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Editor's note: Bivvy is going out of business and will no longer sell new pet insurance plans. Existing policies will expire on the anniversary of the day you got the policy. Until then, the company will continue to process claims. Bivvy is encouraging new and existing customers to consider Spot pet insurance.
For more options, see all of NerdWallet's pet insurance reviews.
Most pet insurance companies tailor your rate based on your pet’s age, size and breed, but Bivvy is different. It charges a single low rate for accident and illness coverage for every pet in a given state. That price is typically $13 to $15 per month, significantly less than the average national cost for accident and illness insurance.
What’s the catch? There’s little room to customize your policy, and coverage tends to be more limited than what other providers offer.
Here’s an example: In Colorado, Bivvy offers a single plan that will pay up to $2,000 per year for all covered expenses and up to $1,000 for a single illness or injury. So if your dog was hit by a car and needed a $2,500 surgery, Bivvy would pay no more than $1,000.
Even for smaller expenses, Bivvy’s coverage may come up short compared with other companies, with a 50% reimbursement rate in most states. (Most other insurers pay 70% to 90% of your vet bills once you’ve met the deductible.)
Despite these limitations, Bivvy may be a solid option for pet owners who can’t afford a more comprehensive plan and would rather have some coverage than none. Bivvy may also provide the cheapest rates for older pets, which tend to be much more expensive to insure than puppies and kittens.
Bivvy is also one of the only options for insuring pets other than cats and dogs, including rabbits, ferrets, potbellied pigs, turtles and most birds.
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Bivvy pros and cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Low monthly price regardless of your pet’s age or breed. | In most states, reimburses only 50% of vet expenses once you've met your deductible. |
One of few companies to insure animals other than dogs and cats. | Has lifetime coverage limits on all plans. |
No recent exam required for coverage. | Waiting period of up to 12 months for canine orthopedic issues. |
Bivvy pet insurance plans
Accident and illness plan
This is Bivvy’s standard plan, which covers a range of illnesses and injuries. If your pet needed surgery or cancer treatment, this plan would likely cover it.
Bivvy Wellness Care
You can add Bivvy’s preventive care plan to cover well visits, vaccinations and other routine costs that the accident and illness plan won’t pay for. There’s no deductible for wellness care expenses.
Because coverage is limited, it’s worth adding up the cost of the wellness plan and comparing that with the cost of the services you expect to use in a given year. You might be better off funding your pet’s routine care on your own.
What Bivvy pet insurance covers
Bivvy’s accident and illness plan covers:
Exams, treatment, hospitalization and surgery for injuries and illnesses, including cancer.
Diagnostic tests and treatment.
Hereditary and congenital conditions.
Prescription medication.
Orthodontic treatment.
Alternative and complementary treatments.
Bivvy’s Wellness Care plan covers:
Wellness exams.
Vaccinations.
Flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
Screening for feline leukemia virus or heartworm.
Implantation of a microchip.
Deworming.
Urinalysis or early renal damage test.
What’s not covered
Bivvy’s accident and illness plan doesn’t cover:
Pre-existing conditions.
Preventive care (unless you add the Bivvy Wellness Care plan).
Spay or neuter surgery.
Food and supplements, even if prescribed by your vet.
Dental cleaning.
Grooming or cosmetic surgery.
Conditions arising from mistreatment, breeding, racing or organized fighting.
Experimental treatments.
Adrenal gland disease or endocrine neoplasia in ferrets.
Bivvy’s Wellness Care plan doesn’t cover:
Spay or neuter surgery.
Anything else not in the “what’s covered” list above.
» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?
Bivvy coverage options
Deductible options: In many states, Bivvy offers a single deductible of $250 per year. That means your plan won’t pay out until you’ve spent that much in a given year. But in other states, the deductible is set at $100 per approved claim. With this option, you’d have to pay the first $100 of each vet bill before Bivvy starts paying.
Reimbursement amounts: In every state except Georgia, Bivvy will reimburse 50% of your vet expenses after you reach your deductible, while you cover the other half of the bill. In Georgia, Bivvy will reimburse 80% of expenses post-deductible.
Coverage limits: Bivvy offers a set payout limit per year, regardless of how much care your pet needs. In some states, it’s $3,500; in others, it’s just $2,000. In Georgia, the limit is $5,000.
In a small handful of states, Bivvy also imposes a limit of $1,000 per incident. This is a cap on what Bivvy will pay for a single illness or injury within a given year.
Bivvy will pay no more than $25,000 over your pet’s lifetime, regardless of where you live.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: None.
Waiting periods: A waiting period is how long it takes your coverage to start after you buy your plan. In most states, Bivvy’s waiting periods are 14 days for accidents and 30 days for injuries, though there is some variation. Dogs also typically have a six- or 12-month waiting period for orthopedic injuries unless caused by direct trauma.
Discounts
Bivvy doesn’t advertise any discounts.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
Consumer experience
Website: Bivvy offers state-specific plan information and sample policies on its website, plus the ability to get an online quote. You can use your online account to file claims and update payment or contact information.
App: Bivvy doesn’t have a mobile app.
Claims: Claims can be filed by email or through your online portal. Bivvy will send a reimbursement check to you, not your vet.
Customer service: You can send an email to [email protected] or call 855-434-3744.
Other pet insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other pet insurance companies:
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, coverage, plan options, discounts and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
