Pros and Cons of Healthy Paws vs. Fetch
Fetch vs. Healthy Paws: What Are the Main Coverage Differences?
The table below outlines key features to easily compare these two insurance providers.
| Star Rating | ||
| Best For | Our Pick for Comprehensive Coverage | Most Affordable Unlimited Coverage |
| Average monthly cost | $35 for dogs, $25 for cats | $40 for dogs, $20 for cats |
| Coverage limits | $5,000–Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductibles | $250-$500 | $100–$500 |
| Reimbursement rates | 70%-90% | 70%-90% |
| Wellness care add-on | No | No |
| Pre-existing condition coverage | No | No |
| Multi-pet discount | No | No |
| Star Rating | ||
| Best For | Our Pick for Comprehensive Coverage | Most Affordable Unlimited Coverage |
| Average monthly cost | $35 for dogs, $25 for cats | $40 for dogs, $20 for cats |
| Coverage limits | $5,000–Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductibles | $250-$500 | $100–$500 |
| Reimbursement rates | 70%-90% | 70%-90% |
| Wellness care add-on | No | No |
| Pre-existing condition coverage | No | No |
| Multi-pet discount | No | No |
As you can see, Healthy Paws’ cat insurance is slightly more affordable than Fetch’s, while its dog insurance is more expensive. The providers offer comparable deductibles and unlimited annual payout options. However, Healthy Paws includes unlimited benefits in every plan.
Neither company offers multi-pet discounts, pre-existing condition coverage or wellness plans for routine care.
Fetch Pet Insurance Coverage Overview
Fetch allows you to customize your plan to build a pet insurance policy that fits your needs.
You can mix and match the rates below for personalized coverage:
- Annual deductibles: $250, $300 and $500
- Annual coverage limits: $5,000, $10,000 and unlimited
- Reimbursement rates: 70%, 80% and 90%
No matter which rates you select, your Fetch coverage won’t begin until you’ve satisfied your annual deductible and waiting periods have ended.
Your deductible is the $250 to $500 you must pay out of pocket before Fetch starts covering costs. Your annual coverage will kick in sooner with a lower deductible, but your monthly premiums will be higher.
A waiting period is a time frame after your policy effective date before coverage begins. All pet insurance companies enforce waiting periods to ensure pets don’t have pre-existing conditions.
Fetch has a 15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses and a six-month waiting period for orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament events.
What Does Fetch Cover?
- Veterinary exam fees
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Cancer treatment
- Emergency vet visits
- Behavioral therapy
- Holistic care
- Breed-specific conditions
- Complete sick visit
- Virtual vet visits
- Diagnostic tests
- Imaging and ultrasound
- Trip cancellation because of a sick pet
- Specialist visits
- Comprehensive dental care
- Unexpected accidents and illnesses
What Does Fetch Not Cover?
- Accidents or illnesses that occur during waiting periods
- Cosmetic or elective procedures
- Routine or preventive care
- Pre-existing conditions
- Birds and exotic pets
- Breeding costs
How Much Does Fetch Cost?
On average, Fetch costs $35 per month for dogs and $25 per month for cats based on quotes our team gathered. Your specific price will vary depending on your pet’s age, breed, species, and location.
You can also personalize your monthly premium by selecting different deductibles, annual limits, and reimbursement rates at enrollment. Although you may feel tempted to select the lowest cost option available, consider the coverage you’ll get for that price.
If cost is a deciding factor for you, we recommend selecting a middle-tier option for slightly better coverage.
Discounts Available
Unlike many top pet insurance providers, Fetch doesn’t offer a multi-pet discount when you enroll more than one pet. However, Fetch offers several other discounts to make your policy more affordable.
When enrolling in a plan, you can select monthly, quarterly, or annual billing cycles. Depending on the cycle you choose, you can save an average of $30-$40 per year on premiums.
Here are some other ways you can save with Fetch:
- Shelter & rescue adopter discount
- Walmart shopper discount
- AARP member discount
- Veterans & active military discount
- Support, comfort and therapy pet discount
- Veterinarians & vet employees discount
Sample Monthly Pricing
We used Fetch’s free quote generator to retrieve sample prices for some 1-year-old pets living in Atlanta. We selected unlimited annual payouts, $500 annual deductibles and 80% reimbursement percentages for these pet insurance plans.
| Species/Breed | Sample Price for Medium Mixed Breed Dog | Sample Price for Golden Retriever (Dog) | Sample Price for Domestic Shorthair Cat | Sample Price for Domestic Mediumhair Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accident and Illness Plan With Vet Fees and Physical Therapy Coverage | $35.40 | $45.70 | $20.16 | $20.16 |
Why Choose Fetch?: Fetch Customer Reviews
Fetch was founded in 2003, so the company has 20 years of experience in the pet insurance industry. Fetch also has excellent ratings for claims processing and customer service. However, some customers expressed dissatisfaction with claims being denied or premiums increasing.
Take a look at these reviews from actual policyholders:
“Fetch processed our claim fairly, accurately, and promptly and helped our family take the best care of our dog during a very stressful time. Thank you for walking your talk!” —Dawn via Trustpilot
“My claim was processed quickly, and the communication was great. I even got a call after my dog’s surgery to ask how he was doing. Such great customer service!” —Mariana V. via Trustpilot
“Truly disappointed with the appeals division. My dog’s issues are clearly related, yet even with my vet’s support and personnel letter my claims are still divided, forcing me to meet 2 $500 deductibles. Very disappointed.” —Dolores P. via Trustpilot
“Our dog broke his toe and subsequently got a skin infection from the cast. It was a huge relief to have our Fetch pet insurance to help cover these costs. Our only complaint is the lack of transparency for annual increases. Our rate jumped by 56.04% in the second year without warning. Quite a shock.” —Morgan L. via Trustpilot
To learn more, read our full review of Fetch Pet Insurance.
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Coverage Overview
Every Healthy Paws plan has unlimited per-item, annual and lifetime payouts. This means you’ll never hit a coverage cap, no matter how many claims you submit.
However, the provider does limit your plan’s customizability by your pet’s age at enrollment. The older your pet is at sign-up, the less you’ll be able to personalize your annual deductible and reimbursement rate. For this reason, Healthy Paws isn’t the best option for senior pets.
Here are some of Healthy Paws’ basic customizability limitations by age:
Dogs and cats 3 years and under:
- Reimbursement percentage: 70%, 80% or 90%
- Annual deductible: $100, $250 or $500
Dogs and cats 4 and 5 years old:
- Reimbursement percentage: 70% or 80%
- Annual deductible: $250 or $500
Dogs and cats 6 years old:
- Reimbursement percentage: 70%
- Annual deductible: $500
Dogs and cats 7 years old:
- Reimbursement percentage: 70%
- Annual deductible: $750
Dogs 8 years and older:
- Reimbursement percentage: 50%
- Annual deductible: $1,000
Like all other pet health insurance providers, Healthy Paws has waiting periods. Accident and illness coverage begins after a 15-day waiting period. Hip dysplasia coverage* kicks in after a 12-month waiting period.
*Healthy Paws only offers hip dysplasia coverage to pets six and under at enrollment.
What Does Healthy Paws Cover?
- Unexpected accidents and illnesses
- Genetic and hereditary conditions
- Congenital conditions
- Chronic conditions
- Cancer
- Diagnostic testing and treatment
- X-rays and ultrasounds
- Blood work
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Prescription medications
- Emergency care
- Specialty care
- Alternative therapies like chiropractic care and acupuncture
What Does Healthy Paws Not Cover?
- Illnesses or accidents that occur during waiting periods
- Elective or cosmetic procedures
- Veterinary examination fees
- Preventive care services
- Spaying/neutering
- Birds and exotic pets
- Pre-existing conditions
- Boarding fees
- Dental illness
How Much Does Healthy Paws Cost?
Healthy Paws typically costs around $40 per month for dog insurance and $20 per month for cat insurance based on quotes our team gathered. Your price will vary based on your pet’s species, breed, age and location.
Discounts Available
Unlike most other pet insurance companies, Healthy Paws doesn’t offer any discounts.
Sample Monthly Pricing
Here are some sample pet insurance quotes for 1-year-old pets in Atlanta. We selected $500 annual deductibles and 80% reimbursement rates for these policies.
| Species/Breed | Sample Price for Medium Mixed Breed Dog | Sample Price for Golden Retriever (Dog) | Sample Price for Domestic Shorthair Cat | Sample Price for Domestic Mediumhair Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accident and Illness Plan With Physical Therapy Coverage | $32.20 | $47.59 | $15.05 | $15.05 |
Why Choose Healthy Paws?
Policyholders give Healthy Paws positive reviews regarding customer service and quick claims processing. According to two customers, claims were processed within a few days and reimbursements quickly followed. This ease is thanks to Healthy Paws’ mobile app through which you can submit and track pending claims. However, some users experienced issues with increasing rates and providing documentation for claims.
Here are some reviews from real Healthy Paws users:
“Submitting claims is easy, and the turnaround is quick. If you sign up for direct deposit, you get your money faster. I haven’t had any issues with claims being processed, and none of them have taken more than a few days. Customer service has been very helpful and is available to answer questions quickly. I would definitely recommend Healthy Paws Pet Insurance.” —Colleen G. via Trustpilot
“Very easy process. I paid my vet, uploaded my itemized statement and all medical records to the Healthy Paws site, then filed my claim. It was approved in two days, and I received a check in less than a week. Insurance for humans should be this simple!” —D. Marcus via Trustpilot
“I started with [Healthy Paws] in 2018. My premium was $33 [per] month for my rescue dog. Rates went up every year. In 2021, I have noticed it is going to $68 [per] month. I tried [canceling] via phone in April, May and June and now they are still billing me in July. I am going to have to disable my credit card.” —Lisa R. via Trustpilot
“I enrolled my healthy puppy with [Healthy Paws] two years ago, submitted every single document they asked for with doctors notes from her first puppy visit [until] now (multiple times as they always state they did not receive it) and they are constantly giving me run around.” —Vanja M. via Trustpilot
You should also consider Healthy Paws if you’re passionate about animal welfare. The Healthy Paws Foundation has donated nearly $2 million to deserving rescue organizations and animal shelters since 2009.
To learn more, read our full review of Healthy Paws.
The Bottom Line
We hope this comparison of Fetch vs. Healthy Paws helps you choose the best pet insurance for your furry family member. These providers are both good options for pet parents seeking comprehensive coverage for unexpected vet bills. Both companies offer unlimited annual payouts so that you can make the most of your pet’s health insurance.
However, neither Fetch nor Healthy Paws is a good option for pet owners needing preventive care coverage for routine veterinary bills. If you’d like wellness coverage for items like vaccinations, heartworm tests, routine checkups, blood tests and more, you can choose from top companies that offer wellness plans for pets.
Before finalizing your decision, we recommend getting quotes from multiple providers to find the best one for you and your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Fetch covers complete sick visits for your pet. The provider will reimburse you for the cost of exams performed by a licensed veterinarian to diagnose or treat your sick or injured pet.
Healthy Paws covers vet visit costs associated with your pet’s unexpected accidents and illnesses. However, Healthy Paws will not cover the exam fees or administrative costs included in your vet bill.
For coverage limits, Fetch offers annual maximum options of $5,000 and $15,000. You can also select an unlimited yearly benefit for uncapped coverage.
Fetch has no upper age limits, so you can enroll your pet in an accident and illness plan no matter how old they are.
Healthy Paws doesn’t have annual benefit limits on any of its plans. You’ll get unlimited per-item, annual and lifetime payouts, no matter how many claims you submit.
Healthy Paws enforces an upper age limit on its plans, which means you can only enroll your pet if they’re 14 years old or younger. Healthy Paws also limits plan customization by age, leaving older pets with fewer coverage options.