Prudent Pet Insurance Review

Prudent Pet insurance plans and cost

For prudent dog insurance or cat coverage, Pet parents have a choice of an accident-only or accident-illness plan. For routine care, you can add a wellness add-on option. An exam fee add-on option costs extra and covers vet visit fees.

The company's policy filings don't include published monthly price examples for particular pets and locations. Your monthly cost instead depends on your pet and the coverage choices you make when you apply. Your first step is to select a deductible of $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 each year. Before your plan begins paying, you pay a deductible toward covered vet bills each year. This is the dollar amount you contribute.

For covered treatments, your next choice is a reimbursement rate of 70%, 80%, or 90%. You can set a $10,000 annual limit as your yearly payout cap, and the Ultimate plan also offers an unlimited annual limit.

When you insure several pets in one household, you get a 10% discount for multiple pets.

What Prudent Pet includes and leaves out

Accident and illness policies help cover unexpected injuries and sicknesses, plus certain treatments named in the sample policy:

• Hereditary conditions that a pet inherits from its parents
• Treatments involving alternative therapy
• Dental illness and behavioral care, both of which have limited coverage
• Prescription food for dissolving bladder stones
• Vet exam fees, covered only if you purchase the exam fee add-on
• Routine care, covered only if you purchase the wellness add-on

All policies set strict rules about excluded costs, and no plan covers pre-existing conditions. Any illness or injury counts as pre-existing when it begins before your policy's effective date or while a waiting period is in effect.

The standard policy exclusions also include:

• Cosmetic or elective procedures, including tail docking and ear cropping
• Grooming services and boarding that isn't necessary
• Regular pet food and prescription diets that aren't used to dissolve bladder stones

Prudent Pet age limits and waiting periods

At 8 weeks old, puppies and kittens become eligible for a policy. If you have an older pet, dogs and cats can still join because there is no upper age limit.

After your policy takes effect, coverage starts once fixed waiting periods pass:

• Accidents: 5 days
• Illnesses: 14 days
• Orthopedic conditions: 6 months
• Cruciate ligament and knee conditions: 6 months

Health trouble arising during those waiting periods is treated as a pre-existing condition, so standard coverage doesn't apply.

How Prudent Pet handles claims and reimbursement

There's no mobile app to manage your account or send in vet bills. You can file claims online in the pet portal, or send the needed paperwork by email, mail, or fax.

For 75% of claims, processing finishes in 24 hours or less after submission. Plans also come with direct vet pay: the company can send payment straight to your vet instead of you paying the entire amount upfront.

People Prudent Pet works for

This company works well for owners of senior pets, since new enrollments have no upper age limit. It suits families that want no annual cap on the Ultimate plan, or they want a refund period in case no claims are filed.

Other insurers may suit you better if you want a smartphone app. They may also suit you better if you live in Canada. Owners whose pet's breed is prone to joint injuries should keep the longer wait tied to knee and ligament conditions in mind. Covering exam fees through an additional option costs you extra.

Common questions, with answers

Does Prudent Pet insurance offer good value?

A policy can suit you if you want coverage for hereditary conditions and alternative therapy plus the direct vet pay option. Dental illness and behavioral coverage are limited, so check the sample policy to see whether its rules match your pet's needs.

Are pre-existing conditions covered by Prudent Pet insurance?

No. Any condition starting before your coverage starts or during a waiting period falls under coverage exclusions Later, certain non-chronic conditions may become eligible once they are cured and go 365 days without symptoms or treatment Cured conditions aren't automatically approved, and the policy rules treat knee and ligament conditions differently

How can you request a Prudent Pet insurance quote?

Once a dog or cat in the US reaches the minimum enrollment age, you can ask for a quote through the company website. When you sign up, you choose between accident-only or accident-illness plans, pick your deductible, reimbursement, and annual limit, and add any optional add-ons you want.