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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

Loading Reviews ...
renetiashepard

2/13/2020
Healthy paws is amazing!! After reviewing and researching so many other pet insurance companies, my husband and I decided to go with Healthypaws. Best. Decision. Ever. Customer service is stellar, ease of processing claims was great, and the reimbursements were processed quickly. They really do care about you and your furbabies. When our oldest pup needed surgery, I could barely talk, never mind put a full sentence together. I reached out to Healthypaws to figure out what we needed to do to proceed. They were so patient in guiding me through the process and explaining the benefits, it made everything so much easier. They checked in on us after surgery to see how my pup was doing.... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
renetiashepard - We are sorry to hear that your pup needed a major surgery recently and hope the recovery is going well. Thank you so much for the kind words regarding our stellar customer service and easy claims processing. We are so happy your recent claims and customer service experiences were so positive. Thank you for taking the time to write your review and please give your pups another hug from us!

roberthazle47

2/13/2020
I've had Healthy Paws Pet Insurance for my dog since she was a pup--going on 5 years now. Customer service is very responsive and easy to work with. Claims are VERY easy to submit (you just take a picture of your vet bill and submit--that's it) and reimbursement has never been an issue. I've never had a claim denied, never had to argue with HP over anything, never had any issues. The only catch is that over the life of your pet and its policy, your premium will slowly increase. But even so, one covered emergency visit/overnight hospitalization will basically allow you to break even. If your pet is unfortunate enough to suffer multiple health complications, the policy will pay for... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
roberthazle47 - Thank you so much for the kind words regarding Healthy Paws amazing customer service and super easy claims process. We are so happy to hear that you have been so pleased with your Healthy Paws coverage for the last 5 years and look forward to protecting your sweet girl for many more years to come. Please give her a big hug from us!

L
Linda F

2/13/2020
Healthy Paws Insurance for my two dogs has proved to be an excellent decision on my part. Their response to claims is very timely. They are a caring company with great customer service.

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Linda - Thank you for taking the time to write your review and for the kind words regarding our caring customer service team and quick claims processing. Please give your pups a big hug from us!

trander27

2/13/2020
Been a customer for 8 years with 2 dogs and a cat. Over this time I have had 4 claims. All claims have been quick and efficiently handle to the letter of my policy, paid out and even nice check in to see how things are. I only wish "I" for my human health care could be insured by Healthy Paws, things are rarely this easy.

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
trander27 - Thank you so much for all the kind words and for being such a loyal Healthy Paws family member. We feel honored that you have trusted your furbabies with Healthy Paws for 8 years! Please give your sweet furbabies another big hug from us!

Melissa S

2/13/2020
My doberman ate a sock and it was stuck for 2 days. My bill came to over a thousand dollars, I'm sure glad I had this insurance to help pay most of my bill. It really comes in handy to use, vet bills add up quick! -Melissa

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Melissa - We are very sorry to hear about your furbabies recent sock ingestion scare. It is very common for dogs to chew, and sometimes swallow things they shouldn't which can be very scary for pet parents. Foreign object removal operations can range anywhere from $1,000 to over $5,000 which is why it is so important to have Healthy Paws by your side when or if one of these emergencies ever happens to your pet. Thank you for the kind words and please give your pup a big hug from us!

H
Hillery H

2/11/2020
I have submitted for urinary track infection, respiratory x-ray and upper resp infection and antibiotics to treat with all records to back it up. I've been told these are preexsisting conditions and not paid. I've been with healthy paw for 10 months. I e spend endless hours every week on phone them telling me it should be covered. It's been months and I have not seen a dime. Insult to injury I just got a letter saying they are raising my premium. Either they are the most inefficient or crooks. Small claims court next if not remedied soo. Worst experience ever so far. Customer service is very kind but still not a dime. I'm exhausted!!!

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Hillery, We’re sorry that your customer service experience did not meet yours or our expectations. We appreciate the fact you scheduled a call with one of our Customer Liaison Managers for 2/11 so we could provide answers to your issues. In regards to the claim for the urinary tract infection, our manager informed you that has been appealed and processed based on the deductible/reimbursement level you chose at enrollment. Insurance regulations require that we send out a notice to our clients whenever there is a policy change. We will always email you regarding the premium increase prior to your policy anniversary date, using the email address you chose for your account. It was just coincidence that you received this notification while you were dealing with the issues with your claim. We truly understand that no one likes any form of premium increase. Our management team works hard to keep our premiums as low as possible while still providing comprehensive coverage. New technology, advancements in veterinary treatments, and overall claim costs are taken into consideration when assessing our rates. Premiums are determined based on the rates and rating rules filed and approved within each state’s Department of Insurance. These reflect the cost of treatment, advances in veterinary medicine, your individual pet’s breed, gender, age and other factors, in addition to the overall claims experience for the program within the region your pet resides. As a result, we need to increase the premium level for all pets in your state so you and your pet can have continued access to the best veterinary care. Rest assured, we will never penalize you with higher rates for making claims. All pet insurance companies, no matter how they market their benefits, will raise rates to keep up with the rapidly rising cost of veterinary care. We do our best to be transparent regarding annual premium increases by including this information on the "Frequently Asked Questions" page of our website. Again, we apologize for the issue with you claim and hope your babies are doing well.

michaelaguillory3

2/10/2020
Never did I think that my 3 year old Frenchie, Quintus, would need surgery. Unfortunately, it happened. He ruptured a disc and was in so much pain. I'm so glad we have Healthy Paws Insurance. Being able to care for our little guy as best as we can is a top priority. Healthy Paws gives us peace of mind that we can do that for him. Its been one week since the surgery and were hoping he'll be back to having fun in a month or so, Thank you Healthy Paws!!

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
michaelaguillory3 - We are very sorry to hear that your pup Quintus needed major back surgery. Thank you so much for the kind words and for taking the time to write your review. It's people like you who are helping to raise awareness about the importance of having pet insurance for their furbabies and we thank you for that. Please give your sweet little Frenchie another big hug from us!

saraheprinty

2/10/2020
Due to Healthy Paws quick and east submittal process, I've was able to get my dog the surgery he needed to fit a broken leg after a freak accident. I never fear going to the vet when he is sick knowing that I have held covering his care. The customer service is amazing and the reimbursement checks are mailed quickly. I recommend Healthy paws to all pet parents!

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
saraheprinty - We are sorry to hear that your dog needed a major leg surgery after fracturing his leg. Poor guy. Hopefully, he'll be back to running and playing like a normal pup very soon!. Thank you for all the kind words regarding Healthy Paw's excellent customer service and quick reimbursements. We take great pride in delivering top-notch customer service and a simple claims process. Please give your sweet boy a big hug from us!

Quinn D

2/7/2020
Our day started normal, outside for potty two cookies each but within 20-30 minutes I noticed my 2.5year old GSP was not acting right, panting, breathing weird .... within 2 hours we were at the emergency vet..... and he was diagnosed with pneumothorax....... your handed an estimate for $ 9100.00 ...... it's easy to say do what you have to do to save my boy with out the worry of where the money gonna come from..........I submitted my bill to Healthy Paws and no questions asked they paid the claim....... he was readmitted twice more as he ended up with pneumonia also and those claims were also paid with ease........... It is worth every penny knowing Healthy Paws is there when it is needed... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Quinn - Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Having a sick pup and not knowing what to do, or where the money to pay for the expensive treatments in going to come from? Having Healthy Paws pet insurance gives pet parents peace of mind in knowing that if anything ever does happen to their furbabies Healthy Paws has their backs. We are so sorry to hear that your sweet pup had to go through al of that and hope he never has to go through that again. Please give him a big hug from us!

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GOgrl

2/7/2020
I read through a lot of comments and my issue is regarding the increase in rates year over year. My dog (not yet 3) policy has gone up 53% (Effective years 2017-2019). I am sure I will get the "form letter" response why rates have to go up, so Healthy Paws please don't bother. Bottom line is this is a for profit business, same as veterinarians. I also am not aware of Healthy Paws asking for my dogs medical file for determination of pre-existing conditions. I don't know, when I grew up we had 2 dogs, 1 lived to 18 (ate all our leftovers) and the 2nd lived 13 years. I didn't even know what a vet was!! To change insurance is no picnic either since they all have their flaws and rate increases... Read More

Tim  
Official Response

Customer Care of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
GOgrl - We truly appreciate that you have been a valuable member of the Healthy Paws Family for since 2017. Our management team works hard to keep our premiums as low as possible while still providing comprehensive coverage. New technology, advancements in veterinary treatments, and overall claim costs are taken into consideration when assessing our rates. Premiums are determined based on the rates and rating rules filed and approved within each state’s Department of Insurance. These reflect the cost of treatment, advances in veterinary medicine, your individual pet’s breed, gender, age and other factors, in addition to the overall claims experience for the program within the region your pet resides. As a result, we need to increase the premium level for all pets in your state so you and your pet can have continued access to the best veterinary care. Rest assured, we will never penalize you with higher rates for making claims. All pet insurance companies, no matter how they market their benefits, will raise rates to keep up with the rapidly rising cost of veterinary care. We do our best to be transparent regarding annual premium increases by including this information on the "Frequently Asked Questions" page of our website. We also do our best to be transparent regarding the need for medical records by including that information on our website. Providing a pet’s medical records at the time of enrollment is not necessary for coverage. We only request a pet’s medical records at the time of their first claim instead of requiring them at the time of enrollment since most pet parents are aware of their pet’s pre-existing conditions. We would then use those 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. There are other pet insurance companies that follow the same protocol in regards to the need for medical records. Give your pup a hug from us.


Top Rated
Our Partner
  • Trusted by More than 625,000 Parents
  • No Enrollment or Administrative Fees
  • No Maximum Annual or Lifetime Payouts
  • Most Claims are Processed in 2 Days