Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review November 2024
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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Detailed Review 2024

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance review
Key Takeaways
  • Healthy Paws Pet Insurance offers a comprehensive accident-and-illness plan with unlimited coverage.
  • It covers the cost of treating accidental injuries, chronic health conditions, cancer, congenital conditions and hereditary conditions.
  • This typically includes the cost of medications, X-rays, lab tests, surgery and other services related to diagnosing and treating covered conditions.
  • To see how Healthy Paws stacks up against other providers, we recommend using our online comparison tool. This way, you can get multiple quotes and compare coverage options all in one place.
SUMMARY

Your furry friend deserves the best that life has to offer, but the cost of veterinary care is rising.

Fortunately, several companies offer comprehensive pet insurance coverage at an affordable price, thus increasing your access to high-quality veterinary care without leaving you wondering how you’re going to pay the bill.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is one of the top options. We like Healthy Paws Pet Insurance because it has no per-condition limits, allows you to choose a reimbursement level ranging from 50% to 90% and offers six deductible options ranging from $50 to $1,000.

We conducted this in-depth Healthy Paws review to help you determine if this pet insurance company has a plan that matches your needs.
Best for Range of Reimbursement Options
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via Petinsurer.com's secure website
4.8
Maximum annual coverage 
Unlimited
Reimbursement choices 
50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%
Deductible choices 
$50, $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance plans and what they cover

Healthy Paws only offers an accident and illness policy. It doesn’t offer accident-only coverage or wellness benefits.

While Healthy Paws offers fewer coverage options when compared to other pet insurance companies, its accident-and-illness plan does come with unlimited coverage. This means don’t have to worry about hitting an annual limit if your pet has a lot of vet expenses in a single year.

Let’s take a closer look at what the accident-and-illness plan includes.

Healthy Paws accident and illness insurance coverage

As you might expect, an accident and illness pet insurance plan covers the cost of treating illnesses and accident-related injuries. Healthy Paws has no per-condition limit or per-incident limit, so you can get your pet the care it needs without maxing out your benefits in just a few vet visits.

Healthy Paws accident and illness coverage

  • Accidental injuries
  • Illnesses (sneezing, coughing, vomiting, etc.)
  • Chronic health conditions like allergies, diabetes, obesity, IBD, glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, arthritis, upper respiratory illness, urinary tract disease and kidney disease
  • Hereditary conditions like elbow dysplasia, cherry eye, and intervertebral disc disease
  • Congenital conditions like liver disease, nervous system issues and congenital heart disease
  • Cancer
  • X-rays
  • Ultrasounds
  • Blood tests
  • Prescription medications
  • Emergency care
  • Alternative care like acupuncture, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, laser therapy and massage
  • Specialist visits
  • Hip dysplasia (if under 6 years old at time of enrollment)

Healthy Paws cancer coverage

A cancer diagnosis for your pet can be scary. Healthy Paws includes cancer coverage in their accident and illness plan described above, so you won’t need any additional policies or add-ons.

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect your Healthy Paws insurance policy to cover for your pet’s cancer treatment.

Healthy Paws cancer coverage

  • Cancer diagnostics
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Lab tests
  • Ultrasounds
  • X-ray
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Prescription medications
  • Alternative therapy
  • Rehabilitation
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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance exclusions

Most pet insurance companies exclude several services and conditions from their policies, and Healthy Paws is no exception.

What’s not included

  • Exam fees
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Pre-existing cruciate ligament injury
  • Dental care
  • Routine care
  • Boarding
  • Training/behavioral modification
  • Therapy
  • Medications for behavioral modification
  • Elective procedures

Let’s take a closer look at what Healthy Paws Pet Insurance doesn’t cover.

Exam fees

Dogs and cats need regular exams to monitor their health and make sure they don’t need treatment for any medical problems. If you buy pet insurance from Healthy Paws, you’ll have to cover the exam fees yourself, as they’re excluded from the company’s policies.

Pre-existing conditions

When it comes to pet insurance, most companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is one that occurs before you sign up for a pet policy and make it past the initial waiting period. For example, you may sign up for pet insurance with a 15-day waiting period. If you enroll on September 15, you won’t be able to use your benefits until October 1, even if your pet needs treatment between September 15 and September 30.

Pre-existing cruciate ligament injury

Healthy Paws has what’s known as a bilateral exclusion for cruciate ligament injuries. If your pet injures the cruciate ligament on one leg any time before the waiting period ends, the cruciate ligament on the other leg is excluded from coverage. That means the insurance company won’t reimburse you for any expenses associated with cruciate ligament injuries on either leg.

Dental care

Pet insurance from Healthy Paws doesn’t cover most dental care expenses. However, it will pay for tooth extraction or reconstruction if your pet sustains a dental injury due to an accident.

Routine care

This insurance company doesn’t cover any preventive services, including flea and tick control, heartworm medication, vaccinations, anal gland expression, spaying and neutering. Unlike many insurance companies, it doesn’t offer any wellness benefits that would cover some of these services.

Healthy Paws coverage options

Before you enroll in pet insurance, make sure you understand your options when it comes to deductibles, reimbursement rates and payout restrictions.

Deductible

This is the amount of money you have to pay for pet care before you become eligible for reimbursement. Healthy Paws has deductibles ranging from $50 to $1,000.

Reimbursement rate

Most pet insurers offer two or three reimbursement levels, but Healthy Paws offers five. Your reimbursement level is the percentage of covered vet expenses that are returned to you after you file a claim.

For example, if you have a $1,000 vet bill and an 80% reimbursement rate, you’ll get back $800 as long as you’ve paid your deductible.

The company offers these levels of reimbursement:

Payout limits

In insurance terminology, an annual payout limit is the maximum amount of money an insurance company will reimburse you in a single year. For example, some plans limit your yearly payout to $5,000. If you spend more than $5,000, your insurer won’t cover any additional vet expenses that year.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance doesn’t have any payout restrictions, so you can get reimbursed for your vet bills even if your pet develops a serious illness.

How much does Healthy Paws Pet Insurance cost?

The cost of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance depends on many factors, such as:

To help you understand how these factors affect the cost of pet insurance, we got Healthy Paws quotes for three types of dog and cat breeds.

The table below shows how much Healthy Paws typically charges for cat insurance.

Cat breed Age Monthly cost
Bengal 6 months $30
Bengal 5 years $44
Mixed breed 6 months $22
Mixed breed 5 years $32
Savannah 6 months $27
Savannah 5 years $40

The following table shows how much Healthy Paws generally charges for dog insurance.

Dog breed Age Monthly cost
Alaskan malamute 6 months $57
Alaskan malamute 5 years $83
Mixed (60+ pounds) 6 months $57
Mixed (60+ pounds) 5 years $83
Mixed (1-10 pounds) 6 months $34
Mixed (1-10 pounds) 5 years $50

All quotes are based on a plan with 80% reimbursement rate, $250 annual deductible and unlimited coverage for a customer in the 90001 ZIP code.

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Healthy Paws waiting period and restrictions

Before enrolling your pet in a Healthy Paws policy, it’s important to know the waiting periods and age restrictions.

Waiting periods: For most conditions, you have to wait 15 days after enrolling before coverage kicks in. However, there’s a 12-month waiting period for any treatment related to hip dysplasia or conditions associated with hip dysplasia.

Age restrictions: Your pet must be at least 2 months old before you enroll in pet insurance through this company. Coverage isn’t available for pets over the age of 14. Finally, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance doesn’t cover hip dysplasia treatment unless your pet is under the age of 6 when you enroll.

How does Healthy Paws Pet Insurance compare to other providers?

Based on Healthy Paws Pet Insurance reviews, the company has a strong reputation in the industry.

We especially like the fact that the company offers unlimited coverage, as it eliminates the need to worry about whether you’re getting close to an annual reimbursement limit. Healthy Paws also allows you to choose one of five levels of reimbursement, giving you more flexibility than most pet insurance providers.

Where Healthy Paws falls short is with its waiting periods. With most companies, you can use your pet insurance in as little as 2 days if your pet sustains an accidental injury. This insurer requires you to wait for 15 days, making it more difficult to get reimbursed for some of your vet expenses. Additionally, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance doesn’t offer accident-only or wellness plans, thus giving you fewer coverage options.

The table below shows how Healthy Paws Pet Insurance stacks up against other providers like Embrace Pet Insurance, Spot Pet Insurance, CarePlus by Chewy, and others.

Select a competitor to see how Healthy Paws Pet Insurance compares.
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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Embrace Pet Insurance
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Compare Coverage
Accident & Illness Plan
Available
Available
Accident-Only Plan
Not Available
Available
Surgery
Covered
Covered
Hereditary and Congenital Conditions
Covered
Covered
Chronic Conditions
Covered
Covered
Dental Disease
Not covered
Covered
Allergies
Covered
Covered
Cancer Treatment
Covered
Covered
Physical Therapy
Covered
Covered
Alternative Therapies
Covered
Covered
Behavioral issues
Not covered
Covered
Breed Specific Issues
Not covered
Covered
Emergency Vet Visits
Covered
Covered
Telehealth Visits
Not covered
Covered
24/7 Vet Chat
Not covered
Covered
Specialist Visits
Covered
Covered
Exam Fees
Not covered
Add On
Blood Tests
Covered
Covered
Laboratory Testing
Covered
Covered
X-Rays & CT Scans
Covered
Covered
Wellness Coverage
Not Available
Add On
Prescription Medication
Covered
Covered
Prescription Food
Not covered
Add On
Microchipping
Not covered
Add On
Boarding
Not covered
Not covered
Euthanasia
Covered
Covered
Max Enrollment Age
14 years
14 years
Accident Waiting Period
15 days
2 days
Illness Waiting Period
15 days
14 days
Orthopedic Waiting Period
12 months
6 months

How do I make a claim with Healthy Paws Pet Insurance?

If you need to file a pet insurance claim, you have three options:

File a claim via email

File a claim through the mobile app

File a claim on the website

Submitting a Healthy Paws Insurance claim via email

With the first option, you will need to download a claim form, fill it out and submit it to [email protected].

You must include an itemized invoice with your completed form. An itemized invoice lists each service provided rather than lumping all the charges together. This makes it easier for the claims team to determine if you’re eligible for reimbursement.

Submitting a claim on the Healthy Paws App or website

The the other options are to use the company’s website or mobile app to submit your invoice. You can fill out the form directly in the app or on the site, so no need to download anything additional. Through the app, you’ll be able to easily check the status of your claim to see when its been reviewed.

Getting reimbursed

Once Healthy Paws Pet Insurance receives your claim, a representative will review the itemized invoice to determine if it contains charges for pre-existing conditions or other excluded services. Reimbursement is based on the total cost of covered treatments multiplied by your selected reimbursement rate.

Here’s an example to help you understand how the claims process works:

Assume you have pet insurance with a $250 annual deductible.

At the beginning of the year, you take your dog to the vet and spend $900 on covered services. You haven’t met your deductible yet, so you’re responsible for the first $250.

That leaves $650. If you signed up for pet insurance with a 90% reimbursement rate, the company would send you $585, or $650 x 0.90.

About Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Founded in 2009, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance strives to help dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.

The company offers customizable plans, giving you the freedom to pay your vet directly and choose a deductible, reimbursement rate and payout limit that matches your pet’s needs and your financial circumstances. Healthy Paws also operates the Healthy Paws Pet Foundation, which helps rescue organizations cover the cost of caring for homeless animals.

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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance FAQs

Does Healthy Paws raise rates with age?

As your pet gets older, its risk of developing a serious health condition increases. Therefore, older pets tend to have higher vet expenses. In exchange for taking on the risk of insuring an older pet, Healthy Paws does increase its premiums based on each pet’s age.

Does Healthy Paws have an annual deductible?

Yes. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance gives you six deductible options, allowing you to minimize your out-of-pocket costs without causing your premium to surge. These options range from $50 to $1,000. If you’d have no problem paying $1,000 for your pet’s care, it may be worth it to choose a high deductible in exchange for a much lower monthly premium. When you request a quote, you can experiment with different deductibles and levels of reimbursement to find a plan that fits your budget.

Does Healthy Paws have a lifetime limit?

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance doesn’t have a lifetime limit. This means the company will continue reimbursing you for all covered expenses for as long as you remain enrolled. Additionally, Healthy Paws has no lifetime cap and no per-incident caps.

How long does it take Healthy Paws to reimburse a claim?

The company aims to process all claims within two business days, but it may take longer if there’s a delay in receiving your pet’s medical records.

Does Healthy Paws cover blood work?

Yes. The company covers blood work as long as it’s related to the treatment of a covered condition. For example, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance covers cancer, so your policy would cover the cost of blood tests used to count the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets in your pet’s blood. Like other types of pet insurance, Healthy Paws doesn’t cover blood work related to pre-existing or excluded conditions.

About the Author

Leigh Morgan
Leigh Morgan Personal Finance

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last five years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

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