Lemonade Pet Insurance Overview

While Lemonade only joined the pet insurance world in 2015, they have become one of the most popular companies out there. As a digital insurance provider, they take pride in having a first-rate mobile app and making everything as user-friendly as possible for their clients.

Lemonade also features 3 optional wellness plans (Preventative Package, Preventative+ Package, and Puppy/Kitten Preventative Package), along with 5 add-ons that cover vet visit fees, dental illnesses, physical therapy, behavioral issues, and end-of-life/remembrance services.

Nevertheless, Lemonade isn’t available in every state and may not be the best option for senior animals or those with pre-existing conditions.

Below is a list of pros and cons so you can decide whether or not it will suit your coverage needs.

Pros: Low monthly premiums; consistent charitable giving; simple claim-filing process via their world-class mobile app; a live chat option; super-fast reimbursements with 30% of claims paid instantly; several add-ons and wellness plans from which to choose.

Cons: No coverage for pre-existing conditions; not available in all 50 states; 180-day cruciate ligament waiting period; breed and age-specific enrollment eligibility limits (between 8 weeks and 14 years).

Pumpkin Pet Insurance Overview

Pumpkin is a relatively new company, established in 2020. They take a slightly unconventional approach to traditional pet insurance by offering comprehensive coverage that extends to curable and recurring pre-existing conditions, behavioral problems, dental illness, and physical therapy. What’s more, they reimburse 100% for essential veterinary care.

Pumpkin’s insurance is available in all 50 states. In addition, it allows pet parents to take their little pals to any licensed veterinarian of their choice within the United States or Canada.

While Pumpkin has many advantages, their coverage lacks flexibility, which means customers may end up paying for benefits they will neither need nor use.

Below is a list of pros and cons for Pumpkin pet insurance to help you determine if it meets your criteria.

Pros: Available in all 50 states; reimburses for 90% of all veterinary services; exam fees and sick visits included in the basic plan; covers dental and prescription food costs; no breed or age-specific enrollment eligibility limits.

Cons: High monthly premiums; no coverage for blood tests, even under the wellness plan; difficult to customize coverage; no mobile app; no spaying and neutering coverage.

The Swiftest’s Verdict

Monthly Plan Prices

Lemonade has the edge with more affordable monthly premiums since they allow you to customize your coverage with several wellness plans and add-ons so that you only pay for what you need. Whereas with Pumpkin, premiums are significantly higher. And while you may get more coverage, including routine care costs, you will likely end up paying higher fees for benefits you probably will not even use.

Deductibles

Lemonade has $100, $250, $500 and $750 deductibles, giving you the opportunity to offset your out-of-pocket expenses in emergencies as you see fit. Pumpkin may feature three of the same deductibles but lacks the $750 option. Since higher deductibles tend to yield lower premiums, Pumpkin has less overall flexibility. As a result, we prefer Lemonade.

Coverage

Lemonade operates in 37 states, plus Washington, DC. However, Pumpkin operates nationwide and allows customers to take their furry friends to any licensed veterinarian within the United States and Canada. Unlike Lemonade, Pumpkin gives customers the option of unlimited annual coverage, and they include a significant amount of routine care in their standard pet insurance plans. Although both insure only cats and dogs, Pumpkin beats Lemonade regarding coverage area and breadth of coverage for the standard plan.

Customer Service

Lemonade has an impressive mobile app through which you can manage your account, file claims and seek customer support. They also have a live chat option available on the website. And with almost ⅓ of all claims paid instantly, it’s hard to beat Lemonade’s customer service, particularly as Pumpkin does not have a mobile app. To contact Pumpkin, you must do so by phone or email. So Lemonade wins when it comes to providing the best customer experience.

Additional Perks

As mentioned above, Lemonade has a selection of wellness plans and add-ons to choose from so that you can tailor coverage specifically to meet your needs. In contrast, Pumpkin only has one wellness plan from which to choose.

Lemonade gives discounts to those who insure multiple pets or bundle their pet’s coverage with at least one of Lemonade’s other offerings, such as auto, life, renters or homeowners insurance. Pumpkin’s multi-pet discount is double that of Lemonade’s and sits at 10%, but they do not have bundling options since they deal solely in pet insurance.

What makes Lemonade stand out most as an insurance company is their Giveback Program. As a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B-Corp, Lemonade focuses on social good and community betterment. To do this, Lemonade earmarks a portion of all premiums and donates them to their customers’ preferred charities.

Conclusion

We at The Swiftest find Lemonade to be the most dynamic of the two, especially as it’s more accessible cost-wise and provides a streamlined customer experience. It also doesn’t hurt that Lemonade makes charitable donations a cornerstone of their business model. So, if Lemonade’s coverage is available in your state, we give it our highest recommendation and encourage you to consider them for your cat or dog insurance policy.

SwiftScore Ranking Methodology

• Average monthly price for a 2-year-old pet with a $500 deductible located in the 90210 zip code
• Coronavirus coverage
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR)
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Key policy details including cancellation, interruption, emergency medical evacuation, and baggage & personal effects
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews