Lemonade Pet Insurance Review
Lemonade pet insurance comes with a variety of plan options, so you can choose the right mix-and-match coverage to keep your pet healthy without breaking your budget. Lemonade's easy-to-use app, speedy claim reimbursement, and expert chat hotline make them one of our top pet-parent-friendly pet insurance picks for 2025.
Coverage Options
Pricing
Claim Process
Customer Service
Why We Like Lemonade Pet Insurance
What We Love
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No lifetime benefit cap
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2-day waiting period for accidents
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Highly customizable plans
Nice to See
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Only a 30-day waiting period for orthopedic injuries (in most states)
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Puppy and kitten wellness care plans
What To Consider
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Not available in every state
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Cruciate ligament injury waiting periods can be up to 6 months
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Reimbursement model: you pay the vet first, and then get reimbursed
Lemonade Pet Insurance Overview
| Pets Covered | Multi-Pet Discount? | |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs, Cats | 5% multi-pet discount | |
| Puppies, Kittens | 10% insurance bundle discount | |
| 5% annual lump-sump payment discount | ||
| Deductibles $100, $250, $500, $750 | Reimbursement Rate 70%, 80%, 90% | Annual Limit $5K, $10K, $15K, $20K, $100K |
| Waiting Periods 2 days for accidents 14 days for illnesses 30 days for orthopedic conditions 6 months for cruciate ligament events | Age Requirements At least 2 months old No upper age limit. | Lifetime Benefit Cap? No. |
Good to know:
- ➤ Waiting periods vary by state. The waiting periods listed in the chart above are typical, but make sure to confirm with your quoted policy before signing up.
What Does Lemonade Pet Insurance Cover?
Lemonade's pet insurance is designed to be customized to your pet's specific needs. Their base plan offers coverage for diagnosing and treating accidents and illnesses, while their add-on packages let you choose additional coverage à la carte, from vet visits and acupuncture to wellness exams and dental cleanings.
Lemonade also has a specific routine care package for young pets. Lemonade's pet insurance for puppies and kittens (2 months to X months) comes with the option to sign up for their Puppy or Kitten Routine Pet Coverage plan, with coverage features for common expenses in a young pet's life.
| Base Coverage Plan | Add-On Packages | Puppy and Kitten Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Accident and Illness Coverage | Boost Your Coverage With Different Upgrades | Early-Start Wellness Plan |
| Diagnostic, Procedure, and Medication Coverage for new | Coverage for: | Coverage for: |
| Accidents | Vet Visits | 2 Wellness Exams |
| Illnesses | Dental Illness | 6 Vaccines |
| Hereditary Conditions | Behavioral Conditions | 2 Parasite Tests |
| Chronic Conditions | Physical Therapy | 1 Heartworm Test |
| Infestations | End-of-Life | 1 Blood Test |
| Infections | Routine Vet Care | Spay/neuter |
| Including: Cancer, flea and heartworm treatment, allergy medicine, and arthritis medication. | Routine Vet Care Plus | Microchip |
*These are examples of commonly covered conditions and illnesses covered by Lemonade's pet insurance policies, add-on packages, and puppy and kitten coverage. For full coverage information of everything covered (and excluded), including state-by-state exemptions, please refer to your specific policy or plan.
Medical Records:
Like most pet insurance companies, Lemonade will ask for a copy of your pet's health records once you sign up. This will be a nose-to-tail summary of the last 12.5 months of your pet's health and well-being, and you'll need to submit it before Lemonade will reimburse you for any vet costs.
That 12.5 months includes your policy's 14-day illness waiting period. To give Lemonade a complete medical record, take your pet to the vet after that 14-day waiting period has passed for a current check-up and send those new medical records (as well as any documents covering the last 12.5 months).
Where is Lemonade Pet Insurance Available?
Lemonade pet insurance is currently available in 39 states (plus Washington, D.C.), including:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin
Lemonade's Add-On Packages
One of Lemonade pet insurance's greatest strengths is its plan customizability. Rather than bundling services you don't want into a pre-built plan, Lemonade lets you pick and choose what coverage features you want to have.
Alongside a base accident and illness coverage plan, you can choose to add on:
- Vet visit fee coverage: coverage for the exam fees veterinarians charge for visits for new accidents and illnesses.
- Dental illness coverage: coverage for diagnostics and treatments of new dental illnesses such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, as well as for tooth extractions and root canals. (For dental cleaning, see Lemonade's Routine Vet Care Plus package).
- Behavioral conditions coverage: coverage for diagnostics and veterinarian-recommended therapies related to new behavioral issues like anxiety or aggression.
- Physical therapy coverage: coverage for acupuncture, chiropractic care, and hydrotherapy treatments for new accidents and illnesses.
- End-of-life coverage: coverage for costs related to vet-recommended euthanasia, cremation, and commemorative memorial items.
You can choose to add as many (or as few) options to your policy as you want! The specific coverages may vary by state, so check your quoted policy for full details and coverage specifics.
Lemonade's Routine Care Packages
In addition to customizing your plan's accident and illness coverage, Lemonade pet insurance offers two wellness plans to add to your policy. Wellness plans provide coverage for routine or preventative veterinary care and are a popular upgrade feature for pet insurance policies.
Both Lemonade's Routine Vet Care and Routine Vet Care Plus packages offer coverage for the regular wellness care you probably already do for your pet, including a yearly exam, updating their vaccines, and getting a general look at their health.
Adding on one of these wellness plans means you get reimbursed for these specific services–how much you get reimbursed depends on your plan's specific reimbursement/co-insurance rate and the annual benefit cap. The annual benefit cap is a hard limit for how much Lemonade will reimburse you for that specific expense.
For example, an annual check-up at the vet usually costs between $50 and $250. With a 70% reimbursement rate policy:
- A $50 exam would cost you $15 (Lemonade covers 70%, or $35)
- A $100 exam would cost you $50 (Lemonade covers 70%, but only up to $50)
- And a $250 exam would cost you $200 (ditto)
| Service | Routine Vet Care (Annual Benefit Cap) | Routine Vet Care Plus (Annual Benefit Cap) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 wellness exam | Up to $50/year | Up to $50/year |
| 3 vaccines | Up to $75/year | Up to $75/year |
| 1 parasite test | Up to $35/year | Up to $35/year |
| 1 heartworm test | Up to $40/year | Up to $40/year |
| 1 blood test | Up to $65/year | Up to $65/year |
| Routine dental cleaning | N/A | Up to $150/year |
| Flea/tick OR heartworm medication | N/A | Up to $65/year |
Lemonade's Puppy and Kitten Coverage
The first year of having a pet can get expensive since it sets up your puppy or kitten's health for the rest of their life. Lemonade offers a special puppy/kitten routine vet care wellness plan that helps cover common expenses for young pets, so you can help them get started on the right paw.
| Service | Puppy/Kitten Routine Vet Care |
|---|---|
| 2 wellness exams | Up to $100/year |
| 6 vaccines | Up to $150/year |
| 2 parasite tests | Up to $70/year |
| 1 heartworm test | Up to $40/year |
| 1 blood test | Up to $65/year |
| Spay/Neuter | Up to $120/year |
| Microchip | Up to $40/year |
Like the wellness plans for adult pets, Lemonade's puppy/kitten wellness plan works based on your reimbursement rate and an annual benefit cap.
What Lemonade Pet Insurance Doesn't Cover
Like all pet insurance companies, Lemonade pet insurance doesn't cover every veterinary expense.
Pre-Existing Conditions
A pre-existing condition means any health issue that your pet already had prior to signing up for pet insurance, as well as any condition they develop during the waiting period. Pre-existing conditions are a big reason we recommend signing your pet up for insurance while they're healthy; if they develop or show signs of arthritis, diabetes, or hip dysplasia before the waiting period is up, those conditions–and the cost for treating them–won't be covered by insurance.
Note that bi-lateral conditions, or conditions that affect both sides of the body, like hip dysplasia and cataracts, are also considered pre-existing conditions. If your pet has a cataract (or other bi-lateral condition) in their right eye before signing up for a policy, and their left eye developed a cataract after, that would still be considered a pre-existing condition.
Curable Non-Chronic Condition Coverage
There is an exception to "pre-existing conditions won't be covered." Lemonade sometimes will offer coverage for a cured, non-chronic condition. Certain conditions will be considered eligible for future coverage if your pet is symptom-free and untreated for 12 months in a row.
Waiting Periods With Lemonade Pet Insurance
A waiting period is a length of time after you've started your policy and before vet bills are eligible for coverage. All pet insurance carriers have waiting periods, to make sure that people don't sign up for pet insurance while in the waiting room of the emergency vet clinic, get the benefit of the plan, and then cancel a week later.
Lemonade has a few different waiting periods:
- Next day for wellness coverage add-on plans
- 2 days for accidents
- 14 days for illnesses
- 30 days for orthopedic conditions, such as limping, joint swelling, and reduced mobility
- 6 months for cruciate ligament events.
These waiting periods vary by state, so be sure to check your policy for the specifics.
Other Exclusions
In addition to waiting periods and pre-existing conditions, Lemonade pet insurance has a few services and conditions they won't cover, including:
- Non-traditional therapies or alternative medicine, like CBD and aromatherapy treatments.
- Injuries or illnesses as a result of fighting, racing, or abuse.
How Much Does Lemonade Pet Insurance Cost?
Lemonade pet insurance allows you to custom-tailor your policy (and thus your monthly premium or fee) based on three factors:
- The Deductible: how much you'll have to pay (on top of your monthly premium) before Lemonade starts reimbursing you for covered veterinarian expenses;
- The Reimbursement Rate/Co-Insurance Rate: what percentage Lemonade will reimburse you for covered vet expenses and what percentage you are responsible for (e.g., a reimbursement rate of 80% means you have a co-insurance rate of 20%); and
- The Annual Limit: the total maximum amount Lemonade will pay out over the course of 12 months.
Based on these three variables, you'll either see a higher premium (for choosing the highest reimbursement, lowest deductible, and largest annual limit), or a lower one.
| Deductibles | Reimbursement Rate | Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|
| $100, $250, $500, $750 | 70%, 80%, 90% | $5K, $10K, $15K, $20K, $100K |
- Lower deductibles mean higher premiums.
- Higher reimbursement rates mean higher premiums.
- Higher annual limits mean higher premiums.
Other factors that impact your premium cost:
- What plan you choose: more coverage means a higher premium.
- Where you live: living in a place with higher veterinary costs versus lower veterinary costs (compared to the national average) affects your premium.
- Your pet: pets need more veterinary help as they get older, and depending on their breed, they might be more likely to need specialized care.
These are pretty standard for pet insurance companies. It's why when you search for policy quotes, they ask questions about your location and your pet.
Good to know: Lemonade doesn't offer lock-in pricing. Expect your pet's premium to increase as they get older to account for their age, inflation, and rising veterinarian costs.
Want to see how much a pet insurance policy will cost over the year? Check out our Pet Insurance Calculator, which shows you how much you'll save (and spend) in a good year versus a bad year with a pet insurance policy–before you buy it.
How Does Lemonade Pet Insurance Work?
Lemonade works on a reimbursement model. Once you've signed up for pet insurance and made it through the waiting period (or less if there's been an accident or you're using a wellness membership benefit) here's the process:
- Visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S.
- Pay the veterinarian.
- Send Lemonade the receipts, through the Lemonade mobile app.
- Make sure to submit a claim within 180 days of treatment (or sooner–check your policy) in order for it to be eligible for coverage.
- Get reimbursed. Lemonade will evaluate your claim and reimburse you their portion of the bill.
Lemonade aims to process simple claims "almost instantly," reimbursing you moments after you submit a claim. However, if they need to fully review, request missing information, or manually assess the claim, it will take longer.
Ready to Protect Your Pet?
Lemonade offers customizable pet insurance plans with fast claims processing and a unique Giveback program.