Free pet insurance and more savings for pet owners

Between vet visits, food, grooming, and more, owning a pet is expensive. In fact, Americans spend more than $100 billion on pet expenditures annually, according to the most recent data from the in 2021.

If you spend a significant amount of your monthly budget on your pets, the Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card (issued by Lead Bank) could offer valuable savings. This earns rewards on pet-related purchases and even comes with free pet insurance.

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The biggest benefit you’ll get with this card is free pet insurance. This applies to one eligible dog or cat that’s at least seven weeks old. While only one pet is included, you can add additional pets to your plan and get up to a 5% discount on each premium.

Nibbles pet insurance coverage includes up to $10,000 per year for accident, injury, and illness. There’s a $500 deductible, and an 80% reimbursement rate after you hit the deductible. You can read more below about the specific pet insurance coverage you’ll get with a Nibbles Credit Card.

With the Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card, rewards are focused on pet spending. You’ll earn 3x points on eligible pet purchases at pet stores, on pet services, and at any licensed vets in the U.S.. All other purchases earn one point per dollar, and there’s no limit to the number of points you can earn.

Consider where you buy your pet supplies before you open this card, though. Pet stores and pet shops will earn 3x rewards on spending, but if you regularly stock up on food and treats at larger stores — like or wholesale clubs — that spending won’t count toward this card’s bonus rewards category.

For veterinary spending, the 3x points will apply to the entire vet bill, not just on the amount you pay after reimbursement, which can help you earn solid savings if you take on a large vet bill.

You can redeem your rewards for statement credits at a rate of 1 cent per point.

For example, let’s say you spend $200 per month in eligible pet purchases for a total of $2,400 per year. At 3x points per dollar, you’ll earn 7,200 points over that time, which you can cash in for $72 in statement credits toward your account.

The Nibbles Credit Card is best for any dog or cat owner who spends a significant amount of money each month on pet expenses. But before you apply, make sure your pet is eligible for the insurance benefit and that the pet insurance covers the expenses you want from a pet insurance provider.

Coverage includes things like illnesses, accidents, medications administered at the vet, diagnostics, procedures, and more. Other costs — such as preexisting conditions, boarding, prescription foods, and nonemergency dental work — are not included. Services like take-home prescriptions, preventative care, and vet exam fees related to an accident or illness are only covered when you add them to your policy for an additional cost.

Finally, check if Nibbles is available in your state before applying. The card is offered in most of the U.S., but not everywhere. At this time, residents of Washington, Maine, Colorado, and Massachusetts are not eligible to apply. However, if you live elsewhere and travel to those states, you can still use your card and pet insurance benefits there. If you’re based in one of the four ineligible states, you may want to look at other credit card options that help you save on pet expenses.

The Nibble Pet Rewards card can also be a great way to save money on other pet-related expenses that you make regularly. Pet stores and services are not a common rewards category among other credit cards today. So if you spend a lot of money on getting your pet groomed or on regular boarding, or you’re often stocking up on food and treats at your local pet store, this card’s 3x points can add up to big savings over time.

• Pet spending rewards: If you spend a lot on your pets — whether from buying food at the pet store or visiting the vet’s office — this card’s unique rewards category can help you save with 3x rewards on eligible pet-related purchases.

• No annual fee: The Nibbles Credit Card charges in addition to its free pet insurance.

• Free pet insurance: If your pet qualifies, the Nibbles Credit Card can be a great way to ensure insurance coverage against future accidents or illnesses. Just ensure you read the full terms of the included insurance policy before signing up.

• Few other benefits: Aside from pet insurance coverage, there aren’t any to help boost this card’s value.

• Your pet may be ineligible for coverage: Make sure you read the full list of what is and isn’t covered by your Nibbles insurance. Some costs, like preventative care and vet exam fees, may be available as a policy add-on. Coverage also only applies to cats and dogs at least seven weeks old; other types of pets won’t qualify.

• No welcome offer: The Nibble Pet Rewards Credit Card has no for new cardholders — unlike other top today.

The Nibbles Pet Rewards Credit Card is a Mastercard, so you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. For the rewards and benefits related to veterinary care, any licensed veterinary care provider within the U.S. is in network, so you’re not limited to any specific vet for your benefits.

In addition, this card has , so you won’t pay any extra charges (usually up to 3%) for purchases you make abroad.

You can make a payment through your Nibbles online account. After logging in, navigate to the “Nibbles Credit Card” section of your account and make a payment. You can also check your current balance, your rewards balance, and more.

With no annual fee, the Nibbles credit card could be a worthwhile addition to any pet parent’s wallet, thanks to the complimentary pet insurance it provides through Odie Pet Insurance. The policy comes with a $10,000 annual coverage limit, an 80% reimbursement, and a $500 deductible. You can upgrade to a higher coverage limit, higher reimbursement percentage, or lower deductible for an added cost.

On average, pet insurance for dogs costs about $750 per year, while pet insurance for cats averages $386 per year. So, the Nibbles credit card could help you save hundreds on pet insurance premiums.

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Yes, it includes accident and illness coverage for one dog or one cat. Once you have your policy with one pet, it can’t be transferred to another pet. You’ll need to start a new policy or add the new pet to the current policy.

Keep in mind that if you decide to add more than one pet to your policy, you’ll need to pay monthly for the addition. However, you can get up to 5% off your policy for adding a pet.

The Nibbles credit card is the only card that provides free pet insurance coverage. Plus, you earn three points per $1 spent on pet and vet purchases. But other credit cards can be useful for pet owners, such as:

• CareCredit. CareCredit is a healthcare financing card with no annual fee that you can use to pay for vet bills. Typically, CareCredit provides promotional annual percentage rates (APRs) for a limited time, and if you pay off the balance, you can avoid added interest charges. Plus, as a CareCredit user, you can get a 5% discount on pet insurance.

• Citi Double Cash® Card. Although the doesn’t provide pet insurance as a perk, it allows cardholders to earn up to 2% cash back on every purchase (1% at the time of purchase, and 1% when you pay it off). This card has no annual fee, and you can use it to pay for pet food, pet insurance premiums, and vet bills, plus earn valuable rewards.

The complimentary pet insurance policy offered through the Nibbles credit card covers unexpected injuries or illnesses, including surgeries and hospital stays. It only provides coverage for one pet, but customers can upgrade their coverage to cover additional animals.

The base policy doesn’t cover vet exam fees, take-home prescriptions, preventative care, and some other pet needs. However, you can upgrade your policy for an additional cost (which varies) with many add-ons, including a , for preventative care or enhanced accident and illness coverage with vet visits and exams, take-home prescriptions, and physical therapy. Like most other pet insurance policies, it also excludes .

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You can file a claim online or through the Nibbles dashboard. You’ll need to submit a copy of your veterinary invoices, proof of payment, and copies of your pet’s medical records; you typically need at least the past 18 months of medical records. If it’s your first claim, ask your vet to include a copy of your pet’s complete medical history, veterinary exam notes, and lab work results.

The insurer will then review your claim. If it’s approved, it will send your reimbursement amount via mailed check once processed. Typically, the claim process takes up to 30 days, but your first claim could take longer.

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The Nibbles pet insurance benefit is issued through Odie Pet Insurance. Odie is a reputable and reliable company, but you should always do your research and compare the . Here are a few criteria to look at:

• Waiting periods. Waiting periods for the Nibbles policy vary by state. But overall, the waiting period is up to three days for injuries, 14 days for illnesses, and one to six months for cruciate ligament conditions. This is fairly standard for pet insurance companies, though some companies have shorter waiting periods for cruciate conditions.

• Reimbursement methods. While other companies offer reimbursement via direct deposit, the Nibbles policy sends customers reimbursement via check, so it can take an additional one to two weeks to receive your reimbursement. The company is working on transitioning to direct reimbursement onto the Nibbles Card.

• Coverage limits. The base plan caps coverage at $10,000 per year. That limit will be enough for most pet owners, but if your pet does require expensive treatments — for example, treatments for cancer or surgery for hip dysplasia — you can quickly exceed that amount. Some pet insurance companies offer unlimited coverage options that might be better suited for you and your pet’s care.

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