Walmart offers comprehensive pet insurance in partnership with Fetch. Check out how much Walmart pet insurance costs, what it covers and more.
Walmart Pet Insurance Review (2024)
Updated:
Jan 8, 2024
Pet insurance is a financial tool that can help pet owners manage costly vet bills in the event of an accident or sudden illness. Walmart offers pet coverage in collaboration with Fetch by The Dodo, which you can learn more about in this Walmart pet insurance review.
We at the Guides Home Team have vetted the top pet insurance companies to help you compare coverage options. A household brand name and multinational retail corporation, Walmart offers a comprehensive suite of pet care services and products. Read on to learn more about available policies and costs.
Our Take on Walmart Pet Insurance
Walmart pet insurance, administered through Fetch, earned 4.1 out of 5 stars based on our provider review methodology. We like how Walmart offers a wide range of coverage options and focuses on customer service. Plus, there are several discounts and incentives available for loyal customers.
Like all other pet insurance providers, Walmart has some coverage and state limitations that we will discuss in the following sections. We have also included reviews from real pet insurance customers to give you a better idea of the buying and claims process.
Pros and Cons of Walmart Pet Insurance
Walmart Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
Walmart pet insurance is administered through a partner company, Fetch. Because of this partnership, Walmart offers one comprehensive pet insurance plan that covers accidents and illnesses.
Accident and Illness Plan
An accident and illness plan covers any accidental injuries or unexpected illnesses your pet develops. Walmart coverage includes veterinary care and services related to:
- Exam fees
- Cancer treatments
- Diagnostic testing (like X-rays and ultrasounds)
- Surgery
- Dental cleanings
- Rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Specialist treatments
- Emergency care
- Alternative therapies
- Hereditary conditions
- And more
Walmart’s plan also encompasses many of the services other providers charge extra for, like dental cleanings and hereditary conditions.
Optional Add-On Coverage
Walmart pet insurance through Fetch doesn’t offer pet insurance add-ons, but rather includes extra coverage automatically. So while some providers charge extra fees for services like physical therapy, these services are already included under your Walmart coverage.
Wellness Plans
While some pet insurance providers offer wellness plans, Walmart does not cover preventative pet care. Walmart also classifies medications like vitamins and parasite preventatives as preventative care and doesn’t offer coverage.
Walmart pet insurance does not cover the following preventative care services:
- Wellness exams
- Heartworm tests
- Internal parasite or fecal tests
- Blood work
- Vaccines
- Prescription pet food
The services listed above are not covered because they are part of your pet’s expected yearly care. However, Walmart will cover services like blood work and fecal tests if prescribed by a licensed veterinarian as part of your pet’s treatment for an unexpected illness or injury.
Walmart Coverage Levels
Walmart pet insurance, administered through Fetch, has customizable plan options, allowing pet owners to choose from a range of deductible, maximum coverage and reimbursement options. Your selections not only affect your monthly premium cost but also how much you receive back after filing an insurance claim.
Deductible Options
Your annual deductible or copay is the amount of money you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering costs. Walmart offers deductible amounts of $250, $300 or $500. Once you meet your deductible, you will not have to pay it again until the next policy year.
Reimbursement Rates
You can also customize your reimbursement rate for each vet bill, which is the percentage of costs your provider will reimburse you when you file a claim. Walmart offers reimbursement rates of 70%, 80% or 90%.
Annual Limit Options
Your policy will also have an annual coverage limit or the maximum amount your insurance provider will pay out during a year. Walmart offers annual limit options of $5,000, $15,000 or unlimited.
In addition, Walmart pet insurance covers up to $1,000 for the following services if prescribed or administered by a licensed veterinarian:
- TeleVet services
- Behavioral therapies
- Advertising and reward for lost or stolen pets
- Hospitalization boarding and kennel fees
- Vacation cancellation due to pet illness or injury
Walmart Pet Insurance Exclusions
Exclusions are conditions, treatments and services that your pet insurance policy will not cover. And like all insurance plans, Walmart pet insurance has coverage exclusions.
Like most pet insurance providers, Walmart doesn’t cover the costs of diagnosing or treating pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are problems your pet was diagnosed with or symptomatic of before the start of your policy. The company may also classify some incidents as pre-existing conditions, like a pet ear infection, and exclude coverage for treatments related to those.
Walmart also doesn’t cover routine wellness visits, which include annual checkups, teeth cleanings, vaccinations and spaying or neutering.
Lastly, Fetch doesn’t cover cosmetic procedures like ear cropping, tail docking or declawing. However, it may make an exception if a service is deemed medically necessary by a licensed veterinarian.
It is always best to read the fine print of your contract closely to know what to expect from a new pet insurance policy. This will help you avoid any insurance claim rejections down the road.
Walmart Insurance Waiting Periods
A waiting period is a time frame policyholders must wait before coverage kicks in. If your pet gets sick before a waiting period ends, any vet bills you pay during that time will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Walmart has waiting periods of 15 days for illnesses and injuries and six months for cruciate ligament injuries.
In addition to waiting periods, Walmart also has exam requirements for pet insurance eligibility. Coverage eligibility depends on your pet undergoing a medical exam six months before your policy start date or within 30 days after your policy begins. Failure to complete a wellness exam may result in termination of your policy.
Walmart Pet Insurance Cost
The cost of a Walmart pet insurance plan is based on several factors, like your location and your pet’s breed and age. To help you better understand the cost of Walmart pet insurance, we compiled sample quotes for a variety of 3-year-old pets in Raleigh, N.C. Each quote is based on Walmart’s core pet insurance plan with a $300 deductible, a $15,000 maximum annual payout and an 80% reimbursement rate.
| Type of Pet | Average Monthly Walmart Pet Insurance Cost |
|---|---|
| Medium, mixed-breed dog | $45 |
| Golden retriever | $61 |
| Domestic short-hair cat | $20 |
| Domestic medium-hair cat | $20 |
Keep in mind that factors including your pet’s species, age, breed and location will affect how much you pay for pet insurance.
Discounts and Deals
If you are looking for discounts, the Walmart pet insurance plan is a good choice. The company offers discounts for:
- Shelter and rescue adopters
- Walmart shoppers
- AARP members
- Veterans and active military personnel
- Owners of support, comfort or therapy pets
- Veterinarians and vet employees
- Annual payment discount
Walmart also offers a Healthy Pet Credit, which takes 15% off your premium for every policy period you go without filing a claim. You can earn this credit for up to two years, for a total of 30% off. Plus, Walmart pet insurance policyholders are eligible for up to $1,000 worth of virtual vet services.
Walmart Pet Insurance Reviews
We dove into real customer reviews to help you better understand what it is like to be a Walmart pet insurance policyholder. Since Walmart pet insurance is administered through Fetch, the below reviews are sourced from Fetch customers.
Fetch has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. We found that many customers are satisfied with the level of customer service they receive from Fetch. Most five-star reviews noted that customer service representatives were kind, empathetic and attentive. Reviewers said the outstanding customer service made up for any issues they encountered with plans or billing.
On the other hand, some policyholders were displeased with recent cost increases and the claims process.
“Have had Fetch for many years and never had a reason to use it. Suddenly, my almost 10-year-old pup had cancer and required surgery. A relief to know I didn’t have to worry about a huge bill and could make the decision to go ahead and perform the life-saving surgery.” — Joan 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
“I just had to cancel my plan because I found out Fetch is quadrupling its rates. It’s cost prohibitive for me and I’m sure many other people.” — Claudette B. via Trustpilot
“Total scam. Put in a claim for my pet and [Fetch] denied my request for reimbursement because it needed medical records that were totally unrelated to the claim. Additionally, it is rather difficult to get in contact with customer service.” — Nichole H. via Trustpilot
Walmart Pet Insurance vs. Competitors
Compare important information on several top pet insurance agencies, including Walmart’s pet insurance through Fetch.
| Factors | Walmart | Spot | Lemonade | Embrace | Healthy Paws | ASPCA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waiting period for accidents | 15 days | 14 days | 2 days | 2 days | 15 days | 15 days |
| Waiting period for illnesses | 15 days | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days | 15 days | 15 days |
| Multi-pet discount | No | 10% | 5% | 10% | No | 10% |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wellness add-on | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Online chat | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Walmart Pet Insurance Availability
Walmart pet insurance administered by Fetch is available in all 50 U.S. states. However, the company does not offer TeleVet services in New York, New Jersey and Canada. Additionally, some partner discounts are unavailable to residents of Florida, Tennessee and Hawaii.
If you purchase a policy in New York, New Jersey or Washington, note that:
- Waiting periods are five days for injuries and 15 days for illness coverage.
- Your pet must have undergone a wellness exam 60 days before your policy’s onset (as opposed to six months for all other states).
- There are no waiting periods for knee problems and hip dysplasia.
Risk-free cancellation terms also vary by state, so be sure to check your specific policy for any state limitations. Generally, Walmart offers a 30-day risk-free period in which you can cancel your pet health insurance for a full refund.
The Bottom Line: Is Walmart Pet Insurance Best for Your Pet?
As a longstanding provider of pet supplies, Walmart announced the expansion of its pet services at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this expansion, Walmart began offering pet insurance in partnership with Fetch, dog walking and pet sitting through Rover, and dog grooming services to its customers. Known as Walmart Pet Care, the expansion allows pet owners to manage their pet insurance in the same place they purchase pet supplies and get pet prescriptions filled.
Administered through Fetch, Walmart pet insurance offers pet owners customizable prices and comprehensive coverage. It also extends discounts to Walmart customers, military personnel and rescue pet parents. However, Walmart pet insurance only covers cats and dogs so it is not useful for reptile or bird owners.
Based on quotes we gathered, Walmart pet insurance costs around $44.67 to $60.94 per month for a dog and around $20 for a cat. Some customers have expressed frustration with policy price increases online, but Walmart offers pet coverage that includes services other providers don’t — like dental cleanings. Overall, it is a solid pet insurance option for pet parents looking for affordable coverage with unique benefits and 24/7 customer service.
We suggest you obtain quotes from at least three pet insurance providers before deciding if pet insurance is worth it for you and your pet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Walmart Pet Insurance
Walmart pet insurance, administered through Fetch, allows you to customize your policy’s annual coverage limit, deductible and reimbursement rate, which can help lower your monthly cost. Walmart also automatically covers services that other pet insurance providers charge extra for, like dental cleanings and treatments related to hereditary conditions. Other noteworthy perks include the company’s easy-to-use mobile app, 24/7 customer service team and 30-day risk-free cancellation window.
Generally, pet insurance can provide financial support to help pet owners cover costly vet bills related to unexpected pet injuries and illnesses. It can also offer peace of mind in knowing your pet has coverage in the event of an emergency.
Since Walmart pet insurance is administered through Fetch, you can submit claims online or using the Fetch mobile app. You will need your pet’s medical records to submit a claim, including related lab results, exam notes and any other documentation from your vet visit. You will also need a detailed invoice listing all services and costs from the visit. You can scan and submit the necessary documentation using the Fetch app.
Walmart pet insurance is administered through Fetch, a longstanding pet insurance provider. Fetch is operated by Fetch Industries, LLC, and its policies are underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company and AXIS Insurance Company.
Since Walmart partners with Fetch to offer pet insurance, Fetch handles customer service inquiries. Fetch offers 24/7 customer service with an online chat option where you can submit questions and concerns to a virtual agent. This feature allows you to inquire about purchasing a new policy or get help regarding an existing policy. You can also submit questions through the Fetch member portal or call the customer service line.
Walmart offers pet insurance, pet prescriptions, pet food and supplies, pet grooming and pet sitting. Walmart Pet Care expanded into the pet health and prescription medication space in 2019 when the company launched Walmart PetRx. This branch provides customers with discounted prices on pet prescriptions, as well as an online pharmacy for convenient shopping. The store is also expanding its in-store veterinary clinics, giving more customers the ability to prioritize their pets while they shop.