As the most popular provider in the market, Healthy Paws stands out in many ways. It is among the most highly recommended companies by both customers and vets alike. But what of Pet Assure, however? It is not really an insurance company, after all, and is therefore excluded from most of the top insurance provider lists. This does not mean it provides unsatisfactory service, however, since instead of pet insurance it offers a discount plan. Even though Pet Assure functions much like traditional insurance, there are some crucial differences that set the two services apart.
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Pet Assure
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Healthy Paws
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Brand/logo
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Rating
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All new conditions
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Preexisting conditions
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Cured conditions
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Hereditary conditions
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Congenital conditions
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Exam fees
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Preventative care
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Alternative care
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Routine dental care
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Spaying/neutering
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Breeding-related conditions
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Euthanasia
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Burial
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Illness waiting period
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15 days
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Accident waiting period
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15 days
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Processing claims
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Immediate
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2-10 days
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Exotic pets
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BBB rating
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A+
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A+
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Even though Pet Assure is not really an insurance company, its discount plan is an excellent alternative to traditional policies. It’s less risky than insurance, too. Pet Assure’s plan is not littered with exclusions and other conditions, there is no waiting period, and any in-house treatment at a veterinary clinic will be covered, no questions asked. Nor is there a need to pay a deductible, and customers do not need to bother with claim forms as the discounts are applied to the bills immediately after owners show the vet their membership card. The vets themselves will send the claim to Pet Assure, reducing hassle for Pet Assure customers.
The downside to the company’s service is that discounts can only be used at partner clinics, although it is fairly easy to invite a vet to join if customers do not wish to switch to a different one. The plan offers a limited discount rate of 25% compared to traditional insurance that typically reimburses between 70-100% of the fee. This difference is more than made up for, however, considering the amount of exclusions that pet insurance usually does not cover, as well as the chance of a claim’s denial.
Compared to Pet Assure, Healthy Paws’s coverage is quite limited; it is an insurance company through and through. However, by typical market standards it is extensive, which is one of the main reasons for it being as popular as it is. Healthy Paws offers one plan that can be customized to suit the budget of the pet owner. The downside of this single-plan system is that the level of coverage cannot be modified, making it a bad fit for old or sick pets since their preexisting conditions are likely to be numerous. It would make little sense to pay for insurance that will not provide coverage.
On the positive side, Healthy Paws is an excellent solution for young pets, especially since there are no payout caps whatsoever, not even a lifetime limit. Like with most pet insurance providers, only cats and dogs are eligible for enrollment; for any other animal, Pet Assure is among the few choices that owners have to ease the financial burden of veterinary bills.
Both Pet Assure and Healthy Paws are great choices but it’s your circumstances that will decide which company’s services are a better match for any given pet. For owners that prefer a less risky approach as well as for pet parents that keep more exotic animals, Pet Assure is definitely the better solution. There are no exclusions or waiting periods with this service and the discounts are applied to veterinary bills immediately without the hassle of filing claims.
On the other hand, Healthy Paws offers a much higher payout so long as the pet’s condition is included in the coverage. It is the riskier option though, since monthly premiums are much more expensive than Pet Assure’s and reimbursement is not necessarily guaranteed, even if the enrolled pet gets ill enough for medical expenses to exceed the annual deductible and the cost of the insurance combined.
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