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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

3,280 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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3280 Customer Comments & Reviews

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Heather O

2/5/2018
EXCELLENT! We had a most unfortunate event in which our pug decided to eat a plastic toy and needed emergency surgery- we were worried about out lil girl BUT Healthy Paws took the financial stress away and helped us focus on getting our pug better!! Healthy Paws was fast- all claims are online with submission of medical records and we were reimbursed very quickly! I cannot say HOW THRILLED WE ARE TO HAVE HEALTHY PAWS!!!


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Rob

2/5/2018
I have so much peace of mind with having Healthy Paws insurance for my kitties. I have 4, and two of them have had major illnesses that required surgery. I might not have been able to give them the proper care if I had to pay for it all out of pocket.


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Caitlin S

2/5/2018
Healthy Paws has been such a life saver for our family. Their claims process is quick and painless and they stay true to their coverage policies. Having insurance through them has made it possible to provide out pet with the medical care she needs without the worry of how we're going to pay for it.


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jennifer p

2/4/2018
I joined healthy paws about two years ago. At the time my pet was a happy healthy dog, but we had a very active and adventurous lifestyle and I wanted to make sure if anything happened to her I wouldn't be stressed if the time came. This winter she had to get a total knee replacement (TPLO). This was a huge disappointment and shock to our family but having healthy paws was a huge relief once we scheduled the appointment and knew the procedure was going to be an expensive one. I paid a total of $600 for a $5,000 dollar surgery. Every claim I entered was dealt with promptly and fairly, and every conversation I had with a healthy paws employee was extremely helpful and professional. I never... Read More


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Allison B

2/4/2018
Our healthy 6 year old dog tore her cruciate in her back legs almost exactly one year apart from each other. Healthy paws was very responsive in their communication with us as well as in getting us the reimbursement checks in a timely manner. It has been so nice to be able to focus on the recovery of our family pet each time rather than how we were going to pay all of the bills through the surgeries and long recovery road. They also followed up multiple times to see how our dog was doing with a personal email. Healthy paws has made it so easy to submit claims with their app and check the status. I am so thankful that we decided to get insurance for our dog!!


Stephany K

2/4/2018
We use Healthy Paws to insure our pets from puppy to passing. Their plans are affordable and are invaluable when something goes wrong. We lost our doberman at age 4 to kidney failure and they covered the intensive care so we could just love her through it. We wish they sold human insurance because our dogs have better health care than we do.


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Sam G

2/4/2018
We adopted our dog from a shelter, and decided to get pet insurance right away as a precaution since we were first time dog owners. We chose Healthy Paws because of the ease of filing claims and the simple policy terms. As it turns out, our dog has had two major health incidents requiring surgery, and Healthy Paws has been there for us through each one. Our dog literally owes his life and happiness to Healthy Paws, and I can't recommend them enough. Filing a claim and getting reimbursed is easy, and the customer service is great.


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Ashley F

2/3/2018
I want to share the story of my sweet boy Jackson in the hopes that other pet owners can make a wise and informed consumer decision about the important need of purchasing pet health insurance as early as possible in your pet's life. My boy, a male yellow lab, was born in 2007. As a typical lab, he liked to get into everything. When he was around 4 years old, I started to become very concerned about the possibility of Jackson developing hip and elbow dysplasia later in life, a common congenital problem with labs. I looked online and could not find any policies that would cover congenital problems, as these are typically excluded from most ALL policies. Enter Healthy Paws.....After TONS... Read More


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Stu

2/3/2018
Our three year old rescue has already had two major surgeries, and all I can say is we are so glad that Healthy Paws is our insurer. In the times I have spoken with them on the phone with questions, they have been super polite and helpful. I've never felt that they are trying to exclude coverage, they pay quickly, and the rates are fair.


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Ashley

2/3/2018
Wonderful customer service, extremely quick in processing claims. My dog had to have surgery and ended up in a critical care hospital for almost 2 weeks, having to have another surgery by a specialist 2 transfusions. If it weren't for Healthy Paws I would not have been able to bring my baby home. The claims were processed and completed within 2 days some same day. They have reimbursed over 21,000. Very simple process, even sent emails asking if he was doing ok. I can't say enough positive things about them. They are truly the best out there.



Top Rated
  • 25% discount on all in-office medical care 
  • Pet wellness plans available
  • No age restrictions
  • Covers pre-existing and hereditary conditions
  • Discounts available immediately on sign-up
  • A+ BBB accredited company