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If your dog is hit by a car tomorrow, are you ready? Pet insurance is an essential for all responsible pet owners to make sure you are prepared financially to deal with any unexpected (and expensive) accident or illness. This is why we regularly review the top pet insurance companies to find out who comes out on top. This time, we’re putting our #1 and #3 rated insurers in the ring: Healthy Paws vs PetPlan to see which plan is a better value and the best fit for you and your pup. Not only do we compare each feature, we’ll give you an example (complete with pricing) to see how different scenarios measure up. So let’s get right to the overall winner, shall we?
Petplan vs Healthy Paws
To start off, these companies offer almost the same coverage. They both cover hereditary conditions and also chronic conditions. However, the chronic condition cannot be preexisting when you apply, and it cannot occur during the waiting period. Both companies cover hip dysplasia and alternative/holistic therapy, as long as a licensed veterinarian performs the procedures. Both companies include prescription drug coverage and a free 30-day money back guarantee.
So, with both companies offering so many similar great features and having great customer service reputations to boot, what really sets them apart? Read on but then be sure to run a quote with both of these companies to find out which can best serve your needs at the lowest price. Be sure to check out the chart below as well for more details on possible needs you may be seeking.
Winner: Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws is our top pick for pet insurance. Here’s what put them in the #1 spot this year:
- Unlimited lifetime benefits with no claim limits for all policyholders
- Most consumers report lower premium prices for similar coverage vs Petplan
- Slightly faster claim payment reputation
- Easy to understand contract with fewer number of exclusions
So, if your pet likes to get into trouble, is young and/or is accident prone, Healthy Paws may be the better pick for you in the long run because they offer an unlimited lifetime benefit* for all pets who enroll before age 6.
*This is a standard with their plan vs. Petplan which allows you to customize your premium based on your coverage.
Read our in-depth analysis of Healthy Paws
What About Petplan?
Petplan is our #3 pick for pet insurance. The main factors that gave Petplan a top spot include:
- Highly customizable plans/coverage, allows a wider range of premium pricing options
- Non-routine veterinary & emergency visit fees are covered
- No loifetime or per condition claims limit
If you are preparing for potential chronic issues down the road but don’t see any immediate reasons to be concerned about high vet bills, then you will save money at the vet’s office on exam fees, especially for low-cost chronic conditions that involve regular vet visits (e.g. ear infections).
Read our in-depth analysis of Petplan
When Does Pet Insurance Matter?
It is estimated that 6 million dogs and 6 million cats are diagnosed with cancer every year. See how Healthy Paws pet insurance has helped Baxter get much-needed cutting-edge treatment for his cancer.
Healthy Paws vs Petplan Side by Side
We find it’s often clearer to compare two companies side-by-side to see how they stack up. Below is a pet insurance comparison table to help show you some differences and similarities between Healthy Paws and Petplan.
| HealthyPaws | Petplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Ranking in our Pet Insurance Reviews | 1st | 3rd |
| X-Rays |  | |
| Blood Tests | | |
| Ultrasounds | | |
| MRI | | |
| Rehabilitation | | |
| Surgery | | |
| Hospitalization | | |
| Emergency Care | | 20% copay unless it's life threatening (covered at 100%) |
| Specialty Care | | |
| Pre-Existing Conditions | ||
| Check Ups, Vaccinations, Spay/Neuter, Teeth Cleaning | ||
| Non-Routine Dental Treatment | | |
| Hip Dysplasia | | |
| Chronic Conditions | | |
| Illnesses | | |
| Accidents | | |
| Hereditary Conditions | | |
| Congenital Conditions | | |
| Cancer Treatments | | |
| Diagnostic Treatment | | |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapy | | |
| Prescription Medications | | |
| Enrollment Fee | $25 | $25 |
| 30-Day Money Back Guarantee | | |
| BBB Rating | A | A+ |
| Unlimited Lifetime Benefits | | |
| Claim Limits | Unlimited | $2,500 - unlimited |
Healthy Paws Vs Petplan: Comparing Quotes
We found it super helpful to look at some examples of specific dog quotes for pet insurance but always keep in mind that every insurance quote is different based on your particular location, breed, age and more. So, to make sure you understand the price differences for YOUR PET, be sure to run a quote from at least two companies to compare and contrast pricing and what it will cover to make sure you are getting the most out of your policy. See how Healthy Paws and Petplan compare in the table below to help you make your decision between our top contenders. Keep in mind that pricing varies by pet age, breed, location, etc., so it may be best just to get a quick online quote from each company (use the links above to save some cash).
Dog – Yorkshire Terrier Pet Insurance Quote
Characteristics considered for these quotes:
- Age: 4 months
- No Microchip
- No Multi-pet Discount
- No Pre-Existing Conditions
- Residency in Columbus, Ohio (zip code 43205)
- Quote is from April 27, 2017
| Deductible | Reimbursement % | Annual Maximum | Price Per Month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy Paws | $100 | 80% | Unlimited | $32.24 |
| Petplan | $100 | 80% | Unlimited | $43.10 |
| Healthy Paws | $100 | 90% | Unlimited | $37.77 |
| Petplan | $100 | 90% | Unlimited | $48.11 |
Other Pet Insurance Companies
Obviously, there are other pet insurance companies out there beyond our heavyweights. Feel free to see how they stack up against Healthy Paws and Petplan in our large pet insurance reviews article.
Do you have an experience with either Healthy Paws or Petplan you’d like to share?
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7 Comments on "Healthy Paws vs Petplan: Who Comes Out on Top?"
I have an older dog (9 yrs.) who has never been insured. I want to get some now. Any thoughts on best price for older dog?
We are currently looking in to switching to Healthy Paws since our Petplan costs are increasing. The biggest difference for us is that Petplan charges a “per condition” deductible of $300 (it’s $48 per month if you’d like an annual deductible), and Healthy Paws has an “annual” deductible of $250 with much lower rates. Based on all of the reviews that I have read, I think we’ll be switching!
You can’t go wrong with either of those companies – Healthy Paws doesn’t have annual payout limits but Petplan has been around a bit longer so deciding between the two basically comes down to the best price for your given pet (breed and age).