A Vet's Review of Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance
2024

by Frances Wilkerson, DVM

This review discusses the 5 important pieces of coverage and payout structure

To get the most from this review, please read the Guide to Pet Insurance first.
For a detailed look at Liberty Mutual, see Liberty Mutual's Comparison Sheet.



Overview

Liberty Mutual policies are managed by Companion Protect.

It is unclear how long the pet insurance branch of Liberty Mutual has been in existence.

This review refers to their plan: Liberty Mutual Accident and Illness

Liberty Mutual's sample policy was not available at the time of this writing, therefore it is difficult to get a read on the full extent of their coverage.



Coverage Overview

In general, Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance appears to cover examinations, diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, and prescription medications for accidents/injuries and illnesses as long as the condition is not pre-existing, has not occurred during the waiting period, and you have not reached your maximum payout.



Coverage For Chronic Diseases & Continual Coverage For Chronic Diseases

Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance appears to provides chronic diseases coverage as part of the base policy, as long as the condition is not pre-existing, has not occurred during the waiting period, and you have not reached your maximum payout limit.

It is not clear if there are any limits in this coverage.

Their policy on continual coverage for chronic conditions is not clear.



Hereditary & Congenital Coverage

Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance appears to cover hereditary and congenital conditions as long as the condition is not pre-existing, has not occurred during the waiting period and you have not reached your maximum payout limit.

It is not clear if there are any limits in this coverage.



Cancer Coverage

Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance appears to provide cancer coverage as part of the base policy, as long as the condition is not pre-existing, has not occurred during the waiting period, and you have not reached your maximum payout limit.

It is not clear if there are any limits in this coverage.



Coverage For Breed Specific Conditions

Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance appears to cover breed specific conditions as long as the condition is not pre-existing, has not occurred during the waiting period and you have not reached your maximum payout limit.

It is not clear if there are any limits in this coverage.



Maximum Payout Structure

Liberty Mutual has an annual maximum payout structure. They offer plans with a maximum annual payout of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. These choices of maximum payout will meet the needs of those whose calculated "Worst Case Scenario Costs" are $15,000 or less. (See: Picking the Right Maximum Payout)


Summary of Coverage and Payout Structure

Limitations

  • Due to the lack of information that Liberty Mutual pet insurance makes available to the public, it is difficult to get a clear read of the full extent of coverage.
  • Pre-existing conditions policy is not clear
  • Bilateral conditions policy is not clear


Good Points

  • Due to the lack of information that Liberty Mutual pet insurance makes available to the public, it is difficult to get a clear read of the full extent of coverage.
  • Strong Underwriter


Concerns

  • At the time of this writing, the sample policy link embedded in their FAQ page, elicits an error when clicked.


    It is important for pet insurance companies to include sample policies. These policies contain the fine print that is not included on a marketing website. Pet owners need this information so they can make an informed decision before they buy, not after.
  • Pre-existing conditions policy is not clear.
  • Bilateral conditions policy is not clear.
  • Contact Liberty Mutual for information on the specific reasons they may cancel a policy. Given that Nationwide unexpectedly announced the cancellation of over 100,000+ pet insurance policies in the spring of 2024, it's important to have clarity in this area.
  • I would like to see more clarity on when and by how much premiums can increase.



Additional Comments Regarding All Pet Insurance Companies:

  • Make sure you research what customers are saying about the company. A company may have the 5 components that should be part of a pet insurance plan, but the company may not be a hit with customers. Sites to check include but are not limited to BBB.org, Yelp.com and PetInsuranceReview.com Things to look for include but are not limited to: How fast are payments paid?, What are customers saying about the pre-existing conditions policy?, How often are claims denied and for what reason?, What is the customer service experience like?, Are there issues with premium increases?
  • Check with your state's Department of Insurance to see if any complaints have been filed for the company you are interested in.
  • Make sure you understand what the waiting periods are.
  • Make sure you understand their bilateral conditions policy.
  • Make sure you understand any requirements that you must adhere to to maintain coverage.
  • Make sure you read the terms and conditions to get a thorough understanding of all exclusions.
  • Make sure you understand when and by how much your premium can increase.
  • If you change plan levels, there is a possibility that all medical conditions present under the old plan will be considered pre-existing in the new plan. Make sure you ask the company if this is the case.
  • For some companies, pre-existing conditions can be based on signs and symptoms alone, a diagnosis is not needed. For example, if your pet had a cough before you applied for pet insurance and this cough was discussed and written in the pet's medical record, there is the possibility that all future cough conditions, no matter what the cause, would be considered pre-existing - even if there was no treatment given. Make sure you ask the company if this is the case.
  • Pet insurance companies are businesses. The top priority of any business is to make a profit for their stakeholders. Pet insurance companies can and may change your rates and terms to meet that top priority. A change of business ownership or underwriters can also be a catalyst for changes in your rates and terms.

    When you purchase pet insurance make sure you have a realistic understanding of this and how it can affect you.


Additional Reviews:

24PetProtect | AKC | ASPCA | Bivvy | Companion Protect | Doggo | Embrace | Felix | Fetch | Figo | Hartville | Healthy Paws | Lemonade | Liberty Mutual | ManyPets | MetLife | Nationwide | Odie | Petco | Pet Partners | Pets Best | Physicians Mutual | Prudent Pet | Pumpkin | Spot | Toto | Trupanion | Wagmo


**Disclaimer: This review is meant to supplement, not replace your own due diligence. Terms and conditions can vary from state to state. Before buying a pet insurance plan, confirm all information by contacting the company or reading the most current policy for your state. We will not be held liable for errors or omissions. If you see something that is incorrect or needs clarifying, please let me know.

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