Pumpkin pet insurance review 2022 | Coverage and cost – MarketWatch

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In this article: Pros and cons | Plans and coverage | Premiums | Customer reviews | Competitor comparison | The bottom line | FAQs
A dog or cat can be a great addition to any family, but owning a pet can significantly increase your household expenses.  
Beyond food and supplies, vet exams, required vaccinations and helpful procedures like spaying or neutering and microchip implantations in a medium-sized pup’s first year can total around $1,800, according to health care financing company Care Credit. For your feline friend, the first-year cost is nearly $1,200. Pet owners should plan to spend between $7,600 and $19,000 in veterinary care over the lifetime of their cat or dog.
Pet insurance is a way to plan for the unexpected and save money in the event of a pet emergency. The Home Media reviews team has analyzed dozens of providers based on cost, coverage and customer service and developed a list of the best pet insurance companies. 
In this article, we take a closer look at one of those top companies, New York City-based Pumpkin. Founded in 2020, Pumpkin is one of a number of relatively new providers in the rapidly growing pet insurance industry.
Here are our top pros and cons for pet insurance with Pumpkin:
+ Reimburses claims at 90% of the total cost
+ Includes coverage for microchip implants in its standard policy
+ Provides a wellness care package for dogs and cats between 8 weeks and 5 months of age
– Does not provide customer service on Saturdays and Sundays
– Does not have a mobile app
Pet Health Insurance Plan: Pumpkin’s standard pet insurance plan covers veterinary costs associated with diagnosing and treating accidents and illnesses. The basic plan includes services that some other pet insurance companies only offer at an additional cost, such as microchipping, treatment of behavioral issues, prescription food and alternative therapies like acupuncture. 
The Pet Health Insurance Plan also covers the following:
Preventative Essentials Pack: Pumpkin also offers an add-on wellness benefits package for routine veterinary care. While not insurance, the Preventative Essentials Pack will provide you with partial refunds for services like an annual checkup and vaccinations. The optional plan costs about $12 extra per month for cats and just under $20 for dogs.
The following are included in the preventive care package for dogs:
The Preventative Essentials Pack for cats includes the following:
Pumpkin has a separate Preventative Essentials Pack specifically for puppies and kittens between 8 weeks and 5 months old that covers four vaccinations, the routine wellness visit and fecal exam for worms or parasites. Pumpkin gives full refunds for up to four vaccines, even if your puppy or kitten has already received some or all of them prior to enrollment. 
Like nearly all pet insurance providers, Pumpkin does not provide coverage for any congenital or hereditary conditions diagnosed before the end of the company’s required 14-day waiting period for claims. A waiting period is the amount of time after enrollment before you are eligible to receive reimbursements. 
Although preexisting conditions aren’t covered, Pumpkin will provide reimbursements for previously diagnosed and treated issues after your pet goes at least 180 days without needing additional treatment or showing any symptoms. This clause does not include knee- or ligament-related problems.
The following are some of Pumpkin’s other exclusions:
While Pumpkin is available nationwide, policy details can vary by state, so it is best to download the sample policy for the state in which you live.
Pumpkin reimburses approved claims at 90% across all plans, regardless of your location or your pet’s age. Customers can choose from three annual coverage caps and deductible amounts to get a monthly premium within their price range. 
The chart below shows variations in prices depending on deductible and annual limit amounts and your pet’s size. The quotes included in the chart are based on plans for 5-year-old dogs and cats in Atlanta. Sample pricing assumes a $15,000 annual limit and $250 deductible for cat plans and a $10,000 annual cap and $250 deductible for dog plans.
After analyzing more than 100 customer reviews for Pumpkin, we found that customers frequently compliment the company for its high reimbursement rate and quality customer service. Conversely, customers who have not been satisfied with Pumpkin often cite poor customer service and delays in receiving claims payments. 
While Pumpkin did not respond to our request for comment on negative customer input or the cons listed above, a representative did give follow-up clarification on many online reviews that the company does provide direct deposit, which significantly speeds up claims payments. Below are some representative customer reviews from Yelp and Google Reviews:
“We got our new miniature English pup around four months ago and read that Pumpkin is one of the best pet insurance companies. We decided to purchase a policy and, sadly, our pup fractured his leg. I submitted four claims, which included examination fees, bloodwork, X-rays, medication and surgery fees all at once totaling just under $6,000 and was paid a 90% reimbursement (minus the annual $100 deductible) via direct deposit in merely two days after submitting our pup’s medical record. The process was shockingly fast and an overall straightforward process. Our pup is up and running now. Thanks again, Pumpkin.” —T.P. via Yelp
“Pros: Customer service [is] very knowledgeable. Quick turnaround time once a claim is filed. Easy access on [the company’s]  website. Cons: A little more costly than other pet insurance. [The] wait time to speak to customer service [is] longer than what I consider average. I chose Pumpkin because I felt they offered a plan that had great coverage, and after six months of wellness, preexisting conditions no longer are excluded from coverage. I have only been using pet insurance for two months, however it feels nice to have peace of mind.” —Marybeth Cloer via Google Reviews
“Although I have only been using Pumpkin insurance for a month, so far they have been wonderful! I filed a claim for my dog’s first check-up after we adopted him and even though this took place prior to his eligibility date, they did reimburse the allowable amount very quickly. [With] the claim that was denied (which was no surprise, I just submitted it to have his records updated), a representative reached out to me to ensure I understood my EOB [Explanation of Benefits] and offered to follow up with me if I had any questions. I am very pleased with my selection of pet insurance.” —Stacey W. via Yelp
“I’ve had Pumpkin for about a year now. I’m paying about $50 a month for insurance and all I can say is they have saved me hundreds of dollars! [The] only downside is they reimburse you with a check and it takes two to four weeks to arrive. I haven’t had any issues with them so far and [am] hoping to not have any. My dog is in and out of the vet all the time. He happens to be allergic to everything, so he’s on pills that he has to have probably for the rest of his life (another 10-20 years) and Pumpkin covers 90% of those [costly] pills. [The] only improvement I would make is getting reimbursed faster, since I have to go [to the vet] every month for his pills.” —Kim Buus via Google Reviews
Here’s how Pumpkin stacks up against some of your other options for pet insurance:
Factors
Pumpkin
Bivvy
Lemonade
Spot
Embrace
Fetch
Waiting period for accidents
14 days
14 days
2 days
14 days
2 days
5 days
Waiting period for illnesses
14 days
14 days; 180 days for orthopedic issues
14 days
14 days
14 days
14 days
Multi-pet discount
10%
✘
5%
10%
10%
10%
Mobile app
✘
✔
✔
✔
✔
✘
Wellness add-on
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
Online chat
✘
✘
✔
✔
✔
✔
While Pumpkin premiums are, on average, more expensive than many of its competitors, the company’s standard plan covers items often only included in add-on wellness packages through other providers. Like most pet insurance companies, Pumpkin covers injuries, such as broken bones and toxic ingestions, and illnesses, such as cancer. The Pet Health Insurance Plan will also pay 90% of the costs associated with dental cleanings, prescription food (for eligible conditions), microchip implantation and vet exams fees for sick visits. 
Pumpkin’s basic and preventive coverages are on par with or above industry standards and may be especially appealing if you have a young pet. The company will refund you the full amount of four vaccinations for puppies and kittens between eight weeks and five months of age, even if your pet received those vaccines before you signed up for a Pumpkin wellness package.
Pumpkin’s high reimbursement rate on all plans is a standout feature. However, it is important to note that many pet insurance providers also offer a 90% payout amount option. Even though selecting that option will increase your monthly fee, the amount still comes in lower than Pumpkin’s premiums. 
For example, Pumpkin’s sample quote for a medium-size, mixed-breed dog in Atlanta with a $10,000 annual coverage cap and $250 deductible is approximately $68 per month with the standard 90% reimbursement rate included. Using the same plan details, Lemonade’s monthly premium with the 90% payout option is about $39 and just $4 more than the same plan at an 80% reimbursement rate.  
If cost is a primary concern for you regarding pet insurance, competitors like Lemonade and Spot may be worth considering. We suggest you request sample quotes and policies from at least three providers before making a final decision.
If your pet requires veterinary care due to an accidental injury or sudden illness, you must first pay your vet’s office for these services in full. Pumpkin customers can sign up for an online account to enter claims for 90% reimbursement of any eligible diagnostic exams and treatment. 
The online claims process includes uploading a copy or photo of your paid vet bill and any relevant medical records. Pumpkin handles all claims entirely online. Payments are remitted via check or direct deposit.
Eligible behavioral conditions covered under Pumpkin’s accident-and-illness plan include the following:
Yes. Pumpkin covers this common chronic condition in dogs and cats of any age, provided symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia did not occur before the end of the 14-day waiting period after enrollment.
A significant distinction between pet insurance and human health insurance is that most pet policies are not limited to a network of providers. Instead, pet insurance companies like Pumpkin reimburse you for your costs directly, so you can visit any licensed veterinarian within the United States or Canada.
Although Pumpkin’s Preventative Essentials package is technically not insurance, receiving reimbursements is much the same as it is for the company’s accident-and-illness plan. 
After you have paid for your pet’s veterinary care, you can upload a copy of your bill to Pumpkin’s website. The company will pay you for the actual cost of all eligible wellness services by direct deposit or check. New customers can file for refunds on approved wellness care your pet received at the vet up to two weeks before enrollment. 
Puppy and kitten owners with the Preventive Essentials plan can file claims for vaccines (up to four) and any other services included in the plan that were performed before signing up with Pumpkin.
Our review of pet insurance companies is based on in-depth industry research that includes reading hundreds of customer reviews, simulating the quote and purchasing process, speaking to representatives on the phone to assess the customer service experience and surveying 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. We have scored each provider on a 100-point scale based on those elements.
Here are more details about each factor and how they’re weighted: 
We use our rating system to compare and contrast each company against key factors to help us determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. Additionally, we keep our research up to date and revisit our reviews on a regular basis.
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