VPI Pet Insurance 2025: Full Review, Pros & Cons

Our expert's opinion on VPI

Last update: September 4, 2025

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2.4

Score

2.4

Score

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

VPI offers modular pet insurance focused on illness and injury coverage for dogs and cats, pairing core medical benefits with optional wellness enhancements.

Available plan types include Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness, Whole Pet and the VBW-I Coverage Form; reimbursement rates vary by policy, the VBW-I form carries a $7,500 annual limit, deductible options differ by plan, and wellness add-ons are available on select plans; coverage includes emergency care, consultations, surgery, imaging, lab tests, specialist consultations, boarding fees (up to $500), loss/theft support (up to $500) and a mortality benefit with cremation (up to $1,000). Compared with main competitors, VPI positions itself with mid-range annual limits, competitive tiered pricing across Major Medical and Whole Pet options, and a modular wellness strategy.

Best suited for owners of young to middle-aged dogs and cats seeking moderate annual limits and accessible wellness add-ons.

Administered by DVM Insurance Agency, VPI's provider average rating is 3.9 and Trustpilot shows 4.4/5 from 2,027 reviews; customers report easy enrollment, helpful service and generally straightforward claims handling, while some reviewers note premium increases and occasional communication delays.

Pros

• ✅24/7 VetHelpline via app
• ✅Coverage for emergency, surgery, imaging, and lab tests
• ✅Specialist consultation coverage
• ✅Boarding/kennel fees covered up to $500
• ✅Lost/stolen pet advertising and reward coverage up to $500
• ✅Mortality and cremation benefit up to $1,000
• ✅Modular plans including wellness add-ons

Cons

• ❌Preexisting conditions excluded
• ❌Moderate annual limit ($7,500) for some severe cases
• ❌Variable deductible options across plans
• ❌Wellness benefits limited to select plans
• ❌Reports of premium increases and occasional communication delays

Discover the offer

2.4

Score

2.4

Score

ProsCons

• ✅24/7 VetHelpline via app
• ✅Coverage for emergency, surgery, imaging, and lab tests
• ✅Specialist consultation coverage
• ✅Boarding/kennel fees covered up to $500
• ✅Lost/stolen pet advertising and reward coverage up to $500
• ✅Mortality and cremation benefit up to $1,000
• ✅Modular plans including wellness add-ons

Our expert's opinion on VPI

Last update: September 4, 2025

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Pros

• ✅24/7 VetHelpline via app
• ✅Coverage for emergency, surgery, imaging, and lab tests
• ✅Specialist consultation coverage
• ✅Boarding/kennel fees covered up to $500
• ✅Lost/stolen pet advertising and reward coverage up to $500
• ✅Mortality and cremation benefit up to $1,000
• ✅Modular plans including wellness add-ons

Cons

• ❌Preexisting conditions excluded
• ❌Moderate annual limit ($7,500) for some severe cases
• ❌Variable deductible options across plans
• ❌Wellness benefits limited to select plans
• ❌Reports of premium increases and occasional communication delays

Discover the offer

2.4

Score

2.4

Score

ProsCons

• ✅24/7 VetHelpline via app
• ✅Coverage for emergency, surgery, imaging, and lab tests
• ✅Specialist consultation coverage
• ✅Boarding/kennel fees covered up to $500
• ✅Lost/stolen pet advertising and reward coverage up to $500
• ✅Mortality and cremation benefit up to $1,000
• ✅Modular plans including wellness add-ons

VPI offers modular pet insurance focused on illness and injury coverage for dogs and cats, pairing core medical benefits with optional wellness enhancements. Available plan types include Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness, Whole Pet and the VBW-I Coverage Form; reimbursement rates vary by policy, the VBW-I form carries a $7,500 annual limit, deductible options differ by plan, and wellness add-ons are available on select plans; coverage includes emergency care, consultations, surgery, imaging, lab tests, specialist consultations, boarding fees (up to $500), loss/theft support (up to $500) and a mortality benefit with cremation (up to $1,000). Compared with main competitors, VPI positions itself with mid-range annual limits, competitive tiered pricing across Major Medical and Whole Pet options, and a modular wellness strategy. Best suited for owners of young to middle-aged dogs and cats seeking moderate annual limits and accessible wellness add-ons. Administered by DVM Insurance Agency, VPI's provider average rating is 3.9 and Trustpilot shows 4.4/5 from 2,027 reviews; customers report easy enrollment, helpful service and generally straightforward claims handling, while some reviewers note premium increases and occasional communication delays.

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VPI Guarantees

VPI offers multiple plan presentations marketed under names such as Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness, and Whole Pet, alongside a formal coverage form identified as the VBW‑I Coverage Form. Plans are positioned to serve different needs: an entry/more cost‑focused Major Medical option, a balanced Major Medical with Wellness that adds preventive benefits, and a more comprehensive Whole Pet option. Core medical coverage across offerings focuses on medically necessary treatments for illness and injury, including emergency care, surgery, imaging, laboratory diagnostics, and specialist consultations.

Deductible and reimbursement mechanics are set per policy and can vary by selection; reimbursement percentages are specified on each policy’s Declarations Page. The VBW‑I Coverage Form references an annual reimbursement cap of $7,500 in sample terms. Waiting periods of 14 days apply for both accident and illness coverages under the VBW‑I form. Several ancillary benefits are available in sample terms, including mortality/cremation benefits, boarding fee reimbursement if the owner is hospitalized, and limited coverage for lost or stolen pet advertising and reward costs.

Administrative and support services are an integrated feature: a 24/7 veterinary helpline is available for telephonic or app‑based access to licensed veterinary professionals, and the administration/agency contact details are provided for policy servicing and claims. Strengths of the offering include a broad scope of medically necessary services, defined limits for mortality and temporary boarding, and optional wellness integrations; limitations include predefined annual caps on certain non‑medical or ancillary benefits and standard exclusions for preexisting or excluded conditions.

Exclusions and limitations: Preexisting conditions are excluded—defined as any condition for which a veterinarian provided medical advice, the pet received treatment, or the pet displayed clinical signs prior to the policy effective date or during applicable waiting periods. The policy allows the declaration of additional excluded conditions on the Declarations Page; such declared conditions are not covered. Experimental or investigational treatments are excluded, as are conditions caused intentionally by the owner or resident of the household.

Non‑medical and routine items are generally excluded: behavioral training not prescribed by a veterinarian, dietary or nutritional supplements for general health, non‑prescription pet foods, grooming and general care (except where a specific benefit applies), and administrative fees. Coverage is also limited for catastrophic events such as war, rebellion, or nuclear radiation. Certain ancillary benefits carry fixed monetary caps in sample terms (for example, mortality/cremation, boarding, and lost/stolen pet advertising/reward limits), and policy mechanics—chosen deductible level, reimbursement percentage, and annual limit—determine the trade‑off between premium cost and out‑of‑pocket exposure.

VPI Exclusions

VPI excludes pre‑existing conditions—any illness or injury with prior veterinary advice, symptoms, or treatment before the policy effective date or during waiting periods—and it allows specific conditions to be listed as Additional Excluded Conditions on the Declarations Page.

Non‑medical and routine care is excluded, including boarding (except where a limited boarding benefit applies), transportation, grooming, nail trims, and all non‑prescription foods and general dietary supplements; administrative fees and other non‑veterinary charges are also excluded.

Behavioral training or therapy that is not prescribed by a licensed veterinarian is excluded, experimental or investigational treatments are not covered, and conditions caused intentionally by the owner are excluded as well.

Catastrophic exposures (war, rebellion, nuclear radiation) are explicitly excluded; the explicit declaration of additional excluded conditions and the clear exclusion of non‑prescription diets/supplements are notable contrasts with some insurers that reimburse prescription diets or offer narrower declared‑condition practices.

VPI Prices

VPI presents a mid‑range market position in 2025, offering a tiered set of plans (Major Medical, Major Medical with Wellness, Whole Pet) that balance core accident & illness protection with optional wellness add‑ons.

The VBW‑I coverage form lists an annual reimbursement cap of $7,500 for that form and indicates that reimbursement rates vary by policy (see declarations); waiting periods are short (14 days for accident and illness under the VBW‑I form), while several benefits (mortality, cremation, boarding, lost/stolen pet support) are integrated into the product package.

Reimbursement rate variability, deductible design, and the stated annual limit are the main pricing levers: higher reimbursement and lower deductibles generally push premiums upward, while the $7,500 annual cap (for the VBW‑I form) constrains insurer liability relative to products with higher or unlimited annual limits.

In practice, plan selection (including the wellness option in the "Major Medical with Wellness" and the broader coverage in "Whole Pet") allows owners to trade premium cost for preventive care inclusion and expanded limits, affecting competitiveness versus both entry‑level and premium offerings.

Key differentiators include bundled assistance benefits—boarding fees coverage (up to $500), mortality/cremation support (up to $1,000), and lost/stolen pet advertising/reward coverage (up to $500)—and a dedicated VetHelpline service.

These added‑value services and the presence of a dedicated wellness tier position VPI between no‑frills providers and higher‑end insurers that offer broader or unlimited annual payouts; the design favors owners seeking a balance of medical coverage and ancillary support rather than purely lowest‑cost options.

To help you compare estimated monthly prices by profile, see the table below.

VPI Promo Codes

Note: Promo codes are subject to change. For the latest offers, check our comparison of the best pet insurance providers.

How much will I be reimbursed with VPI?

VPI reimburses eligible veterinary expenses by subtracting your annual deductible and then paying the plan’s reimbursement percentage on the remaining covered amount.

✅ Example 1: Consultation for allergic dermatitis Total vet costs: $300 (consultation + medication) Deductible amount to subtract: $100 (annual deductible) Amount reimbursable after deductible with the highest-tier Whole Pet plan (90%): $300 – $100 = $200 90% of that amount reimbursed: $200 × 90% = $180 Remaining out-of-pocket cost: $300 – $180 = $120
👉 You receive a reimbursement of $180.
ℹ️ *The owner pays the deductible plus any coinsurance; in this example that’s $100 deductible + $20 coinsurance = $120 total out-of-pocket.*

✅ Example 2: Cruciate ligament surgery (TPLO) Total vet costs: $7,200 (surgery, imaging, hospitalization, rehab, medications) Deductible amount to subtract: $0 (deductible already met earlier in the policy year) Amount reimbursable after deductible with the highest-tier Whole Pet plan (90%): $7,200 – $0 = $7,200 90% of that amount reimbursed: $7,200 × 90% = $6,480 Remaining out-of-pocket cost: $7,200 – $6,480 = $720
👉 You receive a reimbursement of $6,480.
ℹ️ *This reimbursement is applied toward the plan’s annual limit ($7,500 in this example); remaining annual limit after this claim would be $7,500 – $6,480 = $1,020.*

✅ Example 3: Annual wellness exam and core vaccinations (preventive care) Total vet costs: $220 (wellness exam + vaccinations) Deductible amount to subtract: $0 (wellness benefits often have no deductible when covered as part of Whole Pet or with the wellness add-on) Amount reimbursable after deductible with the wellness benefit (example reimbursement rate 80%): $220 – $0 = $220 80% of that amount reimbursed: $220 × 80% = $176 Remaining out-of-pocket cost: $220 – $176 = $44
👉 You receive a reimbursement of $176.
ℹ️ *Preventive care reimbursement depends on whether the Whole Pet plan or a wellness add-on is selected; wellness benefits often have their own sublimit and may waive the standard medical deductible.*

VPI Assistance

VPI’s assistance focuses on practical crisis support: an included 24/7 VetHelpline gives policyholders immediate access to licensed veterinary professionals for triage and guidance. The plan reimburses short-term boarding if an owner is hospitalized and provides lost/stolen pet advertising/reward support plus a mortality benefit that can help cover euthanasia and cremation costs. These benefits target emergency continuity of care and end‑of‑life expenses, which is especially valuable for owners facing sudden hospitalizations or pet loss. Policyholders should confirm details around digital claim handling, direct-to‑vet payment options, and any partner‑clinic arrangements at purchase to ensure the administrative flow meets their expectations.

Customer Reviews on VPI

Policyholders often praise VPI for knowledgeable and helpful customer service representatives who make enrollment and initial questions straightforward, and several reviews highlight the reassurance provided by clear explanations of cover limits and benefits.

At the same time, customers commonly report frustration with premium increases and policy changes over time, and a number of reviews mention occasional communication delays or confusion when navigating claim procedures and administrative steps.

Here are some examples of customer reviews:

• Eric — 02/09/2025 — Agent was very well versed in the Pet Insurance coverage for my 2 cats. He answered all my questions and made sure all my questions were answered.
• Roger A — 01/09/2025 — The process was easy and questions were direct. I wasn't sure of the breed of my cat and had to go online to figure out what breed she was. Some picture examples with the types of breed may be more helpful, maybe not.
• Vicki Williams — 02/09/2025 — I had a policy. On 2 other dogs and your a great company

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FAQ

A. Fruchard

Insurance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and an experienced entrepreneur in the insurance and personal finance sector, Antoine uses his experience and in-depth knowledge of the market to help Internet users make the right choices. With an MBA in economics, he is a committed expert whose mission is to make personal finance and insurance issues simple and understandable. With a rich career marked by the creation of innovative companies, Antoine's ambition has always been to bring transparency to complex issues and to give power back to consumers. With HelloSafe, he continues to translate this vision by providing accurate advice, impartial comparisons and detailed explanations of travel insurance. He has analysed hundreds of contracts to reveal the best options available on the market.