There’s no doubt that pet insurance is highly beneficial for pet owners and their pets. But how to choose the one that’s right for you and your pet?
Before you make a final decision, learn more about Pumpkin Pet Insurance, including its policies, pricing, waiting periods, discounts, and more to see how it compares to other pet insurance companies.
Table of Contents
- What's with all the buzz?
- Pumpkin Pet Insurance review
- What we like about this coverage
- What could be improved
- Is Pumpkin Pet Insurance worth it?
- How to choose the best insurance for your pet
What's with all the buzz?
Pumpkin is one of the newer companies to enter the pet insurance space, joining other newcomers like Lemonade and MetLife. It was founded in April 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, in response to the increased number of pet adoptions and purchases across the US.
Pumpkin was launched by the global veterinary vaccine and drug producer Zoetis with an aim to offer pet owners an affordable way to treat their four-legged companions in case of unexpected illnesses and accidents.
Like a number of other pet insurance companies, like Liberty Mutual and Spot, Pumpkin’s pet policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company.
(Image source: Business Wire)
Pumpkin Pet Insurance review
There are several features that make Pumpkin different than other pet insurance providers. For instance, they provide insurance for pets at any age, starting from eight weeks old and including senior pets.
Pumpkin also doesn’t have long waiting periods for certain conditions like hip dysplasia. The waiting period is 14 days after the policy’s effective start date for all conditions, including illnesses, accidents, and even conditions like hip dysplasia or knee injuries, which usually have a six-month waiting period with other pet insurance providers.
Unlike some insurers, Pumpkin Pet Insurance won’t refuse to pay for services if they feel the illness or injury could have been prevented. The company also doesn’t require a vet exam prior to offering coverage.
Available plans
Pumpkin offers two types of plans: Accident & Illness insurance, and an optional Preventive Care coverage.
- The Accident & Illness policy covers most major health conditions and incidents, including cancer, respiratory infections, skin conditions, kidney disease, UTIs, broken bones, bite wounds, toxic ingestions, and more. Some of the treatments and procedures covered in this policy include hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, alternative therapy, prescription diet foods, supplements, dental treatments, microchipping, exam fees, CT scans, MRIs, etc.
- The Preventive Care plan is an optional add-on that offers coverage for routine care. It includes a yearly wellness exam fee, yearly fecal test, vaccines (one for cats, two for dogs, and four for puppies), and yearly blood tests for dogs.
Exclusions
Like most other pet insurers, Pumpkin doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. However, the company will cover conditions that are considered cured and are without symptoms or treatment for 180 days. This doesn’t apply to knee and ligament conditions.
The rest of the exclusion lists includes grooming, breeding, cosmetic and elective procedures, anal gland expression, organ transplant, herbal products, funeral services, etc.
Pricing
When it comes to pet insurance costs, Pumpkin has different pricing for dogs and cats. The final cost will also be affected by the plan type, as well as your pet’s breed, age, and location.
All Pumpkin’s insurance policies have a 90% reimbursement rate, which means that customers will pay less during a claim, but the premiums begin at higher rates.
Customers can choose from two annual limits ($7,000 or $15,000 for cats and $10,000 or $20,000 for dogs) and three different annual deductibles ($100, $250, or $500)
The Preventive Care add-on costs $11.95 a month for cats and $18.95 a month for dogs.
Discounts
Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers a 10% discount for each pet added to your policy, which makes it a perfect choice for owners with multiple pets.
Claims and reimbursement times
Customers can start filing claims once their insurance policy is in effect after their veterinarian provides them with a bill for the covered procedure.
The Preventive Care Essentials plan doesn’t have a waiting period, which means that customers can file preventative claims as soon as they sign up for Pumpkin’s pet insurance.
The claims process is quite simple and straightforward. Customers can submit claims forms digitally through their Pumpkin account by simply attaching the vet receipt. Claims are processed quickly and customers can be reimbursed by either a direct deposit or a check.
Customers can either pay the veterinarian upfront and submit a claim for reimbursement from Pumpkin or, if the vet doesn’t require immediate payment in full, they can have the insurance company pay them directly.
No details are given on waiting periods for reimbursement.
(Image source: Pumpkin)
What we like about this coverage
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Pumpkin covers many illnesses and incidents that some other pet insurance companies don’t, such as behavioral issues, hereditary conditions, chronic diseases, and dental problems. It also offers optional coverage for preventative care at a low cost, with 100% reimbursement for vaccines and annual wellness exams.
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Their website is very easy to navigate, with a simple chart that allows customers to compare pet insurance options with competitors' plans.
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Pumpkin is available in all 50 states. There are no network restrictions — customers can choose any licensed veterinarian in the US and Canada.
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There is no upper age limit on pet insurance for older dogs.
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Finally, Pumpkin offers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case customers aren’t happy with their policy.
What could be improved
Pumpkin’s plans are less customizable compared to other pet insurance companies. The reimbursement rate is capped at 90% and there is little flexibility in annual limits.
Is Pumpkin Pet Insurance worth it?
Pumpkin Pert Insurance is great for families with multiple pets who can benefit from the company’s discount for each additional policy, as well as for owners who are looking for comprehensive dental coverage. However, since all Pumpkin’s pet insurance policies have a 90% reimbursement percentage, they can be more expensive than their competitors.
If you are looking for more affordanle pet insurance plans, consider checking out Pets Best Pet Insurance. You can compare many more providers on our using Pawlicy Advisor’s pet insurance comparison charts or by heading over to our Insurance Advice Blog.
How to choose the best insurance for your pet
Researching insurance plans based on a wide set of criteria can be very challenging for pet parents. There are so many variations and unfamiliar phrasings that demand careful consideration when choosing the best pet insurance plan for your four-legged friend.
Pawlicy Advisor simplifies pet insurance by breaking down the fine print in terms that are easy to understand. Our cutting-edge technology scans for the policies with the greatest lifetime value and provides customized, unbiased results based on your pet's unique age, breed, and location.
Start your search for the best pet insurance with Pawlicy Advisor to see why we're the only marketplace actively endorsed by veterinarians.
