Lemonade is excellent at driving parents to reconsider pet insurance while buying other insurance products they need. Lemonade offers homeowners, auto, renters, condo, and co-op insurance, and the more you bundle, the more you save. But, they are relatively new to pet insurance.
With their customizable plans and competitive prices, Lemonade is turning the heads of many pet parents. Our comprehensive reviews explain how Lemonade pet insurance works, coverage options, and more. We also point out some crucial pros and cons that may help you decide if they’re the right company for your needs.
While reading this review, take notes on what coverage may stand out for your dog’s breed and what you can afford financially. This will help you make a more informed decision.
Lemonade
- AI-driven claims process
- Not available in every U.S. state
- Ability to bundle with homeowners or renters insurance policies
- Optional wellness coverage
How Does Lemonade Pet Insurance Work?
- You pay a monthly or annual premium to maintain your dog’s insurance coverage.
- The waiting periods must pass before your dog is fully covered, and you are eligible to submit claims.
- If your pup becomes sick or injured (after your waiting periods), you visit the vet and pay your bill, asking for a detailed receipt with line items for each charge.
- You can submit claims through the app. Claims must be submitted within 180 days of the service date.
- If your claim is approved, reimbursement will be sent to you via direct deposit or check.
Pros & Cons Of Lemonade
Lemonade was founded in 2020, is underwritten by Lemonade Insurance Agency LLC, and averages a two-day claim processing average. The company is commended for its competitive prices, speedy claim processing, and ability to bundle other insurance products, saving customers money.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No lifetime limits on any plan | Only insures pets that reside in 37 U.S. states and DC at this time |
| Consistently offers lower-than-average quotes | Exclusions for bilateral conditions |
| Offers great coverage for all ages, ranging from 8 weeks to 20+ years (dependent on breed) | As a digital-based company, they limit customer services to an AI-driven chatbot or email (phone line restricted to emergencies only) |
| Annual deductibles rather than per-incident | One of the only pet insurance companies that doesn’t cover your pet outside the U.S. |
| Optional wellness plan as an add-on |
What Types Of Pet Plans Does Lemonade Offer?
Accident & Illness Plan
Lemonade’s accident and illness plan covers accident-related claims, such as broken bones, foreign body ingestion, torn nail, etc., and illness-related claims, such as allergies, cancer, arthritis, vomiting, and diarrhea. These plans are the most extensive option available. Pets must be at least eight-weeks-old at enrollment, and there may be some upper age limits for new pets based on their breed.
Accident and illness plans are customizable to fit your budget more easily. You can choose your deductible, payout, and reimbursement from the options below.
| Deductible Options | Payout Options | Reimbursement Options |
|---|---|---|
| $100 $250 $500 | $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $50,000 $100,000 | 70% 80% 90% |
Your monthly premium is based on your dog’s breed, age, location, pre-existing conditions, etc. It’s best to sign your dog up for insurance sooner than later to minimize exclusions from pre-existing conditions they may experience with age.
Waiting Periods
Lemonade has the following waiting periods before coverage kicks in for a condition.
- Illnesses: 14 days
- Accidents: 2 days
- Cruciate Ligament Events: 6 months
- Hip Dysplasia: 6 months
Optional Add-ons
Lemonade has six optional add-ons for vet visit fees, physical therapy, behavioral conditions, dental illness, end-of-life and remembrance, and preventative care. Each comes with a fee. These add-ons can be removed or added at annual policy renewal.
Vet Visit Fees
Pet insurance providers handle exam fees for accident and illness visits differently. Some companies include them in coverage, while others require additional fees for vet visit fee coverage or exclude them entirely. Lemonade allows you to add this coverage to your pet insurance policy for an extra fee.
Accident and illness exam fees can be as high as $500 alone. Without this coverage, the exam fee expense of your itemized vet bill will be excluded from coverage (not reimbursed) with Lemonade.
Physical Therapy
Physical treatments are commonly included in basic pet insurance plans. Lemonade requires an additional fee for coverage related to acupuncture, chiropractic care, cryotherapy, gait training, heat therapy, hydrotherapy, joint mobilization, laser therapy, and more. If your dog’s breed is prone to hip and joint issues (think hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament injuries), this is one you may want to add to your policy.
Behavioral Conditions
Behavioral conditions can include aggression, separation anxiety, food guarding, and more. These diagnoses can be excluded from coverage by some pet insurance companies. Coverage for diagnostics, therapy sessions, and prescription medications are eligible for coverage if you purchase this add-on. The annual maximum limit for behavioral conditions is $1,000.
Dental Illness
Did you know more than 50% of dogs over three years old have periodontal disease? The Dental Illness add-on covers treatments for things like gum disease, stomatitis, crowns, extractions, gingivitis, root canals, surgeries, diagnostics, and more. The additional limit is $1,000 if you opt to purchase this add-on.
End Of Life & Remembrance
We all reach this point with our dogs, and it’s usually sooner than we expect it to be. This add-on offers up to $500 to help cover euthanasia, cremation, and other memorial items.
Preventative Care
Wellness plans, or preventative care plans, aren’t insurance products. Instead, they’re optional add-ons to a pet insurance policy to help cover the preventive expenses associated with predictable, routine medical care. Annual vet exams can cost $300 or more depending on your vet, location, necessary vaccines, testing required, and more. A wellness plan is specifically designed to help budget for the annual costs a responsible pet owner should expect to pay the vet each year to proactively monitor and manage their pet’s health.
These plans can also help you pay for monthly preventative medicines, including heartworm and flea & tick treatments. Wellness plans can help you budget for routine expenses throughout the year instead of racking up a large annual vet bill you must pay all at once.
Two preventative care plans are available through Lemonade, which have no waiting periods and their pricing varies based on your dog’s details.
| Great For Dogs | Great For Puppies |
|---|---|
| 1 Wellness Exam up to $50 | 2 Wellness Exams up to $100 |
| 1 Fecal or Internal Parasite Test up to $35 | 2 Fecal or Internal Parasite Tests up to $70 total |
| 3 Vaccines up to $75 total | 6 Vaccines or Boosters up to $150 total |
| 1 Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test up to $40 | 1 Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test up to $40 |
| 1 Blood Test up to $65 | 1 Blood Test up to $65 |
| Spay/Neuter up to $120 | |
| Microchip up to $40 | |
| Flea/Tick or Heartworm Medication up to $65 total |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Go To Any Vet With Lemonade Pet Insurance?
Yes, you can visit any licensed vet in the U.S., and Lemonade will reimburse your eligible expenses.
How Long Does It Take Lemonade To Process A Pet Claim?
Many of the claims submitted to Lemonade can be processed within minutes because of its artificial intelligence claims technology. There are instances where claims require more time or communication with the pet parent or vet, but Lemonade still averages a two-day claim processing average which is rather speedy.
Final Thoughts
With so many pet insurance options, should Lemonade be your first choice? Maybe. Lemonade offers competitive prices with several add-ons, so you’re only paying for what you want. Before signing up, read through your policy carefully to ensure you know what is included and excluded in coverage and that you’re comfortable with the terms.
Recognize that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered by any provider, so any ailment you’ve taken your dog to the vet for in the past is most likely excluded from coverage.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from several pet insurance providers to see how the premium cost and coverage compare. Just because a company is typically among the lowest price doesn’t mean it’s always the best value or that it will be the lowest for you. And a low price is only good if the coverage meets your unique needs, so read the policy closely before enrolling.
