Most of us treat our pets like one of our own children. Just like any other family member, pets can have accidents and health issues that require medical attention. Sometimes, we don’t have the funds needed at that moment to make our furry friends better.
It is a good option, then, to get pet health insurance, just in case there are any issues in the future. Since you have health insurance for you and your family, it’s quite understandable that you get one for your pets as well.
Healthy Paws was founded in 2009, after co-founders Steve Siadek and Rob Jackson met at a no kill shelter. Steve left his job to become the executive director of the shelter because of his passion for pets.
Rob was already working in insurance and had previously adopted his dogs from the shelter. After adopting his dogs, Rob continued to foster other dogs from the shelter as well.
Realizing how hard it was for families and organizations to take care of the sick animals, both men decided that they would create Healthy Paws Pet Insurance to help.
Both of these men were passionate about animals and wanted to do whatever they could to help them when they were sick. With Rob’s experience and knowledge of the insurance world, they knew they would have to make affordable insurance that would help customers, even in the long run.
That is to say, they made sure that their insurance plans were the best on the market.
Features
Paperless Claims
Most insurance companies love to bury their clients under a mountain of paperwork, especially when claims of any kind are involved.
Submitting a claim to an insurance company is a guaranteed source of frustration, which involves endless paper trails and also insanely complicated forms.
Consequently, this serves to discourage policyholders from following up on a claims request, which often leaves them in a lurch.
Fortunately, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance understands this and has taken steps to ensure that everything, from getting your claims pre-approved to filing it, can be done online without the need for any physical paperwork.
This ensures that you will never have to worry about losing or misplacing any crucial forms, while also being able to enjoy a much more expedited claims process. Along with this, Healthy Paws also provides first rate customer support to ensure that help is never far away.
Rated as Best Insurance Provider for 3 Years
Despite being a relatively young brand and a newcomer to the insurance market, Healthy Paws has taken the industry by storm by winning the “Best Pet Insurance” service provider award 3 years in a row.
This should come as no surprise, as the founders of Healthy Paws, Steve Siadek and Rob Jackson, are passionate about animals and animal welfare. All of this translates into Healthy Paws being one of the most interesting pet insurance service providers out there.
Healthy Paws provides both owners and pets with peace of mind, with their comprehensive illness and accident coverage as well as alternative care support and hospitalization coverage.
Despite their relatively short time in the insurance industry, the benefits provided by Healthy Paws are very much worth it.
Support for Homeless Animals
Healthy Paws is looking to make a difference in this world by supporting homeless animals through you. While other insurance providers may boast that animal welfare is their top priority, Healthy Paws has chosen to let their actions do the talking instead.
Each time you receive a quote from Healthy Paws, a donation will be made to a pet in need, thanks to the Happy Paws Every Quote Gives Hope Grant program.
This means that you are able to not only keep your furry friend insured, but you will also be making a world of difference to a homeless furry pal.
The cash grants donated by Healthy Paws will be given to pet rescue and adoption organizations for life-saving vaccines, medical care and also spay/neuter surgeries. With Healthy Paws, every quote counts.
Eligibility
Before deciding on this insurance provider, you may want to check whether you and your pet are eligible for coverage by Healthy Paws insurance. Under Healthy Paws, all dog breeds are covered under the Healthy Paws’ unlimited lifetime benefits.
Unlike many other insurance companies, you will be eligible for payout claims throughout your dog’s entire life, ensuring that Fido will be able to receive the best medical care that he or she deserves.
As your pet ages, he or she will be more susceptible to illness and injuries from accidents. Fortunately, Healthy Paws has taken this into account as well.
What They Cover
Having a beloved member of your family fall ill is a stressful affair indeed. Fortunately, Healthy Paws is here for you and your four-legged friend. They offer what is likely one of the most comprehensive insurance policies that are available on the market.
For example, just to name a few, illnesses like the following are covered by Healthy Paws:
- Cancer
- Accident and emergency care
- Diagnostic tests
- Hospitalization
- Specialty medicine
Unlike other companies that provide pet insurance services, Healthy Paws covers expensive hereditary and congenital conditions too. However, it is under the condition that no clinical symptoms have been noted by your veterinarian prior to obtaining Healthy Paws insurance.
Also, to ensure that hip dysplasia is covered by Healthy Paws, you must enroll your dog for lifetime hip dysplasia before the age of 6.
However, you will need to take note that pre-existing conditions and the associated examination fees are not covered, as are preventative care treatment such as:
- Spaying and neutering
- Vaccinations
- Parasitic control
- Dental health care
Finally, costs and fees associated with elective procedures, pet boarding and behavioral modification training and therapy will not be covered by Happy Paws.
Reimbursement
Unlike other pet insurance providers, Healthy Paws has a much more client-oriented reimbursement agreement. Most insurance providers work with a benefit schedule, which is a table that dictates the amount of coverage that will be provided for the different classes of the insured.
In other words, only a partial amount of the money that we pay for vet costs may be considered for reimbursement. To make it clearer, let’s say I chose 90% reimbursement when I enrolled with a specific insurance provider.
When my dog got sick, I had to pay a certain amount at the vet and my benefit schedule stated that 40% of that was usual for that particular vet visit. I would only be reimbursed 90% of that 40%, instead of 90% of the entire bill.
However, Healthy Paws reimburses me based on the entire bill. If you think about it, that’s not such a bad deal.
Pros
Unlimited Coverage
Healthy Paws ensures that there is no cap, nor will there ever be a cap, on the amount of coverage you receive from them for your pet’s vet visits. There is no fine print that may trick you nor is there any hidden agenda for Healthy Paws.
In other words, all they really want to do is ensure the welfare and protection of our pets.
Lifetime Benefits
As long as you make sure that you continuously pay for your insurance plan, you are able to rest assured that your pets will be well protected by the insurance for as long as they may live.
I don’t have to worry about the benefits suddenly changing or the insurance being stripped away from me and my beloved pets due to a minor inconvenience.
Great Customer Service
Their customer service has got nothing but satisfied reviews from customers that are over-the-moon about their services. A big bonus is that I can call in any day from Monday to Friday between the hours of 6am and 6pm Pacific time.
This is important because you never know when you’re going to need to speak to someone from Healthy Paws about your insurance plan, or even just a general question. Rest assured that they’ll answer any and all of your questions eagerly.
Healthy Paws also has an easy-to-use mobile app where you are able to do all of the things you need to do – from filing a claim, to checking the status of that claim, updating your billing details and checking in on the benefits in your pet’s policy.
Numerous Discounts
Healthy Paws provides numerous discounts for things such as being an AARP member, to having your pet microchipped. Refer to their website or communicate with one of their CSR’s in order to find out what else you are able to receive discounts on, courtesy of the company.
Immediate Transactions
Healthy Paws has time and time again proven that they are more than capable of fulfilling claims quickly and in a manner that is stress-free for me. It’s a huge plus as well that I can file a claim online or through their mobile app, instead of having to call them or go to their offices.
This would be a hassle, especially during a busy spell. The processing of claims typically takes just a couple of days.
Professional and Truthful
These two may not seem as important as the rest of the pros, but I felt it was important to take note of this. Their terms and promises of complete reimbursements based on your plan have proven to be a promise fulfilled.
Clients of Healthy Paws have been nothing but grateful for the easy and fast transactions they make with this company and the comfort of being with an insurance company that cares deeply for their beloved pets.
Cons
Lack of a Wellness Coverage
Their wellness coverage, or rather the lack of it, is quite understandable, given all the benefits that come with this insurance company. With Healthy Paws, my annual visits to the vet with my pets will not be covered by the company.
Keep in mind, though, that every other type of vet visit is and will be covered by them.
Relatively New
If being with a relatively new insurance company puts you on edge, then Healthy Paws probably will too, as it’s only been in the industry for a few years. However, you can still check on other reviews and learn more about them if you feel that it will put your mind at ease.
Reimbursement Method
Don’t worry, there have not been any problems with their reimbursement methods. It’s just that they only send their reimbursements to you by check, which they mail to your home. In other words, they do not offer direct bank deposits.
Of course, some people won’t mind this, as it’s only a very minor inconvenience. However, I’ve decided to include it anyway in order for people to be more informed.
Conclusion
Healthy Paws seems to be a pet insurance company that puts your pet’s welfare before anything else. The obvious care that they show through their daily customer service is one example of that.
Clients all over have had nothing but kind words for the help that Healthy Paws’ customer service representatives have provided. On more than one occasion, they have even been said to check up on the pets after a claim was filed and completed.
The reimbursements they provide aren’t that bad either and are probably one of the highest rates around. Despite the fact that they don’t cover routine vet checkups, the amount of money they charge for insurance isn’t so bad as to empty your entire bank account.
Overall, I’d say that Healthy Paws is a great pet insurance company and one that I trust wholeheartedly. There are a few negative experiences, just like any other insurance company, but their pros definitely outweigh the minor cons.
If you’re a bit iffy about trying them out, note that they have a 30-day money back guarantee to quiet your mind and trust them enough to give them a chance.