Key Takeaways
- Pumpkin Pet Insurance Overview: Launched in 2020 by Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company, Pumpkin is one of the few pet insurers that includes a preventive care benefit standard rather than selling it as a separate add-on.
- Who is Pumpkin Best For?: Pumpkin is ideal for owners who use preventive care annually and want it bundled, owners of multiple pets who qualify for the multi-pet discount, and anyone with senior pets or breeds prone to hereditary conditions.
- Pumpkin’s Key Strengths: Preventive Essentials is well-designed and included standard, not tacked on. Coverage is genuinely broad: dental illness, behavioral treatment, hereditary and congenital conditions, and prescription food are all in the base plan. No upper age limit.
- Pumpkin’s Main Weaknesses: Mid-range to high premiums, no accident-only option, no mobile app, and recurring complaints about conditions being classified as pre-existing on denial letters.
- Is Pumpkin Worth It?: Yes, if you’ll actually use the preventive care bundle and want broad illness coverage in one plan. No, if you’re price-shopping for bare-minimum accident coverage.
- Get a Quote: Get a quote from Pumpkin Pet Insurance.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Overview
Pumpkin is one of the few pet insurers that bundles preventive care into its product rather than selling it as a bolt-on. That distinction matters more than it sounds. Most competitors either exclude routine care entirely or charge separately for a wellness rider that reimburses a fraction of what you paid. Pumpkin’s Preventive Essentials package covers vaccines, a wellness exam, and diagnostic tests as part of the enrollment flow, not as an afterthought.
The company was launched in 2020 by Zoetis, which bills itself as the world’s largest animal health company and knows the veterinary cost structure from the supply side. JAB Holding Company acquired a majority stake in May 2023, adding financial depth to an already credible backer. Policies are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.
We gave Pumpkin pet insurance a 9.3 out of 10, earning it a spot among our best pet insurance picks. Here’s what that score reflects and where it falls short.
Who is Pumpkin Best For?
The math works best for owners who actually show up to the annual wellness exam, get the recommended vaccines, and run the routine diagnostics their vet suggests. If that describes you, you’re already spending money Pumpkin will reimburse. Owners of multiple pets get a 10% multi-pet discount per additional animal, which compounds meaningfully on a plan that’s already comprehensive.
Pumpkin also earns our pick for best pet insurance for senior pets. No upper age limit at enrollment, no reduced coverage as pets age, and no breed-specific exclusions. A 12-year-old Golden Retriever gets the same plan options as an 8-week-old kitten. That’s genuinely unusual in this market.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Strengths
- Preventive care bundled standard. The Preventive Essentials package covers vaccines, a wellness exam, and diagnostic tests without requiring a separate add-on policy.
- Broad base coverage. Dental illnesses, behavioral issues, hereditary and congenital conditions, parasite infections, prescription food and supplements, physical therapy, and alternative therapies are all in the base accident and illness plan.
- Short waiting periods. 14 days across the board, including orthopedic conditions like hip dysplasia and knee injuries. Competitors routinely impose six-month waits for orthopedic coverage.
- No age limits or breed restrictions. No upper age cap at enrollment, no reduced benefits as pets age.
- PumpkinNow urgent pay. Eligible policyholders can receive up to 90% of a covered veterinary bill in real time, before leaving the clinic.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance Weaknesses
- Mid-range to high premiums. Comprehensive coverage averages around $95/month for dogs and $46/month for cats at the higher end of configuration. Not the cheapest option in any market.
- No mobile app. Policy management is web-only, which feels behind the curve for a company founded in 2020.
- No accident-only option. One plan, take it or leave it. No stripped-down alternative for budget-focused owners.
- Pre-existing condition disputes. Negative reviews skew heavily toward claims denied with conditions reclassified as pre-existing. This is a pattern worth knowing before you buy.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance
Best for Older PetsPumpkin Pet Insurance stands out for its exceptional comprehensive coverage designed to eliminate the confusion and surprise fees common in the industry. Their single all-inclusive accident and illness plan covers dental illnesses behavioral issues hereditary conditions parasite infections prescription food and supplements and physical and alternative therapies all without requiring expensive add-ons. Pumpkin offers an industry-leading short 14-day waiting period for all eligible conditions including traditionally long-wait orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia and knee injuries ensuring pets can get covered and treated much faster than with most competitors. The company earns its reputation as the best for senior pets by completely removing upper age restrictions and never reducing or limiting coverage as a pet ages. Pumpkin's PumpkinNow feature allows qualified customers to submit a claim and receive real-time payment for up to 90% of the eligible veterinary bill in as fast as 15 minutes often before they even leave the emergency clinic. Policies are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company which holds an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best. Pumpkin holds a 4.8/5 rating on Trustpilot with customers frequently praising the responsiveness of customer service and the fairness and speed of claims.
- All-inclusive coverage — one plan covers dental illness, behavioral issues, hereditary conditions, and prescription food with no add-on fees
- PumpkinNow rapid claims — receive real-time payment for up to 90% of your eligible vet bill in minutes, often before leaving the clinic
- Shortest waiting period — just 14 days for all accidents and illnesses including orthopedic conditions competitors make you wait six months for
- Best for senior pets — no upper age limits, no breed restrictions, and coverage that never reduces as your pet gets older
- Trusted and highly rated — 4.8/5 on Trustpilot backed by United States Fire Insurance Company with an AM Best A rating
Pumpkin Overview
Pumpkin Insurance Services was founded in 2019 and launched in 2020, headquartered in New York, NY. As of 2023, the company serves 65,000 pets across the U.S.
Plans are valid in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and are accepted by any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada. Pumpkin covers dogs and cats only, with a minimum enrollment age of 8 weeks and no maximum age.
Zoetis remains a minority stakeholder after JAB Holding Company acquired a majority stake in May 2023. The Zoetis connection matters: the company has a direct line into veterinary cost data and animal health research that pure-play insurers don’t have.
Pumpkin Reliability
Pumpkin’s policies are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, which holds an AM Best rating of A (Excellent). That’s the rating that tells you claims will actually get paid when you need them to.
Pumpkin holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been BBB Accredited since July 21, 2025. For a company that launched in 2020, the combination of a strong underwriter and credible corporate backing is a reasonable substitute for a decades-long track record.
Pumpkin Coverage Options
One accident and illness plan. No accident-only tier. The trade-off is that what you get in that single plan is genuinely broad, with preventive care available as a bundled add-on rather than a separate policy.
The Preventive Essentials package can be added to the insurance policy or purchased as a standalone Wellness Club option. Either way, it covers routine care that most insurers simply don’t touch.
What’s Covered
The base accident and illness plan covers acute infections, allergic reactions, bite wounds, broken bones, cancer treatment (including radiation and chemotherapy), chronic diseases, congenital and hereditary conditions, emergency hospitalization, and torn ligaments.
The standout inclusions that competitors typically exclude or charge extra for: dental illnesses including periodontal disease with associated exams, X-rays, and surgery; behavioral treatment for aggression or separation anxiety from a vet or Applied Animal Behaviorist; orthopedic conditions including hip dysplasia and luxating patella; and in-clinic and virtual exam fees for accidents and illnesses, with no add-on required.
The Preventive Essentials add-on breaks down by pet type. Dogs get one annual wellness exam, two vaccines, one blood test, and one fecal test. Puppies get one annual wellness exam, four vaccines, and one fecal test. Cats get one annual wellness exam, one vaccine, and one fecal test. If your pet is on the annual exam and vaccine schedule your vet recommends, this bundle pays for itself.
What’s NOT Covered
Breeding costs, spaying and neutering, cosmetic or elective procedures, dental cleanings not related to illness, herbal supplements, and most pre-existing conditions are excluded. The pre-existing condition carve-out has one exception: curable conditions are eligible for coverage after 180 symptom-free days, except for knee and ligament conditions, which remain permanently excluded once flagged.
There are no breed-specific exclusions.
Policy Terms
In most states, coverage starts 14 days after the policy effective date, including for orthopedic conditions. No maximum age at enrollment. Coverage does not reduce or limit as pets age. You can cancel within the first 30 days for a full refund if no claim has been submitted. Plans are accepted at any licensed veterinarian, specialist, emergency clinic, or hospital in the U.S. or Canada.
Special Features
PumpkinNow lets policyholders get paid for eligible critical care claims of $1,000 or more before they pay their vet. As of October 2025, policyholders can also direct reimbursement to a CareCredit account, which helps in situations where the cardholder has already financed the visit.
Pumpkin Affordability
Pumpkin is mid-range on price when you’re comparing base premiums, and toward the higher end when you configure comprehensive options. The relevant comparison is against what you’d spend building equivalent coverage elsewhere through add-ons.
For dogs, the average runs around $46/month ($548/year), but comprehensive configurations land near $95/month. A healthy mixed-breed puppy in Kansas City runs about $42/month with a $500 deductible. Adult Labs come in near $68/month. Senior Retrievers hit $100-plus with a $250 deductible.
For cats, the average is around $20/month ($238/year). Kittens run $18 to $22/month. Spayed adult Domestic Shorthairs average $28/month. A 10-year-old Maine Coon comes in around $32/month.
What Affects Your Rate
Breed moves premiums significantly. Cat premiums range from around $17/month for British Longhairs to $35/month for Abyssinians. Dog premiums start at $19/month for small mixed breeds under 20 pounds and reach $103/month for Scottish Terriers. State matters too: cats in Arkansas pay as little as $13/month, while Massachusetts tops out at $26/month, reflecting regional veterinary cost differences.
Customization Options
Annual deductibles: $100, $250, $500, or $1,000. Reimbursement rates: 80% or 90%. Annual limits for dogs: $10,000, $20,000, or unlimited. Annual limits for cats: $7,000, $15,000, or unlimited.
Discounts
10% multi-pet discount for each additional pet. You can eliminate the monthly installment fee by paying annually. Additional savings are available through AAA membership, workplace benefit programs, and partner offers.
Is It Worth It?
If you would otherwise be adding dental coverage, behavioral coverage, and exam fee riders to a competitor’s base plan, Pumpkin’s all-in pricing often comes out ahead. The company ranks first nationally for cat insurance affordability when you adjust for what’s actually included in the base plan. For multi-pet households taking the discount, the gap between Pumpkin and cheaper-looking competitors narrows further.
Pumpkin Claims Process
Pumpkin has paid over $60 million in covered accident and illness claims over $1,000. That figure is their own, but at the volume they’re claiming, it’s a meaningful indicator that the product actually pays out on major events.
How to File
Filing is fully digital. Log in to Pumpkin.care, go to “Claims,” upload a photo of your itemized vet bill plus any relevant medical records, and submit. No paperwork required. You can also fax, mail, or email your claim within 270 days of treatment if you prefer.
How Fast Do They Pay?
Standard claims are reviewed within five business days. PumpkinNow is faster: eligible policyholders can receive up to 90% of covered veterinary expenses within 15 minutes for qualifying critical care claims. Reimbursement goes out by check or direct deposit, or as of October 2025, directly to a CareCredit account.
Customer Feedback on Claims
Across Trustpilot and Google reviews, fast and fair claims processing is the most common positive theme. Reimbursements within 48 hours appear frequently in positive reviews. The negative pattern is more specific: claims denied with conditions reclassified as pre-existing, sometimes for conditions the policyholder believed were new. That’s the same complaint pattern you see across the industry, but it shows up in Pumpkin’s reviews with enough frequency to flag it explicitly.
Pumpkin Customer Service
Customer service runs Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern. Phone: 1-866-273-6369 (1-866-ARF-MEOW). Email: help@pumpkin.care. Online chat is available on the website; there is no 24/7 support and no mobile app.
Digital Experience
The website is fully mobile-optimized, but Pumpkin does not have a native app. For a company founded in 2020 with a millennial-skewing customer base, that’s a noticeable gap. Policy management, claims, and documents all run through the browser.
What Customers Say
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 across 2,064 reviews. Google: 4.5/5 across 2,495 reviews. Reddit sentiment across multiple pet insurance threads skews about 79% positive, with recurring praise for customer service responsiveness and clear policy explanations. Those are strong aggregate numbers for an insurer.
Customer Highlights
The Good:
“Pumpkin insurance is a lifesaver!! My dog needed emergency surgery, of course, it happened to be during Christmas time! I paid, filed my claim, and got reimbursed within a week! Customer service was sweet and caring.”
“We have had Pumpkin insurance for about 4 years now, and they continue to be the best investment in our dog’s life. The claims process is quite simple.”
The Bad:
“They have not settled several claims and have not responded to replies; they take more than a week to answer an email, and after denying your claim, they string you along for days.”
“They make you work for every cent and routinely call everything ‘pre-existing’ so they don’t have to cover it.”
The pattern is consistent across platforms: fast processing and broad coverage drive the positive reviews, while pre-existing condition reclassifications drive most of the negative ones.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Preventive care bundled, not bolted on. Vaccines, wellness exam, and diagnostics are part of the enrollment package through Preventive Essentials.
- Broad base coverage. Dental illness, behavioral treatment, hereditary and congenital conditions, and prescription food are all in the base plan, no riders required.
- Short waiting periods. 14-day wait applies to everything, including orthopedic conditions that carry six-month waits elsewhere.
- No upper age limit. Senior pets enroll on the same terms as younger ones, with no coverage reductions as they age.
- Multi-pet discount. 10% per additional pet, which compounds on a plan priced for comprehensive coverage.
- PumpkinNow. Real-time reimbursement of up to 90% of eligible critical care bills before you leave the clinic.
Cons
- Mid-range to high premiums. Comprehensive configurations run near $95/month for dogs. Not the cheapest option in any state.
- No mobile app. Web-only management for a company that launched in 2020.
- No accident-only plan. One plan, period. No budget tier for owners who want minimal coverage.
- Pre-existing condition disputes. Enough negative reviews focus on this specific issue that it’s a real risk to understand before enrolling, not just boilerplate disclaimer language.
- Premium increases at renewal. Reported across multiple review platforms, consistent with industry-wide trends but worth factoring into long-term cost projections.
Our Verdict
Pumpkin earns its rating for owners who will actually use what they’re paying for. If your pet is on an annual wellness schedule and you want accident, illness, and preventive care in one plan without assembling it from riders, Pumpkin is the cleaner option. The preventive care bundle is genuinely well-designed, the waiting periods for orthopedic coverage are the shortest in the market, and the no-age-limit policy is meaningful for senior pet owners who get turned away or surcharged elsewhere.
The pre-existing condition complaint pattern is real and worth taking seriously. Read your policy’s definition of “pre-existing” before you enroll, and make sure your pet’s medical records don’t contain anything that could be used to reclassify a future claim.
Recommended for:
- Owners who use preventive care annually and want it bundled into one plan
- Multi-pet households taking the 10% per-pet discount
- Pet parents with senior dogs or cats other insurers won’t touch
- Owners of breeds prone to hereditary or orthopedic conditions
Not ideal for:
- Budget-focused pet parents (consider Pets Best)
- Those wanting accident-only coverage (consider ASPCA Pet Insurance)
- Anyone who needs a mobile app to manage their policy (consider Lemonade Pet Insurance)
Methodology
Our evaluation weighted five categories based on their importance to the average pet insurance buyer:
Affordability (30%): We compared pet insurance premium costs across multiple pet profiles, factoring in available discounts and fee structures.
Claims Process (20%): We evaluated submission options, processing times, reimbursement speed, and the availability of real-time payment through PumpkinNow. Multiple submission methods and documented fast processing earned a strong score, though pre-existing condition dispute frequency prevented a perfect rating.
Customer Service (20%): We assessed accessibility, digital tools, and customer satisfaction metrics from Trustpilot, BBB, and Reddit. Strong aggregate scores offset by the absence of a mobile app and no 24/7 support.
Stability (20%): We examined AM Best ratings, years in business, corporate backing, and regulatory standing. A (Excellent) underwriter rating from United States Fire Insurance Company, plus Zoetis and JAB Holding backing, produces an above-average score for a company this young.
Coverage Options (10%): We reviewed plan variety, inclusions and exclusions, waiting periods, and special features. Broad base coverage and bundled preventive care earn a high score. The lack of an accident-only tier is the main limitation.
We analyzed 20 pet insurance providers across identical criteria, then applied a curve based on the top performer to ensure fair comparisons.
Pumpkin Category Scores
- Financial Strength: 8/10
- Coverage Options: 8/10
- Affordability: 6/10
- Claims Experience: 9/10
- Customer Experience: 7.5/10
Check out our complete methodology and see how every provider stacked up in our Pet Insurance reviews guide.
