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Pumpkin & AKC: Key Differences
While Pumpkin and American Kennel Club (AKC) both offer pet insurance plans for accidents & illnesses and optional wellness packages or coverage options, there are some key differences you should be aware of when choosing which provider is right for you and your pet. Let’s dig in…
Pumpkin plans cover dental illnesses. AKC plans don’t.
With 70% of cats and 80% of dogs suffering from some form of gum disease by age 3,11 having coverage for dental illnesses is crucial, as treatment can get very expensive. Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans cover dental illnesses. AKC Pet Insurance plans don’t offer dental illness coverage at all.
Pumpkin plans cover behavioral issues + alternative therapies for accidents & illnesses. AKC plans may not.
With an estimated 40% of cat and dog owners reporting pets with behavioral problems,10 we believe coverage for behavioral issues like separation anxiety and aggression is a necessity, not a nice to have. And with more and more vets using alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic, and physiotherapy to treat orthopedic injuries and illnesses like arthritis, having coverage for these treatments could prove to be very valuable in the future. For these reasons, Pumpkin insurance plans cover behavioral issues and alternative therapies for covered conditions in all states. AKC insurance plans only offer this coverage in some states.
Pumpkin plans cover Rx food. AKC plans may not.
Rx food can be very helpful for pets suffering from a range of illnesses, from kidney disease to digestive issues. Rx food coverage can also help you save a lot of money if your pet has a chronic condition with special dietary needs since Rx food usually costs more than standard pet food. That’s why Pumpkin insurance plans cover food prescribed to treat a covered condition (and not for general health or weight maintenance). AKC insurance plans do not cover Rx food, unless it is the sole treatment for a covered condition.
Pumpkin plans don’t charge extra to cover hereditary, congenital & chronic conditions.
From hip dysplasia and heart defects, to arthritis and diabetes – hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions are extremely common. They affect both dogs and cats, and can show signs at any age. Due to the prevalence of debilitating conditions like these, we recognize how crucial this coverage is for our pets. That’s why coverage for all 3 condition types is a basic benefit of any Pumpkin insurance plan.
AKC insurance plans do not cover hereditary, congenital, and chronic conditions unless you purchase their optional add-on called HereditaryPlus for an extra monthly fee. This coverage is also only available for pets up to 2 years old. After that, you no longer have the option to enroll in this coverage.
Pumpkin plans don’t charge extra to cover vet exam fees for accidents & illnesses.
Pumpkin insurance plans cover exam fees for accident and illness-related vet visits – in-clinic and virtual visits included! This can be a huge cost saver as exam fees typically cost $50 to $7516 and are included in nearly every vet bill. This coverage is included as a basic benefit of any Pumpkin insurance plan. AKC insurance plans do not cover exam fees unless you purchase their optional add-on called ExamPlus for an extra monthly fee.
Pumpkin plans reimburse you based on your actual vet bills. AKC plans don’t.
Pumpkin insurance plans use your actual vet bill to calculate your reimbursements, and reimburse 80% or 90% of all covered vet bills. For example, if a covered vet bill totals $500, a Pumpkin plan with a 90% reimbursement rate could pay you back for $450 after you have met your annual deductible. AKC insurance plans reimburse you based on what they deem “reasonable and customary charges” for the services you received rather than your actual vet bill. This means that AKC plans choose a “usual” or acceptable charge for specific veterinary services, and then use this amount as the basis for your reimbursement.
Pumpkin plans don’t have a 180-day waiting period for certain orthopedic conditions.
Pumpkin insurance plans have a waiting period of 14 days or less for all covered accidents & illnesses.* This includes orthopedic conditions like cruciate ligament conditions (AKA knee ligament injuries) and Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). These conditions are very common and can happen at any age. If surgery is needed, it can cost thousands, so it’s important that you’re covered as quickly as possible. With AKC insurance plans, you have to wait 6 months after you enroll to be eligible for cruciate ligament and IVDD coverage.
Pumpkin plans don’t have upper age limits for enrollment, or limited coverage options for older pets.
Veterinary care for aging pets and seniors is crucial, as pets are more prone to developing certain illnesses as they grow older. That’s why all pets 8 weeks and up – regardless of breed – are welcome to enroll in Pumpkin insurance plans for accidents & illnesses.
Pets ages 9 and up are not eligible to enroll in AKC insurance plans for accidents & illnesses. They can only enroll in their accident-only plan. AKC plans also limit coverage options based on age. HereditaryPlus coverage is not available for pets 2 years old or above, and you can’t buy SupportPlus (end-of-life services) if your pet is 5 years old or above.
Pumpkin plans offer a 10% multi-pet discount. AKC plans offer a 5% multi-pet discount.
We know pet care can be expensive – especially when you have more than one four-legged family member to budget for. That’s why Pumpkin insurance plans offer a 10% multi-pet discount for each additional pet you enroll. AKC insurance plans offer a 5% multi-pet discount when you enroll more than one pet, depending on the state. Discounts don’t apply to the Defender, DefenderPlus, or SupportPlus plan add-ons.
It’s ALWAYS possible to get full value each year from Pumpkin’s optional wellness package.
Pumpkin’s optional wellness package is called Preventive Essentials. It’s not insurance, but an optional benefit you can add to any Pumpkin insurance plan. Designed with leading vets to help you plan and pay for crucial routine care your pet needs to stay healthy, Preventive Essentials gives you a 100% refund each year for an annual wellness exam fee, key vaccine(s), and important parasite screening test(s). To get the most out of your package – all you have to do is use these 3 benefits.
AKC offers 2 optional wellness coverage options that can be added to their insurance plans for a monthly fee – Defender and DefenderPlus. They both offer reimbursement for a list of routine care services up to a capped amount per service, per year. The only difference is DefenderPlus costs a higher monthly fee and offers partial reimbursement for a dental cleaning or spay/neuter procedure each year. These options can be helpful if you use most of the services offered, but not everything on the menu is a typical yearly expense (e.g., deworming, microchipping, spay/neuter procedure). Whatever benefits you don’t use in the year term, you lose – there are no carryovers.
Compare Plans
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Type of Insurance |
Accident & Illness |
Accident & Illness |
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Reimbursement Rate |
80% or 90% of covered vet bills |
70%, 80%, or 90% of reasonable and customary charges |
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Annual Coverage Limit |
$5k-unlimited |
Basic CompanionCare: Custom CompanionCare: |
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Deductible |
Annual Deductible with flexible pricing options |
Annual Deductible with flexible pricing options |
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Illness Waiting Period |
14 days in most states* |
14 days in most states;* 30 days for hereditary, congenital & chronic conditions and 180 days for intervertebral disc disease |
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Accident Waiting Period |
14 days in most states* |
2 days in most states;* 180 days for cruciate ligament conditions |
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All Pets Ages 8 Wks. & Up Are Eligible to Enroll |
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Pets ages 9 & up are not eligible to enroll in illness coverage |
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All Pets Eligible to Enroll, Regardless of Health |
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Hereditary & Congenital Conditions |
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Optional add-on for an additional monthly fee for pets ages 2 & under |
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Chronic Conditions |
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Optional add-on for an additional monthly fee for pets ages 2 & under |
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Behavioral Issues |
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Varies by state if coverage is included |
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Dental Illnesses |
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Recurring Conditions from Repetitive Occurrences |
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Parasites & Illnesses They Cause |
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Exam Fees for Accident & Illness Related Vet Visits |
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Optional add-on for an additional monthly fee |
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Diagnostics, including Radiology & Lab Tests |
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Surgery, Emergency Services & Hospitalization |
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Specialized Care |
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Alternative Therapies |
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Varies by state if coverage is included |
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Prescription Meds |
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Prescription Supplements to Treat Covered Conditions |
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Optional add-on for an additional monthly fee |
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Prescription Food to Treat Covered Conditions |
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Only if sole treatment for a covered condition |
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Microchip Implantation |
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End of Life Services |
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Limited to euthanasia; coverage for cremation, burial & other services is offered as an optional add-on for an additional monthly fee for pets ages 4 & under |
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Wellness Package / Coverage Option |
Preventive Essentials package: 100% refund of the following routine care services each year: |
Defender Wellness Coverage: DefenderPlus Wellness Coverage: |
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Discount for Multiple Pets |
10% off for each additional pet |
5% off for each additional pet, depending on state |
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Money Back Guarantee |
30 days, as long as you have not received approval or payment for a claim
(except in NY) |
30 days, as long as you have not filed a claim. Not available in all states |