Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review 2026

Healthy Paws pet insurance earned 3.8 stars out of 5 for overall performance.

Healthy Paws offers accident and illness insurance with no annual or lifetime limit. It covers alternative therapies like acupuncture, massage and laser therapy, which not all pet insurers pay for. Its plans also include 24/7 mobile access to vet professionals in case you have a health question after hours.

However, the plan is less comprehensive than some others on the market. For example, it doesn’t cover sick exam fees, behavioral therapies or prescription food. Healthy Paws also doesn’t have an option to add wellness coverage to your plan.

Healthy Paws offers a single plan that covers accidents and illnesses. While it includes certain nice perks, such as coverage for alternative therapies, it’s not as comprehensive as some others.

The Healthy Paws plan covers:

• Treatment, hospital stays and surgery for injuries and illnesses, including cancer.

• Diagnostic testing such as X-rays.

• Hereditary and congenital conditions.

• Prescription medications.

• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture and chiropractic.

• Some dental conditions.

Healthy Paws doesn’t offer accident-only or wellness plans.

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

» MORE: The best pet insurance companies

Healthy Paws has a long list of things it won't cover. Some are standard in the industry, such as breeding and experimental treatments. Others may be covered under other companies' plans, such as exam fees and prescription diets.

A Healthy Paws plan won’t pay for:

• Exam fees for accidents or illnesses.

• Hip dysplasia treatment if your pet’s coverage started at age 6 or older.

• Routine dental care, or claims related to periodontal disease.

• Prescription diets.

• Burial or cremation expenses.

• Wellness or preventive care, including spay and neuter surgery.

• Pre-existing conditions, including those that arise during the waiting period after you buy your policy.

• Behavioral therapies.

• Experimental treatments.

• Breeding or pregnancy.

• Cruciate injuries to one leg if the other previously had a similar injury. (This is known as a bilateral exclusion.)

• Diseases you could’ve prevented with a vaccine or medication (such as heartworm).

» MORE: Complete guide to pet insurance coverage

Deductibles: Healthy Paws' deductibles depend on where you live and your pet’s age and breed. Deductible choices may range anywhere from $100 to $5,000 per year. A pet insurance deductible is the amount of your vet bills you’ll need to pay before your insurer starts reimbursing you.

Reimbursement amounts: There’s similar variation among reimbursement amounts. In our sample quotes, we saw reimbursement rates as low as 50% and as high as 90%, depending on the pet and location.

Coverage limits: There are no coverage limits on Healthy Paws plans.

Age restrictions: Pets must be at least 8 weeks old to be covered, and may be enrolled any time before their 14th birthday in most states.

Waiting periods: A pet insurance waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage takes effect. In most states, Healthy Paws has a waiting period of 15 days for any accident or illness. If your pet is enrolled before they turn 6, there’s also a 12-month waiting period for hip dysplasia in most states. (Healthy Paws generally doesn't cover hip dysplasia for pets who enroll after age 5.)

» MORE: Does pet insurance cover surgery?

The cost of Healthy Paws pet insurance depends on where you live, the coverage limits you choose, and your pet’s breed and age.

Sample rates for dogs

To give you a rough idea of how much you might pay, we gathered quotes for several popular dog breeds at ages 2 and 8. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for dogs living in Katy, Texas.

Our sample plan for most younger dogs was for accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, unlimited annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Other than the unlimited coverage, the 2-year-old French bulldog and all the older dogs couldn't get these options. Their quotes came with a $500 deductible and 70% reimbursement rate instead.

Your own price and plan options will vary.

Sample rates for cats

We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with a $250 deductible, unlimited annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. As with older dogs, the 8-year-old cats were offered a $500 deductible and 70% reimbursement rate instead. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.

Discounts

Healthy Paws offers a 10% discount to members of PetSmart’s Treats Rewards loyalty program.

» MORE: The best cheap pet insurance

Healthy Paws is licensed to sell pet insurance in all U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all pets in a given state.

Website: You can get a quick quote and buy a policy on the Healthy Paws website. Once you’re a policyholder, you can use the online portal to file and track claims, make policy changes, and update billing details.

Mobile app: Healthy Paws’ app has similar features to the website. You can use it to file claims, see policy details and change your method of reimbursement.

» MORE: How much does pet insurance cost?

You can file claims online, through the mobile app or by email, fax or mail. The company says it processes most claims within two days, though it may take up to 15 days to receive your payout after approval. You can choose reimbursement by check or direct deposit. If your vet permits it, Healthy Paws may be able to pay them directly.

Unlike some pet insurers, Healthy Paws applies your reimbursement rate to your vet bill before it subtracts your deductible when calculating your claim payout. That results in less reimbursement than you might get from some other insurers.

Here’s how the math would work if you had a $2,000 vet bill, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.

Phone: Call 855-898-8991, Monday through Saturday.

Email: You can send a message to help@healthypawspetinsurance.com.

» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?

What Reddit users say about Healthy Paws

Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like pet insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about insurers. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.

Reddit comments about Healthy Paws are overwhelmingly negative. Many posters complain about huge hikes in monthly premiums, particularly for older pets. With rates doubling, tripling or worse, many commenters say they’ll need to switch to a different insurer or drop coverage entirely. Some also say Healthy Paws changed the terms of their policies, raising deductibles and lowering the amount paid for vet bills.

Questions from Reddit: Our experts answer

Why did Healthy Paws raise my premium?

Pet insurance rate increases are common since pets are more likely to need vet care as they age. Insurance companies may also decide to raise rates because vet care has gotten more expensive in your area.

Can I switch insurers if my Healthy Paws plan gets too expensive?

Yes, but any health conditions your pet already has may not be covered by the new insurer. Most pet insurance companies won’t pay to treat pre-existing conditions.

One option to consider is AKC. This insurer may cover chronic pre-existing conditions after a year-long waiting period. However, the company doesn’t offer accident and illness coverage to pets over 9 years old.

If you can’t find an affordable alternative, you may be better off going without pet insurance. Instead, you can put the money you would’ve spent on premiums into a high-yield savings account for future vet expenses.

Here’s how Healthy Paws pet insurance stacks up against other popular plans.

Healthy Paws vs. Trupanion

The primary differences between Healthy Paws and Trupanion pet insurance are:

Deductibles. Healthy Paws has a yearly deductible, while Trupanion offers lifetime per-condition deductibles. If your pet develops a chronic condition that needs treatment year after year, you’d pay the Trupanion deductible only once.

Specialty coverage. Healthy Paws covers alternative therapies in its standard plan but doesn’t cover behavioral therapies at all. Meanwhile, Trupanion offers coverage for both at an extra cost. Neither company covers exam fees or sells wellness plans.

» READ MORE: Trupanion pet insurance review

Healthy Paws vs. Pets Best

The main differences between Healthy Paws and Pets Best are:

Plan offerings. Healthy Paws keeps things simple with a single accident and illness policy, but Pets Best offers multiple plans and riders. With Pets Best, you can opt for an accident and illness plan or cover accidents only. You can also pick and choose whether your plan pays for exam fees or preventive care, neither of which Healthy Paws covers.

Age limits. If you’re enrolling an older animal, Pets Best may be a better bet. It has no upper age limit, while pets must be enrolled before their 14th birthday to get Healthy Paws coverage.

» READ MORE: Pets Best pet insurance review

Healthy Paws vs. Nationwide

The biggest differences between Healthy Paws and Nationwide pet insurance are:

Plan options. Healthy Paws touts the simplicity of its accident and illness plan, while Nationwide has a variety of coverage options. With Nationwide's plan, you can pick and choose the coverage you want. Options include congenital and hereditary conditions, behavioral treatments, and wellness care.

Which pets are covered. While Healthy Pets insures only cats and dogs, Nationwide sells policies for a wide range of exotic pets.

» READ MORE: Nationwide pet insurance review

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