Illnesses, injuries, routine checks, vaccines, welfare treatments – there is a vast number of reasons why your pet may require medical assistance.
Although pets tend to fall ill or get injured more often than we’d like to see happen, not many pet owners are taking the necessary measures to ensure their pup or kitten is treated accordingly.
Fetch also covers a broad spectrum of conditions and illnesses
Yes, pet treatments can cost you a lot and sometimes exceed your budget, which is why pet insurance comes quite in handy. But, with so many available pet insurance companies out there, the choice of pet plans, prices, and extras can be overwhelming. If you are after a reliable and trustworthy pet insurance provider, PetFirst and Dodo are both strong contenders to consider.
However, there are various similarities and differences that can make either PetFirst or Dodo a suitable insurer for your pet. To make a more informed decision, here is a breakdown and a comparison of PetFirst vs Dodo, their individual pet health insurance plans, options, prices, and reasons to opt for either.
Dodo vs. PetFirst: Pet Insurance Throwdown
Before we go into the details of what each of these two pet insurance providers offer – their coverage plans, their annual caps, the deductibles, reimbursement rates, prices, and claims – let’s introduce them first.
PetFirst Insurance was first established back in 2004 and has, since then, been purchased by MetLife Insurance as of 2020.
It is one of the best-known pet insurance companies in the USA, having earned an A+ rating with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). In addition, it has also been a partner of multiple pet charities and shelters and has aided the adoption of countless homeless animals. On top of their charity efforts, PetFirst also offers satisfying pet insurance plans.
PetFirst’s insurance plans are recognizable by their affordability, but also by their stability. However, unlike some of their competitors, PetFirst’s plans aren’t as flexible. Still, the provider is very upfront with what they offer. Regardless of what pet parents end up choosing, the provider ensures that what you pay for once, is what you get for a lifetime.
On the other hand, Fetch by Dodo was founded in 2003, and was, until recently, known as PetPlan. As such, it continued to grow, spreading across both the USA and the UK – where it’s still known as PetPlan. Aside from pet insurance, the provider also boasts its own pet health magazine, Fetch!
After Dodo acquired some stakes in 2020, the brand was renamed Fetch by the Dodo Pet Insurance. But their reputation along with their premium pet insurance plans remained strong. As for which provider has the perfect pet insurance plan for your needs and budget, read on as we get into a full comparison.
PetFirst vs Dodo by the Fetch – Full Coverage Comparison
The first criterion that can make a difference in choosing the right pet insurance provider has to do with the coverage plans PetFirst vs Dodo offer.
Most companies tend to offer several coverage options, and at various price points. These plans can come with varying limits and be suited for customers with different budgetary needs and preferences.
Moreover, some pet insurance companies also have additional wellness and routine care plans and packs, which may be purchased separately, or in conjunction with the basic insurance plan.
These are the insurance cover alternatives offered by PetFirst and Dodo, respectively.
Dodo/PetPlan:
Interestingly enough, Fetch by the Dodo only offers a single yet quite comprehensive and all-encompassing plan.
It covers everything that your pet may need in terms of treatment. This includes:
- Illnesses
- Injuries sustained through accidents
- Dental issues
- Heart disease
- Blood pressure ailments
- Broken bones
- Cancer treatments
- Emergency hospitalizations
- Surgeries
- Diagnostics
- X-rays
- Lacerations
- Vet visits
- Exam fees
- Behavioral therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Chronic and hereditary diseases, etc.
In addition, with PetPlan, you also get coverage for vacation cancellations due to pet illness, and advertising and reward fees in case of stolen pets. Virtual pet visits, done through video, call, or text, are covered for a maximum of $1,000. This also includes diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and acupuncture.
The waiting periods after the enrollment process take up to 14 days and apply to both accidents and illnesses. They take up to 6 months for hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament ailments, and patella problems.
What Dodo doesn’t cover are breeding-related expenses, cosmetic treatments, and pre-existing conditions. Anything like vaccinations, preventative care, spayings, ear-cropping procedures, grooming, or experimental treatments won’t get covered by Fetch by the Dodo.
PetFirst:
As a stellar provider, PetFirst Pet Insurance offers a total of three insurance plans, with varying annual caps. These include the Cost-Conscious Plan, the Most Popular/Recommended Plan, and the Additional Coverage Plan.
- The Cost Conscious Plan has an annual cap of $2,000
- The Most Popular/Recommended Plan has an annual cap of $5,000
- The Additional Coverage Plan has an annual cap of $10,000
In addition, you can also get a separate wellness coverage and routine care plan, that can be easily combined with any of their existing plans.
Overall, PetFirst also covers almost all expenses that you will want to be covered, including:
- Injuries
- Illnesses
- Holistic care
- Blood pressure and heart issues
- Cancer treatment
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Congenital, chronic, and hereditary issues
- Diagnostic tests
- Surgeries
- Ultrasounds and X-rays
- Medications
Some of their coverage comes after a 6 month waiting period since the initial enrollment.
The coverage also applies to =cruciate ligament disorders (cranial, anterior, and posterior), as well as IVDD.
PetFirst does not offer coverage for pre-existing pet conditions or illnesses, dental care treatments, grooming expenses, organ transplants, cosmetic, elective, and experimental treatments. Also not included are pet preventative care or breeding-related fees, such as neutering or spaying.
PetFirst vs Dodo Benefit Limits Compared
Even if you know what each provider offers as part of their pet insurance plans, you also need to know how much you will pay for the plan and what you will get for that price.
Pet insurance companies usually offer various benefit limits. The higher annual caps there are, the better and more flexible your options will be.
The benefit limit essentially informs you how much money you can spend on vet treatments throughout the year before the insurance plan stops covering your expenses.
In that sense, we touched upon PetFirst’s three plans. What we found was that, instead of differing in terms of coverage, they differ in terms of annual caps.
Precisely, their Cost Conscious Plan may be the cheapest, but the annual coverage limit is only $2,000. The Recommended or Most Popular Plan has a benefit limit of $5,000, while the Advanced Plan has a limit of $10,000.
In comparison, Fetch by the Dodo also has three annual coverage benefit limits to offer – one at $5,000, one at $15,000, and an unlimited one.
At first glance, it’s obvious that Dodo’s premium alternatives are the wiser choice since even the low-end option is on the same level as PetFirst’s mid-range one. Additionally, the fact that Dodo offers an unlimited coverage option is a dream come true for most pet owners with sickly pets, or pets undergoing chemotherapy.
However, considering the overall pricing of the two providers, PetFirst is more affordable as a whole. However, the final decision can ultimately depend on the particular pet parent, their budget, and their pet’s needs.
Dodo Insurance vs. PetFirst Insurance – Deductibles Compared
Yet another similar aspect that needs to be evaluated as part of our comparison is the PetFirst vs Dodo deductibles.
The deductible is the portion of the bill that you need to cover yourself before the company’s cover enters into force.
Considering how deductibles are counter-proportional to your monthly premium, a higher or lower deductible is a matter of preference. It depends on whether you like paying the majority of your money upfront or have divided the total sum into monthly rates.
Bearing this in mind, Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance has both annual and per-incident deductibles to offer. These are generally in the range of $250, $300, and $500.
In a similar fashion, PetFirst also has multiple deductibles that you can choose from. The basic deductible that usually comes with all three of their coverage plans is $250. Otherwise, you can opt for a $50, $100, $250, or a $500 deductible.
PetFirst also has several discounts to offer, including a military discount, a multi-pet discount, as well as a lowering deductible – by $25 – for each year that you haven’t filed a claim.
In terms of more favorable deductibles, PetFirst seems to be the clear winner.
Reimbursement Compared – Dodo Pet Insurance vs. PetFirst Pet Insurance
Reimbursement rates and percentages are also essential before choosing a pet insurance provider. The reimbursement rate is the percentage of the vet bill that the pet insurance provider actually covers.
As is the norm, both PetFirst and Dodo have several alternatives to offer. We have to say that both providers tend to be quite average in this regard, especially when compared to other competitors on the market.
To be specific, both Fetch by the Dodo and PetFirst have three reimbursement options pet parents can choose from – a 70%, 80%, and 90% reimbursement. PetFirst’s finds its 80% reimbursement to be the go-to option for most customers since it advertises it as the default for all coverage plans.
Dodo vs. PetFirst Pricing Compared – Dodo vs. PetFirst Average Premiums
The pricing aspect is both the most important and the most volatile aspect to pay attention to when comparing these pet insurance providers. The price depends heavily on a number of factors – the state of residence, the pet type, their age, and breed, as well as how much you’re able to afford.
When it comes to the prices of the average premiums, both Dodo and PetFirst are within the moderate or average pet insurance range. However, both have significantly more expensive rates for dogs, compared to that for cats.
Dodo’s monthly average is $35 for dogs, and $25 for cats, while PetFirst’s monthly average is $23 for dogs and $13 for cats.
Moreover, at Dodo, you can get a military or an online registration discount, whereas at PetFirst you’ll be able to get both military and online registration discount of $20, a multi-pet, healthy pet discount of $50, and an upfront bill payment with 5%-10% discount.
In this regard, PetFirst definitely takes the lead as a more affordable provider. Both their minimum and average monthly prices are significantly more affordable than Dodo’s, while also having more substantial discount options.
Claims and Service Compared
Both Fetch by the Dodo and PetFirst offer easy claim filing procedures, which can be done online. Unfortunately, neither of these two pet insurance companies has a mobile device app for making quick claims, so you’ll have to resort to the desktop variant.
The claiming process is simple for both providers. All you will need is your invoice and a register of the medical issues covered by the insurance. Submit the necessary information and wait for it to get processed.
When it comes to customer service, Fetch and PetFirst are both fast, comprehensive, and helpful, although Dodo’s is not available 24/7. You can expect all claims to be processed in a period between one and two weeks, for both providers.
Alternatives
If you are still on the fence, then don’t worry. We have also compared Petfirst with some other well-known brands like Figo, Healthy Paws, Nation Wide, Pets Best and Trupanion. You can check those out. And find the best pet insurance policy according to your personal preferences.
In Conclusion – Dodo vs. PetFirst
With all information in place, let’s see the overall results of the pet insurance comparison!
While both Fetch by the Dodo and PetFirst Pet Insurance are definitely top-notch pet insurance options, the former is more suited for pet owners willing and able to spend more money on their furry friend’s insurance. And, the latter, PetFirst, is definitely more suitable for budget-friendly pet parents.
On the whole, PetFirst seems to have better discounts and an overall lower price range, making it the recommended choice for pet parents across the US!
