According to recent market research, the pet insurance industry was recorded for $1.2 billion in premiums [1]. It’s a growing industry as more and more pet owners want to keep their best friend safe and in good health.
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has become a well-established name in America. It offers a selection of coverage options, customized features, and heralded customer service.
This Healthy Paws review is going to assess the pet insurance provider, its main features, and whether or not it’s still a legitimate option for pet owners.
What is Healthy Paws Pet Insurance?
The Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation was set up by Rob Jackson and Steve Siadek as a way to help pets.
It started as a passion project to better understand what was required to help animals at the local shelter before spanning into what it’s become today. Due to Rob’s background in insurance, they were able to extend this passion into an all-inclusive insurance company.
It’s an insurance company that’s managed to help pet owners with their financial expenses to improve the lives of pets.
Healthy Paws is all about using high insurance standards as a way to help pet owners pay for their pet’s health expenses. To do this, the foundation has managed to sign with a strategic partner in the form of Aon Corporation.
This is one of the world’s largest insurance brokers and is respected for having a net worth of approximately $30 billion. This demonstrates the legitimacy of Healthy Paws and what it has managed to become due to the company’s network.
With 89.2 million dogs and 94.2 million cats in America, this pet insurance provider aims to help pet owners maximize their coverage [2].
In general, this pet insurance provider helps cover unexpected illnesses and accidents a pet owner may not be ready for.
Whether it’s a dog developing a UTI (urinary tract infection) or swallowing something they shouldn’t be, it’s important to take immediate action by visiting a qualified vet. In situations such as these, the bills can be substantial and that’s where Healthy Paws kicks into action.
It helps reimburse approximately 50-90% of the amount depending on the underlying coverage options of your plan [3].
What stands out about Healthy Paws is its emphasis on covering hereditary and congenital conditions.
Healthy Paws is an all-in-one pet insurance provider and offers a comprehensive set of coverage options without putting caps on claims payouts. You are welcome to visit any licensed vet and get the bill reimbursed as written in the insurance policy.
How it Works
There are several built-in features when it comes to a coverage plan with Healthy Paws.
Healthy Paws Offers
- No Caps on Claim Payouts
- Comprehensive Coverage (Injuries, Emergency Care, Alternative Treatments)
- 2-Day Processing for 99.9% of All Claims
- Low Monthly Premiums
- $100-$1000 Deductible
These features are designed to make the reimbursement process as simple as it needs to be during an emergency.
Due to the backing of Aon Corporation, the features are well-rounded and in line with industry expectations for pet insurance.
What Conditions & Procedures are Covered?
Healthy Paws offers an extensive list of conditions and/or procedures covered under its terms.
Conditions & procedures covered include:
- Chronic Conditions
- Congenital Conditions
- Illnesses
- Accidents
- Cancer
- X-Rays, Ultrasounds, Blood Tests
- Specialty Care
- Emergency Care
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Alternative Treatments
- Prescription Medications
- Diagnostic Treatment
It’s important to note each case is subject to review and will depend on what’s written in the policy.
Healthy Paws is noted for being excellent when it comes to customer service and its claims process allowing pet owners to feel safe financially.
How to Determine if Your Pet is Eligible
The first thing a pet owner will have to do is understand the eligibility process associated with Healthy Paws.
Healthy Paws has a “waiting period” in place for pets with a pre-existing condition [4]. A pre-existing condition refers to a medical issue that’s already occurred in the pet’s life and/or it’s showing signs of the medical condition during the application process.
To verify this particular requirement, Healthy Paws places the pet through a 15-day waiting period to make sure everything is okay. Once the pre-existing condition is noted, it will be excluded from the main policy.
A pet can be eligible after the age of 8 weeks old. This usually includes a full list of coverage options as mentioned in the original policy by Healthy Paws. It’s important to note any dog enrolled before the age of 6 will also receive hip dysplasia coverage free of cost.
This can add value to the overall insurance policy.
What about dogs and cats over the age of six?
When a pet starts aging, there are additional requirements in place during the eligibility phase. This includes a detailed assessment of the dog’s hereditary and congenital conditions [5].
However, Healthy Paws isn’t strict in this regard and does welcome all pets. A pet can be covered up to the age of 14, which is right in line with their health-related requirements.
To learn more, speak to a qualified representative at Healthy Paws.
Do They Have Waiting Periods?
Yes, there is a waiting period associated with Healthy Paws and its insurance policies.
The waiting period is set at 15-days after the initial application goes through. This is done to verify the pet’s health and whether or not they are eligible for the insurance policy in its current state.
For dogs with hip dysplasia [6] as a pre-existing condition, they may be asked to go through a longer 12-month waiting period. This will vary from case to case.
Healthy Paws Pros & Cons
Pros
1. Easy Claims Process
The claims process is exceptionally quick and straightforward.
The claim can be made through their online customer center or via the mobile app. Healthy Paws is one of the best when it comes to making the claims process quick in a client’s time of need.
While competitors take up to two months for a claim to be processed, this company gets the job done in less than two days.
This is a staggering difference and demonstrates the emphasis on customer care when it comes to Healthy Paws.
The pet insurance provider is heralded for its commitment to timeliness and it shows through how it handles claims.
2. Low Monthly Premiums
The monthly premiums are an essential component of any decision-making process.
In this case, Healthy Paws offers some of the most competitive rates in the county. Whether it’s for a dog or a cat, the pet will be fully protected with the help of this provider’s robust coverage options.
The level of depth and quality is what separates this company from everyone else. They go above and beyond to make sure the rates are competitive.
Along with having some of the lowest rates in the country, they’re also offering a long list of coverage options. This goes a long way in keeping your pet healthy over time, especially as the vet bills begin to pile up.
3. Coverage of Hereditary Conditions
Healthy Paws does an excellent job of understanding a pet’s medical history and moving forward with full-coverage options. This includes taking on pets with hereditary conditions.
After an initial examination at a licensed vet, the application process begins quickly. This includes assessing the pet’s medical history, determining pre-existing conditions, and assessing current symptoms.
Once all of this information has been analyzed, it’s time to move onto the coverage options.
In this case, Healthy Paws goes the extra mile and ensures the pet is protected. They will not refuse those with known hereditary conditions.
4. Detailed Comprehensive Coverage
The comprehensive coverage is wonderful with this pet insurance provider.
They cover almost everything under the sun ensuring going to the vet doesn’t become challenging or financially difficult.
With an excellent reimbursement setup, their policies are easy to understand and offer a tremendous amount of depth. You are not going to be left in a tough spot with this policy in hand.
Healthy Paws has refined the idea of comprehensive coverage better than almost anyone else in the industry.
5. User-Friendly Mobile App
The mobile app deserves praise for its attention to detail, user-friendly interface, and overall efficiency.
You are gaining access to a mobile app that makes the claims process as simple as it needs to be. After taking a quick picture of your vet’s bill, the claim can be set up through the main customer account.
As soon as the claim is put on, the team starts to work on the paperwork. This takes no more than two days. It’s quick and ideal for those with pets.
6. Excellent Customer Service
Customer service is a must when it comes to pet insurance.
Healthy Paws is a well-appreciated team because of its excellent customer service skills. The team is competent, professional, and equipped with the right tools to manage multiple claims at the same time.
To bolster their setup, the pet insurance provider has taken the time to create a specialized online Customer Center to help manage policy-based details, review claims, and update billing information.
All of this information is readily available through the Customer Center ensuring clients can remain on top of everything from day one. This adds to their quality and makes them easier to trust when it’s time to put in a claim.
Healthy Paws has the world-class mobile app on offer as well making it easier to submit online claims and follow updates as they roll in.
Cons
1. Waiting Period
There is a set waiting period in place when it comes to the application phase.
As soon as the application is put through and registered, there is a 15-day waiting period to determine whether or not everything is as described. This can include an additional medical exam.
With cases of hip dysplasia, there can be an extended waiting period of 12 months.
2. Not All Exam Fees Not Covered
While Healthy Paws aims to cover almost everything a person can think of, they don’t offer reimbursements for exam fees. These have to be paid out of pocket by the pet owner.
While this is not a large expense, it’s still something to keep in mind when it’s time to foot the bill.
Everything else can be reimbursed as long as it isn’t a recently acquired pre-existing condition. These terms are highlighted in the original policy.
Real Customer Testimonials: Good + Complaints
If you do any research on Healthy Paws around the internet, odds are good that you’ll find mostly positive reviews.
In fact, they have an excellent rating on TrustPilot [7], a third part resource that gathers verified reviews from real customers.
Their score is so solid, that 96% of reviewers rated their Healthy Paw experience as excellent. Only 3% of reviewers gave them a poor rating, and most of those complaints appear to be related to misunderstandings around premiums.
At any rate, here’s a look at both the good, and bad reviews of Healthy Paws.
Positive
Healthy Paws Saved Us:
My poor Husky has had 3 major surgeries in 14 months. Two ACL repairs and one to repair a tiny hole in his lungs. Healthy Paws has paid all three of those claims as expected and we have no complaints. Just understand what is paid for an what is not paid for. The cost of a office visit is not covered. Food is not covered and routine vaccinations are not covered. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
Healthy Paws is the Best!
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has provided great customer service, quick claim processing, and truly care about our puppy. I highly recommend them to any new or current pet owner.
Healthy Paws saved us $7,853.99 this summer. My young border collie, Toro, had a terrible summer of gastrointestinal issues and a heat stroke. Healthy Paws empowered us to take control of Toro’s health to get the right combo of expertise and emergency care with the providers of our choice. We never had to delay life-saving care because of financial concern. This literally saved Toro’s life.
Complaints
Terrible customer service. It’s been a month and they still haven’t processed my claim or even updated me on it. They don’t respond to emails or return calls. Unacceptable.
My take-home is that Healthy Paws is a great idea if your pet gets physically injured and they can’t find a shred of evidence that the injury has any historical basis. God help you if your pet gets a disease of some kind, even one that’s fatal.
So what’s to make of all this?
Based on the reviews we’ve analyzed it appears that Healthy Paws is a very legit service. Their team responded to all of the complaints that we saw, and again, 97% of reviewers rated them as excellent.
Ultimately, it will be up to you to decide if Healthy Paws is the right pet insurance company for you: Conduct your own research, do your due diligence, and you’ll be ready to make a decision about whether or not they’re the right insurer for your pet.
Healthy Paws Cost: How Much per Month?
The cost is set at approximately $15 for cats and $20 for dogs (per month).
These are generalized rates and there are several discounts available for clients to consider. Healthy Pets pet insurance can be reduced when a member of AAA applies for coverage. This discount can be anywhere up to 10% throughout the policy’s term.
Please note, a customized quote is necessary with Healthy Paws and it’s best to reach out to a qualified representative before making a decision. This can include insurance rates, reimbursement rates, and more.
How Does it Compare to Other Pet Insurance Programs?
Is Healthy Paws the only insurance provider in the industry?
No, it has several competitors and it’s important to compare options before making a decision one way or the other.
Trupanion
One of its biggest competitors would be Trupanion [8], which has grown in stature and is noted for having extensive coverage options.
While Trupanion offers most of the same features, it doesn’t cover alternative/holistic therapies, which Healthy Paws does.
However, Healthy Paws doesn’t cover behavioral therapies.
Healthy Paws is set up with a yearly deductible, which doesn’t apply to Trupanion. With Trupanion, the client is expected to sign for a lifetime deductible or a condition-based deductible.
Healthy Paws also offers consistent coverage when it comes to multiple illnesses and/or accidents during the year.
The only time Trupanion may be a better choice is when the pet has a pre-existing condition as they do offer coverage for such conditions.
When it comes to the enrolment fee, it’s a small one-time fee at the beginning.
For Healthy Paws, the fee includes a vet exam to verify the pet’s condition. This exam has to take place in the last 12 months or within 15 days after the policy is set up.
In some cases, Healthy Paws may require a shorter timeframe for older pets (i.e. exam in the last 30 days).
Between the two insurance companies, Healthy Paws has a higher rating due to its partnership with Aon Corporation.
In general, Healthy Paws is well-appreciated for its claims process as it’s quick, efficient, and in line with what a pet owner needs.
Trupanion may take much longer to complete the process and this can become a challenge when multiple claims are put in.
According to research, the claims process can take up to two months before reimbursement comes through. This is far longer than what Healthy Paws has to offer through its coverage policies.
Review Summary
Healthy Paws pet insurance is the real deal and is one of the nation’s finest insurance providers. The team is professional, organized, and understands what’s required to make the process as simple as it needs to be.
Dealing with a pet-related medical condition is challenging and the claims process should always be a breeze. With the help of a qualified team like this one, the pet insurance coverage remains in line with what a pet owner requires.
With their exceptional two-day claims process, low monthly premiums, and excellent customer service, Healthy Paws is one of the best at what it does.
References
- Facts + Statistics: Pet statistics, Insurance Information Institute. Retrieved from https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-pet-statistics#Pet%20insurance
- Jennifer Rudden, Pet insurance in North America – Statistics & Facts, Statista. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/3317/pet-insurance-in-north-america/
- Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com
- Waiting Periods and Vet Exams, Healthy Paws. Retrieved from https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/waiting-periods-and-veterinary-exam
- Mindy Cohan, VMD, Genetic Disorders in Dogs, PetMD. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/6-most-common-genetic-disorders-dogs
- Anna Burke, Hip Dysplasia in Dogs, American Kennel Club. Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/
- Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation Reviews, Trust Pilot. Retrieved from https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.healthypawspetinsurance.com
- Trupanion Medical Insurance for the Life of Your Pet. Retrieved from https://trupanion.com
