Fetch Pet Insurance Review 2023

Fetch offers an accident and illness plan with a 90% reimbursement option.
Ben Moore
By Ben Moore 
Updated
Edited by Caitlin Constantine

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Fetch

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
A good option for pet owners who want plenty of coverage and a high reimbursement amount.
Get a Quote
from Fetch

Pay vet directly

No

Scope of coverage

Average

Ability to customize plan

Average
insurance-product-card-logo
Get a Quote
from Fetch

Fetch

4.0

NerdWallet rating 
A good option for pet owners who want plenty of coverage and a high reimbursement amount.

Pay vet directly

No

Scope of coverage

Average

Ability to customize plan

Average

Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, our editorial team considers the customer and the insurer. These are some of the factors we take into account:

Plans offered. Pet insurance companies generally offer the following three types of plans:

  • Accident and illness policies reimburse you for medical treatment if your pet gets sick or injured.

  • Accident-only policies pay expenses if your pet is injured.

  • Wellness plans help you budget for preventive care costs.

Scope of coverage. We looked for plans that cover a wide range of potential expenses.

Ability to customize plan. This category looks at how many ways you can customize what you pay for your plan and how you’re reimbursed.

Can pay your vet directly. This indicates whether an insurer can pay your vet directly for medical expenses. With this service, you don’t have to pay the money yourself upfront and then wait for reimbursement.

Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.

Fetch, formerly known as Petplan, offers an accident and illness policy for pets. The policy includes coverage for veterinarian exam fees, tooth injuries and diseases, behavioral therapy, cancer treatment and diagnostic tests, like MRIs. Its policy also provides a unique coverage: Fetch will cover up to $1,000 in boarding fees for a pet if its owner is in the hospital. Accident-only and wellness plans are not available.

The company's app lets policyholders manage their accounts, submit claims and scan medical documents, and its website offers in-depth information about what's covered, plus an extensive FAQ section.

Fetch is based in New York, and policies are underwritten by XL Speciality Insurance Co. and Axis Insurance Co.

Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.

Fetch pet insurance

4.0

NerdWallet rating 

Fetch earned 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula considers consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.

State availability

Fetch's accident and illness policies are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Fetch pet insurance plans

Fetch offers one accident and illness plan with three annual limits to choose from online: $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. An unlimited annual benefit may be available over the phone.

What Fetch pet insurance covers

Fetch's pet insurance plan covers:

  • Veterinary exam fees.

  • Emergency visits to licensed veterinary clinics within the U.S. and Canada.

  • Specialist visits.

  • Tooth injury and disease.

  • Breed-specific medical conditions.

  • Virtual veterinarian visits, up to $1,000 per year.

  • Diagnostic tests, including MRIs.

  • Imaging and ultrasounds.

  • Holistic and chiropractic care.

  • Behavioral therapy.

  • Physical therapy.

  • Cancer treatment.

  • Surgery and hospitalization.

  • Veterinarian-recommended supplements for an injury or illness.

  • If you go to the hospital, boarding fees for your pet up to $1,000 per year.

  • Up to $1,000 per year for missing pet advertising and reward.

What's not covered

Fetch's pet insurance doesn't cover:

  • Pre-existing conditions.

  • Cosmetic or elective procedures, like tail docking and ear cropping.

  • Routine and preventive care.

  • Checkups.

  • Spaying and neutering.

  • Teeth cleaning.

  • Flea and tick protection.

  • Vaccines.

  • Prescription food.

  • Claims submitted more than 90 days after treatment.

Fetch coverage options

Deductibles: The annual deductible options you see when getting a quote online will vary depending on your pet and where you live. We saw choices ranging from $250 to $700 in our sample quotes, but deductibles as high as $2,500 may be available over the phone.

Reimbursement amounts: You can choose reimbursement for 70%, 80% or 90% of your expenses.

Coverage limits: The company website offers annual coverage limits of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. Additional limits are available over the phone, including an unlimited annual benefit.

Restrictions and waiting periods

Age restrictions: Fetch doesn't cover pets younger than 6 weeks old. There's no upper age limit.

Waiting periods: Waiting periods are the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. Fetch has a 15-day waiting period for illnesses and most injuries, with a six-month waiting period for hip and knee injuries. The company may waive the knee injury waiting period if you have a vet examine your pet within the first 30 days of your policy.

Discounts

Discounts are available for:

  • Rescuing or adopting your pet from a shelter.

  • AARP members.

  • Veterans and active-duty military members.

  • Licensed medical services pets.

  • Veterinarians and their staff.

  • Going a certain period without filing a claim.

  • Paying for your policy by quarter or year.

  • People who get their policies through their employer.

Consumer experience

Website: Fetch's website is easy to navigate and features coverage information, an extensive FAQ section and a 24/7 chatbot. You can chat live with customer service representatives Monday through Saturday. In addition, policyholders can use their online accounts to file a claim or add a pet to their policy. New customers can get a quote and buy a policy on the website.

App: Pet owners can use the app to scan documents, file a claim, view claim history, track how much of the deductible is left, sign up for direct deposit and access the company's 24/7 chatbot feature.

Claims: You can file a claim through the app or on the website by providing the company with a finalized, fully paid invoice and detailed medical records. Fetch usually takes about 15 days to process claims and will send status updates via email. If you set up direct deposit, you’ll receive your payout up to 10 days faster than waiting for a physical check in the mail. You must file claims within 90 days of treatment.

Customer service: You can contact customer support by mail, via email, through the website's 24/7 chatbot feature or over the phone, Monday through Friday. The website also offers a live chat where you can speak to a customer service representative Monday through Saturday. You can reach customer support at 866-467-3875.

Other pet insurance companies to consider

It’s important to shop around so that you can find the right coverage for your pet’s needs. Check out these other pet insurance options:

Frequently asked questions

Fetch covers all of your pet’s teeth for injury and disease, including gum disease, oral tumors and tooth trauma. It won't cover routine or preventive procedures such as teeth cleaning unless your vet recommends them to treat an injury or illness.

You can cancel your policy at any time by calling customer support or sending a written notice of cancellation by email or mail.

Fetch’s website says that plans cost an average of $35 a month for dogs and $20 a month for cats. Plans for puppies and kittens may cost less.

Methodology

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, scope of coverage, the ability to customize your plan and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and mobile app ratings. To calculate each insurer’s star 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.

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