Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review 2022
Plans offered: Accident and illness, wellness.
Breadth of coverage: Excellent.
Range of plan options: Average.
Can pay your vet directly: Yes.
The bottom line: Offers one comprehensive accident and illness plan that includes coverage for dental treatments and most cured pre-existing conditions.
How we review pet insurance
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy in order to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, our editorial team considers both the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:
Plans offered. Pet insurance companies generally offer the following three types of plans:
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Accident and illness policies reimburse you for medical treatment if your pet gets sick or injured.
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Accident-only policies pay expenses if your pet is injured.
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Wellness plans help you budget for preventive care costs.
Breadth of coverage. We looked for plans that cover a wide range of potential expenses.
Range of plan options. This category looks at how many ways you can customize what you pay for your plan and how you’re reimbursed.
Can pay your vet directly. This indicates whether an insurer can pay your vet directly for medical expenses. With this service, you don’t have to pay the money yourself upfront and then wait for reimbursement.
Pumpkin pet insurance offers comprehensive insurance policies and preventive care plans for cats and dogs across the country. There’s no maximum age limit for pets to apply, and all breeds are welcome.
Pumpkin pet insurance
Pumpkin earned 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.
Pumpkin pros and cons
Pros
Cons
10% discount for each additional pet you insure.
Longer waiting period than some plans for accidents (14 days).
90% reimbursement rate for all plans.
Herbal supplements are not covered.
14-day waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries and hip dysplasia, which is shorter than many other plans.
State availability
Available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Pumpkin pet insurance plans
Pumpkin offers one accident and illness plan for cats and dogs. There are no lifetime limits, and annual limits range from $7,000 to unlimited.
The company’s Preventive Essentials package can be added to your policy. It covers one annual wellness exam, as well as a set number of vaccines and parasite screening per year, depending on the type of pet.
What Pumpkin pet insurance covers
The standard Pumpkin policy includes:
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Dental illnesses.
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Behavioral issues.
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Hereditary conditions.
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Parasite infections.
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Prescription food and supplements.
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Physical therapy.
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Alternative therapies.
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In-office and virtual exam fees, surgery and hospitalization.
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Cancer treatments.
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Pre-existing conditions (only if the condition was cured and the pet is symptom-free for 180 days). This does not include knee and hind leg ligament conditions.
What’s not covered
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Breeding costs.
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Spaying and neutering.
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Cosmetic or elective procedures.
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Dental cleanings not related to illness.
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Most pre-existing conditions.
Pumpkin coverage options
Deductibles: You can choose an annual deductible of $100, $250 or $500.
Reimbursement amounts: Pumpkin pet insurance reimburses 90% of all covered vet bills after you’ve met your deductible.
Coverage limits: You can choose an annual coverage limit of $7,000, $15,000 or unlimited for cats. Annual coverage limits for dogs are $10,000, $20,000 or unlimited.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: All dogs and cats 8 weeks and older are eligible for coverage.
Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage takes effect. Pumpkin offers a 14-day waiting period for all covered accidents and illnesses, including hip dysplasia and knee injuries.
Discounts
A 10% Fur Family Discount applies to each additional pet you enroll in a plan.
Consumer experience
Website: Pumpkin’s website is easy to use and includes detailed coverage information for cats, dogs, kittens and puppies. You can download a sample policy for your state, and apply for a free quote only.
App: The company doesn't have an app, but the website is optimized for tablets and smartphones.
Claims: You can file claims online through the company’s website. If you don't have to pay the vet upfront, you can file a claim that requests Pumpkin pay the vet directly.
Customer service: You can reach Pumpkin’s customer care team over the phone from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email the company and receive a reply within a day or less. The website also has a live chat option if you want to speak to a representative online.
Pumpkin vs. competitors
Here’s how Pumpkin stacks up against two other popular pet insurance companies.
Pumpkin vs. Lemonade
Like Pumpkin, Lemonade sells accident and illness coverage for cats and dogs. However, Lemonade’s basic plan doesn't cover things like physical therapy or dental treatments. Instead, it costs extra to add them to your policy. To compare, Pumpkin includes coverage for these treatments in its standard plan.
Unlike Pumpkin, Lemonade offers three types of preventive care packages: Preventative, Preventative+ and Puppy/Kitten Preventative. The puppy and kitten preventive care package includes coverage for spaying and neutering, something Pumpkin’s policy does not include.
Coverage options
Pumpkin
Lemonade
Deductible range
$100 to $500 per year.
$100 to $500 per year.
Reimbursement
90%.
70%, 80% and 90%.
Annual limit range
$7,000 to unlimited.
$5,000 to $100,000.
Pumpkin vs. Spot
Unlike Pumpkin, Spot pet insurance offers an accident and illness plan as well as an accident-only plan. It also offers two preventive care plans to choose from: Platinum Preventive Care Coverage and Gold Preventive Care Coverage.
Spot’s accident-only plan includes coverage for alternative therapy, end-of-life expenses, prescription medications, stem cell therapy, tooth extractions and more, as long as it’s due to a covered accident.
Coverage options
Pumpkin
Spot
Deductible range
$100 to $500 per year.
$100 to $1,000 per year.
Reimbursement
90%.
70%, 80% and 90%.
Annual limit range
$7,000 to unlimited.
$2,500 to unlimited.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pumpkin cover dental care for pets?
Yes. Pumpkin covers dental procedures and treatments for illnesses such as gum disease. It doesn't cover dental cleanings or certain elective procedures.
Does Pumpkin cover spaying and neutering?
No. Pumpkin doesn't offer coverage for spaying or neutering.
Can I cancel a Pumpkin policy?
Yes, you can cancel your Pumpkin pet insurance within 30 days of purchasing coverage and receive a refund. Restrictions may apply. The money-back guarantee is not available in New York.
How long is the waiting period for Pumpkin pet insurance?
Pumpkin has a 14-day waiting period for all covered conditions, including knee injuries and hip dysplasia.