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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

3,291 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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Healthy Paws is a pet insurance company based in Washington state that provides coverage for cats and dogs. They are underwritten by Chubb Group, a consistently highly-rated insurer.

Healthy Paws offers an industry-leading suite of policies that include unlimited lifetime benefits, high reimbursement, affordable coverage, and top rated customer service.

How is Healthy Paws rated?

Breakdown

4.5/5
Coverage
4.0/5
Cost
4.0/5
Extras

Overall Rating: 4.4 / 5 (Excellent)

Healthy Paws ranks highly among the pet insurance companies we've reviewed. The company offers a single pet insurance plan with multiple reimbursement options, comprehensive coverage for alternative therapy and no caps of any kind.

Reimbursement is based on the cost of your actual vet bill and there is no limit as to the type of or how many claims you can make for covered conditions. Healthy Paws provides all of this at the same or sometimes lower prices than less comprehensive plans.

Healthy Paws Coverage

Coverage - 4.5 / 5

Compared to other pet insurance providers, Healthy Paws offers the most comprehensive coverage and does so without any caps or limits. Policies cover all accidents and illnesses without restrictions for hereditary or congenital conditions.

The company also includes services like advanced testing, surgeries, hospital stays, and prescription medications, as well as alternative therapies and emergency care.

Healthy Paws does not have a wellness plan, but they will treat canine hip dysplasia if it is not a pre-existing condition.
Pets Covered
Dogs
Cats
Coverage Types
Medical
Vet Selection
Unrestricted
Out-of-State Coverage
Yes
Commercial Pets Covered

Medical Conditions Covered

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

Medical Treatments Covered

  • Diagnostic Testing
  • Surgery
  • Hospitalization
  • Prescription Medications
  • Emergency Care
  • Specialty Care
  • Alternative Care

Benefit Limits

Benefit Limits - 4.5 / 5

Where Healthy Paws really asserts its dominance is in benefit limits. Regardless of the plan you choose, there are no caps on coverage, either annual, lifetime, or per incident.

Generally speaking, other companies offer unlimited benefits as an option available only for their highest level and most expensive plans. This is not the case with Healthy Paws; it is included in their standard price plan.

As long as the condition or treatment is covered under the plan (very few restrictions do apply) there is no limit to what the company will pay to make your animal well.

One Healthy Paws customer reported to us that the company recently paid out over $18,000 on a $20,000 vet bill in order to save the life of a dog suffering from cancer. More recently, another customer wrote, "I have a six-year-old German shepherd. Unfortunately, he already has had more than his share of problems, from herniated discs to cancer. Healthy Paws has not given me any hassle or trouble, even though his expenses to date are approaching $40,000. This was by far the best financial decision I have ever made."
Benefit Limit Types
Unlimited

Reimbursement & Deductibles

Reimbursement - 4 / 5

As with deductibles, Healthy Paws is in line with the industry's best companies by allowing you the flexibility of customizing your reimbursement percentage as well.

You can select either 70%, 80%, or 90% at the outset of your policy. Healthy Paws reimbursement is based on the actual veterinary bill.

The company will compile all covered treatments for a given claim and pay your chosen percent after you've met the deductible. As with low deductibles, high percentage payouts are going to equal a more costly monthly premium.
In general, Healthy Paws pays on a reimbursement model. Policyholders pay the vet up front for treatment, submit their claims to Healthy Paws, and receive a reimbursement. However, in situations where pet owners can't pay their vet at the time of treatment, they have the option of contacting Healthy Paws and asking them to pay the vet directly. If the veterinary hospital is willing to accept payment from Healthy Paws, the insurer can work directly with it to expedite access to medical records and claim processing. This direct payment option is available on a case-by-case basis and applies to treatment by any licensed vet in the United States. It is not limited to any specific network of vets.
Reimbursement Model
Actual Cost
Minimum Percent Reimbursement
70%
Maximum Percent Reimbursement
90%

Deductibles - 4.5 / 5

Like all the best pet insurance companies, Healthy Paws allows you to customize your deductible to best suit your financial needs.

Values can be set at $100, $250, and $500. Lower deductibles do result in higher premiums. But many customers will appreciate the flexibility Healthy Paws offers.
Deductible Type
Annual
Minimum Deductible Offered
$100
Maximum Deductible Offered
$500

Pricing: How much does Healthy Paws cost?

Cost - 4 / 5

Considering the few benefit limits Healthy Paws imposes and the company's customizable payout percentages and deductibles, Healthy Paws plans are reasonably priced and even cheaper than less substantial plans.

Starting Monthly Premiums

Dog: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male Golden Retriever in zip code 92683
$32.83
Cat: Sample Monthly Premium, 1 year old male American Shorthair in zip code 92683
$17.19
Rate Details: Annual Deductible: $500, Benefit Cap: Annual & Unlimited, Reimbursement Model: 70% of Annual Cost
Available Discounts:

Enrollment & Waiting Periods

Enrollment - 5 / 5

Healthy Paws enrolls pets 8 weeks and older. While some companies have no upper age enrollment restrictions, Healthy Paws limits coverage to pets 13.99 years old and younger.

Some companies offer accident coverage immediately upon premium payment. Healthy Paws imposes a 15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses.

The waiting period for hip dysplasia is 12 months. Healthy Paws will not cover hip dysplasia if the pet was 6 years or older at the time of enrollment. Other companies we review have no such restrictions on hip dysplasia.

For pets younger than 6 you'll have to provide documentation of a complete physical within the last 12 months. Pets older than 6 must have had a complete examination within the last 30 days.
Min Enrollment Age
8 weeks
Max Enrollment Age
14 years
Accident Waiting Period
15 days
Illnesses Waiting Period
15 days
Free Look Period
30 days

Claims & Service

Extras - 4 / 5

Healthy Paws has a proven track record of fulfilling claims fast and with as little fuss as possible compared to other pet insurance companies.

Customer support is efficient, courteous and available 7 days a week. With Healthy Paws, you have the ability to file a claim online or through their mobile app.

You simply submit the veterinarian invoice and the company will send you the reimbursement check. 99% of claims are processed in 2 days.
Advertised Response Time
3 days
Claim Form
Email
Fax
Online Portal
Mobile App

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
Headquarters Address
11120 NE 33rd Place, Bellevue, WA, 98004
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 50034, Bellevue, WA, 98105
Year Founded
2009

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3291 Customer Comments & Reviews

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BrewsMom

3/3/2017
We checked out pet insurance as soon as we picked our fur baby up! Healthy Paws was the BEST choice for us! Not only are they reasonably priced, but they make it super easy to file a claim (we can text in a photo of receipts from our phone using the app!), and the response time is incredibly fast! We recently had an emergency room visit for our Lab five days before having our first baby! Needless to say, I was quite stressed as we paid a very hefty bill! Thankfully, Healthy Paws received and responded to the claim in super fast time- our refund check was waiting for us when we got home from the hospital! Not only that, but they emailed to ask how our dog was doing after! I highly recommend... Read More


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David

3/3/2017
I've had no problems submitting claims for my two dogs -- one with a lifelong illness that requires bi-monthly injections, and the other with a recent spinal injury that required major surgery. Healthy Paws quickly reimbursed me at the level I expected and with little hassle. I literally recommend Healthy Paws to every pet owner I know, it is by far the smartest investment I ever made.


J
Jrsharber

3/3/2017
I am a practicing emergency veterinarian and have 3, soon to be 4 of my fur babies insured under Healthy Paws. When Priya, my 1 1/2 year old got sick with inflammatory bowel disease, I had nothing to worry about when it came to providing her the absolute best care because I had Healthy Paws at my back. I recommend Healthy Paws to every pet parent! Believe me, it's so worth the protection!


Veronica B

3/2/2017
As soon as Linus, a Cotton de Tulear joined our family my wife was bent on investing on Pet insurance. She looked into a lot of insurers and decided to take a chance with Healthy Paws. I have to say it is one of the best decisions she's ever made. Healthy Paws has been such a blessing to us and Linus. They have come through for us in spades in two major health issues with our beloved pet. The first one was major stomach issue which required an endoscopy costing over two thousand dollars. At first, we were unsure whether Healthy Paws would actually reimburse the covered amount....and if so maybe the reimbursement would take ages. Nothing could be further from truth. After my wife submitted... Read More


S
Seth

3/2/2017
Healthy Paws is outstanding - we couldn't give it any higher of a recommendation! When our Jack Russell, Rocky, got diagnosed with congestive heart failure the medical bills started to pile up quickly but with Health Paws we were able to get him the care that he needed without having the stress of wondering how we'd have to cover all of the specialist fees. When Rocky passed away, the Healthy Paws team sent us a hand written condolences card that meant to world to our family as we were grieving. We currently have Healthy Paws for our bulldog, Cenzo, and our puppy, Lucca. Cenzo has had a nasty spat with skin issues (yay bulldogs!) this year with dermatologist bills and medication... Read More


D
Deidre

3/1/2017
I started an insurance policy with Healthy Paws in 2013 and it has been a Godsend! Charlie, my sweet and exuberant Puggle, suffered from bladder stones, a liver shunt and just recently a cruciate ligament tear. He's had four surgeries and I didn't have to fret over medical costs because my plan with Healthy Paws covered 90% of the cost of all surgeries, medications, etc. The claims couldn't be easier to file online with a simple upload and the processing time is incredibly fast. I couldn't believe how easy it was! They even check in to see how your fur baby's doing after surgery.


T
TONI W

2/28/2017
I have had HEALTHY PAWS pet insurance on my 6 pd Maltese going on 3 years. I can not say enough good things aboout them. We found out when we took Bella to be spayed and micro chipped that she has a congenital Liver Shunt. We were heart broken to hear this diagnosis . Our Vet sent us to a specialty Clinic where every specialty physician you would find for humans were available for Dog and Cats and I"m sure other animals as well. Bella was first seen by Internal medicine physician, then on to a. Surgeon. It was determined that Bella has the most serious of the 2 kinds, but she was operated on and spayed at the same time. They put Bella on a special diet, and vitamin for her liver... Read More


M
Margaret M

2/28/2017
I have had Healthy Paws Pet Insurance for my 5 year old Golden Retriever since she was about 5 months old. We have had a few small medical things come up, which Healthy Paws always processed quickly, but the much bigger, surgical problem came up this month. The ultrasound and tests that needed to be done prior to surgery were all covered, and the surgery and hospitalization was expensive, and (after my deductible, of course) it was all covered by Healthy Paws. In fact, I received the reimbursement check from Healthy Paws within one week of my dog's surgery. It is hard to imagine it getting better than that - I'm very glad that I had Healthy Paws Insurance as we went through this surgery.


A
Alex P

2/28/2017
Healthy Paws!! If health insurance companies for humans were as efficient as Healthy Paws we wouldn't have any worries in life..... A few months ago we purchased a beautiful pure breed English bulldog puppy. Knowing the traditional issues that English bulldogs bring with them we decided it would be prudent to purchase an insurance plan for him. Sure enough, a few weeks ago he developed aspiration pneumonia (very common in this breed) and had to be hospitalized for 36 hours. He recovered well, but an expensive medical bill was waiting for me when we checked him out of the hospital. This is where Healthy Paws came in. Their health app is absolutely amazing...I just clicked on... Read More


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Natalie M

2/27/2017
I investigated 4 companies before deciding which insurance to use. I have two dogs and insure both through Healthy Paws because of a combination of an affordable premium, coverage, and good reviews. One of my dogs seems to always be visiting the vet for one reason or another. The Healthy Paws app for submitting claims is incredibly easy and they review the claims very quickly. Most recently, they approved coverage for x-rays, CT scans, and double elbow surgery on my 1-year old which ensures that she will not have premature arthritis issues. We are very happy to have signed-up with Healthy Paws.



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