Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review 2024

Pumpkin pet insurance offers an accident and illness plan, which covers the widest range of health-related problems and is the most common type of pet insurance plan. You’ll also have the option to add a wellness plan. Pumpkin pet insurance does not offer an accident-only plan.

Pet Accident and Illness Insurance

Here are some of the expenses that you can expect to be covered by Pumpkin pet insurance:

• Accidents such as orthopedic injuries or swallowed objects
• Advance care such as stem cell therapy
• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture
• Behavioral issues
• Cancer and growths
• Dental illnesses
• Emergency visits
• End of life services such as euthanasia, cremation and burial
• Hereditary conditions such as hip dysplasia
• Hospitalizations
• Illnesses such as digestive issues or ear infections
• Microchipping
• MRIs and CT scans
• Prescription food and supplements for eligible accidents and illnesses
• Prescription medications
• Specialized care
• Surgeries
• Vet exam fees
• Virtual vet visits for accidents and illnesses

Pumpkin Pet Insurance Add-Ons

Pumpkin pet insurance offers an optional wellness package called Preventive Essentials. Expenses covered by this plan include:

• Annual wellness exams
• Parasite screenings, such as heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, ticks and whipworms
• Vaccinations

Here are some problems not covered by Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans:

• Pre-existing conditions that began before your policy effective date or during the waiting period
• Dental cleanings that are not used to treat an illness covered by your policy
• Costs resulting from breeding, pregnancy, whelping or nursing
• Veterinary costs that are not directly related to the care of your pet, such as taxes, administration fees, medical waste and medical records expenses
• Experimental treatments
• Elective or cosmetic prostheses or procedures such as tail docking
• Supplements and vitamins used for prevention and general health maintenance
• Grooming and grooming supplies
• Boarding

Pumpkin Pet Insurance covers curable pre-existing conditions, except for knee and ligament problems. If your pet has not shown signs or symptoms of a curable pre-existing condition and is free from treatment for the last 180 days, any new symptoms will be treated as a new occurrence.

Waiting Periods

Pet insurance plans usually have waiting periods, which is a specific amount of time before coverage begins. For example, Pumpkin Pet Insurance has a 14-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses.

While a 14-day waiting period for illness is average across the industry, some insurers offer shorter waiting periods for accidents. For example, Embrace pet insurance has a two-day waiting period for accidents and Pets Best pet insurance has a three-day waiting period for accidents.

Pumpkin Pet Insurance does not have an extended waiting period for issues like hip dysplasia and ligament issues. Some insurers have extended waiting periods for these types of problems. For example, Embrace pet insurance has a six-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions in dogs and Pets Best has a six-month extended waiting period for cruciate ligament issues.

Age Restrictions

You can buy Pumpkin pet insurance for pets that are at least 8 weeks old. Pumpkin pet insurance does not have an upper age limit to buy a new policy. Some insurers, such as Healthy Paws and Trupanion, have a maximum age limit of age 14 to insure a pet under a new policy.

Maximum Annual Limit Options

This is the cap on the reimbursement your pet insurance plan will pay during the plan year. Pumpkin’s annual limit choices for dogs are:

• $10,000
• $20,000
• Unlimited

Pumpkin’s annual limit choices for cats are:

• $7,000
• $15,000
• Unlimited

Deductible Options

A deductible is an amount you must pay toward vet costs before the pet insurance coverage begins. Pumpkin offers the following deductible options:

• $100
• $250
• $500
• $1,000

Reimbursement Level

Pet insurance is usually reimbursement-based. You pay up-front for your pet’s medical expenses and submit a claim for reimbursement for problems covered by your policy. Pumpkin only offers one reimbursement level for dogs and cats:

• 90%

Many other plans also have 70% and 80% reimbursement options, which will lower your monthly premium.

Pumpkin pet insurance costs an average of $71 per month, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis of pet insurance costs. That’s for $10,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level. The average cost is $101 per month for unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level.

Examples of Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs

Dog breed	Average cost per month
Beagle	$77
Bulldog	$117
Dachshund	$59
French bulldog	$130
German shepherd	$78
Golden retriever	$95
Labrador retriever	$95
Mixed breed (large)	$78
Mixed breed (medium)	$67
Mixed breed (small)	$54
Poodle	$94
Rottweiler	$130

See MoreSee Less

Source: Petinsurer.com. Costs are based on $10,000 in annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level.

Examples of Pumpkin Pet Insurance Cost by Cat Breed

Cat breed	Average cost per month
Abyssinian	$31
Bengal	$43
Bombay	$30
British shorthair	$47
Exotic shorthair	$42
Maine coon	$45
Mixed breed	$31
Persian	$46
Ragdoll	$31
Siamese	$31

See MoreSee Less

Source: Petinsurer.com. Costs are based on $15,000 in annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level.

Examples of Pet Insurance Cost by Age for Dogs and Cats

Type of pet	Average cost per month for a pet age 3 months	Average cost per month for a pet age 2 years	Average cost per month for a pet age 5 years	Average cost per month for a pet age 7 years
Dog	$71	$71	$92	$125
Cat	$33	$33	$37	$53

See MoreSee Less

Source: Petinsurer.com. Costs are based on $10,000 in annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level for dogs and $15,000 in annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 90% reimbursement level for cats.

Pumpkin Pet Insurance Discounts

Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers a 10% discount for each additional pet you insure, but your discount may be capped to a certain amount, such as 20%.

Pumpkin pet insurance is available in all 50 states.

Website: Pumpkin’s website offers online quotes for pet insurance plans for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. You’ll find key details about the plan, including what types of problems are covered, annual coverage options, deductible choices and an optional wellness plan. The website includes a frequently asked question section and you can find a link to download a sample policy in your state at the bottom of the page.

App: Pumpkin pet insurance does not have an app for smartphones or tablets.

Claims: You can submit a claim online, by calling Pumpkin or through the mail.

• Online: Log into Pumpkin’s Member Center
• Phone: 866-273-6369
• Mail: Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc., P.O. Box 307, Broadway, NJ 08808-0307

Customer service: You can contact customer service by phone, email or online chat:

• Phone: 866-273-6369, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET; Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.
• Email: help@pumpkin.care
• Online chat: Chat with a representative Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Company	Company - Logo	Forbes Advisor Rating	Forbes Advisor Rating	Reimbursement Choices	Deductible Choices	Learn More CTA text	Learn more CTA below text	View More
Pets Best		5.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Embrace		4.5		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Paw Protect		4.5		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Fetch		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$300, $500, $700	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Figo		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%, 100%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Healthy Paws		4.0		50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Lemonade		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website
Spot		4.0		70%, 80%, 90%	$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000	Compare Plans	Via PetInsurer.com's Secure Website

Reimbursement and deductible choices may vary by state.

Pet insurance benefits and waiting periods vary by company. For example, Pumpkin pet insurance does not include a 24/7 vet helpline, but you’ll find it at Healthy Paws, Pets Best and Spot. Pumpkin does offer an optional wellness plan, but you won’t find a wellness plan at Healthy Paws or Trupanion.

To cancel a Pumpkin pet insurance policy, contact Pumpkin:

• Phone: (866) ARF-MEOW or (866) 273-6369
• Email: help@pumpkin.care
• Online chat: Chat with a representative Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Pumpkin Pet Insurance is sold in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The company’s plans are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Co. Pumpkin Pet Insurance was founded in April 2020 by Alex Douzet, who previously co-founded Ollie, a pet food company.

To find the best pet insurance we used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following:

Pet insurance rates (40% of score): We calculated average rates for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.

Special waiting period (10% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.

Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.

24/7 vet health line (10% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line scored in this category.

Routine wellness plans (10% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.

Pays veterinary exam fees (10% of score): Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit. Plans that cover the vet exam fee scored in this category.

Euthanasia or end of life expenses (5% of score): Insurers that cover end of life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, scored in this category.

Multipet discount (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.