How does Pumpkin pet insurance work?
Pumpkin insurance is highly customizable and most importantly, the prices don’t increase as your pet ages. There’s also additional wellness plans available for cats and dogs which mean that you can cover all of your pet’s medical needs including routine care. Monthly premiums are determined based on several factors such as the species, breed, age, and sex of your pet. Plus where you live. You can personalize your plan by selecting your annual coverage limit, deductible, and reimbursement level.
The benefits of Pumpkin pet insurance
Most pet insurance plans cover the basics, but some won’t offer the same degree of coverage that Pumpkin provides as standard, such as vet exam fees, behavioral issues, and alternative therapies. Our reviewers liked that older pets are catered for, as hip dysplasia doesn’t have an extended waiting period and there are no upper age limits for coverage. Pumpkin also offers a 90% reimbursement for every pet and an easy-to-use online claims process. You can even request for your vet to be reimbursed directly – saving you the initial hefty payment when you settle the bill.
Pumpkin plans explained
Pumpkin offers a single insurance plan for cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies which can be highly customized to suit your needs. Choose an annual limit between $7,000 and unlimited (varies from cats to dogs). Then select your deductible which can be $100, $250, or $500. You won’t need to choose your reimbursement level as Pumpkin has a generous flat rate of 90%. These three variables will affect your monthly premium and you can also add an optional wellness plan at an extra cost.
What does Pumpkin pet insurance cover?
Coverage is extensive compared to similar providers, including both accidents and illness, surgeries, hereditary conditions, alternative therapies, dental issues, parasites, prescriptions, exam fees, and much more. Additional expenses such as vaccinations and routine care are covered with their preventative package. You can find their full coverage list for basic plans and preventative plans online.
Pumpkin coverage vs. other insurers
How does Pumpkin stack up against America’s other providers? Have a look in our handy table!
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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
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| Annual coverage options | $10,000, $20,000, Unlimited | $5000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000 | $5,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 | $5,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000, Unlimited | $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000 | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited | Unlimited | $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | $2,000, $5,000, $10,000 |
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| Deductible options | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500, $750 | $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 | $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | $100, $250, $500 | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | $0-$1,000 | $300, $500, $700 | $250, $500, $1,000 | $250 | $50, $100, $250, $500 |
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| Reimbursement options | 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70, 80, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90%, 100% | 50%, 70% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
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| When does coverage start? | 14 days | 2-14 days | 2 days accidents / 14 days illnesses | 15 days | 2-14 days | 1-14 days | 15 days | 3-14 days | 15 days | 15 days | 5-30 days | 15 days | 15 days | 14 days | 1-14 days |
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| Maximum age at sign up | No maximum | 14 years | 14 years for illness (no max for accident) | 14 years | 14 years for illness, no max for accident | No maximum | 13 years | No maximum | 18 years | No maximum | 14 years | No maximum | 16 years | 20 years | No maximum |
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| Are vet exam fees included at no extra cost? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Are dental accidents covered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Are dental illnesses covered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a wellness plan offered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a virtual vet/telehealth service? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| End of life coverage | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a multi-pet discount offered? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there a charge for paying monthly? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| Is there an app to make claims? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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*Coverage is based on choosing unlimited coverage, 250 deductible and 90% reimbursement
Is Pumpkin pet insurance good value for money?
Pumpkin plans are a bit pricier than competitors, but they do offer a 90% reimbursement rate and a 10% multi-pet discount. And at least you’ll know that your premium won’t increase with your pet’s age. Wellness plans are an additional cost to the standard insurance plan.
| 4-month-old Mixed Breed Medium | 2-year-old Golden Retriever | 6-year-old Domestic Shorthair Cat |
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| Los Angeles | New York | Florida |
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| | | |
| Fetch | $48.02/month | $35.78/month | $24.81/month |
| Embrace | $31.37/month | $42.58/month | $23.96/month |
| Healthy Paws | $50.53/month | $55.42/month | $44.27/month |
How good is Pumpkin’s customer service?
Unlike most other insurers, Pumpkin does not offer a 24/7 helpline. If around-the-clock support is important to you, it might be worth looking at alternative plans. However, on the whole Pumpkin customer service has been rated well by our reviewers.
How do I contact Pumpkin?
You can phone Pumpkin on 1-866-273-6369 or send an email to
help@pumpkin.care. They aim to reply within a day or less.
What is Pumpkin’s claims process?
Claims can be submitted online using your Pumpkin login details. Just upload a copy or photo of your invoice along with any relevant medical records. Your claim will then be paid to you by direct deposit or check, unless you’ve requested to have your vet reimbursed directly. You can also submit your claim via email or traditional mail.
How much will Pumpkin pay for my claim?
Pumpkin offer a fixed 90% reimbursement rate which is one of the best rates we could find as standard.
| Average Vet Bill |
Cash back w/ 90% |
| Cancer
$8,137 |
$7,323.30 |
| Hip Dysplasia
$3,490 |
$3,141.00 |
| Swallowed Object
$3,262 |
$2,935.80 |
| Heart Murmur
$1,140 |
$1,026.00 |
Are there any exclusions?
Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered or knee or hind leg conditions which occur during the waiting period. Curable conditions which existed before you opened your policy may be covered if your pet has had no symptoms or treatment for 180 days. Routine care such as vaccines and vet exam fees aren’t included in the standard plan.
What are the waiting periods for conditions?
The waiting period for accidents and illnesses is 14-days – longer than some competitors are offering. However, this 14-day policy applies to everything included in your policy, even hip dysplasia and knee injuries. Wellness plans do not have a waiting period.
How quickly does Pumpkin pay claims?
Pumpkin doesn’t provide a specific turnaround time for reimbursements, but they aim to pay claims as soon as possible. This will also depend on which method you used to submit your claim and which payment method you requested – direct deposit or check.
Can I customize my Pumpkin plan?
Yes, Pumpkin lets you choose your maximum annual limit for reimbursement plus your deductible. The reimbursement percentage is fixed at 90% for your benefit. The optional preventative care packages can be added onto your basic insurance plan, covering costs for wellness exams, vaccines, and parasite screening tests.
State availability for Pumpkin
You can take your pet to any licensed vet, specialist, emergency clinic, hospital across the US and Canada.
Verdict: Is Pumpkin pet insurance good?
Overall reviewers seem pleased with Pumpkin insurance. The flat 90% reimbursement is a big plus and even though there is a 14-day waiting period for coverage which is beaten by other providers, this period is fixed across all eligible accidents and conditions. The technology on offer is slightly behind, seeing as there’s no app or 24/7 pet helpline, but the website is easy-to-use and the claims process is simple. The insurance plans and preventive care packages are also comprehensive.
InsuranceRanked.com ranked Pumpkin #1 for Best Overall Pet Health Care in 2021.
