Pumpkin & Fetch: Key Differences

While Pumpkin and Fetch both offer pet insurance plans that cover accidents & illnesses, there are some key coverage differences you should be aware of when choosing which plan is right for you and your pet. Let’s dig in.

Pumpkin plans cover Rx food. Fetch plans don’t.

Fetch insurance plans do not cover Rx food. As long as a food is prescribed to treat an eligible accident or illness and not for general health or weight maintenance, Pumpkin insurance plans can cover it. This can be helpful for pets suffering from a range of illnesses, from kidney disease to diabetes. It can also help you save a lot of money if your pet develops a chronic condition with special dietary needs since Rx food usually costs more than standard pet food.

Pumpkin plans don't come with a list of preventive care requirements.

Fetch insurance plans require you to take several preventive care measures with your pet, including: an annual wellness exam; an annual dental exam; and “any treatment normally suggested by a veterinarian to prevent illness or injury”, including vaccinations. If you don’t follow these requirements, your Fetch insurance plan may decline to cover several conditions. Pumpkin insurance plans have zero preventive care requirements.

Pumpkin plans don’t have a $1k annual reimbursement limit for behavioral issues.

If your pet needs treatment for a behavioral issue, your Pumpkin insurance plan would reimburse you for 80% or 90% of all eligible vet bills, up to your plan’s annual limit each year (options range from $5k to unlimited). Fetch insurance plans have a separate lower annual reimbursement limit of $1k for veterinary expenses related to behavioral issues. They also exclude coverage for training related to behavioral disorders.

Pumpkin plans don’t have a 180-day waiting period for knee injury coverage.

Knee injuries, like CCL and ACL tears, are very common and can happen at any age. If surgery is needed to repair a ligament, it can cost thousands. Fetch insurance plans have a 6-month waiting period for knee injuries, which can only be waived if your pet has a vet exam within 30 days of enrollment, and the vet can confirm there was no pre-existing knee condition at that time. Pumpkin insurance plans don’t have an extended waiting period for knee injuries. The waiting period is the same as it is for all conditions: 14 days or less, depending on your state.*

Pumpkin plans don’t have a 180-day waiting period for hip dysplasia coverage.

If you have a dog breed or cat breed with a genetic disposition for hip dysplasia, the sooner you enroll them in insurance – the better, as symptoms can show up as early as 4 months old. The good news is that Pumpkin insurance plans have a waiting period of 14 days or less for hip dysplasia.* Fetch insurance plans have a 6-month waiting period for hip dysplasia. That means if your pet develops symptoms of hip dysplasia during or before that waiting period, it would be considered a pre-existing condition and a Fetch plan would decline to cover it.

Pumpkin plans offer a 10% multi-pet discount. Fetch plans don’t.

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. Fetch insurance plans do not offer one.

It’s ALWAYS possible to get full value each year from Pumpkin’s optional wellness package.

Pumpkin’s wellness package is called Preventive Essentials. It’s not insurance, but an optional benefit you can add to your insurance plan for a monthly fee. Designed to help you plan and pay for crucial routine care that vets recommend, Preventive Essentials gives you a 100% refund each year for your pet’s annual wellness exam (we cover the exam fee), key vaccine(s), and important parasite screenings test(s). To get full value from your package each year – all you have to do is use these 3 benefits.

Fetch offers 3 optional wellness plans – Essentials is the lower-priced option, Advantage is the mid-tier option, and Prime is the higher-priced option. Each wellness plan can be added to your insurance plan for a monthly fee and offer reimbursement for 12 or 17 different services up to a capped amount per service, per year. These plans can be helpful if you plan to use most of the services offered, but not everything on the menu is a typical yearly expense (e.g., deworming, microchipping).

Compare Plans


Type of Insurance	Accident & Illness	Accident & Illness
Reimbursement Rate	80% or 90% of covered vet bills	70%, 80%, or 90% of covered vet bills
Annual Coverage Limit	$5k-unlimited	$5k-unlimited
Deductible	Annual Deductible with flexible pricing options	Annual Deductible with flexible pricing options
Illness Waiting Period	14 days in most states*	15 days in most states;* 180 days for hip dysplasia
Accident Waiting Period	14 days in most states*	15 days in most states;* 180 days for knee injuries
All Pets Ages 8 Wks. & Up Are Eligible to Enroll
All Pets Eligible to Enroll, Regardless of Health
Hereditary & Congenital Conditions
Chronic Conditions
Behavioral Issues		Yes, but reimbursement is limited to $1k per year
Dental Illnesses
Preventable Illnesses		Treatments for parasites are not covered unless there is no preventive medication for the parasite Treatments for certain vaccinable diseases are not covered unless they develop despite following your vet’s vaccine recommendations
Exam Fees for Accident & Illness Related Vet Visits
Diagnostics, including Radiology & Lab Tests
Surgery, Emergency Services & Hospitalization
Specialized Care
Alternative Therapies
Prescription Meds
Prescription Supplements to Treat Covered Conditions
Prescription Food to Treat Covered Conditions
Microchip Implantation
End of Life Services		Yes, but total reimbursement is limited to the original price of the pet, up to $1k
Wellness Package / Plan (Not insurance, but an optional add-on)	*Preventive Essentials package:* 100% refund of the following routine care services each year: + 1 Annual Wellness Exam Fee + 4 Vaccines for Puppies, 2 for Dogs, 1 for Cats + 1 Fecal “Poop” Test for Intestinal Worms + 1 Blood Test for Heartworm Tick Diseases or Heartworm Only (for Dogs)	*Essentials plan:* Reimburses $10-$100 per service category per year from a list of 9 different routine care service categories *Advantage plan: Reimburses $20-$100 per service category per year from a list of 11 different routine care service categories Prime plan*: Reimburses $25-$125 per service category per year from a list of 14 different routine care service categories
Discount for Multiple Pets	10% off for each additional pet
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 received approval or payment for a claim (except in NY)
Claim Submission Period	270 days (in states that permit time restrictions)	90 days (in states that permit time restrictions)