I made exactly one claim during the 3 years I was a policy holder. As an attorney, I am used to adversarial proceedings but never encountered that experience where I am making a first-party claim. I see where most policyholders were happy with their experience and satisfied. I, on the other hand, had among the worst customer service I have ever encountered.
PA
Paulina
Not worth it
I do not recommend this pet insurance, I got it cause it has great reviews but now I think the company probably writes them, I’m gonna save my time writing my bad experience but if you’re planning on getting it please read the bad reviews first, I wish I would’ve.
TL
Tim L.
Waste my time some more!
IMHO, They are difficult to deal with. They’ve insured the dog in question for 4.25 years of her approximately 4.5 years on this planet, she’s been mostly healthy but developed a rare condition called diabetes incipidus that requires a single pill twice daily at a cost of $20 per month. A prescription only pill prescribed by a licensed veterinary doctor that has been prescribed and approved for a few months now. They want her complete medical records from “the day she joined our family.” All of this so they can tell me that she hasn’t reached her deductible yet. Also I have submitted EVERYTHING that she has ever had done to her, even expenses that I knew weren’t covered just so they would have everything in their records. So they have a complete record of her care and expenses and they are too lazy or too ignorant to realize that. That’s okay, I have nothing better to do than bow down to stupidity.
BO
Brian O.
Worst. Customer. Service. Ever
We took out a policy on two of our cats in March 2021 and submitted all their medical records online as requested. I submitted a cover letter with the records asking Healthy Paws to let us know if they had all the documentation required to commence policy coverage; we heard nothing back. When we submitted our first claim in May 23 after 2+ years of paying premiums, it was denied due to the cat's last vet exam being more than 12 months prior to enrollment. These scammers could have reviewed the records and let us know they needed a more current exam prior to starting the policy but they just collect your premium payments on the down low knowing they will be able to deny your first claim.
BR
Bridget
Up up up go the prices
I have been a loyal customer of Healthy Paws through two dogs and over 15 years. My dog, Daphne, is 11 years old with 0 health problems. We started by paying $30 and every year her premium has increased an incremental amount. $10 here and there, sometimes less than $10. Suddenly, she's over 10 years old and poof, the premium has increased over 100% in the past two years.
In the passed two months ALONE, we have had two increases on our premium, one from $90/month to $127 then a month after that increase, our premium went to $158. The second increase was because we moved 1.5 miles down the road. As if this location increases are pet costs by 360 a year. Still have the same vet, same emergency services and live in a safer neighborhood so, please, someone from healthy paws explain the justification of that hike. I'd love to hear the logic.
There is no discernible reason for this increase. The point of insurance is for the healthy young animals to pay for the costs of the older ones and when they get older, the younger animals will help pay for them. It's truly a simple and old fashioned business model that has turned predatory to take advantage of loving pet parents in the past decade and Healthy Paws used to be the exception and now, they're apart of the prefatory health insurance rule.
Every time I talk to customer service, they mention increases in rates at the state level. I have contacted the state and these increases are not reflective of the 60% increase in costs in two months! They have quoted me around a 10% increase in pet insurance costs in the past year. Therefore this is DIRECT evidence of Healthy Paws predatory practices of cash grabbing in the name of inflation. Inflation isn't 60%, kids.
They are simply taking advantage of the fact that I have been a long-time client, care about the wellness of my pet and know they likely won't have to pay out on my pet because of her good health. This increase is absolutely arbitrary and exists to line the businesses pockets and the pockets of their shareholders.
I'd stay the heck away from Healthy Paws your choices are more abundant than they were when my dog was a puppy. They don't value long-time customers, they clearly don't care about pets more than the almighty dollar and certainly do not work with anyone regarding price.
A true consumer and pet parent's nightmare.
MR
Marie R.
The company has changed and not for the better
The issue here with Healthy Paws is they used to be a good company prior to changing their underwriter a few years back. If you notice they used to be rated pretty high and lost their standing in the last few years around the time they switched to the current underwriter. The current underwriter has been involved with several legal issues. Look them up and you will see. Westchester is the underwriter.Many of the reviews here are solicited by the company and to people who are early in their policy. However, the company then increases your rates significantly after a period of time and that is why you mostly see reviews here for people that have not been with them as long.If you had asked me to write a review a few years ago, it would have been very different than what is now. It is a completely different company now than it was even a few years ago before they switched to their current underwriter. Now claims are delayed, you are asked for the same paperwork over and over, rates are through the roof. Then the company states well the rates are based off of claims in your region and expenses but never share that data with the consumer. If you are raising the rates based off of that data, don't you owe it to the people that you are raising the rates on to be transparent with that data? Once they have you on the line, they know that they can increase your rates because you can't switch to another insurance carrier without pre existing conditions and they know that. You are better off to take the money you would be paying them monthly and put that in a special fund for your pets and let it grow interest. Use it when you need it for your fur babies and if you don't need it then that money stays with you rather than going to a company that, in my opinion, is only going to take you to the cleaners in the long run.I am sorry to say that Healthy Paws is no longer the company they once were and the moment they started with that underwriter is when the trouble began.They will probably write a standard reply here saying to contact them and they are concerned, only to find out that you will be promised a return call or email and they do not get back with you. Only a promise they will return a call or email and then that never happens. Again, a few years ago this would not have been the case.
RE
Rene
AVOID COMPANY AT ALL COSTS
Absolutely worst experience with this company. My cat tragically died 2 months ago with complications costing over $3k. I’ve sent them all the invoices and medical records multiple times but they keep “losing” them. I’ve called customer service 3 times and every time they are disorganized and confused, barely locating my claim. they can’t find anything i’ve sent and told me they will take care of it, then I don’t here anything for weeks, call back and nothing has been done. On top of that, even though we have notified this company many times that our cat has died, they are STILL charging us each month. I honestly have very little hopes for them actually getting this claim completed. Dealing with this nightmare while mourning my cat has been an outrageously horrible experience. Use literally ANY other insurance company
AA
Aaron
I had Healthy Paws for about 8 years
I had Healthy Paws for about 8 years, in which they raised my rates the last 5, and although they say they cover Emergencies, they didn't cover mine. I have the paperwork from the Vet that says Emergency and they refused to cover it.
Just the standard Insurance company, in which there are no good ones.