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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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Tara D

4/22/2017
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is well worth the investment. We insured our Golden Retriever when he was a puppy. I carefully researched pet insurance companies and found Health Paws the best rated. I reviewed the exclusions and hoped for the best. Four years later our dog tore his ACL, meniscus and dislocated his kneecap while chasing a couple of deer. He needed an expensive surgery and physical therapy. The surgeon also warned us that he is likely to do this to his other knee as well! Healthy Paws processed our claim in a matter of hours. What a huge relief to know that the insurance policy worked exactly as we hoped it would! We have raved about how fortunate we feel to have taken... Read More


Michelle N

4/22/2017
I had no idea how PAWESOME pet insurance really was! I have had my two pups for almost 9 years. On January 1, 2014, one of my pups ruptured a disc in her back. At that time, I did NOT have pet insurance. After $7,000 in surgery/meds and 10 months of recovery...I decided maybe I should LOOK into pet insurance. I did ALOT of research. The one company that stood out was HEALTHY PAWS. I decided to get the coverage. I selected the lowest deductible per month for each pup and selected the highest payout coverage for each. I called my pups vet and the surgeon and asked them to email my pups records so I could send to Healthy Paws. Once I received those files, I emailed them to Healthy... Read More


P
Phil A

4/22/2017
Recently, Chloe, our 3 year old, 109 pound, Lab - Bernese Mountain Dog mix, underwent surgery for a torn ACL. Fortunately, we have had Healthy Paws pet insurance since she was 2 months old and they covered 90% of all expenses from pre-op x-rays to the surgery and follow up medications. Filing claims online was extremely simple and fast,and their response was quick and efficient. They even sent an email asking how she was doing. Healthy Paws response to this large claim was the same as it has been for all the little claims along the way. I wish my own health insurance responded as quickly and with such care. I would not hesitate to recommend Healthy Paws pet insurance to any dog or cat... Read More


Michael J

4/22/2017
Healthy Paws have insured our pet for some two years and we are very satisfied. The cost is very reasonable and their service is excellent: it is simple without claim forms and very fair in respect of claims (90% payable after deductible etc) . Recently our Lab got very sick and had to have difficult intestinal surgery and was really dangerously ill. The cost of the surgery and 3 day stay at the Vet was not negligible even by NYC standards and Healthy paws agreed the claim without a problem. In our experience claims are authorized in a matter of a couple of days and Checks are always sent quickly and I have no hesitation in recommending them as an ideal solution to your Pets (and your)... Read More


Kim W

4/22/2017
I switched from vpi to healthy paws a few years. I have been very pleased. Fast prompt claims services. Very good customer service representatives. Couldn't be happier.


Sandi W

4/21/2017
Chandler, our 7 months old pound puppy needed abdominal surgery for bowel obstruction. Chandler is on the road to recovery and we have implemented steps to prevent him from eating everything in sight. This is the first time we have ever used pet insurance (Healthypaws pet insurance) and this company could not be any more kinder or efficient in working with our claims. The process could not be any simpler or straightforward. My husband and I were discussing how helpful having Healthy Paws insurance has been.  We are aware of many pets who have been put down because the owners could not afford the medical care for their fur baby.  Very sad. Thank you Healthy Paws in helping us get... Read More


D
David S

4/21/2017
Excellent communication with fast curtious service. They even follow up on a personal basis. I can not recommend them more highly.


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John

4/21/2017
My 4-year old American Bulldog, Mogli, recently had to undergo major GI surgery to remove a necrotic piece of his small intestine and part of his colon, after his small intestine became tangled within his abdominal wall. I brought him into the vet after he had been vomiting and looking very uncomfortable. They were going to keep him to do an ultrasound (he has a history of eating foreign bodies and has had previous surgeries, however, this one was no fault of his own), and called me 2 hours later saying he needed emergency surgery due to some bacterial fluid leaking into his stomach. The doctors did not know what the issue was before taking him into surgery, and when they opened him up,... Read More


Sabina F

4/20/2017
I recently started using Healthy Paws and shortly after getting the policy, our dog needed a major surgery. I was so happy with the process for filing a claim and the speed at which everything was taken care of. No questions asked - I just submitted the documents online and within a few days I had an email back with details and the answer that the surgery and all the follow-up appointments were covered. I had the check in the mail within another week or so. And I even got a follow-up email from them asking me how our dog was doing! Overall, super impressed by how quick and easy everything was and how great their customer service team is.


A
Althea S

4/20/2017
As a responsible pet parent, I cannot say how grateful and happy that I had Healthypaws insurance for my fur baby. My dog who is a 6 yo boxer/mastiff, was regurgitating non stop the Sunday before Easter. We ended up taking him to Animal Critical care that evening, where he had to be rehydrated and X-rays showed what they thought was a blockage in the outflow duct of his stomach. Thinking was he had swallowed something. The next day he ended up having emergency surgery where it was found he had not eaten something but his GI tract had thickened and was inflamed. At this point we had a gravely I'll little big boy. The next week was agonizing for us. We had just spent 4000.00 and still the... Read More



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