MetLife Pet Insurance Review 2026

By the Real Pet Cost editorial team · Prices reviewed October 2026 · How we estimate costs

MetLife Pet Insurance is the pet arm of MetLife, Inc., one of the largest US insurers. It sells one customizable accident and illness plan for dogs and cats, plus an optional Preventive Care add-on, and it is one of the few pet insurers that lets you put up to three pets on a single Family Plan.

Who Owns MetLife Pet Insurance in 2026?

Searches for “MetLife pet insurance” often come with a question: was it sold or renamed? As of October 2026, it has not been. MetLife entered pet insurance by buying PetFirst, a deal that closed in January 2020, and the business has run under the MetLife Pet brand since.

• Underwriter (the insurer that pays claims): Metropolitan General Insurance Company, a Rhode Island insurer based in Warwick, RI.
• Administrator: MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC. It operates as MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC in New York and Minnesota and as MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC in Illinois.
• Recent news: MetLife’s 2026 press page lists surveys, shelter partnerships and an August 2026 industry award, with no announcement of a sale, rebrand or new carrier.

For existing policyholders, that means nothing changes by default: your policy, deductible history and claim portal stay the same. The one thing worth checking is which “MetLife” policy you hold. Plans bought through an employer and plans bought directly can differ in price, discounts and pre-existing condition rules, so your own declarations page is the reference.

MetLife Pet Insurance at a Glance

Figures come from MetLife Pet’s home, coverage, plans, puppy and claims pages (checked October 2026) and its sample policy, cross-checked with NerdWallet’s May 2026 review. MetLife notes that coverage options “may be limited for certain ages.” Coverage is subject to each policy’s terms, exclusions and state availability.

How Much Does MetLife Pet Insurance Cost?

MetLife doesn’t publish a national average premium, but it does publish starting prices and example plans, and NerdWallet ran sample quotes in 2026:

These are published examples, not quotes. Breed, age, ZIP code and your deductible, reimbursement and limit all change the price. For context, NAPHIA’s US averages for accident and illness coverage are about $62 a month for dogs and $32 for cats; our pet insurance cost guide breaks those down by size, age and state.

Discounts

• Group and employer discounts: MetLife says eligible policyholders can get premium discounts, including through employers, and its 2026 award release cites “rewards discounts of up to 30%, where available.”
• Other groups: NerdWallet lists possible discounts for veterans and active military, health care workers, first responders, animal care staff, federal employees, online purchase and multiple pets. MetLife doesn’t publish the percentages.
• Healthy pet incentive: the $50-a-year deductible reduction isn’t a premium discount, but it lowers what you pay out of pocket after claim-free years.

Some discounts aren’t available in every state (MetLife notes the employer discount isn’t offered in Tennessee), and combining them has restrictions.

What’s Covered and Not Covered

Accident and illness plan

• Accidents: emergency care and hospitalization, cruciate ligament tears, swallowed objects, poisoning, bites, wounds and broken bones.
• Illnesses: hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions, periodontal disease, infections, digestive problems, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and heart, kidney, liver and thyroid disease.
• Diagnostics and exams: blood work, X-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs, urinalysis and vet exam fees.
• Treatment: surgery, medications (including allergy and anxiety medications), vet-prescribed food, root canals and other dental procedures, holistic care such as herbal remedies and CBD oil, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic and hydrotherapy.
• Extras: the sample policy lists up to $500 for burial or cremation, up to $500 for boarding if you’re hospitalized more than 48 hours, up to $500 for lost-pet advertising and rewards, and grief counseling through a third party (not in all states).

Preventive Care add-on

It reimburses up to your chosen benefit amount for vaccines, teeth cleaning, flea, tick and heartworm prevention, microchipping, wellness tests (fecal, blood panel, urinalysis, FeLV/FIV, heartworm), spay or neuter, behavior training, deworming and health certificates. MetLife doesn’t list its price; it shows up in your quote.

Not covered

• Pre-existing conditions. The exception: when you switch to MetLife Pet through an employer group plan, a condition already covered by your previous insurer may stay covered.
• Routine care, unless you add Preventive Care
• Obedience training, grooming and nail trims
• Elective and cosmetic procedures, breeding, organ transplants
• Non-prescription food, vitamins and supplements
• Injuries from racing, commercial guarding, law enforcement work or organized fighting

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exam fees included in the accident and illness plan
• Accident coverage starts at midnight after enrollment
• No upper age limit and no breed restrictions
• Very wide choice: 50–90% reimbursement, $0–$2,500 deductibles, limits from $500 to unlimited
• Deductible shrinks $50 a year when you don’t get a claim payment
• Family Plan for up to three pets on one policy
• Prescription food, holistic and alternative care covered

Cons

• No direct payment to your vet; you pay first and get reimbursed (NerdWallet lists this as a drawback)
• 90-day deadline to file a claim, shorter than some competitors
• Preventive Care prices aren’t published
• Older pets may see fewer coverage options and much higher premiums
• Low-volume but negative ConsumerAffairs rating (see below)

How Claims Work

1. Pay your vet and get the itemized invoice and medical records.
2. File in the MetLife Pet app or the MyPets online portal within 90 days of the invoice date. For a first claim, the sample policy asks for 12 months of prior medical records.
3. MetLife subtracts your remaining deductible, then applies your reimbursement rate: (covered bill − deductible) × reimbursement %.
4. Money arrives by direct deposit, PayPal, Zelle or paper check.

MetLife says most claims are processed in about 5 days when all documents are in (5–10 days in its footnote), with up to 30 days to reimburse covered expenses. The deductible applies once per policy year.

MetLife Pet Insurance Reviews and Ratings

The gap between platforms is large, and ConsumerAffairs’ sample is very small, so neither number tells the whole story. The recurring complaint, pre-existing condition decisions, is a reminder to keep your pet’s records complete before you enroll. MetLife also says it was named “Pet Insurance of the Year” by the Pet Independent Innovation Awards in 2026, its fifth year in a row.

Who It May Suit / Who Might Look Elsewhere

MetLife Pet may suit owners who:

• Want exam fees covered without paying for an extra rider
• Have two or three pets and like the idea of one shared policy
• Are enrolling an older pet and need a company with no upper age limit
• Can get it as an employee benefit with a group discount
• Want fine control over the deductible and limit

Owners might compare other options if they:

• Can’t pay a large vet bill upfront and need direct vet payment
• Tend to file claims late (90-day deadline)
• Want published wellness pricing before getting a quote
• Want an accident-only plan

Questions to Ask Before You Enroll

• Does a Family Plan or separate policies work better? A shared deductible and limit is simple, but one pet’s big claim can use up the limit for the others.
• Which annual limit fits your pet? A $2,000 limit keeps the premium low but won’t cover a single knee surgery. Compare limits with the real bills below.
• What does your state’s policy say? Waiting periods and some benefits vary by state, and the sample policy says state variations may apply. Ask whether any condition, such as orthopedic problems, has its own wait in your state.
• Is the Preventive Care add-on worth it? Add up a normal year of vaccines, tests and dental care and compare it with the add-on price on your quote.
• Do you have an employer plan? Group plans can offer discounts and, when switching, better treatment of conditions your old insurer already covered.
• What happens at renewal? Premiums usually rise as pets age. The decreasing deductible resets after a paid non-preventive claim.

How It Compares

See our Healthy Paws review for that comparison in detail, or read is pet insurance worth it? if you’re still deciding whether to insure at all.

Real Vet Bills It Could Help With

Typical US costs from our price guides, with an illustrative MetLife payout at 80% reimbursement and a $250 deductible, using the sample policy’s formula: (bill − deductible) × 80%. Each row assumes the deductible hasn’t been met yet that year, the condition is covered and not pre-existing, the waiting period is over, and the bill fits within your annual limit.

These are simple illustrations, not a promise of payment. With the $2,000 “Balanced” limit, the knee and blockage surgeries would be capped at $2,000, so the limit you pick matters as much as the reimbursement rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not veterinary advice. Prices are estimates for budgeting, not quotes. Ask your veterinarian for a written, itemized estimate. If your pet is injured, in pain or acting unwell, contact your vet or an emergency animal hospital right away.