Walmart Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
Walmart’s pet insurance plan through Fetch offers an accident and illness plan. This type of pet insurance policy is the most common and covers a wide range of problems, compared to accident-only plans.
Wellness plans for routine coverage are not available from Walmart pet insurance.
Pet Accident and Illness Insurance
Accident and illness plans from Walmart through Fetch cover veterinary expenses such as:
- Acupuncture
- Advertising and reward for lost or stolen pets
- Behavioral therapy such as treatment for aggression or separation anxiety
- Breed-specific issues
- Cancer treatment
- Chiropractic care
- Dental illnesses
- Diagnostic tests
- Emergency care
- Hospitalization
- Hydrotherapy
- Illnesses such as urinary tract infections or vomiting
- Imaging such as X-rays and ultrasounds
- Injuries and accidents such as a skin laceration, fractured bone or swallowed object
- Medically necessary boarding fees
- Rehabilitation
- Surgery
- Vacation cancellation fees if you have to stay home due to a sick pet
- Vet exam fees related to an illness or accident
Featured Partner Offers
1
Paw Protect
$5,000, $10,000, Unlimited
70%, 80%, 90%
$100, $250, $500
2
Embrace
$5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, Unlimited
70%, 80%, 90%
$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
3
Spot
$2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, Unlimited
70%, 80%, 90%
$100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000
What Walmart Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover
- Claims filed more than 90 days after treatment
- Costs of breeding, pregnancy or nursing
- Dental cleaning
- Elective procedures such as ear trimming, tail docking and declawing
- Experimental treatments
- Food (including food prescribed by a vet)
- Grooming
- Injuries or illnesses from racing, fighting, commercial guarding, or any occupational, professional or business use
- Pre-existing conditions
- Preventive treatments such as flea and heartworm medication
- Spaying and neutering
- Time and travel expenses to vet appointments
- Wellness and preventative care costs such as vaccinations and routine exams
Walmart Pet Insurance Waiting Periods
All pet insurance policies have a waiting period, meaning the number of days between when you buy a policy and when coverage begins. Here are the waiting periods for Walmart pet insurance through Fetch:
- 15-day waiting period for accidents.
- 15-day waiting period for illnesses.
- Six-month waiting period for cruciate ligament issues, hip dysplasia and patella issues (you can have this waiting period waived if you have your pet examined by a vet within the first 30 days after buying your policy).
The 15-day waiting period for accident and illness coverage is longer than what some competitors offer. For example, you can get a waiting period for accidents of just one day with Figo, and two days with Lemonade pet insurance.
Walmart’s 15-day waiting period of coverage of illness is fairly standard.
Some dog breeds are prone to knee and hip issues. Walmart pet insurance through Fetch has a six-month waiting period for these issues, but this waiting period can be waived if you have your pet examined within the first 30 days of your policy. If your pet’s breed is predisposed to these types of issues, you may want to look at pet insurers that do not have waiting periods, such as ASPCA, Many Pets and Trupanion.
Walmart Pet Insurance Coverage Levels
Maximum Annual Limit Options
Most pet insurers let you choose from different levels of annual coverage to help you find a plan that fits your budget. Higher levels of annual coverage cost more. Walmart pet insurance has the following options:
- $5,000 per year
- $10,000 per year
- $15,000 per year
Deductible Options
The amount you’ll need to pay each year before coverage kicks in to reimburse you for vet expenses is your deductible. Walmart’s pet insurance has a choice of deductibles:
- $300
- $500
- $700
Reimbursement Options
When you pay upfront for your pet’s vet bills, you’ll then submit a claim for reimbursement for problems covered by your policy. Walmart pet insurance offers the following reimbursement options:
- 70%
- 80%
- 90%
How Much Does Pet Insurance from Walmart Cost?
Walmart pet insurance through Fetch costs an average of $36 per month, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis of pet insurance costs. This includes $5,000 of annual coverage, a $300 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The average cost is $47 a month for Fetch’s plan with $15,000 in annual coverage, a $300 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.
Examples of Walmart Pet Insurance Cost by Dog Breed
Dog breed | Average cost per month |
---|---|
Beagle
|
$40
|
Bulldog
|
$82
|
Dachshund
|
$32
|
French bulldog
|
$80
|
German shepherd
|
$52
|
Golden retriever
|
$50
|
Labrador retriever
|
$46
|
Mixed breed (large)
|
$49
|
Mixed breed (medium)
|
$38
|
Mixed breed (small)
|
$28
|
Poodle
|
$35
|
Rottweiler
|
$81
|
Walmart Pet Insurance Cost Comparison for Cats
Cat breed | Average cost per month |
---|---|
Abyssinian
|
$38
|
Bengal
|
$27
|
Bombay
|
$27
|
British shorthair
|
$27
|
Exotic shorthair
|
$37
|
Maine coon
|
$31
|
Mixed breed
|
$23
|
Persian
|
$28
|
Ragdoll
|
$24
|
Siamese
|
$23
|
How to Save Money on Walmart Pet Insurance
Walmart pet insurance through Fetch offers a 10% discount to military members.
You can save on Walmart pet insurance by choosing a lower annual coverage cap, higher deductible or lower reimbursement level. For example, choosing a plan with a $700 deductible will cost less per month than a plan with a $300 deductible. But you will have to pay more upfront for your vet costs before your coverage pays out.
Walmart Pet Insurance Availability
Walmart pet insurance through Fetch is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Other Top-Rated Pet Insurance Plans to Consider
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Reimbursement choices | Deductible choices | LEARN MORE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pets Best | 5.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $50, $100, $200, $250, $500, $1,000 | Compare Plans | ||||
Embrace | 4.5 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | Compare Plans | ||||
Paw Protect | 4.5 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $100, $250, $500 | Compare Plans | ||||
Fetch | 4.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $300, $500, $700 | Compare Plans | ||||
Figo | 4.0 | 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500 | Compare Plans | ||||
Healthy Paws | 4.0 | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | Compare Plans | ||||
Lemonade | 4.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $100, $250, $500, $750 | Compare Plans | ||||
Spot | 4.0 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $100, $250, $500, $750, $1,000 | Compare Plans |
Reimbursement and deductible choices may vary by state.
How Does Walmart Pet Insurance Compare to Other Pet Insurance Companies?
The types of benefits and the length of waiting periods will vary depending on the pet insurance company. For example, Walmart pet insurance through Fetch does not offer an optional wellness plan, but you can find one at Pets Best and Spot. Walmart pet insurance also has a 15-day waiting period for accidents, but you can find a three-day accident waiting period at Pets Best.
Walmart Pet Insurance vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Rating and coverage details | Walmart pet insurance through Fetch | Healthy Paws pet insurance |
---|---|---|
Forbes Advisor rating
|
|
|
Accident coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
15 days
|
Illness coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
15 days
|
Special waiting periods
|
6 months for hip and knee injuries
|
12 months for hip dysplasia; coverage for hip dysplasia not available for pets age six or older at time of enrollment
|
Pays for the vet exam fee?
|
Included
|
No
|
Optional wellness plan available?
|
No
|
No
|
24/7 vet helpline available?
|
No
|
Yes
|
Walmart Pet Insurance vs. Pets Best Pet Insurance
Rating and coverage details | Walmart pet insurance through Fetch | Pets Best pet insurance |
---|---|---|
Forbes Advisor rating
|
|
|
Accident coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
3 days
|
Illness coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
14 days
|
Special waiting periods
|
6 months for hip and knee injuries
|
6 months for cruciate ligaments, 14 days for hip dysplasia
|
Pays for the vet exam fee?
|
Included
|
Included
|
Optional wellness plan available?
|
No
|
Yes
|
24/7 vet helpline available?
|
No
|
Yes
|
Walmart Pet Insurance vs. Spot Pet Insurance
Rating and coverage details | Walmart pet insurance through Fetch | Spot pet insurance |
---|---|---|
Forbes Advisor rating
|
|
|
Accident coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
14 days
|
Illness coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
14 days
|
Special waiting periods
|
6 months for hip and knee injuries
|
None
|
Pays for the vet exam fee?
|
Included
|
Yes
|
Optional wellness plan available?
|
No
|
Yes
|
24/7 vet helpline available?
|
No
|
Yes
|
Walmart Pet Insurance vs. Trupanion Pet Insurance
Rating and coverage details | Walmart pet insurance through Fetch | Trupanion pet insurance |
---|---|---|
Forbes Advisor rating
|
|
N/A
|
Accident coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
5 days
|
Illness coverage waiting period
|
15 days
|
30 days
|
Special waiting periods
|
6 months for hip and knee injuries
|
None
|
Pays for the vet exam fee?
|
Included
|
No
|
Optional wellness plan available?
|
No
|
No
|
24/7 vet helpline available?
|
No
|
No
|
Methodology
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.
Walmart Pet Insurance Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I add multiple pets to my Walmart pet insurance policy?
You can have multiple pets insured by Walmart pet insurance through Fetch, but you will need to buy a separate pet insurance policy for each pet.
For example, if you have two dogs, each dog will have their own policy and you’ll pay a separate premium for each one. Walmart pet insurance is limited to cats and dogs, meaning you can’t insure pets like birds, reptiles and fish. You may be able to find multi-pet insurance that allows you to add multiple pets under one insurance policy, such as MetLife.
Walmart pet insurance through Fetch does not offer a multi-pet discount. Some pet insurers offer a discount of 5% to 10% for insuring more than one pet.
Is Walmart a good insurance company for pets?
Walmart sells pet insurance through Fetch, which scored 4 out of 5 stars in our evaluation of the best pet insurance companies.
While Fetch’s plan has limited annual coverage and longer waiting period compared to top competitors, it does offer some good coverage benefits. For example, vet exam fees are covered. You’ll also be covered for up to $1,000 for boarding fees if you are hospitalized and up to $1,000 for advertising fees and rewards if your pet is lost or stolen.
Does Walmart pet insurance work with any vet?
Yes, Walmart pet insurance can work with any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada. That means you can keep your current vet. The plan also covers emergency vet clinics and specialists.