Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review: Costs, Coverage, and How It Works
Pumpkin offers extensive coverage through a single accident and illness plan with optional wellness coverage. But its monthly premiums are high compared to competitors.
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Edited byNick Versaw
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Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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Reviewed byJohn Leach
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John LeachLicensed Insurance Agent
John Leach is a licensed insurance agent who reviews and fact-checks articles for Compare.com. John has several years of experience reviewing and editing various insurance topics, and he also holds a valid personal lines producer license from the California Department of Insurance (NPN #20461358).
He’s also an alumnus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics.
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Table of contents
Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers a single accident and illness plan that covers a wide range of health issues. You can get up to 90% back on eligible vet bills, and the plan covers everything from dental illnesses to behavioral issues.
It also offers an optional wellness package that can help pay for the cost of annual checkups, vaccinations, parasite screenings, and more.[1]
The average monthly cost of Pumpkin pet insurance is $67 for dogs and $29 for cats, according to our data.
Let’s take a look at how Pumpkin pet insurance works, what it covers, its costs, and how it compares to other pet insurance companies.
Our Take on Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Pros
Covers behavioral issues and dental illnesses
Includes an optional wellness package
No upper age limit for coverage
Cons
Higher premiums than some competitors
Preventive care available only as an add-on
14-day waiting period for illnesses
Pumpkin offers accident and illness coverage with the option to add wellness benefits for routine care. It also covers some things other companies exclude, like behavioral issues, tooth extractions, and prescription food for covered conditions. Pumpkin has a 4.7-star rating (out of 5) on Trustpilot.
Pumpkin offers several stand-out features that other insurers don’t. For example, its plans cover exam fees for accident- and illness-related vet visits, dental illnesses, behavioral issues, and prescription food and supplements. It also has no breed or age restrictions.
Some insurers limit reimbursement rates and require high deductibles for senior pets. But Pumpkin allows you to choose 80% or 90% reimbursement rates and a deductible as low as $100. And it doesn’t require an exam to get coverage for your pet. Along with a wellness add-on, Pumpkin is a great option for comprehensive coverage.[2]
But keep in mind that you’ll pay more for that great coverage. Pumpkin is among the most expensive pet insurers, based on our data. For example, its average monthly rate for dog insurance is nearly 205% higher than the lowest-priced competitor.
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Pumpkin Pet Insurance Costs by Dog Breed
Pumpkin offers a lot of flexibility to customize a plan for your dog. You can choose 80% or 90% reimbursement and annual payout limits as low as $5,000, or even unlimited.[3] As long as your pup is at least 8 weeks old, it’s eligible for coverage.
Your monthly premium will vary based on things like your dog’s age, where you live, and the coverage options you choose. Take a look at Pumpkin’s average monthly costs for some popular dog breeds, according to Compare.com data.
Breed  | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Beagle | $99 |
| Bernese mountain dog | $122 |
| Bichon frise | $101 |
| Border collie | $65 |
| Cane corso | $106 |
| Cavalier king | $78 |
| Chihuahua | $70 |
| Dachshund | $92 |
| Doberman pinscher | $119 |
| English bulldog | $166 |
| French bulldog | $136 |
| German shepherd | $71 |
| German shorthaired pointer | $79 |
| Golden retriever | $99 |
| Goldendoodle | $58 |
| Great dane | $102 |
| Husky | $64 |
| Labrador | $92 |
| Mastiff | $113 |
| Mixed | $85 |
| Pit bull | $89 |
| Pomeranian | $72 |
| Poodle | $105 |
| Poodle toy | $73 |
| Rottweiler | $113 |
| Shiba inu | $63 |
| Shih tzu | $54 |
| Yorkshire terrier | $77 |
| All breeds | $67 |
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Costs by Cat Breed
Pumpkin offers the same robust coverage for cats, with particularly feline-friendly options like coverage for microchipping, kidney disease, diabetes, and more.[4] If your kitty has a delicate digestive system, Pumpkin will also help cover the cost of prescription food.
The exact premium for your cat will depend on multiple factors, including its breed, age, and where you live — since location directly affects the cost of veterinary care. Here’s a look at the average monthly cost for Pumpkin cat insurance plans for some popular breeds, according to our data.
Breed | Average Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| American shorthair | $38 |
| British shorthair | $53 |
| Maine coon | $50 |
| Mixed | $36 |
| Persian | $60 |
| Pure | $43 |
| Ragdoll | $39 |
| Siamese | $34 |
| All breeds | $29 |
Pet Insurance Policies Pumpkin Offers
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Some insurers offer accident-only plans as well as accident and illness policies. Pumpkin streamlines things with a single accident and illness plan for both dogs and cats.
The policy helps pay for unexpected vet visits, treatments, and ongoing care.
An optional wellness package covers annual checkups, vaccines, parasite detection, heartworm prevention, and more.[5]
What Pumpkin Pet Insurance Covers
While all pets can get into mischief, get injured, or fall victim to an accident, some dog and cat breeds are prone to certain health problems. For example, both flat-faced dogs and cats can develop breathing issues. Long-backed dog breeds like dachshunds can experience spine problems, while short-legged cats like Munchkins can develop osteoarthritis.[6]
It’s important to understand your pet’s health risks and how your pet insurance company will handle them.
Here’s an overview of what Pumpkin does and doesn’t cover.
Condition/Treatment | Accident and Illness Plan | Wellness Add-On Wellness Add-On not available as an individual policy. |
|---|---|---|
| MRI/CT scans and X-rays | ||
| Accidental poisoning | ||
| Prescription pet food | ||
| Stem cell therapy | ||
| Surgery and hospitalization for accident or illness | ||
| Tooth extractions | ||
| Vaccinations | ||
| Parasite screening and treatment | ||
| Cancer treatments | ||
| Behavioral problems | ||
| Microchip implantation | ||
| Pre-existing conditions | ||
| Cosmetic procedures and orthodontics | ||
| Routine dental cleanings | ||
| Avoidable illness or injury | ||
| Ligament and knee conditions | ||
| Organ transplants | ||
| Annual wellness exams |
Pumpkin and pre-existing conditions
Pumpkin doesn’t cover any conditions that showed symptoms before you enrolled or during its 14-day waiting period. This is standard among pet insurers — most won’t pay to treat a problem your pet had before you enrolled it.
But Pumpkin makes an exception for curable conditions, like urinary tract infections or other minor infections. Pumpkin may cover them if your pet was cured, has been free of symptoms, and hasn’t needed treatment for 180 days. For example, if your cat is prone to UTIs but doesn’t have one for 180 days or more, Pumpkin would cover the cost to treat the next UTI.
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How Does Pumpkin’s Pet Insurance Work?
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Pumpkin insurance is a reimbursement-based plan. That means you pay your vet bill up front, then submit a claim to get money back for covered expenses. Pumpkin will reimburse you to your limit, less your deductible amount.
Here’s how it works:
Pay for the vet visit: You’ll need to pay out of pocket for vet costs.
Submit a claim: After your vet visit, upload an itemized invoice and any required medical records through Pumpkin’s website or by email.
Get reimbursed: Once approved, Pumpkin reimburses up to 90% of covered costs — minus your deductible.
Annual coverage limit: Each policy comes with an annual max payout. So if you hit your $10,000 limit in a year, anything beyond that won’t be covered until the next policy term.
Reimbursement rates
Most pet insurance companies offer multiple reimbursement rates — the percentage of covered vet costs that your insurer will repay you for. Typically, you can choose reimbursement rates from 50% to 100%.
Pumpkin offers only two reimbursement rate options: 80% and 90%.
Pumpkin vs. Fetch, Healthy Paws, and Spot
Pumpkin is a top insurance company for comprehensive pet insurance that covers some conditions and treatments that other insurers don’t. But it’s not necessarily the best choice for every pet and pet parent.
It’s important to compare multiple pet insurance companies, including their quotes, before choosing a plan. Here’s how Pumpkin Pet Insurance stacks up against some top competitors.
Fetch
Fetch offers comprehensive pet insurance that includes coverage for some health issues other insurers exclude, like full dental care. Its annual payout limits range from $5,000 to $15,000, but it offers more reimbursement options than Pumpkin: 70%, 80%, and 90%. And if you want coverage for routine and preventive care, you can add Fetch Wellness.
Pros
Covers sick-visit exam fees
No upper age limit for enrollment
Pays up to $1,000 to advertise a missing pet and offer a reward
Cons
No coverage for pre-existing conditions
Doesn’t cover prescription food
Long waiting period for orthopedic conditions
Healthy Paws
Like Pumpkin, Healthy Paws keeps things simple with just one comprehensive plan that covers accidents and illnesses. Healthy Paws policies have no annual or lifetime limits on payouts, and the insurer says it processes most claims within two days.
But if you’re looking for preventive care, you’ll need to find that elsewhere. Healthy Paws doesn’t have any optional add-ons like a wellness plan.
Pros
Unlimited annual and lifetime payouts
Quick claims processing
Covers hereditary and congenital conditions
Cons
Doesn’t issue new policies to pets older than 13
Doesn’t offer optional wellness plan
No coverage for exam fees
Spot
Spot offers more policy types than Pumpkin, with accident and illness coverage, a lower-cost accident-only plan, and optional wellness add-ons for dogs and cats. Like most pet insurers, Spot doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions.
But, like Pumpkin, Spot covers curable conditions if they reoccur after your pet recovers and remains symptom- and treatment-free for 180 days. Spot also doesn’t have an age limit, so you can enroll your pet at any stage of life.
Pros
Offers several deductible and reimbursement options
Available for senior pets without age restrictions
Provides optional wellness plans
Cons
Requires a 14-day waiting period for both accidents and illnesses
Doesn’t offer direct payments to veterinarians
No 100% reimbursement option
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Pumpkin Pet Insurance FAQs
Pumpkin customers give the insurer high marks. It has a rating of 4.7 stars (out of 5) on Trustpilot, with more than 1,600 reviews.[7] But its policies cost more than many of its competitors, so it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the insurer before choosing a policy.
Here’s some more information to help you get started.
Does Pumpkin pet insurance have age restrictions?
Pumpkin has no upper age limit to enroll your pet, and even senior dogs and cats are eligible. Coverage is available for pets as young as 8 weeks.
Does Pumpkin pet insurance have waiting periods?
Yes. Pumpkin has a 14-day waiting period for all covered conditions. That means your policy won’t pay for any illness or accident that happens in the first two weeks after your policy takes effect.
Do you have to visit a vet before you enroll your pet in a Pumpkin policy?
No. Some insurance companies require a health exam before you can enroll your pet, but Pumpkin doesn’t.
How long does Pumpkin take to reimburse a claim?
Pumpkin says it processes claims quickly, but it doesn’t provide an exact timeline. Customer reviews on Trustpilot praise its customer service and claim-processing speed, with some saying they received reimbursement in less than a week.
Disclaimer
Our editorial team created this article with the help of highly trained generative AI tools. Additionally, multiple insurance experts — including at least one licensed agent — have rigorously reviewed, fact-checked, and edited every word and data point you see here.
We write, edit, and review all the content on Compare.com according to our strict editorial standards, regardless of how we created it. Learn more about our editorial process.
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