Chewy Pet Insurance: Comprehensive Review for Pet Owners
Chewy, the online pet supply giant, offers pet insurance through a partnership with two companies: Trupanion and Lemonade. These plans, known as CarePlus, provide accident, illness, and wellness coverage options, making Chewy a convenient choice for pet owners. This review will examine Chewy’s pet insurance, focusing on its coverage, costs, pros, cons, and overall value.
NerdWallet Rating:
Chewy’s pet insurance receives a solid rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from NerdWallet. This rating reflects the company’s financial strength, coverage options, customer experience, and available discounts.
Coverage and Reimbursement
- Annual Max Coverage: Unlimited with select plans. The highest coverage limit the insurer offers per year.
- Reimbursement Rates: 70%, 80%, 90% – depending on your plan, this is how much of your bill the insurer will pay after you’ve met your deductible.
- Deductibles: $250, $500, $1,000 – the amount of vet bills you pay before the insurer starts reimbursing you.
Policy Highlights
A key advantage is the inclusion of unlimited access to Chewy’s vet telehealth service in most states.
Pros and Cons of Chewy Pet Insurance
Pros:
- Some accident and illness plans pay 100% (minus your deductible) for supplements purchased from Chewy.
- Some plans offer direct claim payments to vets, simplifying the process.
- Unlimited coverage is available on certain plans.
- Quick processing for many claims.
Cons:
- Only more expensive plans cover behavioral treatments, dental disease, and routine exam fees.
- Accident-only plans might not be available for all pets.
About Chewy Pet Insurance
Chewy, typically known for its pet supplies, has made its mark in the pet insurance market by offering CarePlus plans through partnerships with Trupanion and Lemonade. These plans vary based on location, pet’s age and breed, and include accident and illness packages, ranging from affordable options to comprehensive ones. The plans often provide coverage for supplements and preventive care additions.
Chewy Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
Chewy provides various plans, including coverage for accidents, illnesses, and preventive care.
Accident and Illness Plans
Depending on your pet and location, you can choose from several accident and illness plans from Lemonade or Trupanion. Generally, these plans cover:
- Diagnostic tests.
- Surgery and hospitalization.
- Specialty and emergency treatment.
- Medications and supplements.
- Free telehealth consultations with a Chewy vet.
Upgrading to more comprehensive plans can add features like:Vet exam fees, Dental disease treatment, Behavioral therapies, physical therapy, and alternative therapies, prescription food.
More expensive plans frequently offer more substantial reimbursement rates and unlimited annual coverage.
Accident-Only Coverage
For certain pets, an accident-only plan is an option. These are comparatively cheaper but cover limited problems like broken legs or animal bites, while illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease are not covered.
Wellness Plans
Preventive care coverage can be added to any of the plans mentioned above. These generally include:
- Annual checkups.
- Vaccinations.
- Fecal, blood, and heartworm tests.
- Flea, tick, and heartworm medications.
- Free consultations with a vet via video.
- Dental cleaning.
- Spay or neuter surgery.
- Microchipping.
Note: Coverage options and plan availability may vary based on your location and your pet’s age and your pet’s breed.
What’s Not Covered
Each plan has distinct exclusions but generally, Chewy’s accident and illness plans do not include:**
- Pre-existing conditions.
- Routine care (without wellness coverage).
- Elective procedures.
- Preventable conditions, or neglect.
- Breeding or conditions related to pregnancy.
Chewy Plan Options
- Deductibles: Chewy offers annual deductibles of $250, $500, and $1,000.
- Reimbursement Amounts: After the deductible, Chewy can reimburse 70%, 80%, or 90% of vet costs.
- Coverage Limits: Lemonade plans have a $20,000 annual limit, while Trupanion offers unlimited coverage.
Restrictions and Waiting Periods
- Age Restrictions: Chewy offers quotes of pets between the ages of 0-2 to 15+ years old. Age minimums & maximums may apply in some states.
- Waiting Periods: Vary based on plan and location. Wellness plans frequently have no waiting periods, while accident plans have a waiting period of about 5 days, Accident & illness plans have different waiting periods for accidents, illnesses & cruciate knee injuries.
Sample Rates
Check for quotes based on your location, coverage, and individual pet’s age/breed. See the original article for sample rates for dogs and cats in Katy, Texas.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Is Chewy pet insurance good?
Chewy’s pet insurance earned a rating of 4.5/5 stars from NerdWallet, due to its customizable coverage, live chat, and for its quick claim processing.
Conclusion
Chewy’s pet insurance offers a blend of comprehensive coverage options, customizable plans, and the added convenience of telehealth services. Whether you’re looking for accident and illness coverage or a more basic plan, Chewy’s CarePlus plans are worth considering.