Pumpkin & Wagmo: Key Differences

While Pumpkin and Wagmo both offer pet insurance plans for accidents & illnesses and optional wellness packages or plans, there are several 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 80% or 90% of Rx medication costs. Wagmo plans cover 50%.

From antibiotics to treat common infections, to anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain, to behavior-modifying drugs to treat anxiety and other behavioral issues, Rx medication is key to helping veterinarians treat and manage a wide array of pet accidents & illnesses. For this reason, Pumpkin Pet Insurance plans cover 80% or 90% of Rx medication costs for eligible conditions, depending on the reimbursement rate you choose. Wagmo Pet Insurance plans cover 50% of Rx medication costs for eligible conditions.

Pumpkin plans cover Rx food & supplements. Wagmo plans don’t.

Rx food & supplements can be very helpful for pets suffering from a range of illnesses, from kidney disease to diabetes, but they can also be a costly recurring expense. That’s why Pumpkin insurance plans cover any food or supplement prescribed by a veterinarian to treat a covered condition (and not for general health or weight maintenance). Wagmo insurance plans don’t cover either.

Pumpkin plans cover surgery for dental illnesses. Wagmo plans don’t.

There are many reasons why a pet might need dental surgery over their lifetime. For one, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs develop periodontal disease (AKA gum disease) by age 3,¹¹ with severe cases often requiring surgery which can cost $2,000 or more! Expensive dental surgery may also be needed to treat malignant oral abscesses and tumors, ulcerative diseases, tooth extractions, and other serious problems related to dental illnesses. For these reasons, Pumpkin insurance plans cover surgery for all eligible dental illnesses. Wagmo insurance plans don’t cover surgery for dental illnesses, but they do require you to get an annual dental exam each year at your own expense.

Pumpkin plans don’t have an expiration date for hip dysplasia coverage.

Hip dysplasia is a very common hereditary condition in dogs (especially in large breeds), and to a lesser extent, cats. Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket of the hip joint don’t develop or work properly, leading to joint deterioration, pain, lameness, and/or arthritis. While some cases can show symptoms as early as 4 months old, others go unnoticed until much later in life. Whether it’s a mild case that requires routine check-ups, x-rays, and Rx pain medication, or a severe case that may require all of the above, expensive hip replacement surgery, and rehabilitation – hip dysplasia can be an extremely costly ongoing expense for pet parents.

For these reasons, Pumpkin insurance plans cover hip dysplasia treatment for all pets 8 weeks and up. Wagmo insurance plans only cover hip dysplasia treatment for pets up to 6 years old.

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

Wagmo insurance plans require you to take several preventive care measures with your pet in order to cover them. Their policy states, “We promote responsible pet ownership and require you to do and pay for the care of your pet. You must ensure that your pet receives: 1. an annual health check; 2. an annual dental exam; 3. treatment that is normally suggested by a vet to prevent Injury; 4. appropriate medication as prescribed and dispensed by your vet to prevent against illness, including but not limited to, lice, parasites, and fleas; and 5. appropriate vaccinations against tick-borne Illness.”

While Pumpkin recommends that your pet get routine preventive care, we think all requirements or decisions regarding your pet’s health should be up to you and your veterinarian, not your insurance provider.

Pumpkin plans won’t decline to cover treatment for an accident or illness because you didn’t follow your vet’s preventive care measures.

In addition to having their own preventive care requirements, Wagmo insurance plans will not cover treatment needed as a result of you not following your vet’s advised or required preventive care measures for your pet. While we recommend that you follow any preventive care measures recommended by your vet, your Pumpkin insurance plan would never decline to cover your pet for an infectious disease or parasite-borne illness because you missed a booster shot or dose of tick & flea medication.

Pumpkin plans don’t have extended waiting periods for knee injuries or cancer.

With Pumpkin insurance plans, the waiting period for all conditions is the same – 14 days or less, depending on your state.* Wagmo insurance plans have an extended waiting period for knee injury coverage, which is 180 days. To reduce this waiting period, you must take your pet to the vet for an exam at your own expense, and have your vet note on your pet’s medical record that they have no pre-existing conditions relating to their knees. Wagmo insurance plans also have an extended waiting period for cancer, which is 30 days. That means that if your pet got diagnosed with cancer during the waiting period, treatment would not be covered for the remainder of their life.

Pumpkin plans don’t limit coverage for ingested foreign object removal to 2 times per policy period.

Families with dogs or cats who like to chew on and swallow toys, household objects, or clothing, etc. know that they are usually repeat offenders – and that the method for removing these objects can range from a non-invasive endoscopy, to full-on stomach surgery (both of which require anesthesia and can cost thousands of dollars). It’s why Pumpkin insurance plans don’t limit how many “anesthetic removals of ingested foreign bodies” (as Wagmo insurance plans call them) are covered in one policy period. Wagmo plans will only cover two of these procedures in a policy period.

Pumpkin plans offer a 10% multi-pet discount. Wagmo 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. Wagmo insurance plans offer a 5% multi-pet discount for each additional pet.

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

At Pumpkin, we’re just as committed to preventing illnesses and detecting diseases early as we are to treating them. That’s why we worked with leading vets to create Preventive Essentials – our wellness package. It’s not insurance, but an optional benefit you can add to your insurance plan for a monthly fee of $14.95 for cats or $22.95 for dogs if you want refunds for routine care pets need to stay healthy each year, including: your pet’s annual wellness exam fee; vaccines (4 for puppies, 2 for dogs, 1 for cats); a fecal “poop” test for intestinal worms (roundworms, hookworms & whipworms); and for dogs, a blood test for heartworm disease and diseases spread by ticks (lyme, ehrlichiosis & anaplasmosis).

Wagmo offers a choice of 3 different wellness plans at 3 different price points. The Value Plan costs $20 per month; the Classic Plan costs $39 per month; the Deluxe Plan costs $59 per month. These wellness plans are not insurance, and can be bought independently of Wagmo insurance plans. All plans cover the same base level benefits for cats and dogs of all ages, including wellness exam fees, vaccines, routine bloodwork, and fecal tests. Wagmo’s Classic and Deluxe Plans also cover urinalysis, flea/tick/heartworm medication, and grooming services; additionally, the Deluxe Plan covers dental cleanings. That said, the number of each of the items covered (e.g. the number of vaccines), as well as the maximum annual reimbursement limit for each benefit category, varies from plan to plan.

Before purchasing one of Wagmo’s more expensive wellness plans, you may want to run through their list of benefits and make sure your pet will use all of them over the course of one year. Whatever benefits you don’t use in the year term, you lose – there are no carryovers.

Compare Plans


Type of Insurance	Accident & Illness	Accident & Illness
Reimbursement Rate	80% or 90% of covered vet bills	90% or 100% of covered vet bills
Annual Coverage Limit	$5k, $10k, $20k, or unlimited for dogs $5k, $7k, $15k, or unlimited for cats	$20k
Lifetime Limit	None	$100k
Per Incident Limit	None	$10k
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;* 30 days for cancer treatments
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
Preventive Care Requirements	None	+ Annual health check + Annual dental exam + Treatments or meds suggested or prescribed by your vet to prevent injuries or illnesses (e.g. parasite preventatives) + Appropriate vaccinations against tick-borne illness
Hereditary & Congenital Conditions		Yes, but pets ages 6+ are not eligible for hip dysplasia coverage
Chronic Conditions
Behavioral Issues
Dental Illnesses		Yes, but dental surgery is not covered
Treatments Resulting from Not Following Your Vet’s Advised or Required Preventive Care Measures
Exam Fees for Accident & Illness Related Vet Visits
Diagnostics, including Radiology & Lab Tests
Surgery, Emergency Services & Hospitalization		Yes, but dental surgery is not covered
Specialized Care
Alternative Therapies		No, except if your vet deems them "medically necessary"
Prescription Meds		Yes, but only covers 50% of eligible costs
Prescription Supplements to Treat Covered Conditions
Prescription Food to Treat Covered Conditions
Microchip Implantation
End of Life Services
Wellness Package (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) Total Monthly Cost: $14.95 for Cats $22.95 for Dogs	*Value, Classic, and Deluxe Plans:* Reimburse for the following items up to a max annual limit per benefit category: + 1 or 2 Wellness Exam Fees + 2, 3, or 4 Vaccines + 1 Fecal Test + 1 Routine Blood Test *Classic and Deluxe Plans:* Also reimburse for the following items up to a max annual limit per benefit category: + 1 Urinalysis + Tick/Flea/Heartworm Meds + Grooming Services + VETtalk chats + Dental Cleaning (Deluxe Only) *Total Monthly Cost:* Value: $20 Classic: $39 Deluxe: $59
Discount for Multiple Pets	10% off for each additional pet	Up to 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)	If you cancel, you may be entitled to a premium refund which is less than pro-rated