Pet insurance quotes for the same sample profiles differed by more than $900 a year for dogs, according to a comparison by CBS News. Fetch had the lowest average dog premium at $45.34 a month, while MetLife had the highest at $121.33. For cats, Embrace was cheapest at $31.53 a month and MetLife was again the most expensive, at $54.68.
The figures are averages from quotes gathered on September 16 and 17, 2026, for pets in Los Angeles ZIP code 90011. The sample covered one- and six-year-old dogs and cats, with profiles varying by age and sex; the dogs were 55-pound mixed breeds and the cats were domestic shorthairs.
To compare plans, CBS used accident-and-illness coverage with a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement, at a $10,000 annual limit and unlimited coverage where insurers offered both. The results reflect those selected profiles and settings, not standard prices for all pets or locations.
Plan features differ alongside premiums
Fetch’s quoted dog premium was the lowest in the comparison. Its plan includes exam fees, dental illness and behavioral therapy, according to the report. Embrace had the lowest cat quote and also ranked third-lowest for dogs, with exam fees and dental illness included.
MetLife’s premiums were highest for both species in the sample. CBS said its online quotes were capped at $10,000 in annual coverage, with customers needing to contact the insurer for a quote above that amount. Its comparison table lists a wider range of possible annual limits, so the online quote cap should not be read as a universal policy limit.
Deductibles, reimbursement rates, waiting periods and covered services vary by plan. The quoted premiums offer a point of comparison, but the report’s figures do not establish which policy will cost least for a different pet or household.
Nicole French 
Reid Bentley