What if your cuddly companion is wounded or falls ill, but you are unable to pay for it? Medical bills and treatments for your pets can be expensive. With pet insurance in hand, you can unwind without worrying about your pet’s health and the cost of the medical bills if something bad happens.
Pet insurance providers determine an insignificant amount of money for you to pay, and their policy covers the rest. You can devote your complete attention to your pet’s health without being concerned about the potential costs. Choosing the best pet insurance for your furry companion, on the other hand, might be difficult.
Want to jump straight to the answer?
Healthy Paws is Best Choice:
If you’re looking for comprehensive coverage and no limitations
It covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary/genetic conditions, and offers quick claim processing
Pumpkin is Best Choice:
If you prioritize preventative care and lower deductibles
It covers preventive care, has lower deductibles, and offers high reimbursement rates
In this Healthy Paws vs Pumpkin article, we break down two of the best pet insurance companies and what they offer. By comparing the finest insurance companies in terms of coverage, pricing, available plans, and limitations, we intend to help you decide.
Key Differences Between Pumpkin and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
When deciding on the right pet insurance plan for your furry friend, it’s essential to be aware of the significant distinctions between Pumpkin and Healthy Paws:
- Vet Exam Fees: Pumpkin covers vet exam fees for accidents and illnesses, while Healthy Paws does not include this coverage.
- Dental Illnesses: Pumpkin provides coverage for dental and periodontal illnesses, which can be crucial for maintaining your pet’s oral health. Healthy Paws does not offer dental illness coverage.
- Behavioral Issues: Pumpkin includes coverage for treating common behavioral issues such as separation anxiety and aggression, which are valuable for pet owners. Healthy Paws does not cover behavioral issues.
- Preventable Diseases: Pumpkin covers diseases that could have been prevented by routine vaccinations or preventive medication, offering peace of mind. Healthy Paws does not include this coverage.
- Rx Food & Supplements: Pumpkin offers coverage for prescription food and supplements when prescribed to treat an eligible accident or illness. Healthy Paws does not cover these.
- Coverage Options for Seniors and Breeds: Pumpkin does not limit coverage options based on age or breed, offering a 90% reimbursement rate and multiple deductible choices. Healthy Paws restricts options for older pets and certain breeds, offering lower reimbursement rates and fixed deductibles.
- Annual Coverage Limits: Pumpkin provides a range of annual coverage limits, including smart limits based on claim data, such as $10k for dogs and $7k for cats. Healthy Paws offers only unlimited annual coverage.
- Clinical Exam Requirements: Healthy Paws mandates a “complete clinical examination” for pets under age 6 within specific timeframes, while Pumpkin does not require this examination for coverage.
- Hip Dysplasia Coverage: Pumpkin covers hip dysplasia in all pets 8 weeks and up, with a 14-day waiting period. Healthy Paws only covers it in dogs age 6 or younger and has a 1-year waiting period.
- Multi-Pet Discount: Pumpkin offers a 10% multi-pet discount, making pet care more affordable for multiple pets. Healthy Paws does not provide this discount.
- Wellness Package: Pumpkin offers Preventive Essentials, an optional wellness package that refunds routine care expenses. Healthy Paws does not offer benefits for routine preventive care.
Understanding these key differences can help you make an informed decision when choosing the pet insurance plan that best suits your pet’s needs.
Healthy Paws Overview: Pros & Cons
Launched back in 2009, Healthy Paws pet insurance has become a leading pet insurance provider in recent years. It first started as a non-profit organization established to assist pet owners with financial troubles and also to help animal welfare groups care for their animals.
Healthy Paws, such as any other pet insurance, has many advantages and a few disadvantages. Pet owners who purchase the Healthy Paws insurance are covered for various accidents, illnesses, generic problems, and emergency treatments. Here are some of the most significant pros and cons:
Pros
- There are no restrictions or limitations on coverage policies;
- Breed-specific issues such as hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are covered under the policy;
- Acupuncture care treatment and chiropractic treatment are included;
- The plan covers both accidents or injuries and diseases or illnesses;
- Hereditary and genetic conditions including cancer, tumor, diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and dental issues are all covered;
- Simple process of enrolling and filing claims, which can be done either online or via the Healthy Paws smartphone app;
- The claims are handled in less than 10 days, and the reimbursement is very quick – within 24 hours.
Cons:
- There is no wellness coverage or preventative care plan;
- Routine pet visits and immunizations are not included in the coverage;
- One-time membership charge of $25 for new members;
- No multi-pet discount (you have to pay full price for every new enrolled pet).
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Overview: Pros & Cons
Pumpkin pet insurance was founded back in 2019 and is a rather new insurance company. Nevertheless, it immediately started getting the trust of many pet owners worldwide. Its creators looked at existing pet insurance alternatives and discovered that many of them lacked preventative treatment.
Their coverage policy is extensive, and such is the list of benefits that the insurance provider offers. Following are the most prominent pros and cons of Pumpkin pet insurance.
Pros
- Both dogs and cats are eligible for unlimited yearly coverage;
- The insurance covers veterinarian exam expenses for diseases and accidents;
- There are no extensive waiting periods for distinctive injuries such as knee issues or hip and elbow dysplasia;
Preventative care and dental costs are included in the coverage; - Dogs and cats aged 8 weeks and above are eligible for a refund of 90% for all policies;
- There are available discounts for insuring numerous pets at once, determined by the number of pets;
- Vet exams, hospitalization, medication, MRIs and CT scans, and microchipping are all included in their policy.
Cons
- There is no 24-hour pet Healthline with accessible vets;
- The policy doesn’t have an accident-only coverage plan offered;
- Any costs related to grooming, breeding, spaying, and neutering aren’t covered;
- The claim filing process is difficult, and it may take some time until you get reimbursed.
Healthy Paws vs Pumpkin: Coverage and Limit
Both healthy paws and pumpkin provide great pet insurance policies covering various accidents and diseases. However, to ease the decision of which one to choose, we singled out some main differences in their coverage policies and limits.
One thing that seems to set Healthy Paws apart is that the Healthy Paws pet insurance coverage is unlimited and has no restrictions. On the other hand, Pumpkin has an annual limit of $10k for dogs and $7,5k for cats which some pet owners may consider a downside.
Since Pumpkin doesn’t have an accident-only plan, they don’t cover costs for broken bone surgery or some congenital and hereditary conditions such as skeletal muscle defects. Accordingly, Healthy Paws covers expenses for these accidents and ailments that Pumpkin doesn’t.
Another difference between the two insurance providers that goes to Pumpkin’s benefit is that they cover behavioral issues. Anxiety and aggressiveness are very common problems among pets, and treating them right is crucial for both the pet and the owner. On the contrary, Healthy Paws doesn’t cover any type of behavioral issue or the hospitalization period or needed medications.
Does Healthy Paws Cover Neutering?
Since Healthy Paws doesn’t offer a preventative care plan, they also don’t cover expenses for neutering or spaying surgery. Neutering is considered a preventative expense; thus, there isn’t a plan to cover it. The expenses related to neutering surgery, such as hospitalization, medication, and post-operation treatments, are also not included.
Does Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cover Neutering?
Unfortunately, Pumpkin pet insurance also doesn’t cover neutering or spaying. Even though they offer a preventative care plan which should include neutering, they believe this elective procedure is easily affordable. However, any medication linked to the surgery is covered in their Preventative Essential plan.
Healthy Paws vs Pumpkin: Preventive Care
Pumpkin pet insurance compares well with Healthy Paws when it comes to preventative care. Pumpkin believes that avoiding a certain pet illness or disorder as well as an accident is just as crucial as paying for the treatment. Diseases that may have been avoided with immunizations or routine preventative treatment aren’t covered by Healthy Paws insurance.
Healthy Paws, as a company initially dedicated to animal welfare, strongly encourages pet owners to prevent their pets from unwanted diseases or illnesses by vaccinations. However, they believe that preventative care is the owner’s responsibility; thus, they don’t cover it.
The Pumpkin’s Preventative Essential plan covers all expenses linked to preventative care. This includes annual wellness exams, vet exams, parasite screenings, vaccinations, medication, and supplements for prevention and overall health maintenance. Every puppy and kitty under the age of six months and adult dogs and cats are eligible for the Preventative Essential package.
Their policy also covers more major and serious conditions such as parvovirus or Lyme disease, even if the dog has missed a few vaccines. According to some calculations, preventative care treatments can cost over $400 a year for all the exams, treatments, and medication for fleas or heartworm.
Healthy Paws vs Pumpkin: Pre-Requisites
Both pet insurance companies have some pre-requisites and terms the pet must first meet before they are accepted for insurance. At Healthy Paws, for example, your pet must have a comprehensive and thorough examination along with a detailed history of your pet’s previous medical issues. The Healthy Paws pet insurance cost can also be determined based on some pre-existing conditions.
For pets younger than the age of 6, the exam doesn’t have to be as new as several months. You can use an older exam from when the pet was younger, at least 1 year before the policy’s activation date or 15 days later. If your pet is over the age of six, however, the checkup should be performed at least a month before or after their insurance goes into effect.
A clinical evaluation is not required in the Pumpkin policy to obtain expenditure coverage. They also don’t need any pre-established medical examination since they provide a preventative plan which will cover all vet visits after the insurance is activated. Pumpkin insurance also has no pre-requisites regarding the age of the pet or some previous diseases or conditions.
Healthy Paws vs Pumpkin: Limitations
Healthy Paws insurance options provide only one yearly coverage that has no limitations. There are no claim payout limitations with any Healthy Paws pet insurance plan, whether for a claim, for a year, or during the time of activity of the policy.
Quite the opposite, Pumpkin insurance policies include extra yearly limit selections backed up by current claim statistics. After a thorough inspection, they discovered that 2% of dog owners submitted claims for more than $10,000 per year, while 3% of cat owners made claims for more than $7,500 per year.
That’s why Pumpkin pet insurance caps yearly rewards for dogs at $10,000 and cats at $7,500 per year. Customers might pay extra for limitations of $20,000 and $15,000, respectively. Treatment for a major sickness or injury might cost much more, which is not in the pet owner’s best interest.
However, Pumpkin, compared to Healthy Paws, doesn’t have an upper age restriction for hip or elbow dysplasia. The latter requires the dog to be six years or younger to cover the dysplasia surgery. Additionally, the Pumpkin pet insurance waiting period for hip or elbow dysplasia is significantly lower than the 365 days waiting period of Healthy Paws.
Healthy Paws vs Pumpkin: Reimbursement & Deductible
With the Healthy Paws smart App, you can make the claim filing process very straightforward and quick. You will get a reimbursement of the whole amount within 24-hours after filing the Healthy Paws pet insurance claim. At Pumpkin, the process is more demanding and difficult, and you’ll have to wait at least a few days to get your money reimbursed.
Pumpkin pet insurance has better deductible options than Healthy Paws. They offer annual deductibles of $100, $250, and $500, no matter the breed and age of the pet, as long as it’s over 8 weeks old. On the other hand, annual deductibles at Healthy Paws range from $100 to $1000, depending on the pet’s age and breed.
Also, the overall Pumpkin pet insurance cost is rather low since they believe that every pet owner is entitled to a high reimbursement rate. That’s why when you sign up for a plan, you get a 90% reimbursement rate, no matter which deductible option you choose.
On the contrary, at Healthy Paws, pets older than 9 years are only eligible for a 50% reimbursement rate at a $1,000 annual deductible. Younger pets and more specific breeds can get a reimbursement rate of 90%, with deductible alternatives of between $100 and $500.
Which one is the best?
Even though similar, both the pet insurances have their differences that may be crucial when deciding which one is the best. On the one hand, Healthy Paws offers more extensive coverage without any limitations, and on the other, Pumpkin provides better deductibles and reimbursement rates. In the end, the decision is entirely based on your own preferences and the things your pet needs.
Other Pet insurance Alternatives
Let’s jump in to another few comparisons:
- Embrace vs Healthy Paws: Embrace and Healthy Paws are both renowned pet insurance providers, but they have differences in coverage and pricing. Embrace covers exam fees, dental illnesses, and more, while Healthy Paws is known for its unlimited coverage.
- Lemonade vs Healthy Paws: Lemonade offers digital-focused insurance services and covers pets in addition to homeowners and renters. Healthy Paws specializes in pet insurance, providing comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses.
- Petfirst vs Healthy Paws: Petfirst emphasizes comprehensive pet insurance, while Healthy Paws focuses on reimbursement for veterinary bills. The choice between them depends on your specific coverage needs.
- Trupanion vs Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: Trupanion is known for its straightforward, comprehensive coverage. Healthy Paws offers similar coverage but with some variations. The choice depends on your pet’s unique needs.
- Healthy Paws vs ASPCA: Healthy Paws is a leading provider of pet insurance with a strong focus on comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses. The ASPCA also offers pet insurance, but their coverage may vary. Consider which aligns better with your pet’s needs.
- Figo vs Healthy Paws: Figo emphasizes technology and comprehensive pet insurance, similar to Healthy Paws. However, their coverage options and pricing may differ, so it’s essential to compare them closely.
- Healthy Paws vs Nationwide Pet Insurance: Healthy Paws is known for its customizable plans and quick claims processing. Nationwide Pet Insurance offers a variety of pet insurance plans, including wellness coverage, making it suitable for different pet owners.
- Lemonade vs Pumpkin: Lemonade provides digital, customer-centric insurance services, including pet insurance. Pumpkin focuses solely on pet insurance, with a strong emphasis on comprehensive coverage and preventive care.
- Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review: Pumpkin offers comprehensive pet insurance and an optional wellness package to ensure your pet’s health is well-cared for. Their emphasis on preventive care sets them apart from other providers.
