Fetch Pet Insurance Review 2024
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Fetch
4.5
/5Annual max coverage
Reimbursement rates
Deductibles
Policy highlight
About Fetch pet insurance
Fetch earned 4.5 stars out of 5 for overall performance. Formerly known as Petplan, Fetch offers an accident and illness policy with a unique type of coverage: up to $1,000 in boarding fees for a pet if its owner is in the hospital. The plan also covers vet exam fees, tooth injuries and diseases, and behavioral therapy.
You can add wellness coverage to pay for things like dental cleaning and vaccinations. However, accident-only plans aren't available.
Note: Coverage options and availability may vary depending on where you live and the age and breed of your pet.
Fetch pet insurance plans and coverage
Fetch offers one accident and illness plan with three annual limits to choose from online: $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. An unlimited annual benefit may be available when buying by phone. This plan covers:
Veterinary exam fees.
Emergency and specialist visits.
Tooth injury and disease.
Breed-specific medical conditions.
Virtual veterinarian visits, up to $1,000 per year.
Diagnostic tests, imaging and ultrasounds.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care.
Behavioral therapy.
Physical therapy.
Cancer treatment.
Surgery and hospitalization.
Veterinarian-recommended supplements for an injury or illness.
If you go to the hospital, boarding fees for your pet up to $1,000 per year.
Up to $1,000 per year for missing pet advertising and reward.
The company also offers wellness coverage you can add to your accident and illness plan. Depending on which tier you choose, Fetch’s wellness plan may cover:
An annual exam.
Vaccinations.
Heartworm, flea and tick preventives.
Heartworm, blood, fecal or urine tests.
Dental cleaning.
Microchipping.
Anal gland expression.
A behavioral exam.
A health certificate and activity monitor.
What Fetch doesn't cover
Fetch's accident and illness plan doesn't cover:
Pre-existing conditions.
Cosmetic or elective procedures, like tail docking and ear cropping.
Routine and preventive care (unless you’ve added wellness coverage).
Claims submitted more than 90 days after treatment.
Fetch pet insurance plan options
Deductibles: A pet insurance deductible is the amount you need to pay toward your vet bills before your insurance company starts reimbursing you. The deductible options you see when getting a Fetch quote online will vary depending on your pet and where you live. We saw choices ranging from $250 to $700 per year in our sample quotes, but deductibles as high as $2,500 may be available over the phone.
Reimbursement amounts: You can choose reimbursement for 70%, 80% or 90% of your expenses.
Fetch uses a method of calculating claim payouts that’s common among many pet insurers but less generous than it could be. The company applies your reimbursement rate to your vet bill first, then subtracts your deductible. If you have a $2,000 vet bill, an 80% reimbursement rate and a $500 deductible, here’s how Fetch might calculate your reimbursement:
$2,000 vet bill x 0.8 (80% reimbursement rate) = $1,600.
$1,600 - $500 deductible = $1,100.
You’d pay the remaining $900.
Did you know...
Some insurers subtract your deductible first, then apply your reimbursement rate. In the example above, those insurers would pay $1,200. Here’s the math:
$2,000 vet bill - $500 deductible = $1,500.
$1,500 x 0.8 (80% reimbursement) = $1,200.
Coverage limits: The company website offers annual coverage limits of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. Additional limits may be available over the phone, including an unlimited annual benefit.
» MORE: The best pet insurance companies
Restrictions and waiting periods
Age restrictions: Fetch doesn't cover pets younger than 6 weeks old. There's no upper age limit.
Waiting periods: Waiting periods are the time between when you buy your policy and when your coverage starts. Fetch has a 15-day waiting period for illnesses and most injuries, with a six-month waiting period for hip and knee injuries. The company may waive the knee injury waiting period if you have a vet examine your pet within the first 30 days of your policy.
If your pet gets sick or injured during the waiting period, treatment won’t be covered — and the condition will be considered pre-existing going forward. Learn more about pre-existing conditions.
Fetch pet insurance sample rates
The cost of Fetch pet insurance depends on where you live, the coverage limits you choose, and your pet’s breed and age.
To give you a rough idea of how much you might pay, we gathered sample rates for several popular dog breeds at ages 2 and 8. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for dogs living in Katy, Texas. Our sample plan was for accident and illness coverage with a $300 deductible, $5,000 of annual coverage and an 80% reimbursement rate. Your own price will vary.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
French bulldog | $75 | $223 |
German shepherd | $48 | $138 |
Golden retriever | $47 | $134 |
Labrador retriever | $42 | $120 |
Medium mixed-breed dog | $36 | $98 |
Poodle | $32 | $87 |
We also gathered rates for a variety of cat breeds with a $250 deductible and the same annual coverage and reimbursement rates as above. Rates below are sample monthly premiums for cats living in Katy, Texas.
Breed | Age 2 | Age 8 |
|---|---|---|
Devon rex | $22 | $43 |
Domestic shorthair | $22 | $36 |
Exotic longhair | $22 | $43 |
Maine coon | $26 | $50 |
Persian | $22 | $43 |
Ragdoll | $22 | $43 |
» MORE: The best cheap pet insurance
Fetch pet insurance discounts
Discounts may be available for:
Rescuing or adopting your pet from a shelter.
AARP members.
Veterans and active-duty military.
People who get their policies through their employer.
Veterinarians and their staff.
We recommend getting pet insurance quotes from at least three companies to make sure you’ve found the best deal.
» MORE: Is pet insurance worth it?
State availability
Fetch's accident and illness policies are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How to file a claim with Fetch
You can file a claim through the app or on the website by providing the company with a finalized, fully paid invoice and detailed medical records. Fetch usually takes about 15 days to process claims and will send status updates via email. If you set up direct deposit, you’ll receive your payout up to 10 days faster than waiting for a physical check in the mail. You must file claims within 90 days of treatment.
Digital experience
Fetch's website is easy to navigate and features coverage information, an extensive FAQ section and a 24/7 chatbot. You can chat live with customer service representatives Monday through Saturday. In addition, policyholders can use their online accounts to file a claim or add a pet to their policy. New customers can get a quote and buy a policy on the website.
Fetch also has a mobile app you can use to scan documents, file a claim, view claim history, track how much of your deductible is left, sign up for direct deposit and access the company's 24/7 chatbot feature.
How to contact Fetch customer service
You can contact Fetch customer support by mail, via email, through the website's 24/7 chatbot feature or over the phone, Monday through Friday. The website also offers a live chat where you can speak to a customer service representative Monday through Saturday. You can reach customer support at 866-467-3875.
Fetch pet insurance: The bottom line
Fetch pet insurance may be right for you if you’re looking for comprehensive coverage with the option to add a wellness plan.
Strengths: There’s no upper age limit for enrollment. You can have the company waive its six-month waiting period for knee injuries with a vet exam. Coverage for boarding fees if you’re hospitalized is a nice perk.
Weaknesses: Fetch doesn’t cover prescription food or offer an accident-only plan.
Other pet insurance companies to consider
It’s important to shop around so that you can find the right coverage for your pet’s needs.
How we review pet insurance
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines that ensure fairness and accuracy to help you choose the financial products that work best for you. In our pet insurance reviews, we consider coverage, discounts, financial strength ratings from AM Best and more to determine our star ratings.
In our evaluation, we:
Analyzed 2,100 data points.
Got 800+ quotes from pet insurers.
Compared 20+ companies.
Our rating system rewards companies that cover a wide range of potential expenses, offer many ways to customize your plan and have a strong financial rating. Within the consumer experience category, we looked at features such as mobile app ratings and whether the company offers direct vet payments. To calculate each insurer’s rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale.
Dive deeper with our criteria for evaluating pet insurance companies.
Methodology
Pet insurance star ratings
NerdWallet’s pet insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, scope of coverage, the ability to customize your plan and more. Our “consumer experience” category looks at factors such as website transparency and mobile app ratings. To calculate each insurer’s star rating, we adjusted the scores to a curved 5-point scale. See our full pet insurance methodology.
These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Pet insurance sample rates
To find sample pet insurance rates, NerdWallet gathered quotes for the base level of accident and illness coverage on each insurer’s website. Quotes reflect the monthly cost of a policy and do not include wellness coverage or other optional add-ons. Each plan for a given company had the same deductible, coverage limit and reimbursement rate for all sample pets.
These are sample rates gathered for specific pets living in Katy, Texas. Your own rates will be different.
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