Fetch by The Dodo vs. Healthy Paws: Coverage

Fetch and Healthy Paws are alike in the amount and type of coverage they offer. Both providers opt for simplicity with a single accident and illness policy that pays for the necessary treatments if your pet becomes injured or sick. No accident-only or preventive care options are sold by either company.

Fetch does cover a few more costs than Healthy Paws. Most notable is that exam fees are eligible for reimbursement; pet parents are responsible for paying these fees out of pocket with Healthy Paws. Fetch also includes up to $1,000 in trip cancellation coverage if your pet becomes seriously ill during a scheduled vacation. Similar coverage isn’t available from Healthy Paws.

Although Healthy Paws doesn’t cover the same variety of services as Fetch, the former does offer more favorable terms. For example, every Healthy Paws policy comes with unlimited annual benefits, an option that is only available from Fetch at higher price points. Healthy Paws’ deductibles also skew lower than Fetch's when comparing policies in similar price ranges. (Keep reading for a more detailed cost comparison.)

The table below outlines which treatments are and aren’t covered by accident and illness policies from Fetch and Healthy Paws.

Fetch vs. Healthy Paws: Enrollment Process

Signing up for coverage with Fetch and Healthy Paws is fast and easy thanks to convenient online quote tools. Simply visit either provider’s website, enter your pet’s information, and select the coverage that best fits your needs and budget. If you find a policy you’re happy with, all you need to do is enter your payment information and you’ll be enrolled.

Healthy Paws ask pet parents to submit proof of a recent veterinary exam upon signing up for coverage, while fetch only requires it to waive some waiting periods. These records are used to identify any conditions that would be considered pre-existing under your policy.

Healthy Paws requires a checkup within 12 months prior to the coverage start date (30 days if your pet is six or older at signup). If you don’t have any records from this period, you’ll be asked to schedule a vet visit within 15 days or your policy will be void.

Age is certainly a factor to take into consideration when signing up for coverage with either Fetch or Healthy Paws. Both providers limit options for pets after a certain age. With Healthy Paws, pets that are enrolled after their sixth birthday are only eligible for a policy with unlimited annual benefits, 70% reimbursement, and a $500 deductible.

No pets are allowed to sign up after the age of 14. Fetch limits pets ages 10 and older to a policy with $15,000 in annual benefits, 70% reimbursement, and a $750 deductible, although there aren’t any maximum age limits for enrollment.

Fetch vs. Healthy Paws: Claim Filing

Both Fetch and Healthy Paws offer digital claim filing experiences. With Healthy Paws, you can either upload bills to the provider’s website or take photos with your smartphone and submit them directly through a mobile app. Processing time is extremely quick; nearly all claims are turned around in less than 48 hours.

Fetch also accepts claims through its website and mobile app. The company doesn’t give a concrete time frame for reimbursement, simply stating that most claims are processed within a few days. Just don’t put it off for too long—claims are only accepted within 90 days of the treatment date.

Fetch vs. Healthy Paws: Reviews

As one of the best-rated pet insurance companies, Healthy Paws easily surpasses Fetch among third-party reviews. As can be expected, the most frequent comment for Healthy Paws is praise regarding the provider’s fast claim processing time.

The most common complaint for Fetch is that rates sharply increase as pets get older. This makes customers feel trapped with the company because if they switch to a cheaper insurer, any conditions their pet was already treated for under Fetch will be deemed pre-existing and not be covered.

Healthy Paws also performs better than Fetch in financial stability, although not by much. AM Best gives Healthy Paws’ underwriter, Chubb, the topmost rating of "A++" (Superior).1 Fetch's primary underwriter, XL Specialty Insurance Company, receives an "AA-."2

Fetch vs. Healthy Paws: Costs

Fetch and Healthy Paws price their policies within a comparable range. The primary difference is that Healthy Paws gives you a lower deductible and higher annual limit for the same price, while Fetch covers a wider range of costs that includes exam fees, dental treatment, and trip cancellation.

To give an example, we compared premiums between the two providers for an accident and illness policy with no annual limit, 80% coverage, and a $250 deductible. The cost of insuring a two-year-old, medium-sized dog in Dallas, Texas, was only $33.16 per month with Healthy Paws, but Fetch's policy was over 50% more expensive at $52.33 per month.

One final cost consideration is that Fetch has a minimum monthly premium of $20.16. You won’t be able to purchase a policy for less than this amount, even by choosing a smaller annual limit, higher deductible, or lower reimbursement level. If the company’s online quote tool returns this value, try increasing coverage to see if you could get more favorable policy terms for the same price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology

To evaluate Fetch and Health Paws, we looked at costs, coverage levels, exclusions, policy limits, the signup process, customer reviews, claims processes, and other details about how these insurers operate. To compare pricing, we got quotes for the same animal in both the Figo and Trupanion websites. Overall, we evaluated these services looking for the best coverage level at a competitive price.

To learn more, read our full Pet Insurance Review Methodology.