Prudent Pet Insurance
Prudent Pet Insurance offers multiple policies to make sure your cat, dog, kitten, or puppy is protected while also protecting your wallet. With a nearly perfect rating on Trustpilot (4.9 stars and nearly 2,000 reviews!), a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 24/7 vet chat line, Prudent Pet is one of our top picks for pet insurance.
Coverage Options
Pricing
Claim Process
Customer Service
Why We Like Prudent Pet Insurance
Prudent Pet Insurance offers a range of plans to fit different needs and budgets. Whether you're looking for basic accident-only coverage or a comprehensive accident and illness policy with added wellness perks, there's a plan to suit every pet and their person.
What We Love
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No lifetime benefit cap
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5-day waiting period for accidents
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Coverage for curable pre-existing conditions
Nice to See
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30-day money-back guarantee
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File a claim up to 90 days after the end of the policy period
What To Consider
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Reimbursement model: you pay the vet first, and then get reimbursed
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Required annual vet exam and dental exam
Prudent Pet Insurance Overview
| Pets Covered | Multi-Pet Discount? | |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs, Cats | Yes - 10% discount on | |
| Puppies, Kittens | additional pets | |
| Deductibles $100, $250, $500, $1000 | Reimbursement Rate 70%, 80%, 90% | Annual Limit Accident-Only: $10K Essential: $2.5K or $10K Unlimited: $10K |
| Waiting Periods 5 days for accidents 14 days for illnesses 180 days for knee and ligament issues | Age Requirements At least 8 weeks old | Lifetime Benefit Cap? No. |
Good to know:
- ➤ The 180-day waiting period for knee and ligament issues can be waived if a vet examines your pet within the first thirty days of your policy and certifies that there aren't any knee or ligament issues.
What Does Prudent Pet Insurance Cover?
Prudent Pet Insurance offers three types of policies for cat and dog owners:
- Accident Only provides coverage for when your pet gets into an accident (like eating a sock, being bitten by a snake, or being struck by a car). It is usually meant to step in and protect your pet during an emergency and doesn't help with any illnesses or chronic conditions your pet may develop.
- Essential covers everything in the accident-only policy, as well as providing coverage for illnesses and certain chronic conditions.
- Ultimate covers everything in the essential policy, with additional benefits for specific scenarios. With an ultimate plan, Prudent Pet will provide limited reimbursements when your pet gets lost and you put up a reward poster, is hospitalized and needs to be boarded, among other scenarios.
Each plan can also come with Wellness Coverage, an add-on package that reimburses specific costs for routine and preventative veterinary care.
| Accident Only | Essential | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Benefit: Up to $10,000 | Annual Benefit: Up to $2,500 or $10,000 | Annual Benefit: Unlimited |
| Coverage for: | Everything in Accident Only plus coverage for: Cancer & Growths | Everything in Essential plus additional benefits: |
| Bite Wounds | Cancer Treatments | Behavioral Disorders (up to $1,000) |
| Broken Bones | Illness-Related Dental Extractions and Cleanings | Advertising & Reward (up to $500) |
| Swallowed Objects | Congenital Defects | Hospitalization Boarding Kennel or Cattery Fees (up to $500) |
| Teeth/Mouth Injuries | Hereditary Conditions | Loss Due to Theft or Stray (up to $500) |
| Emergencies & Hospitalization | Hip Dysplasia | Mortality Benefit (up to $1000) |
| Prescription Medications | Arthritis | Vacation Cancellation (up to $1000) |
| Radiology & Diagnostic Tests | Allergies | |
| Surgery & Specialized Care | Digestive Illness | |
| Alternative Therapies (including acupuncture and chiropractic services prescribed and performed by a vet) | Eye, Ear, Skin Conditions | |
| Urinary Infections | ||
| Behavioral Disorders (up to $250) |
*These are examples of commonly covered conditions and illnesses covered by Prudent Pet Insurance policies and its add-on package. For full coverage information of everything covered (and excluded), including state-by-state exemptions, please refer to your specific policy or plan.
Watch out for:
- ➤ Exam fee coverage. Prudent Pet Insurance offers this as an add-on option to all policy types. If your pet has an accident or illness, they'll need to be seen by the vet or clinic. Adding exam fee coverage means your pet insurance policy will help cover these costs.
Required Care for Your Pet
Prudent Pet Insurance requires its pet parents to act prudently. If you sign up for a policy, you're agreeing to take certain steps to ensure your pet stays in good health.
In addition to taking your pet for an annual health exam and annual dental exam, you'll be required to follow your veterinarian's recommendations regarding:
- An annual dental exam and, if recommended, dental cleaning (prophylaxis);
- Prophylactic medication against illnesses, including fleas, lice, ticks, and other parasites;
- Vaccines; and
- Any other treatment normally suggested by a vet to prevent illness or injury.
Prudent Pet Insurance's Wellness Coverage
If you plan on taking your pet for their wellness exam and routine vaccinations, it's worth doing the math to see if a wellness plan benefits your pet.
Prudent Pet Insurance offers three tiers of Wellness Coverage:
- Low receives up to $210 in benefits and costs $144 (puppies and dogs) or $96 (kittens and cats) per year;
- Medium receives up to $315 in benefits and costs $240 (puppies and dogs) or $168 (kittens and cats) per year; and
- High receives up to $460 in benefits and costs $360 (puppies and dogs) or $240 (kittens and cats) per year.
While you're getting more for your money—if you usually spend $144 on preventative or routine care for your dog per year, signing up for the low tier means you get an extra $66 in benefits—it's worth noting that you can only use that money on specific expenses.
| Wellness Benefit Schedule | Low | Medium | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness Exam (2 per policy term, max 1/2 per exam) | $30 | $50 | $60 |
| Rabies Vaccine | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| DHLPP Vaccine | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Bordetella or Lyme Disease Vaccine | $0 | $0 | $35 |
| Heartworm Test or FELV Screen | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Fecal Exam | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Wellness Blood Screen | $0 | $0 | $35 |
| Health Certificate | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| Microchip | $25 | $35 | $45 |
| Deworming | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Dentistry/Cleaning OR Spay/Neuter | $0 | $40 | $60 |
| Total Benefit | $210 | $315 | $460 |
Is wellness coverage worth it?
- Contact your vet or examine past years' bills to see what services your pet needs on a yearly basis and how much they cost.
- Compare that amount to how much you would use in wellness benefits and the cost of signing up for a plan.
Wellness coverage usually makes sense for puppies and kittens, since vet care can get expensive, especially if you plan on microchipping and spaying/neutering your pet.
What Prudent Pet Insurance Doesn't Cover
Pre-Existing Conditions
Like most pet insurance companies, Prudent Pet does not cover pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is an illness, condition, or injury that your pet either has before signing up for a new policy or incurs during one of the waiting periods.
It's also worth noting that a pre-existing condition doesn't mean it was diagnosed before signing up for the policy. If your pet is exhibiting clinical signs of an injury, illness, or condition during the waiting period or earlier, it's likely they have a pre-existing condition.
Note:
If your pet already has an issue that affects one side of their body (like cataracts, luxating patellas, dysplasia, and cruciate ligaments), it's highly likely that eventually both sides of their body will be affected. Prudent Pet considers bilateral conditions as pre-existing ones, and will not provide coverage for the other side.
Coverage for Curable Pre-Existing Conditions
Prudent Pet does cover curable pre-existing conditions. To qualify, the condition needs to be considered resolved or cured by a licensed veterinarian, and your pet cannot need treatment related to it for a further 365 days.
Waiting Periods With Prudent Pet Insurance
A waiting period is the time between your policy starting and when you can receive benefits. Prudent Pet uses several different waiting periods:
- 5 days before any injury due to an accident is covered.
- 14 days before any costs associated with an illness is covered.
- 180 days for knee and ligament issues.
The 180-day waiting period for knee and ligament problems can be waived if a vet certifies your pet as issue-free within the first thirty days of your policy.
Other Exclusions
In addition to pre-existing conditions, there are some procedures and pet expenses that Prudent Pet never covers. The most common exclusions include:
- Treatments or preventive treatments for parasites and related conditions, including heartworms, fleas, ticks, roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms.
- Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures, including declawing, ear cropping, eyelash removal, root canals, and crowns.
- Routine/preventive anal gland expression.
- Grooming services and supplies.
- Herbs and natural remedies.
- Boarding expenses.
- Food and special diets, even if prescribed for weight loss or other health issues.
- Breeding, pregnancy, whelping, or nursing.
How Much Does Prudent Pet Insurance Cost?
Prudent Pet Insurance allows you to customize your policy and monthly premium based on three factors:
Deductibles
$100, $250, $500, $1000
Lower deductibles mean higher premiums
Reimbursement Rate
70%, 80%, 90%
Higher reimbursement rates mean higher premiums
Annual Limit
Accident-Only: $10K, Essential: $2.5K or $10K, Unlimited: $10K
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 affects your premium.
- Your pet: pets need more veterinary care as they get older, and their breed might also affect the cost.
Good to know:
Prudent Pet Insurance 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.
How Does Prudent Pet Insurance Work?
Prudent Pet Insurance works on a reimbursement model. Here's the process after your waiting period is over:
- 1
Visit any licensed veterinarian
Visit any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada.
- 2
Pay the veterinarian
Pay the veterinarian.
- 3
File a claim
File a claim with Prudent Pet Insurance by submitting information through its Pet Portal on the website.
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Get reimbursed
Prudent Pet Insurance will pay you back its portion of the vet bill either by direct deposit or check.
Prudent Pet aims to process claims within 10-15 business days and reimburse you within 10 business days (by check) or 3 business days (by direct deposit).
How to Contact Prudent Pet Insurance
If you need to contact Prudent Pet Insurance, here is their customer service information:
Phone
1-888-820-7739
Help Center Q&A
https://support.prudentpet.com/support/homeReady to Protect Your Pet?
Prudent Pet offers comprehensive pet insurance plans with flexible coverage options and competitive pricing.