Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review 2024

Pumpkin offers only one accident and illness plan, but it covers more than just the basics.
Georgia Rose
By Georgia Rose 
Updated
Edited by Caitlin Constantine

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Pumpkin

Pumpkin Pet Insurance
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on Pumpkin
NerdWallet rating 

4.5

/5
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on Pumpkin

Annual max coverage

Unlimited

Reimbursement rates

90%

Deductibles

$100 - $1,000

Policy highlight

90% reimbursement for all pets.

Pros

  • 10% discount for each additional pet you insure.
  • No maximum age limit for enrollment.
  • 14-day waiting period for cruciate ligament injuries and hip dysplasia, which is shorter than many other plans.

Cons

  • No coverage for herbal supplements.

Pumpkin offers one comprehensive accident and illness plan that includes coverage for dental illnesses and some pre-existing conditions.

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, we consider coverage, discounts, financial strength ratings from AM Best and more to determine our star ratings.

Our rating system rewards companies that cover a wide range of potential expenses, offer many ways to customize your plan and have a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as mobile app ratings and whether the company offers direct vet payments. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.

Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.

Pumpkin pet insurance offers comprehensive insurance policies and preventive care plans for cats and dogs across the country. There’s no maximum age limit for pets to apply, and all breeds are welcome.

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

Pumpkin pet insurance

4.5

NerdWallet rating 

Pumpkin earned 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer experience, coverage options and financial strength ratings.

State availability

Pumpkin sells pet insurance in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

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

Pumpkin pet insurance plans

Pumpkin offers one accident and illness plan for cats and dogs. There are no lifetime limits, and annual limits range from $7,000 to unlimited.

You can add the company’s Preventive Essentials package to your policy. It covers one annual wellness exam, plus parasite screening and a set number of vaccines each year, depending on the type of pet.

What Pumpkin pet insurance covers

The Pumpkin accident and illness policy covers:

  • Dental illnesses.

  • Behavioral issues.

  • Hereditary conditions.

  • Parasite infections.

  • Prescription food and supplements.

  • Alternative therapies.

  • Exam fees, surgery and hospitalization.

  • Cancer treatments.

  • Microchipping.

  • Diagnostic tests.

  • Some pre-existing conditions (only if the condition was cured and the pet is symptom-free for 180 days). This does not include knee and hind leg ligament conditions.

Pumpkin’s optional wellness plan covers:

  • An annual wellness exam.

  • Vaccinations.

  • Parasite screening tests.

What’s not covered

Pumpkin's policy doesn't cover:

  • Breeding costs.

  • Cosmetic or elective procedures.

  • Dental cleanings not related to illness.

  • Most pre-existing conditions.

  • Herbal supplements.

Pumpkin coverage options

Deductibles: A pet insurance deductible is the amount of your vet care you need to pay for before your insurer starts reimbursing you. With Pumpkin, you can choose an annual deductible of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000.

Reimbursement amounts: Pumpkin pet insurance reimburses 90% of all covered vet bills after you’ve met your deductible.

Coverage limits: You can choose an annual coverage limit of $7,000, $15,000 or unlimited for cats. Annual coverage limits for dogs are $10,000, $20,000 or unlimited.

Restrictions and waiting periods

Age restrictions: All dogs and cats 8 weeks and older are eligible for coverage. Pumpkin doesn’t have a maximum age limit.

Waiting periods: A waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage takes effect. Pumpkin offers a 14-day waiting period for all covered accidents and illnesses, including hip dysplasia and knee injuries.

Pumpkin pet insurance rates

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

To give you a rough idea of how much you might pay, we gathered sample rates 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 was for accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, $10,000 of annual coverage and a 90% reimbursement rate. Your own price will vary.

Breed

Age 2

Age 8

French bulldog

$117

$261

German shepherd

$67

$148

Golden retriever

$83

$184

Labrador retriever

$83

$184

Medium mixed-breed dog

$56

$125

Poodle

$83

$184

We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with a $250 deductible, $7,000 of annual coverage and a 90% reimbursement rate. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.

Breed

Age 2

Age 8

Devon rex

$28

$50

Domestic shorthair

$28

$50

Exotic longhair

$42

$76

Maine coon

$42

$76

Persian

$42

$76

Ragdoll

$28

$50

Discounts

A 10% Fur Family Discount applies to each additional pet you enroll in a plan.

Consumer experience

Website: Pumpkin’s website is easy to use and includes detailed coverage information for cats, dogs, kittens and puppies. You can download a sample policy for your state, and apply for a free quote.

App: The company doesn't have an app, but the website is optimized for tablets and smartphones.

Claims: You can file claims online through the company’s website or download a form to email to the company. Pumpkin will send you a check or deposit your payout directly into your bank account, depending on which option you choose. You can track the status of your claim in your online account. If you’re considering an expensive treatment, such as a surgery, that you’re not sure Pumpkin will cover, you can contact the company in advance to find out whether the company will reimburse you.

Customer service: You can reach Pumpkin’s customer care team by phone at 866-273-6369 Monday to Saturday. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] and receive a reply within a day. The website also has a live chat option if you want to speak to a representative online.

Pumpkin vs. competitors

Here’s how Pumpkin stacks up against two other popular pet insurance companies.

Pumpkin vs. Lemonade

Like Pumpkin, Lemonade sells accident and illness coverage for cats and dogs. However, Lemonade’s basic plan doesn't cover things like behavioral therapy or dental treatments. Instead, it costs extra to add them to your policy. To compare, Pumpkin includes coverage for these treatments in its standard plan.

Lemonade offers three types of preventive care packages, including one for puppies and kittens and two for adults. The puppy and kitten preventive care package comes with coverage for spaying or neutering — something Pumpkin’s wellness add-on doesn’t include.

Read our Lemonade pet insurance review to learn more.

Coverage options

Pumpkin

Lemonade

Deductible range

$100 to $1,000 per year.

$100 to $750 per year.

Reimbursement

90%.

70%, 80% and 90%.

Annual limit range

$10,000 to unlimited for dogs; $7,000 to unlimited for cats.

$5,000 to $100,000.

Pumpkin vs. Spot

Unlike Pumpkin, Spot pet insurance offers an accident-only plan as well as an accident and illness plan. It also has two preventive care plans to choose from. The basic preventive care plan pays for things like vaccines and a wellness exam, while the higher-priced option adds extra coverage for spay/neuter surgery, urinalysis and blood work.

Spot’s accident-only plan includes coverage for alternative therapy, prescription medications, stem cell therapy, tooth extractions and more, as long as it’s due to a covered accident.

Coverage options

Pumpkin

Spot

Deductible range

$100 to $1,000 per year.

$100 to $1,000 per year.

Reimbursement

90%.

70%, 80% and 90%.

Annual limit range

$10,000 to unlimited for dogs; $7,000 to unlimited for cats.

$2,500 to unlimited.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Pumpkin covers dental procedures and treatments for illnesses such as gum disease. It doesn't cover dental cleanings or certain elective procedures. Learn more about pet dental insurance.

No. Pumpkin doesn't offer coverage for spaying or neutering.

You can cancel your Pumpkin pet insurance within 30 days of purchasing coverage and receive a full refund in any state but New York. If you’ve had your policy for more than 30 days in any state, you’ll get a refund for the remaining days in the month.

Pumpkin has a 14-day waiting period for all covered conditions, including knee injuries and hip dysplasia.

Methodology

Pet insurance star ratings

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.

Pet insurance sample rates

To find sample pet insurance rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and do not include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons. Each plan for a given company had the same deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate for all sample pets.

These are sample rates gathered for specific pets living in Katy, Texas. Your own rates will be different.

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