If you are rushing to the ER right now, or just have a short attention span, here is my professional triage. These recommendations account for the pricing adjustments and policy changes we have seen early this year.

Here is the most common question I get: "Should I add the wellness package for vaccines?"

My honest answer? Usually, no.

In 2026, insurers push wellness add-ons aggressively. They cover routine things like puppy vaccinations cost, flea prevention, and spay/neuter. But if you do the math, you are often paying the insurance company $500 a year to reimburse you $450.

The Math:

• Premium Add-on: ~$45/month ($540/year)

• Benefits Cap: Most plans cap wellness payouts at specific amounts per category (e.g., $20 for a microchip, $50 for a wellness exam).

• Reality: Unless you maximize every single line item, you lose money.

Put that $45 a month into a high-yield savings account instead. Use insurance for the catastrophic stuff—the swallowed socks, the parvo scares, and the broken legs.

Lemonade continues to dominate the market for tech-savvy owners. Their app is slick, and their AI claim bot usually approves simple claims in seconds.

The Good:

• Speed: I have seen clients get paid before they even leave the clinic parking lot.

• Price: Generally the most affordable option for healthy puppies under 6 months.

The Bad:

• Rigidity: Their AI is strict. If your medical records aren't perfect, the claim gets flagged for human review, which takes longer.

• Exclusions: They are tough on bilateral conditions (like cruciate ligament tears) if one side showed symptoms before coverage started.

Verdict: Ideal for the "blank slate" puppy with no medical history.

Spot uses the Crum & Forster underwriting engine (same as the older Pumpkin plans), but their customization is superior. As we look at 2026 rates, Spot allows you to tweak your deductible, reimbursement percentage, and annual limit to find a monthly price that fits your budget.

The Good:

• Microchip Coverage: Included in base plans, not just wellness.

• Behavioral Issues: They cover vet-prescribed training for anxiety or aggression, which is huge as we see more behavioral cases in rescue pups.

The Bad:

• Waiting Periods: Still a 14-day wait for accidents, which is longer than some competitors (who often do 2-5 days for accidents).

Verdict: Best for owners who want to fine-tune their coverage and pricing.

Embrace has a loyal following for a reason. Their customer service is human, and they are fair. Their standout feature for 2026 remains the diminishing deductible. For every year you don't file a claim, your deductible drops by $50.

The Good:

• Pre-existing Conditions: They distinguish between curable and incurable. If your puppy had an ear infection three years ago, it doesn't haunt you forever.

• Exam Fees: Many plans exclude the exam fee (the $60-$100 just for walking in the room). Embrace covers it.

The Bad:

• Caps: They have strict annual limits on dental illness coverage (usually $1,000).

Verdict: A solid, ethical choice for long-term peace of mind.

This is where people get burned. If your puppy has any clinical sign noted in their chart before the policy waiting period is over, it is pre-existing.

Scenario: You notice your puppy limping on Monday. You buy insurance on Tuesday. You go to the vet on Friday. Result: Denied.

However, the market has improved. Companies like Spot and Embrace now offer a "curable" clause. If a condition (like a UTI or kennel cough) is cured and symptom-free for 180 days (varies by provider), they will cover it again in the future. This is a massive improvement over the older models from a few years ago that would banish that body part for life.

I am an advocate for insurance, but it isn't for everyone. You might want to skip it if:

• You have substantial savings: If you can drop $5,000 to $10,000 at the emergency vet without sweating, self-insuring is mathematically cheaper in the long run.

• Your dog is already senior with issues: If you are adopting a senior dog with a book of medical problems, pre-existing condition exclusions will make the policy almost useless. Look into discount programs instead.

• You can't afford the deductible: Remember, you have to pay the vet bill first, then get reimbursed (unless you use Trupanion). If you don't have credit or cash flow to cover the upfront cost, reimbursement insurance won't help you in the moment.