Healthy Paws dog insurance: what it covers
Thinking about Healthy Paws dog insurance? Here’s what Healthy Paws’s policy really covers, explained in plain English and taken straight from Healthy Paws’s own documents. We’ve focused on the parts that decide whether a claim gets paid, such as waiting periods, pre-existing conditions and how much you pay yourself. Nothing here is a recommendation.
Healthy Paws at a glance
- Deductible you pay first
- Annual: applies once per 12-month coverage term
- Share of each vet bill it pays back
- Coinsurance shown on the declarations page
- Wait before illness is covered
- 15 days
- Vet exam fees
- Not covered
Common questions about Healthy Paws dog insurance
How long is the Healthy Paws waiting period?
15 days
Does Healthy Paws cover pre-existing conditions?
Not covered: anything that started before your policy is excluded.
Does Healthy Paws cover vet exam fees?
Not covered
Does Healthy Paws cover behavioural training or a behaviourist?
Not covered: training, therapy and behaviour medication are all excluded.
Does Healthy Paws pet insurance cover dental?
Only injury to teeth from an accident; dental health care is excluded.
Does Healthy Paws cover cruciate ligament surgery?
No separate knee rule: the standard 15-day waiting period applies. (Hip dysplasia has a 12-month wait, and no cover if your dog joins at 6 or older.)
Is there an age limit to join Healthy Paws?
No maximum age stated. Pets 6 or older need a full vet exam within 30 days before cover or 15 days after
How old does my puppy need to be for Healthy Paws?
8 weeks
Does Healthy Paws cover hip dysplasia?
Covered after a 12-month waiting period, but only for dogs who join before age 6. Dogs aged 6 or older when they join get no hip dysplasia cover at all.
Working on reactivity or another behaviour problem? Read how to choose a reactive dog trainer, or find a trainer near you.
How does Healthy Paws compare with other US insurers?
The same five points for every US insurer we compare, so you can see how Healthy Paws stacks up. Click any insurer to read its full page.
| Insurer | Deductible you pay first | Share of each bill paid back | Wait before illness is covered | Vet exam fees | Behavioural treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trupanion | Per condition: once paid for an illness or injury, that condition is covered with no further deductible | Coinsurance shown on the declarations page; the website says up to 90% | 30 days (illnesses in the first 30 days are treated as pre-existing) | Not covered, at any time | Only with the optional Recovery and Complementary Care rider (which also covers rehab, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic) |
| Nationwide | Annual | Percentage of eligible costs on some plans, pre-set benefit allowances on others; the worked example uses 80% | 'Most plans start 1–14 days after your application is approved and payment has been processed' (no split by illness/injury stated) | Not found yet | Modular Plan lists Behavioral coverage among its coverages; it excludes behavioural training not medically necessary for a diagnosed condition, and obedience training |
| Lemonade | Annual deductible (the FAQ's examples and wording) | 70%, 80% or 90% co-insurance | 14 days | Not covered by the base policy; covered with the vet visit fee add-on | Not found yet |
| Healthy Paws | Annual: applies once per 12-month coverage term | Coinsurance shown on the declarations page | 15 days | Not covered | Not covered (training, therapy, medication or other behaviour modification) |
| Embrace | Annual, per pet | Reimbursement percentage shown on the Schedule of Insurance | 14 days | Covered only if shown on the Schedule (optional) | Covered: vet diagnosis, tests, medication and training sessions as Behavioral Therapy |
| Pets Best | Annual: $50 to $2,000 in $50 steps | 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or 90% | 14 days | Only with the optional office visits/exam fees benefit, chosen at enrolment | Training and treatment not covered, except consultations and prescription medication if the supplemental benefits are bought |
| Pumpkin | Annual, applies each policy period | Percentage shown on the declarations page | 14 days | Covered as part of eligible treatment ("examinations, consultations") | Covered if treated by a vet or, on a vet's referral, by a certified animal behaviourist (CAAB, ACAAB) or veterinary behaviourist (Dip ACVB) |
| Figo | Annual deductible, plus an optional per-incident copay | Coinsurance shown on the declarations page | 14 days | Not covered unless the optional Office Visit and Exam Fees cover is bought | Not covered unless the optional Holistic and Alternative & Behavioral Problems cover is bought |
| Spot | Annual, applies each policy period | Percentage shown on the declarations page | 14 days | Covered as part of eligible treatment ("examinations, consultations") | Covered if treated by a vet or, on a vet's referral, by a certified animal behaviourist (CAAB, ACAAB) or veterinary behaviourist (Dip ACVB) |
Everything we checked in Healthy Paws’s policy
Each point shows where we found it in Healthy Paws’s own document, so you can check it yourself. Where an insurance term needs explaining, we’ve added a short note.
- Type of policy
- Accident and illness, one planWhere: Coverage
- Deductible you pay firstThe amount you pay towards vet bills before your insurer starts paying.
- Annual: applies once per 12-month coverage termWhere: I.4 Deductible
- Share of each vet bill it pays backAfter your deductible, the percentage of each vet bill your insurer pays back.
- Coinsurance shown on the declarations pageWhere: I.3; Definitions
- Most it will pay out
- A lifetime limit shown on the declarations page; no limits per claim or per year below itWhere: I.2 Lifetime limit
- Wait before illness is coveredThe time after you buy a policy before you can claim for an illness.
- 15 daysWhere: II.1.c
- Wait before injuries are covered
- 15 daysWhere: II.1.b
- Wait before knee problems are coveredSome insurers make you wait longer before knee problems, like a torn cruciate ligament, are covered.
- Hip dysplasia: 12 months. Dogs 6 or older at enrolment get no cover for hip dysplasia at allWhere: II.1.d; Limitations b
- Problems on both sides of the body, like both kneesIf your dog has problems on both sides (both knees, both hips), many policies treat them as one condition.
- Not in the documents we read.Where: No bilateral clause found
- Cover for pre-existing conditionsAnything your dog had, or showed signs of, before the policy started.
- Not covered: any illness or injury that started before the policy effective dateWhere: II.2; Definitions 24
- Vet exam fees
- Not coveredWhere: II.1.a
- Cover for behavioural treatment
- Not covered (training, therapy, medication or other behaviour modification)Where: Exclusions s.
- Dental cover
- Only injury to teeth from an accident; dental health care excludedWhere: Exclusions d.
- Routine care, like vaccinations
- Not covered (vaccinations, flea control, heartworm, spay/neuter)Where: II.3
- Oldest age your dog can join
- No maximum age stated. Pets 6 or older need a full vet exam within 30 days before cover or 15 days afterWhere: Limitations a.
- Youngest age your dog can join
- 8 weeksWhere: Puppy insurance page (Healthy Paws’s website, read 5 October 2026)
- Hip dysplasia
- 12-month waiting period. Not covered at all for dogs aged 6 or older when they joinWhere: II.1.d; Limitations b; Definitions 32
Source: Healthy Paws pet insurance policy (Texas sample), LD-50812 (07/18). Read on 5 October 2026. Underwriter: Westchester Fire Insurance Company (Chubb). Terms vary by state; these are for Texas. Policies change, so always read the current policy wording before you buy or claim. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.