Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review

About Healthy Paws

Healthy Paws was founded in 2009 with the goal of helping to make quality medical care accessible to more pet parents. They offer a straightforward approach to pet insurance, with one simple plan and coverage for both dogs and cats. The company has been intentional about continually improving the Healthy Paws plan and service, creating the first-ever iPhone pet insurance app, eliminating claim forms and making it easier to manage your policy, add new pets and change your policy options in their online Customer Center.

In 2024, global insurance giant Chubb acquired Healthy Paws, after being the exclusive underwriter of the pet insurance program since 2013. This partnership will allow Healthy Paws to continue innovating in the space and help empower more pet parents to navigate the rising costs of veterinary care.

Coverage & Restrictions

It’s standard in the pet insurance industry for certain things to be covered—and not covered—under a policy. And it’s important to know both before making a decision on what will work best for you and your pet. 

The Healthy Paws plan is designed to help cover the cost of unexpected accidents and illnesses you can’t plan for—like when your pup eats a toy instead of playing with it, or your cat is diagnosed with diabetes. You can choose up to a 90 percent reimbursement of your vet bills for these unplanned incidents, and there are no caps on per-incident, annual or lifetime payouts.

Exact coverage varies from state to state, but here is a general idea of what is covered with a Healthy Paws insurance plan:

• Illnesses & accidents, including stomach issues, skin issues, pain, ear infections, eye conditions, growths, CCL rupture, urinary tract infections, heart conditions and more
• Hereditary conditions passed down to your pet from their parents, including elbow dysplasia, cherry eye, intervertebral disc disease and more
• Congenital conditions developed in utero, including congenital heart disease, conditions of the nervous system, liver disease and more
• Chronic conditions, including allergies, diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, glaucoma, arthritis, kidney disease and more
• Cancer, including diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiation, lab tests, ultrasounds, X-ray, surgery, hospitalization, prescription medications, alternative therapy and rehabilitation 
• Diagnostic treatment
• X-rays, blood tests & ultrasounds
• Surgery
• Hospitalizations
• Prescription medications
• Emergency care, including care at any licensed pet hospital or emergency vet facility
• Specialty care, including orthopedic, oncologists, internal medicine experts, ophthalmologists, neurology, radiology and cardiology
• Alternative treatments, including acupuncture, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, laser therapy, massage and more

Here are some of the most common things that are not covered under the Healthy Paws’ plan:

• Wellness and preventative care
• Examination fees
• Pre-existing conditions
• Conditions occurring within the policy waiting period
• Preventative dental care
• Behavioral treatment
• Non-FDA treatment or supplements
• Prescription diets
• Day care and boarding

For a full list of coverages and exclusions for your state, you can view and download a copy of the Healthy Paws pet insurance policy on their website.

Waiting Period

Healthy Paws’ 15-day waiting period is pretty standard in the industry. Your policy goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after you enroll your pet, and the waiting period is 15 days after your policy effective date. You may submit claims for any accidents and illnesses that occur after the 15-day waiting period.

The waiting period for hip dysplasia varies from state to state. In some states, there is a 30-day waiting period from the policy effective date for hip dysplasia not resulting from an accident. But in most states, the waiting period for hip dysplasia is 12 months for pets age five or younger. Hip dysplasia is not covered for pets six years of age or older.

Exam Requirements

In most states, a full nose-to-tail physical exam of your pet by a licensed vet is required in order to be eligible for coverage with a Healthy Paws plan. The timing of this exam depends on your pet’s age at the time of enrollment:

• Age 5 and below: Exam within 12 months 
• Age 6 and up: Exam within 30 days

If you recently adopted your pet, double-check whether they had a clinical exam by a licensed vet—some adoption organizations will have this information on file, which you can submit to fulfill the exam requirement.

If you live in a state that does not require a clinical examination for coverage eligibility, you can opt to submit an exam in order to speed up the claims review and payout process.

Plans & Pricing

With one simple, easy-to-understand plan, Healthy Paws’ offers an uncomplicated approach to pet insurance.

Like all pet insurance providers, Healthy Paws’ premiums are determined by several factors, including your pet’s age and breed, and where you live.

One benefit to Healthy Paws pet insurance is that they do not have any limits on claim payouts, also known as annual reimbursement limits. Some other pet insurance companies do, and the higher the reimbursement limit, the higher your monthly premium will be—but not with Healthy Paws.

Healthy Paws also allows you to customize your premium by choosing from five different deductible amounts and reimbursement percentages. This way, you can create the plan that will suit you, your pet and your budget best. 

Here’s what each of these industry terms mean, and how they affect the price of your Healthy Paws premium.

• Annual reimbursement limit:
  • The maximum dollar amount you can be paid back per policy year
  • Usually, the higher your annual reimbursement limit, the more you’ll pay per month—but Healthy Paws has no limits on claim payouts per incident, per year or for the lifetime of the policy
• Annual deductible amount:
  • The fixed dollar amount you’re responsible for paying before your insurance kicks in
  • Choose from: $100, $250, $500, $750 or $1,000
  • The lower your deductible, the more you’ll pay per month
• Reimbursement percentage:
  • The percentage of each covered vet bill you’ll be paid back after you meet your deductible, sometimes referred to as co-insurance 
  • Choose from: 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 percent
  • The higher your reimbursement rate, the more you’ll pay per month

Using Healthy Paws’ online quote generator, we’ve retrieved a few sample quotes to show how the different coverage options can impact your monthly payment. Here’s what we were quoted for a three-year-old mixed-breed male dog (31 to 59 pounds) in Atlanta*:

• For maximum reimbursement: A plan with a $100 deductible and 90 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $90.57.
• For the lowest monthly rate: A plan with a $1,000 deductible and 50 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $28.53.
• For a middle-of-the-road option: Healthy Paws’ most popular plan option is a $500 deductible and an 80 percent reimbursement rate, with a monthly premium of $47.70.

For our feline friends, Healthy Paws insurance provides the same coverage as their dog insurance plans, but with a lower monthly premium. This is similar to other pet insurance companies, and is simply due to the fact that cats typically require fewer vet visits than their canine counterparts. Here are our sample quotes for a three-year-old mixed-breed male cat in Atlanta*:

• For maximum reimbursement: A plan with a $100 deductible and 90 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $48.90.
• For the lowest monthly rate: A plan with a $1,000 deductible and 50 percent reimbursement rate, the monthly premium would be $15.11.
• For a middle-of-the-road option: Healthy Paws’ most popular plan option is a $500 deductible and an 80 percent reimbursement rate, with a monthly premium of $25.62.

*These amounts reflect the options at the time of this review and are subject to change.

How Healthy Paws Stacks Up

Now that you know what Healthy Paws has to offer, you’re probably wondering how they compare to other popular pet insurance brands you’ve heard of. Here’s a look:

The Bottom Line: Why We Love It

What’s different about Healthy Paws is that they keep it simple. While other brands have tiered plans, add-ons and bundles, Healthy Paws has one simple, straightforward plan with no limits on payout amounts and versatile options for deductible and reimbursement percentage, so you can customize your monthly payment to suit your budget. We respect a company that makes things clear, upfront and easy for consumers, especially in the insurance industry where things can vary from state to state and plan to plan. Another big draw to Healthy Paws is that they have no limitations on payouts, whether it’s per incident, per year or per the lifetime of the policy—and most claims are processed within two days. It’s solid insurance to protect your pet—and your wallet—from the unknown, and there’s nothing better than peace of mind when it comes to our furry companions.