Pumpkin & Pet Assure: Key Differences

Pumpkin offers pet insurance plans with extensive accident & illness coverage, as well as an optional wellness package. Pet Assure doesn’t offer pet insurance and is a veterinary service discount program. There are several key differences between Pumpkin and Pet Assure to be aware of when choosing which coverage solution is right for you and your pet. Let’s dig in…

Pumpkin plans offer extensive accident & illness coverage. Pet Assure doesn’t.

When your pet gets sick or hurt unexpectedly, Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans are there to help you give them the best care possible, even when it comes at a high cost. All Pumpkin plans offer a high 80% or 90% reimbursement rate on covered vet bills for accidents & illnesses and a data-backed¹ annual coverage limit of $10k for dogs or $7k for cats, with lower and higher annual limit options also available (including an unlimited option) depending on your pet’s needs and budget. So for example, if your pet gets treatment for an ear infection and the covered treatment costs $200, your final cost could be $20 after receiving a 90% reimbursement with a Pumpkin plan (assuming you already met your deductible).

Pumpkin plans cover take-home Rx meds, food & supplements. Pet Assure doesn’t.

Rx medication, food, and supplements can be very helpful for pets suffering from a range of illnesses, from kidney disease to diabetes. That’s why Pumpkin insurance plans cover any Rx medication, food, or supplement prescribed to treat an eligible accident or illness (and not for general health or weight maintenance). Pet Assure’s discount doesn’t apply to any take-home Rx medications, food, and supplements.

Pumpkin plans cover eligible diagnostic tests performed outside your vet’s clinic. Pet Assure doesn’t.

If your pet needs a diagnostic test for a covered accident or illness – like blood work – your Pumpkin insurance plan would cover it, even if the test has to be performed outside your vet’s clinic. Pet Assure discounts don’t apply to services that have to be performed outside of the participating vet clinic or hospital. For example, if your pet has blood work performed at the clinic, the discount will apply, but if the vet sends the sample to a lab or an outside specialist, that service is not eligible for the discount.

Pumpkin plans cover treatment for behavioral issues received outside your vet’s clinic. Pet Assure doesn’t.

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. Pumpkin insurance plans cover behavioral issues, even if that means getting treatment from a veterinary behaviorist outside your primary vet’s clinic. Pet Assure’s discount would only cover treatment that is performed at your vet’s clinic on-site.

Pumpkin plans allow you to get treatment at any vet you choose. Pet Assure doesn’t.

With Pumpkin insurance plans, it’s your vet, your choice – always. Pumpkin plans don’t try to limit your care options, which means you can visit any licensed veterinarian, specialist, or emergency clinic in the US or Canada. Pet Assure’s discount program is only accepted at select participating practices.

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

Pumpkin worked with leading vets to create a wellness package 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 keeps your pet healthy, Preventive Essentials gives you a 100% refund each year for an annual wellness exam (we cover the exam fee), key vaccine(s), and important parasite screenings test(s). To get the most out of your package – all you have to do is use these 3 benefits.

Pet Assure offers 3 optional wellness plans that can be purchased for a monthly fee. The Basic option offers reimbursement for 4 different services up to a capped amount per service per year, while the Essential and Premium options offer reimbursement for 7-8 different services up to a capped amount per service per year. These plans 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). Whatever benefits you don’t use in the year term, you lose – there are no carryovers.

Compare Plans


Type of Product	Accident & Illness Insurance + Optional Wellness Package	Veterinary Services Discount Plan
Reimbursement Rate	80% or 90% of covered vet bills	N/A
Annual Coverage Limit	$5k-unlimited	N/A
Deductible	Annual Deductible with flexible pricing options	N/A
Illness Waiting Period	14 days in most states*	N/A
Accident Waiting Period	14 days in most states*	N/A
All Pets Ages 8 Wks. & Up Are Eligible to Enroll
All Pets Eligible to Enroll, Regardless of Health
Get Treatment at Any Veterinary Clinic or Hospital
Accidents		25% discount on veterinary services
Illnesses		25% discount on veterinary services
Hereditary & Congenital Conditions		25% discount on veterinary services
Chronic Conditions		25% discount on veterinary services
Behavioral Issues		25% discount on in-house veterinary services only
Dental Illnesses		25% discount on veterinary services
Preventable Conditions		25% discount on veterinary services
Exam Fees for Accident & Illness Related Vet Visits		25% discount on veterinary services
Diagnostics, including Radiology & Lab Tests		25% discount on in-house services only
Surgery, Emergency Services & Hospitalization		25% discount on veterinary services
Specialized Care		25% discount on in-house specialists only
Alternative Therapies		25% discount on in-house veterinary services only
Prescription Medication and Supplements to Treat Covered Conditions		Excludes take-home
Prescription Food to Treat Covered Conditions		Excludes take-home
Microchip Implantation
End of Life Services
Wellness Package / Plan	*Preventive Essentials package:* (Not insurance, but an optional add-on) 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)	*Basic plan:* Reimburses $50-$100 for 4 different services up to a $350 limit per year *Essential plan:* Reimburses $50-$150 for 7 different services up to a $650 limit per year *Premium plan:* Reimburses $50-$200 for 8 different services up to a $1,100 limit per year
Discount for Multiple Pets	10% off for each additional pet	Incremental discount for Family Plan (2-4 pets) or Unlimited Plan (all pets in household)
Money Back Guarantee	30 days, as long as you have not received approval or payment for a claim (except in NY)	45 days