It's ironic that so many people think of their pets as family because far fewer of us provide our "fur-babies" with insurance the way we would for a dependent family. Roughly 85 million families in the U.S. own at least one pet, according to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA). But as of late 2018, fewer than 3 million pets were insured. Demand for pet insurance may be on the rise, however, given the uptick in pet ownership that took place during 2020's COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. CNN reported that about one in three people in the U.S. considered getting a pet during the pandemic. Why should a pet owner carry insurance on their animal? Because emergency pet care can climb as high as $8,000 for a single treatment, William Hodges, DVM, writes in a blog post for Pawlicy.com. For people who are ready to make a pet-care plan that includes insurance, or pet parents who are in the mood to shop around for the best coverage option, Forbes Advisor recently ranked pet insurance plans based on how much medical expenses each policy covers, pet-care reimbursement options, and deductibles. The slideshow above illustrates the top 10 pet insurance carriers in 2021, according to Forbes. Related:

• How pet insurance promotes employee financial wellness
• Best pet insurance plans of 2020
• Working group outlining model pet insurance law