Chewy Pet Insurance: A Comprehensive Overview
Chewy, known for its online pet supply store, offers pet insurance plans through partnerships with Lemonade and Trupanion. This review examines the coverage options, costs, and key features to help you determine if Chewy pet insurance is right for your furry friend.
What Chewy Pet Insurance Covers
Chewy pet insurance provides coverage similar to leading pet insurance providers, offering plans that address a wide range of potential pet health issues. The plans cover expenses related to:
- Accidents: Including injuries like broken bones or being struck by a vehicle.
- Illnesses: Covering conditions such as cancer and allergies.
- Routine Vet Expenses: Reimbursement for annual check-ups, vaccinations, and other preventative care.
Accident and Illness Plans
Chewy’s accident and illness plans come in various tiers, including Value, Essential, Essential Plus, and Complete, with some plans offered through Lemonade and others through Trulian. These policies are the most common type of pet insurance and provide the broadest scope of coverage for veterinary expenses related to both accidents and illnesses.
Here is a comparison of several Chewy pet insurance plans:
Accident-Only Plan
Chewy’s accident-only plan, offered through Trupanion, focuses solely on injuries resulting from accidents, such as bite wounds, being hit by a vehicle, or swallowing foreign objects. It does not cover illness-related conditions like allergies or cancer.
Wellness Plans
Wellness plans, which can be added to Chewy’s accident and illness plans through both Lemonade and Trupanion, cover routine care expenses. These plans can also be purchased through Trupanion, and cover the following
- Annual check-ups.
- Blood tests.
- Fecal tests.
- Heartworm tests.
- Flea, tick, or heartworm medication.
- Vaccines.
What’s Not Covered
Certain expenses are typically excluded from Chewy pet insurance policies, regardless of the provider:
- Experimental Treatments.
- Food, Dietary Supplements.
- Grooming.
- Non-Veterinary Expenses.
- Pre-existing conditions.
Coverage Levels and Costs
Chewy pet insurance offers a range of coverage limits, deductibles, and reimbursement options to fit different budgets and needs.
Annual Coverage Limits
Annual coverage limits range from $20,000 to unlimited, depending on the chosen policy.
Deductibles
Available deductible options include $250, $500, and $1,000.
Reimbursement Levels
Reimbursement levels are typically set at 80% or 90%, contingent on the specific plan.
Cost Analysis
The cost of Chewy pet insurance varies based on the plan and the pet’s characteristics. For the Chewy Essential Plus plan (Trupanion):
- Dogs: The average cost is $89 per month. This includes unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible, and a 90% reimbursement level.
- Cats: The average cost is $44 per month. This includes unlimited coverage, a $250 deductible, and a 90% reimbursement level.
For the Chewy Value plan (Lemonade) the average cost is:
- Dogs: $36 per month for $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement.
- Cats: $22 per month for $5,000 of annual coverage, a $250 deductible, and 80% reimbursement.
Essential Plus Plan Price Comparison for Dogs
The following table compares the average monthly costs of the Chewy Essential Plus Plan, which includes a $250 deductible, 90% reimbursement, and unlimited annual coverage.
Essential Plus Plan Price Comparison for Cats
The following table compares the average monthly costs of the Chewy Essential Plus Plan, which includes a $250 deductible, 90% reimbursement, and unlimited annual coverage.
Chewy’s Performance Compared to Competitors
When reviewing pet insurance options, consider how Chewy compares to providers such as Pets Best, Figo, Spot, Embrace, and Healthy Paws.
Source: Forbes Advisor research. Costs are based on unlimited annual coverage with a $250 deductible, a 80% reimbursement level (except for Chewy, which is at 90%) for dogs and cats ages 3 months, 2 years, 5 years, and 7 years.
Discounts
Chewy pet insurance policies provide a variety of discounts:
- Multi-Pet Discount: 5% discount through Lemonade; 10% through Trupanion.
- Annual Payment Discount: 5% off for an annual payment option.
- Bundling Discount: 10% reduction when bundled with homeowners, renters, term life, or car insurance through Lemonade.
Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
Waiting Periods
The waiting periods before coverage begins vary depending on the plan:
Age Restrictions
- Lemonade plans require pets to be at least 8 weeks old. The maximum enrollment age is 14, which can vary depending on the breed.
- Trupanion plans have no age restrictions.
Availability and Customer Service
Chewy pet insurance is available in 47 states and Washington, D.C., and is not available in Arkansas, Hawaii, or Vermont. Customers can manage policies and obtain quotes on Chewy’s website by selecting the “fetch plans” option. They can also manage the policy through the Lemonade or Trupanion app. Customer support is available 24/7 via phone (1-800-672-4399), email, and live chat. However, live chat quality was inconsistent during testing.
How to Cancel Chewy Pet Insurance
Cancellation policies vary depending on the insurance provider:
- Lemonade: Cancel via the Lemonade app or by emailing
[email protected]. Full refunds are available for cancellations within the first 30 days, provided no claims have been filed. - Trupanion: Policies can be cancelled via phone (1-844-958-1678), email (
[email protected]), or mail. A full refund is offered within the first 30 days of enrollment if no claims have been made.
Conclusion
Chewy’s pet insurance offers a convenient option for pet owners, especially those already invested in Chewy’s online platform. Policies are provided through Lemonade and Trupanion offering a variety of plans, coverage options, and discounts. However, rates and features can vary. Potential customers should compare Chewy’s offerings with those of competitors to make sure they are getting the best value for money.
