Healthy Paws’ Types of Plans and Coverage
Healthy Paws is rated as one of our best pet insurance companies. It offers an accident and illness plan, which is the most common type of pet insurance plan and covers the widest range of problems. Healthy Paws does not offer an accident-only plan or an optional wellness plan.
Accident and Illness Insurance
What Does Healthy Paws Not Cover?
Some of the expenses not covered under a Healthy Paws insurance plan include:
- Behavioral training
- Boarding and doggie daycare
- Cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping
- Exam fees for injuries and illnesses
- Pet diets
- Pre-existing conditions
- Routine dental health care
- Spaying and neutering
- Wellness and routine care coverage for expenses such as vaccinations or heartworm medication
Healthy Paws also has a “bilateral exclusion” for pre-existing cruciate ligament conditions. If your pet has a cruciate ligament condition before the coverage begins, Healthy Paws won’t cover expenses if the opposite ligament becomes injured.
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Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Coverage Levels
Take a look at the limit, deductible and reimbursement options Healthy Paws offers.
Maximum Annual Limit Options
This is the total amount an insurer will reimburse you for vet expenses in a given year. Healthy Paws has one coverage limit:
- Unlimited
Deductible Options
Before your coverage kicks in, you’ll need to pay a set amount toward your vet bills, known as the deductible. Healthy Paws offers the following deductible levels:
- $100
- $250
- $500
- $1,000
You may not get to choose among these options. Instead, your deductible options from Healthy Paws will vary based on:
- Age of your pet
- Breed
- Where you live
Reimbursement Options
The reimbursement level is the percentage of the vet bill that the insurer will reimburse. Healthy Paw offers reimbursement levels of:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
However, you may not get all these reimbursement choices. Your options will be based on:
- Age of your pet
- Breed
- Where you live
How Healthy Paws Calculate Claim Payments
To calculate how much you’ll be paid for a claim, most pet insurers first subtract your deductible amount and then multiply the subtotal by your reimbursement level, such as 90%. But Healthy Paws first calculates your percentage reimbursement and then subtracts your deductible amount. Healthy Paws’ calculation ultimately results in a lower claim payment to you compared to other insurers’ systems.
What Are Healthy Paws’ Pet Insurance Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions?
Pet insurance plans typically have waiting periods, which is the amount of time before coverage begins and you can make claims. Healthy Paws’ waiting periods include:
- 15-day accident waiting period.
- 15-day illness waiting period.
- A comparatively long 12-month waiting period for illnesses related to hip dysplasia (if your pet is age 6 or older at enrollment, hip dysplasia is totally excluded from coverage).
These waiting periods do not apply in Maryland. Some states have different waiting periods. Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire and Washington have waiting periods of:
- No waiting period for accidents.
- 15-day illness waiting period.
- 30-day waiting period for hip dysplasia not resulting from an accident.
Your dog or cat must be between 8 weeks and 14 years of age to enroll in a Healthy Paws pet insurance policy.
| Company | Accident waiting period | Illness waiting period | Special waiting period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pets Best Essential | 3 days | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions |
| 1 day | 14 days | 6 months for cruciate ligament conditions (can be waived with an orthopedic exam) | |
| Chewy Essential Plus | 5 days | 14 days | None |
| Healthy Paws | 15 days (in most states) | 15 days (except for Maryland) | 12 months for hip dysplasia in most states (not covered if your pet is age 6 or older at the time of purchase) |
How Much Does Pet Insurance from Healthy Paws Cost?
Healthy Paws pet insurance costs an average of $60 per month for a dog and $28 per month for a cat, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for unlimited annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level ($750 and 70% reimbursement level for dogs and cats age 7 in several states).
Healthy Paws Price Comparison for Dogs
| Dog breed | Average cost per month for puppies age 3 months | Average cost per month for dogs age 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Beagle | $51 | $62 |
| Bulldog | $51 | $62 |
| Dachshund | $68 | $83 |
| French bulldog | $68 | $83 |
| German shepherd | $68 | $83 |
| Golden retriever | $56 | $69 |
| Labrador retriever | $46 | $56 |
| Mixed breed (large) | $33 | $41 |
| Mixed breed (medium) | $56 | $69 |
| Mixed breed (small) | $51 | $62 |
| Poodle | $51 | $62 |
| Rottweiler | $68 | $83 |
Healthy Paws Price Comparison for Cats
| Cat breed | Average cost per month kittens age 3 months | Average cost per month for cats age 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Abyssinian | $27 | $33 |
| Bengal | $29 | $36 |
| Bombay | $27 | $33 |
| British shorthair | $27 | $33 |
| Exotic shorthair | $27 | $33 |
| Maine coon | $40 | $49 |
| Mixed breed | $21 | $26 |
| Persian | $33 | $40 |
| Ragdoll | $27 | $33 |
| Siamese | $27 | $33 |
Healthy Paws Costs vs. Other Top Insurers
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Availability
Healthy Paws is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Claims
You can file a pet insurance claim with Healthy Paws:
- Online or app: Via its online customer center or Healthy Paws Mobile App
- Email: claims@healthypawspetinsurance.com
- Fax: (888) 228-4129
- Mail: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, P.O. Box 50034, Bellevue, WA 98015
Submit a claim by photographing your paid invoice and uploading it to Healthy Paws’ online customer center or mobile app. A claim form is not required, but if you’d prefer to use one, you can download one from the “My Account” section of the Healthy Paws website.
Digital Experience Analysis: Good
We looked at the digital experience offered by Healthy Paws and found decent features overall. It has a good app where you can manage a policy, submit a claim and access pet care resources. Google and Android users gave it an average rating of 3.8 out of 5.
The Healthy Paws website has a site search that proved to be useful—an unusual quality among pet insurance websites, based on our analysis. But its website lacks a live chat function, which would be helpful for buyers and policyholders who have quick questions.
Healthy Paws vs. Pets Best
| Rating and coverage details | Healthy Paws pet insurance | Pets Best pet insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor rating |   | |
| Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement | $60 | $46 |
| Deductible choices | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500 |
| Optional wellness plan available? | No | Yes |
| 24/7 vet helpline available? | No | Yes |
Healthy Paws vs. Figo
| Rating and coverage details | Healthy Paws pet insurance | Figo pet insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor rating | |  |
| Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement | $60 | $75 |
| Deductible choices | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500, $750 |
| Optional wellness plan available? | No | Yes |
| 24/7 vet helpline available? | No | Yes |
Healthy Paws vs. Chewy
| Rating and coverage details | Healthy Paws pet insurance | Chewy Essential Plus pet insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor rating | | |
| Average monthly cost for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement (90% for Chewy) | $60 | $89 |
| Deductible choices | $100, $250, $500, $1,000 | $250, $500, $1,000 ($500 in California) |
| Optional wellness plan available? | No | Yes |
| 24/7 vet helpline available? | No | No |
About Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Since 2009, Healthy Paws has provided pet insurance underwritten by the Chubb Group. The company also has a non-profit foundation to help shelters and rescues for homeless pets through the “Every Quote Gives Hope” medical grant program.
Find The Best Pet Insurance Companies Of 2024
Methodology
To find the best pet insurance, we collected data and scored each pet insurance company for several categories. Only pet insurers offering annual maximum coverage of $100,000 or unlimited were scored, so that comparisons were fair among companies. If a company has more than one top-scoring policy we show only the policy with the highest score.
- Pet insurance rates for mixed breed dogs (20% of score): We calculated average rates for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
- Pet insurance rates for purebred dogs (20% of score): We calculated average rates for French bulldogs, German shepherds, golden retrievers, labrador retrievers and poodles age 3 months and 3 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
- Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points. In order to receive points, this feature must be stated on the pet insurer’s website.
- Special waiting period (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that have no special waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher. In certain states waiting periods are dictated by state law and may vary.
- 24/7 vet health line (5% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line earned points.
- Routine wellness plans (5% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
- Multipet discount (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.
- Behavioral therapy (2% of score): Insurers that cover behavioral therapy in their base plans earned points.
- Alternative therapy (2% of score): Insurers that include alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care and hydrotherapy in their base plans earned points.
- Dental illness (2% of score): Insurers that include coverage for dental illnesses, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, earned points.
- Pays veterinary exam fees (1% of score): Plans that cover the vet exam fee received points. Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit that’s covered by insurance.
- Stem cell therapy (1% of score): Insurers with coverage for stem cell therapy in their base plans earned points.
- Coverage for prescription food and supplements (1% of score): Insurers reimburse for food and supplement prescribed by a veterinarian earned points.
- Euthanasia or end of life expenses (1% of score): Insurers that cover end of life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, received points.
- Digital experience (5% of score): We evaluated pet insurers on: mobile app ratings for both Android and Apple, if there’s a useful website search function and if there’s live chat that provides helpful information.
- Likelihood to recommend pet insurers to others (5% of score) and satisfaction with customer service and price (5% of score): We surveyed 1,300 American pet owners with insurance that have purchased a new policy within the last 12 months, 100 per carrier. This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from Oct. 11-29, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.5 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
- Satisfaction with claims process (up to 5% of score): We surveyed 1,300 American pet owners who have filed a pet insurance claim within the past 12 months. This online survey was commissioned by Forbes Advisor and conducted by market research company Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected from Oct. 11 to Nov. 4, 2024. The margin of error is ± 1.9 point with 95% confidence. This survey was overseen by Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Healthy Paws pet insurance good?
Healthy Paws scored 4 out of 5 stars in our evaluation of the best pet insurance companies.
Healthy Paws has decent prices, unlimited annual coverage and several deductible options, depending on your pet’s age. You’ll also have access to a 24/7 pet telehealth line. But you won’t find an optional wellness plan. The 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia is long compared to top competitors and dogs enrolled after age six won’t be covered for hip dysplasia.
Does Healthy Paws pet insurance work with any vet?
Yes, Healthy Paws will pay claims for covered medical expenses from any licensed veterinarian, including emergency animal hospital vets and specialists.
Can I add multiple pets to my Healthy Paws pet insurance policy?
Yes, you can get multi-pet insurance from Healthy Paws, but you will need a separate policy for each pet, and you can manage them from one account. Healthy Paws is only available for dogs and cats.
Healthy Paws does not offer a multipet discount. Many pet insurance companies offer multipet discounts between 5% to 10%.
Does Healthy Paws pet insurance cover dental care?
Yes, Healthy Paws’ pet dental insurance covers accidents and illnesses. This includes broken or chipped teeth and other dental issues like dental malocclusion, stomatitis and dentigerous cysts. However, it doesn’t cover routine dental care.
Does Healthy Paws pet insurance cover spaying and neutering?
Healthy Paws doesn’t have pet insurance for spaying and neutering.
How can I reach Healthy Paws customer service?
You can contact Healthy Paws’ customer service at (855) 898-8991. Customer service operating hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. You can also contact them through their website’s email form.
How do I cancel Healthy Paws pet insurance?
You can cancel your Healthy Paws pet insurance policy via phone, email, fax or mail. You’ll need to provide your name, pet’s name, policy number, the cancellation effective date and the reason for cancellation.
- Phone: (855) 898-8991
- Email: help@gohealthypaws.com
- Fax: (888) 228-4129
- Mail: Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, P.O. Box 50034, Bellevue, WA 98015
You can receive a full refund if no claims have been filed and your cancellation request is within the first 30 days (unavailable in New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina).
