Paw Protect
- Offers reimbursement for sick vet exam fees.
- Multipet and military discounts available.
- Wellness plan includes prescription diet food coverage.
- No mobile app.
- 6-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions in dogs.
- Claims process could be quicker.
Choose Paw Protect pet insurance if…
You’re looking for perks like reimbursement for sick exam fees and a 24/7 vet helpline.
Why trust NerdWallet
Strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating pet insurance.
More than 1,000 rates analyzed by our team of specialists.
More than 25 insurance companies evaluated. (See our top picks.)
About Paw Protect pet insurance
Paw Protect earned 4 stars out of 5 for overall performance.
Paw Protect pet insurance is comprehensive accident and illness coverage that includes congenital and hereditary conditions, dental illnesses, behavioral issues and alternative therapies. The company offers a free vet telehealth service for all policyholders, available by phone, live chat or video call.
However, Paw Protect doesn’t have a mobile app to manage your policy, and it’s slower than some other pet insurers in handling claims.
Paw Protect is owned by Embrace Pet Insurance.
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Paw Protect pet insurance plans and coverage
Paw Protect has a few plans to choose from.
Accident and illness
Paw Protect’s accident and illness plan is a comprehensive plan that covers:
Sick vet exam fees.
Emergency and specialist care.
Surgery.
Prescription medication.
X-rays, ultrasounds and other diagnostic tests.
Hospitalization and overnight stays.
Dental injuries.
Dental illnesses, up to $1,000 per policy term.
Congenital and genetic conditions, including hip dysplasia, ACL injuries, allergies and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD).
Cancer and chronic conditions.
Acupuncture, chiropractic treatment and laser therapy.
Behavioral therapy.
Euthanasia.
Medical waste disposal.
Accident-only coverage
Paw Protect’s accident-only plan is generally for older pets. It covers treatment for accidents like broken bones, bite wounds, ingested objects and car accidents. It doesn’t cover any claims related to illnesses.
Wellness Rewards
Paw Protect’s Wellness Rewards is an extra package you can add to your insurance plan. It’s offered through Embrace pet insurance and pays for routine care up to $250, $450 or $650 per year. You can get reimbursed for:
Wellness exams.
Vaccines.
Flea, tick and heartworm prevention.
Microchipping.
Grooming.
Nutritional supplements and prescription food.
Training.
Fecal and blood tests.
Pet activity monitors.
Hip dysplasia exams.
Routine chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy and reiki care.
Routine anal gland expression.
Cremation and burial expenses.
Gastropexy surgery to prevent bloat.
Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.
» MORE: What does pet insurance cover?
What's not covered
Paw Protect pet insurance doesn’t cover:
Pre-existing conditions, unless your pet is cured and symptom-free for at least 12 months.
Breeding, pregnancy or giving birth.
DNA testing or cloning.
Intentional injuries by you or someone in your household.
Injuries or illnesses from racing, fighting, cruelty or neglect.
Cosmetic procedures like tail docking or ear-cropping.
Routine veterinary care, unless you have a wellness plan.
Avian flu or nuclear war.
If you have an accident-only plan, Paw Protect also won’t cover any illness-related claims.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
Paw Protect plan options
Deductibles: A pet insurance deductible is the amount you have to pay before your plan reimburses you for vet expenses. Paw Protect’s annual deductible options are typically $100, $250 and $500.
Reimbursement amounts: Pet owners have the option to get reimbursed for 70%, 80% or 90% of vet expenses.
Paw Protect applies your deductible to your vet bill first before your reimbursement rate. Say you have a $2,000 vet bill, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $500 deductible. To determine your claim payout, Paw Protect subtracts your $500 deductible, which leaves you with $1,500 of eligible expenses. Then it reimburses 80% of that, for a payout of $1,200.
Did you know...
Some pet insurers apply your reimbursement rate before subtracting your deductible, resulting in a less generous payout. Here’s the math using the same example as above:
$2,000 x 0.8 (80% reimbursement) = $1,600.
$1,600 - $500 deductible = $1,100.
Coverage limits: You can choose an annual coverage limit of $5,000, $10,000 or unlimited.
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: Paw Protect can cover pets between 6 weeks and 14 years of age at the time of enrollment.
Waiting periods: A pet insurance waiting period is the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. Paw Protect has a two-day waiting period for accidents and a 14-day waiting period for illnesses. Dogs also have a six-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions. Paw Protect may waive the orthopedic waiting period if your vet performs an examination after enrollment and verifies that your dog has no orthopedic issues. Waiting periods may vary by state.
Paw Protect pet insurance sample rates
The cost of Paw Protect pet insurance will depend on where you live and your pet’s age and breed. Below are sample monthly rates from Paw Protect for six common dog breeds at ages 2 and 8. Our sample dogs lived in Katy, Texas, and had accident and illness coverage with a $250 deductible, $5,000 of annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Your own price will vary.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
French bulldog | $106 | $183 |
German shepherd | $69 | $120 |
Golden retriever | $69 | $120 |
Labrador retriever | $69 | $120 |
Medium mixed-breed dog | $50 | $87 |
Poodle | $80 | $139 |
We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with the same coverage limits as above. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
Devon rex | $31 | $53 |
Domestic shorthair | $23 | $39 |
Exotic longhair | $31 | $53 |
Maine coon | $31 | $53 |
Persian | $31 | $53 |
Ragdoll | $31 | $53 |
Paw Protect pet insurance discounts
Paw Protect offers a 10% multipet discount and a 5% military discount.
State availability
Paw Protect is licensed to sell policies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Wellness plans aren’t available in Rhode Island.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all pets in a given state.
Consumer experience
Website: Paw Protect’s website is easy to navigate and has an education center with information about pet insurance. You can also get a quote and see how Paw Protect compares with other insurance companies.
App: Paw Protect doesn’t have a mobile app.
Claims: The fastest way to submit a claim is by logging into your account on Paw Protect’s website. But you can also email, fax or mail your claim forms. It takes about 10 to 15 business days to process an accident or illness claim and about five business days to process a wellness claim, according to the company. You have your entire policy term to file a claim, plus an extra 60 days after renewal.
Customer service: You can call Paw Protect customer service at 888-812-6704 Monday through Saturday. You can also email support@pawprotect.com.
Other pet insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other pet insurance companies:
How we review pet insurance
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.
In our evaluation, we:
Analyzed 2,100 data points.
Got 1,200+ quotes from pet insurers.
Compared 25+ companies.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does Paw Protect insurance cover vaccinations?
Does Paw Protect insurance cover vaccinations?
Paw Protect covers vaccinations under its wellness plan. With this add-on, you can get reimbursed for routine care, up to $250, $450 or $650 per year. For all plans, you save about $25 per year if using the total benefit amount. In addition to vaccines, this plan covers things like wellness exams, spaying or neutering, microchipping, dental cleaning and routine blood work.
How does Paw Protect insurance work?
How does Paw Protect insurance work?
Paw Protect insurance helps cover the costs if your pet gets sick or hurt. You pay a monthly or annual fee, and if your pet needs to go to the vet, you pay the bill, then submit a claim for reimbursement. The amount you get back depends on the coverage options you’ve selected.
How do I cancel Paw Protect pet insurance?
How do I cancel Paw Protect pet insurance?
You can cancel your Paw Protect policy at any time by calling customer service.
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.
