Prudent Pet Insurance: Comprehensive Review
Prudent Pet offers a variety of pet insurance plans, providing owners with options for comprehensive coverage. This review will explore the plans, assess the coverage, and look at the costs associated with insuring your furry friend.
NerdWallet’s Verdict
NerdWallet gives Prudent Pet a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. This rating is based on a scoring formula that considers consumer complaints, customer satisfaction, and other factors.
Key Highlights:
- Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited
- Reimbursement Rates: 70%, 80%, 90%
- Deductibles: $100 – $1,000
- Policy Highlight: Most claims processed in 24 hours.
Pros:
- No upper age limits for pets
- Unlimited annual coverage available
- Live customer support chat and a 24/7 vet helpline
- 30-day money-back guarantee for new policies
Cons:
- No option to pay your vet directly
- No mobile app
Bottom Line: Prudent Pet provides a comprehensive range of coverage options suitable for pets of all life stages. Though it provides live chat customer support, it lacks some features, such as direct vet pay and a mobile app.
Choose Prudent Pet insurance if… You’re looking for solid coverage and fast claims processing.
Methodology
NerdWallet follows strict editorial guidelines to guarantee fairness and accuracy in its coverage. This helps consumers choose the financial products best suited for their needs. Their team of specialists analyzed more than 1,000 rates and evaluated more than 25 insurance companies to develop this review.
About Prudent Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
Prudent Pet earned an impressive 4.5-star rating from NerdWallet for its overall performance. The company’s policies can cover a wide range of medical needs, including congenital and hereditary conditions, behavioral treatments, and alternative therapies. They also offer quick claims processing, and they waive the six-month waiting period for knee injury coverage if a vet exam confirms no pre-existing issues within the first 30 days. Prudent Pet provides a $100 deductible option for some pets, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee for new policyholders. Dogs and cats that are at least 8 weeks old are eligible for enrollment. However, owners must pay extra if they want Prudent Pet to cover sick exam fees. Policy management is done through the website, as there is no mobile app.
Prudent Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage Details
Prudent Pet provides several plans and add-ons, each designed to suit different needs and budgets. Here’s a look at the specifics of each offering:
Essential Plan
- Coverage: Accidents and illnesses, up to $10,000 per year.
- Includes:
- Treatment, surgery, and hospitalization for any covered illness or injury, including cancer.
- Alternative therapies, if prescribed by a vet.
- Dental injuries or illnesses.
- Hereditary conditions and congenital birth defects.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Prescription medications.
- Diagnostic testing.
- Complications from breeding, pregnancy, or whelping if the breeding date is after the waiting period.
- Up to $250 per policy year for behavioral disorders.
Ultimate Plan
- Coverage: This is Prudent Pet’s most comprehensive option, with no annual coverage limit.
- Reimburses for:
- Treatment, surgery, and hospitalization for any covered illness or injury, including cancer.
- Alternative therapies if prescribed by a vet.
- Dental injuries or illnesses.
- Hereditary conditions and congenital birth defects.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Prescription medications.
- Diagnostic testing.
- Complications from breeding, pregnancy, or whelping.
- Up to $1,000 per policy year for behavioral disorders.
- Up to $500 for lost pet advertising and rewards.
- Up to $500 for medically necessary boarding at a kennel or cattery.
- Up to $500 if your pet is stolen or lost.
- Up to $1,000 for end-of-life expenses.
- Up to $1,000 if your vacation plans are disrupted because your pet needs life-saving care.
Accident-Only Plan
- Coverage: Doesn’t cover illnesses, only accidents.
- Includes:
- Treatment, surgery, and hospitalization for injuries caused by a covered accident, including bite wounds and broken bones.
- Alternative therapy if prescribed by a vet
- IV fluids and medications.
- MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays.
- Prescription medications.
- Stem cell therapy.
- Tooth extractions.
Wellness Coverage Add-On
- Options: Low, Medium, and High.
- May Cover (depending on plan):
- Wellness exams.
- Vaccinations.
- Heartworm test or FeLV screen.
- Fecal exam.
- Wellness blood screening (High plan only).
- Health certificates.
- Microchipping.
- Deworming.
- Dental cleaning or spay and neuter surgery (Medium and High plans only).
Veterinary Exam Fee Add-On
- Benefit: Helps cover veterinary exam fees for illnesses or accidents.
- Note: You won’t have to pay exam fees yourself if you add this to the base plan.
What’s Not Covered?
Prudent Pet policies have certain exclusions. Here’s what’s typically not covered:
- Pre-existing conditions, unless cured and symptom-free for at least 365 days.
- Exam fees (unless the add-on is purchased).
- Costs related to routine care such as grooming, training, or flea and tick preventives.
- Elective procedures.
- Experimental treatments.
- Routine breeding, whelping, or pregnancy.
- Intentional injuries or those resulting from abuse, racing, or occupational activities.
- Most prescription food.
- Conditions related to war, nuclear incidents, or public health events.
- Repetitive poisoning or ingestions.
- Intervertebral disc disease if any disc in the same part of the spine showed pre-existing symptoms before the effective date of the policy.
Prudent Pet Plan Options: Costs and Limitations
Deductibles
A pet insurance deductible is the amount owners need to pay before the plan begins to reimburse vet expenses. Prudent Pet offers a choice of deductibles: $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 annually. Wellness plans do not have a deductible.
Reimbursement Amounts
After meeting the deductible, Prudent Pet reimburses a percentage of covered vet bills, up to the policy’s limit. Reimbursement options are generally 70%, 80%, or 90%. Reimbursement percentages are not applicable to wellness plans. Prudent Pet applies the reimbursement percentage first and then the deductible. This method can result in a smaller payout compared to insurers that subtract the deductible first.
- Example: For a $1,000 vet bill with an 80% reimbursement rate and $500 deductible, Prudent Pet reimburses $300 (80% of $1,000 = $800, minus the $500 deductible).
- Contrast: Insurers that deduct the deductible first would reimburse $400 in this scenario ($1,000 bill minus $500 deductible = $500, then 80% of $500 = $400).
Coverage Limits
Coverage limits may differ depending on location and pet specifics. Accident-Only plans often have a $10,000 limit, while Essential plans can have limits of $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000. The Ultimate plan has no annual coverage limit.
Restrictions and Waiting Periods
Age Restrictions
- Minimum Age: 8 weeks old to enroll.
- Maximum Age: No upper age restrictions apply.
Waiting Periods
- Accidents: 5 days.
- Illnesses: 14 days.
- Knee issues: 6 months (waived if an exam within the first 30 days confirms no issues).
- Pre-existing conditions: Covered after the pet is cured and symptom-free for 365 days.
Prudent Pet Insurance Sample Rates
The cost of Prudent Pet insurance varies based on location, pet age, and breed. Here are sample monthly rates from Prudent Pet for common dog and cat breeds:
Sample Dog Rates (Monthly)
- These rates are for dogs in Katy, Texas, with accident and illness coverage, a $250 deductible, $5,000 annual coverage, and an 80% reimbursement rate.
- French bulldog: Age 2: $61, Age 8: $115
- German shepherd: Age 2: $42, Age 8: $78
- Golden retriever: Age 2: $42, Age 8: $78
- Labrador retriever: Age 2: $42, Age 8: $78
- Medium mixed-breed dog: Age 2: $29, Age 8: $53
- Poodle: Age 2: $31, Age 8: $59
Sample Cat Rates (Monthly)
- These rates are for cats in Katy, Texas, with the same coverage as the dogs.
- Devon rex: Age 2: $22, Age 8: $40
- Domestic shorthair: Age 2: $17, Age 8: $32
- Exotic longhair: Age 2: $22, Age 8: $40
- Maine coon: Age 2: $22, Age 8: $40
- Persian: Age 2: $22, Age 8: $40
- Ragdoll: Age 2: $22, Age 8: $40
Prudent Pet Insurance Discounts
Prudent Pet offers a multi-pet discount when insuring multiple pets.
State Availability
Prudent Pet is licensed in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Availability can change, and coverage may not be available for all pets in a given state.
Consumer Experience
- Website: Has a free quote tool, sample policies, and an FAQ section. Claims can be filed and policy information viewed here.
- App: No mobile app is available; policy management is website-based.
- Claims: Claims are filed via the client portal on the website. Most claims are paid within 24 hours, according to the company.
- Customer Service: Contact via live chat on the website, email at [email protected], or call 888-820-7739.
Other Pet Insurance Companies
Consider these alternative pet insurance providers:
See all of NerdWallet’s pet insurance reviews: AKC, Allstate, ASPCA, Banfield, Bivvy, Chewy, Costco, Embrace, Fetch, Figo, Geico, Hartville, Healthy Paws, Kanguro, Lemonade, Liberty Mutual, ManyPets, MetLife, Nationwide, Paw Protect, Pawp, Petco, Pets Best, Progressive, Prudent Pet, Pumpkin, Spot, State Farm, Trupanion, Wagmo.
How We Review Pet Insurance
NerdWallet strives to provide fair and accurate reviews, considering coverage, discounts, financial strength ratings, and more to determine its star ratings. In their evaluations, they analyzed 2,100 data points, got 1,200+ quotes from pet insurers, and compared 25+ companies. They reward companies that offer broad coverage, customization options, and strong financial ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Prudent Pet insurance cover neutering or spaying?
- Two wellness plans cover spaying or neutering costs.
- Does Prudent Pet insurance cover hip dysplasia?
- Covered under Essential or Ultimate plans with a completed waiting period
- How do I cancel Prudent Pet insurance?
- Cancel anytime by contacting customer service.
- Full refund within 30 days if no claims have been filed.
- Prorated refund after 30 days or if a claim has been made.
