Prudent Pet Insurance Review 2023

Our experts answer readers' insurance questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess insurance products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.

Prudent pet insurance helps you do what its name suggests: make prudent financial investments toward your fur baby's health. This millennial-friendly insurance carrier offers easy online estimates and discounted rates for pet parents with multiple furballs. 

Prudent Pet Insurance

Most routine pet care is affordable. But pet insurance can be a lifesaver in an accident or unexpected illness. Uninsured pet parents may be unable to come up with the money to save their furry friend. Pet insurance reimburses you for bills based on the plan you choose. Some companies will pay an unlimited amount once you've fulfilled the deductible. So you could go from several thousand dollars after an accident to a $500 deductible plus coinsurance.

Markel Insurance Company underwrites Prudent's policies.

Prudent Pet Insurance Cost

Prudent pet insurance offers a plethora of policies and pricing options, but the numbers are relatively straightforward.

At the lowest end of the spectrum, an accident-only policy with the highest annual deductible, the lowest reimbursement tier, and no add-ons costs $12 per month for a young, healthy dog.

The most comprehensive plan with the highest reimbursement tier, lowest annual deductible, and total add-ons costs around $100 per month for the same dog.

How to File a Claim With Prudent Pet Insurance

Prudent pet insurance offers a standard claims submission process. You pay your vet first, then file for reimbursement on eligible claims.

To file a claim, complete the online form and send a copy of your vet's invoice to Prudent pet insurance within 270 days of your initial visit and treatment date. Policyholders can submit claims via email, fax, regular mail, or online portal. Make sure your insurance account number is on every document you submit.

Prudent will send you a check or direct deposit if your claim is approved. Many claims suggest fast processing time and a friendly customer service team.

Paula Owens left a review on Trustpilot, stating, "The process was simple and quick, and so was the response time! I received my reimbursement check quickly!"

Jim Smith described the caring and claims processing on Trustpilot, stating, "Lost one of our loving labs after a short battle with Leukemia. Staff was great handling the claims and very compassionate with words and actions."

Phone: 888-926-0830

Fax: 1-866-888-2495

Email: claims@customer.prudentpet.com

Mailing Address:

1208 Massillon Rd. Suite G 200

Akron, Ohio 44306

Prudent Pet Insurance Plans

Prudent pet insurance offers multiple insurance plans, four deductible options, and three reimbursement tiers. The sheer number of options can be overwhelming. Our coverage request for a 3-year-old golden retriever resulted in 48 individual price quotes before factoring in add-ons such as covered exam fees and wellness coverage.

As with all insurance policies, you'll have to wait for your policy to go into effect. For example, if you purchase the accident-only policy, you'll have to wait 14 days before you can make an eligible claim for your pet. If you buy a policy including accident and illness, you'll wait five days for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage to take effect. Finally, there's a six-month waiting period for knee and ligament issues.

The plans offered through Prudent are as follows:

Accident-only

This eponymous policy is straightforward: for emergencies only. If you have a relatively healthy pet and no future health concerns, opt for this affordable option which covers the basics such as broken limbs, car accidents, bite wounds, cuts, and sprains. However, it does not cover illnesses, potentially including your pet swallowing a sock or other object. This policy may come up short if you have concerns about cancer, allergies, or other unexpected conditions.

Accident + illness

Prudent pet insurance offers three tiers of accident and illness coverage: Essential 5000, Essential, and Ultimate. The Essential 5000 covers up to $5,000 per year in eligible veterinary expenses, while the Essential plan covers up to $10,000 per year. The Ultimate plan has no reimbursement ceiling. So as long as the condition doesn't fall under Prudent pet insurance's definition of "preexisting condition," the company would cover it.

In a simple sense, an accident and illness policy covers everything that's not a preexisting condition. However, Prudent pet insurance lays out individual claims. All three accident and illness policies include coverage for cancer growths and treatment, congenital disabilities and abnormalities, emergencies, and hospitalizations, in addition to several other services covered under the accident-only policy.

Annual deductible

You can choose from four annual deductibles: $100, $250, $500, or $1,000. If you want to save money, you can opt for a higher deductible, which means you will receive reimbursements from Prudent once you've paid your deductible for the year. On the other hand, if you have limited savings, a lower deductible will allow you to minimize your out-of-pocket costs.

Reimbursement

Pet insurance will only cover part of your bill, even for eligible claims. You'll choose if you want Prudent to reimburse 70%, 80%, or 90% of your eligible vet bill or expense. As with the annual deductible, your reimbursement tier will impact your monthly premium.

Additional Coverage Options (Riders)

Want a little extra financial protection for your pet? You can add the following coverage to your Prudent policy before checking out.

Vet exam fees

Prudent pet insurance's online estimate generator quoted us $5.13/month to add exam fee reimbursement to our pet insurance policy for Insider's hypothetical 3-year-old golden retriever Caboodle.

Wellness benefits

Well-puppy and well-kitten check-ups and shots aren't covered under accident and illness policies. However, you can also purchase a wellness coverage package to reimburse you for vaccinations, blood screenings, microchipping, and other routine costs.

You can choose from three tiers of coverage: Low, Medium, or High. For Caboodle, we were quoted between $12, $20, or $30 per month, respectively, for partial reimbursement for the following fees:

FAQs

Does Prudent pet insurance cover preexisting conditions?

Prudent pet insurance does not cover preexisting health conditions. However, it does not include "curable" conditions as preexisting. So if your pet has an ear infection treated and cured by a vet, not repeating for at least 365 days, Prudent would cover it in the future.

What pets does Prudent pet insurance cover?

Prudent insurance covers domestic dogs and cats of all ages.

Can I choose how much coverage to purchase with Prudent pet insurance?

You can choose between 70%, 80%, and 90% coinsurance reimbursement. Prudent also offers annual deductible limits between $100 and $1,000 and accident, illness, and wellness coverage options.

Does Prudent pet insurance have a waiting period?

For accident and illness protection policies, Prudent's waiting period is five days for accident coverage and 14 days for illness coverage to take effect. Knee and ligament issues are eligible for coverage after six months.

What preexisting conditions are excluded with Prudent pet insurance?

Prudent pet insurance companies do not cover preexisting conditions. Its definition of preexisting conditions allows for coverage of resolved conditions with no further treatment required for at least 365 days.

Compare Prudent Pet Insurance

See how Prudent compares to three other options for pet insurance: Lemonade, Figo, and Pumpkin.

Prudent vs. Lemonade Pet Insurance

Lemonade Pet Insurance - Product Name Only quickly outstrips  easy claims Prudent pet insurance in terms of claims filing by offering app-based submissions and boasting near-instantaneous reimbursement. Pet owners who value do-it-yourself simplicity will appreciate Lemonade's streamlined sign-up and no-contact claims filing. Lemonade recently added a multi-tier system offering basic and more extensive vet coverage, and policyholders can only file claims via the Lemonade app. At this time, Lemonade does not offer an accident and illness policy.

In contrast, fur parents who like to pick and choose specific aspects of coverage may prefer Prudent's pet insurance plans, which can be highly customized based on annual deductible, reimbursement tier, and additional riders. Lemonade relies on its $12 premiums to bring in business. Just keep in mind you get what you pay for. While Prudent rates may be higher, it also offers coverage for the unexpected things in life.

Lemonade Pet Insurance Review

Prudent vs. Figo Pet Insurance

Figo Pet Insurance - Product Name Only and Prudent pet insurance both offer a policy option for unlimited reimbursement. Similarly, both insurance companies offer plans with $5,000 and $10,000 annual ceilings, respectively. Coinsurance rates are also similar between the two companies, with one difference. Figo offers a 100% reimbursement tier after the deductible is met.

If your fur baby may incur several vet bills yearly, you may consider Figo for its 100% reimbursement option on eligible claims. However, Prudent's highest reimbursement package is 90% per claim. Premiums are similar for many pets. In addition, neither insurance company has an upper age limit. So your senior pets are safe with Figo or Prudent. But Figo requires pets to be at least eight weeks old.

Figo Pet Insurance Review

Prudent vs. Pumpkin Pet Insurance

Pumpkin pet insurance and Prudent both offer reliable insurance coverage for your beloved puppy or kitten. The main difference between the two will come from cost and coverage amounts.

With Prudent Pet Insurance - Product Name Only, you can choose between three reimbursement tiers ranging from 70% to 90%. You can also choose your annual reimbursement ceiling: $5,000, $10,000, or unlimited coverage. In contrast, Pumpkin pet insurance reimburses eligible claims at a flat 90% with an annual ceiling of up to $20,000 for dogs and up to $15,000 for cats.

Thus, premium-conscious pet parents may choose Prudent, which offers lower rates in exchange for less coverage. However, Prudent may be the only one covering the total cost of serious accidents or injuries, particularly when it involves ongoing treatment or repeat visits. A typical example would be pets with allergies, which can result in skin infections, ear infections, and more.

Pumpkin Pet Insurance Review

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Prudent Pet Insurance

To determine the best pet insurance, Insider evaluates pet insurance carriers depending on the overall customer experience. Is it easy to get a quote, sign up for a reasonably priced policy, complete claims, and answer your questions promptly and helpfully? You can read more about how we rate pet insurance.

While we like to give insurers the benefit of the doubt, pet insurance is slightly different. Companies are generally small and run by pet lovers, and monthly premiums are in the tens as opposed to the hundreds you'd expect with auto, home, or other insurance types. This pricing imposes natural limits. However, customer satisfaction is typically high. We separate companies based on age limits, coverage limits, coinsurance, etc. But the overall customer experience tends to be higher with pet insurance providers.