Are you considering getting pet insurance through your employer? The good news is this is becoming a more common benefit — right alongside your own dental and vision insurance — and MetLife Pet can help you protect your furry family member(s) from nose to tail.
Let’s dig into 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?
According to MetLife’s 2026 Employee Benefits Trends Study, an increasing number of employees are considering pet insurance as a “must-have” voluntary benefit offered by employers.1
- By offering pet insurance — like MetLife Pet’s — as an employee benefit, employers can provide financial options that could:
- Help make the cost of pet care more accessible for owners
- Provide a discount on pet insurance plan premiums2,3
- Give pet parents the ability to choose the coverage they want, so it fits their pet’s needs and their budget
- Ease worries about paying for emergency vet expenses
In a survey conducted by Fractl on behalf of MetLife Pet, 54% of pet owners have skipped or delayed vet visits because of the high cost.4 But our research also showed that pet parents are 1.2 times more likely to be financially healthy when they are able to use their employee benefit pet insurance.1
Having pet insurance can mean your pet gets the medical care they need for a healthy and happy life. And if you’re an employer looking for more information on offering pet insurance to your employees, visit MetLife’s pet insurance employee benefit page.
MetLife Pet offers a variety of discounts to eligible pet owners
How Pet Insurance for Employees Works as a Benefit
If your employer offers pet insurance as a voluntary benefit, enroll in a policy per their instructions. Your premiums will likely be paid by automatic deduction from your paycheck — similar to other types of insurance benefits. Talk with your human resources (HR) department for more details.
Once enrolled, the process for using your pet’s insurance plan is the same as if you’d enrolled on your own. With MetLife Pet as your provider, you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian in the country, pay the bill, and submit a claim to us for reimbursement.5
Most claims are processed in 5 days — though it could take longer if we need more information.6 After verifying your claim, we can reimburse you for any covered expenses by check or direct payments.5
What’s Covered by MetLife Pet Insurance Through an Employer?
If your employer chooses MetLife Pet as their pet insurance provider, some of the pet expenses we can typically help you cover include:
✅ Accidents
✅ Illnesses (including hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions)
✅ Hospitalizations and emergency care
✅ Diagnostic tests (like X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work)
✅ Prescription medications and vet-prescribed food and supplements
✅ Holistic care and alternative therapies
✅ Wellness and routine care costs, when you add Preventive Care
Real savings from MetLife Pet group policyholders
Getting a pet insurance plan could help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year — like these MetLife Pet families who enrolled through their employers:7
- Joy, a pug from Washington, and her family were reimbursed over $950 for diagnostics for gastrointestinal (GI) issues, which cost around $1,050.
- Paul, a 5-year-old cat from California, wasn’t eating. His family was reimbursed nearly $525 for his $750 vet exam to diagnose the issue.
- Dottie, a Bernese mountain dog, and her Tennessee family were reimbursed over $100 for the nearly $120 medication for her spinal condition.
As with any insurance, policies are subject to some exclusions. Make sure you’re aware of them, so you can get the right coverage for you and your furry family.
Why Should You Get Pet Insurance Through an Employer?
If you’re wondering whether to buy a policy on your own or enroll through the provider your employer partners with, it might help to think about your budget and what kind of coverage you need.
You can typically take advantage of group discounts available through your employer, which may result in a lower monthly premium. By enrolling in MetLife Pet Insurance through your employer, you could get a 10% discount.3
If you already have pet insurance but might be looking to switch providers, we can provide coverage for previously covered pre-existing conditions when you switch to a MetLife Pet policy through your employee benefits.8 This provides a chance to continue saving money if your pet’s health condition(s) would otherwise be excluded from coverage when getting a new policy.
Other reasons to choose MetLife Pet
With MetLife Pet, you can customize your plan’s reimbursement rate, deductible, and annual limit.5 Plus, you can put multiple dogs and cats on one policy with our unique Family Plan and have them share a deductible, all at a discounted rate.5
Some additional reasons MetLife Pet may be a great provider for you include:
- A free 24/7 vet telehealth chat9 in our mobile app for policyholders
- An optional Preventive Care plan you can add to your insurance to help you cover routine and wellness expenses
- A 0-day waiting period on accidents and Preventive Care benefits
- A healthy pet incentive that can get you a deductible discount10
Whether you have a puppy, kitten, or senior pet, you can enroll them in a MetLife Pet policy and take advantage of all the benefits it comes with — all breeds and ages are eligible!5
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 an employee benefit. For more information about pet insurance in general, explore some frequently asked questions.
What happens to your pet insurance plan if you’re no longer with your employer?
Your pet insurance plan will typically remain active even though you enrolled through your employer. However, your premium may change if certain discounts no longer apply. You may also need to update your payment method if you previously paid your premium through payroll deductions. Reach out to your pet insurance provider to see what action is required.
What To Do if Your Employer Doesn’t Offer Pet Insurance
If your employer doesn’t offer pet insurance as an employee benefit, ask if they’d consider adding it to their voluntary benefits package. While they may decline your request, if you like what you see, you can always get a quote directly from us and enroll on your own!
For the moments you don’t expect, get MetLife Pet
