Prudent Pet Insurance is a relatively new player in the pet insurance industry. Launched in 2018, the company offers comprehensive coverage and budget-friendly plans for cats and dogs. But how do Prudent Pet’s premiums, pricing, and claim reimbursements stack up against the already well-established competitor companies?
Learn more about Prudent's policies, rates unique features, and more so you can make the best choice for your pet and your wallet.
Table of Contents
- Prudent Pet Insurance background
- Prudent Pet Insurance review
- What we like about this coverage
- What could be improved
- Is Prudent Pet Insurance worth it?
- How to choose the best pet insurance
Prudent Pet Insurance background
Prudent Pet was founded in 2018, which means that it is a relative newcomer to the pet insurance market. However, the company has a high-rated underwriter - United States Fire Insurance Company, which has an A rating from AM Best.
Prudent Pet Insurance review
Available plans
Prudent Pet Insurance offers Accident and Illness coverage and Accident-Only coverage.
- The Accident & Illness plan covers a number of veterinary services including CT scans, MRI, and X-rays, IV fluids, laboratory tests, cancer treatments, veterinary examinations and consultations, alternative therapy, medical supplies, FDA-approved prescription medications, supplements, and prescription food to treat a covered condition, medical supplies, stem cell therapy, tooth extractions, treatment for behavioral issues, microchipping, end-of-life expenses, etc.
- The Accident-Only plan covers the same services covered by the Accident and Illness policy but only for incidents relating to accidents and injuries.
The company requires customers to wait 14 days after their policy begins before they can file an illness claim. The waiting period for accidents is five days.
Prudent Pet Insurance also offers two wellness riders that can help cover the cost of preventative and routine: Basic Preventive Care and Prime Preventive Care.
Exclusions
Like most pet insurance providers, Prudent doesn’t offer pet insurance for pre-existing conditions. However, the company might offer coverage if the condition was cured for six or more months and your pet has been symptom-free and treatment-free for 180 days. This rule doesn’t apply to knee and ligament conditions.
The company also excludes aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, herbs or natural remedies, anal gland expression, boarding, vet house calls or travel expenses, grooming or grooming supplies, food or special diets, and funeral expenses.
If your pet had a knee injury before signing up or during the waiting period, Prudent won’t cover the second leg in case of an injury. It is considered a bilateral condition.
Pricing
For the Accident & Illness policy, customers can choose from the following coverage options:
- Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80%, or 90%
- Annual coverage limits: $5,000 or unlimited
- Deductible: $100, $250, or $500
The Accident-Only policy comes with the following coverage limits:
- Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80%, or 90%
- Annual coverage limits: $10,000 or unlimited
- Deductible: $100, $250, or $500
The wellness riders have a fixed monthly cost and cover only a certain amount for each service:
- The Basic Preventive Care plan costs $9.95 a month and comes with an annual limit of $250.
- The Prime Preventive Care plan, on the other hand, is a bit more costly at $24.95 a month and has an annual limit of $450.
Discounts
Prudent Pet Insurance offers a 10% discount for each additional pet you insure. There are additional pet insurance discounts available for members of the military and veterinarians. You may need to speak to one of the company's customer service agents for a Prudent pet insurance promo code to access the deal.
In addition, the company will send you an Amazon eGift card worth $15 and will make a donation to Best Friends Animal Society if you refer a friend who purchases a policy.
Claims and reimbursement times
Prudent Pet Insurance allows customers to file claims through their online portal or via email, snail mail, or fax. You can choose to have your reimbursement by direct deposit or mailed by check, which typically takes between 10 and 14 days.
What we like about this coverage
Prudent Pet Insurance has a Pick Your Price tool that allows pet parents to name their price and see which coverage options they have available to choose from.
Customers can opt to pay their premiums monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Prudent will refund any premium you have paid if you cancel your policy within 30 days (as long as you haven’t been reimbursed for any claim submission).
There is no maximum age limit. Prudent Pet Insurance covers pets of all breeds and ages.
The company takes pride in its “lightning-fast claims processing powered by AI” and customer testimonials confirm this. The claim reimbursement time is 10 days on average.
What could be improved
While Prudent’s premiums cover a wide range of benefits, they are significantly higher than the average pet insurance policy.
Another downside is the prolonged waiting period for injuries. Similar policies by other pet insurance companies offer accident benefits that start two to three days after enrollment, so Prudent’s waiting period of five days is a bit longer than average.
Is Prudent Pet Insurance worth it?
With their straightforward plans, transparent pricing, and the useful Pick Your Price tool, Prudent Pet Insurance is a perfect option for pet parents who want to know exactly what they are getting for their money. However, the company’s premiums are somewhat higher than average.
It should also be noted that Prudent has been in the business for only a few years while many competitor companies, such as AKC and Nationwide who have decades of experience in pet insurance.
How to choose the best pet insurance
Searching for pet insurance can be daunting. There are many different insurance companies to go through and even more policies to choose from within each company. So, how do you know which one is best for your pet?
To help you make an informed decision and help you spend less time researching, more time with your four-legged friend, we’ve done the hard work for you. Check out our unbiased, data-driven pet insurance reviews or get a personalized quote tailored to your pet’s information to find the best plan at an incredible value.
