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Lemonade hit the pet insurance market in July 2020 with a unique Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven claims process and four solid years of providing reputable homeowners and renters insurance.
For pet insurance, they offer affordable premiums, customizable policies, a wellness plan add-on, and a fast claims process they handle through their smartphone app.
But does Lemonade provide all the coverage you’ll need for your pet? And how do they stack up against their competitors?
Lemonade Overall Rating
3.2/5.0
Our pet insurance experts read through each pet insurance companies’ policy to provide detailed comparisons and information regarding how a provider fares against others in the industry. We also speak with customers, read online feedback, and communicate one-on-one with the pet insurance companies to obtain a well-rounded, unbiased analysis of a company’s standings.
Our team rates pet insurance companies based on several factors, including A.M. Best ratings (an indicator of financial stability), claim processing reputations, contract coverage, customer service, pricing, plan customizations, and more.
Pros & Cons Comparison Table
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Annual deductible (not per incident) | Vet exams for accidents and illnesses only covered in extended add-on plan |
| No lifetime payout limits on any plan | Must pay extra for physical therapy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy coverage |
| Wellness coverage available as an add-on | Strict exclusions for pre-existing bilateral conditions |
| Company makes sizeable charitable contributions to causes of their customers’ choosing | Limited customer service options |
| Lower than average pricing | Only available in 36 states and DC |
| Coverage available for pets aged 8 weeks to 20+ years (depending on breed) | Not covered when traveling with your pet outside of the U.S. |
| Doesn’t enroll some breeds once they hit a certain age, but they never terminate coverage for pets as they age |
Key Features
- Underwriter: Lemonade Insurance Agency LLC
- A.M. Best rating (a measure of financial stability): Unrated
- Requires a full medical exam from the past 12 months for pets older than one
- Bilateral exclusions (a condition or disease that affects both sides of the body) are considered pre-existing
- Claims process:
- You can only submit claims through their app, and you must file claims within 180 days of an accident or illness occurring
- Claim processing averages 2 days
- Direct deposit and check available for repayment
- Also offers homeowners and renters insurance, and you can get a 10% discount if you bundle pet insurance with one of these other policies
- Only available in 36 states and the District of Columbia: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, IN, IA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI.
- Doesn’t offer pre-approval of estimates/procedures in advance of treatment
- Covers curable pre-existing conditions that are considered cured after 1 year (chronic and knee-related conditions are exempt from coverage)
Customer Service Options & Hours
Lemonade offers fewer customer service options than most pet insurance providers because it’s structured largely as a digital company. All claims are handled through their app, and their app has an AI-driven chatbot.
- Phone: 1-844-733-8666 (their site says this is for use in case of emergencies – e.g., your pet needs immediate surgery to save his life)
- Email: [email protected]
- Live chat with medical experts on the app
Waiting Periods
- Accidents: 2 days
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Cruciate Ligament Events (bilateral exclusion for pre-existing cruciate ligament injuries and lameness): 6 months
- Hip Dysplasia: 6 months
- Wellness: 1 day
What Does Lemonade Cover?
Please know that none of the providers in our pet insurance comparison charts cover pre-existing conditions, cremation and burial costs, pregnancy and breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.
All of them cover the following items when deemed medically necessary: emergency care, surgery and hospitalization, specialized exams and specialty care, X-rays, blood tests, ultrasounds, cat scans, MRIs, rehabilitation, cancer, chronic conditions, euthanasia, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, non-routine dental treatment, and prescription medications. However, this coverage may have limitations, so please check your policy.
| Condition | Covered By Lemonade |
|---|---|
| Behavioral Therapies |  |
| Alternative/Holistic Therapies | |
| Exam Fees | Extra Fee |
| Wellness Care | Extra Fee |
Optional Coverage
Lemonade also offers optional add-ons.
Vet Visit Fees
For an additional fee, you can purchase coverage for vet visits pertaining to eligible accidents or illnesses.
Physical Therapy
You can purchase supplemental coverage for physical treatments like acupuncture, chiropractic care, and more for an extra fee.
Preventative Care Plan
You can add-on preventative coverage for your pet to get up to 80% covered costs with no deductible. Lemonade’s Preventative Care plans may vary based on your location, pet species/breed, age, etc.
| Great For Dogs & Cats | Ideal For Dogs & Cats | Great For Puppies & Kittens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month For Canines | $16 | $24.33 | $44 |
| Price Per Month For Felines | $10 | $16 | $34 |
| Wellness Exam | 1 up to $50 | 1 up to $50 | 2 up to a total of $100 |
| Fecal or Internal Parasite Test | 1 up to $35 | 1 up to $35 | 2 up to a total of $79 |
| Vaccines or Boosters | 3 up to a total of $75 | 3 up to a total of $75 | 6 up to a total of $150 |
| 1 Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test |  up to $40 | up to $40 | up to $40 |
| 1 Blood Test | up to $65 | up to $65 | up to $65 |
| Spay/Neuter | | | up to $120 |
| Microchip | | | up to $40 |
| Flea/Tick or Heartworm Meds | | up to a total of $65 | up to a total of $65 |
| Routine Dental Cleaning | | up to $150 | |
Pricing Quotes
We’ve gathered some sample prices from Lemonade. You can choose your deductible, annual payout, and reimbursement amount options from those listed in the table below.
| Deductible Options | Payout Options | Reimbursement Options |
|---|---|---|
| $100 $250 $500 | $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $50,000 $100,000 | 70% 80% 90% |
The cost of each policy is unique to your pet and depends on many variables, including their age, breed, location, health conditions, and more. Below are sample prices for select breeds in various locations with different limitations for Lemonade. Quotes are from December 2021.
| Breed | Labrador Retriever | Mixed Breed Dog (45 lbs) | Golden Retriever | Mixed Breed Cat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male or Female | Male | Female | Male | Female |
| Age | 3 Years | 5 Years | 2 Years | 2 Years |
| Location | Virginia (22901) | Indiana (46201) | California (90210) | Virginia (22901) |
| Price Per Month | $32.50 | $20.67 | $34.75 | $13.75 |
| Reimbursement Level | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% |
| Annual Deductible | $250 | $250 | $500 | $250 |
| Annual Payout Limit | $20,000 | $20,000 | $100,000 | $20,000 |
You can get personalized price quotes for your pet(s) from several top-ranked companies when you fill out just one short form. Also, visit our pet insurance quotes page to see how the cost of Pets Best stacks up against the competition.
Discounts
Lemonade offers the following discounts:
- 10% off if you bundle with your renters, homeowners, auto, condo, or co-op insurance
- 5% off for multiple pets
No promo code is needed. Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price.
How Is Lemonade’s Business Model Unique?
Lemonade isn’t your traditional insurance company in several ways. See how they stand out for their AI-driven process, digital claims processing, and commitment to charitable contributions in this four-minute video of Lemonade’s CEO Daniel Schreiber on CNBC.
How Does The Claim & Reimbursement Process Work?
Lemonade uses a “copay then deductible” reimbursement method. This is calculated in the following manner:
- (Eligible vet expenses x Reimbursement percentage) – Remaining annual deductible = Reimbursement amount
Let’s say you chose a $100 deductible with an 80% reimbursement percentage. You take Fido to the vet, and the vet bill is $200. Out of this total, $40 are for the vet visit fee, which is ineligible for coverage unless you opt for the Vet Visit add-on. That means $160 is eligible for coverage, so here’s how your reimbursement would be calculated.
- $160 (eligible vet expenses) x 80% (reimbursement percentage) – $100 (remaining annual deductible) = $28 (reimbursement amount
Now that your deductible has been met, any future eligible vet expenses for the policy period will not require you to pay the deductible again.
Lemonade vs Other Companies
Interested in seeing how Lemonade stacks up against other popular pet insurance companies? We’ve written comparison articles for you to see how Lemonade and other leading pet insurance companies compare in coverage, customer service and reputation, claim processing, plan customization, and price.
What’s Our Final Verdict?
Because Lemonade is so new to the pet insurance industry, there’s still a lot of room for this company to experience changes before establishing a solid reputation for handling claims and customer issues. However, their current pricing, coverage, and flexible policies are worth considering if you’re comfortable with fewer customer service options.
If you’re unsure if Lemonade is the right pet insurance provider for you, you’ve got lots of options. See our top recommendations for best pet insurance along with category winners (we rank the best providers for everything from older dogs and dental to wellness coverage and bilateral conditions) to see how Lemonade compares.
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