Pumpkin
Pumpkin's stated plan terms, checked October 22, 2026. Facts only: no rating, ranking, or price.
- Accident and illness
- Dogs
- Cats
- One 14 day wait in most states
- No breed or upper age restrictions stated
- Enroll from 8 weeks old
- Unlimited annual limit option
- Exam fees included, in clinic and virtual
- Former routine care package ended August 18, 2026
- Wellness Club membership sold separately (not insurance)
The stated facts
| Company and underwriter, as the company states it | Pumpkin Pet Insurance. Its footer says insurance products are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company or United States Fire Insurance Company and points to the declarations page for which one applies. |
|---|---|
| Species covered | Dogs, Cats |
| Plan types offered | Accident and illness plan |
| Accident waiting period, as stated | Pumpkin's FAQ describes a single wait: in most states, cover starts 14 days after the policy effective date, which is the day after purchase, and it says the wait is 14 days or less depending on the state. |
| Illness waiting period, as stated | 14 days after the effective date in most states, per the FAQ, which gives the example of a plan bought on January 1 taking effect on January 2 with cover starting January 16. |
| Orthopedic, cruciate, and other special waiting periods | No separate orthopedic or knee wait appears on the pages read today; the FAQ describes the one 14 day period. A knee or hind leg ligament condition that occurs before the day after purchase or during the wait means any future ones won't be covered. |
| Eligibility, as the company states it | Dogs and cats from 8 weeks old. Pumpkin's home page says there are no upper age limits or breed restrictions and no reducing coverage as a pet ages, and that the 90 percent reimbursement option is open to all pets 8 weeks and up, seniors included. |
| Deductible, reimbursement, and limit options, as stated | Reimbursement options of 80 or 90 percent, with 90 percent available for all pets 8 weeks and up, and annual coverage limit options from $5,000 to unlimited for dogs and cats, per Pumpkin's pages. |
| Wellness or preventive option | No longer a wellness add-on. Pumpkin's FAQ says: "As of August 18, 2026, Preventive Essentials is no longer available for purchase". Its replacement, Pumpkin Wellness Club, is described as not insurance but a membership program with Essential, Premium, and Elite plans, which can be joined with or without a Pumpkin insurance plan. |
| Pre-existing condition rule, as stated | Conditions that occur or show symptoms before cover starts or during the waiting period are not covered. Pumpkin's FAQ says a curable condition that has been cured and free of symptoms and treatment for 180 days can be covered if it happens again, except knee and hind leg ligament conditions. |
Preventive Essentials has ended
Earlier versions of this directory listed Preventive Essentials as an optional package alongside a Pumpkin plan. Pumpkin's FAQ now answers the question "Does Pumpkin still offer Preventive Essentials?" with: "As of August 18, 2026, Preventive Essentials is no longer available for purchase". It points instead to Pumpkin Wellness Club.
The FAQ is clear that the Club is not insurance; it is a membership program giving cash back on routine items such as wellness exams, vaccines, fecal tests, bloodwork, parasite prevention, spay or neuter surgery, dental care, and grooming. Unlike the old package, it can be joined with or without a Pumpkin insurance plan. The pages read do not publish the Club's per-item amounts, so a breed owner should ask for the schedule before treating it as a budget line.
Pumpkin's knee rule sits in the cure clause
Pumpkin's FAQ describes one waiting period, 14 days after the effective date in most states and less in some, with no separate orthopedic or knee clock on the pages read today. Its knee language instead sits in the pre-existing rules: a curable condition cured and free of signs for 180 days can be covered again, but knee and hind leg ligament conditions are carved out. If one occurs before the day after purchase or during the wait, any future ones won't be covered.
For a Boxer or Labrador, the first month on a Pumpkin plan therefore carries the most knee risk. One limp noted in week one could close both knees for the life of the policy.
Pumpkin's exam charge and inherited condition wording
The home page says Pumpkin plans cover in-clinic and virtual vet exam fees for accidents and illnesses with no add-on fee, and lists hereditary conditions, dental illness, and behavioral problems among items it covers. For a breed that often needs repeat visits for skin, eyes, or ears, each exam charge counts toward the claim rather than sitting outside it.
Filing with Pumpkin, and PumpkinNow
Claims are filed on pumpkin.care: enter the details and upload the itemized bill and any medical records. For urgent care, the FAQ describes PumpkinNow: ask the vet for a final invoice or estimate before checkout and submit a claim of $500 or more, or an estimate of any amount, with records on file; if eligible, the covered portion can be deposited within about 15 minutes, before you pay the vet. Real-time deposit needs a compatible bank.
The pages read do not state a filing deadline. Ask Pumpkin for it, and confirm the PumpkinNow terms for your state before an emergency.
Age and renewal at Pumpkin
Pumpkin says it has no upper age limit, no breed restriction, and does not reduce coverage as a pet ages. Its footer adds that premiums may rise or fall with the pet's age, species or breed, and address.