How the Covered Companion Score Works
Choosing pet insurance shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Policies can look similar at first glance, but the details of what they actually cover can vary widely. The Covered Companion Score was created to make those differences easy to understand without jargon or confusing insurance language. Its purpose is to give you a clear, trustworthy way to compare pet insurance based on what matters most when your pet needs care.
Our Mission
We believe pet owners deserve pet insurance that is clear, easy to understand, and genuinely protective. The Covered Companion Score is designed to give you confidence and clarity when choosing coverage for your dog or cat.
What the Score Measures
Every company is evaluated using the same set of criteria, grouped into three pillars of real-world veterinary care.
Core Medical Protection
This pillar focuses on how well the plan protects your pet during serious or unexpected events. We evaluate coverage for accidents, illnesses, chronic conditions, hereditary and congenital disorders, cancer treatment, emergency and specialist care, diagnostic testing, and surgery or hospitalization.
Depth of Benefits
This pillar looks at benefits that make a difference in everyday veterinary care. We review prescription medications, rehabilitation and alternative therapies, behavioral treatment, dental illness coverage, and end-of-life care.
Limitations and Fine Print
This pillar examines rules and restrictions that may impact your coverage. We look closely at pre-existing condition policies, waiting periods, enrollment age rules, and any exclusions for working, sporting, or professional dogs.
How We Score Each Category
Each coverage category is rated on a simple 0 to 5 scale:
- 5 Excellent
- 4 Strong
- 3 Typical
- 2 Limited
- 1 Very limited
- 0 Not covered
Every category has a weight based on how important it is in real veterinary care. Your final result is a clear Coverage Subscore out of 100 for each company.
Where Our Data Comes From
All scoring is based on details taken directly from:
- Official policy documents
- Public underwriting guidelines
- Company terms and conditions
- Information confirmed through websites or customer support
- Our standardized scoring criteria that ensure every company is evaluated consistently
No company can influence its score. Affiliate relationships do not affect ratings.
Why the Covered Companion Score Helps You
This scoring system gives you:
- A clear comparison of coverage quality
- Insight into what each plan really includes
- Awareness of strengths and weaknesses across companies
- Protection from fine-print surprises
- Confidence when choosing the right plan for your pet
It is the straightforward, honest guide we wished existed when choosing insurance for our own pets.
Our Promise
We are committed to accuracy, independence, transparency, and real-world usefulness. As the pet insurance industry evolves, we update our scoring to keep the information current. Your pet deserves excellent care, and you deserve clarity and confidence when choosing coverage.