Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review
Healthy Paws pet insurance gives dogs and cats an accident and illness plan that helps cover unexpected veterinary bills.
- Deductible options are $250 or $500 (annual).
- Annual limit options include $5,000, $7,000, or unlimited.
- Reimbursement ranges from 50% to 90%.
- Illnesses have a 15-day waiting period.
- The accident waiting period is 15 days.
- Not covered: exam fees.
- The age limit for joining Varies by state.
- No wellness add-on offered.
Sources: Pet Insurance Terms Explained | Healthy Paws, Frequently Asked Questions | Healthy Paws, Pet Insurance for Dogs | Healthy Paws
Setting up a policy means choosing a reimbursement rate, the part of a covered vet bill that the company gives back. You can pick a rate from 50% to 90%, depending on your pet. New accidents and illnesses aren't covered right away; a 15-day waiting period applies once you enroll (the time before coverage begins).
Affiliated insurers underwrite every policy, among them Indemnity Insurance Company of North America, ACE American Insurance Company, and Westchester Fire Insurance Company. ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company and Atlantic Employers Insurance Company also back the coverage.
Healthy Paws pet insurance plans and cost
An accident and illness plan is what the company sells for dogs and cats. A MarketWatch review points to a single published example: $60 per month for Healthy Paws dog insurance under the accident and illness plan. That is one published example for a dog, not a typical price, since costs change with location, pet age, and breed.
The deductible is the yearly amount you cover yourself before the plan pays, and your choice sets your monthly price. Reimbursement options of 50% to 90% come with $250 or $500 deductibles each year.
You also pick an annual limit: the most the policy will pay in a year. You can choose an annual limit of $5,000 or $7,000, or pick an unlimited payout option that has no yearly cap. No discounts appear in the company's published plan details.
Healthy Paws coverage and exclusions
Unexpected medical problems get help from standard Healthy Paws pet insurance coverage, while routine vet visits don't. After your policy becomes active, it pays toward treatment for:
- Accidents and illnesses that come up unexpectedly
- Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions
- Illnesses that affect dental health
- Alternative therapies
For routine care, the company has no wellness add-on. The following costs are excluded from your policy too:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Fees for veterinary exams
- Wellness care and preventive care
- Dental care that is routine
- Spay or neuter operations
- Training and behavior modification
- Boarding and elective procedures
Waiting periods and age limits for Healthy Paws
Once a puppy or kitten is at least 8 weeks old, you can sign them up. Because the age limit for enrollment varies by state, age rules for older pets differ depending on where you live.
Coverage doesn't start right away after your policy begins. These are the wait times:
- Accidents: 15 days
- For illnesses, 15 days
- For orthopedic conditions, specifically hip dysplasia, the wait is 12 months
Claims and reimbursement from Healthy Paws
You can file a claim for Healthy Paws pet health insurance using the Healthy Paws App, or by using the online Customer Center. You can also email or fax your claim forms if you prefer.
On average, claims take 2 working days to process. Pay the vet yourself and get reimbursed later. Or choose direct vet pay, which sends payment straight to your clinic.
Who Healthy Paws works for
We believe this plan fits pet owners who want straightforward accident and illness coverage with an unlimited yearly payout option and fast claim handling. This policy also suits you if you want hereditary conditions covered together with dental illnesses and alternative therapies, all part of the base plan.
If you want help paying veterinary exam fees or for behavioral training, you might look elsewhere. Another option may suit pet owners who want routine checkups through a preventive care add-on, or a shorter wait on hip dysplasia coverage.
Common questions
Is it worth it to get Healthy Paws pet insurance?
Whether this plan works for you depends on what you value more: an unlimited payout option with direct vet pay, or routine care perks. Because exam fees and preventive care aren't covered, the policy is meant for big, unexpected vet bills, not routine checkups.
Does Healthy Paws pet insurance pay out for pre-existing conditions?
No. Any condition with signs or symptoms that appeared before coverage started stays uncovered, even without a formal diagnosis. However, after 365 days free of symptoms and treatment, curable pre-existing conditions can qualify for coverage.
How can I get a Healthy Paws pet insurance quote?
To get a quote, go to the company website and enter where you live along with basic details about your pet. Your monthly price and the maximum age for enrollment depend on where you live, how old your pet is, and their breed.
Are Paws pet insurance and Healthy Paws the same thing?
Shoppers often search for this provider by the shorter name; its plans are underwritten by ACE American Insurance Company along with its affiliates. To know which coverage you are buying, always check the policy documents for the complete brand name and underwriter.
Terms for Healthy Paws plans
| Term | Plan terms |
|---|---|
| Pets covered | Dogs and Cats |
| Plan types | Accident and illness |
| Underwriter | Indemnity Insurance Company of North America, Westchester Fire Insurance Company, ACE American Insurance Company, ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Atlantic Employers Insurance Company (Chubb Group) |
| Deductible options | are $250 or $500 (annual). |
| Deductible type | Annual |
| Reimbursement options | 50% to 90% |
| Yearly limit choices | $5,000, $7,000, or unlimited |
| Wait before accident cover | 15 days |
| Illness waiting period | Illnesses have a 15-day waiting period. |
| Youngest age to enroll | 8 weeks |
| Oldest age to enroll | Varies by state |
| Exam fee cover | No |
| Pre-existing conditions | Not covered; pre-existing means signs or symptoms appeared before coverage started (no diagnosis needed) |
| Cured pre-existing conditions | After 365 days without symptoms or treatment, curable conditions can become eligible |
| Hereditary conditions and congenital conditions | Covered |
| Dental illness | Covered |
| Behavioral conditions | No |
| Alternative therapies | Covered |
| Wellness add-on | No wellness add-on offered. |
| Pays the vet directly | Covered |
| Claim payment speed | In 2 business days on average |
| Claims app | The Healthy Paws App, the online Customer Center, email, and fax are all options. |
Sources: Frequently Asked Questions | Healthy Paws, Coverage & Exclusions Details | Healthy Paws, Pet Insurance That Covers Hereditary & Congenital Conditions | Healthy Paws, Pet Insurance Plans | Healthy Paws
Pros
- You can set reimbursement anywhere from 50% to 90%.
- Unlimited coverage is one of the annual limit choices.
- On average, claims take 2 working days to process.
Cons
- Exam fees aren't covered.
- There's no wellness add-on for preventive care.
- A 12-month waiting period applies to hip dysplasia.
Compare Healthy Paws against
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