Overall Rating: 4.0 / 5
Pumpkin Pet Insurance is built around a single principle: pay back more per claim. By offering 90% reimbursement as the only option (no 70% or 80% tiers), Pumpkin ensures that after your deductible, you get back 90 cents on every dollar — compared to 80 cents at most competitors. The premium is higher as a result, but for owners whose pets have frequent moderate-to-large claims, the 10-percentage-point difference adds up quickly. Pumpkin also has no upper age limit and a strong preventive care add-on.
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage breadth | 4/5 | Covers hereditary, cancer, dental illness, no age limit |
| Price / value | 3/5 | Higher premium due to 90% reimbursement only option |
| Plan flexibility | 2/5 | No reimbursement rate choice; limited deductible options |
| Claims experience | 4/5 | Typically 5–10 business days; good app experience |
| Wellness add-ons | 4/5 | Preventive Essentials: flat-rate, covers vaccines and dental cleaning |
Best for: Owners who want the highest reimbursement rate, no-age-limit enrollment for senior pets, multi-pet households (10% discount per additional pet).
Not ideal for: Budget buyers wanting the lowest premium (90% reimbursement increases cost); owners who want to choose 70% or 80% reimbursement to lower monthly cost.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Plans and Pricing
| Setting | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual deductible | $100, $250, $500 | Limited range vs. competitors |
| Reimbursement rate | 90% only | No 70% or 80% option — highest in market |
| Annual limit | $7,000, $15,000, Unlimited | No low-limit option |
| Waiting period (accident) | 3 days | — |
| Waiting period (illness) | 14 days | — |
| Waiting period (orthopedic) | 14 days | No extended ortho waiting period |
| Age limit | No upper age limit | One of the few providers with no enrollment age cap |
Sample monthly premiums (2-year-old, mixed breed, mid-size U.S. city, $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement, $10,000 limit):
- Domestic shorthair cat: ~$30/month
- Mixed breed dog (medium): ~$68/month
- Golden Retriever (2-year-old): ~$85–$105/month
Why is Pumpkin more expensive? At 90% reimbursement, Pumpkin pays out more per claim than an 80% plan. On a $3,000 CCL surgery with a $500 deductible: 80% reimbursement returns $2,000; 90% returns $2,250 — a $250 difference per incident. For pets with multiple annual claims, this adds up significantly.
What Pumpkin Covers
- Accidents and injuries from day 4
- Illnesses from day 15
- Hereditary and congenital conditions
- Cancer — surgery, chemo, radiation, diagnostics
- Dental illness — fractures, resorption, stomatitis, periodontal extraction
- Chronic conditions — diabetes, CKD, epilepsy
- Prescription medications for covered conditions
- Diagnostic imaging — X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT
Pumpkin Preventive Essentials Add-On
Pumpkin's Preventive Essentials ($18.95/month) provides a flat-rate preventive care package:
- Annual wellness exam reimbursement
- Core vaccines (rabies, DHPP for dogs / FVRCP for cats)
- 1 non-core vaccine (Bordetella, leptospirosis, FeLV, or FIV)
- Annual dental cleaning reimbursement
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
- Heartworm test (dogs)
- FeLV/FIV test (cats)
At $18.95/month ($227.40/year), the Preventive Essentials add-on covers exam + vaccines + dental + prevention — typically $350–$600 in annual preventive costs. It's simple, fixed-price, and covers more vaccine types than most competitors.
Multi-Pet Discount
Pumpkin offers 10% off for each additional pet enrolled — one of the best multi-pet rates alongside ASPCA and Spot. For a 2-cat household, the second cat receives 10% off.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 90% reimbursement — pays back more per claim | No 70% or 80% option — can't lower premium by reducing reimbursement |
| No upper age limit for enrollment | Higher monthly premiums than Spot, Lemonade, or ASPCA |
| No extended orthopedic waiting period (14 days) | Limited deductible options ($100/$250/$500 only) |
| 10% multi-pet discount | No direct vet payment |
| Preventive Essentials add-on covers 2 vaccine types | No behavioral therapy or alternative therapy coverage |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pumpkin pet insurance worth it?
For pets with frequent moderate-to-large claims, yes — the 90% reimbursement rate pays out more than 80% plans, and over multiple claims per year the difference adds up. For healthy young pets with few expected claims, Spot or Lemonade at 80% reimbursement offer better value since the lower premium saves more than the reimbursement difference. Pumpkin is also worth considering for owners who want 90% reimbursement without age limits for senior pets.
How much does Pumpkin pet insurance cost?
Pumpkin starts at approximately $30/month for cats and $68/month for dogs with a $500 deductible, 90% reimbursement, and $10,000 annual limit — significantly higher than Spot ($13/$26) or Lemonade ($13/$22) at 80% reimbursement. The premium premium reflects the higher reimbursement rate.
What is the Pumpkin pet insurance waiting period?
3 days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and orthopedic conditions. No extended orthopedic waiting period — IVDD, hip dysplasia, and CCL tears are all covered after 14 days.
Does Pumpkin pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No — Pumpkin excludes pre-existing conditions. Curable conditions may be reconsidered after a symptom-free period. Pumpkin notably has a relatively straightforward exclusion policy with less aggressive underwriting than some competitors, but pre-existing conditions are still excluded universally.