Pros and Cons – Forbes Advisor

Paw Protect is among the best pet insurance companies in Forbes Advisor’s analysis and offers an accident and illness plan, which is the most common type of pet insurance plan and covers the widest range of problems. It also offers an accident-only plan and an optional wellness plan.

Pet Accident and Illness Insurance

An accident and illness plan from Paw Protect covers these types of problems:

• Alternative therapies and rehabilitation like acupuncture and laser therapy.
• Behavioral therapy for problems such as aggression, marking and pica.
• Breed specific, congenital and genetic conditions such as eye disorders, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc disease.
• Cancer testing and treatment.
• Chronic conditions such as allergies, arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
• Dental illnesses such as gingivitis.
• Diagnostic testing such as MRIs and X-rays.
• Emergency care and hospitalizations.
• Orthopedic conditions such as broken bones, ligament tears and osteosarcoma.
• Prescription medications.
• Preventable conditions such as Lyme disease and parvo.
• Specialist care such as behaviorists and oncologists.
• Surgeries including anesthesia, vet/technician time and rehabilitation services.

Pet Accident-Only Insurance

Paw Protect also offers an accident-only plan, which covers problems such as swallowing objects, torn cruciate ligaments and injuries from getting struck by a vehicle.

An accident-only plan does not cover illness-related veterinary expenses like diabetes and ear infections.

Pet Insurance Add-Ons

Paw Protect offers an optional wellness plan for routine care called the Wellness Rewards plan. You’ll pick a reimbursement level of $250, $450 or $650 per year and you’ll be billed at the same time as your Paw Protect accident and illness plan (monthly or annually). The types of expenses covered by the Wellness Rewards plan include:

• Cremation or burial.
• Fecal and routine blood tests.
• Flea, tick and heartworm preventative.
• Gastropexy.
• Grooming and toe nail clipping.
• Hip dysplasia exams, radiographs or other Orthopedic Foundation for Animals testing to determine orthopedic or genetic disease.
• Medicated shampoos.
• Microchipping.
• Nutritional supplements.
• Prescription diet food.
• Preventative teeth cleaning.
• Reiki, massage therapy and acupuncture.
• Routine anal gland expression.
• Routine chiropractic care.
• Spay/neuter surgery.
• Training.
• Vaccination and titers.
• Wearable pet activity monitors.
• Wellness exam fees.

Exclusions under a Paw Protect pet insurance plan include:

• Avian flu or nuclear war.
• Breeding, whelping or pregnancy.
• Cosmetic procedures such as dewclaw removal, ear-cropping and tail-docking.
• Deliberate injury by you or anyone in your household.
• DNA testing or cloning.
• Injury or illness from cruelty, fighting, neglect or racing.
• Pre-existing conditions.
• Routine wellness care (unless you buy the Wellness Rewards plan).

Pet insurance policies have waiting periods. Once the waiting period ends, your coverage will kick in. For example, Paw Protect has a two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses.

The two-day waiting period for accidents is one of the shortest waiting periods you’ll find compared to other pet insurance companies. The 14-day illness waiting period is average across the industry.

Paw Protect also has a six-month waiting period for canine orthopedic conditions. You can have this waiting period reduced to 14 days if you complete an orthopedic exam and waiver process within the first 14 days of your dog’s pet insurance policy. If the orthopedic exam is performed after the first 14 days, the waiting period will be reduced to the day of the exam.

Maximum Annual Limit

The cap on the reimbursement your pet insurer will pay in a given year is known as the annual coverage limit. Paw Protect offers annual limits such as:

Deductible Options

The amount you have to pay toward vet bills before your coverage begins to reimburse you is your deductible. Paw Protect offers these deductible options:

Reimbursement Options

After you pay up front for your pet’s medical expenses, you’ll then submit a claim for reimbursement for problems covered by the policy. When you buy Paw Protect insurance you will select a reimbursement level:

Paw Protect pet insurance costs an average of $52 per month, according to Forbes Advisor’s analysis. That’s for $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level. The average cost of Paw Protect pet insurance is $77 per month for unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

Examples of Paw Protect Pet Insurance Cost by Dog Breed

Source: Petinsurer.com. Costs are based on $5,000 in annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

Paw Protect Pet Insurance Cost Comparison for Cats

Source: Petinsurer.com. Costs are based on $5,000 in annual coverage with a $250 deductible and 80% reimbursement level.

Paw Protect pet insurance offers these discounts:

• 10% multi-pet discount.
• 5% discount for active and former military personnel.

Paw Protect pet insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Reimbursement and deductible choices may vary by state.

Pet insurance waiting periods and benefits vary depending on the pet insurance company. For example, Paw Protect’s two-day waiting period is one of the shortest waiting periods you’ll find. Paw Protect also covers vet exam fees and offers an optional wellness plan, which you won’t find with plans such as Trupanion pet insurance.

Paw Protect vs. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Details can vary by state.

Paw Protect vs. Pets Best Pet Insurance

Details can vary by state.

Paw Protect vs. Spot Pet Insurance

Details can vary by state.

Paw Protect vs. Trupanion Pet Insurance

Details can vary by state.

To cancel a Paw Protect pet insurance policy, contact Paw Protect:

• Phone: (888) 812-6704
• Email: support@pawprotect.com

Paw Protect is from Embrace Pet Insurance Agency, a Cleveland-based company underwritten by American Modern Insurance. Embrace sold its first policy in 2006 and provides insurance for pet owners nationwide.

To find the best pet insurance we used data provided by PetInsurer.com to score each pet insurance company based on the following:

• Pet insurance rates (40% of score): We calculated average rates for medium sized mixed breed dogs age 3 months, 2 years, 5 years and 7 years for plans with unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible and a 80% reimbursement level, or the closest options available.
• Special waiting period (10% of score): Many pet insurance companies have a special waiting period for problems such as cruciate ligament issues and hip dysplasia. Plans that had no waiting period, a waiting period of fewer than six months or the ability to have the waiting period waived scored higher.
• Direct payment to vet (10% of score): Pet insurance companies that have the ability to pay a vet directly earned points.
• 24/7 vet health line (10% of score): Insurers that provide access to a 24/7 vet health line scored in this category.
• Routine wellness plans (10% of score): Insurers that offer optional wellness plans earned points.
• Pays veterinary exam fees (10% of score): Not all insurers cover exam fees, even if the fee is for an illness or accident-related visit. Plans that cover the vet exam fee scored in this category.
• Euthanasia or end of life expenses (5% of score): Insurers that cover end of life expenses, such as euthanasia, cremation or burial fees, scored in this category.
• Multipet discount (5% of score): Many pet insurance companies offer a discount if you insure more than one pet. Insurers that offer a multipet discount earned points.