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Petplan Pet Insurance Review
By Stephanie Colestock MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
PetPlan was recently rebranded as Fetch pet insurance. Fetch helps provide financial protection to pet owners. The company – also known as Fetch by The Dodo – offers policies that cover a range of non-routine care expenses if your dog or cat gets sick or injured, potentially saving you thousands of dollars over your pet’s lifetime.
Here’s a look at what Fetch pet insurance policies offer, how much they cost, and what you can expect from this type of coverage.
Fetch pet insurance overview
Previously known as Petplan pet insurance, Fetch by The Dodo is a pet insurance company that’s been offering pet insurance policies in the US since 2001. While Petplan offered policies for dogs, cats, and rabbits in the past, Fetch is now available only to dogs and cats aged six weeks or older. This pet insurance coverage can be purchased and used in all 50 states as well as in Canada.
Fetch pet insurance policies cover a variety of sick and injured care expenses for eligible pets, up to a $15,000 annual benefit. Covered expenses are pretty comprehensive, too, with Fetch stepping in to cover eligible oral care, behavioral therapy, cancer treatment, and alternative medicine with no breed-specific restrictions, all for one affordable monthly premium.
Fetch’s services
With a Fetch by The Dodo pet insurance policy, you’re financially protected if your dog or cat is injured, gets sick, or is diagnosed with any number of conditions that affect their health. While this policy does not cover routine care, it can help pay for unexpected and high-cost treatments that your pet may encounter over its lifetime.
For this reason, many pet owners still believe that pet insurance is worth it — whether their cat or dog is one-year-old or 15!
What it offers
Fetch pet insurance policies are designed to provide financial assistance for the unexpected and non-routine healthcare that your pet needs.
Fetch policyholders can seek care for their pets from any licensed veterinarian or care provider in the US or Canada. After paying for treatment, you then submit a claim and your vet bills to Fetch. Once your claim is approved, you’ll be reimbursed for a percentage of that treatment cost, according to the policy you chose.
Like human insurance plans, you’ll need to cover the first bit of your pet’s initial care each year (your annual deductible). After that threshold is met, though, you’ll be reimbursed for all eligible care up to your maximum annual limit.
When you purchase a Fetch policy, you can choose among the following:
- Maximum annual benefit limit: $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000
- Annual deductible: $300, $500, or $700 for dogs and $250, $300, or $400 for cats
- Reimbursement: 70%, 80%, or 90%
Let’s say your dog injures her leg in January and requires an emergency vet visit and x-rays to the tune of $300. If you chose a $300 annual deductible, you’ll still submit your claim but won’t receive any reimbursement since you needed to satisfy your deductible first.
However, let’s say that your pup then goes on to swallow a tennis ball in March and requires emergency surgery that costs $5,000. If you chose a policy with a 90% reimbursement level, you’d receive $4,500 of that back after your claim was approved.
If you have multiple pets, you can add an additional cat or dog during the purchase process, too. This gives you peace of mind that all of your furry family members are protected.
Fetch pet insurance coverage
| Coverage | 12 months cover |
| Urgent care/sick pet veterinary exam fees | ✅ |
| Comprehensive dental treatment (injury and disease only, not routine) | ✅ |
| TeleVet services | Up to $1,000 |
| Chronic conditions and hereditary conditions | ✅ |
| Behavioral therapies | Up to $1,000 |
| Labs, testing, and diagnostic scans | ✅ |
| Cancer treatments | ✅ |
| Prescription medications | ✅ |
| Surgery and rehabilitation | ✅ |
| Hip dysplasia, knee (cruciate), and related ligament conditions | ✅ |
| Alternative therapies | ✅ |
| Specialists | ✅ |
| Lost pet advertising and rewards | Up to $1,000 |
| Medically-necessary boarding and kennel fees | Up to $1,000 |
| Vacation cancellation coverage | Up to $1,000 |
What it doesn’t offer
There are some types of care that Fetch doesn’t cover, as well as some restrictions to their coverage.
- Routine care: Annual vet visits, vaccinations, dental cleaning, routine bloodwork…all of these are important for the health and well-being of your pet. Unfortunately, though, this type of care isn’t covered by pet insurance plans, including Fetch.
- Pre-existing conditions: Fetch coverage only reimburses you for conditions that occur after you enroll in a pet insurance policy. If your pet has a pre-existing condition, that care will be excluded from coverage by your policy..
- Prescription food: Some pets need special food due to dietary or medical concerns. While this food may be prescribed, it isn’t covered by Fetch.
- Grooming and cosmetic procedures: Nail trims, baths, haircuts, gland expression, and ear cleaning can help your pets look and feel their best. These preventative care expenses are your responsibility, though.
- Claims filed after 90 days: You’ll need to be sure to submit your veterinary bills and a claim for reimbursement within 90 days if you want Fetch to cover their share of the cost. They reserve the right to deny claims that are filed after 90 days, regardless of the cost.
Additionally, you will need to bring your pet in for an initial vet visit as well as keep up with regularly-scheduled routine care to ensure that your Fetch coverage is always valid. For emergency dental care to qualify, for example, your pet will need to have had its teeth examined by a vet within 60 days of buying the policy. This routine visit, while necessary, is not covered by Fetch.
Fetch pet insurance costs
The price you’ll pay for pet insurance coverage depends on a variety of factors. These pet insurance costs are based on the type of pet you own, your pet’s age and breed, your location, and the policy limits you choose. That said, here’s a rough idea of what you can expect to pay:
Dog Insurance – $50 average monthly cost – $500 deductible amount – 80% with a $10,000 annual maximum reimbursement
Cat Insurance – $28 Average Monthly Cost – $400 Deductible amount – 80% with a $10,000 annual maximum reimbursement
Fetch pet insurance waiting periods
There’s a 15-day waiting period before you can be reimbursed for care related to an injury or illness. There’s also a six-month waiting period for procedures and care related to knees and hips, though this can be waived if you get a vet exam within 30 days of purchasing the policy that gives your pet’s knees and hips a clean bill of health.
Fetch’s credentials
Fetch by The Dodo is owned by Fetch, Inc., and their policies are underwritten by XL Specialty Insurance Company. The company, which has operated in the US since 2001 and is also located abroad, currently has an A rating from AM Best and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Fetch’s accessibility
In the US, Fetch pet insurance plans are offered in all 50 states. Care for your pet can be obtained from any licensed vet or care provider in the US or Canada.
Availability
Policies from Fetch by The Dodo can be purchased and used in all 50 states within the US. There are no brick-and-mortar locations to visit, but you can purchase a policy online in just minutes.
Contact information
If you need to contact Fetch, there are a few options to choose from.
- By phone: Fetch service representatives can be reached Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm ET, by calling 866-467-3875. If you’re interested in purchasing a new policy, sales representatives can be reached at 866-984-0104, Monday through Friday from 8am to 11pm ET, Saturday from 9am to 7:30pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6:30pm.
- By chat: Fetch’s virtual chatbot is available 24/7 to answer questions and direct you to information. If you want to live-chat with a real person, they are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm ET and Saturdays from 10am to 6:30pm.
- By email: You can send your questions or concerns to info@fetchpet.com and receive a response within one business day.
User experience
Fetch by The Dodo provides new and existing customers with an easy-to-navigate online website where they can get a quote, shop different policy options, and purchase coverage in just minutes. They also offer an online platform and mobile apps for managing your plan, submitting claims, and tracking reimbursements throughout the claims process.
Limitations
Live agents can be reached seven days a week, while online chatbots are offered 24/7.
Fetch’s customer satisfaction
Though Fetch has been providing trusted pet insurance policies for over two decades, customer satisfaction is varied.
Customer complaints
Fetch currently holds an A+ accredited rating from the BBB, but the 30+ consumer complaints on that same platform only give them a 1.03 out of 5-star rating. Be aware, though, that the BBB is generally a forum for people to air complaints, not to give praise. On the other hand, Fetch currently has a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot, with more than 570 customer reviews.
Fetch by The Dodo vs. the competition
Here’s a look at how Fetch by The Dod measures up to its competitors.
| Fetch by The Dodo | Nationwide | Healthy paws | Trupanion | |
| Annual coverage limits | $5,000 to $15,000 | $10,000 maximum | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Deductible amount | $250 to $700 | $250 | $100, $250, or $500 | $0 to $1,000 |
| Reimbursement | 70%, 80%, or 90% | 50% or 70% | 70%, 80%, or 90% | 90% |
If you want to learn more about some of these companies, be sure to check out our Nationwide review and Trupanion review.
Fetch FAQs
How we evaluated Fetch pet insurance
In order to give you a comprehensive review and evaluation of Fetch — and how this policy compares to those offered by other pet insurance companies — we looked at a variety of factors. We considered where policies are available and what sort of pets qualify (including age limits). We also looked at the type of care covered by the policy and how much pet parents can be reimbursed each year. Lastly, we considered consumer reviews and complaints, how easy it is to contact Fetch, and how long it takes to be paid for covered care expenses.
Summary of Miami Herald’s Fetch pet insurance review
- Up to 90% reimbursement is offered for up to $15,000 in coverage per year.
- Dogs and cats are eligible from six weeks old, with no breed restrictions.
- Policies are offered in all 50 states and care can be obtained in the US or Canada.
Want to learn more about your pet insurance options? Visit one of our picks for the 8 Best Pet Insurance Companies.
Stephanie Colestock is a DC-based personal finance writer with nearly 11 years of freelance writing experience. She covers a wide range of finance-related topics and is currently working toward her CFP®️ certification. Her work appears on sites such as Business Insider, MSN, Fox Business, CNET, Investopedia, and more.