What’s the best pet insurance – Healthy Paws or Lemonade?
Both companies are reputable pet insurance providers and it is difficult to say which is objectively better. Lemonade is newer on the scene and is currently available in fewer states (36) than Healthy Paws, which is available nationwide. But both companies are popular with customers and offer different benefits to different pet parents. Here we’ll help you navigate the ways in which one provider might be a better fit for your needs than the other. Once you’ve got the data, it’s your call and your call alone. We strongly suggest that you also use our super-speedy pet insurance quote page and review pages, which will help you decide which pet insurance plan is best for you.What do the plans cover?
Healthy Paws and Lemonade both offer accident and illness plans covering things like chronic, congenital and hereditary conditions. Both cover X-rays and prescription medication. Healthy Paws will be able to cover alternative therapies; Lemonade asks you to purchase an add-on in order to have these covered. They both cover things like rehab, MRIs, and euthanasia. Both insurers are straightforward, with each offering relatively pared-back policies. And, like most insurers, both only offer coverage for cats and dogs, which is worth thinking about if your pet does not fall into these two furry categories. Both main plans cover many common illnesses and conditions that a pet can suffer from, such as:- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Cataracts
- Cruciate injury
- Dental disease
- Dermatitis
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Ear infections
- Hip dysplasia
- Gastroenteritis
- Kidney disease
- Limping
- Liver disease
- Lymphoma
- Pancreatitis
- Seizures
- Vomiting
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual coverage options | Unlimited | $5000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000 |
| Deductible options | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500 |
| Reimbursement options | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
| When does coverage start? | 15 days | 2-14 days |
| Maximum age at sign up | 13 years | 14 years |
| Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost? | ||
| Are dental accidents covered? | ||
| Are dental illnesses covered? | ||
| Is there a wellness plan offered? | ||
| Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service? | ||
| End of life coverage | ||
| Is there a multi-pet discount offered? | ||
| Is there a charge for paying monthly? | ||
| Is there an app to make claims? |
*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement
Are there any exclusions?
Both Healthy Paws and Lemonade have the standard exclusion for pre-existing conditions. Lemonade makes a point of saying that preventable situations and neglect are not covered in their plans. Healthy Paws includes hip dysplasia in its plan but only if the animal is younger than six years old when registered. Lemonade will cover it (and other congenital conditions) as long as there are no symptoms until after your policy has begun. Its waiting period for dysplasia is 14 days, while Healthy Paws’ is 6 months. Other exclusions in the Healthy Paws coverage include exam fees, wellness/preventative care, dental healthcare, behavioral treatment, among others. It’s always best to read the full list of exclusions before signing up for any pet insurance plan.How expensive are Healthy Paws and Lemonade?
Though your specific pet and specific needs will dictate the price of your policy, Lemonade is likely to offer you a cheaper deal. Healthy Paws has an unlimited coverage cap; at Lemonade the maximum is adjustable up to $100,000 annually. Healthy Paws doesn't charge you for paying monthly but does – unlike Lemonade – require a one-time enrolment fee (of $25). The fees help Healthy Paws donate money to charity though: via its foundation, it has given almost $2 million to homeless pets. Then again, Lemonade’s status as a public benefit corporation means that a percentage of its profits go to causes like animal welfare groups. To be sure of an exact comparison for your pet, however, use our quote calculator. | | |
|---|---|---|
Medium Mixed 3 months old in Los Angeles
| N/A* | $29.92 per month |
Golden Retriever 3 years old in San Diego
| $64.89 per month | $35.42 per month |
Chihuahua 6 years old in New York City
| $46.32 per month | $43.89 per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 months old in San Antonio
| N/A* | $14.75 per month |
Domestic Shorthair 3 year old in Jacksonville
| $28.81 per month | $16.54 per month |
Medium Mixed
3 months old in Los Angeles
$5,000 annual coverage
Golden Retriever
3 years old in San Diego
Unlimited annual coverage
Chihuahua
6 years old in New York City
Unlimited annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 months old in San Antonio
$5,000 annual coverage
Domestic Shorthair
3 year old in Jacksonville
Unlimited annual coverage
Coverage options may vary. *$5000 coverage option not available.
Do Healthy Paws or Lemonade offer discounts?
Healthy Paws doesn't, but Lemonade offers a 5% multi-pet discount and 10% if you bundle pet insurance with their car, life or homeowners' insurance policies.Are the plans customizable?
At Healthy Paws you can customize your reimbursement percentage (70%, 80%, 90%) and deductible amount ($100, $250 & $500) but there's no annual limit as standard and no add-ons. Over at Lemonade you can have things like vet visit fees and physical therapy covered by choosing the Extended Accident and Illness add-on package. If you want to focus more on prevention and wellness, you can add on a package that pays for things like vaccines, blood tests, dental cleaning, and annual wellness exams. Coverage limit options are $5k, $10k, $20k, $50k or $100k. Deductibles can be $100, $250 or $500. Reimbursement options 70-90%.How do I make claims?
Healthy Paws allows you to submit your claim in a range of ways: via post, email; the customer center section of its website, its app, or – if you have one – by fax. Just send them the paid vet’s invoice and they’ll do the rest. If it’s your first claim, Healthy Paws asks that you send your pet’s medical records. Like Healthy Paws, paying via an app is an option with Lemonade. Really it is the option: the AI-led app processes claims easily and more quickly than competitors, with the company claiming that 30% of claims are approved in three minutes.Are they easy to contact?
Absolutely. Healthy Paws has a phone option (855 898 8991), a website contact form, social media, and a 24/7 helpline on the app. There's even a fax option. Lemonade has its excellent app and is also contactable by phone (844 733 8666), social media or email (help@lemonade.com).Customer reviews
Healthy Paws customers seem like happy ones. They comment on the speed with which the company processes claims and the care they take with the wellbeing of their customers’ pets. A recurring theme is that people with pets don’t hesitate to take their animals to the vet when they have a health problem because they are confident of Healthy Paws paying them so efficiently. Lemonade customers are similarly pleased, talking about the ease of the app and likening it to online shopping. They are also happy with the value for money that it offers.Our Lemonade rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Our Healthy Paws rating
Overall score
Speed of claims
Customer service
Claims procedure
Easy to understand
Value for money
Frequently asked questions
People ask us a lot of different questions about the pet insurance providers we work with. It’s the smart thing to do because no two insurers are the same. Here are some common questions (and the answers!).What are the waiting periods?
Healthy Paws has a wait of 15 days for both accident and illness cover to take effect. Lemonade's waits are considerably shorter, with 14 days for illnesses and only two days for accidents to be covered.
Do the plans include behavioral treatments?
Healthy Paws doesn't include them but at Lemonade it comes as one of five potential add-ons. This would be subject to a $1,000 limit annually, and would not include – among other things – pre-existing behavioral conditions, prescription food, obedience training, and alternative medicines.
Is there a maximum age for enrolment?
Both insurers stipulate an upper age limit for new pets: at Healthy Paws it is 13 years, and at Lemonade it is 14.
Do they need my pet’s medical records?
Healthy Paws requires your pet’s full medical records for your first claim with them. Lemonade also needs this information and stipulates that it wants a medical record that includes information from a visit that happened within a year of your policy start date.
Will the insurer pay the vet directly?
Lemonade will not. But Healthy Paws might. If your vet is willing, it will foot the bill via a direct pay scheme, which means that you only need pay what you owe depending on your deductible and reimbursement levels – if the claim is successful.
Is my pet covered in other countries?
They’re both comparatively limited. Healthy Paws makes no mention of coverage in countries other than the US; Lemonade is only available in the US. Also, Lemonade is only available to residents of 36 states of the US.
Do they have a vet telehealth service?
Not at Lemonade, no, but at Healthy Paws it’s 24/7.