Fetch
Fetch's stated plan terms, checked October 22, 2026. Facts only: no rating, ranking, or price.
- Accident and illness
- Wellness add-on
- Dogs
- Cats
- 6 month orthopedic wait
- Knee waiver exam within 180 days of enrollment
- No upper age limit stated
- No breed restrictions stated
- Wellness add-on available
- Sick-visit exam fees included
- 90 day claim deadline
- Curable pre-existing conditions may re-qualify
The stated facts
| Company and underwriter, as the company states it | Fetch Pet Insurance. Site footers say US policies are underwritten by AXIS Insurance Company, an Illinois corporation, with Fetch Insurance Services, LLC and related Fetch agencies as producers by state. |
|---|---|
| Species covered | Dogs, Cats |
| Plan types offered | Accident and illness plan; Fetch Wellness endorsement (Essentials, Advantage, Prime) |
| Accident waiting period, as stated | Stated two ways. Fetch's coverage page says it has no waiting period for accidents, while its waiting period FAQ describes a single period of up to 15 days, starting the day after enrollment, during which any accident, injury, or illness is treated as pre-existing. Ask Fetch which applies in your state before relying on either. |
| Illness waiting period, as stated | Up to 15 days, beginning the day after you enroll, per the waiting period FAQ. The coverage page calls it a 15 day illness wait. |
| Orthopedic, cruciate, and other special waiting periods | 6 months for orthopedic conditions, which the waiting period FAQ says include elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc degeneration, patellar luxation, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments. For knees, the FAQ describes a waiver: a vet exam within 180 days of enrollment, with detailed records (SOAP notes) sent with the first claim. |
| Eligibility, as the company states it | Dogs and cats from 6 weeks old. The coverage page says there are no upper age limits and no breed restrictions, and names age, breed, and location as price factors. |
| Deductible, reimbursement, and limit options, as stated | You choose the annual deductible, maximum annual payout, and reimbursement rate when you get a price; the coverage page refers to up to 90 percent reimbursement. Exam fees for sick visits are part of the base policy rather than an add-on. |
| Wellness or preventive option | Fetch Wellness, which the company says is insurance coverage added by endorsement to the core injury and illness policy. Three tiers, Essentials, Advantage, and Prime, carry maximum yearly reimbursements of $390, $700, and $1,200, with per-service caps, no deductible, and no waiting period. |
| Pre-existing condition rule, as stated | Conditions that showed signs before enrollment or during the waiting period are pre-existing and noted in the record. Fetch says it covers curable pre-existing conditions, meaning issues that can be completely cured with no recurrence of signs, and gives a urinary tract infection as an example. |
Six months before any orthopedic claim
Fetch's waiting period FAQ states: "There's also a 6-month waiting period before orthopedic conditions can be covered." The list it gives reads like a large breed risk sheet: elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, intervertebral disc degeneration, patellar luxation, and ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments.
The practical result is simple to state. A Newfoundland enrolled in January that tears a cruciate in April is inside the orthopedic window, and that knee would be treated as pre-existing. A French Bulldog with a disc episode in month five is in the same place. Owners of breeds on those lists should count six months from the effective date and treat that as the real start of orthopedic cover.
The knee waiver and SOAP notes
For knee injuries, the FAQ offers a way to shorten the wait: have a vet examine the pet within 180 days of enrollment to confirm no relevant pre-existing conditions, then send detailed records from that visit with the first claim. Fetch suggests asking the vet for SOAP notes so the record carries the exam findings.
The waiver wording on the page refers to knees; it does not say the same route applies to hips, elbows, or spines. Ask Fetch to confirm in writing which orthopedic conditions the exam can clear.
Accidents: two statements on two pages
The coverage page says Fetch Pet has no waiting period for accidents. The waiting period FAQ describes one period of up to 15 days for accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Both pages are live, so the policy form for your state decides. Until it is in hand, assume an accident in the first two weeks may be questioned.
Exam fees and hereditary conditions
The exam fee FAQ says Fetch covers the complete sick visit, exam fee included, including emergency and specialty care, at no extra cost. The coverage page lists hereditary and congenital conditions, naming hip dysplasia in larger breeds and IVDD as examples, among the conditions it covers when not pre-existing. Pair that with the orthopedic wait above: those conditions are covered, but only once the six months have run.
Ninety days to claim, and no direct vet payment
Claims are filed in the Fetch app with a photo of the paid invoice and supporting medical records. The coverage page warns that claims must be submitted within 90 days of the invoice date and that later claims will not be covered. For a long hospital stay or a staged surgery, file each invoice as it arrives rather than waiting for the treatment to finish.
Fetch's direct pay FAQ answers no: the company does not pay the vet directly, so the owner pays the bill at checkout and waits for reimbursement. Plan for the full surgical cost on a card or in savings.