Paw Protect vs Fetch

Paw Protect vs Fetch: Verdict

The biggest difference between Paw Protect and Fetch is Paw Protect offers customers an optional $2,000 interest-free line of credit to help pay vet bills* up-front, through a virtual Visa card from Paytient^†. With Fetch, you have to pay vet bills yourself out of your own pocket, then claim the money back.

Both insurers offer comprehensive coverage – including vet exam fees, dental, behavioral treatments, alternative therapies, diagnostics and euthanasia fees – and a 24/7 pet telehealth line.

Here’s how the two insurers compare in more detail:


Pet insurance without paying vet bills^* up-front^†
Annual coverage options	$5000, $10,000, Unlimited	$5,000, $10,000, $15,000
Deductible options	$100, $250, $500	$300, $500, $700
Reimbursement options	70%, 80%, 90%	70%, 80%, 90%
Coverage start	2 days accident, 14 days illness	15 days
Maximum age at sign-up	14 years accident and illness, 15+ accident only	No maximum
Vet exam fees included
Dental accidents covered
Dental illness covered
Wellness plan offered
24/7 Telehealth
End of life coverage included
10% Multi-pet discount
Military discount

Information correct as of May 2023

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Paw Protect vs Fetch: Claims process

Paw Protect gives all customers the option of applying for a $2,000 interest-free line of credit via a virtual Paytient Visa card to pay covered vet bills* up-front. If approved, you can use any claim reimbursement to pay down your Paytient balance and pay your deductible and copay on a schedule up to 12 months that suits your needs – interest-free.

To claim money back, simply submit your pet’s covered vet bill to Paw Protect via its app, online, by email or through the mail
If approved, you’ll receive your insurance payout and you can pay down your Paytient balance, minus any deductible or copay
You can schedule interest-free payments to pay back those out-of-pocket expenses over up to 12 months

With Fetch you’ll need to find the money for the bill up front, either from your savings or by borrowing. With 56% of Americans saying that they’d struggle to pay an unexpected $500 bill, this could be tricky.

How will I know if my vet accepts Paw Protect?

Your Paytient virtual card is a 16-digit Visa card that works at any vet that accepts Visa* (we don’t know of one that doesn’t).

Fetch doesn’t pay vets directly. You will need to pay the bill and claim for reimbursement.

Number of vets where you can use Paytient^†

All of them!* Just requires Visa
None

Jump to section

Paw Protect vs Fetch: What do the plans cover?
Do Paw Protect and Fetch have a wellness plan?
Paw Protect vs Fetch: What are the coverage limits?
Paw Protect vs Fetch: Deductibles
What are Paw Protect and Fetch’s reimbursement percentage options?
Do Paw Protect and Fetch have any exclusions?
How expensive are Paw Protect and Fetch?
Paw Protect vs Fetch: How quickly are claims paid?
Do Paw Protect and Fetch offer any discounts?
Paw Protect vs Fetch: Standard waiting periods
Do Paw Protect and Fetch’s plans include behavioral treatments?
Paw Protect vs Fetch: Is there a maximum age for enrollment?
Paw Protect vs Fetch: Customer reviews

Paw Protect vs Fetch: What do the plans cover?

Both Paw Protect and Fetch cover your pet for pretty much any accident or illness your that might befall them. It could be anything from a skin rash to an ACL injury to cancer. They cover any breed-specific, congenital or genetic condition, as well as chronic, preventable or orthopedic conditions.

Common conditions that are covered include:

Arthritis
Cancer
Cataracts
Dental disease
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Ear infections
Hip dysplasia
Gastroenteritis
Kidney disease
Ligament injury
Limping
Liver disease
Lymphoma
Pancreatitis
Seizure
Vomiting

On top of all that, they both pay out for vet exam fees, alternative therapies like acupuncture, imaging and ultrasounds, hydrotherapy, chiropractic treatment and behavioral therapies.

The two companies differ when it comes to travel. Paw Protect covers you anywhere in the world for up to six months, whereas Fetch covers you within the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico only.

Do Paw Protect and Fetch have a wellness plan?

For preventative and routine treatments like annual check-ups, grooming, training, neutering, vaccinations, and flea, tick and heartworm treatments, you’ll need a wellness plan. Fetch doesn’t offer one, but Paw Protect does.

Annual limits are set at $250, $450 and $650. You pay an annual or monthly fee and can claim up to whichever limit you choose. It’s a great way to save money on regular costs.

Paw Protect vs Fetch: What are the coverage limits?

The two companies offer a range of annual maximum coverage options. Fetch has three options ($5,000, $10,000 and $15,000), as does Paw Protect ($5,000, $10,000 or Unlimited).

The level you set will affect your premium but you can change it each year when you renew. The amount you choose to cover may increase as your pet ages and certain conditions, like cancer, become more likely.

Paw Protect vs Fetch: Deductibles

Fetch offers deductibles options from $300 to $700, while Paw Protect’s deductible options are $100, $250 and $500. The bigger your deductible, the less you’ll pay in premiums, but you also need to think how much you can afford to pay out of pocket each year.

What are Paw Protect and Fetch’s reimbursement percentage options?

Fetch and Paw Protect both have 70%, 80% and 90% reimbursement options. This means if you spend $1000 on treatment, after your deductible is paid, the insurer will pay out 70%, 80% or 90% of the remaining amount. The lower the reimbursement amount you select, the cheaper your premium will be.

Do Paw Protect and Fetch have any exclusions?

All pet insurance policies have exclusions, just like any other legitimate insurance.

Both Fetch and Paw Protect exclude pre-existing conditions, which is an industry norm. That said, with Paw Protect, any pre-existing condition may be covered if it is deemed curable and the pet does not require treatment or experience symptoms for 12 months.

Neither provider includes features such as medically unnecessary cosmetic procedures (e.g. tail or ear modification), vaccines, microchipping, training or neutering/spaying in their standard packages. However, Paw Protect’s optional wellness plan does cover some of these.

For certain orthopedic conditions such as hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament injuries, both insurers have a six-month waiting period before they’re covered. However, with Paw Protect, you can reduce this to 14 days by following the Orthopedic Exam and Waiver Process – a simple veterinary exam.

How expensive are Paw Protect and Fetch?

The prices of these two insurers are pretty similar. Of course, no two situations are the same, so factors including your location and your pet’s type, condition and age will all affect the cost – as will your maximum annual payout, and the deductible and reimbursement percentage you select.

$32.79per month

$43.93per month

Medium Mixed Breed Puppy

3 months old
in Los Angeles, 91010
$5,000 annual coverage

$60.35per month

$78.18per month

Golden Retriever

3 years old
in Orlando, 32807
$10,000 annual coverage

$28.34per month

$34.44per month

Chihuahua

6 years old
in Sacramento, 94211
$10,000 annual coverage

$34.20per month

$24.68per month

Domestic Shorthair Kitten

3 months old
in New York City, 10008
$5,000 annual coverage

$18.54per month

$20.16per month

Tabby Cat

3 years old
in Dallas, 75061
$10,000 annual coverage

All quotes are based on a $500 deductible and 90% reimbursement. Prices correct as of May 2023

Paw Protect vs Fetch: How quickly are claims paid?

With most pet insurance, the speed with which your insurer pays you is crucial, as you wouldn’t want thousands of dollars outstanding for weeks or months.

However, Paw Protect’s virtual Paytient Visa card and optional $2,000 interest-free line of credit means that claim speeds are somewhat negated. You won’t be out of pocket. That said, Paw Protect claims are typically paid out within 10-15 days for accident and illness and just five days for wellness claims.

At Fetch, the average claim is paid within 15 days of receiving all documentation, but this figure is not a guarantee.

With both companies, you’ll receive your reimbursement significantly quicker if you supply all the correct documentation when you submit your claim, and opt for the direct deposit model of reimbursement, rather than payment by check.

Do Paw Protect and Fetch offer any discounts?

Paw Protect offers a 10% multi-pet discount, and a 5% reduction for former and active military personnel.

Fetch gives a 10% discount for veterans and military personnel, those insuring a rescue pet or therapy animal, and members of the AARP and veterinary profession.

Paw Protect vs Fetch: Standard waiting periods

Paw Protect coverage kicks in after just two days for accidents and 14 days for illness. There’s a six-month waiting period for orthopedic treatments, but this can be reduced to 14 days via its Waiver Process.

Fetch coverage begins 15 days after the day of enrolment. Orthopedic issues are covered after six months.

Do Paw Protect and Fetch’s plans include behavioral treatments?

To get maximum enjoyment from our pets, it’s important to do everything you can to ensure they’re calm, controllable and happy.

Paw Protect covers behavioral therapy and training, when delivered by a veterinarian for a condition covered by the policy.

Fetch offers treatments for aggression and separation anxiety.

Paw Protect vs Fetch: Is there a maximum age for enrollment?

At Fetch there’s no maximum age for enrollment. With Paw Protect the limits are 14 years for accident and illness cover, while its accident-only plan has no maximum age.

Paw Protect vs Fetch: Customer reviews

Fetch offers a popular service that its customers appreciate. In 2020, it seamlessly incorporated another top-rated insurance product, Petplan. Fetch pet insurance consistently receives a lot of positive feedback.