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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.

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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3281 Customer Comments & Reviews

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mafetter

11/16/2016
Healthy Paws continues to go beyond my expectations. Recently my puppy broke a tooth while chewing on an antler. The tooth was one of his large permanent molars. I wanted to try to preserve the tooth if possible due to his age and was able to find a canine orthodontist. The orthodontist was able to perform a vital pulptomy on his tooth that essentially enabled him to save the tooth. I wasn't sure if Healthy Paws would cover such a procedure, but to my surprise they covered it immediately. They even wrote a nice note checking on how he was doing a few weeks later. I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful company insuring my Mako. I wouldn't have a pet without insurance. They... Read More


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Stinky

11/16/2016
I have had other insurance and they do not even compare to Healthy Paws. They are the best and make it so easy to use. I just submit my claims from the phone application and they are paid so quickly. Look no further, you cannot go wrong with having Healthy Paws, they ROCK!


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Pam W

11/15/2016
I am so very grateful to Healthy Paws for what they offer to people who love their fur kids and want to be able to provide important medical treatment if and when needed. My boy, a Standard Poodle, was diagnosed with IBD ( inflammatory bowel disease) . It would have been very difficult financially to afford the necessary procedures to accurately diagnose him without Healthy Paws Insurance to reimburse a big part of the costs involved. My boy will have IBD the rest of his life. His meds run close to $100 a month. I snap a picture of the prescription costs and submit it through the Healthy Paws app. They send a confirmation when they get it and another when the claim is complete.... Read More


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Barbara

11/15/2016
Thank you Healthy Paws!!!! Our 3 years old German Shepherd, Rex, had an accidental injury to his knee with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, +/- meniscal tear. On April 28, 2016, Rex had a knee surgery. The bill estimate came out to me more than $4,700. Two weeks later Rex underwent another emergency surgery and the bill estimate was $1,600 and again another surges $1,800.00 and $4,500. They covered my claims exactly like they said they would. No shady 'exclusions', I'm speechless at how easy that was. If you don't have Healthy Paws Pet Insurance yet, get it. If I did not have Healthy Paws, I would have struggled to pay the vet bill for our pup. Other than helping me give my pup the best... Read More


Jose M

11/15/2016
My baby Shar-Pei (Gordis) had surgery 2 weeks ago. They found a tumor in his intestine that did not allow him to eat...very sad. It was NOT a cheap surgery, and we were afraid that all the histories that we always hear about insurance cutting you off when you actually need them, was going to happen to us...fortunately I am here to say a TOTAL DIFFERENT STORY...i submitted our 3 invoices (for almost 7000$) and Healthy Paws completed and approved the reimburse for 80% of that amount (as they promised when I joined them) in withing 2-3 days...and i got my checks literally 3-4 after...all I can say is THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AMAZING. Not only that but they also sent me an email asking me how... Read More


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Alex W

11/13/2016
Healthy Paws has been a true life saver for us! We've been able to treat our dog, Frankie, with the highest quality of care throughout the several accidents/illnesses she has had due our insurance coverage through Healthy Paws. They cover exactly what they saying they're going to cover, and assist throughout the entire process in the most timely and caring manner. I tell everyone the smartest thing we've ever done as pet owners is sign up with Healthy Paws.


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Merle B

11/13/2016
Without Healthy Paws Pet Insurance I would have had to say goodbye to my beloved Teddy. The choice to treat him for his spine and disc problems were only possible with Healthy Paws. The x-rays, MRI, surgery and hospitalization plus the medications and follow up blood work and visits to monitor his progress were overwhelmingly costly. You never failed us. Reimbursement was prompt, your staff is kind and professional (great combination). Teddy is home, watching me write this and we are both grateful and happy!


Caroline M

11/13/2016
After I pay the first $100 for the year they cover 90%. Shortly after rescuing our dog he grew a tumor and they paid for the $1,400 surgery in about 2 weeks.... before the credit card bill even came. They sent emails asking how he was doing. They're truly amazing. Their phone menu is easy to operate too. After pressing only 2 buttons you're talking to a real person who has everything they need in front of them. Much easier than human insurance!


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Amanda

11/11/2016
When I first got pet insurance for our Golden Retriever, people thought I was silly. However, after a trip to the emergency department with him and no insurance, I didn't want to risk it. We signed up when Lutsen was a year and a half old and I couldn't be happier with my decision. This past July, he was diagnosed with severe hip displasia and we were devastated. Having enrolled in Healthy Paws over 3 years ago, meant his surgery and all things involving his care would be covered based on the plan we chose. It was such a relief to know I didn't have to worry about paying out of pocket for everything which amounted to thousands! They even emailed a week after Lutsen's surgery just to see... Read More


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Sean

11/11/2016
My entire experience with Healthy Paws was so incredibly positive. We had scare with our mini doxie requiring emergency surgery, and when I called to clarify some billing/logistical issues, the rep I spoke with reassured me that the most important thing was our dog's health. It was so reassuring to hear that at the time. All three of her emergency room claims were paid very quickly and I could not be happier with their customer support and compassion!



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