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Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review
By kristin MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
The cost of veterinary and pet wellness care is rapidly rising. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners spent $34.3 billion on veterinary care and related products in 2021 – an increase of 8.9% from the previous year. Pet health insurance policies offer pet parents a way to offset some of the high costs of pet healthcare. If you own a dog or cat, Pumpkin Pet plans provide accident, illness and preventative care insurance.
Table of contents
Pumpkin Pet Insurance overview
Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans cover accident, illness, dental and behavioral conditions. Pumpkin also offers a preventative care add-on which covers annual vet visits, exams, laboratory tests and vaccines.
Pumpkin’s Services
We’ve done the research about Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans so you don’t have to. Read on to find out about coverage, average costs, exclusions and limitations.
What it offers
Pumpkin’s plans are available for dogs, puppies, cats or kittens who are eight weeks or older. Below, you’ll see a checklist detailing every service Pumpkin offers to policyholders.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Coverage
| What’s covered | Dog | Puppy | Cat | Kitten |
| Eye & Skin Infections | * | * | * | * |
| Swallowed Objects | * | * | * | * |
| Diabetes | * | * | ||
| Digestive Illnesses | * | * | * | * |
| Hip Dysplasia | * | * | * | * |
| Cancer & Growths | * | * | * | * |
| Parasites & Infectious Diseases | * | * | * | * |
| Orthopedic Injuries | * | * | * | * |
| Swallowed objects and toxins | * | * | * | * |
| Diagnostics & Treatments | * | * | * | * |
| Prescription Medications | * | * | * | * |
| Emergencies and Hospitalization | * | * | * | * |
| Surgery & Specialized Care | * | * | * | * |
| Advanced Care (e.g.Stem Cell Therapy) | * | * | * | * |
| Microchipping | * | * | * | * |
| Dental Illnesses | * | * | * | * |
| Hereditary Conditions | * | * | ||
| Behavioral Issues | * | * | * | * |
| Vet Exam Fees Accident & Illness | * | * | * | * |
| Alternative Therapies (e.g. Acupuncture) | * | * | * | * |
| Prescription Food & Supplements (for treatment, not preventative care | * | * | * | * |
| End of life | * | * | * | * |
| MRI, Cat scans & X-rays | * | * | * | * |
| Poison control consultation | * | * | * | * |
If you’d like to learn more about other pet insurance policies and what they cover, read our article on pet insurance coverage. If you have multiple furry friends, you may be interested in our article on pet insurance for multiple pets.
What it doesn’t offer
Pumpkin doesn’t offer coverage for pre-existing conditions —which are noted in a pet’s medical records prior to enrollment or during the 14-day wait period. Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans also have the following exclusions:
- Aesthetic, orthodontic dental work
- Anal sac expression
- Boarding
- Breeding, pregnancy
- Elective procedures such as claw removal
- Funeral services and memorial items
- Herbs
- Grooming supplies
- House call fees
- Pre-existing knee and ligament conditions
- Non-medical supplies and pet accessories
- Organ heart valve transplant
- Prescription food and pet food for general maintenance, even if prescribed
- Training or training accessories
- Avian flu treatment
If you have a pet with pre-existing conditions, read our article to learn more about pet insurance for pre-existing conditions.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance costs
Pumpkin’s monthly premium fees are based on your pet’s age (there are no upper age restrictions), their breed or size and the state you live in. The deductible and annual limit you choose will also affect your monthly cost.
In order to find the average monthly cost of Pumpkin insurance (listed in the chart below), we used the following criteria:
- Dogs: seven year-old dog, $500 deductible and $10,000 annual limit.
- Cats: seven year-old cat, $500 deductible and $7,000 annual limit
- We used comparable search criteria for puppies and kittens
| Average Monthly Cost | Deductible amount | Reimbursement | |
| Dog plan | $50 to $80 | $100, $250 or $500 or higher | 90% |
| Puppy plan | $29 to $40 | $100, $250 or $500 or higher | 90% |
| Cat plan | $27 to $41 | $100, $250 or $500 or higher | 90% |
| Kitten plan | $17 to $25 | $100, $250 or $500 or higher | 90% |
You can learn more about the average cost of insurance in our article on pet insurance costs.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance waiting periods
Pumpkin plans have a 14-day waiting period (after enrollment) before you can file a claim. Some companies have shorter waiting periods –Trupanion has a waiting period of five days for injuries and Embrace has a two-day wait period for accidents. However, these companies also have longer wait periods for other conditions –Trupanion’s wait period for illness is 30 days and Embrace has a six-month waiting period for orthopedic conditions. Overall, Pumpkin’s waiting period is similar to the competition.
Pumpkin’s credentials
Pumpkin Pet insurance is relatively new to the scene. In April 2020, during the pandemic, Alexandre Douzet, founder and CEO, saw a need for pet insurance providers that offered affordable preventative care plans and quick claim processing times. He started Pumpkin with these goals in mind.
Licenses and registrations
Pumpkin is a licensed insurance agency. Pumpkin products are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. Plans are produced and administered by Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (NPN#19084749)
Regulatory or legal actions
Our research on websites such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the BBB reveal that Pumpkin Pet Insurance isn’t currently involved in any legal proceedings.
Pumpkin’s accessibility
Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers responsive customer support and an easy-to-use website that is transparent about pricing and plan information.
Availability
Pumpkin is headquartered in New York; however, all business transactions are performed online or by phone. Pumpkin services all 50 states, but their Preventative Essentials package isn’t available in Missouri, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
Contact information
You can reach customer service by phone at: 1-866-ARF-MEOW (1-866-273-6369), Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. You can also email customer support at help@pumpkin.care. If you need help with claims, you can email claims@pumpkin.care. Pumpkin’s website has a convenient chat option which is available Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. They don’t have a mobile app.
User experience
Pumpkin’s website is easy to navigate and offers a wide variety of information conveniently organized for dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. You can also easily get an online quote and compare plan details with 20 of Pumpkin’s competitors. Customer service is very responsive. Phone waiting times are longer than chat, but still very reasonable. Pumpkin also provides a wide variety of educational resources on its website.
Limitations
Pumpkin doesn’t have 24/7/365 customer service, nor do they have a telehealth option like some of their competitors. Additionally, you’re limited to just one online quote, though you can add multiple pets.
Pumpkin’s customer satisfaction
Overall, Pumpkin has received positive reviews from customers. The company has a B- rating with the Better Business Bureau, and a score of 4.5 stars (out of 5) on TrustPilot.
Customers who gave Pumpkin high ratings stated that the website was easy to use for filing claims and submitting receipts. They also noted quick payment times (under a week) and great customer service.
Customer complaints
Most online customer complaints focused on claims that were denied due to pre-existing condition exclusions. Customers also noted long processing times for claims and increased fees after reimbursement.
Third-party ratings
Our research revealed that Pumpkin isn’t currently rated by JD Power or AM Best. However, Pumpkin products are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance, which holds an A rating from AM Best.
Pumpkin vs. the competition
Cats: $7,000, $15,000 and unlimited$5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 ($20,000 and unlimited coverage limits may be available in some states)Unlimited$2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 and unlimited
| Pumpkin | Embrace | Trupanion | Spot | |
| Annual coverage limits | Dogs: $10,000, $20,000 and unlimited Cats: $7,000, $15,000 and unlimited |
$5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, $30,000 ($20,000 and unlimited coverage limits may be available in some states) | Unlimited | $2,500, $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, $7,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 and unlimited |
| Deductible amount | $100, $250, $500 | $200, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 (additional deductibles may be available in some states) | $0- $1,000 (in $5 dollar increments) | $100, $250, $300, $500, $750, $1,000 |
| Reimbursement | 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% | 90% | 70%, 80%, 90% |
If you’d like to learn more about these insurance companies, read our Trupanion review and our Spot review.
Pumpkin FAQs
How we evaluated Pumpkin Pet Insurance
We reviewed Pumpkin for coverage, exclusions, reimbursement, annual deductibles, and coverage limits. We looked at sample policies and received quotes through the company’s online portal using a variety of locations, pet sizes, and ages. We also reviewed competitor websites for comparable information. To assess customer service, we contacted Pumpkin at various times by email, phone and chat, and evaluated their response times, knowledge and friendliness. We also analyzed customer reviews and complaints on other websites like the BBB, Trustpilot and NAIC.
Summary of Miami Herald’s Pumpkin review
As far as pet insurance companies go, Pumpkin is a solid choice if you’re looking for the security of comprehensive accident and illness coverage. While Pumpkin doesn’t offer a wide variety of plan customization through add-ons, their Preventative Essentials package stands out for its affordability and coverage of annual preventative care basics. Pumpkin only offers plans for dogs and cats, and their plans are slightly higher-priced than the competition. However, their coverage is extensive, they’re transparent with plan details and pricing information, and claim processes are simple, with quick turnaround times. Read more to learn about the best pet insurance.
Kristin Cobos has worked as a writer, researcher, and educator for 18 years. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from Webster University in Leiden, Netherlands and M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language from Southern Illinois University — Edwardsville. She covers finance and technology.