendly alternatives for emergency veterinary coverage.
Cheapest Dog Insurance for Emergency
Lemonade provides the cheapest emergency dog insurance at $41 monthly ($492 annually), followed by Pumpkin at $46 monthly ($548 annually). These rates are based on our standard 6-year-old Labrador Retriever profile with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.
| Lemonade | $41 | $492 | 32% |
| Pumpkin | $46 | $548 | 25% |
| Pets Best | $53 | $643 | 11% |
| AKC | $59 | $705 | 3% |
| Rainwalk | $60 | $717 | 1% |
Cheapest Cat Insurance for Emergency
Our study found monthly premiums as low as $20 ($238 annually) from Pumpkin for cat insurance with emergency coverage, making it the most affordable option. Lemonade ranks second at $23 monthly ($274 annually). We based these rates on a 7-year-old Ragdoll with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.
| Pumpkin | $20 | $238 | 37% |
| Lemonade | $23 | $274 | 28% |
| Spot | $23 | $284 | 25% |
| Pets Best | $28 | $329 | 13% |
| Rainwalk | $30 | $359 | 5% |
How to Get the Best Cheap Pet Insurance for Emergency
Find affordable emergency pet insurance without compromising coverage quality using the step-by-step process below.
- 1
Decide on your coverage needs
Assess your financial capacity and your pet's health risks to determine appropriate coverage levels. Consider annual limits between $5,000 and $20,000 for emergency situations like surgeries or overnight hospitalizations, then select a deductible you can pay upfront during an urgent vet visit. Higher reimbursement rates (80% to 90%) cost more monthly but reduce your out-of-pocket expenses when emergencies occur.
- 2
Compare multiple quotes
Request quotes from three or more insurers with the same coverage levels to compare what emergency care will cost. Check for multi-pet discounts, annual payment savings or bundling options, as these lower premiums by 5% to 10%. Most insurers have online quote calculators where you can adjust your coverage to see how different options affect your monthly rate.
- 3
Understand the terms and conditions
Read sample policies to understand what emergency situations are covered and what's excluded. Focus on waiting periods for accidents and illnesses, pre-existing condition clauses and any breed-specific exclusions that might affect emergency coverage. Make sure you know whether emergency exam fees, diagnostic tests and specialty care are included in the base policy or cost extra as add-ons.
- 4
Look for company reviews
Research customer experiences with emergency claims, paying attention to how quickly insurers process urgent care reimbursements. Check Trustpilot ratings and state insurance department complaints to see how reliable each company is when you're stressed about your pet's emergency. Pay attention to reviews mentioning customer service during nights and weekends when emergencies often happen.
- 5
Reassess coverage annually before renewing
Review your policy each year to confirm your coverage limits still match potential emergency costs in your area. Consider whether your pet's age or health changes require adjusting your deductible or reimbursement rate for better emergency coverage.
Best Pet Insurance for Emergency: Bottom Line
Lemonade offers the best overall pet insurance for emergencies, combining the most affordable rates for dogs with solid customer service. Pumpkin provides the cheapest emergency pet insurance for cats. Always compare multiple quotes, review policy terms and check company reviews to find emergency care coverage that balances cost with comprehensive financial protection.
Best Pet Insurance for Emergency Care 2025: FAQ
To help you make informed decisions, we’ve answered frequently asked questions about the pet emergency pet insurance below:
What is the best pet insurance for emergency care?
Lemonade is the best pet insurance for emergency care, according to MoneyGeek's analysis, providing affordable premiums and great customer service.
What is the cheapest pet insurance for emergency vet visits?
Lemonade offers the cheapest emergency pet insurance for dogs at $41 monthly, while Pumpkin provides the lowest cat rates at $20 monthly. These rates are based on 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll profiles with $5,000 annual limits, $500 deductibles and 80% reimbursement.
Does pet insurance cover emergency vet visits?
Pet insurance covers emergency vet visits for accidents and illnesses after waiting periods end. Coverage usually includes emergency surgeries, hospitalization and diagnostic procedures.
What's considered a pet emergency?
Pet emergencies include accidents requiring immediate treatment like toxin ingestion, bite wounds, broken bones and hit-by-car incidents. Sudden illnesses such as difficulty breathing, severe vomiting, bloat or seizures also qualify as emergencies. Emergency coverage applies to overnight hospitalizations, urgent surgeries and specialty care visits outside regular veterinary hours.
Can I use pet insurance at any emergency vet?
You can use pet insurance at any licensed emergency veterinarian or specialty clinic in the United States. You won't need referrals or network approvals before seeking emergency treatment. Simply pay the emergency vet bill upfront, keep itemized receipts and submit a claim afterward.
How do waiting periods affect emergency coverage?
Waiting periods mean emergencies occurring immediately after enrollment won't be covered. Accidents usually have a waiting period between 1 and 14 days, while illnesses require 14 days or longer. Any conditions showing symptoms during waiting periods become pre-existing and remain excluded from coverage.
How We Found the Best and Cheapest Emergency Pet Insurance
MoneyGeek analyzed 20 major pet insurance providers across the United States to identify the best and most affordable emergency pet insurance. Our evaluation focused on affordability, customer experience and coverage details.
We collected quotes using standardized policy parameters to ensure accurate comparisons across all providers. Our sample profiles included a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and a 7-year-old Ragdoll, both with $5,000 annual limits, $500 deductibles and 80% reimbursement rates.
How We Rate Every Provider
Affordability (50% of overall score): We gathered quotes from all providers and compared rates against competitors within each state. Available discounts contributed minimally to this score, as variation between companies remains limited.
Customer Experience (30% of overall score): We evaluated customer satisfaction by analyzing ratings from Trustpilot and Reddit sentiment across user comments. This provided insight into real-world experiences with claims and customer service responsiveness.
Coverage Options (20% of overall score): We reviewed complete policy documents for every provider in each state, examining add-on availability, coverage inclusions, exclusions and restrictions specific to emergency care situations.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.