Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review

Pumpkin pet insurance plans and cost

The company's main plan covers accidents and illness; no accident-only plan is available. If you want help with routine vet visits, you can also add a wellness option.

One published MarketWatch study found a monthly average of $94 for dogs, based on 10 profiles of dogs and cats from all 50 states. This figure is only a published sample average for a dog, and it isn't a typical price for your own pet.

Customizing Pumpkin dog insurance or a cat policy lets you pick settings that shape your monthly bill:

• Choose an annual deductible of $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 per year. The annual deductible works like this: you pay this dollar amount out of pocket each year, and only then does your plan start paying.
• Annual limit: Set yearly payout caps at $5,000, $10,000, or $20,000, or choose an unlimited option.
• Your reimbursement level: Pick either the 80% or 90% payback option for eligible vet care costs.
• Multi-pet discount: After insuring the first pet, you get 10% off for each extra one.

Coverage and exclusions from Pumpkin

Under a standard Pumpkin care pet insurance policy, both dogs and cats are covered for unexpected injuries and sicknesses. Treatments that are Covered include:

• Covers vet exam fees for sick visits and emergencies.
• Conditions that are hereditary or congenital come with no extra cost.
• Coverage includes dental illness care.
• Behavioral issues and alternative therapy

The policy doesn't cover pre-existing conditions. Signs of a health problem in your pet before coverage starts or during the waiting period define a pre-existing condition. However, curable pre-existing conditions may be covered as new occurrences once 180 days pass without symptoms or treatment. This 180-day rule doesn't apply to knee and ligament conditions.

Other base plan exclusions are:

• Preventive care (unless you purchase the wellness add-on)
• Costs for boarding and travel
• Routine dental cleanings if no periodontal disease is present
• Crown amputation, dental caps, and crowns

Waiting periods and age limits at Pumpkin

Puppies and kittens can sign up starting at 8 weeks of age. Older pets can sign up for Pumpkin animal insurance with no upper age limit.

After you buy a policy, every covered category has the same 14-day waiting period:

• For accidents, the wait is 14 days.
• 14 days for illnesses
• For orthopedic conditions, the wait is 14 days.

Claims and reimbursement at Pumpkin

Because direct payment to vets isn't offered, you pay at the visit and receive reimbursement later. Use a pumpkin.care account to file claims online from your phone or computer.

The PumpkinNow urgent pay service can pay qualifying claims for urgent bills as quickly as 15 minutes.

Pumpkin's fit for pet owners

Since you can enroll with no upper age limit, this coverage suits pet parents with senior dogs or cats. It also suits you if hereditary coverage at no extra charge matters, with exam fees included and unlimited payouts available.

If a basic accident-only plan or payment straight to your vet at checkout matters to you, another insurer may suit you better. If a pet has had knee or ligament problems, or has an uncured pre-existing condition, its owner will need another way to cover those bills.

Common questions

Is it worth buying Pumpkin pet insurance?

That depends on whether you want broad accident and illness coverage, including exam fees and hereditary conditions. Full coverage costs more, and you must pay vet bills upfront, since no accident-only coverage or direct payment to vets is available.

Are pre-existing conditions covered by Pumpkin pet insurance?

No, no policy covers pre-existing conditions. After 180 days without treatment or symptoms, a condition that has been cured counts as new. This doesn't apply to knee or ligament issues.

What's the process for getting a Pumpkin pet insurance quote?

Through pumpkin.care, you can request an online price for any dog or cat that's at least 8 weeks old. You can compare monthly costs while building your quote by changing deductibles, annual limits, and your choice of the optional wellness add-on.