Pet Insurance: Sniffing out the top plans

Like their human companions, pets get sick, and when they do, the economic toll -- let alone the emotional one -- can be enormous. Pet insurance is one way to potentially cushion the blow, but as our report on pet insurance reveals, not all plans are created equal. While some do a good job of dealing with people and their pets during their time of need, others can leave both howling in protest.

We researched both traditional and non-traditional pet insurance plans to determine which ones make the most sense. Along the way, we found vast differences in how companies pay, what services and treatments they'll actually pay for, which pets they'll insure, and how easy they are to deal with from a customer service perspective.  After all, arguing with an insurance company is the last thing any pet lover wants to deal with when their furry friend's health may be at stake. Our pet insurance report report also considers discount programs to see if they are a satisfactory alternative to insurance, plus high-deductible pet insurance that protects only against catastrophic veterinary bills and lastly,  whether you even need pet insurance at all.