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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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Elisabeth T

8/26/2016
Healthy Paws are so easy to deal with and have always reimbursed me for all of my claims. I am so pleased with their service and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to my friends and family or anyone looking for pet insurance.


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Shirley A

8/26/2016
Excellent service and response. We will never be without Healthy Paws coverage for out dogs.


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My H

8/24/2016
My only regret is that I didn't sign up sooner for my previous pets. Healthy Paws is amazing and I could not recommend any business more. Their free quotation process is easy, and I have submitted at least 3 claims by now and it was all a breeze. Their formula is easy to understand. I've never had any questions. The payments process quickly. I recently had to take my cat to ER and the diagnostic tests are extremely high. I wouldn't have been able to treat her if it weren't for Healthy Paws. I think the monthly payments are SO worth the PEACE OF MIND you will have knowing that you can handle a vet emergency - which ALWAYS seems to happen one day during the life of your pet...!... Read More


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Ann S

8/24/2016
If you are reading this, then you are a dog lover and know that insuring your pet is the same as insuring your loved one. Isn't that what our pets are...our loved ones!!! I have two words....HEALTHY PAWS....If you don't purchase this pet insurance for your dog, then you are making a very bad mistake. Even in tough times, insurance is a must. My family and I awoke one morning to our 7 year old dog having multiple seizures. The day before she was a machine running miles. Out of nowhere, we found ourselves with a very sick dog, a brain tumor. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has been with us from day one. We were told our baby had 2-3 weeks to live without any intervention. From emergency to... Read More


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Dori

8/22/2016
Taika is the first dog of mine for whom I have insurance. I long thought about buying it, finally making up my mind to do so when I found out there was a puppy coming my way. A few years ago my sister bought pet insurance through Healthy Paws for her dogs and a friend had Healthy Paws covering her dog, but I still looked into other companies to be sure; in the end, I went with Healthy Paws for my puppy. Taika's been covered by Healthy Paws since Sept 2015; $500 deductible; 80% coverage. She had a couple of run-ins with porcupines. She once got poked in the eye. Healthy Paws makes it easy to upload the vet's bills and notes. Each time after doing so, I got an email from Healthy Paws,... Read More


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Stephanie J

8/22/2016
We were told about Healthy Paws (from a friend) and decided to sign up our two dogs Iggy & Piper. Sadly little Miss Piper has had some issues this last year, but we could not be happier that we picked Healthy Paws. They have an app for your phone and it's quick & efficient and very cost effective. We've had to call a couple of times and the staff is very friendly & knowledge & really wants to help. With Piper's last surgery we even recieved an e-mail to check on her to see how she was doing. I'm my opinion that is going above & beyond. I can't reccoemnd this company enough. We will use Healthy Paws from here on out with all of our pets. Hands down the best Pet Insurance company out there.


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Leslie S

8/22/2016
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is by far the best insurance company I have had the pleasure of working with. First and foremost, they are much less expensive on a monthly basis than the competitors. But it is the no hassle customer service that is amazing. Within 3 days of filing the claim, the reimbursement checks were at my house. Most important however, they cared enough to follow up and ask about how my dog did post procedure and if everything was alright. I refer all my friends, family and clients who are pet owners to Healthy Paws.


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Jeannine M

8/21/2016
I purchased this insurance for my puppy when I brought her home from the breeder. I just received notice that since it is my one-year "anniversary" with the company, To thank me for being a customer, they increased the premium from $28 a month to $32 a month. I've never heard of insurance that increases each year, but there you go. I can only imagine what my rate would be by the time my puppy is six or seven years old. I did a lot of research before selecting Healthy Paws. Never did I see anything about an annual rate increase. I will NOT be renewing and I am going to make sure the friend I got to go with this insurance cancels her policy, too. I know that losing two customers... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Jeannine, Over the life of a pet, all pet insurance companies will raise rates to keep up with the rapidly rising costs of veterinary care. Recently, several pet insurance companies subjected their policyholders to very significant rate increases, making it very difficult to budget. Healthy Paws factors the expected increase in the cost of veterinary care into your rates so that annual premium increases are small and manageable. These annual increases provide you the opportunity to offer your pet the best medical and diagnostic options available today. Rest assured that your rates will never increase due to your filing claims.

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Bryan V

8/21/2016
After paying out-of-pocket for knee surgery on a 1-year-old cat, my wife and I determined it would be a good idea to get pet insurance for our little guy. We talked with our vet and read reviews online, and the same 4-5 providers kept coming up. After scouring reviews and running some projected numbers, we decided to go with Healthy Paws. Flash forward about two years later, and Carl needs the same surgery on his *other* knee. Having never submitted any claims before, we were nervous about the process. We didn't know how quickly everything would be processed, how much would be excluded, and what the experience would be. I'm happy to say that we could not be more thrilled by our... Read More


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Sharon H

8/20/2016
We have never had pet insurance with any of our other dogs. This was a first at the insistence of our pet sitter. So thankful because Bella who is 1 1/2 years old had to have major leg surgery and the cost was appx 5,300.00! Far beyond what we could afford. Healthy paws made the experience easy and every time I called they were so very kind. Not only that but I literally took a picture of the vet invoice and 4 days later, with no questions asked, we had approval for a Healthy Paws payment of 90% of the bill. Thankful just does not seem like a strong enough word!



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