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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

3,281 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.
 
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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
https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/
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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3281 Customer Comments & Reviews

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Louise L

11/22/2016
Great company - they stand behind their commitment and contract with their customers. One of my dogs was diagnosed with cardiac issues 2 months after we signed up for Healthy Paws. I contacted them - figuring that I would have to argue and fight for coverage. And I was wrong. Healthy Paws covered and continues to cover all of my dogs medications and treatments for his cardiac issues. Medications cost over $250 per month. Quarterly Echocardiograms run over $500. Add in regular blood work, monthly ECGs, and all the misc. charges that come with treating a chronic condition. Without this insurance, I could not have afforded the treatment for my dog's cardiomyopathy and irregular heart... Read More

D
Dawn

11/22/2016
We have a 12+ year old French Bulldog. I began monthly Healthy Paws Insurance when she was about 10 years old. They do not cover pre-existing conditions, and I understood that going in. She had never exhibited breathing issues. Last month her ability to breath properly suddenly deteriorated. We did our research and decided the best and perhaps only option was soft palate laser surgery. It was a very difficult choice and a very stressful week for our old, but tough girl. A week later and she is doing fantastic! Not the choice everyone would make, I'm sure. Almost as fantastic as her recovery has been Healthy Paws. They have covered everything they said they would. To a... Read More

K
Kat

11/21/2016
My little one Lola, a 10 year old Boston Terrier, who I have had since she was 8 weeks old, sadly became almost 100% blind due to cataracts that progressed so rapidly that surgery was our only option to help restore her quality of life. It was a scary decision to make but fortunate enough that I was able to make the right decision to do it because we have insurance with Health Paws! She can see perfectly again!!! Surgery as an option is VERY expensive and many pet owners cannot afford do it on their own if they do not have insurance. Healthy Paws covered 90% of it and with no hassles! Its so easy to submit a claim by uploading a picture of the invoice on my phone and within days I have... Read More

E
E. M

11/20/2016
At a time when your pet is unexpectedly sick and needs emergency care and a hospital stay; which leads to costly medical bills, Healthy Paws is the insurance company to have. They have kept their promise to process claims quickly. We previously had a different insurance company which does not compare to this level of coverage.

R
Rosalind K

11/20/2016
STOP LOOKING AROUND! Let my experience save you time and from reading the reviews of other companies out there. I spent 3 days (6-8 hours each day) researching all the pet insurance companies available to me for my fur babies. I chose Healthy Paws based on research, reviews, ratings and price comparisons. I am so happy I did. I made the right choice. My newly adopted and street rescued pup after several months of top notch care and training ended up lame. The lameness continued with appropriate vet care and watching and waiting, meds, therapy and still increasing got worse . Finally it was decided the front elbows both had FCP and needed surgical intervention as soon as possible to... Read More

T
Teresa S

11/19/2016
Our 3 1/2 year old German shepherd Jaxx tore the CCL in his knee. Jaxx's surgery went well and before the stitches were even removed Healthy Paws let me know they'd be sending me a check for 90 % of the bill! What a relief! There were no extra phone calls to our vet or surgeon or even us. They just paid it! And I got a very heartfelt email checking to see that Jaxx was doing better. I breathe easier knowing that we have Healthy Paws in our corner. I'm so glad I chose them. Their rates are reasonable(much better than most!) and their service is outstanding. I also love the app and how easy it is to file a claim. Teresa

Stacey L

11/19/2016
I have a four year old pit bull mix. When he was a year old, he tried to catch a stick on the bounce and punctured his throat. After spending $1000 and 8 hours in the emergency vet - I got pet insurance. Earlier this year I was in the park when a gal with a small dog threw her very small ball in front of my dog - which he promptly swallowed and then started to choke. Another 8 hours in the emergency vet and another $1000 (if he'd had abdominal surgery it would have been more like $10,000. I submitted the claim on Sunday and had a reimbursement check on Wednesday. Not even a month later, a routine lab test showed enzyme levels that were off the charts. Was advised that he had signs of... Read More

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Elizabeth

11/18/2016
This is the email I sent back to Healthy Paws when they inquired how my baby was doing after her surgery. "Tim Weiss and Healthy Paws, Thank you for asking about my baby Eeyore. she is slowly recovering and hopefully will be all healed up soon. We're hoping the surgery solves all of the issues she has been having over the last several months so she can return back to my happy hyper pug!! Thank you for checking on her and processing her claims so quickly. I don't know how we would have survived without her insurance. This crisis was completely unexpected. Hopefully the many years to come are back to being uneventful and just full of happy barks and tail wagging. Thank you again and have... Read More

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diane0414

11/18/2016
I am pretty happy with the plan, and I like that I can submit claims very easily through the app. There is a major issue that I am not happy with. One thing you should be aware of is that the price quoted for the deductible is NOT the deductible unless you have chosen 100% reimbursement once the deductible is met. I chose 70/30% reimbursement after a $500 deductible. At the beginning of each insurance year, 30% is applied against my initial claims and THEN applied against the deductible, That makes my deductilbe $650, not $500. Others have told me that their pet insurance does not work that way, and none of my other insurances work that way -- health, auto, home, personal... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Diane, We do our best to be transparent regarding how our reimbursement calculations work. We include this information (including examples) on our website within our "Frequent Asked Questions" page, and on our "For Customers" page within our website. Our process for calculating reimbursements are approved by each state's Department of Insurance. There are many pet insurance companies that use this same method for determining reimbursement amounts. We appreciate your input on the Explanation of Benefits a client receives for claims and on prescription food coverage. We are always looking to provide the best coverage for our clients and your opinions will help us in that goal.
Rita M

11/17/2016
My experience with Healthy Paws was not positive. After satisfying their conditions, waiting period, deductible, when I needed pet insurance, the reason why I got pet insurance, was to be covered in the event of accident or illness. After the waiting period and satisfaction of the deductible, I switched to a new bag of dog food, Kirkland from Costco. My dog had been eating that same brand without problems for several months. 4 days after starting the new bag, my dog began to vomit. This continued to increase until the early am of the 4th day when there was rectal bleeding and other scary symptoms. I rushed her to the vet ER. Fortunately my pup recovered, but a terrifying experience,... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Rita Marie, We’re sorry your pup was so ill and hope he is doing better! All claim decisions are based off of your pet’s medical records and the signs/symptoms that are noted by your veterinarian. We use a pet's medical records and notes written by the attending veterinarian to determine if there are any pre-existing conditions which would keep us from approving a claim. At this time, it looks as though we have not received all of your dog’s medical records, which is why we denied your claims. Our Customer Care Team sent an email outlining what we are currently missing. Once we get those records, we’ll be able to re-open your claims and make a determination of coverage.
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
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