Pet Insurance Blog

Is Pumpkin Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

Kari Steer, Licensed P&C Insurance Agent at Pawlicy Advisor
Kari Steere
Licensed Insurance Producer - Pawlicy Advisor
dog waiting for woman on laptop

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?

Compare Top Providers Side-by-Side

Use Pawlicy Advisor's pet insurance comparison tool to see real quotes from pet insurance companies at the lowest guaranteed rate.

100% free to use. No fees. No commitment.

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 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.

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.

What we like about this coverage

  • 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.

  • Their website is very easy to navigate, with a simple chart that allows customers to compare pet insurance options with competitors' plans.

  • Pumpkin is available in all 50 states. There are no network restrictions — customers can choose any licensed veterinarian in the US and Canada.

  • There is no upper age limit on pet insurance for older dogs.

  • 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.

Get expert guidance to help you find the best policy for your best friend.

Do you want to find the best pet insurance?

Let's analyze your pet's breed, age, and location to find the right coverage and the best savings. Ready?

Analyze My Pet

About Pawlicy Advisor

The pet insurance marketplace endorsed by veterinarians, at Pawlicy Advisor we make buying the best pet insurance easier. By comparing personalized coverage and pricing differences we can save you a ton of money, up to 83% in some instances!

Pawlicy Advisor helping a pet parent and their dog find a great deal on insurance

Instantly Compare Pet Insurance Plans

Get Quotes

Guides

How Pet Insurance Works

How To Compare Plans

Determine If Pet Insurance Is Worth It

Determine If Wellness Plans Are Worth It

Vet Visit Costs

New Puppy Checklist

Comparison Charts

ASPCA vs. Pets Best

Pets Best vs. Embrace

Embrace vs. Pumpkin

Pumpkin vs. MetLife

More Comparison Charts

Find Your State

New Jersey

California

Florida

Oregon

Texas

New York

Colorado

Pennsylvania

More States

Dog Insurance

German Shepherd

Rottweiler

Akita

Boxer

English Bulldog

French Bulldog

Great Dane

Pug

Corgi

Chihuahua

Poodle

More Breeds

Kari Steer, Licensed P&C Insurance Agent at Pawlicy Advisor

Kari Steere
Licensed Insurance Producer - Pawlicy Advisor

Kari Steere is a licensed P&C insurance agent in all 50 states and has focused entirely on pet insurance since 2019. As an animal lover with a rescued Terrier named Barry, when she's not helping pet owners find the perfect plan on Pawlicy Advisor, she runs a ranch in Oregon and rehabilitates any animals that come across her path.

More on Insurance Provider Reviews

Pug puppy and young woman
7 minute read

Is Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Good?

Black and orange cat receives pet
5 minute read

Nationwide Pet Insurance Review

Trupanion pet insurance can pay your veterinarian directly. But is it good pet insurance? Here’s what you need to know.
5 minute read

Is Trupanion's Pet Insurance Good?

Woman with Golden Retriever puppy
5 minute read

Embrace Pet Insurance Review

lemonade's pet insurance cats and dogs
9 minute read

Is Lemonade's Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

man holding bowl to feed cat
5 minute read

Is Prudent Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

Dog owner purchasing pet insurance
5 minute read

MetLife Pet Insurance Review

woman using app with dog
4 minute read

24PetWatch Pet Insurance Review

Kitten gets scratch under skin
5 minute read

AKC Pet Insurance Review

woman hugging dog at desk
5 minute read

Is ManyPets Pet Insurance Good? Here's How It Stacks Up

Back to Blog
A family with pets that are insured by Pawlicy Advisor
Pawlicy Advisor is the leading independent marketplace for finding the best coverage for your pet at the lowest rate.
Join 2,438,795+ insured dogs and cats across the US.
Get a Quote
Our pet insurance partners
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Logo
Pets Best Pet Insurance Logo
Embrace Pet Insurance Logo
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Logo
MetLife Pet Insurance Logo
Prudent Pet Insurance Logo