A dog or a cat is a fantastic addition to a family, but when considering a new furry family member, you should be aware of how expensive it can be. Pet owners should expect to spend, on average, between $7,600 and $19,000 on veterinary bills over the lifetime of their cat or dog.
You may need to purchase medication for your pet to tackle an illness or an accident. It all adds up, which is why you’ll want to know if an insurance provider covers these expenses before you take the plunge. Pumpkin Pet Insurance, for example, covers prescriptions and medication. We’ll take a closer look at what else Pumpkin covers and what they don’t.
Do All Insurance Providers Cover Medication and Prescriptions?
Most pet insurance providers generally cover medication and prescriptions as long as a licensed veterinarian has prescribed them for a covered condition. Routine medication isn’t always covered for treating parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms unless you purchase a wellness care package as an add-on. Medication that is sometimes also excluded is for procedures like neutering, spaying, and microchipping.
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Pumpkin’s Plan and Coverage
So, what exactly are you getting if you take out insurance with Pumpkin? A standard plan covers the costs of diagnosing and treating illnesses and accidents. The basic policy includes services you might find other pet insurance covers at additional costs, like prescription food, microchipping, behavioral issues treatment, and alternative therapies like acupuncture.
The Pet Health Insurance Plan also covers:
Pumpkin also has an optional wellness package called Preventative Essentials. This isn’t technically insurance, but it helps pay for things like vaccines, annual wellness exam fees, fecal tests for worms or parasites, and a heartworm and tick disease blood test. There’s also a discount for insuring multiple pets, where you can save up to 10% for every additional pet.
Pumpkin’s Exclusions
Pumpkin has a 14-day waiting period for claims, and they will not provide coverage for any hereditary or congenital conditions diagnosed before the end of this waiting period. Other exclusions include:
- Cosmetic procedures (like tail docking and declawing)
- Elective procedures
- Funeral services
- Grooming
- Heart valve replacement
- Herbal supplements and skin products
- Organ transplant
- Preexisting conditions
It’s important to note that Pumpkin doesn’t cover preexisting conditions like many insurance providers, but they will reimburse for previously diagnosed and treated problems if your pet manages 180 days without showing further symptoms or needing additional treatment. However, this does not include ligament- or knee-related problems.
Is Pumpkin Pet Insurance Worth the Money?
On average, Pumpkin premiums are more expensive than some competitors, but you seem to get more for your money. The standard plan offers things other providers expect you to pay more for. The Pet Health Insurance Plan will also pay out 90% of the costs for prescription food (for eligible conditions), dental cleanings, vet exam fees for sick visits, and microchip implantation.
They will also refund you for up to four vaccinations for kittens and puppies between 8 weeks and 5 months old, even if the pet in question was given the vaccinations before you set up your Pumpkin wellness package.
Many pet insurance providers have a 90% payout option, and their monthly fee amounts are lower than Pumpkin’s premiums. The 14-day accident waiting period might seem excessive when some competitors have only a 2 or 3-day waiting period. There is no accident-only plan available, and you can only reach customer service Monday to Friday.
Arguably, the positives for Pumpkin far outweigh the negatives, and customers have peace of mind knowing they will be covered for the most significant disasters to the smallest.
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Final Thoughts
Pumpkin pet insurance covers medication and prescriptions and has one of the most comprehensive policies available. While most pet insurance plans cover some medication and prescriptions, there will be exceptions, like prescription food. Unlike other providers, Pumpkin covers prescription meals. So, although Pumpkin is more expensive than other providers, they cover more veterinary services.
Featured Image Credit: thodonal88, Shutterstock
