Fetch Pet Insurance Reviews ( 2024 Guide)
You do everything you can to keep your pet happy and healthy, but sometimes your furry friend gets sick or hurt when you least expect it. You know how to budget for your pet’s routine care, but how do you prepare for unexpected costs? We recommend buying pet insurance.
Fetch is one pet insurance company that offers a simple plan to cover the vet bills you can’t plan for, so you can give your buddy the care he or she deserves. With a pet insurance plan from Fetch, you’ll pay a predictable and affordable monthly premium in exchange for coverage for unexpected veterinary bills.
But, how does the company stack up against the best pet insurance companies? In this comprehensive Fetch pet insurance review, we’ll shed light on that and the following:
- Pros and cons
- Coverage and costs
- Plan customizations
- Discounts
- State availability
- Real customer reviews
- FAQs
Fetch Pet Insurance Plans and Coverage
In the next section, we’ll discuss Fetch’s pet insurance plan and how much it generally costs. We’ll go over some sample quotes to give you a better understanding of how Fetch’s costs vary by a pet’s species and breed.
We think pet owners should have all the facts before buying any pet insurance plan, so we’ve also sifted through the fine print for exclusions, coverage limitations, and discount availability.
Plans and Costs
Before considering any costs or plan customizations, you need to understand what Fetch’s accident/illness plan includes. Fetch offers a competitively comprehensive plan to cover your pet’s unexpected veterinary needs.
The provider will reimburse you for the following items:
- Unexpected injuries and illnesses
- Dental injuries and illnesses
- Sick visits and exam fees
- TeleVet services
- Behavioral therapies
- Cancer treatments
- Prescription medications
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Diagnostic tests
- Alternative therapies
- Specialist care
- Hereditary, breed-specific, and chronic conditions
- Acupuncture and chiropractic care
- X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans, and ultrasounds
- Advertising and reward for a lost pet
- Boarding and kennel fees for hospitalization
- Vacation cancellation due to a sick pet
On average, a Fetch pet insurance plan will cost $35 per month for dogs and $25 per month for cats. Your monthly premium will vary depending on your pet’s age, species, breed, and location, so keep that in mind when selecting a plan.
Samples of Prices for Four Species/Breeds
We’ve retrieved free quotes from the provider’s website to give you an idea of how much a Fetch accident/illness plan costs. These premiums reflect a hypothetical pet parent in Atlanta, Georgia, who selected a $15,000 max annual coverage limit, 80% reimbursement rate, and $300 deductible for a 2-year-old pet.
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Sample Price for Domestic Mediumhair Cat | ||||
Accident and Illness Plan With Vet Fees and Physical Therapy Coverage |
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Deductibles
A deductible is a fixed dollar amount you must satisfy out of pocket before pet insurance coverage begins. In other words, you’ll have to pay for a portion of your pet’s vet bills before Fetch starts covering costs.
Fetch offers annual deductibles of $200, $350, and $500. These are relatively low deductible options compared to other providers. This means your coverage will kick in sooner, but you won’t be able to lower your monthly premium as much.
If you want a higher deductible, some top providers like Spot pet insurance offer options as high as $1,000.
Coverage Exclusions
Fetch won’t cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, boarding costs, breeding costs or accidents and illnesses that occur during waiting periods.
No pet insurance provider covers pre-existing conditions, but some will consider coverage if the condition is curable and has been asymptomatic for a while. Fetch doesn’t offer one of these loopholes and won’t cover any costs associated with pre-existing conditions.
Lastly, you won’t get coverage for incidents that occur during waiting periods. A waiting period is a time frame at the beginning of your policy before coverage kicks in. You’ll run into waiting periods with any pet insurance company, though some enforce different guidelines.
Fetch’s waiting periods are 15 days for accidents and illnesses and six months for orthopedic events. Any accident or illness that occurs during these time frames will be considered pre-existing, and Fetch won’t cover it going forward.
Plan Customizations
Fetch allows you to mix and match annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rate options to build a plan that fits your needs. Fetch offers the following coverage rates in addition to its $250, $300, and $500 annual deductibles:
Maximum payout – $5,000, $15,000, unlimited.
Reimbursement percentage – 70%, 80%, 90%.
Your maximum payout is the coverage limit Fetch will reimburse you for each year. So, if you file multiple claims and Fetch reimburses you up to your selected limit, you’ll have to pay any remaining vet bills out of pocket.
If you select the unlimited annual payout option, Fetch will never cap your coverage, no matter how many claims you submit.
Lastly, your reimbursement level is the percentage of each claim Fetch will repay. Reimbursements begin after you’ve met your annual deductible.
Once you’ve selected your coverage rates, you can also select monthly, quarterly, or annual billing cycles at enrollment. These options can save you an average of $30-$40 per year on premiums.
Discounts
Fetch doesn’t offer a multi-pet discount when you enroll multiple animals in a pet insurance plan. Many pet insurance providers offer multi-pet discounts, so this is something to consider if you have more than one fur child. Fetch does, however, offer several discounts to make your plan more affordable.
Fetch offers existing members its exclusive Healthy Pet Credit, which takes 30% off your premium when you go a year without filing a claim. This discount rewards you for keeping your pet healthy and updated on routine care.
Here are Fetch’s other discounts, which can save you up to 10% on your pet insurance policy:
- Shelter & Rescue Adopter discount
- Walmart Shopper discount
- AARP Member discount
- Veteran & Active Military discount
- Support, Comfort, & Therapy Pet discount
- Veterinarian & Vet Employee discount
How do I file a claim with Fetch?
You’ll need your pet’s medical records and an itemized invoice from your vet visit to file a claim. Fetch will only accept invoices that have been paid in full, so make sure the document shows a zero balance.
To submit a claim, you’ll log into your member portal or Fetch’s mobile app. Visit the Claims tab, select Submit a Claim, and then follow the prompts from there.
You’ll get a submission confirmation once you’re done filing the claim. Fetch typically processes claims within 15 business days and will deposit your reimbursement directly into your bank account.
Fetch Pet Insurance State Availability
Fetch is up and running in all 50 states and Canada. However, some of the provider’s features aren’t available everywhere. Fetch’s partner discounts aren’t offered in Florida, Hawaii, or Tennessee. TeleVet services through Fetch are unavailable in New York, New Jersey, and Canada.
Fetch Pet Insurance Customer Reviews
We’ve gone over Fetch’s costs, plans, exclusions, and discounts, but you shouldn’t just take it from us. Along with reading comprehensive provider reviews, it’s crucial to see what real Fetch customers say about the company.
Many customers are delighted with Fetch’s claims process, noting great customer service and quick reimbursement. Some customers expressed dissatisfaction with increasing premiums. Unfortunately, pet insurance prices are rising industry-wide in response to rising vet costs.
To help you make a more educated buying decision for your pet’s health insurance, we’ve listed some real Fetch policyholder reviews to show you how the company shines and where it falls short.
“All of our cats have insurance through Fetch, and it’s great! The claims process is quick and easy, and I never wonder what is or isn’t covered. We get updates at every stage of the process. I highly recommend this – as our cats get older, I expect this will save us thousands in vet bills.” –Melanie K., TrustPilot
“I am very happy to have Fetch insurance for my dog. It gave me peace of mind when he got really sick, and we needed help going through all these expensive diagnostics and treatments; it literally saved my dog’s life. I was able to easily submit a claim through the app by myself, and it took less than 15 days to get approval. Perfect insurance company and very flexible plans.” –Ina Z., TrustPilot
“Our dog broke his toe and subsequently got a skin infection from the cast. It was a huge relief to have our Fetch pet insurance to help cover these costs. Our only complaint is the lack of transparency for annual increases. Our rate jumped by 56.04% in the second year without warning. Quite a shock.” –Morgan L., TrustPilot
Fetch Pet Insurance vs. Competitors
Check out the table below to see how Fetch pet insurance stacks up to its competitors. This side-by-side comparison will help you consider the different options on the market and how they can best serve you and your pet.
About Fetch Pet Insurance
If you’ve researched pet insurance providers, you might see another pet insurance agency overlap with Fetch. This is because The Dodo acquired the company (Petplan) in 2020 and has since rebranded it as Fetch.
Fetch pet insurance is the exclusive insurance brand of The Dodo, a top-rated content producer for animal lovers. Fetch by The Dodo aims to create longer, happier, and healthier lives for pets, starting with top-notch veterinary care. The company “covers things that others don’t,” so you never have to choose between your pet’s health and your savings.
Founded in 2014, The Dodo focuses on capturing stories about all kinds of critters. According to Group Nine Media, The Dodo is the No. 1 viewed animal brand, with over four billion monthly site visitors across platforms.
Our Final Thoughts on Fetch Pet Insurance
We hope this Fetch pet insurance review gives you a full idea of what the provider has to offer and how it can benefit your pet. Fetch is a solid option for pet parents seeking comprehensive coverage for the unexpected.
Fetch offers wellness care as an add-on option to cover routine vet visits, similar to other pet insurance companies.
No matter what kind of plan you choose, you’ll be taking steps toward a brighter future for your budget and your pet’s health.
What are the advantages of Fetch‘s pet insurance?
Fetch offers one comprehensive accident/illness plan for all of your pet’s unexpected veterinary needs. The plan covers dental illnesses, exam fees, and holistic care items, which other providers might charge extra for.
Fetch also doesn’t enforce upper age limits, so you can enroll your pet any time after it turns six weeks old. Some providers limit coverage for older pets to accident-only. Fetch doesn’t limit coverage by age so that you can get the right care for your buddy, no matter what.
Does Fetch offer exotic pet insurance?
Fetch only offers insurance for dogs and cats and won’t cover birds and other exotic animals.
Does Fetch have a money-back guarantee?
Fetch offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for new members.
If you purchase a Fetch plan and decide you don’t like it within your first 30 days, you can cancel risk-free and get a full refund. The risk-free cancellation period starts when you sign up and extends 15 days past your 15-day waiting period.
Suppose you cancel your plan after the risk-free cancellation period. In that case, Fetch won’t refund any premiums, and issues your pet had during the Fetch policy will be considered pre-existing medical conditions going forward.
Can I take my pet to any vet?
With Fetch pet insurance, you can take your pet to any licensed vet in the U.S. or Canada. Human health insurance works through networks, which means your healthcare provider might not accept your specific insurance plan.
Pet insurance doesn’t have networks, so you can take your pet to any trusted veterinary clinic of your choice. You’ll pay for veterinary services in full at the time of treatment, and Fetch will reimburse you after the fact.
Our Rating Methodology
Here at Quartz, our research team looks to examine all pet insurance policies and comes up with reviews based on:
- Coverage
- Plan options
- Cost
- Reputation
- Customer service
- Species available
- Wellness benefits
We’ve created a 5-star rating system to score pet insurance brands based on a 100-point scale. To develop a list of the best pet insurance plans, we looked into plans, rating coverage, claims handling, reimbursements, deductibles, and limitations.
Each factor is weighted differently based on the following factors:
- Monthly Pricing (25 points): How each pet insurance company charges for their plans is a crucial part of the decision-making process of the customer. Affordable rates and comprehensive coverage are the defining characteristics of providing the best pet insurance.
- Coverage (20 points): We scored companies based on the treatments and procedures they cover. Providers offering broader coverage and more unique treatments received more points. Pet insurance policies are not offered by all companies for older pets. Providers who have an age limit on the pets they cover were deducted points.
- Plans (15 points): Pet insurance providers offer accident-and-illness plans, accident-only plans, wellness add-ons, and pet preventive care add-ons, so customers can choose the right plan for their pets. We also factored in costs to achieve the most comprehensible review for your pet’s needs.
- Customization Options (10 points): You can ensure your pet only gets what they need by customizing your policy. A higher score was earned by providers who offered a greater range of annual limits, deductibles, and reimbursement rates.
- Customer Service (10 points): We scored companies based on their website accessibility and usability, mobile apps, and grating points to companies with the most customer experience options.
- Industry Reputation (10 points): We assessed each company’s industry reputation by reviewing up-to-date BBB ratings and accreditation information, as well as their years of experience in the industry.
- Waiting Periods (10 points): Companies with shorter accident and illness waiting periods scored higher than companies with longer waiting periods.
Our team revisits each company’s information at the end of every month to make updates and ensure the information is as accurate as possible.