Pet Insurance

Pumpkin vs Lemonade: Which Pet Insurance Newcomer Is Better?

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Last Updated: September 16, 2024 | 4 min read | Leave a Comment

This content was reviewed by our licensed insurance agent, Michelle Schenker.

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two pugs at the vet on exam table

Pumpkin and Lemonade have quickly created some bustle in the pet insurance marketplace. Pumpkin entered the space offering extensive coverage options with no added fees. Meanwhile, Lemonade introduced the fastest way to payout claims using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Neither has been offering pet insurance for very long, so is one company better than the other?

We compare coverage, customer service and reputation, claim processing, pricing, and customizations and explain which company we think is better in most cases. But remember that each pet and household budget varies, so obtaining quotes from multiple companies for your unique situation can help ensure that you get the best policy and price to meet your needs.

PumpkinLemonade
Policy CoverageExtensiveLimited
Customer Service & ReputationUncertain, NewUncertain, New
Claim Processing Average5 Days2 Days
Price Of Policy (avg)HigherAverage
Plan CustomizationsRestrictedMany
Overall WinnerBrown checkmark (Yes)
Get Pumpkin QuoteGet Lemonade Quote
 Compare QuotesCompare Quotes

Policy Coverage

Policy Coverage Winner

The table below shows precisely what Pumpkin and Lemonade cover.

Both companies cover 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.

Neither covers pre-existing conditions, burial costs, pregnancy and breeding, or unnecessary cosmetic procedures.

PumpkinLemonade
Illness Waiting Period*14 Days14 Days
Accident Waiting Period*14 Days2 Days
Hip Dysplasia Waiting Period*14 Days14 Days
CCL Surgery Waiting Period*14 Days6 Months
Behavioral TherapiesBrown checkmark (Yes)Extra Fee
Alternative/Holistic TherapyBrown checkmark (Yes)
Exam FeesBrown checkmark (Yes)Extra Fee
CremationExtra Fee
UnderwriterUnited States Fire Insurance CompanyLemonade Insurance Agency LLC
A.M. Best RatingAUnrated

*States are slowly adopting a Model Law for pet insurance. This Model Law attempts to standardize each state’s regulations, which includes a standard for waiting periods that all companies must follow. Waiting periods for California, Delaware, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Washington are as follows:

  • Accidents – 0 days
  • Illnesses – 14 days
  • Cruciate Ligament Conditions – 30 days
  • Routine Care – 0 days

Pumpkin Pet Insurance comes out ahead because it offers coverage for behavioral therapies, alternative/holistic therapy, and exam fees without an extra cost. Pumpkin also has shorter waiting periods for CCL surgery. However, Pumpkin’s accident waiting period is considered longer than most companies.

Pumpkin’s underwriter has an A rating from A.M. Best (a third-party measurement of financial stability). This means that Pumpkin’s underwriter may be more reliable than Lemonade’s underwriter (who has opted to go unrated) regarding claims repayment.

Ultimately, Pumpkin is the winner of this category because it provides more thorough coverage and excludes fewer health conditions.

Customer Service & Reputation

Customer Service & Reputation Winner

Both Pumpkin and Lemonade Pet Insurance were founded in 2020, so both are relatively new to pet insurance. Despite its recent entry into pet insurance, Lemonade has been selling homeowners and renter’s insurance and handling claims via its innovative AI technology since 2015.

Regarding Pumpkin’s customer reviews, there are many complaints regarding pricing, cancellation difficulties, lengthy claim processing periods, and more. It can take years for a company to stabilize its performance and pricing, and Pumpkin is still working through these challenges.

Lemonade is unique in its customer service because it’s structured largely as a digital company. Claims are handled by an AI chatbot. The majority of customers say the AI-driven claims process is fairly streamlined, and they are quickly reimbursed for eligible claims. Lemonade wins this category for its high-tech claims process and user-friendly experience.

Claim Processing

Claim Processing Winner

Pumpkin states it processes claims in an average of five days. This has drastically decreased from the previous two to four weeks it was in the past. The majority of companies average fewer than ten days.

Lemonade averages two days for claim processing, a speedy timeline compared to competitors. A big selling point for Lemonade is its AI-driven claim process. AI allows Lemonade to pay the most straightforward claims within seconds of submission. This has really disrupted the pet insurance space and caused competitors to look for ways to improve.

Price Of Policy

Price Of Policy Winner

Pumpkin has a monthly transaction fee of $2 if you don’t pay your full annual premium upfront each year but no one-time sign-up fee. Lemonade has no monthly transaction fees or one-time sign-up fees.

Your premium price quote is based on your pet’s details (age, breed, location, etc.). We recommend obtaining quotes from several companies for your specific pet. You can also visit our pet insurance comparison quotes to see a few sample prices we’ve gathered.

Lemonade always came out less expensive than Pumpkin in the quotes we’ve run. However, remember that pricing can vary widely from pet to pet; it’s always best to get quotes for your specific dog to compare what pet insurance could cost you. You can use our pet insurance quote form below to get multiple company quotes when you complete this one quick form.

Coupons

Pumpkin

Pumpkin offers the following discount:

  • 10% off for multiple pets

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.

Lemonade

Lemonade offers the following discounts: 

  • 10% off if you bundle with your Lemonade renters, homeowners, auto, condo, or co-op insurance
  • 5% off for multiple pets 
  • 5% off if you pay annually

Use this link to take advantage of the best possible price. No promo code is needed.

Plan Customization

Plan Customization Winner

Both companies offer several plan customization options to try and fit your premium into your budget.

PumpkinLemonade
Annual Payout Options$5,000, $10,000, $20,000, and unlimited$5,000, $10,000, $20,000, $50,000, $100,000
Deductible Options$100, $250, $500, and $1,000$100, $250, $500
Reimbursement Options80%, 90%70%, 80%, and 90%
Optional Wellness PlanBrown checkmark (Yes)Brown checkmark (Yes)
Accident-Only Plan

Overall, Lemonade has more customization options than Pumpkin, which may make it a better, more flexible fit for your budget.

What’s Our Verdict?

In the end, Lemonade wins this comparison against Pumpkin due to its overall positive customer service reviews, speedy claim processing average, lower pricing, and more plan customization options. However, we always recommend obtaining quotes from multiple providers to see how the pricing compares, so you may want to consider Pumpkin still. You might also consider a company with more years of pet insurance history to back up its claims.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for, our experts dig even deeper into each company in our individual reviews of Pumpkin and Lemonade.

Our experts have spent thousands of hours researching to bring you our comprehensive and frequently updated pet insurance reviews, including our top picks, along with details on each of the most popular pet insurance companies. So, if you want to know how other providers compare against one another, you may find this review helpful in your pet insurance search.

Methodology

We analyze hundreds of dog food brands and individual formulas to provide our recommendations for the best nutrition. Each of the following elements helps us determine the best dog food for any dietary need. Our in-depth research includes:

  • Scrutinizing all ingredients included in every formula
  • Having firsthand experience with our dogs for many of the foods we recommend
  • Assessing the guaranteed analysis for every formula, including protein, fat, fiber, and caloric content
  • Investigating the latest scientific studies on dogs’ nutritional needs and benefits of ingredients
  • Researching the specific dietary needs for breed sizes and health conditions
  • Reading hundreds of customer reviews
  • Staying informed on every dog food recall
  • Diving into every pet food brand’s history and reputation
  • Keeping on top of pet food trends

Unlike many other review sites, we give unbiased reviews based on countless hours of research. Our goal is to provide our readers with the healthiest options for their pups.

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 accuracy, and give Canine Journal the authority to write about and assist readers in purchasing policies that are accurately represented. 

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

Disclaimer: Information regarding insurance company offerings, pricing, availability, and other contract details are subject to change by the insurance company at any time and are not under the control of this website. Information published on this website is intended for reference use only. Please review your policy carefully before signing up for a new insurance contract or any other contract as your unique circumstances will differ from those of others who may be used for example purposes in this article.

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