Chewy pet insurance has expanded beyond its traditional online pet products retail business by partnering with two major pet insurance providers, Lemonade and Trupanion, to offer comprehensive coverage through its CarePlus program. Pet owners can now access accident and illness policies, optional wellness plans, and unique benefits like 100% coverage for prescription medications and food purchased through Chewy’s website.
The Chewy pet insurance partnership allows customers to choose between policies from Lemonade, which offers coverage up to $20,000 annually, or Trupanion, which provides unlimited annual coverage options. Not all insurers and plan types are available in every state, according to the company.
Understanding Chewy Pet Insurance Coverage Options
Lemonade offers three tiers of accident and illness coverage through Chewy: Base, Value, and Value Plus plans. The Base policy covers diagnostic testing, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, chronic conditions, cancer, and prescription medications. Meanwhile, the Value Plus plan adds coverage for veterinary exam fees, physical therapy, and behavioral therapy.
Trupanion provides two accident and illness policies: Essential Accident & Illness and Complete Accident & Illness. The Essential plan covers diagnostic testing including X-rays, surgeries, hospitalization, emergency care, prescription medications and supplements, prescription diet food, and chronic conditions. Additionally, Trupanion offers a standalone accident-only plan covering injuries like broken bones, toxic ingestion, and vehicle-related accidents.
Coverage Limits and Reimbursement Rates Vary by Provider
According to the coverage details, Lemonade plans feature a $20,000 annual maximum limit with deductible choices of $250, $500, or $1,000 and reimbursement rates of 70% or 80%. In contrast, Trupanion offers unlimited annual coverage with the same deductible options but a fixed 90% reimbursement rate.
Waiting periods differ between the two insurers. Lemonade’s accident coverage begins at 12:01 a.m. the day after purchase, with a 14-day waiting period for illness coverage. However, Trupanion requires a five-day waiting period for accidents and 14 days for illnesses.
Age Requirements and Enrollment Restrictions
Lemonade policies have a minimum pet age of eight weeks and a maximum enrollment age of 11 years old. Trupanion sets the minimum age at nine weeks but imposes no maximum age limit, making it more accessible for older pets.
Chewy pet insurance plans through Trupanion require that pets have seen a veterinarian within 12 months prior to enrollment, unless they’re insured before their first birthday. Lemonade doesn’t require a vet exam before enrollment but does request pet medical records.
Wellness Plans Offer Preventative Care Coverage
Lemonade provides two wellness plan options that can be added to any accident and illness policy. The standard Preventative Care plan covers one wellness exam up to $70, one blood test up to $65, one fecal test up to $35, one heartworm test up to $40, and three vaccinations totaling $105. The Preventative Care for Puppy/Kitten plan includes expanded coverage with spay or neuter procedures up to $120 and microchipping up to $40.
Trupanion offers Wellness and Comprehensive Wellness plans with different maximum limits for covered services. The Comprehensive Wellness Plan provides exam fees up to $90, vaccinations up to $80, routine bloodwork up to $75, and parasite preventatives up to $125 when purchased through Chewy.com. Furthermore, Trupanion’s wellness plans can be purchased as standalone coverage even without a pet insurance policy.
Cost Comparison and Discount Opportunities
The average cost of Chewy pet insurance through Lemonade with a $5,000 annual coverage limit is $70.62 per month, according to pricing data. A Trupanion plan with unlimited annual coverage averages $184.97 per month, which is above the industry average.
Both Lemonade and Trupanion offer 10% multi-pet discounts when customers insure more than one dog or cat. This discount rate is on the high end compared to most pet insurance companies, which typically offer 5% to 10% off.
Claims Process and Payment Methods
Trupanion offers direct veterinary payment options if the veterinarian accepts payments from the insurer, allowing pet owners to pay only their portion of the bill at checkout. Lemonade doesn’t provide direct vet pay, requiring customers to pay out of pocket and submit invoices for reimbursement through the Lemonade mobile app.
Lemonade reports that almost 50% of pet insurance claims are settled immediately when all information is provided. Trupanion typically processes manual claims within one to two days after approval for direct deposit, or seven to 10 business days for paper checks.
Claim Filing Deadlines and Requirements
Lemonade customers have 180 days from the date of treatment to submit a claim, while Trupanion customers must report claims within 90 days. Claims can be filed through the Lemonade mobile app or by emailing Trupanion at care@trupanion.com with itemized vet invoices.
Common Exclusions Apply Across Plans
Chewy pet insurance plans don’t cover preexisting conditions that developed before insurance enrollment or during waiting periods. Other standard exclusions include cosmetic procedures, breeding and pregnancy, cloning, microchipping without a wellness plan, injuries from intentional acts like dog fighting, neglect, boarding, grooming, and experimental treatments.
The report indicates that some preexisting conditions may be covered if they’re treatable and fully resolved, such as parvovirus or kennel cough, if they recur after resolution.
Geographic Availability and Customer Support
Lemonade pet insurance plans are sold in 41 states and Washington, D.C., while Trupanion coverage is available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Chewy CarePlus offers 24/7 customer service at 1-800-672-4399, and select states receive access to a free vet helpline daily from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET, though this service isn’t available in Alaska, Georgia, or Hawaii.
Customers who cancel within the first 30 days without filing claims receive a full refund, except for Lemonade plans in New York or Indiana. Those who cancel after 30 days may be eligible for a pro-rated refund depending on their circumstances.
