Our Thoughts on Prudent Pet Insurance
Based on our objective rating methodology, Prudent Pet Insurance earned 4.4 out of 5 stars. Prudent Pet earned points in our scoring across the board by providing flexible coverage options and a seamless reimbursement process.
We appreciate Prudent Pet’s variety of plan choices, which include an accident-only option and two tiers of accident and illness plans. Its Essential accident and illness plan provides more standard coverage, but pet parents seeking more comprehensive coverage can step up to the Ultimate plan, which offers unique perks, such as a vacation cancellation benefit.
The company insures pets in all 50 U.S. states. With a reasonable exclusion list and responsive customer service teams, based on our review, Prudent Pet is a top choice.
Pros and Cons
How Prudent Pet Scored in Our Methodology
We rated Prudent Pet Insurance 4.4 out of 5 stars based on our rating methodology. The company scored well in most areas, offering a well-rounded value to pet owners.
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Prudent Pet Insurance Rating
Prudent Pet’s Plans and Pricing
Prudent Pet Insurance offers three plans: accident-only and two levels of accident and illness coverage — Essential and Ultimate.
The company’s accident-only plan, providing up to $10,000 in annual coverage, covers the cost of care related to pet injuries such as broken bones. Its Essential and Ultimate accident and illness plans cover accidents, illnesses and conditions, such as behavioral issues and skin conditions. The Essential plan offers up to $10,000 in annual coverage, and the Ultimate plan comes with unlimited caps.
Deductibles and reimbursement rates for all three plans are customizable. All plans also include 24/7 access to live chats with a vet. Plans are subject to waiting periods of five days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses and six months for knee and ligament conditions.
The company’s website makes it easy to sign up for coverage after a quick quote, based on our experience. Our team also found that coverage inclusions and exclusions were clearly listed on the website. If you have questions, customer service representatives are available to help pet owners get coverage.
How Much Does Prudent Pet Insurance Cost?
The price you’ll pay for Prudent Pet Insurance depends on the plan you choose, where you live, and your pet’s age, species and breed. Your pet’s characteristics can influence pricing. For example, certain pet breeds such as French bulldogs are more likely to develop medical issues than others and as a result, may cost more to insure.
Based on the sample quotes we requested, the average cost of a Prudent Pet accident and illness is around $64 a month for dogs and $34 for cats.
| Plan | Accident-Only | Accident and Illness | Wellness Plan |
| Average Monthly Cost | $22* | $51* | Adds $17 |
| Summary | Offers lower cost coverage for accidental injuries | Covers diagnostics and treatments for accidental injuries and illnesses | Add-on that covers routine pet care with ranging levels of benefits |
*The above accident-only and accident and illness plans include a $10,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.
Our team determined the above policy costs by obtaining quotes for four sample pets in Chicago, Ill., including:
We calculated this average by gathering quotes for ten different sample pet profiles. Sample pet profiles include mixed-breed and purebred dogs and cats, ranging from 3 months old to 8 years old. We collected a total of 997 quotes from Prudent Pet.
You can tweak your premium costs by adjusting your deductible from $100 to $1,000 and your reimbursement rate from 70% to 90%. Pet owners with multiple furry pals are eligible for a 10% multi-pet discount per policy and veterinary professionals and active or former military may receive additional savings.
Although it’s not one of the cheapest plans we’ve reviewed, Prudent Pet offers customizable coverage and boasts many positive customer reviews. Prudent Pet policy pricing is in line with the industry average but may offer a better overall choice for customer experience. Based on our analysis of Trustpilot reviews, pet owners report their Prudent plans offer value.
See how Prudent Pet measures up to other top competitors below:
What Does Prudent Pet Insurance Cover?
Prudent Pet offers several customizable plan options so pet owners can choose coverage that works for their pet’s needs and budget. The accident-only plan offers financial protection against unexpected injuries, and the accident and illness plans offer three coverage tiers.
Base plan pricing does not include exam fees, which helps lower monthly costs. Policyholders can choose to add this coverage for an additional fee with an optional wellness plan. Other exclusions include:
- Pre-existing conditions
- Breeding, pregnancy or whelping costs
- Experimental treatments
- Organ transplants
- Elective or cosmetic procedures
See the Prudent Pet sample plan for a full list of exclusions.
Prudent Pet’s Plan Offerings
Prudent Pet offers several base plan options that vary in coverage and annual limits. Although annual limits are fixed based on your plan choice, each policy offers customizable deductibles and reimbursement rates.
Pet owners can choose from one accident-only plan and two accident and illness plans that differ based on the annual limit. The Essential plan typically offers $10,000 in annual coverage but our team found that some quotes included a lower limit. The Ultimate plan offers unlimited annual coverage with no limit. The accident-only plan includes a $10,000 annual limit. Below is an overview of what each plan covers.
| Condition or Treatment | Accident-Only | Essential Plan | Ultimate Plan |
| Alternative therapies | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavior therapies | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Bite wounds | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Broken bones | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cancer | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Congenital issues | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Dental injuries | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diagnostic tests | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Emergency boarding fees | ✓ | ||
| Emergency visits | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Foreign body ingestion | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hereditary and breed-related issues | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hip dysplasia | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hospitalization | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lost pet advertising and reward | ✓ | ||
| Mortality benefit | ✓ | ||
| Prescription medications | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skin or ear disease | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Stomach problems | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Surgery | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Theft or straying | ✓ | ||
| Urinary tract infections | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Vacation cancellation | ✓ |
The Ultimate plan also offers unique perks not typically found with other providers, such as vacation cancellation if your pet gets sick, boarding fees if you become hospitalized and a mortality reimbursement. The company caps these non-veterinary benefits at specific dollar amounts each year, typically ranging from $500 to $1,000.
Preventative Care Plans
Prudent Pet policyholders can also add wellness care to their pet’s base plans. This extends coverage to include routine care, such as vaccines and dental cleanings. Covered wellness services are reimbursed according to a set fee schedule but are not subject to deductibles or waiting periods as with traditional coverage. Unused allowances will not roll over to the next year.
The table below outlines what’s included in each Prudent Pet wellness plan option and how much each policy costs per month. Note that although reimbursement amounts and total benefits are the same for dogs and cats, plan costs will vary between species.
| Covered Service | Low Wellness | Medium Wellness | High Wellness |
| Annual benefit amount | $210 | $315 | $460 |
| Cost | $8 for cats and $12 for dogs | $14 for cats and $20 for dogs | $20 for cats and $30 for dogs |
| Up to two wellness exams | $15 each | $25 each | $30 each |
| Up to two core vaccines | $25 each | $30 each | $35 each |
| One non-core vaccine | Not covered | Not covered | $35 |
| Heartworm or FIV/FeLV screen | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Fecal exam | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Wellness blood work | Not covered | Not covered | $35 |
| Health certificate | $30 | $40 | $50 |
| Microchip | $25 | $35 | $45 |
| Deworming | $25 | $30 | $35 |
| Dental cleaning or spay and neuter surgery | Not covered | $40 | $60 |
Prudent Pet’s Optional Add-On Coverage
Aside from wellness coverage, Prudent Pet’s base plans offer another add-on option to cover veterinary exam fees. We found that exam fee coverage costs about $8 per month for cats and $13 for dogs. Our data is based on quotes for 5-year-old, mixed-breed dogs and cats with the Essential plan, including a $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.
Customizable Coverage Levels
Each Prudent Pet insurance plan is customizable, allowing pet owners to adjust the deductible and reimbursement rate to meet their current financial needs.
Deductible Options
The deductible is the amount you pay each year toward covered pet care costs before plan reimbursements begin. Prudent Pet offers the following deductible options: $100, $250, $500 or $1,000. The deductible applies once each policy year and may require several claims to meet. Selecting a higher deductible can help lower monthly premiums and vice versa.
Reimbursement Rates
The reimbursement rate is the percentage of covered claims Prudent Pet will reimburse after you meet your deductible. Options include 70%, 80% or 90%, and higher reimbursement rates generally correlate with higher monthly premiums.
Annual Limit Options
An annual limit is the maximum amount a plan will pay during an insurance term. Each Prudent Pet plan has a fixed annual limit, which ranges between $2,500 and unlimited based on the quotes we requested.
Sign-Up, Claims Filing and Payout Processes
Customers can sign up for a Prudent Pet policy by visiting the company’s website and getting a free quote. The quote tool is fast and responsive, and based on our experience, it requires only a few pieces of information to get started. Then, you should advance to the quote results page to choose your base plans and pick your deductible and reimbursement rate. Scrolling down on this page should reveal more information about what each plan covers.
After choosing basic coverage, prospective policyholders are asked if they want to add exam fee coverage or a wellness plan. If you’re unsure what coverage you need for your pet, we suggest calling a customer service agent.
Many customers praised the claims and reimbursement process on Trustpilot, citing quick turnaround times and a well-designed online claims portal. To submit a claim, log into your account on the Prudent Pet website and upload your pet’s paid veterinary bill. The company may request your pet’s medical records when filing your first claim. Unlike many other companies, Prudent Pet doesn't have a mobile app, but its website is mobile-friendly.
Prudent Pet says on its website that 75% of claims are closed within 24 hours. Payouts may come in the form of paper checks or direct deposits, depending on your preferences and timeframe. A few customers complained of prolonged wait times for reimbursements, but most were happy with the company’s quick turnaround.
Prudent Pet’s Waiting Periods and Age Restrictions
Prudent Pet imposes fairly standard waiting periods, although delays may vary depending on the laws in your state. Barring state-imposed restrictions, the waiting period is five days for accidents, 14 days for illnesses, and six months for knee or ligament conditions.
The company will consider conditions that occurred before or during each waiting period as pre-existing and not extend coverage. However, Prudent Pet will cover future occurrences of a curable pre-existing condition after a year has passed without treatment or symptoms.
Prudent Pet says on its website that it will not deny or drop coverage based on a pet’s advancing age, making it a considerable choice for seniors. The minimum age for enrollment is 8 weeks old, and the company has no maximum enrollment age. It also will not deny coverage based on breed.
What Customers Think About Prudent Pet Insurance
The company has a seemingly good reputation based on our team’s review of platforms including Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. Policyholders repeatedly praised the company’s performance and expressed gratitude for their pets’ coverage.
What Customers Like
- Customer service: Many reviewers mentioned easy-to-reach and helpful customer service agents.
- Fast claims: Most reviewers had claims processed and paid quickly. Reviewers also liked how after filing a claim, Prudent Pet took care of the remaining steps.
- Knowledgeable veterinary professionals: Prudent Pet employs veterinary professionals who understand the industry based on our analysis of customer reviews.
What Customers Don’t Like
- Exam fee coverage: Some reviewers complained about how exam fee coverage was not included in their policies but rather offered as a paid add-on.
- Payment processing fees: A few customers noted that monthly processing fees were not necessary.
- Low reimbursements: Some customers noted lower-than-expected reimbursements after filing their first claims.
We reached out to Prudent Pet for comment on its negative customer reviews but did not receive a response.
Prudent Pet Insurance vs. the Market
Check out our detailed review of Healthy Paws to learn more.
Prudent Pet vs. Lemonade
Prudent Pet plans are, on average, about twice the cost of Lemonade’s coverage plans. However, Lemonade plans can offer an affordable choice for pet parents looking for basic coverage. You would need to purchase multiple add-ons with a Lemonade policy to achieve the same level of coverage as with Prudent Pet.
Lemonade uses artificial intelligence (AI) to power its policy buying and management platform, which may appeal to tech-savvy pet owners looking for convenience and speed. Although Prudent Pet is a bit behind on the technological front, comparatively, its business model seems to appease customers based on our analysis of online reviews.
| Prudent Pet | Lemonade | |
| Reimbursement Rates | 70%, 80% or 90% | 70%–90% |
| Deductibles | $100–$1,000 | $100–$750 |
| Annual limits | $5,000–unlimited | $5,000–$100,000 |
| Average cost for dogs | $64 per month | $52 per month |
| Average cost for cats | $34 per month | $29 per month |
Learn more about Lemonade’s pet insurance plans in our complete review.
Frequently Asked Questions about Prudent Pet Insurance
Prudent Pet customers can log into the company’s online portal to file claims, upload records, see benefit explanations and track claims progress.
Prudent Pet offers a 10% discount for each additional pet you add to your account. The company also states that veterinary professionals and active military members and veterans should reach out to customer service to see if additional discounts are available in their area.
Prudent Pet Insurance has mostly positive customer reviews, based on our analysis, making it worth consideration for pet parents. We recommend pet owners request quotes from at least three different providers before picking a plan. That way, you can find a fair deal for the coverage your pet needs.
Yes, the company covers knee and ligament injuries after a six-month waiting period. However, as with other pet insurance providers, Prudent Pet will only cover orthopedic injuries not considered pre-existing.
Methodology: Our System for Rating Pet Insurance Companies
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