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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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Mel R

7/27/2015
I don't like the fact this company and many others do not offer Wellness Plans. I have to WAIT for my dog to have a condition to use the insurance. I want assistance in his regular everyday health. Once I know it cost a little more but their are some pet owners who are willing to pay a little higher premium to have a wellness plan. Because of you exclusion of that alone, I am rating you with 1 star. Also, the fact that this review would not let me submit without a photo is ridiculous.


S
Steve R

7/25/2015
I just added our other dog "Bentley" to our policy today. Healthy Paws has been insuring our younger dog "Chunk" since we got him a few years ago. Hands down these people are the best in the industry!!! They have always come through for us when we needed them. Its nice to know that a company such as this is reputable and honest. I highly recommend anyone with a pet to sign up now and have the piece of mind knowing that your covered with an insurance policy so you can get the care and help when your pet needs it.


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Laura B

7/16/2015
Healthy Paws is incredible. I've had different pet health insurance plans over the years, and this is unmatched. Best aspects: no lifetime maximum coverage, excellent customer service (I contact them via email, and the turnaround is remarkably quick), quick reimbursement (within 2 weeks of submitting a claim), simple claim submission process, and competitive prices. My dog Callie has had $5,000 in claims in the last two months due to excessive panting. About $500 was for physical exams, which isn't covered, but Healthy Paws paid 90% of the rest, which was for tests and medications. I selected a plan with a $100 annual deductible and 90% coverage. Callie had already met the $100 deductible.... Read More


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Chelsea F

6/8/2015
I don't usually write online reviews, but I was compelled to after the excellent customer service I received with Healthy Paws. Simply put, they have some of the best customer service I have ever encountered. I had been hesitant to purchase pet insurance as so many of my friends and colleagues told me "it wasn't worth it." I was still tossing around the idea of getting it when I came across other healthy paws reviews. They were so overwhelmingly positive, that I thought it would be worth it - and it certainly was. My puppy decided to eat the spiral binding of a notebook TWO days after the end of my waiting period. I was expecting to have to fight to get his procedure covered and... Read More


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Kristine M

5/5/2015
After significant research, all reviews brought me to this company. However, after reading the fine print it is critical to note that this is NOT the best option, especially for new puppy owners. The company places an 12 month wait for Hip dysplasia Quote - as long as said condition was not present prior to the effective date of the policy.) The best time to check for this condition is about 6 months when the spay or neuter is done. It can then be more effectively repaired surgically. Unfortunately that would place the puppy into a state of 'pre existing condition' and then, not only would the surgery not be covered, anything relating to the hips -for life- would not be covered.... Read More


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Jared G

4/24/2015
Without a doubt the best pet insurance ever. When I first adopted Hulder (a pitt/something mix) I knew that he would be a handful, and I wanted to avoid having to chose between cost and medical care for my mutt. After several hours of review, I chose HealthyPaws. They have unlimited lifetime reimbursement, and have an annual, not per-incident/per-condition deductible. Additionally, they cover accident, illness, and genetic conditions. The claims process is ridiculously fast and easy. I cannot recommend this company enough.


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Leatha P

3/9/2015
I don't believe that there is another pet insurance company that could do as well as Healthy Paws. They are quick, efficient, and helpful. They make submitting a claim an easy process. They are committed to their customers and the high quality of their service.


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Judy W

2/10/2015
I adopted a mixed breed, Border Collie, McNab, Black Mouth Cur at the beginning of October, 2014. I did lots of research and learned that these 3 breeds are extremely smart, loyal and healthy. I felt really good about adopting my dog and wasn't sure that I needed pet insurance based on her hearty breeds. Well, very shortly after I brought Lola home, she started sneezing and sneezing a day after a long trail walk. Luckily, it was on a weekday and I called my vet who said I'd better come right in. Long story short, my vet diagnosed a possible foxtail with lots of swelling and told me that he would have to anesthetize her to search for and remove whatever was in there. $430.00 later, I... Read More


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Bonnie H

2/10/2015
I bought Healthy Paws after reading tons of reviews rating it as #1 in pet insurance. The signup was fairly easy and I found the app to be a cool feature. The prices weren't too terrible, either. But then it came time to submit a claim, when one of my dogs got injured. I found out then that they have limited hours when there are clim representatives on duty, and they operate on Pacific time. (I live on the East Coast.) Getting someone to call me back has proven to be an extremely difficult process. Of the multiple times I've requested over the phone and via email to actually have my assigned claim representative call me, he never has. My dog was declared to have a pre-existing heart... Read More


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CJ M

2/7/2015
Regarding the online quoting system + let me include multiple pets on same quote - can't figure out how to pay an annual amount rather than monthly - they add $25 to the first payment for account set up =deal breaker



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