Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

 

You probably have insurance policies in place designed to protect you and your family, home, vehicle, and anything else that you consider valuable. If you happen to have a furry, four-legged member of your family, it’s also probably a good idea to have insurance for them as well. Fortunately, there are several options on the market for you to make sure that you’re protected from pet ownership costs like unforeseen emergencies, routine healthcare, and other issues that may arise while you own your pet. One of the best options on the market currently comes from a company called Healthy Paws.

 

What is Healthy Paws Pet Insurance?

 

According to US News, Healthy Paws is ranked as the number one pet insurance company on the market. Founded in 2009 as Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and Foundation, Healthy Paws is a not-for-profit company that was created to help pet owners deal with the financial obligations associated with caring for pets. In addition to their insurance offerings, Healthy Paws also donates a large percentage of their profits to animal foundations.

Healthy Paws has partnered with Aon Corporation and its pet insurance plans are underwritten by a large insurer called Chubb. Healthy Paws covers a wide variety of pet issues, ranging from accidents to routine care. If you’re looking for a way to protect your finances and your pet, Healthy Paws is one of the most trusted names on the market.

 

What Plans Are Available from Healthy Paws?

 

Healthy Paws offers a variety of plans that cover dogs and cats. While the coverage options vary, they include virtually every type of issue that you could run into as a pet owner. The comprehensive coverage provided by Healthy Paws includes coverage for treatment required for new accidents, illnesses, hereditary issues, chronic conditions, and congenital conditions. Pet owners who sign up for insurance coverage through Healthy Paws can significantly reduce their large bills associated with veterinary care.

One of the most appealing features of Healthy Paws is that coverage is provided for alternative therapies such as chiropractic treatment and acupuncture. What’s more, pet owners who sign up for Healthy Paws insurance coverage can choose between paying their premiums monthly or annually, meaning that you’re in even more control of the insurance for your pet. One downside of their plans is that the cost of vet examinations is not covered.

 

Does Healthy Paws Have Optional Features?

 

Unfortunately, Healthy Paws doesn’t offer optional features like some of the other names in the market. Instead, everyone who signs up for Healthy Paws has relatively the same insurance package for their pets. There are some customizable options, such as those that dictate deductibles and reimbursement rates, but Healthy Paws largely offers a uniform insurance policy.

 

How Much Does Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Cost?

 

Obviously, one of the most pressing questions surrounding any type of insurance policy is the cost. If you ever signed up for health insurance, homeowners’ insurance, or car insurance, you probably shopped around. Looking for the right pet insurer is no different!

The cost of Healthy Paws’ pet insurance policies does vary, and there are some factors that can either increase or decrease the premium that you pay. Those factors include:

• Whether you have a dog or a cat
• The breed of the animal that you are insuring
• The age of your animal

 

Hypothetically, let’s assume that you have a female dog who is a mixed breed. Your dog is only a year old. If the animal weighs somewhere between 50 pounds and 90 pounds, and you sign up for a 90% reimbursement rate and a $500 annual deductible, you will pay $39.10 per month. That same policy for a year old, domestic, short-haired cat would only be $12.71 per month. These examples were quoted at the time of writing this review and prices can be updated by pet insurance companies at any time.

It’s also important to note that some of the other companies in this area offer multi-pet discounts. One of the setbacks of Healthy Paws pet insurance is that there is no “bundle” option. Instead, you will need to obtain a separate insurance policy for each pet that you plan on insuring. However, Healthy Paws largely makes up for this lack of a multi-pet discount by ensuring that you never have to worry about limitations on claim payouts. The policy that you choose will continue to offer the financial support that you need for the entire life of the policy. This is one of the most attractive features of Healthy Paws, as virtually every other pet insurance company does have annual caps that you will need to consider.

 

Does Healthy Paws Require an Exam?

 

Yes, there is a required exam for any pet that you are seeking to insure through Healthy Paws. Dogs that are less than six years old are required to have visited the vet within the last 12 months or see a vet within 15 days of the policy being issued. Dogs who are more than six years old are required to have seen a vet within the last 30 days or must see a vet within 15 days of the policy being issued.

 

What Does Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Cover?

 

As is the case with any insurance policy, there are some treatments that are covered and others that aren’t. The covered treatment options from Healthy Paws include the following:

• Surgery
• Emergency Care
• Hospitalizations
• Specialized Exams
• Specialty Care
• Blood Tests
• Ultrasounds
• X-Rays
• MRIs
• Rehabilitation Services
• Chronic Conditions
• Cancer Treatments
• Hereditary Conditions
• Congenital Conditions
• Non-Routine Dental Treatment
• Prescription Medications
• Euthanasia

 

While Healthy Paws certainly covers more pet issues than many of the other companies within the field, there are still some things that aren’t covered. Non-covered treatments include the following:

• Exam Fees
• Wellness Care
• Behavioral Therapies

 

What Are My Deductible Options with Healthy Paws?

 

Healthy Paws allows you to pick a plan with varying amounts for your annual deductible. Your deductible options with Healthy Paws are as follows:

• $100
• $250
• $500
• $750
• $1,000

 

What Are My Reimbursement Options with Healthy Paws?

 

Similarly, like other insurance options, Healthy Paws allows you to choose plans with differing reimbursement rates. The reimbursement rates with Healthy Paws are as follows:

• 50%
• 60%
• 70%
• 80%
• 90%
• 100%

 

It is important to note that both the deductibles and the reimbursement rates may vary based on your pet’s age, breed, weight and other factors. You should be sure to speak to a Healthy Paws customer service representative when choosing the plan that is right for you.

 

Is There a Waiting Period with Healthy Paws?

 

As is the case with most insurance companies, there are waiting periods associated with the coverage that you sign up for.

First, your pet must be enrolled in the Healthy Paws insurance program for at least 15 days before you can file a claim for accident or illness. The waiting period for hip dysplasia is 12 months if your animal is older than six years old.

 

Conclusion

 

Overall, Healthy Paws has more going for it than against it. They have several customer support options including live chat, email, and phone options. Their commitment to customer service and willingness to donate such a large portion of their profits to foundations that provide care for animals make it easy to see why so many people continue to choose Healthy Paws.

For policyholders, the most attractive feature of Healthy Paws is that you don’t have to worry about any annual or lifetime caps. Many of the other insurance policies in the field don’t offer those. If you’re looking for a company that will help you provide your dog or cat with the care that it needs, Healthy Paws is a great choice.

 

 

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