Pet Insurance

Healthy Paws vs Fetch Pet Insurance Comparison

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White Eskimo dog and Corgi touching snouts outside in grass smiling and standing looking at each other

Just three companies have made it onto our list of the best pet insurance companies for the last ten years—Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and Fetch are two of them. Each has certain features that set it apart from different providers and its own advantages that appeal to pet owners. With my comprehensive comparison, you’ll be able to choose the insurance that best meets your needs.

healthy paws logo 250 transparent
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fetch logo 250 transparent
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Star Rating3.5/5.04.7/5.0
Best ForNo-Cap PayoutsPuppies & Kittens
Year Founded20092003
Customer Support OptionsPhone, EmailPhone, Email, Live Chat
UnderwriterChubb GroupXL Specialty Insurance Company
AXIS Insurance Company
A.M. Best Rating*A++A+
A
Demotech Rating*UnratedUnrated
Claim Processing Average2-15 Days15 Days
Can Reimburse Vets DirectlyYesNo
Payout LimitsUnlimited$5,000 to $15,000
Deductibles$100 to $1,000$250 to $700
Reimbursement Rates50% to 90%70% to 90%
One-Time FeesNo$15
Accident Waiting Period15 Days15 Days
Illness Waiting Period15 Days15 Days
Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period12 Months6 Months
CCL Waiting Period15 Days6 Months
Enrollment Ages8 Weeks to 14 Years††6 Weeks Or Older
Preventative PlanNoYes
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*A.M. Best and Demotech report the financial stability of underwriters. Ratings range from A++ (superior) to D (poor) for A.M. Best and A” (A double prime, unsurpassed) to L (licensed).
†Pets enrolled after their 6th birthday for Healthy Paws have plan customization restrictions, and hip dysplasia is excluded.
††Healthy Paws will not enroll pets older than 4 years old in NY.

Coverage Comparison

Female vet inspecting a bulldog at a clinic with owner and vet tech next to them.

Healthy Paws and Fetch each offer one accident and illness pet insurance policy available in all 50 statesPlans cover new accidents and illnesses, including testing and treatment for the conditions. Both companies cover emergency care, surgery and hospitalization, specialized exams and specialty care, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, cancer, chronic conditions, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, prescription medications, massage therapy, and more. Neither insurer covers endodontic disease, holistic treatment, prescription food, pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures (e.g., tail docking, dew claw removal, ear cropping).

Both Healthy Paws and Fetch’s base pet insurance policies cover a range of conditions, including cancer, hip dysplasia, allergies, canine cruciate ligament (CCL) tears, chronic conditions, hereditary conditions, and congenital conditions. However, it’s important to note that if symptoms for a condition were present before enrollment or during the insurer’s waiting periods, the condition is not covered and will be excluded from the policy. 

Both Healthy Paws and Fetch have a 15-day waiting period for accidents and illnesses. However, for hip dysplasia, Healthy Paws has a 1-year waiting period, while Fetch’s is 6 months. Fetch also has a 6-month waiting period for cranial cruciate ligament injuries. It’s also worth noting that hip dysplasia coverage is excluded for pets enrolled in Healthy Paws after their 6th birthday.

Base pet insurance policies from Healthy Paws and Fetch cover non-routine dental treatment and trauma to teeth, face, and jaw. Additionally, Fetch covers gum disease, and Healthy Paws covers tooth extractions due to accidents.

Fetch covers curable pre-existing conditions after one year, while Healthy Paws excludes them from its policies. 

Fetch offers wellness coverage as an optional add-on to its insurance policy. These wellness plans cover routine vet visits and fees associated with annual exams, spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, dental cleanings, flea/tick/heartworm prevention, blood tests, urinalysis, fecal tests, and more. With a wellness plan, preventive care is included in coverage and eligible for reimbursement. Healthy Paws does not offer routine care coverage.

Coveragehealthy paws logo 250 transparentfetch logo 250 transparent
Behavioral TherapyNo x markBase Plan
Complementary Care*Base PlanBase Plan
Wellness Care For An Extra FeeNo x markAdd-On
Exam FeesNo x markBase Plan
Hip DysplasiaAfter 1 YearAfter 6 Months
Non-Routine Dental TreatmentBase PlanBase Plan
Trauma To Teeth, Face, & JawBase PlanBase Plan
Gum (Periodontal) DiseaseNo x markBase Plan
Tooth ExtractionsDue To AccidentNo x mark
Endodontic DiseaseNo x markNo x mark
Developmental AbnormalitiesNo x markNo x mark
SupplementsNo x markBase Plan
*Complementary care encompasses physical therapy, rehabilitation, acupuncture, chiropractic care, laser treatment, hydrotherapy, and physiotherapy, among other modalities.
†Healthy Paws only offers hip dysplasia coverage to dogs enrolled before the age of six.

Premiums & Pricing

Poodle with money dollar bills isolated on a white background.

Insurers calculate premiums based on your pet’s age, breed, and location, as well as the plan coverage level you choose. Comparing Healthy Paws and Fetch quotes is difficult because Healthy Plans offers unlimited payout caps for all policies (Fetch doesn’t offer unlimited), and its deductible and reimbursement rate options vary based on the pet (Fetch offered all options for the sample pets I used).

Healthy Paws and Fetch each have an annual deductible. An annual deductible is helpful if your pet experiences multiple accidents or illnesses during the policy period (one year) because you’re responsible for paying the deductible once per policy period. 

All Healthy Paws policies have unlimited payouts, so you won’t need to worry about reaching a maximum reimbursement limit. However, based on your pet’s information, you may have fewer plan customization options with a lower reimbursement percentage. Meanwhile, Fetch has payout options starting at $5,000 up to $15,000 to help you select a premium that fits your budget.

Healthy Paws has no one-time fees, while Fetch requires a one-time enrollment fee of $15.

The monthly premiums for Healthy Paws and Fetch are displayed in the table below based on sample quotes. The different payouts, deductibles, and reimbursement rates are in the table’s footnotes. By providing several examples for each pet from each provider, I demonstrated how pricing can vary depending on plan coverage selection.

Pet Detailshealthy paws logo 250 transparentfetch logo 250 transparenthealthy paws logo 250 transparentfetch logo 250 transparent
French Bulldog$82.87$70.52*$68.99$71.46*
Labrador Retriever $41.11*$41.48*$54.46††$37.83§
Golden Retriever $101.61**$81.73*$83.07$59.68
Ragdoll Cat$22.34$21.66||$26.29††$22.80††
All Healthy Paws plans have unlimited payouts and Fetch plans have $5,000 payouts and are basic accident and illness plans with no add-ons. French Bulldog quotes are for a 6-month-old male in the 92121 zip code (San Diego, CA). Labrador Retriever quotes are for a 2-year-old female in the 14211 zip code (Buffalo, NY). Golden Retriever quotes are for a 4-year-old male in the 33604 zip code (Tampa, FL). Ragdoll Cat quotes are for a 5-year-old female in the 78040 zip code (Laredo, TX). 
* 90% reimbursement and $500 deductible; ** 90% reimbursement and $100 deductible; † 70% reimbursement and $1,000 deductible; †† 80% reimbursement and $250 deductible; ‡ 70% reimbursement and $500 deductible; § 80% reimbursement and $300 deductible; || 90% reimbursement and $400 deductible; ¶ 80% reimbursement and $500 deductible

To compare pet insurance costs, it’s best to obtain quotes for your specific dog. You can use our pet insurance quote form to request instant quotes from multiple companies.

Discounts

Pet insurance providers sometimes offer discounts to pet owners who insure more than one pet, bundle other insurance policies, are military or veterans, work as a veterinarian, work at an animal shelter, pay yearly, and more. Healthy Paws does not offer discounts to pet owners. On the other hand, Fetch offers:

  • Up to 10% off for animal shelter adoptees and employees, corporate benefit plans, medical services pets, strategic partners, military, veterinary staff, and students
  • 10% off premiums for Walmart shoppers
  • Save $25 or more when you pay quarterly or annually
  • 10% off for AARP members for life

Customer Service & Reputation

Person on the phone with dog in the background.

It is easy to overlook customer service and reputation when shown an attractive policy quote, but these are two of the most critical aspects. When the time comes to make a claim, I want you and your pet to have the most straightforward and least stressful experience possible, though I truly hope you never have to.

When you call an insurer and never get your questions answered or problems resolved, it feels like you wasted your money, no matter how much you spend. Both companies provide phone and email support. Additionally, Fetch provides live chat assistance. If the plan you chose doesn’t work, you can cancel and get your money back within 30 days, thanks to the money-back guarantee offered by both insurers.

I looked through hundreds of Healthy Paws and Fetch customer reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, and Trustpilot. Overall, Healthy Paws had higher customer ratings than Fetch. Both insurers are active online, responding to customers and resolving outstanding issues. 

The most common complaints I read about Healthy Paws primarily involve pet owners having their policies canceled because their credit cards expired. Healthy Paws says it sends notices of upcoming cancellations via email and direct mail, but many customers say they never received any. Additionally, customers are dissatisfied with dental illness coverage.

However, Fetch’s customers have reported that their claims are deemed ineligible when they should be covered. Additionally, there are complaints of Fetch marking unrelated conditions as pre-existing. This has led to numerous negative online reviews from policyholders, prompting Fetch to readdress these issues. It’s also worth noting that as of September 2024, Fetch was upgrading its claims system, which has resulted in processing delays.

Claim Processing

Person holding pet insurance paperwork.

Some pet owners’ decisions may be influenced by how long it takes an insurer to reimburse claims. While some can’t wait several weeks to get paid, others don’t mind holding out a little longer. Half of Healthy Paws’ claims are paid out in two days and overall it averages 2-15 days. The processing time for Fetch claims is currently 15 days on average.

Healthy Paws may be able to pay your veterinarian directly, saving you from paying a large upfront vet bill and then waiting for reimbursement. However, not all veterinarians offer this service, so ask your doctor if possible. Fetch does not have this feature.

Plan Coverage Options

Two dogs side by side at the vet.

Healthy Paws has unlimited payouts on all plans and plan coverage level restrictions based on pet enrollment age. On the other hand, Fetch has no set coverage options for pets enrolled after a certain age. Below are the available plan coverage levels for Healthy Paws and Fetch.

healthy paws logo 250 transparenthealthy paws logo 250 transparenthealthy paws logo 250 transparentfetch logo 250 transparent
Pet Age5 years and under6 & 7 year olds8 years and older6 weeks and older
Annual Payout LimitUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited$5,000, $10,000, $15,000
Deductible Options$100, $250, $500$250, $500, $750$750, $1,000$250, $300, $400, $500, $700
Reimbursement Options70%, 80%, 90%60%, 70%, 80%50%, 60%70%, 80%, 90%
Optional Wellness Planscheckmark
Accident-Only Plan

Certain insurance companies provide pet insurance plans limited to accidents and cover situations involving unexpected physical harm. Plans that only cover accidents cover things like bite wounds, strained ligaments, and broken bones. Generally speaking, these plans are less expensive than accident and illness insurance. Fetch or Healthy Paws offers no accident-only plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions we get asked about Healthy Paws and Fetch. If you don’t see your question, reach out in the comments or check out our forums.

How Good Is Healthy Paws Insurance?

Healthy Paws’ underwriters have an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, which is the highest possible. No other pet insurer I’ve reviewed has this high of a financial strength rating. Additionally, Healthy Paws has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Do Most Vets Take Fetch Pet Insurance?

With your Fetch policy, you can use any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada, including specialists and emergency clinics.

Is Healthy Paws Or Fetch Better?

Healthy Paws and Fetch have longstanding reputations and high financial stability ratings from their underwriters.

If you’re enrolling your furry best friend before they turn 5, Healthy Paws may be appealing with its no lifetime caps, which is often priced competitively with plans from competitors with lower payouts. However, enrolling your dog beyond five may result in coverage limitations.

On the other hand, Fetch covers gum disease, behavioral therapies, supplements, vet exam fees, and curable pre-existing conditions—all items that Healthy Paws excludes.

So that you can broaden your comparison, I’ve gone further into detail in my individual reviews of Healthy Paws and Fetch. Along with information on the most well-known pet insurance providers, my pet insurance comparison will help you easily see where companies differ.

Methodology

We review each U.S. pet insurance company to provide an unbiased breakdown of providers’ performance in real claim situations. We use a 100-point scale for each pet insurance company to rank them.

Our In-Depth Research Includes:

  • Coverage & Exclusions (30%) – We scrutinize every policy from top to bottom and read all the fine print, carefully noting each exclusion. We factor in any age restrictions, required add-ons for basic coverage, and whether a company is available nationwide. Insurers with fewer exclusions receive more points in this category than those with less coverage.
  • Pricing (15%) – We evaluate pricing by running thousands of sample quotes for dogs and cats of various breeds, sizes, locations, and ages. We analyze which companies charge extra fees and discounts and consider which companies nick and dime pet owners with add-on coverage. Providers with the lowest premiums, fewest extra fees, most discounts, and fewer add-ons receive more points in this category.
  • Customer Service & Reputation (12%) – We assess hundreds of customer reviews, scope out the sign-up process, speak with representatives, and factor in company history and years in the pet insurance marketplace to determine the points in this category. Companies with an easy sign-up process, highly rated mobile apps, multiple ways to reach customer service, positive consumer feedback, and a seamless claim filing process score high in this category.
  • Financial Strength (10%) – Insurance is only beneficial if you can count on reimbursed claims. Companies with at least five years of nationwide experience and high A.M. Best and Demotech ratings receive high remarks in this category.
  • Customization Options (10%) – We consider customizations available to adjust your coverage to fit your budget. Companies with fewer restrictions based on breed, age, location, etc., multiple plan options, and more reimbursement rates, deductibles, and annual limits earn the highest scores.
  • Waiting Periods (5%) – Providers with the shortest illness and accident waiting periods and fewer additional waiting periods for other conditions merit high remarks.
  • Claim Processing (5%) – We share our firsthand experience submitting claims with companies and examine how long it takes to be reimbursed. Insurers with a vet direct pay option and short claim processing averages earn the most points.
  • Innovation (3%) – We meet with company representatives to discuss changes related to the industry, their company, and their offerings. Providers offering unique, comprehensive coverage and utilizing advanced technology receive more points.

Unbiased Pet Insurance Rankings: Putting Your Pets First

Unlike many other review sites, we refuse to let pet insurance companies pay for the top spot in our rankings. Companies must earn their position in our comparisons by performing well in the marketplace. We also highlight each company’s pros and cons in light of their competitor’s strengths. In doing so for over a decade, we’ve helped pet parents make more educated decisions among the top pet insurance options. Pet insurance providers read our reviews, regularly check them for accuracy, and value our input to help create positive industry changes and better protect your pets. We only recommend the best of the best because it’s what our readers deserve.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Canine Journal has been covering the topic of pet insurance since 2012, well before other conglomerates discovered the rising popularity of health care for our pets. Many of our authors have personal experience with pet insurance, including Kimberly Alt, who has been Canine Journal’s go-to author for pet insurance for over a decade, having written about nearly every possible facet related to pet insurance. Kimberly knows the subject so well that she can answer a breadth and depth of pet insurance questions immediately. And on the rare occasion she doesn’t know the answer off the top of her head, she can find it within minutes due to her extensive list of resources.

Kimberly also consulted with Michelle Schenker, Canine Journal’s in-house licensed insurance agent, for additional expertise, to ensure precision and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented. Together, Kimberly and Michelle frequently communicate with Healthy Paws and Fetch, which helps ensure accuracy and keeps them abreast of any changes.

Kimberly Alt

Kimberly is a writer and content strategist for Canine Journal, specializing in pet insurance consulting. She has written and edited professionally since 2010. In 2014, Kimberly began researching dogs and discovered her passion for pet insurance. She strongly advocates for insuring pets and knows insurance is a complex subject for most. Kimberly has read hundreds of pet insurance policies (including the fine print), ran more than 3,000 pet insurance quotes, engages in frequent discussions with pet insurer representatives, and conducts mystery shopping to gain an unbiased perspective and explain how companies differ and their strengths. Her passion is teaching others about the pet insurance industry and helping them make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs. Kimberly has a B.A. in Multimedia Journalism from Simpson College. She is a Dog Writers Association of America member, and her work has appeared in many brands, including The New York Times’ Wirecutter, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, People, Woman’s World, and Huffington Post. Kimberly is the parent of a rescue Coonhound mix, Sally.

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