Healthy Paws Pet Insurance is a company with policies underwritten by Chubb companies and is licensed in all 50 US states. Its pet insurance plan covers cats and dogs against accidents and illnesses.

Known for its reasonable pricing, unlimited maximum payouts, and commitment to non-profit organizations, Healthy Paws offers one comprehensive plan that covers accidents and illnesses, which is great if you’re looking for simplicity. Healthy Paws is also willing to communicate with your vet to arrange direct payments if the clinic agrees.

That being said, there are some notable limitations to Healthy Paws’ plan that are important to know about—mainly that it applies age restrictions to its hip dysplasia coverage, has lengthy waiting periods, has no examination fee coverage, and does not offer a wellness plan or accident-only plan. Read on to find out more about Healthy Paws pet insurance if this is a provider you’re considering.

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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

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About Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Though some pet parents appreciate all the extra add-ons (i.e. wellness plans), others prefer just one plan with decent coverage. So, if you’re looking for one easy-to-understand plan and a simple claim submission procedure, Healthy Paws may be worth considering.

Another major perk is that Healthy Paws does not impose per-incident, annual, or lifetime caps or maximum payout limits. Moreover, plans are customizable (though not in every case—more on this further down) in terms of deductibles and reimbursement levels, which gives you a degree of flexibility in terms of how much you will pay per month.

On the other hand, Healthy Paws will not appeal to those who want an accident-only plan, reimbursement for routine care and procedures like spaying, neutering, microchipping, and general vet checkups, and those who want to enroll pets over the age of 6 in need of hip dysplasia treatment. Healthy Paws only covers hip dysplasia for pets enrolled before the age of six.

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Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2024)

Pet Insurance Cost Comparison

*Please note that quotes are subject to change and are dependent on breed, age, zip code/location) and date of quote*

Base Policy

Healthy Paws’ base policy covers pets for a variety of conditions and procedures, including accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, cancer, chronic conditions, diagnostics, x-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, surgery, and hospitalization.

The policy also covers prescription medication, emergency care, specialty care, and alternative care. Alternative care is something not every insurance provider covers, so this is a pro if you and your vet think your pet would benefit from holistic treatment.

Notable coverage exceptions include behavioral issues, dental healthcare (unless as a result of traumatic injury), and examination fees. Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered, either, but this is standard across the pet insurance industry. Please see the list further down detailing what is and isn’t covered for more information on exclusions.

Customizations

Though Healthy Paws doesn’t allow for customizations in terms of wellness plans or other add-ons, you can customize your plan (in some cases) with various reimbursement and deductible options. Let’s take a look at each customization option in more detail.

Deductibles

A deductible is the amount you pay your vet before your insurance provider pays. The higher the deductible you choose, the lower the monthly amount you will pay the insurance provider will be. Deductible options Healthy Paws offers (in the most flexible cases) are $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1,000.

Unfortunately, deductible and reimbursement options are less flexible in certain cases. We got a quote for a Labrador Retriever of 7 years old living in Texas and we were offered only one deductible option and one reimbursement option that we could not change. This limited customizability could be due to a variety of factors including breed, age, and location.

One thing we noticed and appreciated, however, was that Healthy Paws does give you a heads up if they think their quote is not the best value for your pet and recommends checking out other providers for a better deal.

Reimbursement Options

Healthy Paws offers a wider range of reimbursement options than many other providers. The higher the reimbursement option you choose, the higher the monthly rate you will pay. Reimbursement options are 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%. As mentioned above, in some cases, your options are much less flexible.

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Healthy Paws Price Comparison for Cats

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Deductibles & Claims

Healthy Paws has a reputation for making it easy to submit claims. We checked this out and there are multiple options for claim submission—you can submit via the Healthy Paws mobile app, the online customer center, by mail, by fax, or by email.

According to Healthy Paws’ website, most claims are processed within 10 days, and once approved, you should be reimbursed within 24 business hours. You can choose to be reimbursed by check or by direct deposit.

Furthermore, if you are unable to pay your vet at the time of treatment, you can contact Healthy Paws who will then liaise with the clinic to try and arrange direct payment. Please note, however, that whether or not this will be possible depends on the veterinary clinic in question.

Common Claims

The below table is based on information from Healthy Paws’ website. It details common claims, how much these conditions cost to treat on average, and how much Healthy Paws claims to reimburse.

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Pre-Existing Conditions

A pre-existing condition is a condition that your pet had or showed clinical symptoms of prior to when your pet’s insurance coverage began. Healthy Paws, like other pet insurance providers, does not cover pre-existing conditions—only future ones.

In terms of congenital conditions, Healthy Paws covers them as long as the pet did not display any symptoms of the condition prior to enrollment or during the waiting period. While some congenital conditions manifest themselves early, some pets don’t show signs of them until much later.

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Waiting Periods

Healthy Paws’ plan has a 15-day waiting period. For illnesses, this is pretty standard, but many pet insurance providers have shorter waiting periods for accidents—some as short as 2 days. Moreover, Healthy Paws’ waiting period for hip dysplasia is 12 months, and, for pets enrolled after the age of 6, hip dysplasia is not covered at all.

By contrast, some pet insurance providers do not impose special waiting periods for hip dysplasia, and those that do typically set it at 6 months.

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Reviews from Customers

Customer reviews for Healthy Paws are largely positive in nature. The provider has been praised for its unlimited lifetime claims (which means there’s no need to worry about your pet still being insured as they age), how easy it is to submit claims and get reimbursed, and its thoughtful customer service team. Some users even mentioned that Healthy Paws checked in with them to see how their pets were doing post-treatment.

On the other hand, some have mentioned feeling frustrated at annual price increases, but, unfortunately, this is a point commonly brought up in regard to most—if not all—of the insurance providers we research and review. The truth is, no matter which provider you go for, the older your pet gets, the more expensive insuring them is because they’re more likely to need treatment as they age.

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FAQ

Does Healthy Paws Cover Dental Care?

Yes, in cases of traumatic injury like a chipped tooth. However, extractions and dental cleaning procedures necessary as a result of dental decay are not covered.

Does Healthy Paws Cover Euthanasia?

Yes, when euthanasia is deemed necessary by a vet for a condition covered in the Healthy Paws plan. However, burial and cremation costs are not covered.

Will My Pet Need a Medical Exam to Enroll?

Yes, a full physical exam is necessary for your pet to be eligible for Healthy Paws coverage. If your pet is under 5 years old, the exam must have been carried out within 12 months or within the first 15 days of the policy. If your pet is over the age of 6, the exam must be carried out within 30 days or within the first 15 days of the policy.

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Our Verdict

Taking everything into account, there’s a lot to like about Healthy Paws but the limitations may be frustrating for some.

Things we like are the unlimited maximum payouts and no per-incident, annual, or lifetime caps, the fact that it covers alternative treatments, its willingness to pay vets directly, its commitment to helping homeless animals with donations, and the fact that customers have commented on the customer care team’s thoughtfulness. The pricing also seems reasonable.

On the downside, there is only one plan, no accident-only plan, no routine care/wellness plan, and pets older than six at the time of enrollment do not qualify for hip dysplasia coverage. Furthermore, the waiting periods are lengthy in comparison with many other providers. On the basis of our research, we’ve decided to award Healthy Paws 4/5 stars.

See also:

• Lemonade Pet Insurance Review: A Detailed Look
• Pet Assure Insurance Mint Wellness Plan Review: A Detailed Look