Healthy Paws
Healthy Paws's stated plan terms, checked November 1, 2026. Facts only: no rating, ranking, or price.
- Accident and illness
- Dogs
- Cats
- Hip dysplasia cover requires enrollment before the 6th birthday
- 12 month hip dysplasia wait
- Exam fees not covered
- Routine care not covered
- Direct Pay to vet by advance arrangement
- Annual limit cannot be raised later
- Unlimited annual limit option
The stated facts
| Company and underwriter, as the company states it | Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, a Chubb company. Its FAQ says policies are underwritten and issued by ACE American Insurance Company and other named members of the Chubb group. |
|---|---|
| Species covered | Dogs, Cats |
| Plan types offered | Accident and illness plan |
| Accident waiting period, as stated | 15 days after the policy effective date in most states, per the Healthy Paws FAQ. In 16 states it lists (CA, DE, FL, HI, LA, MD, ME, MS, MT, NE, NH, OH, PA, RI, VT, WA), there is no waiting period for illness, injury, or orthopedic conditions that result from an accident. |
| Illness waiting period, as stated | 15 days after the effective date. In the 16 listed states, the 15 day period for illness, injury, and non-accident orthopedic conditions is waived on completion of a complete clinical exam. |
| Orthopedic, cruciate, and other special waiting periods | Hip dysplasia: a 12 month wait for pets enrolled at age five or below; in the 16 listed states, a 30 day wait for hip dysplasia not caused by an accident, waived after a complete clinical exam. Pets enrolled at six or older have no hip dysplasia cover. No separate cruciate or IVDD wait is described. |
| Eligibility, as the company states it | Dogs and cats from 8 weeks old, per the puppy and kitten pages. A vet exam is needed within 12 months before enrollment for pets 5 and under, or within 30 days before enrollment for pets 6 and over (either group may instead be examined within 15 days after the effective date). Hip dysplasia cover requires enrollment before age six. |
| Deductible, reimbursement, and limit options, as stated | At enrollment you choose an annual reimbursement limit of $5,000, $7,000, or unlimited, plus the deductible and reimbursement percentage. The FAQ notes that the annual limit chosen at enrollment can never be raised later in the pet's policy. |
| Wellness or preventive option | None. The Healthy Paws FAQ says wellness and preventative care are not covered by the policy, which is aimed at unexpected veterinary care. |
| Pre-existing condition rule, as stated | Pre-existing conditions are not covered, including conditions that occur or show signs before the effective date or during waiting periods. Hereditary and congenital conditions are eligible if signs first appear after enrollment and after any waiting period. |
Hip dysplasia: age six and a twelve month wait
Healthy Paws treats hip dysplasia differently from every other condition on its pages. A pet must be enrolled before age six for hip dysplasia to be covered at all, and for pets enrolled at five or younger the FAQ sets a 12 month waiting period for it. In the 16 states the FAQ lists, the hip dysplasia wait is 30 days for non-accident cases and can be waived after a complete clinical exam.
For a German Shepherd puppy enrolled at ten weeks outside those states, hip dysplasia diagnosed at nine months would fall inside the twelve month window. A Golden Retriever adopted at six and a half would have no hip dysplasia cover at all. If hips are the main worry for your breed, check which group your state sits in before choosing an enrollment date.
Cruciate: one knee can close the other
The coverage and exclusions page says that if the cruciate ligament on one leg is injured before enrollment or during the 15 day waiting period, the cruciate ligament on the other leg is excluded too. Healthy Paws calls this the only bilateral exclusion in its policy. Otherwise, cruciate treatment is covered when it is not pre-existing.
Breed owners with a record of any early hind leg lameness should get a written answer on whether that note will be read as a cruciate sign.
Exam fees sit with the owner
The FAQ is direct: the office visit or exam fee is part of the pet parent's financial responsibility, which Healthy Paws says keeps the premium lower. Claims can include specialists and emergency hospitals, but the exam charge itself is not reimbursed. For a dog with recurring ear or skin visits, budget the exam fee on top of the deductible every time.
Enrollment exam windows by age
Healthy Paws uses the pet's age at enrollment to set the exam requirement. Pets five and under need an exam within 12 months before enrollment; pets six and over need one within 30 days before. Either group can instead be seen within 15 days after the effective date. An older rescue without recent records needs that visit booked promptly, and its findings will shape what is treated as pre-existing.
On renewal pricing, the FAQ says rates reflect breed, gender, age, and other factors, and that premium increases are not based on an individual pet's claim submissions.
Filing and Direct Pay
Claims go through the Customer Center or the mobile app by uploading a photo of the invoice, or by email, fax, or mail, and must be submitted within 90 days of the invoice date. The FAQ also describes a Direct Pay option: you can arrange in advance for the reimbursable amount to be paid to the vet before services are performed. Approval of direct payment does not mean the claim is covered, and it is available at any licensed US vet, not a network.