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24PetWatch Pet Insurance Review

39 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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24PetWatch is a subsidiary of Pethealth Inc. who provides services like pet insurance and companion animal services to customers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The Ontario-based company issues coverage unexpected accidents and illnesses for dogs and cats, as well as microchip ID and lost pet recovery services.

How is 24 Pet Watch rated?

Breakdown

2.5/5
Coverage
2.5/5
Cost
2.0/5
Extras

Overall Rating: 2.2 / 5 (Average)

24PetWatch offers solid coverage and a host of additional items standard that are excluded by most other carriers' standard plans.

Coverage for trip cancellation and living expenses have an annual $500 limit without deductible or copay, which is fantastic.

However, the company's plan structure is somewhat limiting.

Lower level, standard-priced plans have yearly limits that are too low.

And the high limit, customizable plans are more expensive than more or less the same plans from other carriers.

24 Pet Watch Coverage

Coverage - 2.5 / 5

24PetWatch offers one Accident-Only plan, and 5 levels of plans that cover accidents and illnesses.

Each accident and illness plan offers the same coverage items and are separated only by an increasing annual claim limit.

Additionally they offer a wellness add-on.

24PetWatch also has a few additional benefits which are not subject to deductibles and copays.

These include: boarding fees, trip cancellation, lost pet recovery, etc.

As far as coverage goes, these useful extra items are not traditionally included in other standard pet insurance plans.
Pets Covered
Dogs
Cats
Coverage Types
Medical
Wellness
Vet Selection
Unrestricted
Out-of-State Coverage
Yes
Commercial Pets Covered

Medical Conditions Covered

  • Accidental
  • Illness
  • Hereditary
  • Congenital
  • Cancer
  • Chronic
  • Dental Illness

Medical Treatments Covered

  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Prescription Medications
  • Emergency Care
  • Specialty Care
  • Behavioral Therapy

Benefit Limits

Benefit Limits - 2 / 5

Accident Only plans are capped at $20,000 annually.

Accident and illness plans start at $1,500 and go up to $20,000 annually.

Although the lower-tier plans are quite reasonably priced, you must remember that $1,500 or $3,000 worth of coverage per year is usually not going to be enough for a serious accident or illness like dysplasia or cancer.
Benefit Limit Types
Annual
Annual Benefit Maximum
$20,000

Reimbursement & Deductibles

Reimbursement - 2.5 / 5

After you pay your deductible, 24PetWatch will pay 80% of your veterinary bill.

This is the only option regardless of the plan you choose.

Most pet insurance companies allow you to customize this percentage.
Reimbursement Model
Actual Cost
Minimum Percent Reimbursement
80%
Maximum Percent Reimbursement
80%

Deductibles - 4.5 / 5

The choice of deductible you get with 24PetWatch is wholly dependent on the plan you choose.

For example the Accident Only and Essential plans offer only a $100 deductible. Conversely, the Champion Plan -- the most expensive with the highest benefit limit -- offers deductibles $100-$1,000.

While this might seem restrictive compared to other companies at first, you must take into consideration that lower-tier plans, with less deductible choices, have lower benefit limits already built in.

So the choice of a $100 deductible for a a plan limited to $1,500 annually isn't going to automatically mean high premiums.
Deductible Type
Annual
Minimum Deductible Offered
$100
Maximum Deductible Offered
$1,000

Pricing: How much does 24 Pet Watch cost?

Cost - 2.5 / 5

24PetWatch's high level plans with many deductible choices and high annual limits, are still more expensive than comparable plans and even the unlimited plans offered by our other providers.

Starting Monthly Premiums

Dog: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male Golden Retriever in zip code 92683
$43.47
Cat: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male American Shorthair in zip code 92683
$26.13
Rate Details: Annual Deductible: $100, Benefits Cap: $1,500, Reimbursement Model: 80% of Actual Cost

Enrollment & Waiting Periods

Enrollment - 0 / 5

Animals under 8 weeks of age cannot be enrolled.

Accident coverage begin the next day and illness waiting periods are 14 days for all plans except essential which is 30 days.

The company also has a host of minor conditions that are subject to a 2-day waiting period.
Min Enrollment Age
8 weeks
Max Enrollment Age
12 years
Accident Waiting Period
0 days
Illnesses Waiting Period
30 days
Free Look Period
30 days

Claims & Service

Extras - 2 / 5

24PetWatch provides a handy online portal to submit your claims quicker.

If you are unable to use this, you can print a paper claim then email, fax, or mail it back to the company.

Claims can be paid by direct deposit, or to the treating veterinarian's office itself which is highly convenient and not always available with most plans.

The turnaround period the company advertises, however, is 60 days.

This is twice as long as most other plans.

Check out other providers at our review of the 10 Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2018.
Claim Form
Online Portal

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
Headquarters Address
3315 Algonquin Road, Rolling Meadows, IL, 60008
Mailing Address
Buffalo, NY, 14201
Year Founded
2002

What We’re Hearing From Our Readers
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Customer Comments

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S
Sharon

5/11/2018
I have had 24 Pet Watch for several years for 2 chihuahuas. I have a wellness rider on the policy also. They are perfectly healthy, so the only claims I submit are the routine vaccinations and annual wellness checkups. I too experienced a dramatic increase in my premiums, but I ignored it because I, honestly, hadn't paid close attention and blamed myself because the premiums were paid on auto draft . Of my recent submission for over $400 in claims I was only reimbursed for less than $50. Now get this, these were for routine vacs and wellness checkups. My total premium for the two was $185.00 a month (and it just increased again by $10.) They offered only vague explanation for denying... Read More
16 People found this helpful.


S
Sheree

10/23/2017
I have had 24PetWatch insurance for my cats and dog for over 10 years. Since they changed underwriting to The North River Insurance Company it has gone completely down hill. My premiums nearly doubled for coverage that was not greater and I had to re-satisfy deductibles during the year just because they changed underwriting. Customer service is inconsistent. Today a representative hung up on me just as our conversation began about a claim I submitted. They make it difficult to submit claims, requiring unreasonable documentation. For example, they did not accept a "receipt" from CVS pharmacy (which had "receipt" printed on it) as a receipt showing I had paid it. I had to obtain a printout... Read More
13 People found this helpful.


L
Laura

5/15/2018
I was told that when you adopted a pet with 24 Hour Petwatch that there would not be a waiting period as long as the policy was activated through the rescue group. I just submitted a claim for my dog that was adopted in September last year. They denied my claim stating that her condition was pre-existing because of a visit she had in October 2017. ? That was after the policy went into effect. It is now May 2018, I have paid 7 months of premiums for basically what has amounted to NO coverage. Don't waste your time or money with 24 Hour Petwatch.
11 People found this helpful.


J
J. H

1/8/2017
I am a military veteran, and I have received more timely care from the VA than my dog received from 24PetWatch. I was denied a claim on an emergent surgery for my dog. The claim was denied because it involved my dog’s mouth. 24PetWatch stated that they don’t reimburse dental claims, and used that excuse to deny compensation for an emergent surgery. I filed an appeal with a personal letter from my dog’s veterinarian explaining the emergent nature of the surgery, and 24PetWatch still denied my claim/appeal. I have been working on this issue for over 8 months, which is how long their claims process took. 24PetWatch Customer Service is terrible; I had to submit my initial claim... Read More
10 People found this helpful.


Andrew W

11/1/2016
I have been a customer, pet owner, with a policy on my dog since 2014, having signed up when I adopted my pet from the Longmont Humane Society in Colorado, July of 2014. I paid just over $40/month, plus a yearly renewal fee of $19.99. Even though I had visits that I could have filed a claim, I basically got lazy and never filed. I kept all my paperwork, and thought I would actually file once for all of them. NOTE: You must submit a claim within 90 days, or they become invalid. Word to the wise. Last May, our dog had an emergency overnight, 2am wake-up call. We heard her wince and cry out. We searched for her on the bed, as she sleeps with us. We could not find her. I turned on... Read More
10 People found this helpful.


Oksana P

12/6/2016
When my dog reached 6 years, they increase insurance 3.5-fold to make it completely unaffordable. My dog is healthy, no huge claims or chronic health problems. I assume it was their way to remove older and potentially sicker dogs from the pool. Don't use them.
8 People found this helpful.


V
Vicki

5/19/2017
We've had 24 PetWatch for both dogs close to 3 years. We are satisfied with their offerings and find them comparable to others. I just received my 2017 policy renewal and rates are doubling due to a change in underwriters so I started shopping around...again. I find the PW review by Consumers Advocate misleading and outdated: (1) coverage levels changed a few years ago. We have EXTRA with $3000 per policy term max. and $100 annual deductible. (2) I do not find a sliding scale in my new 2017 policy manual. (3) They pay eligible vet exams where some competitors do not pay vet exams. (4) They also pay towards RX diets. Our 2 dogs will have pre-existing conditions should we change companies... Read More
6 People found this helpful.


P
Pam m

10/19/2016
I really liked this company for years. I was with them for 7 years. Two years ago I took the highest coverage. $20,000/$100 ded. yearly at $60 per month. This year at 11 years old, my girl had surgeries totaling $10,000. When the year was up my insurance went from $60 to $166 per month!!!!! Outrageous!!! I want noticed at all either and I'm still fighting it. Plus it takes months to get your money. In fact I have unpaid claims from May still. BUYER BEWARE!!! Ask a lot of questions.... Dont go here!!!
6 People found this helpful.


S
Sam

10/7/2016
This company was recommended to me by the adoption center where I got my dog. I understand that most insurance companies for humans aren't great but this company takes the cake. I submitted my first claim for a minor vet bill after my dog fell down the stairs. I have been a customer for almost two years paying $46/month. My dog had Xrays done and had some medicine prescribed. The total bill was only $299 so I was due around $130 refund from insurance. I submitted the claim and it came back with an email saying it was completed but doesn't say rejected or approved. Just that I will receive a letter with the outcome. I called in to see what the outcome and it was rejected. I was told that a... Read More
6 People found this helpful.


G
Gary B

11/1/2016
Paid 5 years of insurance with 24 Hour petwatch for our Great Dane , put in first claims for urinary problems. They raised our insurance from 61 to 200 dollars and paid 88 cents for 337 dollar claim. Do not use this company, we are seniors on fixed income , these are bad people.
5 People found this helpful.



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