Healthy Paws offers a single, comprehensive accident-and-illness pet insurance plan with unlimited payouts and customizable reimbursement and deductibles. It’s best for pet parents who want strong protection against big, unexpected vet bills and don’t mind paying more or skipping wellness coverage. Overall, Healthy Paws pet insurance is a strong “catastrophic” coverage option, but its lack of routine care, some age limits, and potentially higher premiums mean it won’t be right for everyone.

Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Review at a Glance

Product type

Accident-and-illness pet insurance plan for dogs and cats (no wellness plan)

Best for

Pet owners who want unlimited annual and lifetime coverage for accidents and illnesses
People with younger, generally healthy pets who can enroll before major conditions appear
Pet parents are comfortable managing claims digitally via app and waiting out standard waiting periods

Key benefits

One simple plan with broad accident-and-illness coverage, including hereditary, congenital, chronic conditions, cancer and alternative treatments
No per-incident, annual, or lifetime payout caps - coverage is effectively unlimited for eligible claims
Customizable reimbursement (about 50%–90%) and annual deductibles that can be tailored to your budget, depending on your pet and state
Fast, app-based claims; many are processed in about two business days after records are on file

Key drawbacks

No wellness or routine care (vaccines, annual exams, flea/heartworm prevention, etc.), and exam fees are not covered
Pre-existing conditions not covered; strict definitions and exclusions apply
Hip dysplasia coverage only for pets enrolled under age 6, with an additional waiting period and state-specific rules
Independent analyses find premiums are often higher than average, especially for dogs

What Is Healthy Paws Pet Insurance?

Healthy Paws pet insurance is an accident-and-illness policy for dogs and cats. It’s designed to help you manage unexpected, expensive vet bills when your pet gets sick or injured - think emergency surgery, cancer treatment, or long-term chronic conditions - rather than predictable routine care.

Unlike some competitors that offer multiple plan tiers and wellness add-ons, Healthy Paws keeps things simple with one core plan. You choose your reimbursement percentage and annual deductible, get treated at any licensed vet in the U.S. (and often Canada), and then submit a claim to be reimbursed for a portion of the bill.

The plan is underwritten by Chubb-affiliated insurers, and Healthy Paws has been in business since 2009 with an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau.

Key Features & Benefits of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance

Comprehensive Accident & Illness Coverage

Healthy Paws covers a wide range of medical costs when your pet is diagnosed with a new accident or illness (not pre-existing and not excluded). Covered expenses typically include:

Diagnostic tests (X-rays, bloodwork, ultrasounds)
Surgery and hospitalization
Prescription medications
Cancer treatment and chemotherapy
Hereditary and congenital conditions
Chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, allergies)
Emergency and specialty hospital care
Many FDA-approved alternative treatments

This breadth of coverage is one of Healthy Paws’ biggest strengths, especially if you’re worried about serious or long-term issues.

Unlimited Payouts

Healthy Paws does not impose per-incident, annual, or lifetime caps on what it will reimburse for covered claims. You still share costs via your deductible and reimbursement percentage, but there’s no internal dollar ceiling on eligible claims.

For owners concerned about worst-case scenarios (major surgery, cancer, or multiple serious illnesses over a pet’s lifetime), unlimited coverage is a major differentiator.

Customizable Reimbursement & Deductible

Healthy Paws lets you choose a reimbursement percentage (generally somewhere between 50% and 90%, depending on your pet’s age and state) and an annual deductible from a range starting in the low hundreds and going up to a few thousand dollars.

Higher reimbursement + lower deductible = higher monthly premium, lower vet-bill shock
Lower reimbursement + higher deductible = lower monthly premium, more out-of-pocket when you claim

This flexibility lets you roughly tailor the “catastrophic” level of protection to your budget, although you cannot change the fact that the annual limit is always unlimited.

Hereditary, Congenital & Hip Dysplasia Coverage

Healthy Paws covers many hereditary and congenital conditions, as long as your pet didn’t show signs of the condition before enrollment or during applicable waiting periods.

Hip dysplasia - a big concern for many large-breed dog owners - is covered with important caveats:

Your pet typically must be enrolled before age six.
There is an additional waiting period for hip dysplasia coverage.
The condition must not be pre-existing or arise during the waiting period.
Coverage and waiting periods can vary by state.

If you have a large-breed puppy or young dog, enrolling early is critical if hip dysplasia coverage matters to you.

Network Flexibility and Telehealth

Healthy Paws lets you see any licensed veterinarian in the U.S., including specialists and emergency hospitals, and often provides coverage while traveling in Canada or U.S. territories.

Many employer-linked versions of the plan also include 24/7 virtual vet access via Airvet, giving you telehealth support for basic questions at no extra cost where available.

Claims Experience & Mobile App

Claims are submitted after you pay your vet directly:

Visit any licensed vet.
Pay the bill upfront.
Upload a photo of the invoice through the Healthy Paws app or online portal.
Healthy Paws reviews the claim, applies your deductible and reimbursement level, and sends payment via direct deposit or check.

Healthy Paws emphasizes speed; many claims are processed within about two business days, though first-time claims can be slower while the company reviews medical records.

Rates, Fees & Fine Print

Premiums

Healthy Paws bases your monthly premium on factors like:

Pet type (dog vs. cat)
Breed and size
Age at enrollment
Zip code (local vet costs)
Your chosen reimbursement percentage and deductible

Independent analyses (like MoneyGeek’s 2025 review) find that Healthy Paws premiums are often higher than the national average, especially for dogs, with sample averages over $100 per month for many dog policies. Your actual rate may be lower or higher.

Deductibles & Reimbursement

From the product specifications, Healthy Paws offers:

Customizable annual deductibles, generally starting around $100 and going up to several thousand dollars per year, depending on your pet and state
Reimbursement levels ranging from about 50% to 90% of the eligible vet bill

You pay the vet, then Healthy Paws reimburses you based on your chosen structure and the actual invoice (not a fixed schedule), after your deductible.

Waiting Periods

Healthy Paws applies waiting periods between your policy start date and when certain types of claims become eligible:

A short waiting period (commonly around two weeks) for most accidents and illnesses
A longer waiting period for hip dysplasia, often around a year, and only for pets enrolled before age six

Exact waiting periods and enrollment age rules vary by state, so you should review your state-specific sample policy.

Exclusions and Limitations

Key exclusions include:

Pre-existing conditions (any condition showing signs before coverage starts or during waiting periods)
Wellness and preventive care (vaccines, flea/heartworm meds, spay/neuter, grooming, nail trims, parasite prevention)
Exam/office visit fees
Routine dental care (though accident-related tooth injuries may be covered)
Elective procedures, boarding, training, and behavioral modification

As always, the exact policy language controls, and exclusions can differ by state.

Important: Plan details, premiums, waiting periods and exclusions can change and may vary by location. Always review the latest sample policy and disclosures on Healthy Paws’ website before enrolling.

Who Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Is Best For

Healthy Paws pet insurance is likely a good fit for:

Owners who want strong “catastrophic” protection - especially against cancer, major surgeries, and chronic diseases
Pet parents comfortable paying for routine care out of pocket and focusing insurance dollars on big-ticket events
Owners of younger pets, especially large-breed dogs, who can enroll early to secure broader coverage (including hip dysplasia)
Tech-comfortable users who like app-based claims and direct deposit reimbursements
People who value unlimited annual and lifetime coverage and don’t want to worry about hitting a claim cap

Who Should Look Elsewhere

You may want to consider other insurers if:

You want a plan that includes wellness and preventive care or offers add-on wellness packages
You’re extremely price-sensitive and primarily seeking the lowest possible monthly premium or a more basic accident-only plan
Your pet is older or already shows signs of a pre-existing condition or hip dysplasia, which Healthy Paws may not cover
You strongly prefer coverage for exam fees or behavioral therapy, which Healthy Paws generally excludes

How Healthy Paws Compares to Alternatives

Compared with other pet insurers:

Coverage structure: Healthy Paws stands out by pairing comprehensive accident-and-illness coverage with unlimited payouts. Many competitors cap annual benefits unless you pay more.
Plan options: Some rivals offer multiple tiers and wellness add-ons. Healthy Paws’ “one simple plan” model is easier to understand but less flexible if you want integrated wellness or exam-fee coverage.
Price: Independent reviews often place Healthy Paws below top competitors on affordability, with higher average premiums for dogs and some cats.
Customer experience: Healthy Paws earns an A+ BBB rating and above-average scores on many review sites, but also faces a notable volume of complaints and mixed Reddit sentiment around rate hikes and claim denials.

In short, Healthy Paws tends to be most attractive to owners who prioritize unlimited, robust medical coverage over flexibility, wellness add-ons, or rock-bottom pricing.

Healthy Paws