Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review – Protection for Fur Babies
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We were ecstatic when my wife and I first adopted our two cats. Becoming pet parents was a dream come true for us, and we were happy to be in a place where we could finally afford to budget for the vet bills, preventive care, and annual wellness exams that came with becoming a pet owner.
Quite quickly, however, we learned just how expensive certain treatments can be when you’re worried about your animal’s wellness. While we were expecting to pay for exam fees, regular vaccines, and microchipping, we discovered that one of our cats had a pre-existing condition where her immune system attacked the plaque on her teeth’s gums aggressively. This meant that in addition to regular cleanings, the only way to deal with this condition was to remove some of her teeth since it wasn’t curable.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have insurance coverage for our animals at that time. Had we known more about the value of pet insurance plans before discovering our cat’s tooth problem, we would have been able to explore coverage options and get some financial help. It may be worth looking into Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans if you’re interested in exploring enrollment options for pet insurance companies. Keep reading to learn more about Pumpkin, including why it’s one of the best pet insurance companies.
In this article
What is Pumpkin Pet Insurance?
Pumpkin Pet Insurance advertises on its website that it’s designed for pet owners “who’d do anything for their pet.” They were founded by Alexandre Douzet in 2019 and officially launched in 2020 from a headquarters in New York City. Pumpkin was voted “Best Comprehensive Coverage” by Business Insider and is a leader in the pet insurance space.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers coverage for kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs, with few exclusions. This means you even get support on things that aren’t always covered, such as dental illnesses, behavioral issues, and hereditary conditions. As a pet insurance company, their coverage typically falls into three categories: care for when your pets are sick when you need emergency care for an injury, and routine wellness care through Pumpkin’s Preventive Essentials. Another perk of Pumpkin is that if you aren’t happy with your coverage or plan in the first 30 days, you can request a full refund.
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
How does Pumpkin Pet Insurance work?
Pumpkin Pet Insurance is focused on helping you develop an insurance policy that caters to your pet’s needs and your budget. If you have more than one pet, you can get a 10% discount on each additional pet you enroll with Pumpkin.
To create an account and get a quote with Pumpkin Pet Insurance, you’ll want to navigate to their website and click on the yellow “Create My Pet’s Plan” to start getting your custom quote. To begin with, you’ll enter your pet’s name and the type of animal it is.
Once you’ve submitted that information, you’ll input some information about your pet’s breed, age, and gender. You’ll then be taken to a page with some additional questions, which Pumpkin states “won't impact your plan's price, but they will help us give you the tips and VIP treatment you both deserve!”
These include questions such as whether or not you’re a first-time pet parent (not including childhood pets) and where you are in the pet insurance shopping process.
There’s a bit of humor to this process, too, making the whole application feel less daunting. After all, nobody wants to think about something bad happening to their pet, so getting to describe your pet’s lifestyle as a “backyard explorer,” “busy global CEO,” “outdoor roamer,” or “indoor homebody” can take some of the edge off of going through the process of getting a quote.
You’ll also be asked to select what sort of care you want your insurance to cover the most. This can include annual coverage for alternative therapies, prescription meds for accidents or illnesses, vet exams for accidents or illnesses, or all of the above. As such, whether you’re hoping your deductible will help with blood tests or heartworm medication, Pumpkin can help you figure out a wellness plan that works for you.
Finally, Pumpkin will gather some of your personal information, including your first and last name, email address, and zip code. They will also ask you whether or not you have a primary vet to ensure that your vet is covered by their insurance. From there, you can explore the costs of different plans by mixing and matching the annual coverage limit with your annual deductible. Pumpkin puts its own recommendations, but ultimately, you can decide what’s best for you and your fur baby.
How much does Pumpkin Pet Insurance cost?
As with most insurance companies, your monthly premium will vary from location to location and coverage to coverage. Depending on your coverage limit, you may be able to mix and match with your deductible to save on premiums. However, since no two pets will necessarily be the same age or live in the same area, a sample policy will only start to scratch the surface of how much things may run you.
In my experiment with coverage for one cat who is eight years old, wellness packages ranged as follows based on different coverage limits and deductibles:
- $7,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $100 Annual Deductible = $96.24/mo
- $7,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $250 Annual Deductible = $71.14/mo
- $7,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $500 Annual Deductible = $54.74/mo
- $7,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $1,000 Annual Deductible = $36.72/mo
- $15,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $100 Annual Deductible = $126.27/mo
- $15,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $250 Annual Deductible = $93.35/mo
- $15,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $500 Annual Deductible = $71.81/mo
- $15,000 Annual Coverage Limit + $1,000 Annual Deductible = $48.18/mo
- Unlimited Annual Coverage Limit + $100 Annual Deductible = $146.42/mo
- Unlimited Annual Coverage Limit + $250 Annual Deductible = $108.24/mo
- Unlimited Annual Coverage Limit + $500 Annual Deductible = $83.29/mo
- Unlimited Annual Coverage Limit + $1,000 Annual Deductible = $55.87/mo
As you can see, based on these examples, the higher your annual deductible and the lower your annual coverage limit, the lower your monthly premium will be. This means that on the low end, you’re looking at paying about $440.64 a year for coverage for one pet — or, on the high end, $1,750.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance features
Incredibly inclusive
Pumpkin Pet Insurance has some of the most extensive coverage of any pet insurance company. They advertise that up to 90% of the sorts of activities you can expect to be performed at a vet are covered as part of their insurance, and that’s true. They are a robust insurance option, from exam fees for accidents and illnesses to dental illnesses, behavioral issues, and microchipping.
Preventive Essentials
If you’re interested in reimbursement for routine care, Pumpkin offers Preventive Essentials. This isn’t a form of insurance, per se, but it is an add-on that can help you keep up with lab tests, vaccines, and annual wellness exams.
Discount for multiple pets
If you have more than one pet to insure, pet insurance costs can add up quickly. Pumpkin Insurance offers a 10% discount per additional pet you insure, which helps reduce the monthly premium you pay. Some insurers offer this, while others don’t, so this is a benefit to consider when comparing various pet insurance companies.
Easy-to-use platform
Insurance can be complicated. Pumpkin makes getting a quote and coverage as straightforward as possible. From a simple and user-friendly process to receiving your quote to clear and transparent cost estimates, Pumpkin is as easy to use as possible. Especially if you’re shopping around, you’ll see a difference in the ease of use when you compare Pumpkin’s website with others on the market.
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
Who is Pumpkin Pet Insurance best for?
Risk-averse pet parents
If you don’t want to consider where you would come up with $2,000 for a necessary veterinary treatment, Pumpkin Pet Insurance is for you. While there’s an argument to be made that you could just save the monthly premium each month in an emergency fund for your pet, if something unexpected strikes, you may wind up with few options when the cost of care exceeds what you’ve saved for. For peace of mind alone, Pumpkin can be worth the monthly cost — especially since it comes with a 90% reimbursement rate.
New pet owners
If it’s your first time owning a dog or cat, you might not be aware of all of the costs that can come with pet ownership. According to Pumpkin’s website, cat owners can expect to spend more than $12,000 throughout a cat’s life, with dog owners averaging more than $16,000. Running the math, it’s easy to see how the right deductible and coverage limits can help you save money each year on veterinary care — even if there are a few years where you don’t make the most of your insurance. Again, peace of mind is a big benefit of having insurance of any type, and for someone new to pet ownership who isn’t quite sure what to anticipate, having pet insurance from a provider like Pumpkin can be financially advantageous.
Who shouldn’t use Pumpkin Pet Insurance?
Consumers with high income and sound finances
Insurance provides peace of mind, but you may not need that peace of mind if you have sound emergency funds and savings. If you know how you would cover an unexpected veterinary bill of $5,000 and would be able to cover these costs without blinking an eye, you may not care about having pet insurance. Indeed, there’s a case to be made for taking out a pet insurance policy while saving for just such a fund, only to discontinue your insurance in a few years once you have a stronger financial foundation to cover these vet costs.
Pet owners who don’t think of their animals as a part of the family
This may seem callous, but some people have a line regarding how much money they will spend to help their pet have a longer life. This certainly isn’t me, but no judgment if it’s you. At a certain point, paying thousands of dollars for a few more months with your pet may not be worth the cost. Even so, thanks to the fact that Pumpkin Pet Insurance covers a variety of other less costly veterinary items like prescriptions, there may still be a place for Pumpkin in your budget.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy-to-navigate interface. A great thing about Pumpkin Pet Insurance is that it makes things easy to sign up for and understand. Transparency isn’t always so easily accessible when looking for insurance quotes. Still, thanks to an easy-to-navigate interface and robust FAQ section, you can do a lot of research before signing up for Pumpkin.
- Extensive coverage. This has been stated a few times before, but it bears repeating. With a 90% cash back rate on covered vet bills, you don’t have to weigh the pros and cons of what your pet needs versus what your budget’s looking like this month. That means you have peace of mind regarding pet ownership — even as your animals age.
- No age limits. Some insurers have age limits that must be met to enroll in coverage. This isn’t the case with Pumpkin, meaning it’s always the right time to sign up for insurance.
Cons
- Some years may be less necessary. You may not have as many veterinary costs at the start of your pet’s life. As such, the value offered by Pumpkin won’t necessarily be felt the same each year. However, as seasoned pet owners can attest, accidents can happen. The one year your pet accidentally swallows a foreign object can pay for the previous few years of pet insurance in one fell swoop.
- Preventive coverage is extra. If you want reimbursement on certain preventive coverage, this costs extra. Even so, the fact that Pumpkin offers it is certainly nice, so the add-on may be worth it, even if it is an extra fee to account for.
- Unlimited care can be costly. If you want an unlimited coverage option, you’ll pay well over $100 monthly, which means $1,200+ a year. This fee may be less cost-effective than other forms of coverage and is harder to recoup.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance vs. competitors
Service | Reimbursement Rate on Covered Bills | Annual Coverage Limits | Rx Food Covered? |
Pumpkin Pet Insurance | 90% | $7k+ (Cats)
$10k+ (Dogs) | Yes |
Lemonade | 70-90% | $5k-$100k | No |
Figo | 70-100% | $5k+ | Yes |
Embrace | 70-90% | $5k+ | No |
Lemonade
Lemonade is a household name in the insurance space, but their pet insurance plan leaves a bit to be desired compared to Pumpkin. For starters, covered bills are reimbursed at a potential 20% less than Pumpkin, ranging from 70-90%. Additionally, they cap their coverage limits annually at $100k compared to Pumpkin’s unlimited limit. They also don’t cover Rx food for certain conditions.
Figo
Figo may start with lower coverage limits, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good idea. Pumpkin aims to take some of the guesswork out of figuring out the right amount for your annual coverage by offering a minimum amount based on averages across various pet owners annually. This means you have the right amount of coverage and aren’t stuck having to come up with a few extra thousand dollars in the case of an emergency.
Embrace
Embrace, like Figo and Lemonade, has a lower reimbursement rate than Pumpkin, which is a major drawback. They also have the same issue regarding annual coverage limits with a minimum of $5,000, which may not be enough to cover certain conditions or scenarios in a year. Like Lemonade, they also don’t help cover the cost of prescription food, which more and more animals may need as they age.
FAQs
Is there a mobile app?
No, but Pumpkin’s website is mobile-optimized, so you can access your insurance information anywhere, no matter where you are.
Does Pumpkin cover spaying or neutering?
No. Spaying and neutering are technically elective procedures and, as such, aren’t covered by Pumpkin.
Does Pumpkin cover dental procedures and illnesses?
Yes! Dental coverage is included as part of Pumpkin unlike other pet insurance companies. According to their website, the definition of dental coverage for Pumpkin includes “periodontal disease AKA gum disease), along with any exams, X-rays, treatment, surgery, and prescription meds used to diagnose or treat them.”
- Sign up in seconds
- Get paid in minutes
- Get 5% Off for 2 or more pets
- Get 10% off when you bundle
- Get 5% off by paying annually
- Award-winning service
The bottom line
When it comes to choosing from pet insurance providers, the decision can often feel as emotional as figuring out insurance for your human children. After all, more and more people are viewing fur babies as family members, and some studies on imprinting have illustrated that cats and infants have about 65% attachment to their owners or parents, respectively.
With its multi-pet discount, simple-to-understand claims process, and no age limits, Pumpkin is a strong contender for pet owners and pets of all stripes and walks of life. The requirement of a 14-day waiting period stacks up nicely, as does the fact that it can help cover preventive care and emergency hospitalizations or other more surprising issues that may crop up. With a 90% reimbursement rate (meaning that about 90% of vet charges you may run into are covered), it’s also one of the more useful insurance policies for pets on the market. End-of-life and accident-only care as add-ons also make Pumpkin a strong contender among insurance options.
Its website is also quite user-friendly, as is the overall enrollment process.
Ultimately, like any form of insurance, risk assessment and your finances are a big factor in whether or not you’d benefit from an insurance policy with Pumpkin or any of its competitors. If you have the emergency fund to dip into for a surprise $5,000 surgery for your dog, it may not be as much of a concern. However, if you don’t want the financial cost of important care to weigh on you as you’re figuring out what’s best for your four-legged friend, then insurance may be much more advantageous. If that sounds like you, definitely take a look at Pumpkin.
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Writer
Brent Ervin-Eickhoff is a Chicago-based writer, stage director, and filmmaker with a background in digital marketing and content creation. In addition to Joy Wallet, Brent has written for Complex, Volkswagen, HowlRound, Picture this Post, and Third Coast Review, among others. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing for Content Creation at Court Theatre at the University of Chicago. Brent graduated from Ball State University with Academic Honors in Writing.
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