Pumpkin outranks Met Life in pet insurance nationally, placing seventh for dogs and third for cats, while Met Life places 10th and 12th. Pumpkin is also the better option for pet owners looking for affordable premiums or strong customer service. Those who want broader coverage may find Met Life a better fit.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Updated: March 16, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance: Key Takeaways
Pumpkin provides more affordable pet insurance rates, charging $30 per month for middle-aged cats and $48 for dogs, compared to Met Life's $35 for cats and $61 for dogs.
Pumpkin ranks third nationally in customer experience with a 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot rating, surpassing Met Life's eighth place ranking and 4.7 star rating for both cats and dogs.
Met Life achieves a stronger seventh place national coverage ranking compared to Pumpkin's eleventh place position, though both providers offer similar 14-day accident waiting periods and preventive care add-ons.
Is Met Life or Pumpkin Pet Insurance Better?
| Cat | Affordability | Pumpkin | 1 | 10 |
| Cat | Coverage | Met Life | 7 | 11 |
| Cat | Customer Experience | Pumpkin | 3 | 8 |
| Cat | Overall Score | Pumpkin | 3 | 12 |
| Dog | Affordability | Pumpkin | 3 | 6 |
| Dog | Coverage | Met Life | 7 | 11 |
| Dog | Customer Experience | Pumpkin | 3 | 8 |
| Dog | Overall Score | Pumpkin | 7 | 10 |
How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider
All scores presented here were based on averages for experiences and pricing for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll, with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement rate.
Learn more about the best pet insurance options for your pet across different situations:
Met Life and Pumpkin Comparison by State
Whether you're insuring a dog or a cat, Pumpkin wins against Met Life as the best pet insurance company in all 50 states.
Data filtered by:
Select
| Alabama | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Alabama | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Alaska | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Alaska | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Arizona | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Arizona | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Arkansas | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Arkansas | Dog | Pumpkin |
| California | Cat | Pumpkin |
| California | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Colorado | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Colorado | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Connecticut | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Connecticut | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Delaware | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Delaware | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Florida | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Florida | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Georgia | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Georgia | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Hawaii | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Hawaii | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Idaho | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Idaho | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Illinois | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Illinois | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Indiana | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Indiana | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Iowa | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Iowa | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Kansas | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Kansas | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Kentucky | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Kentucky | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Louisiana | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Louisiana | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Maine | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Maine | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Maryland | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Maryland | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Massachusetts | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Massachusetts | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Michigan | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Michigan | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Minnesota | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Minnesota | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Mississippi | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Mississippi | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Missouri | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Missouri | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Montana | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Montana | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Nebraska | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Nebraska | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Nevada | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Nevada | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New Hampshire | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New Hampshire | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New Jersey | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New Jersey | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New Mexico | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New Mexico | Dog | Pumpkin |
| New York | Cat | Pumpkin |
| New York | Dog | Pumpkin |
| North Carolina | Cat | Pumpkin |
| North Carolina | Dog | Pumpkin |
| North Dakota | Cat | Pumpkin |
| North Dakota | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Ohio | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Ohio | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Oklahoma | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Oklahoma | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Oregon | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Oregon | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Pennsylvania | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Pennsylvania | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Rhode Island | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Rhode Island | Dog | Pumpkin |
| South Carolina | Cat | Pumpkin |
| South Carolina | Dog | Pumpkin |
| South Dakota | Cat | Pumpkin |
| South Dakota | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Tennessee | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Tennessee | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Texas | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Texas | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Utah | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Utah | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Vermont | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Vermont | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Virginia | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Virginia | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Washington | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Washington | Dog | Pumpkin |
| West Virginia | Cat | Pumpkin |
| West Virginia | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Wisconsin | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Wisconsin | Dog | Pumpkin |
| Wyoming | Cat | Pumpkin |
| Wyoming | Dog | Pumpkin |
How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State
All scores presented here were based on averages for experiences and pricing for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and 7-year-old Ragdoll, with a $500 deductible, $5,000 annual limit and 80% reimbursement rate.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cost
Pumpkin is cheaper than Met Life across seven of eight pet insurance cost categories, with savings reaching up to 35% for kittens. Met Life is the more affordable option for senior cats only, providing 11% savings compared to Pumpkin.
Data filtered by:
Select
| Kittens | Pumpkin | $17 | 35% |
| Young Cats | Pumpkin | $21 | 28% |
| Puppies | Pumpkin | $24 | 31% |
| Middle Aged Cats | Pumpkin | $30 | 17% |
| Young Dogs | Pumpkin | $31 | 29% |
| Middle Aged Dogs | Pumpkin | $48 | 21% |
| Senior Cats | Met Life | $57 | 11% |
| Senior Dogs | Pumpkin | $116 | 5% |
How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider
All rates presented here were based on averages for pricing for Labrador Retrievers and Ragdolls from the age of less than 1 years old up to 20 years of age across 50 states.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cost by State
Pumpkin consistently offers the cheapest pet insurance when compared to Met Life in all 50 states for kittens, puppies, young to middle-aged pets and senior dogs. Met Life leads ahead of Pumpkin across the country for senior cats only.
Data filtered by:
Middle Aged Dogs
| Alabama | Pumpkin | $35 | 21% |
| Alaska | Pumpkin | $46 | 21% |
| Arizona | Pumpkin | $58 | 21% |
| Arkansas | Pumpkin | $32 | 21% |
| California | Pumpkin | $60 | 21% |
| Colorado | Pumpkin | $60 | 21% |
| Connecticut | Pumpkin | $55 | 21% |
| Delaware | Pumpkin | $48 | 21% |
| Florida | Pumpkin | $54 | 21% |
| Georgia | Pumpkin | $43 | 21% |
| Hawaii | Pumpkin | $48 | 21% |
| Idaho | Pumpkin | $48 | 21% |
| Illinois | Pumpkin | $59 | 21% |
| Indiana | Pumpkin | $43 | 21% |
| Iowa | Pumpkin | $40 | 21% |
| Kansas | Pumpkin | $43 | 22% |
| Kentucky | Pumpkin | $38 | 21% |
| Louisiana | Pumpkin | $38 | 21% |
| Maine | Pumpkin | $58 | 21% |
| Maryland | Pumpkin | $47 | 21% |
| Massachusetts | Pumpkin | $61 | 21% |
| Michigan | Pumpkin | $48 | 21% |
| Minnesota | Pumpkin | $50 | 21% |
| Mississippi | Pumpkin | $41 | 21% |
| Missouri | Pumpkin | $38 | 21% |
| Montana | Pumpkin | $40 | 21% |
| Nebraska | Pumpkin | $43 | 21% |
| Nevada | Pumpkin | $49 | 21% |
| New Hampshire | Pumpkin | $55 | 21% |
| New Jersey | Pumpkin | $54 | 21% |
| New Mexico | Pumpkin | $42 | 21% |
| New York | Pumpkin | $52 | 21% |
| North Carolina | Pumpkin | $43 | 21% |
| North Dakota | Pumpkin | $37 | 21% |
| Ohio | Pumpkin | $44 | 21% |
| Oklahoma | Pumpkin | $40 | 21% |
| Oregon | Pumpkin | $59 | 21% |
| Pennsylvania | Pumpkin | $50 | 21% |
| Rhode Island | Pumpkin | $42 | 22% |
| South Carolina | Pumpkin | $45 | 21% |
| South Dakota | Pumpkin | $42 | 21% |
| Tennessee | Pumpkin | $44 | 21% |
| Texas | Pumpkin | $50 | 21% |
| Utah | Pumpkin | $46 | 21% |
| Vermont | Pumpkin | $44 | 21% |
| Virginia | Pumpkin | $51 | 22% |
| Washington | Pumpkin | $55 | 21% |
| West Virginia | Pumpkin | $41 | 21% |
| Wisconsin | Pumpkin | $51 | 21% |
| Wyoming | Pumpkin | $44 | 21% |
How We Decided the Winning Pet Insurance Provider by State
All rates presented here were based on average pricing for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and a 7-year-old Ragdoll.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Discounts
Met Life offers nine pet insurance discounts, while Pumpkin has two. Both companies provide rate reductions for multi-pet households and veterinary staff, but Met Life goes beyond by offering savings to association members, employer group plan participants, health care workers, military members and veterans, first responders and federal employees.
Multiple pets | Save 10% when you enroll two or more pets with Pumpkin. | Get automatic savings when you enroll more than one pet. |
Veterinary staff | Receive savings from Pumpkin when you work as a staff at a veterinary clinic. | Owners, staff members or volunteer workers in the animal care industry receive 10% discount. |
Association | None. | 5% off for members of participating organizations. |
Employer group plan | None. | Save 10% when you join a participating employer's group plan. |
Health care worker | None. | 10% off on pet insurance for those working in the healthcare industry. |
Military, veteran and first responder | None. | Offers 10% discount for first responders or active/former members of the Armed Forces or National Guard/Reservists. |
Federal employee | None. | Save on premiums if you're a federal employee of the U.S. government. |
Internet purchase | None. | Lowers base premium by $1 when purchase pet insurance online. |
Deductible | None. | Reduces deductible by $50 for the next policy year if you didn't file a claim within the year. |
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Customer Experience
Pumpkin provides a better customer experience than Met Life, ranking five spots higher in our national comparison. It also earns stronger ratings across the platforms we reviewed, including Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau and Reddit.
Met Life vs Pumpkin Trustpilot ratings
Pumpkin scores higher on Trustpilot with a 4.9 out of 5 rating, compared to Met Life Pet Insurance's 4.7 out of 5. Pet owners praise both companies for fast claim processing and responsive customer service, but Pumpkin reviewers consistently report near-instant reimbursements, while Met Life customers report occasional claim denials based on pre-existing condition labels and yearly premium increases with no added benefits.
Met Life vs Pumpkin BBB ratings
Pumpkin holds an A+ BBB rating as a BBB Accredited Business, while Met Life carries no current BBB rating and is not BBB accredited. Met Life's "Not Rated" status stems from the business being in the process of responding to previously closed complaints. Pumpkin earned its accreditation in July 2025 and has committed to BBB Standards for Trust, with recent reviewers noting fast claim processing and clear coverage follow-through.
Met Life vs Pumpkin Pet Insurance Reddit Sentiment
Pumpkin holds stronger Reddit sentiment than Met Life, with 79% positive feedback from 14 total comments compared to Met Life's 40% positive sentiment from 20 comments. Pumpkin users praise the company's helpful customer service and clear policy details, while Met Life users credit the insurer's responsive representatives but report slow claim processing times and unexpected coverage gaps. Both providers draw criticism for pre-existing condition denials, a common complaint across the pet insurance industry.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Coverage
Met Life provides broader pet insurance coverage than Pumpkin, ranking seventh nationally, while Pumpkin finishes in 11th place. Although Met Life does not offer unlimited coverage, it offers a zero-deductible plan and immediate coverage for accidents. Met Life is also one of the few pet insurance companies that covers exotic animals.
Diagnostics | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | |
✓ | ✓ | |
Fractures and broken bones | ✓ | ✓ |
Lacerations and bite wounds | ✓ | ✓ |
Parasite treatment | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | |
Digestive illnesses | ✓ | ✓ |
Hereditary conditions | ✓ | ✓ |
Congenital conditions | ✓ | ✓ |
Chronic conditions | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ | |
$0 to $750 in $50 increments and $1,000, $1,250, $1,500, $2,000 and $2,500 | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | |
$500 to $25,000 in $1,000 increments | $5,000, $10,000, $20,000, Unlimited
| |
50%, 70%, 80%, 90% | 80% or 90% | |
0 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and orthopedic conditions | 14 days for accidents and illnesses | |
Pre-existing conditions | Only covers certain pre-existing conditions when you switch from another provider to Met Life's group policy; the condition must be covered by the previous insurer | Curable conditions may be eligible for coverage after 180 symptom-free days |
Exotic pets | Offers coverage for exotic animals, such as birds, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles and small mammals | No exotic pet coverage |
Coverage varies by state and policy terms. Always review your specific policy documents to understand exact coverage terms, exclusions and limitations.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Add-ons
Both Met Life and Pumpkin offer a single optional add-on that focuses on routine care. Met Life's wellness plan comes in two tiers and covers wellness exams, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm testing and prevention, routine blood work, urinalysis, fecal testing, dental cleaning, spaying or neutering, microchipping, nail trimming, anal gland expression and behavioral training.
In contrast, Pumpkin's add-on reimburses wellness exams, vaccinations, fecal tests and spay/neuter procedures depending on the tier you choose.
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance: Bottom Line
Pumpkin beats Met Life overall for pet insurance, with better affordability and customer service. Pumpkin's rates start at $48 per month for middle-aged dogs and $30 for cats, undercutting Met Life on price. Pumpkin also earns a 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and an A+ BBB rating. Met Life, though, offers more comprehensive coverage options for pet owners who prioritize extensive policy benefits over cost.
Compare other major pet insurance companies to determine the best choice for your pet:
Met Life vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance Comparison: FAQ
Compare Met Life and Pumpkin pet insurance through these common questions:
Which is cheaper: Met Life vs Pumpkin pet insurance?
Pumpkin is cheaper than Met Life for pet insurance in most categories. Pumpkin charges $30 monthly for middle-aged cats versus Met Life's $35, and $48 for middle-aged dogs compared to Met Life's $61. Met Life only beats Pumpkin's rates for senior cats, making Pumpkin the more affordable choice overall.
Which has better customer service: Met Life vs Pumpkin pet insurance?
Pumpkin offers better customer service, with a 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot score and an A+ rating from the BBB. Met Life holds a 4.7 Trustpilot rating and currently has a “Not Rated” status with the BBB.
Which offers better coverage: Met Life vs Pumpkin pet insurance?
Met Life offers better coverage than Pumpkin, featuring a zero-deductible plan and no waiting period for accidents. Met Life also covers exotic animals, which Pumpkin doesn't offer.
Does Met Life vs Pumpkin cover pre-existing conditions?
Met Life only covers certain pre-existing conditions when you switch from another provider to its group policy, provided the condition was covered by the previous insurer. Pumpkin covers curable conditions after 180 symptom-free days.
Can I get discounts with both Met Life vs Pumpkin pet insurance?
Yes, both Met Life and Pumpkin offer discounts to help reduce premium costs. That said, Met Life has nine ways to save, while Pumpkin only provides two.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in 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!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.
sources
- Trustpilot. "Pumpkin Pet Insurance ." Accessed March 28, 2026.
- Trustpilot. "Met Life Pet Insurance ." Accessed March 28, 2026.
- Better Business Bureau. "Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc." Accessed March 28, 2026.
- Better Business Bureau. "Met Life Pet Insurance Solutions LLC." Accessed March 28, 2026.