MetLife introduces enhanced pet insurance offering
MetLife introduced an enhanced pet insurance product that includes coverage of pre-existing conditions for pet parents switching carriers; specifically, only the pre-existing conditions covered by the previous provider, and only when coverage is purchased via an employer.
The company claims to offer a range of features at ‘highly competitive’ rates to dogs and cats of all ages and breeds. These features include benefits such as access to telehealth concierge services, the opportunity to roll over benefits from the prior year, family plans allowing multiple pets to be covered by a single policy, no wait periods for orthopedic conditions, and grief counseling.
Claims can be submitted and tracked via a mobile app and pet parents have the freedom to choose their preferred US licensed veterinarian. MetLife Pet Insurance is also available as an employee benefit at discounted rates. When obtaining coverage through their employer, employees who already have pet insurance with another insurance carrier will be able to switch to MetLife with the assurance that their pets’ pre-existing conditions will be covered.
“Pet parenthood brings love and comfort to so many, who reap the physical, mental, and social health benefits of caring for a pet, especially during the pandemic. To ensure our beloved pets receive the best care, it’s critical that pet parents realize the value of pet insurance. Pet parents’ expectations of their employers to provide benefits that support their whole families – pets included – and their financial wellbeing are growing. Employers who add pet insurance to their benefits offering show they understand how employees’ lives have changed and what they need to feel supported going forward. MetLife has introduced a simple yet comprehensive pet insurance product that is focused on helping pet parents care for their pets with confidence.” – Katie Blakeley, vice president and head of MetLife Pet Insurance.
Coverage is underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company , a partner of MetLife Pet Insurance , a pet insurance MGA and a MetLife company (as of 2019).
