Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review: Insurance For Sick, Hurt, Or Healthy Pets

Pumpkin Pet Insurance is one of the most robust pet health plans on the market. Their pet insurance covers illness, injury, and much more, while their optional preventive care add-on helps you keep your pet healthy for years to come.

Vet bills can mount quickly, especially if you're dog or cat is diagnosed with a chronic condition or one that requires surgery.

But with Pumpkin Pet Insurance, you can have the peace of mind that you'll be able to cover your pet's health needs without breaking the bank. Keep reading to learn more about Pumpkin's plans, pricing, and terms.

What Is Pumpkin Pet Insurance?

Pumpkin Pet Insurance is a pet health insurance plan and an optional preventive health plan rolled into one easy to understand plan. It is designed for dogs and cats only.

Pumpkin Pet Insurance works much like a human health insurance policy. After an annual deductible is met, Pumpkin will reimburse pet owners for the costs their pets incur. Pumpkin’s standard policy involves a 10% co-insurance (in which the owner pays the first 10% of costs), and Pumpkin covers the remaining 90% of costs up to the annual limit.

The difference between human health insurance and Pumpkin Pet Insurance is how the billing works. Pumpkin plans will reimburse eligible costs for treatments by a licensed vet in the United States or Canada, no human health “networks” involved.

What Does It Cover?

Pumpkin offers two major plans: accident & illness insurance and an optional preventive care plan. 

Under the accident & illness insurance, Pumpkin covers most major health problems including:

• Diagnostics
• Prescriptions
• Behavioral Issues
• Microchip implants
• End-of-life services
• Surgery and specialized care
• Cancers and growths
• Hip dysplasia
• Swallowed objects
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Prescription food for eligible conditions
• Knee surgery for ACL repairs

Under the optional preventive care plan, Pumpkin covers the following:

• Yearly wellness exam fee
• One vaccine for cats, two for dogs, and four for puppies
• Yearly fecal test
• Yearly blood test for dogs
• Yearly vector borne blood test (like heart worm) for dogs

These are just a few of the long list of health conditions that Pumpkin covers. Notably, dental care and even alternative therapies are also covered at no extra cost.

What Doesn't It Cover?

The biggest procedure that Pumpkin doesn’t cover is spaying or neutering. Pet owners will need to count these costs before opting for the elective procedure. And it doesn’t cover regular dental cleanings.

Pumpkin tries to make what it does and doesn’t cover transparent on its website. You can get a sample policy straight from their site, and it goes over the specifics of what is and is not covered here: https://www.pumpkin.care/sample-plan.

Pumpkin also doesn’t cover “pre-existing” conditions. After a pet has been symptom free and not treated for 180 days most conditions will be covered again. The exception to this rule is knee & hind-leg ligament conditions which cannot be covered again in the future.

Will I Have A Deductible?

Yes, with Pumpkin Pet Insurance you will have an annual deductible of $100, $250 or $500. After you’ve met your deductible, you will have a co-insurance model. 

As the pet owner, you’ll be responsible for initially paying the vet bill yourself. Then you will file a claim with Pumpkin and it will reimburse you for 90% of the claim (after the deductible is met).

Related: The Ultimate Pet Insurance Guide

Are There Coverage Limits?

Pumpkin Pet insurance coverage is offered at a $10,000, $20,000, or unlimited annual limit. According to its research, 99% of vet bills come in under the $10,000 number, so it’s a pretty good bet that you’ll be covered with this option.

However, there may be a handful of accidents that could leave you on the hook for larger expenses. Some pet owners may want to look for providers that offer coverage with higher annual limits (such as $25,000 or more).

Is Pumpkin Pet Insurance Right For You?

Pumpkin Pet Insurance includes wellness coverage, end-of-life services, and everything in between. It is hard to find pet health insurance that covers as much as Pumpkin covers. With unlimited annual coverage limits for dogs, it seems like a great plan.

The one drawback to Pumpkin Pet Insurance might be the price. Plan prices vary based on deductibles, the type of animal you own, and other factors. But you may find its prices to be more expensive than other comparable plans.

Pet owners will want to compare Pumpkin's prices with other companies in the space like Embrace Pet Insurance, PetFirst, Healthy Paws, and Nationwide.

Pumpkin Pet Insurance Features

* Based on United States Fire Insurance Company data, August 2019. The data shows less than 1% of insured dog parents typically submit claims totaling over $10,000 in a policy year and less than 1% of insured cat parents typically submit claims totaling over $7,000 in a policy year.